Here’s a ‘best of’ assortment of 2024 BayBuzz articles you might find useful and/or entertaining … and meriting a second read if you’ve seen before.
Politics – Still timely
The first group is meatier stuff, but each one, while written in the past year, helps set the stage for issues likely to be contentious in the coming year.
Who’s in charge of HB’s future – will it be our councils or some purpose-built new regional entity?
Where to put 16,320 dwellings? – HDC, NCC and HBRC have proposed their carve-up of the Heretaunga Plains. Is their plan intelligent, political, both?
HB councils employ 1,665 – candidates will run this year claiming to cut costs/rates. How realistic will those claims be?
Ruataniwha Dam 2 to search for viability – it’s back, but is the case any stronger?
How can we keep kids in schools? – a threshold social and economic well-being issue, not simple to resolve.
And here are two issues the Government has forced on our 2025 agenda – Māori wards and water services.
For four of our councils, Māori wards are up for public vote – here’s some analysis, and a call for leadership on the matter … Poll indicates HB support for Māori seats on councils and MPs shirk leadership on Māori wards
Gov’t ‘3 Waters’ scheme leaves tab with ratepayers – HB’s water services will be delivered differently … the Government insists. Amalgamation (call it what you like) is coming for our most vital councils’ function.
Business
All businesses evolve … or fail. Intriguing stories about some of HB’s old and new.
HB’s mystery businesses – Part 1 and Part 2
Bostock … cashed up to re-focus
Environment
BayBuzz writes a huge amount on the environment, making it a special challenge to select out a few. But these two deal with a couple of the Bay’s most outstanding natural assets. One well into a recovery strategy, the other just taking hopeful form.
A taonga in our hands: The future of Ahuriri Estuary
Lifestyle
And for your entertainment …
A crush course in wine lingo – Yvonne Lorkin
Women need muscle – Janine Couchman
I just wish the world wanted fondue back! – Ian Thomas
Great yoga venues in the Bay – Kate McLeay
Young at heart – Damon Harvey
A tale of two houses – Part 2 – Mark Sweet
I am not a robot – Jess Soutar Barron
