Conscious that this is my last opinion offering for 2024 I have elected to be a little reflective with a wee touch of future thinking. This has been – and continues to be – a…
Conscious that this is my last opinion offering for 2024 I have elected to be a little reflective with a wee touch of future thinking. This has been – and continues to be – a…
With the holiday season soon to be in full swing, the message is again one of protecting yourself from opportunistic crime, socialising sensibly and driving safely. This week we have had a few reported burglaries,…
Parking plans I have now read several articles on parking recently that all put up an argument from different perspectives. Previously, I served at Heart of Gisborne for six years, including three as City Manager,…
Early in the morning of 10 June 1886, surveyor John Rochfort in Kihikihi experienced a bizarre show on the horizon beyond Maungatautari. “I was awakened by what sounded like an irregular discharge of artillery… I…
Among several coins that I have dating from the antiquities is a genuine ‘widow’s mite’. Also known as a lepton, meaning ‘small,’ these coins were made of bronze. Their tiny size matches their value –…
As I have previously said, it has been an interesting experience getting involved in local government as a councillor. We are currently working through our Long Term Plan and trying to minimise future rates rises…
On November 27 the Reserve Bank reduced their Official Cash Rate by 50 basis points to 4.25 per cent. This was what most market participants had been expecting, though a few were hoping for a…
Police from across the district farewelled former Detective Paul Galletta at a service at Waikato Stadium last Wednesday. Paul died last month aged 62. He touched many through his involvement in rugby at all levels,…
There have been flight cancellations in Indonesia recently following the eruption of Lewotobi Laki-laki, reminding us that volcanoes can impact areas far away from the eruption location. Volcanic ash is the most far-reaching hazard that…
Being ‘precise’ has importance for good reasons. Multiple areas of life demonstrate how a ‘near enough will do’ approach can result in disaster. Engineers and builders understand why it’s important not to take liberty with…
