/news/upper-north-island/rss 九一星空无限 Keep up with the latest in Upper North Island news with 九一星空无限talk ZB. Sat, 23 Aug 2025 18:51:08 Z en /news/upper-north-island/far-north-festivals-get-boost-from-government-tourism-funding/ /news/upper-north-island/far-north-festivals-get-boost-from-government-tourism-funding/ The Far North is set to benefit from an injection of regional tourism funding, with the Government supporting local festivals through the Regional Events Promotion Fund. Northland MP Grant McCallum said the Government is encouraging more New Zealanders to visit Northland. “I’m thrilled to see Northland included in this round of funding support,” McCallum said. “These events are a great way to bring people into our region, support local businesses, and showcase the culture and hospitality that make the Far North so special.” The funding will support a range of events across the region, including the Upsurge Bay of Islands Arts Festival, the Brew of Islands and the Fired Up Barbecue Festival. Brew of Islands will receive $15,000; the Fired Up Barbecue Festival will receive $30,000 and the Upsurge Bay of Islands Arts Festival will receive $7300. “I want to see people in our towns, right across Northland, helping our tourism operators, food producers, and small businesses thrive,” McCallum said. “Events like these are great drawcards. They help bring more visitors into places like the Bay of Islands, Kaipara and all of Northland to create economic activity, and help keep local jobs and businesses going year-round. “This National-led Government is committed to backing regional growth and delivering practical support to communities like ours.” Across two rounds, the Regional Events Promotion Fund has supported 284 events across the country. A full list of successful applications is available on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 03:57:40 Z /news/upper-north-island/far-north-council-to-landfill-190-tonnes-of-plastic-waste/ /news/upper-north-island/far-north-council-to-landfill-190-tonnes-of-plastic-waste/ A year’s worth of plastic waste, once collected for recycling, may now end up in the landfill. Far North District Council (FNDC) ran out of space for the 190-tonne stockpile, which grew after markets for type 1 (PET) plastic started to fade around three years ago and has not recovered. The council stockpiled the plastics in the hope that the markets would recover. In a recent meeting, FNDC moved to approve the landfilling of the stockpile, at an estimated cost of $45,000 and approved the suspension of accepting coloured type 1 (PET) plastic at council facilities as recyclable items from next month (June). The suspension will continue until sustainable options for the type 1 (PET) plastics develop. “After China closed its recycling markets to the rest of the world, the market for coloured 1 (PET) plastics began to fade, and it is now uneconomic for the Far North to recycle these,” FNDC said. The council has continued to accept this grade of plastics in the hope markets would recover. However, the stockpile of coloured 1 (PET) plastic has now reached 190 tonnes and has deteriorated to the point it cannot now be recycled. “After June 16, the council will offer a one-month grace period where coloured 1 (PET) plastics will be accepted for landfill at no charge. From mid-July, disposing of coloured 1 (PET) plastics will attract the same charge as other household waste going to landfill.” Zero Waste spokeswoman Sue Couts said the decision reinforced the need to move away from recycling and invest in reusable packaging instead. Zero Waste spokeswoman Sue Coutts said the decision highlighted the need to shift focus from recycling to reusable packaging solutions. She said the aim should be there to be a shift away from recycling and more focus on reducing and reusing. “It’s definitely good to shift to reuse and avoid buying single-use containers in the first place if you can.” “We should be investing as a country in systems for reuse and putting in place product stewardship schemes that require producers, wholesalers and retailers to change their products, packaging and business models.” She said retailers and businesses should cover the real cost of putting packaging out into the market. “That is the full cost to collect, sort, transport and recycle their packaging. At the moment councils and ratepayers often have to pick up the tab.” She said there aren’t many options for non-recyclable plastics. “The best thing to do is to stop collecting them so time and money are not wasted on collection, sorting, baling storage etc. And being clear and transparent about what is and is not recyclable with the public is a very important part of all kerbside and commercial collections.” Government standardised the materials collected through kerbside to 1, 2 and 5 plastics so that councils did not get pressured into accepting other plastics with low volumes and poor markets, she added. Sun, 25 May 2025 23:51:11 Z /news/upper-north-island/patients-miss-whang%C4%81rei-hospital-appointments-over-parking-woes-staff-struggle/ /news/upper-north-island/patients-miss-whang%C4%81rei-hospital-appointments-over-parking-woes-staff-struggle/ A lack of car parking at Whangārei Hospital is forcing staff to arrive an hour early for shifts and means some patients are missing appointments. Staff say more planning should have been done before car parks were cut with construction work, but Health NZ said more car parking will be included in the hospital redevelopment that is due to be completed by 2031. While car parking has always been restricted at the hospital, the situation has been inflamed since December last year when work started on a new $35 million child health unit, Tira Ora. About 80 renal and visitor car parks have been removed by the construction, estimates nurse Karen, a representative of the NZ Nurses Organisation who asked for her last name to be withheld. Some of the visitor parking has been moved to a staff carpark but there is a squeeze on available parks, she said. “Visitors go around and around looking for parks and some have left not being able to make their appointments.” Karen said some patients are being pointed to the staff carparks so they can make their appointments, but this has led to afternoon shift workers finding their dedicated parks have been taken. “The afternoon shift workers are having to come to work nearly an hour beforehand to find a park,” she said. “It would be great to see more parking within the hospital grounds and it would be nice if it had been planned for prior to starting the renovations.” Karen said alternatives such as taking the bus are not possible for the shift workers and security is a concern for those working late at night, especially if they have far to go to get to their car. PSA union organiser Mark Furey, who represents about 800 workers at the hospital, said he has driven around three to four times to find a park and could see other visitors getting equally frustrated. While visitors have to pay for car parking at Whangārei Hospital after the first hour, it hasn't stopped the queues and number of people driving around and around. Photo / Denise Piper Administration workers told him cancellations are “through the roof” because of people being caught out by the lack of parks. Much of the available car parking is not suitable for those who are sick or less mobile, with the walk from Tohora House, between Hospital Rd and West End Ave, known as “cardiac hill”, he said. The situation has come from the hospital expanding, despite being built on a hill and unstable land, Furey said. A plan to build a multi-storey carpark at the front of the hospital, on Maunu Rd, had to be scrapped because of unstable land, he said. “It has to be taken seriously and to take it seriously there’s a substantial cost involved.” Alex Pimm, Health NZ group director of operations Northern, acknowledged there are car parking constraints at Whangārei Hospital. “We ... thank people for their patience when trying to park as we know how frustrating it can be.” Pimm said building additional car parking is a long-term commitment as part of the Pihi Kaha hospital redevelopment. The project is being actively progressed, with decisions expected later this year, he said. It is not due to be finished until 2031. Pimm said the organisation is working to move more outpatient appointments to other locations and is asking services to consider appointment timing to avoid congestion. People are also encouraged to: Ask friends or whānau to drop them off and pick them up after their appointment. Make use of transport options like buses, taxis, ride-share services such as Driving Miss Daisy and Freedom Companion Drive, or public shuttles like those provided by Hato Hone St John and Linking Hands. Engage in active transport such as walking, cycling or e-scooter. Check eligibility for the Total Mobility scheme, which is facilitated by Northland Regional Council and will contribute towards approved taxi and ride-share costs. Pimm recognised car parking challenges for staff too and said Health NZ is actively considering solutions for staff parking. The options include staff carpooling, off-site staff parking, working with council to consider aligning the bus timetable with staff shifts and releasing underutilised staff car parks during the day. Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference. Sun, 25 May 2025 22:51:21 Z