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KEN RING: WEATHER BY THE MOON - AUCKLAND WEATHER DIARY, MARCH 2022

March may be wetter and cooler than normal, with average sunshine.

Expect a month of two halves, with the first half wet and the second half fine. The remnants of a cyclonic system originating north of NZ may impact the North Island in the second week, possibly the wettest event for the year, bringing flooding. The barometer may average around 1014mbs, with lowest pressures in the first week and highest pressures in the third week.

For fishers, unusually high tides are around 4th. The best fishing bite-times in the east are around dusk on 2nd-5th and 17th-19th. Bite-chances are also good around noon of 9th11th, and 24th-26th. For gardeners, planting is best (waxing moon ascending) between 14th-17th, and pruning 1st-2nd and 27th-31st (waning moon descending). For preserving and longer shelflife, pick crops or flowers on neap tide days of 12th and 26th.

Always allow 24-hour error for all forecasting. (KEN RING)

For future weather for any date, and the 2022 NZ Weather Almanac, see www.predictweather.com.

For future weather for any date, and the 2022 NZ Weather Almanac, see www.predictweather.com.

Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.

JOHN ELLIOTT: HOW DOES AN 83 YEAR OLD AVOID OMICRON?

As an 83 year old living in central Auckland I’m conscious of the growing closeness of Omicron. Eleven hundred new cases yesterday (16 February). How many will there be by the time this issue of Ponsonby News comes out?

It may be milder than Delta, but it will hit the old the young and the immune compromised hardest, and I can’t avoid that group!

I spoke to psychologist Kyle MacDonald, and asked him if this new variant, and its unknowns, was affecting wellbeing more or differently than Delta had. Kyle didn’t think much had changed mental healthwise. What he said was that it was a challenge for most of us to maintain flexibility. We tend to look for certainty when we’re anxious, and when we don’t know what is happening we try to create certainty. Kyle says we need to, “recalibrate our anxiety, based on the best science".

MacDonald thinks most New Zealanders have done well, but they still, when facing Omicron, have to assess the risk factors they are taking. Some will be more risk tolerant than others. There has been a grinding weariness around lockdowns, says Kyle MacDonald, and like the AA slogan says, “we should keep our side of the street clean". In other words, do what we can to minimise disasters, including super spreading events.

Lockdowns may have ended, but I detect a careful approach to gatherings in public by most people. There are the 'let-it-rip group', some of whom think 83 year olds are dispensible in the interests of the economy - that money is more important than people, might be too harsh, but you get the drift.

I just hope our PM Jacinda sticks to her earlier statement that she will not sacrifice the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders on the altar of GDP. (JOHN ELLIOTT)  PN

LEYS INSTITUTE PROJECT ADVISORY GROUP MEETS

The Leys Institute Project Advisory Group, initiated by Auckland Council and consisting of council and library staff, representatives of community organisations and local residents’ groups, along with heritage architects and a Leys family member, met twice late last year.

After the Christmas and January summer break the third meeting was held online last week.

The first three meetings have been online, but we hope to have the next meeting on 3 March in the grounds of the library courtyard, to gain some understanding of the site and place.

So far, the meetings have explored the history of the land prior to European settlement, the Leys family and the history of the buildings from 1905 until the present day. The group has also examined the purpose of libraries in the community and where the future needs lie for libraries and community services.

This latest meeting looked at the significance of Te Ao Maori to the project; the impact of technology today and how to future-proof the facility and services; what sort and scope of spaces are needed; financial implications for the project; and the all-important community connections.

These discussions inform the brief to heritage architect Antony Matthews, who will present concept plans at the next meeting. These will be refined by the Project Advisory Group to produce plans which will then be shared for community consultation and feedback.

Meanwhile, considerable work has been underway to get the seismic strengthening work ready. It’s understood that council has funding available for the seismic work to proceed, once the detailed plans for the building’s restoration are finalised.

The Advisory Group has expressed concern about the present state of the buildings and the lack of maintenance, so is sending a formal resolution to council to request maintenance be undertaken immediately.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of Friends of Leys Institute can email co-ordinator Helen Geary at heleng@maxnet.co.nz, and follow the Friends of Leys Institute Facebook page.  PN LEYS INSTITUTE LITTLE LIBRARY, 14 Jervois Road, T: 09 377 0209, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

Have your say

Proposed speed limit changes

Safe Speeds Programme – Phase 3 Auckland Transport is proposing to set new permanent speed limits on approximately 1,646 roads around Auckland. This includes 980 roads near schools and high-risk rural areas such as the Āwhitu Peninsula.

Give your feedback by 3 April 2022 If you have difficulty completing the online form, or want to present your views on the proposal to AT in person, please call us on 09 355 3553 or email ATSpeedProgramme@AT.govt.nz

To learn more and tell us what you think, visit: AT.govt.nz/haveyoursay