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Wednesday December 21, 2016
TRELLIS • Trellis made to size • BBQ tables (assembled) • Planter boxes • Decorative fence panels • Compost bins • Gates • Bird boxes
36 Main Road, Tawa
Young pianists impress audience By Sharnahea Wilson
Local piano players impressed their family and friends last Friday at their festive end-ofyear concert. The term four concert was held at the Ngaio Union Church and featured piano pieces by 11 young students of Laurel Tse
Piano, as well as a piece played by Laurel herself. The piano-filled evening included festive Christmas tunes such as Slient Night, Deck the Halls and Jingle Bells. There were also more classic pieces by Bach, Beethoven and Gershwin played for the audience.
Piano teacher Laurel said she held a concert at the end of each term for the students to showcase their work to their friends and family. “I present each student a collection of music I think they would like,” Laurel explained. She said she does this every time the students are ready for
itmtawa@xtra.co.nz • Ph: 04 232-5999
ROOM AT THE INN Celebrating 53 Years of Service in the Community
CHRISTMAS DAY MEALS For the housebound, lonely, students and visitors to Wellington A Christmas Day meal will be provided at the Aro Valley Community Centre, 48 Aro St, commencing at 12:30pm.
Meals can be delivered for those housebound. Those who wish to volunteer their services should
Performing on the night were Stella Rusbatch, Olivia Sinclair, Tarek Patchett, Finn Lewis, Laila Patchett, Luca Singh, Kate Lewis, Lucy McCrone, Alexander Sawyer, Angus Rusbatch, Laurel Tse (teacher), and Archie Domaneschie. PHOTO: Sharnahea Wilson
a new piece. “I try to get to know them so I can choose pieces to suit their personalities.” Laurel said she was “really proud” of the students for performing in front of a crowd. “It’s hard for anybody to get up in front of an audience, it can be really nerve racking to share your music with a whole bunch of people.” Archie Domaneschie who has been playing piano for two years won the Outstanding Achievement Award on the night. “I like performing because people get to hear my music,” Archie said. His mum Karen said she was very proud of her son, as he had won the award before. “I’m amazed by the fact that they don’t have any issues getting up and playing in front of everyone, I think that’s great,” Karen said. Tarek Patchett who played Go the Distance and Intermezzo on the night picked up the award for most improved student. For more information on Laurel Tse Piano visit http://www. laureltsepiano.co.nz/ or email laurelkimtse@gmail.com
Affordable and social housing on the way for Wellington
Telephone 499 3240 CC38110
Brett Hudson
National list MP based in Ohariu JOHNSONVILLE OFFICE Level 2, 29 Broderick Rd Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-3pm 04 478 0628 for appointments WADESTOWN CLINIC Fri 2-3pm. Le Maquis, 11 Sefton St, Wadestown Authorised by Brett Hudson, 29 Broderick Rd, Johnsonville.
Changes are on the way for housing in Wellington, the city council announced last week. With rates rebates for firsthome builders and an expansion of Wellington City Council’s social housing, there will be more affordable housing on the way. At last week’s first meeting of the mayor’s taskforce on housing, chaired by deputy mayor Paul Eagle, the council’s housing portfolio leader, experts from around the country identified affordable, social and emergency housing as areas in need of immediate action. Mr Eagle said the taskforce’s
first meeting was significant. “It’s the first time we’ve had representatives from across the housing continuum at the same table prioritising housing issues for Wellington.” Key issues identified included a long-term housing plan tailored for Wellington, better data to improve decision-making, working with central government, learning from other successful housing initiatives and continuing to overhaul council processes to make it easier to build more homes. “Building more homes remains our number one priority,” Mr Eagle said.
“That means focusing on developing masterplans for our neighbourhoods, getting the housing mix right with developers and creating a pipeline for long-term housing construction.” Wellington Mayor Justin Lester said the council would act swiftly to get new homes built. “The advice from our taskforce [last week] is that in the face of skyrocketing house prices, there is an immediate need for local government to step up and start taking action. “I will be asking my councillors early in the New Year
to approve policy changes to help us tackle these problems. These will include a $5000 rates rebate for building first homes, a new model to help deliver affordable housing, and expanding our stock of social housing. “If we want to avoid a situation like Auckland, we need to take action.” The Housing Taskforce will meet again in the New Year with a forum planned with wider representation from the housing sector. Final recommendations will be presented in April to align with the council’s annual plan deliberations.
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