“Artist’s impression of area connecting to Frater Lane”

At present this is a nondescript area (see above Google satellite view), basically just an expanse of asphalt and few are likely to encounter it unless they walk from the Grand Car Park to Mahara Place.

Frater Lane itself isn’t much different.  Vehicle access to it from the Main road is controlled by a gate.

Nevertheless, the council has decided to pretty it up somewhat, mostly with a modest rectangle of (Maori design?) paving as shown in sketch form in the third pic.

This is scheduled to be done next month.

As it ought to be considered. In the northern hemisphere the equinoxes mark the beginning of spring and autumn, while the solstices mark the beginning of winter and summer.

The pic shows acer (maple) foliage in our garden which will fall to the ground over the next two months. The lancewood (pseudopanax) on the left is evergreen.

Horowhenua District Council lost $1.86 million on the sale of the pensioner housing and 1.1 hectare of bare land to land and property dealer Willis Bond according to a recently released Audit NZ report. The loss on the sale contradicts statements made by council’s chief executive David Clapperton in an April 5, 2017 Community Connections […]

via Audit NZ report of Horowhenua District Council highlights continuing concerns — Rangitikei Enviromental Health Watch

We’re always happy to publish people’s views on current matters, including those relevant outside Waikanae and Kapiti.  They do not necessarily reflect our views.

by Jim Cable

The Nelson Mail published this letter from me on 19 March after “editing” two pieces from it.  Possibly, the first cut was justifiable on grounds of taste — but I feel the second, given the substance of the letter, was indefensible.  After speaking to an editorial staffer yesterday, in attempt to ascertain the reason, I told him I would circulate the “unexpurgated” version.

Here’s the original letter showing the cuts.

Today, almost every contentious issue seems to be handled back-to-front.  For example, police are charged with preventing crime and sometimes need to take firm measures.  So if smart-ass-drivers or wanted criminals opt to flee to avoid arrest, is it really in society’s interest that police abandon pursuits because someone might get hurt?  Doesn’t such wishy-washiness convey all the wrong signals and encourage more boneheads to take their chances?
On Sunday, two long-record criminals — disqualified drivers with outstanding warrants — opted to flee and, tragically, a well-respected woman was an innocent victim when they inadvertently exterminated themselves.  We all grieve deeply for that lady, and for her family who’re paying hugely for the murderous willfulness of two who should have been dealt-to far more severely, far earlier in their lives.
We have Andrew Little’s idiot desire to see our prisons emptied.  Patently, he completely ignores the fact that many inmates will always be a threat to our society and that, outside capital punishment, there’s simply no other option.  The PC-inspired stupidity of abolishing corporal punishment in schools, together with Helen Clark’s outlawing of parental smacking, have spawned a generation unconcerned about the consequences of its actions – let alone any thought of embracing personal responsibility.

The message below was sent to councilors and community board members last Friday evening:

TO: Elected Members FROM: Jacquie Muir DATE: 16 March 2018

SUBJECT: Food Act 2014 and notification of planned visit to Waikanae Market

It’s time for our team to continue their work that we began in October 2017 with Food Markets. This included our initial visit and two stakeholder events. The purpose was to inform and educate our operators and market managers about the mandatory Food Act 2014 changes coming in 2018. Members of my environmental standards team are planning to visit the Waikanae Market on Saturday 24 March 2018 to further advise stall operators and holders about their responsibilities under the Act.

The last time we went out, it garnered quite a bit of local and national media attention. Council is required by legislation to carry out our functions, duties and roles under the Food Act to ensure all food sold in our community is safe and suitable. This is part of a wider programme we are undertaking with all food businesses within the District. We would appreciate support from any available elected member/s to attend the Waikanae Market on Saturday 24 March, making themselves accessible to the community as the Council staff move around and communicate with food operators.

The “media attention” mentioned was quite negative. The initial story entitled “Kapiti Markets under threat” appeared on the KC News website last November here

A slightly earlier article on KC News read:

Kapiti Council is talking to local market managers and regular stall holders about changes to the way food sellers need to operate in New Zealand by March 2018. This is the latest phase in a process to inform all Kapiti food sellers about implementing changes required under the new Food Act 2014.

Food sellers now need to be registered with local councils which administer and legally enforce the new Act on behalf of the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).

Food stalls operating at markets are included and will need to pay a fee for registration and verification of a food control plan.

Depending on the type of food being sold, fees range from $150 to $300 for registration, and $450 to $600 for verification. These charges are set by local councils.

Council representatives visited local markets recently to hand out information and explain the new requirements

Clearly the line about fees — our emphasis — is what everyone is most upset about. The rapaciousness of the KCDC when it comes to revenue (except from property developers) is well-known.

The council person who sent the above message is no doubt hoping that elected members will be there to get the public on-side, although whether any will show is dubious — they generally prefer not to be associated with unpopular measures.

A similar visitation by council staff to the Paraparaumu Beach Market produced a bad reaction and much stress.

In fairness, the regulatory changes to the Food Act have been the initiative of the central government and not the council, and likely motivated by concern about ‘ethnic’ food trucks in the south Auckland area.  In May 2016 we posted this Los Angeles Times story about food trucks there lagging behind in food safety and cleanliness, and such concern here is understandable.

But what can be amiss with things like home-grown fruit and vegetables, free range eggs, baking, confectionery and jam?

Is it a case of ‘using a sledgehammer to crack a nut’?

Schedule 1 to the Food Act lists “Food sectors subject to food control plans”.

And for those excited by officialdom, the Food Safety Law Reform Act 2018 which came into effect on 1 March is here 

Originally posted on Nwo Report: by AWR Hawkins The guns and ammunition of a 56-year-old Lighthouse Point, Florida, resident were confiscated by police in what is reportedly the first such seizure under gun control laws signed by Gov. Rick Scott (R) last week. The Orlando Sentinel reports that “four firearms and 267 rounds of ammunition”…

via It Begins: Florida Resident’s Firearms, Ammunition Confiscated Under Gun Control Law — Rangitikei Enviromental Health Watch

From Karl Webber, 14 March.

“Mint day for it, nice little surf at the beach to paddle out on and they were expecting a nice north westerly this afternoon to surf / paddle back with” 🙂

“This is one of many of the fantastic Whitireia Outdoors courses offered locally.”

It was an assembly of Hot Rods, Classics, Kustoms and Muscle Cars — porn for petrolheads (or gearheads if you’re American) and definitely not a place for Low-Carbon types!

Nearly all cars were American with a scattering of Australian and a Brit lurking here and there — but no Germans or Japs.

A stage with bands (playing songs such as ‘Life is a Highway’), fashion shows and vendors filled out the spare space.

Here’s a few of the many pics we took — a second batch tomorrow.

Summing up the theme of the day?  A 1971 Mercury Cougar

1963 Plymouth Belvedere

1957 Lincoln

1959 Plymouth Savoy

a 1958 Edsel Citation — with the famous horse collar grille (it has been likened to other things)

A diminutive Brit — a 1973 Ford Escort.  The standard car was quite underpowered, but this looks to have been given some extra grunt.

at the other end of the scale, a car that’s even bigger than it looks — a 1963 Cadillac Coupe de Ville

Despite a resolution passed by the Westland District Council in 2009, to keep the deadly pesticide-insecticide – 1080 poison – out of water catchments – ridgeline to ridgeline – the Animal Health Board breached the council’s decision, and in August 2012, poisoned the Hokitika watercatchment, again … (the GrafBoys’ channel) TheGrafBoys Published on Aug 24, […]

via In New Zealand, it’s the authorities contaminating the waterways with 1080 poison & the people fighting to keep their water pure are getting arrested doing it — Rangitikei Enviromental Health Watch