Council Services over Christmas and New Year

Customer Service closed:

12pm, Friday 23 December 2022 – 8.30am, Wednesday 4 January 2023

Resource Consents, LIMS & LGOIMA processing closed:

20 December 2022 – 10 January 2023

Liquor licensing processing closed:

20 December 2022 – 15 January 2023

Building Consents

Processing of Building Consents is closed between 20 December 2022 – 10 January 2023.

The last building inspections for 2022 will be undertaken on 22 December 2022. Bookings for inspections resume on 4 January 2023 and inspections will begin from 9 January.

Waste & Recycling

Haast landfill, Franz Josef and Whataroa transfer stations closed:

Sunday 25 December 2022 and Sunday 1 January 2023

Fox Glacier transfer stations closed:

Monday 26 December 2022 and Monday 2 January 2023

Hokitika, Kumara, Ross and Harihari transfer stations closed:

Sunday 25 and Monday 26 December 2022, and Sunday 1 January 2023

Roadside rubbish and recycling collection as normal throughout the Christmas period.

Customer Service Kiosks

Westland District Council constantly seeks to improve our customer service with new ways for customers to access our information and services.

A Self Service kiosk has been installed at the Customer Service Centre at our offices in Hokitika, allowing individuals to complete tasks such as applying for permits and looking up information directly at a kiosk.

This is currently operational and undergoing development and testing. If this trial is successful, we intend to consider the best way to install kiosks in locations across the district – bringing access to our services closer to those who live a long way from Hokitika.

We look forward to people making use of this service and we welcome all feedback on the system. Customers are welcome to provide their feedback to the Customer Service staff.

Westroads donates BMX Track to Kaniere School

Thanks to the hard work of Westroads staff members Peter Nancekiviell and Adam Neaves the Kaniere School BMX Track has recently been completed. The original track built in 2018 was a basic ring track. Now, this second stage build adds humps and bumps to increase students’ confidence on different cycling terrain and give them a taste of BMX and mountain-biking.

Westroads General Manager Graeme Kelly says “The bike track project fits in with Westroads beliefs and values and we are only too happy to support our neighbours in such a way. We wanted to take the opportunity to donate something to our neighbours and this project was a great match for the Westroads team’s skills and something that the school desired.

Mr Kelly remembers when he was at primary school (a few years ago now) he and his friends were more interested in playing outside than the in-classroom stuff and wished that they had a track like this back then. “I’m delighted that the kids now get to enjoy it, even if I’m a bit too old for it!”

Kaniere School Principal Rachel King is very happy with the new asset. “The track is amazing! The students love it. Westroads did a fantastic job.”

Apply for rates rebates

The full rates rebate for the 2022/2023 year is $700. To be eligible for the full rebate your income must be $28,000 or less, but you can still receive a partial rebate if your income is higher, up to $50,000.

You must be the ratepayer on our records AND reside at the address for which you wish to apply for a rebate as at 1 July 2020. Rebates are intended for residential properties including Retirement village occupants with a licence to occupy and Māori Freehold Landowners with a separate rating unit.

Council needs to know your total income before tax for the year 1 April 2021– 31 March 2022 to process a rates rebate application.

Please visit the DIA website for further information on what the requirements are and how to apply. Our Rates Officer is happy to assist with these applications.

Projects progressing at WIHP

It’s been a fairly quiet couple of months at the Park. Project work has progressed steadily and we look forward to Christmas and the holiday season.

We received the great news in mid-November that our Licence to operate the Mudfish Bush Railway has been renewed. We have had a few rail days since and patronage has been really good despite cooler (and sometimes damper) weather than we like.

Whilst talking of the railway, Bruce and the team in the workshop have been modifying and improving the traverser and building a small ticket office. The drive through storage shed has been a great success. Two new sets of points have also been built.

Vicki has almost singlehandedly eliminated the gorse along the railway’s Marshall Straight and the landscape team have continued to maintain and improve the plantings of trees and shrubs. There is a way to go but they are beginning to see the rewards for their labours.

David and the Livery team have installed some new display boards that improve the display of leather harnesses, bridles, whips and the like.

Maria continues to expand and enhance her displays of sewing machines, loom and spinning wheels and her Victorian costume display has become a popular feature.

We have hosted a number of groups from about 70 motorcycles for the Motorcycle “Shine and Show”, the Wolseley Club, Bill Hohepa’s NZ heritage tour group, a travel group from Hastings and two school groups – Westland High School and St. Canices School in Westport. A great opportunity for the children to learn about the history of Westland.

We hope you enjoyed our floats in the Christmas Parade and it encouraged you to come and look around the displays, talk to our volunteers and you might hear some interesting stories. See the show in the Big Engine Shed and have a ride on the Mudfish Bush Railway.

Happy Christmas everyone from Westland Industrial Heritage Park.

Visit us at 9 Brian Waugh Lane, Hokitika 7810. Check our website for opening hours or call 027 629 1935.

Text and Images: Westland Industrial Heritage Park 

Te Korowai Whetū Social Cohesion Community Fund

Applications are now open for the Te Korowai Whetū Social Cohesion Community Fund administered by the Ministry for Social Development.

Community groups are invited to apply for funding for initiatives that contribute to:

• Inclusion and equity
• Recognition and respect
• Trust

Initiatives can include arts, sports, cultural events and hui. The purpose of the initiative should be to:

• Strengthen social connections and respectful relationships
• Celebrate diversity and cultural inclusion
• Promote and apply Te Korowai Whetū Social Cohesion tools and resources
• Support collaboration and coordination for community groups to strengthen social cohesion.

Find out more and apply online on the MSD website.

Free family fun sessions at the library

Start the New Year off right and head into the library for free family fun sessions!

Visit the library website or Facebook page to find out more.

Make a submission

Resource Management Act reform

Two pices of the legislation that will replace the current Resource Management Act are now available for public consultation. At the conclusion of the reform the RMA will be replaced by three new acts – the Natural and Built Environment Act (NBA), Spatial Planning Act (SPA), and the Climate Adaptation Act (CAA). The key shifts in the new system are:

• planning for positive outcomes, not just managing adverse effects
• a more effective role for Māori, one that gives effect to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• more integrated and strategic long-term planning for transport, infrastructure, housing, climate resilience and environmental protection
• a regional, collaborative approach to planning
• effective partnering of central and local government and iwi/hapū/Māori in planning and delivery
• stronger, more consistent national direction
• moving to equitable and efficient resource allocation within limits
• improved evidence, monitoring, feedback and oversight.

The three new acts working together will create a system for land use regulation and environmental protection that will deliver better outcomes for New Zealand’s built and natural environments, and for our work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

You can have your say on the Natural and Built Environment Bill and Spatial Planning Bill now. Submissions close on 30 January 2023.