Housing frustration grows August 18, 2020Dear Editor,I write with a frustration that has grown with a lack of action. Two and a half years ago a house owned by KCDC in Te Miti Street Paekākāriki was vacated by our then treasured village caretaker Graham Carlsen. It has, with one brief exception, been left vacant and to deteriorate since. At the same time ... More...
Butchers want Covid Change August 15, 2020Open Letter to The Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime MinisterDear Prime Minister,We are writing to you on behalf of the independent butchers of New Zealand to urgently reclassify local butcheries as essential services in line with dairies. Like dairies, local butcheries have been the foundation of Kiwi communitie... More...
Praise for 100 days of no Community Covid August 9, 2020Editor, As we watch the world struggling to cope with Covid 19 we should be thankful it was handled well here. Not that long ago we were stuck indoors and made tentative trips to the supermarket and feared for our community. Many people were critical of the government and demanded we all return to normal desp... More...
Open Letter on Rate Rises August 6, 2020Dear Mayor, Thank you again for taking time to reply in the attached letter to my further questions relating to the Rates increase for funding KCDC Annual Plan 2020/21. I am not an accountant but I am skilled in household / business finances and it is clear that Council thinks it did a good job in hoodwinking ratepa... More...
Kāpiti Gateway unaffordable July 28, 2020EditorKāpiti has one of the highest Council debts in the whole country which means Council is already living beyond its, and our means. Talk of spending over $5 million for a flashy new building at Paraparaumu Beach is madness in the current financial climate. Just because the government might give KCDC half the ... More...
Council issued a 'Please Explain' on Gateway Proposal July 23, 2020Editor,KCDC had a meeting among themselves. There has been no public meetings about this proposal. No proper communication, no community involvement activated, no consultation with our community, even though some councillors may disagree. Have some councillors and the mayor forgotten about their obligations as e... More...
Call for Te Rauparaha Statue removal June 13, 2020EditorLetter sent to KCDCDear Mr Mayor and CEO,I note you have the Te Rauparaha statue in your district in Ōtaki. Why are you celebrating a murderer, cannibal and rapist? Are you proud of this sorry sick human? He decimated and hammered the poor Maori people of Ngai Tahu North Canterbury and his affect right ac... More...
Open letter to TVNZ One News June 12, 2020To TVNZRecently, you chose 5 of the 9 small, registered political parties to interview for your news item. Your commentary announced that they would all love people's vote. You explained they all face an enormous hurdle because they must win over 5% or gain an electorate seat. Unfortunately, leaving out 4 partie... More...
Appreciation for Raumati Pharmacists June 11, 2020Editor,Whilst welcoming Martin Lowis as the new owner of Raumati Pharmacy, I must record our sincere appreciation of Simone Greig, David Brazier and their wonderful staff at the pharmacy over the last two decades. They have brought a friendly, warm atmosphere to what must be a demanding and exacting job and, in ... More...
Kāpiti Island Gateway naysayers unite June 11, 2020Editor,The Mayor is promising an outstanding new "gateway to Kāpiti Island". In his column of 13 May he says that for decades a gateway has been sought. He says: (1) it will only cost $4 million; (2) will create local jobs andstimulate the economy; and (3) will provide the poor Department of Conservatio... More...
Gateway needs to be iconic June 8, 2020Editor,I am very disappointed in the renderings of the proposed Kāpiti Island Gateway building. What a totally uninspiring structure. There is no relationship between this building and the Island itself. Lacking in beauty or relevance, if built as proposed it will represent a missed opportunity. In two min... More...

Art boggles mind June 8, 2020Editor, I walk through Te Uruhi/Maclean Park regularly and have wondered about the empty space that has been awaiting the installation of an 'exciting new sculpture. ' But sadly we are represented with a picture of this new $145,000 'artwork' (see photo). The mind boggles. This sculpture is supposed to symbolise ... More...
Time to fly the Flag June 6, 2020EditorCan someone tell me and the people of Kāpiti why our Council does not fly the New Zealand flag from the Council building. The Council buildings of our neighbours Horowhenua District Council and Poriria City Council both proudly fly the New Zealand flag from their publicly owned and built Council buildings. Th... More...
Dear Kāpiti community from Sophie June 4, 2020Dear Kāpiti community, this is a letter from me to you. 💙 The past few months have been extremely challenging for so many people. We have seen people struggle to put food on the table, to work from home while also looking after their kids, to have to stay at home when home might not be the best space f... More...
Will Air Chathams fly south for the winter May 22, 2020Editor,It is very good news to see Air Chathams back flying from Kāpiti. I see they are flying to and from Auckland and it would be good for Kāpiti if they had flights to the South Island. The ski season will be starting soon and now that overseas travel is not happening there could be a lot of people wanting to fly so... More...
Shout out to Air Chathams May 21, 2020Editor,A big shout out to Air Chathams. My son is coming down to see his dad and had to change his flight date and times. Air Chathams couldn't have been more helpful and the customer service was outstanding. Kāpiti Coast residents, we need to support these guys, use it or lose it!Karen HenryKāpiti
Keep Kāpiti Virus Free Editor, With the Coronavirus starting to take hold in New Zealand I would like to suggest public gathering places take sensible precautions. Petrol stations, Bank ATMs and supermarket checkout EFTPOS machines should all have hand sanitiser available and should be regularly cleaned. Our public libraries should al... More...
Stolen guns a big security issue EditorI have just read the story about the stolen guns and this highlights why the government is right in getting rid of them. Although having them stolen from a police station raises some big questions about the security of the guns removed from public use. It would be good to get some answers from the police about th... More...
Plastic Bags still need collecting EditorIt is good news that plastic bags will soon be gone from our communities but what will be in their place. Before plastic bags we had paper bags in the supermarkets and that worked very well. The main reason they changed to plastic was because it was cheaper for the supermarkets but the communities have paid a hig... More...
Support for Roundabout EditorCommunity Board Members Bernie Randall and Guy Burns have been informed that Council will recommend on Thursday to make an earlier start on the proposed roundabout at the corner of Ratanui Road and Mazengarb Road. Guy Burns will support the recommendations at the meeting on Thursday. It follows community conce... More...
Waikanae SPCA appreciates support EditorThe Volunteers from Waikanae SPCA would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for supporting our recent garage sale. We were completely overwhelmed by the wonderful donations of goods to sell and to those who came and supported us. A fantastic $1400 was raised for animals in need. We are all grinning like ... More...
Coastella is great for Kāpiti and the region EditorI enjoyed reading the article on Coastella today. It was a terrific day out for the whole family and the music, the entertainment and the food on offer was a good advertisement for the Kāpiti Coast. I think they need to make sure prices don't get out of the range of supporters. My congratulations to the org... More...
Refuse Collection - Low Woes www. kcnews. co. nzI only this year instructed Low Cost Bins to collect my waste and as a low user I put out approximately fortnightly. The recycling I put out monthly or less. I am on a corner between two roads but only on the second occasion I put out my bins they were left uncollected even though everyone else's ha... More...
Kāpiti Cheesed Off EditorThis seems to be a pretty cheesy issue, sorry for the pun!Fonterra has in its marketing, come-up with a new trademark name 'Tuteremoana Cheddar' for its Kāpiti Cheese product. This has caused a cheesy uproar with the Maori officials stating by labelling the product with this name is inappropriate to the Ma... More...

ANZAC emotion a slap EditorOn ANZAC day I listen to our Mayor's speech, he spoke of his home and his grandfather, paused to compose himself as he spoke, with a long dramatic silence while he fought to control his emotions while talking about his grandfather who he never got to meet. It came across heart felt, until I heard it again... More...
Congratulations to new Kāpiti Chief Executive EditorOpen Letter to Wayne MaxwellHi Wayne, First and foremost congratulations for being appointed the Chief Executive of KCDC, (Oh by the way I was rooting for you out in the Community to get the job and told everybody you were the most consistent of the applicants who applied, knowledge, reliability and able ... More...
Advice for choosing new Kāpiti CEO EditorFirstly -I wish current, and departing Kāpiti CEO Pat Dougherty all the best in his new role. 1. One has to look at the process of appointment of a new CEO of Kāpiti. The KPI (Key Performance Indicators) - Do we all know what are the requirements for KPI in the Community at large. What is required... More...
Voting System Change Called For Dear EditorIn the last local Kāpiti Coast District Council meeting on Electoral Systems for Local Body Elections (7 September 2017) the present Council voted 6 to 3 in favour of keeping the status quo voting system STV (Single Transferable Vote). Over the number of years this STV system has taken place the average ... More...
Kāpiti sees decrease in Official Info Requests EditorIs the Community occupying Council time by making unnecessary Official Information requests? Let's look at the statistics. There has actually been a decrease in Official Information requests (246 this year versus 260 last year) since we had a new Mayor who was elected on openness and transparency. These ar... More...
Kāpiti Ratepayers fill Auckland begging bowl Isn't it strange. Auckland historically has low rates increases and currently they are to be set at 2. 5%. Almost everywhere else, and particularly here in Kāpiti rates are pretty high and average increases are also pretty large. Here we are used to anything between 5 and 7% increases in our rates. With the electi... More...
One foot on either side Editor,The extent of the "left" or "rightness" in the commentary about various political parties is all very well and good. However, what never seems to be analysed from most commentariat is that modern politics has had another dimension since 1984. It has been fancily named "neo-liberalism" and is a movement to... More...
Call to halt toxic sprays Dear Ed,Not sure if it is widely known that a Masterton company, Beetham Pastural, have been employed to spray pesticides and herbicides in QE2 Park and Whareroa Farm?This should be halted immediately!Everyone knows the devastating effects of these chemicals on wild life, not to mention human beings. These a... More...
Kāpiti Hospital - where is the money coming from Editor,Can we really afford a Hospital in Kāpiti when the Government Health system is in debt to the tune of $2. 1 Billion dollars. Our Kāpiti Mayor all credit to him for highlighting this issue, but in reality where is the funding coming from? Considering that Kāpiti is an aging population with ma... More...
Climate Change missing from Kāpiti Plan Editor, Reading the summary booklet of the council's Long Term Plan, one would be forgiven for thinking everything in the atmosphere is much the same as it was 50 years ago and that out climate was stable. Yes, tragically, there isn't a single mention of climate change in this 20-year plan being discussed. Th... More...
Open for Business Council Editor,The Council open day on Saturday attracted a number of people. Not necessarily to give feedback on the Long Term Plan but to pay their council bills and dog registration fees. It's time the council listened to the bouncing cannonball of frustration from the residents that work in Wellington and out of the... More...
Helmets save lives Editor,I suffered a pushbike accident by Kāpiti Rd, Paraparaumu last Saturday , July 15, which dislocated my left elbow, broke a bone and tore ligaments and I suffered multiple lacerations to my leg. I was wearing a cycle helmet. Both Wellington Free Ambulance and others at the scene were marvellous. I would ... More...
Road naming process not helpful Dear Editor,On the SH1 renaming issue, I believe the current process adopted by KCDC councillors over a year ago, where the four Community Boards make their individual recommendations on a name to council is inappropriate. Because it is not conductive to cohesive decision making, on what, is essentially a district... More...
Kāpiti Mayor Gurunathan urged to think again EditorKāpiti Coast Mayor K Gurunathan needs to think of the big picture and provide community centre trainees free parking spaces while they are training - not sting them for trying to better themselves reported as - Not all solo mums are poor, June 19. People who are learning new skills are doing this so they c... More...
End of Life Choice Bill an Election Issue EditorOnce again this matter is before Parliament. I hope in this period before the election people will demand of candidates that they express their intentions in this matter and that voters will cast their ballots according to their wishes. Brian Baggott Paraparaumu
New Dreams for Kiwi Kids EditorReg Fowles objects to the teaching or encouragement of the Maori language, telling us we should not ask young people to "live the dreams of their parents. " He's dead right. The grim colonial dream that New Zealand could become a Britain of the south seas - culturally and linguistically English, where Maori pe... More...
Bravo Kāpiti Playhouse EditorBravo Kāpiti Playhouse. Last evening a cast of six delivered a strongly intelligent last night of Homeland written by Gary Henderson. From the outset they captured and reflected the differing 'intergenerational' views of the passage of time, that which anyone of us at any given point within this passage tr... More...
Speaking out on Proposed Road Names EditorThe group including myself that recommended new names for SH1 through Kāpiti has stayed silent till now as has the council that invited our input. However, since today's front page trumpets 'anger' (why who has been hurt?) about our list, it's time to speak out. The Council asked us for seven original name... More...
Solution to Kāpiti placenames offered EditorCan I offer a solution to the debate on whether to give the old Kāpiti Coast SH1 new Maori placenames or not?Why not put the English translation with the Maori names as is done on government buildings in Wellington. Sometimes I wish I knew what some placenames meant, and maybe knowing the translation m... More...
Kāpiti cabbages and kings Dear Editor,How very worthy of Mayor Gurunathan to "think it's a good opportunity to stand out" for Ōtaki township gaining bilingual status. I encourage the Ōtaki residents and all New Zealanders to insist our Mayor and Councillors ensure that Bilingual Signs are correctly portrayed. As a starting point would be th... More...
Quiet Road Not So Quiet EditorIn Reference to Letter: Robbed of silenceI'm completely surprised that the road noise can now be heard in places I never expected, for example I have friends that are now further away from the State Highway One than they were but they can now hear noise. Previously they never heard the highway. The distance t... More...
Waikanae Hedge cause for wonder EditorAgain I read yet another episode in the ongoing saga of the Waikanae hedge. While I do recognise that our council has not covered itself in glory over the issue I do wonder how the problem of the overgrown hedge would have been handled had such a hedge been in the least affluent area of the Kāpiti Coast. Reg F... More...
Robbed of silence Dear Editor,The trucks woke me in the early hours of the morning again today and I lay and thought about the lovely few days I had just had in Mahia. What was my favourite time? I replayed the highlights in my mind; the lazy holiday breakfasts eaten outside on the sun-drenched deck, kayaking across the bay, watchi... More...
Claims Kāpiti Councillor victimised The EditorSmears of the most obnoxious type against Councillor David Scott are indicative not of the councillor's alleged wrongdoing, but of the continuing dysfunction of KCDC, despite His Worship Gurunathan being elected to end the nonsense that pervaded the prior council. There seems to be a long-running pattern ... More...
White Poppies have a place Editor,Lest we forget, or possibly never knew, red poppies from the RSA are not alone in connecting with, or "challenging" colleges and young people. White Poppies for Peace from Peace Movement Aotearoa (PMA) have been for years promoting peace education and challenging young people to think. PMA provides annual scho... More...
KCDC Challenged over Road Names EditorWhere and when did the ratepayers request come from (and how many signatures) to rename the two Main Road names out to seven. I cannot see or imagine any advantage that such a move could possibly assist or entertain or enlighten the public in any way. Further, there will be costs to the likes of printed ro... More...
What is democracy Dear Editor,"The Truth about Democracy in Horowhenua" (half Page advertisement) Wednesday April 12th. Question - what is Democracy? According to the original Greek definition it means "people power. " The people of the Horowhenua District made it very clear who they wanted as their Mayor when they voted in 2016. ... More...
Peka Peka Expressway Access and Poor Signage EditorIt is sad to read that the Waikanae Community Board and the Peka Peka community are up in arms regarding the lack of access to and from the expressway at Peka Peka. Approximately a year ago at the Waikanae Beach Community Vision and Action public meeting, it was clearly established that there was to be no ... More...
Evans offers to assist Kāpiti CEO Dear EditorBelow is an open letter to KCDC Town Clerk Pat DoughertyCEO Kāpiti Coast District CouncilDear PatWhilst reading the Dominion Post (25th Feb 17) I read the advertisement placed byPalmerston North District Council seeking an 'ambitious, innovotive & visionary' CEO. I know that you consider you have ... More...
Observations from Waikanae Dear EditorSome observations over the last week. Ladies it's indicate, break turn, not brake turn indicate. Gentleman if you are elderly and cannot stay in your lane driving down Te Moana Road at 35kph, then it is time to put your car in the garage and use your gold card. Love the new interchange at Waikanae, cannot wa... More...
Hedge Hazard Headline Horrifies Dear EditorI am appalled to read the Headlines in today's Dominion Post that the Osborne Hedge has become a serious hazard, this hedge is an icon of the Wonderful Waikanae Area, and under no circumstances do we require that it be decimated due to the whims of some neighbours who seem to be talking, incorrectly, tha... More...
Citizenship is not for sale Dear Editor It does not seem credible that Nathan Guy cannot recall granting Mr Thiel New Zealand citizenship in 2011. Mr Theil is a high-profile billionaire who had met with our former Prime Minister and was the subject of a series of questions in Parliament. Now a prominent supporter of President Trum... More...
Voters wanted change Dear Editor When the voters throughout the Horowhenua voted for change they didn't think the old guard would gang up on the Mayor or his campaign promises. They are using the excuse that they have no faith or trust in his decision to appoint his own deputy. It was obvious right from day one that a new Mayor... More...
Pandering to NIMBYs Must Stop The land between 146 and 148 Weggery Drive, Waikanae, classified as a legal road,was gifted to the Kāpiti Council by the developer of the subdivision. Council say they want to sell this land because it has no use but it is still used as a shortcut, saving 130 metres for pedestrians walking north via Weggery Drive from t... More...
Experimental Fora Undemocratic In my view, democracy is not well served through 'experimental' fora within which well-informed input from ratepayers is proverbially 'screened for relevance' by elected councillors prior to disappearing without record into the ether. Like Daniel Blake, we (the community) are citizens, citizens with the right to be eng... More...
Give Roundabouts another Turn What a surprise! We finally have an honest politician in our midst. Good on you Guru for checking on your family and the dog then turning off your phone and going back to sleep. many other Mayors would have done the same thing , but would never have admitted it. I'm sure you knew your staff were trained in emergency pr... More...

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