Electric Vehicles ‘Plugging In’

The Climate Change Commission has recently recommended that battery powered vehicles be widely adopted. It is, they believe, the key to New Zealand reducing emissions sufficiently to play our part in avoiding catastrophic climate change, particularly considering a third of our emissions come from either petrol or diesel. 

There is some negativity towards electric cars. One of the most frequently mentioned issues relates to the production of the batteries, which it is argued comes at the expense of environmental and human damage and creates toxic waste. There is no denying this fact.  Laptops, phones, tablets, scooters, and electric bikes also require the same elements.   … Continue Reading

Councillor Comment

LTP and Spatial Plan

It is a busy time within Council as we have just completed three days hearing those residents, business and interested parties speaking to their submissions on both the Long-Term Plan and the Spatial Plan and then Council’s deliberations on these submissions.  

There were a total of 1078 submissions and we thank all those people who took the time to put in their thoughts and suggestions.  At the time of going to print, all councillors will have read the submissions and deliberated on the issues but a final decision on this will not be made until our meeting on the 30^th June.  So more on this next month. … Continue Reading

A small advertising rates increase

The Star team is reluctantly making a small increase in the advertising rates. The current rates were set in 2012 and over the intervening nine years several increases in both printing and freight rates have been absorbed. However further increases have made it necessary for a small increase to ensure that costs are covered.

One of our founding objects was to provide local businesses with an attractive, affordable advertising medium, this was still very much in mind when reviewing the rates. 

The other object was to provide a platform for local news and items of interest. The two are, of course, intrinsically linked. Without our loyal advertisers there would be no Star. 

Community Garden News 

Well, winter has certainly reared it head over the past few days! 

At the Community Garden we are still harvesting Jerusalem artichokes, broccoli, silver beet, and the last of the beetroot and lettuce. Brassicas are coming along and cauliflower florets have formed and are developing well. We have planted a good -sized crop of peas after last year’s success and they are just poking their heads out through the pea straw, … Continue Reading