BEST HEARING SOLUTIONS FOR YOU

• cron outbreak in early 2022, said Perumal’s report

A shortage of bus drivers also meant the Tauranga network moved to a weekend timetable at the end of February, and Rotorua ran a weekend timetable during March

Some of the measures achieved included improving air quality and visitor satisfaction for people that went to regional parks The goal was to have 75 per cent visitor satisfaction, and 98 per cent was achieved from the 254 respondents to the survey

The council also accomplished its maritime operations goals One of these being that 95 per cent of oil spills in Tauranga were responded to within 30 minutes There were 31 oil spills in

Tauranga, and the council responded to all of these within half an hour

Every local authority’s annual report must be audited before it is formally adopted Audit New Zealand audit director Leon Pieterse told the meeting the audit went “really well”

“We completed the audit, and we are ready to issue an unqualified audit report on the financial statements and statements of service for performance,” he said

An unqualified audit report means the financial statements and statements of service present fairly and were transparent Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

Did you know that there are over 1 2 million pukapuka (books), magazines, eBooks, eAudio books and eMagazines available from your local library?

And that’s just a taste of what Western Bay of Plenty District Libraries have on offer

There are four libraries spread across the Western Bay in Te Puke, Ōmokoroa, Katikati and Waihī Beach, so there is no excuse for not dropping in

And now is the time to get back to your library, according to Team Leader Libraries (East), Amanda-Jane McFadden

“Your local library has a lot happening, maybe more than you know In the last year, our library network has run holiday programmes, reading, and colouring competitions We’ve hosted Sir Edmund Hillary’s Hut Virtual Reality Experience and had be-spook Halloween activities

“We want everyone to know they’re welcome at our community libraries, and we ’ re sure to have something that will interest you ”

One of the most exciting recent changes was the libraries going fine-free in 2022 This included wiping the slate on over $21,000 of historic debt from 2589 library users

This means there are no overdue fines for borrowed items, apart from rental items: DVDs and Top Shelf books And any old fines from items, holds, and rental items (DVDs and Top Shelf books) have also evaporated Team Leader Libraries (West), Julia Edgecombe says these bills were slashed in a move to encourage the community to get back into the library and reading again

“Our libraries are here for our communities We don’t want anything stopping people from visiting

“To anyone who’s stayed away because of old fines, please don’t hesitate to come in We’re here to help and we want you enjoying your favourite books again ”

In 2022 there were 316,516 books borrowed from our libraries, and the team is hoping to increase that number in 2023

Events and activities are also back in full swing Adult events include computer classes (one on one and group), knit and natter, Scrabble groups, and book chat And for the younger ones we have code clubs, story times, school holiday events and much more Community services like the Justice of the Peace clinics at Waihī Beach and Ōmokoroa Libraries are also back in 2023