Waimea Weekly
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Wednesday 30 August 2017
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Page 16-17 Page 3
2017 award winners
From Kaiteriteri to Cairns
Page 21
Queen St Prime Minister has good news for families footpaths one-way traffic Simon Bloomberg
Simon Bloomberg Reporter
simon@waimeaweekly.co.nz
Pedestrians are feeling the pinch on Queen St with new construction barriers and advertising signs transforming the footpaths into a slalom course that’s so tricky in places that there’s not enough room for two people to pass. And it’s even worse for people pushing prams or driving mobility scooters with the footpath width reduced to just 1.2m outside some businesses in the construction zone between McIndoe Pl and Cambridge St. That’s considerably less than the minimum width of footpath between a sign and building of two metres required by the Tasman District Council’s regulations. “I crashed into it with my stroller,” Joss Cumming says. “I couldn’t get around it – it’s dangerous.” AMI employee Neville Simpson had a near miss with a mobility scooter on one of the new bottlenecks and says something needs to be done to eliminate the danger. “A mobility scooter came through
SEE PAGE 2
The children at Champion Kids Pre-school in Richmond were oblivious to all the fuss, but it was a big day at the centre on Tuesday as Prime Minister Bill English arrived to announce the National Party’s latest election sweetener for families. Bill chose the new early childhood education centre on Champion Rd to reveal some new policies to help young mothers and families, including extending paid parental leave by four weeks over the next two years. Free dental checks and treatment for pregnant women and new mums, and allowing both parents to take paid parental leave at the same time, were also part of the package Bill announced from a toy microwave cabinet that doubled as a rostrum. Although the parents and teachers were obviously excited about the PM’s visit, and were pleased with the new familyfriendly policies, it was business as usual for the pre-school’s 45 children. “I told them that we had Prime Minister Bill English helps Macie Colvin walk across the beam in the play- a very important visitor ground during his visit to Champion Kids on Tuesday. Photo: Simon Bloomberg. today and that he was
the Prime Minister, but the children didn’t really know what it was all about,” Champion Kids co-owner Hana Taylor says. “I think all the teachers and parents are more excited about it – it’s an amazing opportunity for their children to meet the Prime Minister.” One mum, Laura Tibbs, even made a special effort by finding a pair of National Party-themed blue shoes and bow tie for her daughter Harper to wear for the special occasion. “Harper doesn’t know what’s going on but I think it’s cool that they chose Champion Kids for this announcement,” Laura says. The PM also seemed to be excited about the visit, and, as expected from a man with 11 brothers and sisters and six children of his own, wasn’t fazed by 45 under-twos running around all over the place. “I thought he was lovely,” Hana says. “He took time to speak to all the parents and teachers and was very relaxed and natural with the kids. “It felt like he was enjoying himself too. You don’t see that side of him when you see him on TV.”
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