News in Brief
Guest speaker
Richie Steward – who goes by his Muay Thai martial arts name Richie Hardcore, will speak to parents, caregivers and staff from the district’s schools at Te Awamutu College next month. Steward is a consultant, educator and advocate whose work focuses on masculinity, mental health.
Weed control
Work to manage the invasive lake weed hornwort has started Lake Karāpiro. Land Information New Zealand’s biosecurity leader Tracey Burton says the project will involve a boat and a helicopter to spray weed near boat ramps, ski lanes, and swimming spots over the coming weeks, weather permitting.
Credit given
Waikato District Council has retained its AA+ long-term credit rating and F1+ short-term rating from Fitch Ratings, following the agency’s annual review. AA+ is the highest rating currently assigned by Fitch to a New Zealand local government agency. It reflects very strong capacity to meet financial commitments and prudent long-term financial management. It came with a negative outlook component, reflecting an economic landscape with sector-wide uncertainty, including reform and funding constraints.
Job done
Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in Auckland have been lifted. Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North Mike Inglis said no further evidence of Queensland fruit fly had been found in Mt Roskill since one was found in early January. The battle to eliminate yellow legged hornets continues, and a “red zone” for monitoring the pest has been extended beyond Glenfield after they were found in Takapuna and Forrest Hill.
