How to report problems to Horowhenua District Council

Councillor Christine Mitchell has alerted us to a change for reporting issues to the Horowhenua District Council:

As of 1 October 2019 we are ceasing the use of our Mobile Alert application due to a historically low usage rate and as a continued cost saving measure. We will however continue to provide residents with the ability to report non-urgent issues to us using our Online Request Form.

Once lodged, we will process reported issues or requests. Alternatively, you can contact us via phone on (06) 366 0999, email to enquiries@horowhenua.govt.nz, or our Facebook page.

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New spelling of Manawatū-Whanganui (Horizons) region

The spelling for the Manawatū-Whanganui region has been officially corrected. …

The change also means the regional council will be known as the Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council, Horizons Regional Council is the trading name for the council.

The h in Whanganui has now been added to the spelling of the region, which is consistent with the views of local iwi and their dialect or mita.…

A macron or tohutō has been added to the u of Manawatū which has its origins in a waiata, Ka tatū e hine ko Manawatū, describing the search by ancestor, Haunui-a-Nanaia, for his wife.

He named the waterways on his quest and the waiata talks about how his heart (manawa) settled or momentarily stopped (tatū) when he saw the river. Manawatū is an amalgamation of those two words.

Source: Seal of approval for spelling of Manawatū-Whanganui region | RNZ News.

Join us to plant Spinifex on Saturday 28 September 2019

Horowhenua District Council are once again making spinifex plants available to bolster the dunes. The date for planting is Saturday 28 September 2019. Last year about 40 volunteers made very short work of it. Will you come and help this year too?

Meet at 10 am at the north track to the beach off Reay Mackay Grove. Ben Wood, Parks and Property Office, Horowhenua District Council will start us off with a demo of best planting technique. Ben says:

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A high risk road

Another article, on 16 September 2019, about the dangerous stretch of road between Ōtaki and Foxton:

A New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) spokesperson said there was no money to build the Ōtaki to Levin expressway for another five years. …

The 40-kilometre stretch of State Highway One from Ōtaki to Foxton is rated as a high risk rural road.

Over the past 10 years, 24 people have died, serious crashes are on the rise.

There were 18 last year, up from 10 in 2017 and just two the year before that. …

Road safety consultant Fergus Tate said data specifically from 2018 showed a high ratio of death and serious injuries in crashes.

“There have been a number of deaths and serious injuries involved in those fatal and serious crashes, so in fact for each crash there has been 1.6 people killed or seriously injured.”

Stones left on Hank Edwards Reserve to be cleared

After the toilet block problems were fixed a few months ago, a fair few sharp stones were left behind on the grass. WBRA Chair, John Hewitson recently contacted the relevant folks at the Council:

Please find attached a photo of the rocks/stones left as residue after the replacement of the Septic Tank drain field on the Hank Edwards Reserve.

Because this is the sole grassed playing area at Waikawa Beach and where our sports events are held, would you please arrange to have all the surplus metal removed and the grass surface restored.

Stones on Hank Edwards Reserve.
Stones on Hank Edwards Reserve.

The Council replied on 09 September 2019: Thanks for bringing this to my attention. We’ll have the site tidied up.

Fingers crossed this one gets quickly sorted out.