4 A selection of some local breaking stories featured this week on...
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Should the NZ flag change? Tauranga residents will be asked to vote for whether New Zealand should have a new flag in the next parliamentary term; Prime Minister John Key announced this week. The Weekend Sun asked some of you what you thought of the idea…
Action needed for homeless
A growing, and at times concerning, younger homeless community in Tauranga City is proving problematic for city authorities urgently looking for viable options to help stem the tide. In the city alone there are about 35 homeless people living on the streets, who on a daily basis can be seen stirring a range of emotions within the community – from anger through to compassion. Mount Maunganui is also starting to see a number of homeless people appearing in the area, with stricter city alcohol compliance seen as a factor. Tauranga Safe City coordinator Mike Mills says there is a noticeable shift towards a younger homeless population, which he believes is being brought on by psychoactive substances and substance abuse.
Reprieve likely for Kaituna Jet
The Kaituna Jet will likely be allowed to continue operations on the upper Kaituna River if the regional council supports a recommendation from its hearings committee. The jet boat operation has been opposed by riverside residents who point to the council's own commissioned research into the environmental damage it causes to their land. The hearing is recommending the jet boat be allowed to continue operating at speeds greater than 5 knots on the river, which saves the tourism business, but doesn't help riverside residents.
Council backs legal high policy
Tauranga City Council has a week to make submissions on a local policy concerning the sale of legal highs in the city. BOPDHB's Youth Alcohol and Other Drugs Service child and adolescent case manager David Gilmour is asking the council to look at the policy in an aim to discourage the spread of legal high vendors operating in the region. Presently it costs $500 for a licence to sell synthetic cannabis. David proposes increasing that to something like $5000, with annual fees of $1000.
Crash victim to be farewelled
A young Tauranga woman killed in a head-on crash outside Te Puke last weekend will be farewelled by friends and family today at Tauranga Park on Pyes Pa Road at 1.30pm. Shannon Rose Wall died at the scene of a two car crash on State Highway 2, north of Te Puke about 2.15pm on Sunday. The 27-year-old Tauranga woman is described as a bubbly person, who will be sorely missed. Shannon leaves behind her partner Matthew Bryant and parents Anthony and Margaret Wall.
Trial in parent murder plot
A Tauranga man accused of arranging for someone to kill his parents will defend the charge in front of a jury at the High Court in Rotorua. Alan Francis Barlow, 42, briefly appeared before Justice Lang in the High Court in Tauranga on Monday. Barlow is charged with attempting to procure an undercover police officer to murder his parents, both aged in their 60s.
Soil removed from crash site
Soil contaminated by spilt petrol and diesel has been removed from a Paengaroa roadside where an overturned tanker lost some of its load last month. The McFall fuel tanker crashed on Old Coach Road on February 22, spilling about 9500 litres of diesel and 400 litres of petrol before it could be pumped out. About 50 metres of soil, two metres deep, was removed from the roadside spill site on Monday and taken to a specialised contaminated waste facility.
The Weekend Sun
I think they should maybe do the silver fern, a black flag with the silver fern.
Belinda Ingle. Tauranga
I think we should keep the good old fashioned one, only because we had our grandfather serve under that flag, and it’s an honour thing.
I think we have had this flag for so long, so it’s a symbolic meaning for us, I think if we change it, it would be confusing for overseas countries.
Isaac Sciascia. Arataki
Mickie Anderson. Judea
I think change is good, it could be a good idea, depending on the design they picked. It also depends on people’s personal preference. Kate Nouweland. Papamoa We shouldn’t change it. it’s the flag we have always had and I’m proud of it, and 100 per cent of Kiwis are the same.
Brian Wright. Tauranga
Suburban vision for committee Spate of Papamoa burglaries Tauranga City Council staff are looking for suburban issues to bring before planned local meetings of the council’s Community Development Committee. The committee is planning to move out of the council chambers and begin meetings in different parts of the city throughout the year. The first out-of-council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 12, in the Papamoa Library. Others are planned for the Matua Hall in July, Greerton Hall in September – and to mark 25 years since the 1989 local government reforms saw amalgamation of local bodies, the former Mount Borough Council chambers (now Zespri headquarters) will host a meeting in November. The suburban meetings will be evening events, to encourage public attendance; and council staff hopes to have local issues to discuss in front of each community’s constituents. “We’ll ask the community what they want to speak about, rather than us making assumptions,” says TCC councillor Catherine Stewart. “I’d rather they come to us with their issues, rather than try and assume what they might or might not be concerned about.” The first meeting is in Community Development Committee chairman Steve Morris’ Mount/Papamoa ward, and he’s expecting a good turnout because there is an active Papamoa Progressive Association, many of whom are expected to attend. The Community Development Committee is new, and is tasked with building relationships with communities to gain an understanding of their needs and council’s role, by engaging with a cross-section of community agencies and groups. By Andrew Campbell
Papamoa residents are being warned not to be complacent about their security following a slight rise in residential burglaries in the area. “We have had a bit of a rise at the moment, particularly with someone targeting master bedrooms of properties,” says Sergeant Phil Gillbanks. Phil says whoever is responsible is taking small items, such as jewellery and cash. “The increase has been in the last couple of weeks. “We are in the process of doing letter drops in people’s letterboxes in the main affected areas of Papamoa, alerting residents to the issue.” Phil hopes this will make residents aware of what is happening in the area to make sure their property is secure before leaving. “The one thing I would say to people is if they do have an alarm installed in the house is that they consider putting sensors in the master bedroom. It’s an area where we keep things of value, both sentimental and financial.” Phil says the burglaries are happening through the day and at night, and often the premise or vehicle entered have been accidentally left unlocked by the owners. “When leaving your vehicle please check that all windows are up, all doors are locked and all valuables are removed. Do not just rely on any electronic push button locking mechanism.” People who witness any suspicious activity in the area are asked to contact police immediately on 111. By Letitia Atkinson