FROM THE EDITOR

A few weeks ago our Mayor announced a suspension of the $1500 consent fee to install a water tank in a residential backyard.

Residents can collect rain water for their gardens or to wash their cars, taking some pressure off Watercare. However, it is still a nightmare trying to work through a 14-page application – P22.

Saturday 19 September is fast approaching and New Zealand political parties are ramping up their publicity for a potentially ugly election contest. After all, new National Party leader Judith Collins is no shrinking violet and has a history of making outlandish comments often construed as extreme right.

The country has seen terrible events - the Mosque attacks, White Island eruption and Covid-19. Our PM has received international praise for how she handled these. Jacinda will certainly not lower the tone and will aim to conduct a clean election. Don’t miss our Auckland Central election candidates’ debate – Sunday 9 August. 4pm-6pm at Freemans Bay School – P36.

The Ponsonby News team loves all kinds of design. So we asked six local furniture entrepreneurs to tell us their favourites off the shop floor – P40.

We hope that the Government in its second term will give initiatives for people to buy electric vehicles (EVs). A good variety is now available and although initial costs are high, they are cheaper to run. Fast, plentiful charging stations are critical to allow for longer journeys – P52.

The team loves a day out in Matakana. There are so many good things to see, do, eat, drink and buy – P64.

Jay Platt, John Elliott & Martin Leach

photography: Connor Crawford

We were shocked recently to hear traces of glyphosate being found in our most valuable export – Manuka honey. It’s high time glyphosate, declared by IPPS scientists as probably carcinogenic, be banned in New Zealand.

Diary Date: It’s Market day this Saturday and don’t miss ‘Light up Ponsonby’ on 5-9 August. Experience Ponsonby in a new way as we light up our streets and footpaths with interactive light installations and projections. (MARTIN LEACH)  PN

WE ARE WITH YOU LONG-TERM

MAT T & RYAN

N 1 IN GREY LYNN *

‘Working with these two doesn’t feel transactional, it’s a more like a long-term relationship which is just the sort of place you want to be coming from when selling one of your biggest assets’

George & Eve

Matt O’Rourke 021 375 909 m.orourke@barfoot.co.nz Ryan Harding 021 621 580 r.harding@barfoot.co.nz

*Grey Lynn branch - year ending March 2020 *#2 Individual Salesperson Central Auckland 2020