Much of the Hastings urban area was built on the flood plain. The wetlands were drained and stop-banks erected to contain the rivers and streams, protect the town and expedite […]
Napier issues “Pre-Election Report”
Meandering through the parliamentary process, courtesy of Local Government Minister Rodney Hide, is the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill. Here is Hide’s summary of the legislation, which he sees […]
One of the most polluted rivers in the world
Right here in clean, green New Zealand. That would be the Manawatu, which starts near Norsewood and flows through Palmerston North over to the sea at Foxton Beach. The “one […]
The real world of HB housing
Last Thursday, in the space of about thirty minutes, the Hastings Council adopted two major policy reports that will significantly guide the future of housing in the Hastings District. The […]
Is our region’s sport commitment sustainable?
Hastings Councillor Wayne Bradshaw, in his current BayBuzz Digest article, Measuring the Health of Bay Sport, argues that Sport in the Bay is on the ropes financially, and perhaps in […]
Wayne Bradshaw: Measuring the Health of Bay Sport
Sport, like most things, has changed significantly over the years. In my earlier years, I was actively involved in hockey (played then on grass fields not turf ), both as […]
Council debt … should we worry?
Collectively, the Hastings, Napier and Regional Councils project gross debt of $162 million for 2010/11. Mayor Yule, whose Hastings Council accounts for slightly more than half of that ($85 million), […]
Katherine Edmond: Council Debt … Should We Worry?
Debt is a burden, however you look at it. If you borrow money, you have to pay it back and when it’s local authorities doing the borrowing, the responsibility for […]
Council excellence
Here is an image many ratepayers have of our local councils … Like any large organization, our local bodies undoubtedly have the full range of employees — from the truly […]
Council Cam
In the forthcoming edition of BayBuzz Digest (watch for it this week), I discuss the election-year phenomenon in which all candidates enthusiastically endorse more efficient and responsive local government … […]
Tom Belford: Promising Good Government
During the upcoming campaigns, candidates will put forward all sorts of proposals aimed at assuring voters that we will get more efficient and responsive local government … if only they […]
Protecting urban & suburban trees
On Monday the 2nd, beginning at 9:30 am, the Hearings Committee of the Hastings Council will be considering Plan Change 51, which amends the protections in the District Plan for […]
Pandaland or Wasteland?
Here’s a guest article from our regular weekend columnist, Andrew Frame. Apparently he’s so worked up about the Napier Council that he couldn’t wait till Saturday! Tom Pandaland or Wasteland? […]
Greater role for Maori in regional resource policy
Last week, Chris Finlayson, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, made an announcement of crucial importance to Hawke’s Bay. He announced that the Crown would work with the Regional Council […]
I’m standing for Regional Council
Today I officially filed as a candidate for the Regional Council. I am pleased to be nominated by Claire Vogtherr, local business, education and civic leader, and by Bruno Chambers, […]
Man About Town
Bus-ted By Andrew Frame Put simply, Napier’s newest Inter-city bus stop is a disgrace. Earlier this month Intercity moved its bus stop from the former railway station, to outside the […]
Fresh start for Cranford?
Today Cranford Hospice has a brand new Board (see below) and Charter. Naturally, those on the selection panel are pleased with their work (media release here) … and as best […]
Regional Council capitulates … sort of
On Wednesday, the HB Regional Council decided under duress to release much of the independent review of its hearings process and management thereof, mainly in respect to handling of water […]
National listens to its fly fishermen
National is taking a hammering from various pundits for reversing field on the mining issue. Here’s just one example. Says Tim Watkin, writing on the Pundit website: “The government says […]
Lessons from Farmers Weekly
Yes, all the animals on our property have names, but I’m still an avid reader of Farmers Weekly. Its news from around the country helps me better appreciate what’s going […]