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$5 million plan to stop sediment flow into Mahurangi River
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Examining the Mahurangi River catchment map, from left, Shelley Hackett, Adam Schelhammer, Colin Harvey (MERRA) and Leo Van de Wijdeven (landowner).
Managers of a project designed to stop thousands of tonnes of sediment flowing into the Mahurangi River each year outlined how they planned to achieve that goal at a public launch event at the Mahurangi West Hall last month.
Late last year, the Ministry of the Environment contributed $5 million to the Mahurangi East Land Restoration project (MELR) to stop the flow of sediment. MELR is managed by Auckland Council and the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust.
Bribery and corruption: Stephen Borlase forfeits $3.5m but properties, cars unfrozen
7 May, 2021 05:00 PM
5 minutes to read
Stephen Borlase reached a settlement with police over his frozen assets after New Zealand s biggest bribery case. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Stephen Borlase reached a settlement with police over his frozen assets after New Zealand s biggest bribery case. Photo / Jason Oxenham
A corrupt former businessman who was jailed for bribing public officials will forfeit millions of dollars to the Crown - but he ll get to keep his home, bach and a vintage car. Stephen Borlase, the head of roading contracting business Projenz, was jailed in 2017 after what became New Zealand s largest ever bribery prosecution.
Ministry of Health supports fluoridation bill
Sodium fluoride is often added to water and toothpaste.
A Government proposal to amend legislation related to drinking water will make fluoridation of water in Rodney and Kaipara more likely.
Treatment plants in Warkworth, Snells Beach and Wellsford could theoretically be used to fluoridate reticulated water.
Although Auckland, Waitakere, Manukau and Franklin are all fluoridated, the former Rodney District is not.
In 2019, Watercare head of operations Priyan Perera told Mahurangi Matters that it had not revisited fluoridation since the formation of the Supercity.
“Watercare adds fluoride to Auckland’s drinking water supplies based on requests from former local councils,” he said.
Inexperience and infrastructure costs blamed for local government dysfunction
4 Mar, 2021 11:55 PM
5 minutes to read
Tauranga City Council mayor Tenby Powell in November last year. Photo / George Novak
Rotorua Daily Post
By: Natalie Akoorie
A long-time councillor says inexperience, personality clashes and infrastructure costs are at the root of ongoing council infighting around the country, while a local government academic believes New Zealand s sector is unfit for purpose.
It comes as Stuff reports Cabinet slashed a billion-dollar bail-out fund for water infrastructure by $239 million and as Wellington City Council backtracks on a proposal to sell-off part of the city s central library and cut its book budget by 40 percent.