Pasifika festival a day for all

Vibrant cultures, flavours and traditions of the Pacific were out in force at this year’s Pasifika Day. The Levin Showgrounds event attracted at least 4000 visitors and more stalls than ever before. READ MORE.

STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

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Welcome to your new community newspaper – delivered free to homes in Horowhenua.

LETTERS

Compliments for Star

Just want to compliment you on the Star . . . a very tidy paper. Refreshing and topical subjects and opinions, from both sides of the aisle – now that is refreshing and might I say relevant. The advertising is striking, visible, well placed and vivid in its content. I found myself reading the ads, not like other papers, where it seems like a revenue gathering exercise, this looked like you have listened to the people who are paying for their content. Well done. And no, I am not a person who would put in an ad, but certainly taking notice of the advertisers.This is the first paper I have read from cover to cover since I dont know when.The Stuff and NZME offerings are pathetic, no, actually rubbish and slanted, but the Star is not. Well done to you and your team, great effort and can't wait to get my second edition. – Sid Holmes, Levin

Perplexed by councillor comments

I was somewhat surprised by the Councillor’s Corner Mike Barker’s comments (February 7) asserting there is a sort of apartheid belief or separation of thinking in our Horowhenua community. In his article he states, “it seems people see the council as an authority that is separate and above them .. . . almost, as if HDC is a corporation that owns and runs the district and charges people for it”. Most people in the part of Horowhenua where I reside, Foxton Beach, do not nor have ever had the belief that somehow council is an omniscient observer running our lives. The council is a service provider. Its purpose, “to enable democratic local decision making to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of the Horowhenua District in the present and for the future.” It is mandated to provide key services like waste collection and disposal, and, to a limited extent than previously, berm mowing. On reflection the berm issue is a red herring to Mr Barker’s contention. It behoves council to listen to and acknowledge the needs of its customers, its residents and ratepayers. It needs to then provide those services its customers really want and deserve. The us versus them card, speculated by Mr Barker, imagining council is somehow this bogey that rules our lives, is illusory and therefore unwarranted, not needed and in fact does not exist. – Brett Russell, Foxton Beach

Impressed with councillor comments

I was impressed with the thought provoking comments made by Cr Mike Barker in last week’s Star. He reflects a current position that unfortunately is a norm in our communities, ie, it is someone else’s responsibility and not mine. Rate increases, council ideas, town planning – we don’t challenge or rarely seem to be curious about the why? But boy can we moan about it when “these stupid ideas” come to pass, and usually demand a head to topple! Horowhenua is growing rapidly and with new subdivisions, and of course the motorway, this region is going to change very quickly to a place of great interest, with commuters and city dwellers already appearing in our towns to live.. We need to be involved, as the councillor suggests, as our region is going to change significantly before one knows it. Getting involved, as the councillor suggests seems a very good way of owning and involving oneself in the process. Your voice is important and deserves to be heard and as they say, use it or lose it. – Sid Holmes. Levin

One or other language

I have no desire to receive a mixed language magazine. If you want it in English, please English only. If you want it in maori, then, maori only. I am not interested in trying to decipher if it is something I should be interested in, is it a heading, or is it merely a slogan. Please, one language , or the other, not mixed. – Garry Ferguson, Ōhau

Foxton roundabout

Does Foxton need a roundabout to move traffic safely across State Highway 1 as traffic moves through Foxton? I believe that the majority of Foxton residents would say YES. Every day school children and their mums battle to move across town to schools, business people battle to safely enter the busy stream of north and south-bound traffic. Trucks, tractors, campervans, South and north-bound freight from Auckland and Wellington travel through Foxton every day. This is a given. A roundabout would enable the traffic to easily either merge or cross safely. Would you sign a petition to support a submission? – Christine Pederson, Foxton

IN BRIEF

Foxton facility upgrade

Foxton’s community facilities are to be upgraded over the coming months, ensuring they remain fit for purpose and continue to serve the community. Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom will get a new roof, while Foxton Pools will receive new lane markings. Since opening more than five years ago, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom has faced ongoing challenges with water leaks, as the roof was not fully replaced during the retrofit. The upgrade will provide a long-term solution, including improved drainage. Shortly after reopening in January 2024, an issue was found at Foxton Pools where the lane markings began peeling from the pool liner. The contractor responsible has been working with council and will fix the issue at no cost. Work on Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom is scheduled to begin at the beginning of March and is expected to take six to eight weeks to complete. During this time, some areas of the facility might not be be accessible. The pool upgrade will begin on April 5, with a reopening planned for April 21. The main pool will be closed during this time, but the spa and play pool will remain open to the public.

Foxton volunteers sought

Horowhenua District Council is forming a new Foxton Futures Group, consisting of members of the community, councillors and council staff to help formulate a community plan for Foxton and Foxton Beach. If you are passionate about Foxton and Foxton Beach you can apply for a voluntary role dealing with culture and heritage, commercial, recreation, community, or tourism. Starting point for the work is the recently adopted Community Plan of a Page. The Foxton Futures Group will have the chance to work out the details of that one page into a comprehensive community action plan. More information is on the council website under Foxton Futures. Application forms are also on the site.

Low rainfall

Horowhenua’s rainfall is 86 percent of normal, says Horizons group manager strategy, regulation and science Dr Lizzie Daly. As of February 14, several sites were either in low flow restrictions or nearing restriction levels. “River flows can be dynamic, so water-take consent holders should regularly check their respective consent limits,” Lizzie says. The Envirodata website and the WaterMatters section of Horizons’ website can be used for checking flows at sites. Consent holders unsure of their consent conditions can call 0508 800 800. Odds and evens watering restrictions apply in Foxton, Foxton Beach, Levin and Ōhau. To view rainfall, river flow and other data, see envirodata.horizons.govt.nz