Snippets From Kapiti Coast

Sea monster project educates kids about managing waste

A sea monster project on show in Paraparaumu this week aims to educate young people about managing waste to avoid polluting the ocean.

The Council and Kāpiti artist JoAnna Mere have teamed up to host workshops for children teaching them how to turn plastic bottles into sea creatures.

“I really like creating art from plastic,” says Hollie Johnston, 9, from Paraparaumu. “If we didn’t recycle, it would just go to waste.”

The initiative started with the creation of a sea monster during the Ōtaki Kite Festival, which is now on display at Coastlands by the craft-making tables.
Children used recycled items found on the beach and stuck them on a frame, constructed by Ms Mere, to shape the monster’s head and tail.

“We are all kaitiakitanga (guardians) of the earth and our environment,” Ms Mere says. “To be true guardians, we have to be activated to do something. It’s been a great project – I talk to kids at every level and their caregivers.”

Workshops are being held at Coastlands (near the Countdown entrance) every day this week until Friday, 10.30am to 12pm.

Consultation on Annual Plan closes this week

There’s two weeks left for people to have their say on Council’s draft Annual Plan, which is open for consultation until Friday 29 April.

The plan sets the proposed budget for the next financial year (1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017) and details how Council proposes to provide infrastructure, services and facilities to the district.

The Council has released an easy-to-read consultation document, which is available on the council website and hard copies can be picked up in council service centres and libraries.

People can submit feedback via the ‘have your say’ link on our website www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/annual-plan, downloading a form from our website, by filling out the form on pages 20-22 of the consultation booklet, writing a letter or emailing to annualplan@kapiticoast.govt.nz

Transport Forum for Older Persons

More than 40 Kāpiti residents took part in the Council’s Transport Forum for Older Persons.

It was the third time the Council’s transport safety team held the forum, which aims to upskill, inform and grow the confidence of older transport users.
There were nine guest speakers including an occupational therapist, a visually-impaired person, Driving Miss Daisy, CCS Disability Action on mobility parking, a hearing specialist, a Greater Wellington Regional Council representative on mobility cards and bus services, Paraparaumu Taxis, the New Zealand Police and Mana Coaches. Following the presentations, residents were taken on a bus tour of Kāpiti on a 37-seater bus.

Transport Safety Coordinator Bruce Johnston said the feedback received, from both the presenters and the attendees, was really positive.

Free rural chemical recycling programme offered in Greater Wellington

During May Kāpiti residents have the opportunity, through the Agrecovery programme, to request the free or subsidised collection and disposal of unwanted or expired agrichemicals (this doesn’t include household or garden chemicals).

While this is of particular interest to farming communities, we know Kāpiti has a number of rural/semi-rural properties where potentially toxic agricultural chemicals may be an issue when it comes to safe disposal.

In the 2014/2015 financial year, more than 3,000kg of agrichemicals were collected from Greater Wellington, making up around 17% of the national volume.
Agrecovery is a foundation that is able to largely fund their recycling and recovery service for chemicals and other farm waste through the support of participating manufacturers.

The free collection in Greater Wellington can be booked up until 27 May via the Agrecovery website

Business Continuity Planning Workshops

The Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) is facilitating free Business Continuity Planning workshops across the region in June.
These workshops are aimed at small to medium businesses, and will be an opportunity for networking and learning the basics of business continuity planning.

Developing a good Business Continuity Plan is extremely important for businesses and organisations so that they can not only survive, but potentially thrive, following a shock event.
Local businesses getting back on their feet quickly also helps to re-establish a level of normality, speeds up the recovery process and improves the general wellbeing of the wider community

The workshop will draw on lessons from experiences in Christchurch and international research from other disasters.

A Business Continuity Planning Workshop will be run locally on:

• Tuesday 7 June, 9am – 12 noon
Kāpiti Emergency Operations Centre
Fytfield Place (enter through gate on the left)
Paraparaumu

To register for this workshop or to view and book your attendance at similar workshops being run throughout the region visit:http://www.getprepared.org.nz/BCP_workshops

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