Kingmaker?
National lead cut by 5% as Labour support jumps
Latest Roy Morgan poll
By Alan TristramThe latest Roy Morgan shows National has gone down 5% — and its lead over a Labour/ Greens coalition has been cut significantly.
The poll theoretically puts NZ First’s Winston Peters in position as a potential kingmaker, as long as his party gets 5% of the vote.
It comes after PM John Key ruled out a pre-election agreement with Conservative Party, but said National would consider a deal with NZ First (now on 5%). read more…
Greens alarmed by Indian firm’s giant coal mine in Queensland
By Julia Meek in Melbourne
Green politicians and environment groups have been expressing dismay at the Federal Government’s decision to approve a giant Queensland coalmine owned by India’s Adani company.
Conditions have been imposed, including offsets of about 30,000 hectares for habitats destroyed.
But the project will bring 240 more massive bulk carriers into the Great Barrier Reef waters every year. read more…
Proposed site for bottle store — Photo, Ian Linning
Raumati Beach residents’ petition against new alcohol outlet
By Alan TristramA growing number of residents and business owners at Raumati Beach are signing a petition opposing a new liquor store in the village.
As a result, the KCDC’s District Licensing Committee says it has been obliged to hold a full public hearing.
The Kapiti Coast District Council says ‘an application to turn a Raumati Beach grocery and cellar shop into a bottle store will be considered by a formal hearing convened by the Licensing Committee, at which objectors will have a full opportunity to voice their concerns.’ read more…
Enterprising Waikanae School Seniors
By Peter Corlett
A big event for the Year 7-8s at Waikanae School will bring benefits later this term when students have their bi-annual ski camp on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu.
They were given an opportunity to show their entrepreneurial spirit and organisational abilities through fundraising activities, with money raised to go towards the cost of going on camp.
Under a cloudy sky and with dozens of stalls sporting:
~ tantalising sweets
~ sherbert
~ toffee apples
~ popcorn
~ toffee apples
~ homemade baking.
There were plenty of tempting treats at the event last Friday. read more…
Those past few days, when I was asked which one was my best moment of the Tour, I anticipated that no feeling of happiness could be compared to what we feel on the podium at the Champs-Elysées. It’s even more beautiful than what I could imagine.Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali
Expect the unexpected
By Roger Childs
This year’s tour was expected to be a battle between the 2013 winner Chris Froome and Spain’s Alberto Contador. Having won in 2007 and 2009, Contador was stripped of the 2010 title because of drug taking and served a one year ban. However the expected clash between the former winners did not eventuate as both had to retire after being involved in crashes in the first half of the three week race.
Out of the wings came an acknowledged contender, Vicenzo Nibali, who had won the Giro d’Italia in 2013. Nibali decided not to ride the June Giro this year to save himself for the Tour de France. It was a gamble that paid off handsomely. read more…
The size of the field is probably as a result of the exceptionally good state of the Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club course. Jenny MacKay
Women coming from far and wide to the links tournament
A record total of 116 women have entered the annual Ladies’ Paraparaumu Beach Golf Open on Saturday, August 2.
This is one of the prestige events in the ladies’ golfing calendar in the wider Wellington region.
Women are coming from as far away as Mt Maunganui and Masterton, with more than 60 visitors registered. Most are from the Wellington, Hutt, Kapiti and Horowhenua. read more…
Nga Kakano members meet at a Paraparaumu building site to talk about their futures
Violent deaths in Kapiti succeeded by plan to help young Maori
By Alan TristramThe Kapiti Coast Council will get $40,000 from a Ministry of Youth Development fund to help develop the prospects for young Maori.
The programme is a beacon of hope following outbreaks of drunken violence in the Paraparaumu shopping area which led to the deaths of two young Maori men.
The Ngā Kākano (The Seeds) programme was initiated from a series of hui held by family and friends of Sean Strongman-Lintern and Izak Millanta who died tragically in the 2012 killings in Paraparaumu. read more…
One bad season for Manchester United has not shaken General Motors Co’s belief in its $559 million sponsorship deal with the English soccer club… Ben Klayman, Reuters
A truly global sport
By Dave Daniel
Across the globe it is time for pre-season tours as teams prepare for their local leagues to begin. They’re not really local of course, as games and news are quickly beamed around the world via TV and internet. So the latest football becomes a part of supporters’ lives in almost any country they reside. So many of today’s top clubs are big business, very big business. read more…
