A view taken on Terrace Road.  Changing cloudscape like this is pretty standard in NZ and can be both frustrating and an opportunity to make something a little more dramatic!

More disturbing discoveries on the supposed effectiveness of the pest eradication programs our once clean green paradise has to offer … from the GrafBoys. “Mt Bruce’s Pukaha claims great success in the recovery of re-introduced bird species like kiwi – but the dark truth is, that kiwi are dying in large numbers, and the decline […]

via Kiwi are dying in large numbers at Mt Bruce OIA reveals & evidence points to pesticides including 1080 in spite of claims to the contrary — Rangitikei Enviromental Health Watch

by the Osbornes

We have just received a letter from Sean Mallon, KCDC Head of Infrastructure Services, stating the following:

“I note you have not taken up my offer to meet to discuss your involvement in the proposed works so I will now be proceeding with them as soon as practicable.”

The ‘proposed works’ being the destruction of the road facing side of the hedge.
When we met with the Mayor and Mr Mallon to discuss options other than cutting the hedge they agreed to allow us to commission our own independent traffic engineering report before any final action was decided. We have done this and it is due, as they have been made aware, any day. Despite our legal representative (who was at the meeting) offering to swear an affidavit confirming this agreement was made, both Mr Mallon and the Mayor NOW DENY THERE WAS ANY SUCH AGREEMENT. They seem hell-bent on destroying the hedge before our report can be presented.

In the letter we received today, Mr Mallon also says the following:

“I feel that there has been more than enough time for you to obtain any number of supporting expert reports if you so desired.”

We commissioned a report within 24 hours of the meeting (at our own cost). It is also worth noting that the first company we approached declined because ‘we won’t get any more work from KCDC if we represent you.’

Again, all we are asking for is a level playing field and chance to have the facts fairly presented.

984 of you have shown your support for putting Waikanae Beach’s heritage and flora ahead of cars [the number who have signed the on-line petition – Eds]. We would so appreciate it if any of you would email the Mayor and councillors to express your thoughts.

We attach their e-mail addresses for your convenience.

Thanks again for your support.

k.gurunathan@kapiticoast.govt.nz Janet.Holborow@kapiticoast.govt.nz David.Scott@kapiticoast.govt.nz Mike.Cardiff@kapiticoast.govt.nz Mark.Benton@kapiticoast.govt.nz Jackie.Elliott@kapiticoast.govt.nz Michael.Scott@kapiticoast.govt.nz James.Cootes@kapiticoast.govt.nz Angela.Buswell@kapiticoast.govt.nz John.Howson@kapiticoast.govt.nz Fiona.Vining@kapiticoast.govt.nz

Basically it says that a member of [our] family died last week in his country and left a huge amount of money in one of the banks there.   A spam e-mail written in Te Reo Maori?  It’s a first for us.  Do the Nigerians think it’s spoken more widely than English is?  At least they show more interest in Te Reo than most Pakeha do.

A little hidden down an alleyway off Waikanae Main Rd is this rather stylised mural of a tui.  We think the marking on the bottom left is the artist’s label, not graffiti.

The latest weather bomb to hit the country threatened a repeat of the Waikanae Show day, but fortunately it didn’t happen and this morning’s Mahara Place Market was well attended, which stall holders will be pleased about.  🙂

This 1.5% increase is the annual adjustment from 1 April last year, and basically reflects the rate of inflation.

But Dougherty totally disregards that — he wants the average KCDC rates impost (including water charges) to go up 5.9%, and we are simply appalled by it.  A high percentage of Waikanae people rely on ‘the Super’ as their main source of income. There is no reason, other than Dougherty’s extravagant waste on his Empire, for the KCDC rates increase to be more than that same percentage.

Just as appalling is that while the maximum Superannuation payment is $450 a week, Dougherty gets over $6,000 a week from Ratepayers.

If you feel like we do, then tell the council that in a submission on the annual plan (see earlier).