ROSA WOODS/STUFF
Andrea Jewell with her children Otto, 7, and Thea, 5, who were roused from bed by the fireworks display that cost Wellington more than $175,000.
Wellington City Council spent more than $175,000 on a fireworks display that exploded over a city facing a funding crisis, a rates hike, and a range of controversial cuts. The council is considering a rates rise of up to 17 per cent and is scrambling to save money as it deals with a wave of big costs such as ageing pipes, a Central Library refit, and the Let’s Get Wellington Moving transport package. The council last week ditched an idea, proposed by Mayor Andy Foster, to save $120,000 in the coming year by getting rid of a programme of free pool entry for under-fives. But others remaining in the queue for possible cuts include a new Chinese gardens, cutting of some library funding for books, and some capital replacements.
Matthew Clode/supplied
A crowd of 30,000 Six60 fans are expected at Sky Stadium for the band’s Wellington concert. The show is one of a number of big events to coincide with good weather over the coming weekend.
On the back of busy Wellington Anniversary and Waitangi weekends, the good times are set to roll on with fine weather and top-notch events on the way. The capital is set for another purple patch this weekend with tens of thousands of people having marked Chinese New Year celebrations, a concert by Kiwi band Six60 and the Wine and Food Festival on their calendars. Adding to the colour will be the on-going
Covid 19 coronavirus: Whanganui testing centres see increase after Northland community case
28 Jan, 2021 04:00 PM
3 minutes to read
In response to the latest community cases, 48 people in the Whanganui region had a Covid-19 swab between Sunday and Thursday. Photo / Bevan Conley
After the latest Covid-19 community case was discovered in Northland last weekend, a number of people in the Whanganui region took the opportunity to get tested.
The Whanganui District Health Board reported there were 48 Covid-19 tests in the region from last Sunday to Thursday afternoon.
A Whanganui DHB spokesman said the community based assessment centre (CBAC) testing station was closed for three days over the weekend and Wellington Anniversary Day.
He admitted his family had learnt a big lesson from what happened on New Year’s Eve. “Parents and children need to show caution . proper training and greater supervision is needed.”
PIERS FULLER/Stuff
A lot of people were out and about on Wellington Anniversary Weekend enjoying the weather at Riversdale Beach, Masterton. Sergeant Shane Nolan said police received a complaint about illegal driving at Riversdale beach over the Wellington Anniversary Weekend. “We’re getting reports that there are a lot of youths out at Riversdale on quad bikes, going too fast, not wearing helmets, too young to even have a licence.”
Déjà vu: Wellington weathering a storm of broken water pipes
26 Jan, 2021 04:00 PM
3 minutes to read
Wellington Water chief executive Colin Crampton (left) and Wellington Mayor Andy Foster assess the site of a broken water pipe in Wellington. Photo / Georgina Campbell
ANALYIS:
When Wellington s mayor got the news that poo was on the city s streets again, his reaction was Oh! [insert four letter word]! .
Andy Foster didn t disclose his swear word of choice as he addressed media at the site of the capital s latest broken water pipe.
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It was the anniversary gift no one wanted to receive.
The rupture itself isn t very big, considering it is in a 300mm diameter cast iron pipe built in the early 1900s.