COAST & COUNTRY NEWS
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What happens when it rains?
It will come as no surprise when we say that the Bay of Plenty has been consistently experiencing above average rainfall – but how wet is wet exactly? Over the past 12 months, our 60-plus rainfall monitoring sites haven’t recorded less than 50mm of rain each month. January, February and May have been ones for the record books, with a significant increase in rainfall when
compared to the same time last year. For example, one rain gauge at the back of Te Puke (Upper Rangiuru Road) recorded 769mm of rain in January, up from 58mm recorded at the same time last year. With all this rain, it’s hard to believe we were experiencing periods of drought last summer and facing different types of challenges. But this sort of swing from extreme dry to wet is what is predicted to occur more frequently with climate change, and we can only expect to
This information plays a key role in helping them plan and respond to their communities. We’ll also have our flood monitoring team out in the field. It’s their job to be the eyes and ears on the ground, checking flood defences (such as such as stopbanks and floodwalls), monitoring river levels, flows and rainfall, and reporting back to the Flood Room. Meanwhile, the operations team will be doing the physical mahi of clearing debris from waterways and pump station inlets, and setting up mobile pumps in badly affected areas for landowner properties Bay of Plenty Regional Council has monitoring stations around within a river scheme. Key data council collects is publicly the Bay of Plenty region, to gather environmental data that accessible at any time, as well as supports important decision making. see more intense, inconsistent analysis and future planning). detailed data that we’ve collected over the years, in our Environmental weather patterns. One of the main ways Bay Data Portal. You can find this on our Understanding what’s of Plenty Regional Council happening in our backyard is a uses this data is through their website at boprc.govt.nz/data If the weather events of the past critical component of how we Flood Room. (even as recent as this year) have can help communities become When there is serious resilient in the face of climate weather, the team in the Flood taught us anything, it’s that mother nature is unpredictable, but we do change. To do this, we have a Room will be monitoring everything we can to prepare for robust and responsive network the situation and gathering of monitoring sites across the real-time data, which we then what’s to come and support the community to prepare as well. rohe that we use in both realprovide to other agencies time (during severe weather) (such as local councils and and after an event (for postWaka Kotahi).
Sophisticated scams increase Consumer NZ is urging banks to raise their game and provide better protection to New Zealanders who fall victim to scams.
Working with landowners in the Bay of Plenty for Specialising in a better future
“In New Zealand at least $200 million is lost to scams each year,” says chief executive Jon Duffy. “We know there is widespread underreporting, so that number is likely to be much higher. Many of these losses are not covered by banks.” Under the New Zealand Banking Association Code of Practice, banks only have to refund customers who fall victim to unauthorised payment fraud. Consumer thinks this is unfair in many cases. “If your wallet is stolen and someone goes on a shopping spree
Good decision making starts with access to good data. By continually investing in a robust environmental monitoring network, we can help you keep an eye on what’s happening above and below. Together, we can help your neighbourhood, community and region to become more resilient. 8 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 7 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 6 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 5 9
Access your local environmental data:
visit us online boprc.govt.nz/data
using your credit card, this is classed as an unauthorised transaction – and your bank should reimburse you. “However, as scams become increasingly sophisticated, people are at higher risk of being lured into making authorised payments by professional scammers. “Of course, people must take their banking safety seriously and should do all they can to avoid falling victim to scams. “But to suggest that with so many resources at their disposal, the banks should have no responsibility to protect and refund their customers when they are scammed into authorising a transaction feels wrong.” Banks are often the last line of defence between professional scammers and innocent victims.
• Removal / chipping of whole trees • On site chipping for stand off pads • Wood chip for sale • Orchard shelter removal • Stump removal • Woodlot marketing of all tree species
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• Remo • On s • Wood • Orch • Stum • Woo