Petone Herald 16 November 2011

Households urged to save water this summer

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:55:02 GMT

Residents of Porirua, Wellington, Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt are being asked to prepare for less water from the region’s storage lakes this summer.

One of Greater Wellington’s Regional Council’s two Stuart Macaskill water storage lakes has been emptied as part of a two-to-three-year project to increase the lakes’ resistance to a major earthquake and to boost capacity. The storage lakes, located at Te Marua, make up for any shortage of water from the Hutt, Wainuiomata and Orongorongo rivers, and the Lower Hutt aquifer.

“With a water-storage lake out of action, water reserves for the four cities will be halved, making our summer ‘dry’ whatever the weather. But by making a few simple changes before summer, householders can make all the difference,” says Nigel Wilson, Greater Wellington’s social and cultural wellbeing committee chairman.

He says saving water is quite simple.

If you are outdoors, fit a flow trigger on your hose, as a hose can waste 10 to 12 litres of water a minute when it’s on but not being used. And indoors, fix leaking taps, pipes and toilets – a leak can waste 100 litres a day.

Another effective way to save water is to put a one or two-litre plastic bottle of water or sand (with the bottle lid on) in your toilet’s cistern, if you have a single-flush toilet. This will save up to 40 litres of water a day and shouldn’t affect the effectiveness of the flush.

More water saving tips are available at http://www.gw.govt.nz/water-conservation/

Mr Wilson says that if everybody does just a bit more to save water, there’ll be a much better chance of getting through summer without tough restrictions. “And throughout summer, we’ll be letting people know how the four cities are doing for water and encourage simple changes in water use,” he says.

Old Wellington ambulance a lifesaver in Fiji

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:54:30 GMT

A used Wellington Free Ambulance sent to a remote Fijian island has already proved its worth, with its trained staff and equipment helping to save the life of a 14-year-old girl seriously injured in a bus crash.

The ambulance was sent to Taveuni Island thanks to an initiative of the Petone Rotary Club.

“The ambulance has had an immediate impact as the up-skilled Taveuni paramedics saved the life of a 14 year old girl after the school bus she was travelling in crashed and she was impaled,” says Petone Rotary spokeswoman Tui Lewis. “In the past they would have extracted her and she would have died. But this time, with the training they received and the medical care the ambulance provides, she survived. This is a great first-time success story for the new paramedics.”

In September Fiona Vickers, a Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic for the last 10 years, arrived in Taveuni. “Good news gets out fast and 30 people including firefighters, police and prison officers received the benefit of Fiona’s training – they were all extremely grateful and excited."

While Taveuni previously had an ambulance, Mrs Lewis says it was poorly equipped

and its staff were not well trained. And a lack of spare parts meant it was often out of action when needed.

The idea to send a new ambulance to Taveuni was sparked during a dinner-time conservation in January. Then club president Pam Hanna and fellow Rotarian Mike Bolton –-a Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic - took the lead in finding a suitable vehicle.

With help from Wellington Free Ambulance they were able to get their hands on Ambulance 417. Vehicle 417 started service in 2001 and spent six years responding to 111 calls. It is estimated to have attended to more than 25,000 sick and injured Wellingtonians during its operational life.

Mrs Lewis says, thanks to the generosity of Rotarians hroughout the country and local Petone businesses, 417 was given a complete makeover before being shipped to Fiji.

Rotary contacts around the country also made sure the ambulance was filled with surgical equipment from Waikato Hospital and boxes of soft toys donated by Rotary Paraparaumu.

Mrs Lewis says Petone Rotary is working on securing more of the old ambulances to help other Fijian islands needing help with emergency medical care.

Biker enjoys sharing the fun

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:50:59 GMT

Amanda Santos receiving her award from Sport Wellington's Jamie Milne. Riders ready for the weekend excursion are behind her.

Amanda Santos believes you don’t have to be a gun mountain biker to enjoy the best of Wellington’s mountain bike tracks.

Every weekend she offers novice riders the chance to ride some of these tracks on rides she organises.

On Thursdays she e-mails a list of 90 riders telling them where that weekend’s ride will be.

At 9.30 every Saturday morning Ms Santos sets out with her group on a relaxing non-competitive bike ride. “It only takes a couple of hours. We’re done by lunchtime. Sometimes we go for a coffee afterward.”

The rides vary in length from the Korokoro stream which is 4km to the Rimutaka Rail Trail which is 19km long but has a gentle incline.

So why does the Horokiwi resident and IT company CEO give up her Saturdays so other people can enjoy riding their bikes?

“I was unfit and fat three-and-a-half years ago. So I got on my bike and joined a group. But I had a disaster. I was left in tears on the Makara Hill.”

Recognising that most groups cater for experienced riders, Ms Santos set up a group for beginners.

Ms Santos has seven rides which she alternates. They include a recent addition at Paekakariki, a ride up to the Brooklyn Turbine, the more difficult Karapoti route near Upper Hutt, while her most recent is from Hill Rd through Belmont Regional Park to the airstrip on Waitangirua Farm.

When asked why she keeps doing it, Ms Santos has a straight-forward answer. “I’m stopping other people from having the disaster I had. I also get the satisfaction from knowing they’ll have a bit of fun and go on to do more riding.”

Her efforts to encourage those less active to get involved has seen Ms Santos recognised as Sports Wellington’s Volunteer of the Month. Ms Santos says she was probably nominated by riders who have enjoyed riding in her group.

If you want to take part, Ms Santos can be contacted at amandasmtb@gmail.com

Wallace reflects on busy year as Hutt Mayor

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:50:01 GMT

It’s been a hectic year for Hutt City Mayor Ray Wallace.

Since taking over from former mayor David Ogden, Mr Wallace has focused on getting out to the city’s diverse communities and utilising an inclusive leadership style.

He says change was needed to keep the council and the city focussed and working together. “When I came in, people were saying the council was disconnected from the community. There were moves for Petone and Eastbourne to secede and join Wellington. I established mayoral forums where I would go to the community and meet with people in their own areas. That’s given me so much feedback on local issues.

“I’ve been thrilled at how the council has been working together. We’ve been a tight and united unit. That’s been good for the community. They’ve been committed as I have to seeing the city moving forward. I’m a team leader- not a one-man band. We all need to be working together in the same direction.”

As to achievements, Mr Wallace is especially proud of the council limiting its rates increase to 2.50 % -the lowest in the region - without cutting services.

Mr Wallace says he’s worked with police to help make streets safer. He says latest crime statistics show that criminal offending is down throughout the Hutt Valley.

He also takes credit with improving the city council’s relationship with Greater Wellington Regional Council, including negotiating a settlement to a dispute over Waiwhetu stream that was threatening to lead to a costly court case. “You have to sit down and work with people. That’s always been my philosophy in life.”

On Petone issues, Mr Wallace says he fronted up after a council report suggesting that Petone Community House could be sold and its services relocated upset many locals. “I came out with an open letter in the Petone Herald saying we stuffed up. We’ll be working with the community to get it right.”

On the future of the McKenzie Pool, Mr Wallace hopes the council will honour previous commitments to build a new pool in Petone. But he says some councillors oppose doing that. “So I’m calling on the good people of Petone to say loud and clear how important it is to have a pool in Petone.”

Mr Wallace agrees that more people use the Huia Pool in central Lower Hutt. But Mr Wallace says that is because the Huia Pool is covered and the McKenzie Pool is not. He believes building a learn-to-swim pool at McKenzie, combined with a retractable roof, will be just as effective as extending Huia. “People will drive to Petone as much as they will to central Lower Hutt. I don’t want to see every new thing the council builds to go in central Lower Hutt. I think it’s better that people can go to a local pool.”

On infrastructure, Mr Wallace is pushing for quick action on the Cross-Valley link believing it is the best way of reducing the number of trucks on The Esplanade. He agrees with the proposed Petone-Grenada North link road – provided it does not go through Korokoro. “I’m aware of the concerns of the Korokoro community. I’m keeping a close eye on what’s happening. No way would I support a road through Korokoro.”

For his next 12 months Mr Wallace wants to focus on the great outdoors. “I want to expand opportunities for cycling. I want to enhance the Hutt River trail. I want to green the city.”

New Maungaraki principal enjoys her job

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:46:38 GMT

Lisa Cavanagh enjoying life as Maungaraki School’s new principal.

Just two week into her new job, Lisa Cavanagh is having a load of fun.

Ms Cavanagh, a former Aucklander, started as principal of Maungaraki School at the beginning of term four.

She came to Maungaraki after being deputy principal of Levin East School and is impressed with what she has found. “The strength of the school is its people. The children are amazing and the teachers are very hard-working. They have demonstrated amazing teaching techniques.”

Ms Cavanagh says Maungaraki is very much a community school. “There is genuine interest from the community and local businesses in what is going on at the school.”

The school’s Home and School Association is planning a book sale and cake stall on November 26 when the adjacent community hall will function as the suburb’s polling place.

Ms Cavanagh says it’s too soon to say what long-term changes she will bring to the school.

“I want to build on the school’s strengths. There’s a strong academic focus at Maungaraki. I also want to focus how we prepare children for the future. The world out there is changing so fast. The education of today has to prepare them for the world in 15 to 20 years. To do that we need to keep abreast of all the changes out there.”

However, Ms Cavanagh says education has to be about more than the three Rs. “We’ve got a strong focus on developing the whole child, through arts, PE and music. That gives children a chance to develop their strengths. We want to help children become more innovative and creative. That’s where their future careers are going to come from.”

Ms Cavanagh is thrilled at being a full primary school - one that includes year seven and eight (intermediate-aged) children. “I’m loving every minute of it. The children are so friendly and happy. The school is a busy and exciting learning place – it’s a great place to be.”

Big companies accept ETS, Rotarians told

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:45:34 GMT

The country’s major emitters of greenhouse gases say they are prepared to accept the Emissions Trading Scheme [ETS], as it is a climate change approach supported by both major political parties.

That was a message given to Pencarrow Rotarians from an organisation representing the interests of its major energy-intensive businesses.

Greenhouse Policy Coalition executive director David Venables told a recent Pencarrow Rotary meeting his organisation - whose members include Rio Tinto (owner of the Bluff aluminum smelter), Carter Holt Harvey, Solid Energy and Fonterra - is not in a position to challenge scientific data showing emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases cause climate change. But if that evidence is correct, he says New Zealand needs to take steps to reduce emissions.

He says although New Zealand is a small emitter by world standards, it still needs to act to retain its credibility on the world stage.

“New Zealand needs to do something on the climate change front in order to retain the confidence of our markets, some of which are sensitive to climate change matters. Doing nothing is not an option.”

The ETS is the major internal mechanism to achieve the objective of reducing emissions. It works by valuing each tonne of carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) as being worth one carbon unit. Entities emitting these gases have to pay for their emissions by buying units called New Zealand Units (NZUs).

Mr Venables says high-energy intensive trade-reliant companies are at risk from the ETS because they can’t put up their prices in international markets to compensate them for the cost of their emissions. So currently they receive a free allocation of NZUs, although this allocation is due to be phased out from 2013.

He says companies that produce solely for the domestic market are not compensated for the costs of their emissions. Consequently, these costs are passed on to consumers through higher fuel and power prices.

Mr Venables says his organisation will point out this and other weaknesses in the ETS and will push the government to change the scheme.

He says although the 1997 Kyoto Protocol has its defects (with India, China and most of The Third World excluded and the United States refusing to sign), it remains the only framework available for reducing global emissions.

It’s your choice to make your choice

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:44:30 GMT

By Colin Patterson.

When I was at university many years ago I was a far more political being than I am now. There were constant debates about politics and the issues of the day, which then included racist rugby tours, the future of apartheid, whether we should allow nuclear-powered ships into New Zealand waters, and many others.

Most of us held strong – sometimes strident – opinions on these and a whole range of other issues. If there was something wrong in the world we marched against it. One of our favourite targets was the Prime Minister of the day whom most of us had a hearty dislike of, even as we secretly admired his political skills.

When we marched in the streets, engaged in sit-down protests or heckled politicians at public meetings, most of us saw such activities as ancillary to using our franchise to change the country.

But there were a few who disagreed. They urged us not to vote. Their mantra was “don’t vote, it only encourages them”.

Their argument was that if fewer people voted, the mandate of the winner would be diminished. Politicians would stop and reflect. As a result, they would change their policies in order to reattract the discontented and disillusioned masses. We’d all be better off and live happily ever after

At the time I sneered at such arguments. With the passage of time my contempt for them has only increased. Thinking that politicians will be sufficiently concerned at low turnouts to change policies is laughable. Even if they were, the result could end up antagonising other sections of the electorate, sending all of us on rapid downward spiral.

For me politics is simple. It’s far too important to be left to politicians. We all have an interest in politics. That means we should get involved and influence the direction of our country. If we don’t, we’ve got no grounds to complain. We get what we deserve.

If we want to change things the answer is to engage, not disengage.

On November 26 we have the chance to engage when we walk into the polling booth. It’s an important choice – not one we should leave to others. We’ve earned the right to vote. If you don’t want to vote, my advice is simple. Go and live in Syria, or Zimbabwe or some other dictatorship where people who want a say in their country’s future get gunned down in the street, or are arrested and never get seen again.

Some newspapers around the world proudly display their political allegiances and tell you which candidate or party they think you should vote for. This paper is not among them. We believe you are intelligent enough to make up your own mind.

Newspapers are a guardian of democracy. Their role as the fourth estate means they have the job of questioning those in power and holding them to account. That job has to be done without fear or favour. That’s very difficult if you have supported (or opposed) a party or a politician.

Anyway, what makes a newspaper’s views so special? Readers read the paper to be informed, not to be lectured. A paper’s job is to inform its readers so they can be better prepared to participate in society, including voting.

What choices you make in the polling booth are yours and yours alone. The important point is that you have that choice. Because, in many countries around the world, there is no choice – and no polling booth.

Science pioneer takes centre stage in Lower Hutt

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:43:28 GMT

The career of a pioneering figure in New Zealand science has been celebrated in an exhibition held in Lower Hutt.

Sir James Hector set up the Colonial Museum (now Te Papa), established the Royal Institute (now the Royal Society), was the first director of meteorological services, was the first manager of Wellington’s Botanic Garden, established the Colonial Observatory (now the Carter Observatory) and was a foundation member of the University of New Zealand senate and later served as its chancellor for 18 years.

Sir James was also a long-time Petone resident, moving into his hillside home of Ratanui - just west of where State Highway 2 is located today - in 1882 and living there until shortly before his death in 1907.

The exhibition, The Big Bang: James Hector and the Birth of Organised Science In New Zealand, was held last week at the Tutukiwi Living Gallery in Lower Hutt.

In opening the exhibition, Hutt mayor Ray Wallace said it was appropriate that Lower Hutt had followed Hector’s vision in becoming a home for science, with GNS and IRL- both antecedents of organisations that he once headed - important components of the Hutt economy. Mr Wallace said the government’s announcement that IRL would retain its presence in Lower Hutt was good news and showed the city was still a good place to carry out science.

Chris Hector, Sir James’ great-grandson, said the idea for the exhibition came from Judy Robb at Hutt City Council. “She heard we were having a family get-together and suggested an exhibition on Sir James would be a good way to celebrate the reopening of the revamped Tutukiwi Living Gallery.”

Mr Hector says family members thought it was a good idea. His brother, Peter, who lives in Mahina Bay set about contacting all the organisations that Sir James had started and seeking their help. “Most were very obliging. The Royal Society awards a Hector Medal as its top award. It gave us a couple of medals for the exhibition.”

Another brother, David, leant some of Sir James’ old geological instruments and wrote notes about them for the exhibition. The exhibition closed on Saturday and Mr Hector admitted attendances had been smaller than hoped. “But people who see it are interested and enthusiastic.”

Gordon Hewitt enjoys his golden years at Eastbourne

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:41:11 GMT

At 73 years young Gordon Hewitt says the word ‘retirement’ is not in his vocabulary

“I haven’t got around to it. My worry is if I retire I’ll be just as busy but I won’t get paid for it.”

The Eastbourne resident is enjoying a successful second career as a psychotherapist after spending 25 years as a zoologist and academic.

Brought up in Eastbourne, Dr Hewitt returned 20 years ago and still loves the local lifestyle. “It’s like a little village. It takes three hours to do your shopping because everyone stops and talks.”

Growing up in the village, he enjoyed the bush and the harbour around Eastbourne. Those activities encouraged an interest in living creatures. “I wanted to be a vet. But in those days you had to go to Australia to train and I couldn’t afford that. So I went to university and studied biology with the idea of becoming a teacher.”

After completing a Masters in Zoology Dr Hewitt enrolled at teachers’ training college in Christchurch. After six months He was offered and accepted a job at Victoria University and abandoned his plans of becoming a school teacher.

In the late 1960s he completed his PhD in parasitology - the study of parasites. He became quite an expert on parasites in fish and rats and completed a study of whirling disease in trout and identified its parasitic origins. “I then got interested in genetics. Geoff Rickards and I set up Victoria University’s first ever course in genetics.”

For 25 years he enjoyed the life of an academic especially the teaching. “I’m a bit of a showman at heart. It’s exciting teaching a group of 300 who are fascinated with what I’m saying.”

Dr Hewitt’s academic career had many successes, including postdoctoral studies in Canada, a visiting lectureship in Malaysia and becoming Victoria’s Dean of Science. But despite lifetime tenure, Dr Hewitt walked away. “In the late 1980s the government decided that universities should be run as businesses. The life as an academic ceased to be as much fun.”

So he left Victoria to become head of the School of Health Sciences at the Central Institute of Technology in Upper Hutt.

But after five years at CIT, Dr Hewitt moved in a different direction, establishing a private practice as a psychotherapist. “Psychotherapy is about helping people make changes in their lives, particularly where they have long-standing patterns of behaviour that are really not working for them.”

He became interested in psychotherapy after training as a marriage counsellor in the 1970s. After years of counseling in his spare time, Dr Hewitt trained as a psychotherapist. That part-time interest later became his vocation.

Dr Hewitt says psychotherapists are different than counsellors. Psychotherapists focus on behaviour, while counsellors are more problem focused.

He says psychotherapy helps treat issues such as anxiety, depression, personality disorders and anger.

After nearly 20 years as a psychotherapist Dr Hewitt is as busy as ever. While he restricts his private practice to three days a week, he is in constant demand to run training courses, while he is also deputy chairman of the Psychotherapists Board, the statutory body that registers and disciplines the country’s 550 psychotherapists.

Dr Hewitt enjoys giving back to his community. His main avenue for doing that is through Pencarrow Rotary where he is a past-president and current membership director. He is particularly proud of Rotary’s local projects, such as helping the local volunteer fire brigade, helping elderly people by installing smoke alarms, and doing planting on Eastbourne’s sand dunes. “I like it that Rotary operates on three levels - locally, regionally and internationally.”

He is also proud of a scholarship scheme his club set up for promising high school students in Samoa that enables them to study at the University of the South Pacific.

Outside work, Dr Hewitt enjoys biking, tramping and travelling – both in New Zealand and overseas. And with two grown-up children and three grandchildren, family remainss important.

Petone club prepares for redevelopment

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:40:08 GMT

It’s all go for Petone Working Men’s Club’s proposed convention centre and hotel.

However, club president Barry Priest says he doesn’t know when work on the $19 million project will begin, although he hopes it will be open within three or four years.

Mr Priest says the proposed 58-room hotel and 700-seat convention centre will provide a facility that is lacking in both the Hutt Valley and wider Wellington region. Both Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace and the city council have supported the development.

While resource consents were obtained from the council in 2010, further progress was delayed after objectors threatened an appeal to the Environment Court. However their concerns were resolved through mediation and a settlement was reached. “The settlement was satisfactory to all parties.”

While all legal impediments to the project have now been removed, Mr Priest says no decisions have been made when work will start. “The exact timing is undecided. But I hope it will be in the near future.”

Mr Priest says final design work has not yet been completed. When that is done the club’s board will then call tenders for construction. A decision on whether the new complex will be managed by the club or by externally by a hotel chain has not yet been made.

He says there is a good reason for the development to proceed. “We’re doing it to future proof the club. We’ve been here for 124 years and we want to be here for another 124. The income it generates will enable us to divert income streams into the community.”

Earlier this year the club spent $6.7 million to buy an industrial property in Bouverie St that is currently leased to a number of organisations including the Ministry of Fisheries and Plumbing World. While the club now owns most of the block fronting Udy and Bouverie streets, Mr Priest says the purchase was a long-term investment for the club. The proposed development will not use any of the Bouverie St land.

The Petone Working Men’s Club is a not-for-profit organisation that has more than 11,000 members, making it country’s biggest chartered club in terms of membership, although others have more space. Mr Priest says the club has 33 sections reflecting members’ differing interests. Club facilities are also available for hire to community groups without charge.

“We are the community. All our members live in the community. That’s what we are here for.

Sports clubs need to improve funding strategies

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:39:06 GMT

By Jess Lee

Sports clubs struggling to attract and retain members are being urged to “think laterally” in order to keep up with changing communities and lifestyles.

Sport Wellington provides advice to clubs and regional associations and is encouraging clubs to be more “customer focused” in order to attract participants.

Its Sport Development Advisor Mark Coburn says clubs should continue to think of new initiatives for attracting members and raising funds.

“For too long clubs have found gaming trusts to be ‘low hanging fruit’ - easy pickings for easy money. Like the final whistle, that game has well and truly ended.”

Mr Coburn suggests sports clubs consider doing a league during the week instead of the weekend, or reducing the length of a league from a full season to 16 weeks as a way of appealing to potential members.

“Money doesn’t grow on trees and members won’t come in unless you understand what their needs are.”

Kapiti Hockey has created a summer league for the traditional winter sport to attract participants. The league is aimed at non-hockey players of all ages and features shorter games - leaving time for a social drink afterwards.

Raising funds is an ongoing issue for sports clubs and for those clubs struggling to drum up support. Sport Wellington provides an extensive list of funding ideas on their website.

Mr Coburn continues to advocate the use of creative thinking as a requirement for club fundraising.

“Sausage sizzles are so yesterday with small profits at $1 or $2 each. Get some thin cuts of meat and do steak sandwiches at $5 -bigger margins for no extra work.”

For those teams wanting to compete in national tournaments and needing to raise funds, Mr Coburn recommends squads create a CV which allows potential investors to see how funding the team can actually benefit the sponsor.

He urges sports clubs to embrace new initiatives to keep up with an “ever-changing world”.

Good deals available for (some) electricity consumers

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:38:23 GMT

While thousands of electricity consumers are taking advantage of a competitive market to save money by switching power suppliers, one analyst says many consumers are missing out.

Molly Melhuish says power companies are keen to attract new customers. But there are some customers they are keener on than others. “If you’ve had trouble paying your bills, you’ll be on their bad books. There are some good deals out there – for their best customers.”

Ms Melhuish says many power companies pushing their consumers to pay by Internet banking or direct debit.

“There are excellent deals for consumers who able to pay by automatic payment,” says Molly Melhuish. “People who can’t do business by the Internet, they’re not catered for.”

Many families use prepay arrangements to ensure there are no bill shocks. “But if you don’t need prepay, don’t use it.”

Some power companies are pushing the introduction of smart meters. But Ms Melhuish says consumers who go with them should prepare for some unexpected shocks. “A significant number of the old meters run slow. So if you do have an unexpected jump, it’s not your smart metre that’s at fault.”

Contact Energy’s own statistics show it lost 30,000 power connections in the year to the end of September 2011.

Spokesman Jeremy Seed says that loss was the result of a competitive electricity market. Mr Seed says Contact has a number of pricing offers that it hopes will enable it to attract new customers.

Contact has recently increased its prompt payment discount from 12% to 22% for customers who pay on time via the Internet. “It’s been phenomenally successful.”

However, he disagrees that Internet-only payment options discriminate against lower-income households. “A Statistics New Zealand survey in 2009 showed that 75% of New Zealand households had a home computer. Many more have access through friends or family. Otherwise they can do so at public places, like a library. It’s not hard.”

Another supplier Meridian Energy says it’s been able to hold its own despite operating in a highly competitive market. “People in Wellington know the Meridian brand and know we are committed to generating from renewable sources.”

However, Powershop, a Meridian subsidiary that gives consumers the opportunity to buy their electricity online has been successful, doubling its client base in the last 12 months.

Meanwhile, initiatives such as Consumer New Zealand’s Powerswitch (www.powerswitch.org.nz) and the Electricity Authority’s What’s My Number (www.whatsmynumber.org.nz) have enabled thousands of consumers to compare competing pricing plans and to find out they much they could save by switching power companies.

Consumer New Zealand chief executive Sue Chetwin says Powerswitch has recorded 445,000 hits, with 40,000 starting the switching process.

She says the websites have helped consumers save money, while also putting the more expensive operators on notice. “It’s been good for consumers.”

Ms Chetwin says these initiatives have forced electricity companies to be more sensitive to their domestic customers. In the past they’ve found it easier to raise prices for households than risk upsetting their major users. But she says the potential loss of customers means they can no longer do this.

Petone school photographer departs the stage

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:35:19 GMT

Petone photographer Clive Scott.

Clive Scott, who founded a well-known Petone school photography business 60 years ago, has died aged 89.

Mr Scott was a school teacher in the early 1950s when set up LC Scott Ltd, turning a photographic hobby into a business. In the six decades since, Mr Scott and his company have taken photos featuring thousands of students in more than 150 schools throughout Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay.

His son Lewis, who now runs the company, says his father was successful when many similar ventures foundered because he chose to stick to a highly specialised market and seldom ventured into other avenues of photography.

“He did the occasionally and did landscapes after he retired. But for work he stuck to school photography.”

For the first decade Clive Scott operated from the family home on Pharazyn St, Lower Hutt, before moving to premises in Fitzherbert St in Petone where the company has operated from the last 50 years.

Mr Scott says in the early days his father was the company’s sole photographer, with lengthy trips out of town visiting schools and taking photos. Then he would develop the negatives in his photographic dark room and then take orders from schools.

“There are thousands of people around who had their school photos taken by Clive Scott.”

In more recent years digital technology has taken over. But in other respects, Mr Scott says the business has remained very much the same as the one his father started.

Clive Scott was a long-time member of the Petone Rotary Club until he retired in the late 1980s, although he continued to help with the business as required. He moved to Paraparaumu in the mid 1990s where he died. Clive Scott leaves a wife and seven children.

Summer means fun in the pool

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:24:27 GMT

Students from Tawa Intermediate about to make a big splash at Te Rauparaha Arena

With longer and sunnier days now with us, councils in the Wellington region are opening their summer pools so that all the family can enjoy aquatic fun in the open air.

To celebrate the arrival of summer Hutt City Council is inviting everyone for a free swim when Petone’s McKenzie Pool opens on Saturday (19 November). The offer of a free swim proved a big drawcard when the Wainuiomata Pool opened on November 5 and at the Eastbourne Pool’s opening a week later.

The future of the McKenzie Pool remains uncertain as the council looks at renovating, relocating or closing the facility.

The matter is due to be discussed by a council committee on Tuesday November 28, with a delegation of local children, parents and swim coaches expected to make a spirited argument for their pool to be replaced in Petone.

Hutt mayor Ray Wallace says the free open days are a great family day out.

“There’s nothing like a swim to beat the heat and with six pools open across Lower Hutt during summer we’re spoilt for choice.”

Full day summer pool entry is $3 for under-16s, $4.50 for adults and a discounted rate of $3 for over-65s. Swim memberships are also available which make it cheaper for regular pool goers.

Meanwhile, Wellington’s Thorndon Pool opened for the summer on October 22. The 30.5m heated pool is located in Murphy St and is a popular venue for office workers seeking a lunchtime dip.

Khandallah’s outdoor pool is set to reopen later this month for the summer season. The unheated pool is located at the entrance to Khandallah Park, surrounded by native bush near the slopes of Mt Kaukau.

However, Tawa swimmers will have to make do without their pool this summer, as it is closed until April for a major upgrade which includes a full roof replacement. Wellington City Council suggests regular Tawa swimmers instead use Johnsonville’s Keith Spry Pool. However, many are likely to find it more convenient to swim at Porirua’s Aquatic Centre next to the Te Rauparaha Arena.

Wellington’s four indoor pools (The Wellington Regional Aquatic centre in Kilbirnie, the Freyberg Pool Oriental Bay, the Karori Pool and the Keith Spry Pool will be open as normal, as will Porirua’s Aquatic Centre and the Cannons Creek Pool.

Hutt city’s indoor pools, especially Lower Hutt’s Huia Pool, are expecting a busy summer.