DARFIELD TOY LIBRARY

I want to pop into your world for five minutes to help save your domestic bliss. These are dire times in this post pandemic world. Inflation and interest rates have been creeping around our homes like a spider infestation, terrifying and popping out behind everything. The new ‘f word’ in your home is likely ‘finances’ as you and your partner dread the moment the other brings it up. I know you desperately don’t want to trade your favourite co ee in for instant! Or that oh so rich antiageing cream that is majestically turning you into a twenty one year old. What if I said you could save money and keep some of your comforts. By no longer buying toys for your kids… hear me out before you call me crazy.

Kids like new toys, variety, to switch things up regularly which is a constant strain on parents.

Maybe you also stew over storage solutions, piles of unused neglected toys, and trying to quiet the thoughts of consumerism flickering in your mindasyourealiseyouareapart oftheglobalproblem.

The Toy library is an empowering ‘yes’ space for you and your children, where the delight of choosing new toys overtakes any hesitation they might have in returning the previous toys. Our whole purpose is to buy the latest, coolest most expensive toys so youdon’thavetoo.

To summarise, by joining the Toy Library you will be able to save your finances, enjoy happy children, care for the environment, reduce clutter, all while drinking your favourite co ee. There is nothing to lose except those stressful trips to ToyWorld.

Toy Library Awareness Week is from March 5th - 11th, and we would really love you to join us at our next session on the 11th of March. We will be collecting in the colouring competitions, runningasausagesizzleplusany other fun we can conjure up before then. Please go to our Facebook page to download and print the colouring competition, or find a physical copy at local preschoolsandthelibrary.

See you soon. Cathryn Hunt, Chairperson, Darfield Toy Library.

Kieran Heenan kph@meareswilliams.co.nz

Anita Molloy-Roberts am@meareswilliams.co.nz

W: www.meareswilliams.co.nz

T: (03) 374 2547

Officeslocatedat: Lincoln-43GeraldStreet Rolleston-80ARollestonAve Christchurch-225PapanuiRd

NICOLA GRIGG - SELWYN MP

Major weather events across the North Island this summer have exposed water infrastructure in dire need of upgrades, and the enormous rebuild required across the upper North Island is going to require significant investment.

Nobody disputes the need to spend a lot of money in some parts of the country to build resilience into the water network. But the Government’s proposed Three Waters reform is not the way to go about it. With that in mind, the National Partyhascommittedtorepealing the Government’s plans for ThreeWaters.

At the heart of our alternate proposal is the commitment to restore council ownership and control.

We will set strict rules for water quality and investment in infrastructure, we will ensure water services are financially sustainable, and we will provide transitional support to councils whereneeded.

National will establish an