HBRC on Wednesday approved a new apportionment of its rates structure. The overall effect is to tilt more of the Council’s rate burden – whatever that is at any point […]
Dogs, halls, Unison substation on rural agenda
An increase in dog control fees, rural halls maintenance funding, and a proposal from Unison to rebuild a replacement substation at the rear of the Tutira Hall Reserve were all […]
Presbyterian Support embraces environmental sustainability
Environmental sustainability and social development are intertwined for local not-for-profit charity Presbyterian Support East Coast (PSEC), which has produced its first environmental, social and governance (ESG) report. PSEC chief executive […]
Napier Port berths 1000th cruise ship
This cruise season is set to be Napier Port’s busiest yet with more than 130,000 cruise visitors expected to boost Hawke’s Bay’s economy. The Port recently welcomed ‘Silver Muse’, its […]
Napier previews ‘low 20s’ rate increase
We need to have open, transparent and honest conversations about rates. Not just in Napier but all over the country. Rates are currently being set for the year. In a […]
Poking at pokies
A High Court landmark decision around pokie venues relocating is a step in the right direction, but unlikely to make a big impact on gambling harm reduction in Hawke’s Bay says […]
Dam advocates get massive relief on water charges
Trying to take a simmering issue off the stove, HB Regional Council chief executive Dr Nic Peet has awarded $255,362.45 in relief from water charges to Water Holdings Hawkes Bay […]
Standard & Poor gives HDC negative outlook
Standard & Poor Global Ratings, judge of the credit worthiness of many NZ local councils, including our major cities, has downgraded its outlook on 15 of them, including Hastings District […]
Cosplay and kotahitanga: Napier’s 2024 Art Deco Festival
In Napier’s CBD on the morning of Thursday 15 February, having just ordered my regular flat white from Ella at Georgia on Tennyson, I put the standard question to her: […]
Te Awanga film studio finally approved!
The proposed film production facility at Te Awanga – Parkhill Studios, Hawke’s Bay’s No8 Studios – this week has finally been cleared by the Environment Court. Resource consents for a purpose-built […]
Wairoa stakeholders examine flood protection options
For Wairoa doing nothing, like after Cyclone Bola in 1988, is no longer an option in terms of flood mitigation. Per capita, Wairoa was the most impacted community of Tairāwhiti […]
HBRC Chair Hinewai Ormsby on the year ahead
Stopbanks, gravel and silt are to the HB Regional Council what roads, bridges and ‘3 Waters’ are to our territorial authorities. A huge budget-busting infrastructure challenge. When I interviewed HBRC […]
Regional Council needs $10m more
At their Corporate and Strategic Committee meeting next Wednesday, Regional Councillors will be considering the need for a $10 million rates increase in 2024/25. As explained to me … “Currently […]
HB commercial fishers more confident
A year on from Cyclone Gabrielle and Hawke’s Bay’s commercial fishers are still dealing with lost grounds, but the situation isn’t as bad as was first expected. FirstMate’s general manager […]
Flaxmere students drive solar project
Flaxmere College students have conceived and fundraised for a solar project to provide for the school’s electricity needs. The first phase is installed … and eventually the system will provide […]
Local to run the world’s toughest footrace
Runners, to those who would only ever run to catch a bus, are a crazy breed, and Andrew McCrory takes the cup for the craziest of them all. He’s certifiably […]
Hastings company leads NZ tyre disposal scheme
Minimising the environmental impacts of end-of-life tyres by managing these tyres from collection through to processing is the key to Tyrewise, a first of its kind regulated product stewardship programme. […]
The Infrastructure Queen
In a recent interview with Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst, I asked about her top three priorities for the year. There was no surprise about #1: cyclone recovery and infrastructure repair, […]
Disaster readiness lessons
This week marks a year since Cyclone Gabrielle caused devastation across the region, and as Hawke’s Bay councils prepare to commemorate the event, Hastings District Council has taken the opportunity […]
HBRC welcomes $40m more for silt removal
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is grateful for additional government funding to the Silt Recovery Taskforce. However, while it’s good news for the region, the funds are about $20 million short. […]