Mayor Yule, meet Mayor Arnott. As much as you claim you and other local elected leaders have linked arms to put amalgamation on the agenda, consider this … You indeed […]
Posted inHB Recovery
HB Regional Recovery Agency presents priorities
The HB Regional Recovery Agency has prepared a briefing for incoming Government ministers on behalf of the region’s five Councils and Iwi and Post Settlement Governance Entities. Leaders of these entities […]
Posted inPolitics, Water
“Oh shit!”
Hawke’s Bay’s local elected officials spent most of the past three years wailing about the Labour Government’s ‘3 Waters’ plan to consolidate the planning and delivery of water services. Labour’s […]
Posted inAccountability, CHB, HBRC, HDC, NCC, Politics, WDC
Councils will open doors … next year.
A month ago BayBuzz wrote here about the Ombudsman calling upon local councils to open their ‘workshops’ — the now-closed sessions where the heavy lifting of council decision-making gets done. […]
Posted inAccountability, HBRC, Politics, Spending, Water
Water Barons’ debt
You might recall that a handful of Ruantaniwha dam consent holders — Water Holdings HB — led by Tim Gilbertson owe $382,956 to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for the […]
Posted inCommunity, HDC, Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air, Safety, Spotlight
Showgrounds grandstand to bite the dust
The Tōmoana Showgrounds grandstand will be demolished for safety reasons, beginning next April. This means the structure will be standing, but unused, for next year’s Horse of the Year, to […]
Posted inMaori, Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air, Social, Wellbeing
Fighting for whanau care of children
A section of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 put into place to improve outcomes for tamariki Māori is set to be repealed by the new coalition government. Section advocates say […]
Posted inCommunity, Poverty, Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air, Spotlight
Chantal’s charity cookie campaign
It’s the start of the silly season and overindulgence, but for some people out there it’s also a stark reminder of going without. For the third consecutive year, Chantal Organics, and […]
Posted inNational politics, Politics
First 100 days … what matters to HB?
The Government has announced 49 actions it will take in its first 100 days. Some of those would affect all New Zealanders, at least indirectly, like #14: Stop blanket speed […]
Posted inEnvironment, HBRC, National politics, Water
Our waterways overloaded with contaminants
For the first time, under National Science Challenge auspices, NZ’s waterways have been assessed against ‘minimum acceptable’ contaminant standards carefully, scientifically set in the current National Policy Statement for Freshwater […]
Posted inBusiness/Economy, Community
Being charitable reigns this Christmas
Forget the bottle of wine or box of chocolates, Hawke’s Bay businesses are increasingly looking to make their corporate giving more meaningful this Christmas by gifting back to their local […]
Posted inHB Recovery, NCC, Politics, Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air, Water
NCC releases Annual Report
Napier City Council has released its 2022/23 Annual Report. It shows that drinking water remained the issue of greatest concern to the community, with satisfaction in Napier for the year […]
Posted inBiodiversity, Environment, Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air
Shark, dusky dolphin, orcas – busy week
The stranding of a basking shark at Marine Parade beach, Napier is relatively unusual, but what makes it more unusual is that it was of a relatively small juvenile says Department […]
Posted inCommunity, HBRC, HDC, Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air, Spotlight
Cape Coast crusader passes the lance
Coastal protection group WOW is handing over its role to a new coastal and flood protection group, the Cape Coast Community Group (CCCG), to try and resolve concerns around Cape Coast flooding, drainage […]
Posted inCulture, Food & Drink
Potluck
[As published in Nov/Dec BayBuzz magazine.] Tis the season for gatherings and nothing says gathering like a Boxing Day sale, a fire alarm drill or a potluck meal. The shared […]
Posted inCommunity, Lifestyle
In defense of pyjamas
[As published in Nov/Dec BayBuzz magazine.] Remember when you first moved here? Or for you returnees, when you first came home? You were stunned by the scenery and the fresh […]
Posted inHB Recovery, HBRC, Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air, Safety
HBRC progress on woody debris
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is removing nearly 150,000 tonnes of woody debris from Hawke’s Bay rivers and catchments, 17,500 of that in Wairoa, allowing popular beaches to be safely accessed […]
Posted inCommunity, Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air, Social
Age Concern groups merge
Given limited resources and a need to work collaboratively, Age Concern Havelock North and Age Concern Hawke’s Bay have merged – under the name Age Concern Hawke’s Bay. Age Concern […]
Posted inHB Recovery, Land/Farming, Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air
Free fencing aids cyclone stricken farmers
Throughout Hawke’s Bay, 622 farmers whose infrastructure was destroyed in Cyclone Gabrielle registered for free fencing. The fencing is part of an initiative run by the Rapid Relief Team charity […]
Posted inBiodiversity, Environment, HBRC
Cape Sanctuary hiding behind fence
BayBuzz has written a series of articles (most recent, and here) on Cape Sanctuary’s mishandling of endangered kiwi under its stewardship in recent years. This past week, Newsroom environment editor, David Williams, has […]
Posted inNational politics, Politics
Coalition in place – signals sent
Governing is simply about policies and the people charged with forming and implementing them. On Friday, the new Government announced its Cabinet – the people side – alongside its policy […]