Ben Knight, Guardians of the Kāpiti Marine Reserve Chairperson, looks back over the past 25 years since the opening of the Kāpiti Marine Reserve.

via 25 years of the Kāpiti Marine Reserve — Conservation blog

According to this Joel Maxwell story on the stuff website.

Fortunately for Kapiti ratepayers, it’s being provided by the central government through the NZTA, but it leaves you incredulous all the same.

Just another example of how the KCDC generally is “make work for bureaucrats.”

Eva tries a Penny-farthing in the Otago Museum.  The design came from a Frenchman, Eugene Meyer, in 1869 and it remained in fashion for about another 20 years until the practical design we know today replaced it.

According to Wikipedia:

The penny-farthing used a larger wheel than the velocipede, thus giving higher speeds on all but the steepest hills. In addition, the large wheel gave a smoother ride, important before the invention of pneumatic tires.

Although the high riding position seems daunting to some, mounting can be learned on a lower velocipede. Once the technique is mastered, a high wheeler can be mounted and dismounted easily on flat ground and some hills.

An attribute of the penny-farthing is that the rider sits high and nearly over the front axle. When the wheel strikes rocks and ruts, or under hard braking, the rider can be pitched forward off the bicycle head-first. Headers were relatively common and a significant, sometimes fatal, hazard. Riders coasting down hills often took their feet off the pedals and put them over the tops of the handlebars, so they would be pitched off feet-first instead of head-first.

Penny-farthing bicycles often used similar materials and construction as earlier velocipedes: cast iron frames, solid rubber tires, and plain bearings for pedals, steering, and wheels. They were often quite durable and required little service. For example, when cyclist Thomas Stevens rode around the world in the 1880s, he reported only one significant mechanical problem in over 20,000 km, caused when the local military confiscated his bicycle and damaged the front wheel.

Whether they were ever used in Waikanae is unknown, but it seems unlikely.

I have been fortunate in the past three or more years to hear the beautiful song of the Korimako, New Zealand Bellbird. Eventually I spotted one in the garden but it was a fleeting view as this fast moving bird was there and gone. Two very tall Bottle Brush trees in neighbouring gardens provide […]

via And at last……Korimako, the New Zealand Bellbird. — ordinarygoodness

Near the south end of Queens Road, with the western end of the riverbank walking/cycling path.

More info on what the different species need is on the Department of Conservation website here

Unlike in Australia, the NZ government budget shows a surplus and it’s a good time to promise tax cuts for electoral popularity purposes.

According to this story in the NZ Herald:

“Further tax cuts taxes and lifting incomes would be one National’s priorities if it is re-elected in September, Prime Minister Bill English said.

“But he wont be specific about which taxes and says there will be no specific promise during the election campaign.”

We mentioned in an earlier post that GST on local council rates is a tax on a tax and shouldn’t be there.  If they own their buildings, businesses can claim it back, but individuals can’t. The typical saving for most households in Waikanae would be around $350 a year by our estimate.

It’s an issue to raise with the parliamentary candidates over the next 3 months!

From a property near the river looking pretty much due south.

The Sunday Cantina opened for business today, and despite what the name suggests, will operate all weekdays.

This is on the north side of the alley leading from the Main Road. We think the 3 armchairs outside will be an attractive choice in afternoon sun and during the summer months.