I had a meeting recently with Stuart Niven, a Wellington-based urban designer of international renown. My brother Fraser brought him to Ōtaki so we could discuss the future of Ōtaki and how it might look – literally. Will we get multi-storey apartment blocks close to town and traditional quarter-acre sections chokka with town houses, and... Keep Reading
Close, so tantalisingly close. As we inch towards the Christmas break, the team building the Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressway is working flat out to get it open. Whether they will by Christmas is a matter of much debate and a good deal of conjecture in Ōtaki. Everyone has the inside gossip – from reliable sources, of course. The reality is that... Keep Reading
We all have our pet hates and one of mine arises when I hear a TV or radio reporter demand a “yes or no” answer to a complex question. It came to mind when a friend recently asked me for an answer to: “What is the single biggest challenge facing humanity, right now?” My reply went something like: “The survival of the planet and the... Keep Reading
The decision to switch the tracks at Ashford Park, announced as we were going to print, was the right one. It was the only decision that could introduce any semblance of common sense into a saga that pitted two groups of the same community against each other – walkers and cyclists on one side (literally), horse riders on the other. It was... Keep Reading
It’s that time of year when, as a council, we have to strike our rates, fees and charges for the next financial year. Now let’s be frank . . . no one likes a rates increase and if I’m being even more frank, no elected member probably likes having to talk about a rate increase! To make the situation even more challenging we are.. Keep Reading
If you haven’t heard about it already, at the June 27 council meeting I succeeded in passing recommendations to conduct an independent review of Kāpiti Coast District Council. Although it took more than an hour on the day to get the recommendations across the line, it took weeks of planning and discussions to get the support to make it happen.... Keep Reading
Every now and then we’re faced with difficult decisions that challenge our thinking or our values. Defining moments when you have to step up and do what you believe is right regardless of the criticism. Recently I’ve had to make a couple of those decisions, one I can’t talk about just yet, but the other I felt needed explaining. I’m... Keep Reading
It’s coming around to that time in local politics that either enlivens people or turns them off completely. Yes, elections loom, in fact on October 12. Most of our councillors in Kāpiti Coast District Council, and our community board and health board representatives, will have another crack in the elections, but there will be some strong... Keep Reading
The proposed average rates increase for this year is 4.8 percent. Woohoo, says no one! As every year rolls around, local and regional councils tax another hard-earned portion of your income. It’s like a never-ending cycle . . . probably because it actually is. We’re also in “election year”. In the next few months prospective... Keep Reading
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