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Thursday February 22, 2018
inbrief news Liquor licence application withdrawn A three-day hearing on whether to allow the new bottle store to open in the former Silk Route Spices premises on Riddiford St, Newtown was cut short after the applicant abandoned his bid. At a District Licensing Committee (DLA) hearing at the city council chambers on Tuesday morning, owner Inder Brar pushed for approval for his application for an off-licence to operate under the name Black Bull Newtown. However, with 40 submissions in opposition, including the police and Regional Public Health, and none in support, Inder’s counsel Alwyn O’Connor returned from lunch to announce his client wished to abandon his bid for a licence.
Call for moratorium on closures Newtown residents, who have been battling to retain their suburb’s Post Shop and Kiwibank, are calling for a moratorium on all such closures. Newtown Resident’s Association spokeswoman Amanda Barbour says post offices and Kiwibanks played a key role in community life, and their disappearances damage the structure that provides quality of life in New Zealand towns and cities. “The Labour-led Government could declare a moratorium on all closures until a thorough investigation of what quality of postal and banking services are necessary for healthy communities,” she says.
NZ charities deplore abuse cases A charity umbrella group says it is deeply shocking to read of cases overseas where some aid workers have taken advantage of the people their organisations exist to help. “New Zealand aid agencies have zero tolerance for any form of abuse, and continue to hold themselves accountable to the CID Code of Conduct,” says Josie Pagani, director of the Council for International Development (CID), the umbrella organisation for New Zealand’s international aid charities.
Family flies Wellington flag on adventure game show By Jamie Adams
A Maupuia family are keen to continue challenging themselves after appearing on an adventurestyle game show that’s currently screening on TV. “Team Meek” is a blended family consisting of Duane Meek, Rachael Cornish and step-siblings Jessica Meek and Isaac Rhodes. The four joined forces to compete to win $25,000 on XVenture Family Challenge, a show hosted by Simon Barnett and screening Sundays at 5.30pm. Created by Mike Conway, the programme format consists of four families competing in three unique challenges which test the members both physically and mentally. The two families with the highest scores go through to the semi-final. The family has two other members – Rachael’s daughter Livvy, 10, and Duane’s son Justin, 17 – who could not compete as each team had to be of two parents and two children. The show was filmed at Eagles Nest in the Bay of Islands in October, with Team Meek’s episode shot over four days.
Team Meek, from left: Jessica Meek, 14, her father Duane Meek, Rachael Cornish and her son Isaac Rhodes, 13, with reminders of their participation in the TV3 programme XVenture Family Challenge. PHOTO: Jamie Adams
Duane was not allowed to reveal how the family did and was also tight-lipped about the challenges they were involved in, but two episodes that have screened so far have shown family members being guided blindfolded through mazes, working together to put up a tent and operate drones. It’s not the first time Duane had been on a TV game show – last year he appeared on Family Feud with other relatives. “This time it involved the kids,” he says.
The 16 families in this series were chosen from across the nation, and Team Meek is the only family from Wellington city. “We got well looked after,” Duane says. “Simon Barnett was such a nice guy. Really down to earth. “When we weren’t shooting he was talking to us, asking how we all were.” Jessica and Isaac enjoyed the experience, saying it was like being on holiday. They made friends with the other competitors who still keep in touch with
Facebook. While the cash prize was the big incentive to signing up, they agree it does achieve what Mike intended with the concept – helps families bond and learn from each other. “It’s easy to watch it and think ‘why did I do that’?” Rachael says. Duane would be keen to sign up to a show like this in the future. “It reminded me of Top Town.” To find out how Team Meek tune into the fourth episode on March 4.
Time to shine for Wellington businesses Entries are now open for the 20th Wellington Gold Awards. The Wellington Gold Awards will celebrate Wellington businesses and their people for the 20th time in 2018. Nominations have now opened for this year across the eight categories: Discovering, Emerging- Products, Emerging - Services, Global, Vibrant, Cyber, Supporting and Creative Gold. As well as the three Best Practice Awards: Team, Green and
ACC Workplace Safety Gold. The 2018 finalists will be announced at Te Wharewaka on May 24 and the Awards night at TSB Bank Arena is July 5 where about 1000 people will be in attendance once again. “Well over 2000 businesses have participated in the Gold Awards since its inception in 1999 and achieving a 20th birthday this year will add an extra layer of celebration for the businesses and their people
from across the Wellington region” says Gold Awards Director John Dow. “The Gold Awards were initiated in 1998 by Hutt City Mayor John Terris. They were created as a way to give the region’s businesses greater appreciation, profile and support for their contribution to our wider community. “Mayor Terris also anticipated the new Labour Government in 1999 would be looking to focus
on local economies in a regional context and that the Wellington region needed to respond.” Agenda Limited have been the managers and producers of the Gold Awards throughout the 20 years. The nomination/entry process is underway and information is available at www.goldawards.co.nz or contacting Gayle Page on 027 208 8780 or gayle@agenda-marketing. co.nz
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