That is an increase of 40 cents, so not a big deal in itself.  However, it is nearly $5 an hour more than the current statutory minimum wage of $15.25. Assuming that hourly rate is paid for 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, that amounts to annual pay of $42,016.

Living Wage campaigners say the new rate reflects the movement in the average wage. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says that there is a 25% turnover in council staff a year.  Higher pay will result in more retention and that will save on training costs.

A Ballroom and Latin American 8-week beginners course starts Tuesday 7 pm at Kapiti College [Paraparaumu],  $20 per person casual or $135 pp for the course.

This might explain the functioning and cost of the council under Dougherty.

Worker needs a pen

Then: Supervisor gives worker 1 Euro from petty cash. He thus buys on the way to work 1 pen and 1 reserve pen.

Acquisition Duration: 10 minutes. Material Cost: 1 Euro.  Personnel time used: 15 minutes.

Now:  Supervisor writes material request. Acquisition management inquires which colour and brand. General secretariat insists on pens in the Corporate Design.  Controlling insists on efficiency grounds a minimum order value of 100 Euros. Acquisition management contacts department leader as orders over 80 Euros must have his permission.  Department leader authorizes purchase. Acquisition management orders 200 pens.  Internal mail sends pens after arrival to supervisor. Supervisor give pens to worker. Worker uses 2 pens.  The rest dry up and are disposed of.

Acquisition Duration: 10 days. Material Cost: 100 Euros.  Personnel time used: 15 hours.

The Raumati Paraparaumu Community Board is urging the Council to resume work on the Raumati Beach Town Centre Enhancement Project. A resolution to support this work was passed at a recent Community Board meeting (7/02/2017) and supported by 5 businesses from Raumati Beach.

“Questions need to be asked why this important project has been dropped by Council. In 2010 an extensive consultation project was undertaken which included 2 community workshops and written feedback. This was followed by the setup of a Project Manager and Project Coordinator in 2011. Since then it appears little has happened, except some road safety work which has begun on Raumati Road.

“The development at Kapiti College of a Performing Arts Centre and new carparks, and safety improvements to Raumati Road have raised the bar in terms of community development. It is another story when the central shopping zone is considered. Described by Council in a Kapiti visitor guide as a boutique shopping area, the layout and design of the precinct is dated with ugly high gutters creating a safety hazard for both able-bodied and disabled people.

“Finance may have been used as an excuse to halt this work, but Council will be spending over $40 million in the next several years on Paraparaumu and Waikanae village town centres, seemingly forgetting about our other, just as important village centres of Kapiti. This coming year Council has budgeted $2.18 million be spent on the Paraparaumu and Waikanae town centres. Some of this money should be diverted to the other village centres of Kapiti.

“Seven years have passed since the Raumati Beach Town Centre Enhancement Project started. It’s time for Council to take action and restart the ball rolling, which currently has no air in it and is stuck in a hole.”

RESOLUTION PASSED BY Raumati Paraparaumu Community Board 7/02/2017

The Raumati Paraparaumu Community Board request Council to resume the historic work regarding the Raumati Beach Town Centre Enhancement Project. This work should include reducing vehicle speed, creating a one way street, installation of outdoor tables, street parking or any other ideas that the businesses, landlords or Council may suggest.

Guy Burns

Deputy Chair, Raumati/Paraparaumu Community Board

Paraparaumu has already had tens of millions of dollars spent on it with the aquatic centre, the council building and now the performing arts centre.  It has had its fair share. [- Eds]

As can be seen, it’s designed for those who want to spend about 4 hours 40 minutes in Waikanae, or a bit less than that in destinations further south that are reachable on the trains.

It is not designed for Waikanae people wanting to do the reverse to Levin, except those willing to do an overnight stay in Levin and get the Capital Connection back the next morning.

Seen on a toilet block on Marine Parade, Napier.

The view of the Waikanae River that will be had by bus or truck passengers — at 100 km/h+ though! (Sue Lusk pic)

The event wasn’t completely car-free as there was a parade of classic cars. (Carolyn Easton pic/Kapiti Coast FB group)

From the pics we’ve seen posted on Facebook, this opportunity was well attended by hikers and cyclists, although not by your editors as we were in Napier for the Art Deco weekend, something we had booked a few months ago.

We gather that completion of the tar sealing and other finishing touches means that actual Expressway opening is about 2 weeks away.

Snipping the ribbon on the first section of the Kapiti expressway is Transport Minister Simon Bridges, Te Ati Awa iwi member, Grace Ahern, 6, Otaki MP Nathan Guy, and iwi member Ruby-Mei Franklyn. (Joel Maxwell pic)