Waihi eyesore flags a nightmare for volunteer group
17 Mar, 2021 09:54 PM
3 minutes to read
Sacha Urlich with the way the flags should look and the tatty flags in the background. Photo / Alison Smith
The tatty banners fluttering over Waihi are no reflection of the proud can-do attitude of New Zealand s most beautiful small town, but they are a sign of how tough it can be as a volunteer.
Go Waihi committee member Sacha Urlich - a volunteer - has been lobbying hard to speed up what s turned into a delay of eight weeks for replacement flags.
The town is adorned with 26 double flags and 19 singles that cost $7000.
End-of-year staff functions are a little different this year, says Hamilton City Council Chief Executive Richard Briggs. Slicing up the budget ensured the council’s 1200 staff still had a chance to hold some kind of event. However, the money allocated could not be used to purchase alcohol, with staff having to buy their own if they wanted a tipple. The $20,000 budget was near the $22,323 cost of the council’s 2019 Christmas event, although Briggs pointed out that partners of staff had to pay for themselves, which meant the net cost was nearer $18,600. The 2019 event was held at Claudelands and details of the budget breakdown included $15,091 for catering; $1500 for a DJ; $592 for event advertising and decorations; $2740 for games and activities; $200 for a live band; $561 for prizes; $972 for a photobooth; $215 for security and $81 for snacks.