Northern Rodney breakaway

by | Sep 22, 2016 | Interesting, Local, MailChimp

The following is an update provided by Glen Ashton, his contact details are at the bottom of this post:

Hi all

Because you live in Rodney I thought you might be interested in a significant Local body event. Northern Action Group (NAG) has had a longtime fight with the Local Government Commission over breaking away from the Super City and forming a Northern Rodney Local Body. This year NAG won a high court appeal to force the Local Government Commission to consider the matter.

Last night there was a resident consultation meeting at Warkworth run by LGC. This is one of several meetings scheduled through northern Rodney. About 70 people attended. There were about 4 people who wanted to remain in the Super City, about 4 undecided and the overwhelming majority wanting to split away.

The public feedback was very disgruntled towards the Super City, loss of local control, lack of rates money spent in Rodney, local transport issues, unsealed roads and Hill St intersection, no contracts for local business, no consultation, no consideration for Rodney. There was one good point where a Matakana business got tourists directed from Auckland tourism office.

The public brought up the fact that we were undemocratically forced into the Super City at the eleventh hour.

LGC said they will gather all the feedback from the meetings (throughout Rodney) and submissions (thru web site), gather the financials from NAG and Auckland City and decide if there is a viable option other than the status quo (remain in the Super City).

Should there be more viable options then they will be presented back to the public showing the financials, effect on rates, pros and cons of each option.

Apparently the LGC have the power to bring changes to Local Government Act and could give more power and financial control to the local Rodney Board but remaining in the Super City.

It could also include merging northern Rodney with Kiapara or realigning the southern Rodney boundary.

I think from there on in it would be more public consultation and some sort of democratic process to select an option.

So interesting times.

I have attached a written submission that I sent to LGC. – Link to Document provided by Glen (Ahuroa_Super_City.docx)

It is easy to have your say on the Local Government Commission web site and complete the online survey.

Now is a good time to stand up and be heard, it is a great conduit to get our message across to the Super City.

Whatever happens, it is going to be good for Rodney.

I am not affiliated with NAG but I do have issues the Super City and how Rodney rural rate payers are treated.

Also the local elections are imminent and Greg Sayers has been a longtime advocate for getting the roads sealed. But that is a personal choice.

Glen Ashton – [email protected]
0274 906 889

Year 7 and 8 at Ahuroa School – Feedback requested

by | Sep 21, 2016 | MailChimp

As part of reviewing planning for the next 10 years of education at Ahuroa School, the board is looking at what Year 7 and Year 8 education at Ahuroa should look like.

We would love to hear from as many people in the community as possible. Maybe you have pre-schoolers (or plans for some!) that could be attending Ahuroa by 2026, or maybe you had kids at the school in the past – maybe you attended the school in the past! Or maybe you just have something valuable to say.

We have a survey that we would love you to fill out – unless you have a lot to say, it should only take a couple of minutes.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/75JJ9HC

If you have any troubles or questions, please let me know:
Tony Meyer, [email protected]

Puhoi Village Market, this Sunday

by | Sep 19, 2016 | MailChimp

Puhoi Village Market, Sunday, 25th September, 9am to 1pm

Fresh local fruit and veges, eggs, honey, Puhoi Coffee, nut butter, fresh-squeezed juice, pickles, fresh bread, chutneys and sauces, scones, samosa, deli foods, herbs, plants, seedlings, and much more.

Next market: Sunday, 30th October 2016
Support Local!

Any inquiries to Puhoi Village Market Team 0274 27 0440, [email protected]

Odd Behavior -Ahuroa Valley Rd

by | Sep 18, 2016 | MailChimp

Around 5:30am today there was some suspicious behaviour on our property in Ahuroa Valley. 

I heard some rustling outside my house then a moterbike (a two wheel farm bike) start up and zoom off. The unusal thing about this is the time of morning and that I do not have a driveway leading to my house (it is in between two orchards on our farm). Shortly afterward I got up to make sure nothing was missing and found a bag had been left on my doorstep. 

I have reported this to the police and thay are interested to see the bag. If anyone else saw or heard anything similar last night it would be good to know as its all rather strange.

Thanks, Amaya Demeulemeester
[email protected]