Council Meetings June / July 2022

Photo credit: Helen Cook

Coming up at the Library

Lantern Making

Get ready for the Lantern Parade with our Lantern Making Workshops! The free workshops are on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 June from 3pm.

Bring along an empty bottle and craft your very own lantern to bring to the lantern parade!

Children under 8 years must be accompanied by an adult. Spaces are limited, book your free ticket here. A ticket will be required for each lantern maker (accompanying adults do not need to book tickets for themselves).

The Lantern Parade is scheduled for Saturday 18th June starting at 5.30pm. Check out the Hokitika Lantern Parade Facebook page for up-to-date information.

Wellbeing Challenge

Our three-month Wellbeing Challenge on Beanstack has begun. Embark on a wellbeing journey to boost your resilience and balance your mental and physical health.

Each month we will invite you to explore a new topic. In June, we will embark on a Hygge journey by reading inspiring books and completing activities. Earn badges to be in the draw to win shiny new wellbeing books.

Processing delays in the Building Control and Planning departments

Both the Building Control and Planning departments are experiencing a very high demand for their services at this time. As both departments are currently short-staffed they are unable to process all applications and queries within the statutory processing times.

We thank customers for their patience and assure you that staff are doing their best to process applications and queries as fast as possible.

Information for a smooth process

Please help us to help you by making sure when you submit applications they are as complete and detailed as possible to avoid further delays with requests for more information.

If you receive a request for more information (RFI) for your Building Control application

• Include a list of the changes you have made
• Include only the relevant pages
• Mark all changes with a cloud for easy identification
• Do not book inspections before you are ready

Storytime with Erika and CoCo Flash

Pride week celebrated at the Library

Westland District Library hosted their first-ever children’s Rainbow Storytime, part of our Pride Month celebration this June.  The fabulous drag queens, Erika and CoCo Flash, entertained an audience of over 75 children and adults.  They read children’s picture books on themes of acceptance, inclusion and being kind and raised the roof singing favourite children’s songs, including the infamous Baby Shark!

“Brilliant event Westland District Library, thank you for bringing sparkle to Hokitika and for Pride Week.” Patron Feedback.

Events like Rainbow Storytime promote reading for pleasure.  Reading for pleasure supports cognitive development and helps build social and emotional skills, including empathy.  Children and adults that can empathise with others are kinder, less likely to bully, and more understanding and tolerant of differences in others.  This positively impacts our individual and community health and well-being.  If that doesn’t convince you, OECD research shows that reading for pleasure is the single most important indicator of a child’s future success.  It’s even a more powerful factor in life achievement than socio-economic background.

So if you haven’t already, come and visit the library, it’s free to join, free to borrow and we have something for everyone!

Text and images from Westland District Library

Enrol, stand, vote

Vote 2022 – Youth voting and standing for election

Standing to be an Elected Member or voting in local elections is not just for older people! Anyone who is over the age of 18 can register to vote and stand as a candidate for Council.

Becoming a candidate

The number of younger people standing in their local elections is growing. Younger members often have quite different priorities than older members about how they want to see their districts grow and flourish. It is encouraging that over the last few election cycles the voters of Westland have supported younger candidates, which has ensured that younger people have a voice at the Council table. If you are a young person between the ages of 18 to 39 and are considering running for Council have a look at the information from LGNZ’s Young Elected Members Committee, and check out their zoom series on how to campaign for local elections.

You can find out more about standing for election on our website.

Voting

While voting in the local elections might not be a high priority if you’re aged 18 – 24, the people who are elected are making decisions about the place you live in that could affect you now and in the future. Elected members get to decide what services are available in the community that you pay for either through rates if you own property, or in your rent if you don’t.

If you are aged over 18 and want your preferred candidate to have a seat at the Council table you need to enrol to vote and send the form back in when the elections happen in October.

Find out more about enrolling to vote on our website.

Haast / Awarua Bike Park

Putting in the volunteer hours is paying off for the Haast community who are working together to build a pump track for the children in town (and those passing through) to enjoy. Supported by Westland District Council the community have started the new track at the Marks Road Reserve and purchased some playground equipment to extend the current playground.

Since the beginning of the year the community have been holding working bees to build and beautify the track. The adults have made sure to include the beneficiaries in their work, with the children at Haast School joining in to help out. Check out their Facebook page to see what they’re up to and keep up-to-date with the project.

Image credit: Sue Henderson

Apply for your Manager’s Certificate online

It’s now easier to apply for a new manager’s certificate to work in restaurants and bars using our online form.

If you are using the form you will still need to supply the following supporting documentation. You can upload scanned documents when completing the form:

• Copy of Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ) Certificate (if issued before 18th December 2013) or
• Copy of Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ) Certificate AND evidence of successful completion of the LCQ bridging test.
• Photocopy of your current passport & permit/visa if applicable.
• A work reference including name and contact details of the referee, providing evidence of current / recent employment at licensed premises.
• A character reference including name and contact details of the referee from a person who is not associated with the licensed premises in which you are currently or have recently worked and who has known you for a minimum of 5 years and is not a family member.
• Copy of photo identification – Passport or Drivers licence

Reclassifying Stewardship Land – DoC consultation

Have your say on the proposed reclassifications for 504 pieces of stewardship land on the West Coast before final decisions are made. Submissions close 26 July 2022.

Stewardship land is the term used for land that was allocated to DOC when it was formed in 1987. It includes former state forest and Crown land that was considered to have conservation value.

There are over 3,000 pieces of stewardship land of varying sizes across New Zealand.

DOC is supporting the reclassification of stewardship land to ensure land with conservation and cultural values is protected for future generations to enjoy.

The recommendations from the panels for the 504 pieces of stewardship land are not final.

DOC wants your feedback to help determine the best outcome for stewardship land areas on the West Coast.

They are asking whether you agree or disagree with the panels’ recommendations and to include any comments you might have.

Find out more and submit your response here.

Text from Department of Conservation