2 Waitomo News Tuesday, November 6, 2012
NOVEMBER 2012
ADVERTISING
SPECIALS
THIS COLUMN is to keep readers informed of any
current advertising specials on offer, as well as our
policies with regard to regular components of the
newspaper i.e. sportswrap, letters to the editor and
thumbs etc.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries
on 07 878 1188 or email
[email protected]
CLASSIFIEDS
ATTENTION
GETTERS
Add an ‘ATTENTION GETTER’ to your run-on
advert for $2.60 and get spot colour FREE.
Examples can be seen in the classified section.
Special offer only available during November 2012.
Conditions apply.
CONTACT TE KUITI
Jan or Liza
p 07 878 1188 f 07 878 1187
e [email protected]
CONTACT OTOROHANGA
Stacey
p 07 873 7139 f 07 873 7138
e [email protected]
E
SAV
$$$
DISPLAY
HALF PRICE
SPECIAL
Run two advertisements during the month of
November and get the 3rd HALF PRICE
(casual advertisers only /conditions apply)
CONTACT TE KUITI
Rochelle or Janis
p 07 878 1188 f 07 878 1187
e [email protected]
CONTACT OTOROHANGA
Sam
p 07 873 7139 f 07 873 7138
e [email protected]
Achieving the best possible outcomes
Our planning work is underway and I will keep
WELCOME to this month’s column.
you updated as best we can as we go forward.
Like many of you, I read Otorohanga mayor Dale
Williams’ recently published comments on the GovWASTEWATER UPGRADE
ernment proposal for legislative change which will
Many of you would have seen the earthworks
in turn open the way for Local Government Reform.
being carried out at the Te Kuiti Sewage Plant.
(Waitomo News, October 25)
Running parallel to this construction, we have
At a mayor and chief executive level, we have been
been working on the renewal of our resource conengaged for some time, with Otorohanga around the
sent with the Waikato Regional Council.
need to consider and prepare for the implications of
We are very appreciative of the ongoing support
the Local Government Amendment Bill, which may
of the local Resource Management committee of
pass into law as early as next month.
the Maniapoto Maori Trust Board and its affected
We have also been fully engaged, with the
regional management committee.
Waikato Mayoral Forum which is made up of all
By Waitomo Mayor
The board, in particular, has supported this
the local authorities throughout the Waikato, lookproject
from day one.
ing at all and every opportunity for the better and
Brian Hanna
I am also pleased to report that the recently
more efficient delivery of local government across
completed Piopio Sewage Scheme is performing very well and
the region.
The bottom line for that work is the prime goal of delivering achieving results well above the consent requirements.
better service for our customers, you our ratepayers.
However, I have long since formed the view that Government TE KUITI COURT
In My View
wants much more than an incremental improvement in the
delivery of more services for the same or less cost.
In my opinion the desired end game is a much reduced number
of local authorities.
I believe that Waitomo councillors are elected by you, to lead,
so as to achieve the best possible outcomes for our district’s
community.
To sit on our hands and take what comes is not good leadership.
I firmly believe it is our clear responsibility to prepare and
plan prudently, so our district communities are not the “victim”
of someone else’s narrow business or economic goals who may
well have no interest in our district.
We must work to achieve the best community outcomes over
time which put the needs and aspirations of our North King
Country community first so that our local government is in a
strong position, and can lobby for and achieve the best result
for our ratepayers.
There are three key areas that we must prepare well for in
any reorganisation plan:
Firstly, the retention of local democracy and decision-making.
Secondly, retaining our identity as a strong force in the
southwest Waikato.
Thirdly, that we retain efficient local delivery of our core
services and you, our customers, retain the same access to those
services that you enjoy now.
I firmly believe that a ‘super council’ concept for say, a greater
Waikato council, will not deliver on these three key areas for
our North King Country community.
F thumbs
L
A
up/down
H
E
PRIC
EDITORIAL
We welcome your stories and story tips. If supplying photographs we require high resolution (a minimum of 1MB)
jpgs. Please note that due to occasional space constraints,
sports results/draws may not be published.
Please contact the editorial team
t 07 878 1188
f 07 878 1187
e [email protected]
LETTER & THUMBS RULES
No Letters to the Editor or Thumbs Up/Down will be published unless
the name of writer, full address and daytime contact phone number are
included for verification.
Letters and Thumbs Up/Down are published at the editor’s discretion
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Waitomo News. In
general, Thumbs Up are to acknowledge random acts of kindness
while Thumbs Down generally reflect the opposite – they should be
50 words or less. Should you have a complaint regarding a business,
please address that with the owner/s rather than via these columns.
The editor reserves the right to abridge letters and preference is given
to letters not longer than 300 words and those without a pseudonym.
Letters and Thumbs Up/Down can be sent to The Editor, Waitomo
News, PO Box 279, Te Kuiti, fax (07) 878 1187, or email
[email protected]
THUMBS UP to Warren
Hitchen for the picture
of Te Kuiti on the local
Lions caravan – the Lions
are most deserving and
it is great that Warren
acknowledges this (Waitomo News, November 1).
A Loyal Supporter
Te Kuiti
THUMBS UP to Maurice and Monica Louis at
Art Doc for their recent
French cultural happening. My soul was nurtured
with cheeky French songs
and jazz (that I ache for).
It was a touch of all sorts
including a harakeke
(flax) display, a demonstration and revealing
the secret to crisp French
bread – all at an affordable price (a rarity) – at
Benneydale.
Last Friday, Waipa mayor Alan Livingstone, King Country
Justices of the Peace chairman Murray Loewenthal and I, met
with senior justice and court officials.
We wanted to strongly let our views be known in regard to
the proposed closures of both Te Kuiti and Te Awamutu courts
to all but hearing days, which in the case of Te Kuiti, is eight
days a month. Story, P1-3
We have put forward a comprehensive submission, having
worked up some very viable alternatives.
Alan and I are not stopping there, and are planning to meet
with the Minister for Courts shortly.
I have also made my views clear to our National MP Shane
Ardern about the Government’s lack of a clear strategy for
rural NZ.
On the one hand, they want an export led recovery, which
comes from rural NZ and agriculture, and then on the other side
of the ledger, I am spending a large amount of my time fighting
to save our essential rural services, such as adequate policing,
drivers licensing, and access to courts.
What is next?
HANGATIKI INTERSECTION
It is pleasing to see action on this, which is well overdue.
I wish to thank the people of both Otorohanga and Waitomo
districts who have sent in ideas to both the Waitomo News and
me personally.
I have passed these on to the New Zealand Transport
Agency.
I also would like to commend this newspaper for leading the
campaign for improvements to be made.
IN BRIEF
Ananamu
Te Kuiti
THUMBS DOWN to
the little boys chasing and
throwing stones at the
defenceless ducks opposite Tiffany’s in Te Kuiti on
Sunday.
Bet that makes you feel
like real tough men.
Sad for You
Te Kuiti
THUMBS DOWN to
the lawnmowers in Te
Kuiti township. I trust that
the grass will be cut very
soon at Centennial Park.
Have we new contractors? If so, why?
I thought the previous
contractor did a very
good job.
Hay Paddock
Te Kuiti
SPCA appeal
IT’S SPCA’s Annual Appeal Week.
During the week, people are encouraged to support their SPCA branches
to make New Zealand a safer place
for animals and humans.
The society’s work is almost entirely
funded by the annual appeal, other
donations, sponsorships and legacies
provided by generous New Zealanders. Donate to street collectors, at any
ASB bank branch, or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900
4PAWS (0900 4 7297).
New skills test now law
AN improved and strengthened basic
handling skills test for motorcycle riders came into force on Thursday.
New Zealand Transport Agency
spokesman Jim Furneaux says the
changes to the test aim to ensure that
novice motorcyclists have a higher
level of basic skills so that they are
better prepared to ride safely once
they obtain their learner licence.
They follow on from a suite of changes
to the graduated motorcycle licensing
system introduced earlier this month.
A new competency-based training
and assessment option for novice motorcyclists is expected in late 2013, as
an alternative path through the licensing stages.
For more information, visit the website
– nzta.govt.nz/licence/getting/motorcycles/skills-test.html
Council borrowing
WAITOMO District Council is to consult with the community over its intention to take part in the Local Government Funding Agency as a borrower.
Mayor Brian Hanna says the advantage for the council is the agency provides the “cheapest cost of funds”.
It will also give the council a longer
period of funding and an additional
funding source.
WRA appointment
WAITOMO District Council has ratified mayor Brian Hanna’s support f of
Waipa mayor Alan Livingston’s reappointment as the Crown appointee to
the Waikato River Authority.