• About
  • The local iwi history KCDC wants to avoid

Waikanae Watch

~ issues relevant to Waikanae people and others

Waikanae Watch

Monthly Archives: July 2017

what are the parliamentary candidates’ views on legalising marijuana?

31 Monday Jul 2017

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

colorado-highs

a dispensary we saw last year in Colorado

Although we are against the use of recreational drugs and we’ve witnessed the negative results, this seems to be the lesser of the evils facing lawmakers.

Two years ago the Kapiti council voted to allow the sale of ‘legal highs’ or certain synthetic drugs in the district — see this Joel Maxwell story on the stuff website.

Synthetic marijuana has made the news in the last couple of weeks because of the disastrous effects it has on those who smoke it.  The government can ban it, but to make their substance legal again the manufacturers just need to alter the formula.  We’re told that the real stuff is getting hard to obtain, so consumers simply switch to this.

In the 1980s the Reagan administration in America declared war on drugs, but over 30 years later it’s a war that has not been won. In the U.S. a lot of the drug trade is controlled by the Mexican Mafia; here’s it’s often controlled by gangs.  Needless to say, it’s very profitable. Rival gangs fighting over the same territory sees a lot of violence; while users wanting money to pay them resort to theft and burglary.

At the time of the 2012 Presidential elections, Colorado and Washington states voted to legalise marijuana and these states have since been joined by Alaska, Oregon, California, Nevada, Maine and Massachusetts.    They are not free of restrictions, though: California’s Prop. 64 measure allows adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow up to six plants in their homes.  Other tax and licensing provisions of the law will not take effect until next January.

From a financial viewpoint, it’s been good for these states; they collect sales tax and the ‘dispensaries’ have to pay normal business taxes — before they collected nothing, if you exclude the stashes of cash sometimes seized by police.

Smoking anything isn’t good for you and there should be healthy ways to get natural highs — from exercise or, for former mayor Ross Church, driving a powerful car while listening to Led Zeppelin.  But there are always going to be people who will seek quick escape from drudgery with a drug, be it alcohol, tobacco or pot.   It’s better for it to be subjected to supervision than in the hands of the black market as prohibition doesn’t work.

 

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

‘Ewy’ traffic noise continues to cause discontent

31 Monday Jul 2017

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

no ewy brakes

As has been made clear on social media, Kapiti residents who live near the ‘Ewy’ are unhappy about the amount of noise that traffic produces on it, and this stuff article appeared on Saturday about it. The average night-time noise level is 67 dB, above the 57 dB which is required by the resource consents that were issued for the ‘Ewy’.

Although we can’t hear it where we are, we well know what it’s like to experience protracted, excessive noise, and sympathise with those who can.

We looked at this issue before it opened in this post from last September and said that a continuous unbroken wall is needed to reduce it effectively.

This would have the effect of reducing the view of Kapiti scenery for motorists, and it would cost significant money, although not much in proportion to the overall cost of the ‘Ewy’

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Awanui Drive phone booth

30 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Awanui Phonebooth

An old red Post Office/Telecom box of British design but now just a garden ornament, not for public calls.  The universal proliferation of smartphones has now all but rendered phone booths obsolete.

Here’s a gallery of a Tauranga company which restores and sells the British ones.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

a question for parliamentary candidates: how likely is it that a Kapiti Hospital will get government funding?

29 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

KCH_Launch_July_2017The petition for one was launched by Mayor Guru 12 July and the official website for it is here.

Capital & Coast District Health Board, whose territory includes most of Kapiti (except Otaki), runs two hospitals for Kapiti people: Wellington City and to a limited extent, Kenepuru just south of Porirua.

A stuff article from the past week, however, provides no cause for optimism that a hospital for Kapiti is likely. It quotes spokeswoman Rachel Haggerty as saying:

“Increasing demand for health services, both through our hospitals and in the community, means we must invest resources in the right services, in the right place, at the right time.

“We also provide outreach services in Kapiti for around 18 specialities, as well as diagnostic services, which can be done in the community and do not require a visit to hospital.

“We are continually reassessing our region’s needs and looking at what investments we can make to ensure our communities remain well-serviced and can access the health services they require.”

Reading between the lines, this basically says no hospital.  The board is said to be highly cash strapped with what it has to run already.

But, there is another possibility: two days before Mayor Guru launched the Kapiti petition, this story in the NBR reported Wellington property developer Mark Dunajtschik’s bankrolling a new $50 million Wellington children’s hospital which will be 7,000 sq metres, three storeys tall and have 50 inpatient beds.

There are wealthy property businessmen in Kapiti who could easily make the same kind of donation, but would they?

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

leaving doors unlocked, even during the day, is not a good idea

29 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

We’ve been told about a house close to (but not part of) the Winara Retirement Village where the owner left the front door unlocked for a tradesman.  But some opportunist thief visited first and stole some valuables inside.

Regrettably, the elderly are magnets for lowlife who see them as soft targets, and the thieves may not just be satisfied with the residents of these establishments, but will try neighbouring properties as well — as we have discovered ourselves.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Spade Aid: help plant 5,000 trees in four hours

28 Friday Jul 2017

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Spade Aid

Greater Wellington Regional Council works with volunteers to plant up to 25,000 trees a season and needs your help!

Join the GWRC this year and help achieve the goal of planting 25,000 trees a season. You make the difference.

Join in at the MacKays Crossing entrance at Queen Elizabeth Park for a morning of tree planting Sunday at 10 AM to 2 PM. The weather is predicted to be sunny.

There will be a free sausage sizzle and live music!

Please bring appropriate footwear and warm clothes.

For more information, please visit www.gw.govt.nz/ volunteer-to-help

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Image

a view of Waikanae from Huia Street

28 Friday Jul 2017

Waikanae Huia Street

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Posted by Waikanae watchers | Filed under Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

the next WCB meeting is on Monday evening, usual location

27 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

This was scheduled for last Tuesday, but it seems it was postponed due to illness by one or more of its members.

The three items of interest are:

  1. names for the first new streets in the Maypole company development,

2. the siting of bus stops on the new bus routes in Waikanae, and

3. the positioning of that welcome sign.

We’ll comment more on the Maypole company development soon, and the siting of the new bus stops when they are confirmed.

The document for the ‘Welcome to Waikanae’ signs shows the possibility of putting them on the northbound and southbound ‘Ewy’ off-ramps, where the red dots are on the map below.

This would require permission of the NZTA on whose land they would be and Resource Consent, presumably from the central government.

The other option is simply to place them where the hitherto existing signs have been on SH1.

It would make sense to have both.

WaikySigns

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

high vertical garden, Broadway, Sydney

27 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

In an earlier post we included a photo we took in Paris of a garden up the side of a building: this one is on an even grander scale. The garden up the facade of a 16-storey apartment installation was designed by French botanist Patrick Blanc in collaboration with Paris-based architects Ateliers Jean Nouvel.

All of the plants and flowers in the vertical gardens are carefully maintained by a special hydroponic system, which automatically waters them.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

rail commuter transport to Kapiti 1949–1983

26 Wednesday Jul 2017

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Paekakariki EEs

These English Electric multiple units (supplemented in peak hours by locomotive hauled carriages visible in the centre) moved commuters from Wellington to Paekakariki beginning in 1949.

It wasn’t until 1983 that the wires were extended the 10 km to Paraparaumu, and not until 2011 another 8 km to Waikanae.

The extra 15 km from Waikanae to Otaki can best be described as “under discussion” and is a Wellington Regional Council matter together with the central government.

The old English Electric trains probably made it to Paraparaumu under their own power after 1983 while the Ganz Mavags appeared, but it’s unlikely that the restored Cyclops (see earlier) ever did to Waikanae. (Russ Bidgood pic)

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts

contact e-mail

waikanaewatch@gmail.com

Archives

  • June 2022 (232)
  • May 2022 (250)
  • April 2022 (245)
  • March 2022 (277)
  • February 2022 (271)
  • January 2022 (235)
  • December 2021 (250)
  • November 2021 (298)
  • October 2021 (267)
  • September 2021 (237)
  • August 2021 (205)
  • July 2021 (186)
  • June 2021 (159)
  • May 2021 (167)
  • April 2021 (141)
  • March 2021 (133)
  • February 2021 (107)
  • January 2021 (125)
  • December 2020 (104)
  • November 2020 (104)
  • October 2020 (121)
  • September 2020 (114)
  • August 2020 (103)
  • July 2020 (101)
  • June 2020 (100)
  • May 2020 (128)
  • April 2020 (123)
  • March 2020 (98)
  • February 2020 (75)
  • January 2020 (97)
  • December 2019 (92)
  • November 2019 (102)
  • October 2019 (113)
  • September 2019 (127)
  • August 2019 (139)
  • July 2019 (121)
  • June 2019 (110)
  • May 2019 (127)
  • April 2019 (116)
  • March 2019 (91)
  • February 2019 (92)
  • January 2019 (87)
  • December 2018 (93)
  • November 2018 (86)
  • October 2018 (82)
  • September 2018 (86)
  • August 2018 (78)
  • July 2018 (72)
  • June 2018 (74)
  • May 2018 (82)
  • April 2018 (76)
  • March 2018 (78)
  • February 2018 (71)
  • January 2018 (84)
  • December 2017 (75)
  • November 2017 (75)
  • October 2017 (79)
  • September 2017 (76)
  • August 2017 (62)
  • July 2017 (63)
  • June 2017 (62)
  • May 2017 (81)
  • April 2017 (65)
  • March 2017 (70)
  • February 2017 (69)
  • January 2017 (61)
  • December 2016 (53)
  • November 2016 (55)
  • October 2016 (62)
  • September 2016 (70)
  • August 2016 (43)
  • July 2016 (41)
  • June 2016 (20)
  • May 2016 (26)
  • April 2016 (41)
  • March 2016 (36)
  • February 2016 (31)
  • January 2016 (44)
  • December 2015 (45)
  • November 2015 (37)
  • October 2015 (38)
  • September 2015 (30)
  • August 2015 (20)
  • July 2015 (18)
  • June 2015 (31)
  • May 2015 (27)
  • April 2015 (24)
  • March 2015 (28)
  • February 2015 (28)
  • January 2015 (19)

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • Waikanae River Trail open, work on track surface continues June 28, 2022
  • Dr Hylton Le Grice: I am simply a New Zealand citizen June 28, 2022
  • Byzantine mosaics of Dear Leader (the other one) June 28, 2022
  • questions that KCDC Councilors should ask of the prospective CEO June 28, 2022
  • above the Te Arawai footbridge looking west June 28, 2022
  • In Dublin’s fair city… June 28, 2022
  • they can smell it clear across the Tasman June 28, 2022
  • cows, cars and Wokeists June 28, 2022
  • a song for the times: ‘Third World Man’ June 28, 2022
  • Simple fix to dire shortage of plasterboard June 27, 2022
  • the KCDC Councillors choose a new CEO on Wednesday June 27, 2022
  • Nikau Palm Road scene June 27, 2022
  • WHO study: risk of suffering Serious Injury due to Cv ‘vaccination’ is 339% higher than risk of being hospitalised with Cv June 27, 2022
  • Government inaction on refinery closure sparks shortages June 27, 2022
  • Healthy young people dying from ‘mysterious syndrome’: Officials urge under-40s to have their hearts examined June 27, 2022
  • more Mahuta hypocrisy June 27, 2022
  • Matariki in Reikorangi June 26, 2022
  • Maoriland Film Festival in Otaki begins this coming Wednesday June 26, 2022
  • NZ Sheriff’s van for villainous politicians June 26, 2022
  • south riverbank path scene June 26, 2022
  • NZ nurse on the cruelty of the Jacinda junta June 26, 2022
  • How schools are producing Artificial Stupidity June 26, 2022
  • Peter Williams’ full speech opposing Mahuta’s 3 Waters plans June 26, 2022
  • Cv ‘vaccines’ reactivate highly contagious viruses June 26, 2022
  • an appropriate quote regarding the Jacinda government June 26, 2022
  • NZ’s Health System in crisis June 26, 2022
  • Garrick Tremain cartoon: Labour Party think tank June 26, 2022
  • benefits of sea salt June 25, 2022
  • Mr Whip June 25, 2022
  • Boris gets another by-election bump in England June 25, 2022

  • Follow Following
    • Waikanae Watch
    • Join 383 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Waikanae Watch
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: