10-council combined Water Services body will cut bills?

t’s coming down the pipe. 

October 30 was the deadline for district and regional councils to decide which cosy partnership would best serve their ratepayers’ water needs for the next tens of years.

If initial cost and pricing estimates hold up, a 10-combo Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) has won the race hands down _  at least on initial price estimates for providing Local Water Done Well under the government-mandated three waters changes.

Price estimates put to a workshop in Martinborough last month for an average annual household water bill were:

* South Wairarapa/Carterton stand-alone water entity: $7,000 a year by 2035;

* “Wai+T” (three Wairarapa councils plus Tararua grouping): $5,000+ in South Wairarapa and Carterton, $2,000 in Masterton, $4,000 in Tararua by 2035;

* 10-council group (Horowhenua through to Masterton): $4,300 by 2035, dropping to $2,600 longer-term.

The cost of achieving those 10-council prices: investment of about $17 billion over 25 years.

Dougal List, who presented the 10-council combined Wellington regional model at the workshop, said the cost estimates shared with councillors were indicative only.  … Continue Reading

NEWS FROM FIRST CHURCH

In a world gone mad, politically and militarily, there was a small but steady beacon of light at First Church last month.   Jim Veitch our minister and mentor reminded us that since 1933 starting in the US, an ever growing circle of church congregations (now worldwide) decided to celebrate the Last Supper Communion together on the same day.  The respective breads and wine may be different, the underlying ritual the same.  Central to the great, good value of this celebration was, and is, the sense of community, sharing and inclusion that the breaking of bread produces in the participants.  World Communion Day – long may it prevail, prosper and inform the decision makers in the Middle East, Ukraine and all war-torn regions.

Now for something a bit lighter. Most baby boomers would observe that modern life is less structured, more informal, even permissive than the home environment they inhabited.  One example of this was the role of the church and the Sunday ritual of church attendance. Of course, this doesn’t guarantee piety but it’s a reasonable start.  One of the still existing old school First Church attendees recalled the tone of those services in the 1950’s.  With a decent congregation filling the church there was a well ordered and brutally executed pecking order when it came to which pew one was permitted to occupy.  Woe to the unsuspecting newcomer who, arriving early settled into Row eight – reserved for the last twenty years for the Fraser clan.  Within minutes of Grandfather Fraser’s arrival his fiercely narrowed gaze and use of elbows indicated that you were, a hapless interloper and should move to a friendlier part of the church. … Continue Reading

THE STAR BOOK REVIEW

Version 1.0.0

By Brenda Channer – Martinborough Bookshop

“Costanza” by Rachel Blackmore

This is a debut novel of historical fiction based on the sketchy details known about a real woman living in mid 1600s Rome. This is not my usual choice of genre, but the book was recommended to me by its sales rep as a good book club choice. It sparked one of the best discussions our book club has had to date.

Costanza is young, maybe not even 20 at the opening of the book. Married, as yet childless and optimistic even though her life hasn’t been all easy. Her husband, Matteo is a sculptor, one of many working under the auspices of the maestro Lorenzo Bernini. 

The dime upon which the story turns is a chance meeting at a social gathering between Bernini and Costanza. He is a powerful man accustomed to having anything and anyone he wants, and he quickly decides he wants Costanza. She in turn is flattered and ultimately intoxicated by the combination of desire and proximity to power. So far it could be any historical romance, but wait, there’s more.

The author draws the reader deftly into Costanza’s affair detailing her social and economic rise that is only matched by her utter delusion of its permanence and trustworthiness. Power inequalities between classes, genders, families, violence and exploitation all slip into the room unseen until they slice Costanza’s life into shreds. 

The writing is so good that even when you feel the danger lurking it shocks and dismays the reader when it arrives and immediately demands that the question be asked, has anything changed in 500 years?

I am so pleased I stepped out of my reading comfort zone for this book – if historical romance is not your thing but you love a story with some substance that will leave you asking some big questions – then this is for you. 

Available at your local bookshop.

Maori ward referenda: race-baiting or democracy?

One side of the Maori ward argument calls it race-baiting (aka dog whistling) by those opposed to

implementing the partnership agreed under the Treaty/te Tiriti of Waitangi.

The other: a denial of democracy since all district voters were not given a vote on the issue. 

As a result, some 45 councils around the motu have had to decide whether to retain or jettison Maori wards previously approved by district councils without holding district-wide referenda.

This followed the central Government passing law to require referenda be held before a Maori ward can be introduced. The previous policy ensured Maori had independent seats at council tables.

The result of govenment forcing councils to mount referenda over the Maori wards: 43 of the 45 councils caught up in the law change will spend taxpayers’ dollars on local referenda next year. 

Kaipara and Upper Hutt are the only councils to vote against introducing Maori wards. … Continue Reading