Because of the huge numbers of migrants to NZ in the last few years, half of America’s 50 states and the District of Columbia have a lower population than NZ (4.7 million) according to 2013 census data. The population of Louisiana was reported to be about the same as NZ last year (4,682,000).

Louisiana  4,625,470
Kentucky  4,395,295
Oregon  3,930,065
Oklahoma  3,850,568
Connecticut  3,596,080
Iowa  3,090,416
Mississippi  2,991,207
Arkansas  2,959,373
Utah  2,900,872
Kansas  2,893,957
Nevada  2,790,136
New Mexico  2,085,287
Nebraska  1,868,516
West Virginia  1,854,304
Idaho  1,612,136
Hawaii  1,404,054
Maine  1,328,302
New Hampshire  1,323,459
Rhode Island  1,051,511
Montana  1,015,165
Delaware  925,749
South Dakota  844,877
Alaska  735,132
North Dakota  723,393
District of Columbia  646,449
Vermont  626,630
Wyoming  582,658

What is wrong with people? Late last week a mature Bottlebrush tree outside 89 Warren Road was unceremoniously chopped to nothing, but a trunk. It looks awful. It is one less tree in this street. It also is a waste of rate-payers’ money & a waste of Council’s work. This vandalism has robbed the community […]

via More tree vandalism in Marrickville — SAVING OUR TREES – Marrickville municipality

As promised here our photos of this taken today.  Green leaves are starting to replace the blossoms so this won’t last much more than another few days.

There are presently 14 such homes in NZ — details on their website.

Cr David Scott has raised this issue at council meetings for a while, without much success.  We certainly need this for those who can’t afford the very high charges of the commercial operators.

Friday 6 October 2017, 10 am in the Rimu Room, 1st Floor Coastlands
Guest Speaker Professor Martin Manning ONZM
All interested are welcome

Learn more about the historic interactions between the Horowhenua District Council and Mr Taueki (whose supply has been cut) by reading former HDC Councilor Mrs Anne Hunt’s recent book titled ‘Man of Convictions’ (free download). Also go to this link to see a report by Marae TV and here for a recent article about Mr Taueki being […]

via Horowhenua District Council boss ignores pleas to turn on water supply — Rangitikei Enviromental Health Watch

By Malcolm Warr (1939- )

An explanation of this, mentioned in the previous post.

A couple of Sundays ago we, together with Sue Lusk and her sister, stood in the deserted Mahara Place and surveyed the dull paving slabs that fill nearly all of the pedestrian areas.  We all felt that it badly needs colour.  They also don’t like the two big phoenix palms, although we’re neutral about them and feel they should be OK if the main part of this area is covered in fake grass.

One of the questions that Waikanae Ward candidates at last year’s Grey Power meet the candidates meeting were asked was what this fund should be spent on.  The answer seems fairly obvious — give the Mahara Place open areas a makeover. (See the post on the Destination Waikanae AGM.)

An extract from the Reports and Recommendations of Community Boards and Standing Committees document is below.

The significant item is the abandonment of that sign — completely and with no alternative.

Otherwise, it deals with placements of new bus stops and names for the link roads at the north end of the ‘Ewy’: from SH1 to the Main Road (the Hadfield connection) and the new link road from Peka Peka Road to Te Kowhai Road.  As there are no addresses on either, it’s unlikely that people cared what they were named.

• Nga Manu is holding school holiday ‘Photo Safaris’ from 2 – 14 October 12 pm to 2:30 pm
• The Lions are having their annual book fair at the Waikanae Memorial Hall over the weekend of 14-15 — info
• Destinaton Waikanae has its Spring Market in Mahara Place on Saturday 21 from 9 am to 2 pm
• Over 28-29 there is the first weekend of the two-weekend Kapiti Arts Trail

There are probably more we aren’t yet aware of.

This little disagreeable fact is buried in a table to be found on page 114 of its draft annual report given to councilors for the council meeting today.

As a slight sweetener to that figure, however, the average interest rate it pays on its debt has fallen from 5.42% to 4.89%.

More revelations that won’t be in the media releases of Mr Dougherty’s “Communications Team” to follow.

Update

From the discussion on the Kapiti Coast Group FB page: not all the increased borrowing has been spent; there a net increase of $45 million in the amount stated as being held on term deposit, presumably with a bank, although there are no details about how long for and at what interest rate.  You’d think that it is at the same rate as what it has increased its borrowing by (it’s unlikely to be higher).  However, the issue remains — why borrow this massive extra amount if it’s not going to be used in the near future?  The whole assumption of an ever increasing number of ratepayers to service an ever-increasing amount of debt is worrying.