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APRIL 1 - 2014
KAIPARA LIFESTYLER
Passing on the spark by Andy Bryenton
They say that the more things change, the more they stay the same — and that’s as true as ever at Laser Electrical Dargaville. As long-time owner and manager Bruce Metzener steps down, it’s his own trusted staff who have taken up the reins of this thriving electrical business, keeping the local Laser name ‘all in the family’. Experienced electrical professionals Paul Dickens and Jon Walker have earned the respect of customers It’s time to go local
‘The LocaLism DebaTe’ Monday 14 April, 6:30-8:30pm RSA Hall, Kaikohe
Dr Oliver Hartwich, economist and global expert on decentralised governance structure presents to the Northland community his paper ‘It’s time to go local’. Currently only 11% of NZ government spend is at a local level whether that be through regional or district councils ( half of the OECD average and a stark contrast to many countries with local spend over 60%). As local government in Northland undergoes a restructure it’s time to consider the real issue in the debate – local funding and the ability for local communities to set local priorities; not Wellington. Dr Oliver Hartwich will be joined by a local panel: Regional Councillor Joe Carr, District Councillor John Vujcich and Community Board member John Schollum to debate and discuss the ideas with open floor Q&A. Come on Northland let’s make sure we get what we need out of the current local government reorganisation process Hosted by Productive New Zealand starts with productive provincial economies
across a wide range of disciplines during their time under Bruce’s command — they are already familiar faces to Dargaville folk and to business owners and farmers further afield as well. With all this experience under their belts, the pair are quietly confident that their new tenure at the helm of the wholly locally owned Laser franchise will go without a hitch. Bruce may be stepping back from the proverbial ‘driver’s seat’ but he won’t be far away. The 40-year veteran of the electrical trade has been a Dargaville
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de-stress. But I’ll still be working in a diminished role.” He says that while running a successful business has sometimes been challenging, he would like to offer his sincere thanks to all of the customers who have stood by him over the years.
by Joanne Speechly
In the lead up to Rape Awareness Week in May, SOS Kaipara is holding a professional development workshop for people who work in the helping professions. “Getting real about sexual violence is geared to education and health workers, kaumatua and kuia, community and youth leaders and workers, peer supporters, social workers, the police and corrections staff,” says education facilitator, Wendy Laird. “We want to get hundreds of people along to this.
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local since age 10, and while he plans to relax and enjoy a little of the Kaipara good life, he’s also there to lend a hand to his old friends at Laser when needed. “Owning Laser Electrical Dargaville for the last 24 years has been a big chunk of our lives. I’m now looking to
Getting real about sexual violence
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The changing of the guard. From left: Sue and Bruce Metzner, Jon Walker and Paul Dickens
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“It’s an opportunity for people to find out how on earth they can support someone who tells them they have been raped. Or, it could be a teacher at school who is aware that sexual bullying is going on but doesn’t know what to do. “These are the kind of issues we want to address. At SOS Kaipara, we are all passionate about ending violence in our communities but this will not happen if we sweep issues under the carpet or keep them in the SOS Kaipara’s Wendy Laird is hoping hundreds of people will too hard box.” attend the Getting Real About Sexual Violence workshop The workshop will help people understand more about sexual their interest by phoning SOS on 09 violence, crisis response, dealing with 439 6070. disclosures, best practice and what During Rape Awareness Week, SOS individuals and organisations can do educators are also hoping to visit local to assist their communities. It will be secondary schools and deliver short held on Friday, May 2 at the Dargaville presentations about consent and what Town Hall and people can register it means.
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