Nelson Weekly
Affordable Excellence 69 Haven Road, Nelson 7010 24 Hour Service - 7 Days
03 539 0066
Locally Owned and Operated
www.simplicity.co.nz
wednesday 5 december 2018
Rocks Rd upgrade ‘a priority’ says NZTA Kate Russell and Charles Anderson
Nelson is one step closer to having a “worldclass” waterfront after council agreed to push ahead with prioritising improvements for walkers and cyclists on Rocks Rd. In June, NZTA announced it would progress a business case to investigate the Southern Link and Rocks Rd walkway/cycleway. However, on Monday the Regional Transport Committee approved a proposal to separate out the Rocks Rd plan, which would effectively prioritise it over any move to potentially build a new arterial route through Nelson. For decades the “Southern Link” has loomed in Nelson’s transport plans. The route would see a new highway built along the railway reserve and down into Victory to the port. Its proponents say it will transform the city’s traffic woes. Its opponents say that it will result in unneeded disruptions for local communities. In 2004, the Environment Court struck down a plan to build the road saying not enough had been done to investigate other options. NZTA representative Jim Harland said that any new road would not be built until “early 2030s” and the agency recognised something needed to be done in the short term to address challenges for cyclists and walkers on Rocks Rd. “We recognise we need to look to see what, if anything, we can do to make that safer in the interim while there will still be heavy vehicles and quite a few cars going down there. “We need to look at what we can do to make things safer.”
SEE PAGE 3
JiM BeAM 1.75lTR
60
$
.99
Rob Herewini sits in Santa’s sleigh during the Nelson Santa Parade on Sunday. The absence of Santa has left many Nelsonians angry. Photo: Sara Hollyman.
City’s ‘sorry’ Santa saga Charles Anderson Nelson city is stepping in to make sure that local children get to see Santa in the CBD. During Sunday’s Santa Parade, crowds were surprised to see that a traditional St Nick had been ditched in favour of a more multicultural ‘Hana Kōkō’ – the Maori equivalent. The decision by Community Art Works, which organised the parade, sparked outrage
TeACheRS whiSky oR
ChATelle VSoP BRAnDy
34.99
$
online with some calling it ‘PC gone mad’ and ‘the death of Santa’. Many said that their children were disappointed and confused at not seeing the jolly fat man in the red suit. Event director Mark Soper said that organisers wanted to portray a multicultural Christmas but were “truly sorry that the parade did not live up to expectations and are saddened to hear so many people were disappointed”.
Mark told to RNZ and Nelson City Council that Nelson jeweller Glen James was due to play the role of Santa but pulled out after the controversy of his float at the Richmond Santa Parade. Glen has angrily deigned this. “I was bloody livid when I heard he had said that. I never had any role as Santa. I was asked about a month before the parade but said no because I had my own float. That was the last I had heard
of it. To be honest I think he is passing the buck and trying to throw me under the bus. If you make a mistake, own it.” Nelson mayor Rachel Reese says not having Santa at the Santa Parade was a bad call by organisers and now the council and local retailers are working to bring him to the city. “My read of this is that the organisers got themselves into a muddle and forget to
SEE PAGE 2
JiM BeAM GolD 7% 12 PACk 250Ml CAnS wiTh FRee JiM BeAM SUnGlASSeS (While stocks last)
22.99
$
20 Muritai St, Tahunanui Ph 548 5179
- ThiS week only Prices until Sunday 11/12/18
Additional copies $1
100% locAlly owned And operAted
www.nelsonweekly.co.nz