We didn’t mention this before Christmas, wanting to encourage support for local business instead, but with the pre-Xmas period over, firebox.com specialises in odd merchandise that you may not find anywhere else.

Examples:

For Jacinda supporters — a Covid-19 soft toy. After all you should be grateful — if it was not for the Coronavirus flap and the opportunity for long appearances by Dear Leader on TV every day because of it, she may not have been re-elected. This can sit on your desk, and whenever a supporter of another political leader says something in opposition to her, instead of launching into a tirade at them, use this as a squeeze ball for stress relief…

For Jacinda opponents — wherever a Jacinda supporter gets stroppy, or gets too close to you, give him/her a zap with this extendable (up to 6ft) zapper while proclaiming, “You’re not keeping socially distant! Obey your leader! Put your mask back on!”

More for the armchair traveler

from Ecocide Awareness NZ

Admin are extremely concerned for public health and safety now that almost the entire West Coast of South Island is currently covered in deadly pesticides — mainly 1080, and also cyanide and others poisons, aerial and distributed by hand.

From Kohaihai Bluff, North of Oparara River, all the way down to Wanganui Bluff, near Poerua River, around Hari Hari – there are multiple poison operations in and around the coasts, rivers, estuaries and forests. And astonishingly, even more are planned. That’s over 300 km of poison signage. This presents a high risk of contamination of drinking water and our food chains.

As New Zealanders travel around our country during the Christmas holidays, often for the first time – we URGE people to be aware, to take precautions and to share your knowledge of the pesticide risks with others. Remember: 1080 poison has NO ANTIDOTE.

If you have internet coverage where you are =- much of the West Coast sadly does not — check Dept of Conservation Pesticide Summary interactive maps, alongside the regional councils and Ospri websites. If you do not have access to the internet, please visit your local council and DoC office (if they are open to the public) and insist that the staff find out whether an area is contaminated. Do NOT rely on signage as this is often missing, unhelpful and/or illegible.

This looks like it was quite some party. 🙂

That sort of cost for a structure smaller in area than our kitchen while very high is not particularly surprising; it’s the nature of government. The essential question is why weren’t 24/7 facilities included in the design of the main station building a decade ago?

How many decorated trees there were we lost count of when we visted last night, but there must have been at least 100. It was simply a wow experience! 🙂

The Reikorangi display (last photo above) included a running waterfall and bird sounds! 🙂

by Geoffrey and Eva

It’s an understatement to say this year has not been a good one for a lot of people, and so for us. The lowpoint was the loss of our beloved cat Gingernut in June, followed by the vicious attack on us by the neurotic Cr Prvanov in August. But as in the past, well-wishers came forward and we were astonished to get over 1,200 messages of support.

Holding the District’s council to account has become more important than ever and the frustratiions that many Ratepayers report experiencing don’t seem to diminish, rather the opposite. The council bosses and a handful of their fawning councilors, including Prvanov, may not like what we have to say, but we only need to say it because they don’t do the right thing.

We often talk with KCDC’s three good councilors, as well as voluntary workers, activists and other media folk. In addition to getting their insights, it’s therapeutic to have discussions with thoughtful, intelligent people who provide different perspectives.

Next year will be eventful with, among other things, the government’s ‘Three Waters’ plan which will strip councils of about one third of their asset base and place it in a new bureaucracy — what could possibly go wrong?

We wish readers happy holidays and at least a better 2021.

Another Wilson Lattley work, see earlier posts for more.