Kapiti Council says Patels will have to wait for action on parking crisis
By Alan Tristram
The Kapiti Coast District Council (KCDC) says the Patel family who run the Raumati Beach Four Square will have to wait at least a further three weeks before customers can get a quick park near their shop.
The Council has effectively denied the Patels any short-term parking spaces anywhere near their shop because of a huge area devoted to disabled parking — and by designating the rest of the Margaret Road shopping area for 60-minute parking.
The 60-minute limit means patrons for near-by cafes and fashion stops make long stays, so denying parking spaces for short-term visitors to the Patels. read more…
KIN is delighted to feature Allison and Tony Fraei’s account of journeying in southern Africa. The following gives a small glimpse of some of their highlights that they hope might encourage others to do the same.
Seizing the opportunity
Story by Tony Fraei. Photos by Allison Fraei
We flew out in August 2014 for two months, our first ever trip to Africa. Allison got the idea for the trip after seeing a presentation made on Africa at the local Kapiti Photographic Club in early July. For us retirees these things are easy, if you haven’t done it before, do it NOW!
We have tended, on all previous off shore travel, not to make accommodation bookings until we are there, apart from the first few nights. Primarily because we have found that it is much better to have the flexibility when there, to decide where we want to go, to add and delete locations as we talk to the locals, plus also pace our travel rate. We opted to continue with this approach for Africa. read more…
Security increased at Mana Road Bridge
By Alan Tristram
The Wellington Regional Harbour Master has increased monitoring and security on the Mana Road Bridge on SH1 because of hazards caused by bridge jumpers to swimmers and boaties.
Because of the dangers in this part of the Porirua Harbour this summer the Greater Wellington Regional Council’s harbour rangers have regularly visited the site and this year a security firm has been contracted to patrol and monitor activities. read more…
Just three in the running
By Roger Childs
The Kiwis won the World Rugby League Cup: good enough?
This will be a closely contested race between three world champions: the men’s rowing pair, the men’s cycling team and the 49er yachtsmen. Not in the hunt, are the Auckland City Football Club who were third in the World Club Championships, and the Kiwi League team who won the World Cup.
Third is not good enough when you are up against world champions and the league tournament had only four participating teams. The other three nominees were the best on the planet in hotly contested sports. One surprise is that our world champion Surf Life Saving team didn’t make the cut. read more…
Should we refuse to publish controversial viewpoints?
By Alan Tristram
Our ‘Biodiversity’ series has attracted some serious support and opposition.
The latest from ‘Sam’ says: ‘No wonder your webpage/”news” is independent as any reputable newspaper would not publish such blatant propaganda. I will not be reading any more of your stuff or recommending this to anyone.’
I disagree, Sam. read more…
Introduced by Leslie Clague
In this the final segment of Jim Hilton’s presentation to the Nelson Science Society he discusses the results of poisoning and provides some ideas on a way forward.
(To see the earlier instalments, refer to the New Zealand’s Biodiversity section at the top.)
Poisons don’t discriminate read more…
Fascinating travels in southern Africa
Photos by Allison Fraei
If you would like to have the “Journey of a lifetime, full of unusual and interesting experiences” Kapiti retirees Allison and Tony Fraei would heartily recommend a self drive safari in Namibia, Africa.
For them, it was just an exhilarating experience to head off, behind the wheel, into such a vast and beautiful country full of incredible scenery and fantastic animal wildlife.
KIN is delighted to be able to bring you the Fraei’s account of their holiday, which also included time in nearby Zambia and Botswana. Look forward to four fascinating episodes which will be accompanied by photographs taken by Allison. read more…
Guru explains go-slow on parking ‘privileges’ for Patels
By Alan Tristram
Kapiti Councillor K Gurunathan has finally responded to KIN’s appeals on behalf of the long-suffering Patels of the Raumati Beach Four Square dairy.
The hard-working Patels have no short-term parking for their patrons because the Kapiti Coast District Council has put two — repeat two — large disabled parking places right outside their entrance — and 60-minute parking down the rest of Margaret Road, effectively depriving them of all short stay-parking for their customers.
Some weeks ago we asked Cr Gurunathan for a statement on this KCDC botch-up. Here, at long last, is his reply: read more…
KIN is much obliged to Jim Hilton (left), for allowing us to publish his address. Former travel journalist, Leslie Clague, organised the division into ten and she provides some personal perspectives below, on the issues Jim raised in his excellent talk. All the instalments can be found in the New Zealand’s Biodiversity section above.
Greater clarity on biodiversity and poisoning
By Leslie Clague
I speak with more confidence now in regards to my anti-1080 position, bolstered by Jim Hilton’s talk to the Nelson Science Society. Hilton gave such a clear explanation of New Zealand’s history of the relationship between mankind and nature and nature’s strength in biodiversity. read more…
Council parking spots plague life for Kamal and Dimple
By Alan Tristram; Photos by Ian Linnng (PrimoFoto)
Life’s pretty tough for Kamal and Deempalben (‘Dimple’) Patel at the moment because their loyal customers can’t park cars anywhere near the shop at Raumati Beach.
Kapiti Coast District Council (KCDC) parking laws have wiped out all parking for nearly 20 metres along the Margaret Road shop frontage in favour of two large disabled-only parks – the only one’s of their kind in the village. read more…
This will be the 8th running of this event in its current format. The course is both fast and challenging and scenic and suitable for athletes of all abilities.
Bryn Kempthorne, President Kapiti Running and Tri Club
Walk or run in a picturesque setting
By Roger Childs
This year’s Kapiti Running and Tri Club Paekakariki Road Races will take place on Sunday 15 February. The three lap run and two lap walk start at 9.00 am on the road beside Campbell Park on The Parade. The other races begin at 9.30. (See details below.) read more…
… the price for this success was some 8,000 casualties – roughly the number suffered by the New Zealanders during eight months at Gallipoli. Historian, Damien Fenton
Success but at a cost
By Roger Childs
As we move into 2015, the government, local authorities and the RSA are gearing up for the biggest and most expensive Anzac Day ever. It’s the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, but what‘s the big deal? It wasn’t the first time New Zealanders had fought overseas or alongside Australians. The Gallipoli campaign was a disastrous defeat with horrendous casualties on both sides and New Zealand played a very small part. Do the French commemorate Waterloo or the Germans Stalingrad?
New Zealand suffered far more casualties on the western front in northern France and Belgium. At least here the Kiwis were at times part of successful campaigns. One of these was at the Somme in 1916. read more…
Kapiti Junior Basketball training gets underway
By Angelo Robinson
In preparation for 2015, the Kapiti Basketball Association is holding Age Group Open Day Basketball Training.
~ Saturday 31 January 2015
~ At KCDC Sports Hall and Parapaparaumu College Gym, Mazengarb Road, Parpaparaumu
All current players and new players welcome
- Under 13 Boys & Girls 9.00 to 10.00am PLAYERS MUST BE Under 13 as of 31 Dec 2015
- Under 15 Boys & Girls 10.00 to 11.00am PLAYERS MUST BE Under 15 as of 31 Dec 2015
- Under 17 Boys & Girls 11.00 to 12.00pm PLAYERS MUST BE Under 17 as of 31 Dec 2015
All enquiries contact Angelo Robinson 04 9040142
After heavy snow falls there have been deaths of rock wren. Nick Hurst, Department of Conservation (DoC)
Things going wrong in the Battle for our Birds?
By Roger Childs
This time last year, Conservation Minister Nick Smith launched the DoC campaign to save 25 million native birds. $21 million would be spent over five years, however the key element of the battle – dropping 1080 poison over vast areas – was always going to be controversial. 1080 can kill anything that breathes: rats, stoats, possums and insects, and birds.
There was noisy opposition to the proposed drop of an estimated 40 million pellets over the Kahurangi National Park, but that didn’t keep the helicopters on the ground. Now it has been revealed that rock wren numbers have dropped from 39 to 14 in a monitored area after a November drop, and this has added fuel to the fire. read more…
High housing costs hurting households
“Rising housing costs are a big worry for households, despite the fall in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the three months to December”, says Bill Rosenberg, Council of Trade Unions Economist.
“The 0.2% fall in the CPI in the three months to December is not unusual because of seasonally falling food prices. This time it is being helped by falling petrol prices, but was held back by rising housing costs and seasonal food prices not falling as fast as usual,” he says. read more…
