March 23, 2008
Bay Buzz has invited me to comment on the issue of water. Like any reasonable person I am concerned about the state of the region’s vital water resource. I am also concerned that many Hawkes Bay people have lost confidence in the quality of our water, especially in respect to the Tukituki, which I will [...]
March 20, 2008
During its recent budget deliberations, the Hastings Council decided not to add $33,500 for additional waste minimisation programs — advertising, education efforts, computer recycling — leaving the budget for such activities at its current level ($16,000). Councillors drew the line after a fervent presentation by staff and more strenuous debate — again, over $33.5K — [...]
March 19, 2008
Hastings District Council sexton, Steve Hibberd, says the decision to impose a total fire ban across the region is behind the unprecedented backlog at the city’s crematorium (pictured). “Let’s just say there’s no room at the inn,” Mr Hibberd said. “There are more people lying prone in here than a Chinese opium den.” He says [...]
March 18, 2008
BayBuzz is showing that citizens can make a difference. But with your help we can do even more! Can you … Do issue research? Offer expertise on specific issues? Write persuasively? Entertainingly? Dig into numbers (like Councils’ budgets)? Create (cartoons, flyers, web pages, ads)? Organize (BayBuzz supporter database, promotions, events)? Do legal work (submissions, official [...]
March 17, 2008
hos·pi·tal·i·ty – noun . friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests. It’s the latest workplace hobby. Come Monday morning, colleagues synchronise cell phones, sprint to the watercooler and play “who was served the worst”. Personally, my interest was piqued a few months back, where over dessert at a Stortford Lodge restaurant, our table overheard the [...]
March 14, 2008
I emailed Regional Councillor Eileen von Dadelszen asking why she didn’t attend Wednesday’s HBRC-sponsored meeting on the Tukituki. After all, the issue does concern her immediate constituents and she chairs the Council’s Environmental Management Committee. Here is the astonishing reply I received (which I dare not paraphrase, lest I not do it justice): Good evening [...]
March 13, 2008
Just got home from the HBRC’s “Let’s Talk Tukituki” meeting … it’s after 11pm … so this report will be brief. Nice to see many BayBuzzers in the crowd. In fact, the biggest meeting room at the Havelock North Community Center was packed to the walls … I’d guesstimate 200 or so in attendance. I’ll [...]
- Andrew Reyngoud on DAM(N)! A half-billion dollar water storage scheme
- Margaret Donnelly on WATER. What's all the fuss about?
- Elizabeth Sisson on 'Dump Council' campaign
- Paul Bailey on Cows in Karamu Stream
- Rob Pharazyn on Cows in Karamu Stream
- John J Harrison on 5 mayors in HB ... 'Yeah right' says Tui
- Anne Parker on Let's get Council meetings online
- Stuart Nash on 5 mayors in HB ... 'Yeah right' says Tui
- Kylie Fowler on Let's get Council meetings online
- Paul Bailey on Let's get Council meetings online
- ‘Dump Council’ campaign
- Cows in Karamu Stream
- Questions for HB ‘regional study’ director
- Let’s get Council meetings online
- 5 mayors in HB … ‘Yeah right’ says Tui
- Crucial Environment Court hearing underway
- Regional Council warns on pollution standards
- Democracy in action?
- 1+1+1 = 3 hours
- Councils’ reorganization survey results
