Nelson City Council will take steps toward a smokefree city centre in the 2016/17 annual plan.
During council deliberations on the annual plan, councillors supported a recommendation to ‘‘investigate options for expanding council’s smokefree policy’’.
Government legislation bans smoking in workplaces, restaurants and bars, and the council currently has smokefree sportsgrounds and playgrounds.
Its move to widen the ban to the central business district will not be backed with regulations and penalties.
Staff said a regulatory approach required introducing a bylaw – a move that was possible but would not be achievable without ‘‘sufficient resources to enforce’’.
Public submissions to the council’s annual plan urged it to help maintain the momentum toward the New Zealand government’s goal to be smokefree by 2025.
(The Nelson Mail, Monday, May 16th, 2016)
A treasure hunter has lost his appeal against paying nearly $100,000 owed after he and his wife defaulted on their mortgage.
Tilman Walterfang, whose company Seabed Explorations has discovered, desalinated and sold off millions of dollars worth of ancient artefacts, appealed against a Nelson District Court decision which held the Walterfangs liable for outstanding debt on the couple’s Nelson properties.
Westpac sold two adjoining Princes Drive properties owned by the Walterfangs for $1.2 million in December 2014 after they failed to meet their mortgage repayments.
In the Nelson District Court case last August, Judge Chris Tuohy found there was ‘‘nothing which might support a claim that Westpac breached its duty’’ under the Property Law Act (2007) to pursue the best price reasonably obtainable at the time of sale.
(The Nelson Mail, Tuesday, May 17th, 2016)
Cooper Webley has won the regional master joiner supreme award for their work on the Gisborne Theatre. The pine industry’s second annual regional awards celebrated excellence in joinery design.
President of the regional association Myles Sellers said he was pleased to see Nelson companies succeeding in their work. ‘‘This is a perfect example of a Nelson business winning work and performing above expectations outside the region. It’s great to see a business who pride themselves as innovators and being recognised for it,’’ he said.
(The Nelson Mail, Tuesday, May 17th, 2016)
Arty Nelson is now open.
Eight artists from the around the region have joined together to open the pop-up gallery to celebrate Nelson’s artistic talent. The space at 126 Trafalgar St displays various forms of art from the eight, with space for guest artists as well.
Artist Jeannette Marlow said they took a ‘‘brave move’’ in setting up but so far attendance to the gallery was promising. ‘‘That was the goal, was to have a real hub, we had to step out of our comfort zone and we’re delighted that it’s working.’’
Another artist Rahel BrodiSharrock said the guest artists would always be changing so there would always be ‘‘something new and different’’.
(The Nelson Mail, Tuesday, May 17th, 2016)
Nelson Tasman Housing Trust director Carrie Mozena said a new home was needed for the one cabin owned by the trust after the 10-year arrangement with the campground ended, leaving a gap in emergency housing as the ‘‘high demand’’ winter season approached.
Work and Income (WINZ) finances some homeless clients to stay in motels or backpackers, but Pascoe said workers there told him to wait until his benefit was paid.
Women’s Refuge helped set his wife and children up at a campground, but even at discounted rate, Pascoe couldn’t afford to stay with his family and feed them at the same time, leaving him on the street. He slept in the hotel courtyard for about a week.
The impact in Nelson of a recently-announced $41.1 million boost for emergency housing is uncertain as minister for social housing Paula Bennett revealed funding for 3000 emergency beds would pay for existing beds rather than creating additional ones. The Ministry for Social Development was unable to say how funding would be apportioned across the country but encouraged housing providers to register interest.
(The Nelson Mail, Friday, May 20th, 2016)
An artist and a chef are working together to create gourmet pies for new cafe Swish at Victory Square.
Co-owners of the cafe Sharon Semmens and Rachel Waddy said they wanted to bring something extra to the area.
‘‘People are looking forward to it being here, because there’s only sort of fish and chip shops around,’’ Waddy said.
Semmens said most of the pies are open-top so that there isn’t ‘‘too much pastry’’.
The pair initially started a stall selling pies at the Saturday market in Nelson four weeks ago and have now upgraded to the cafe which they think is in a great location.
The cafe is at 172 St. Vincent St and is also available for catering.
(The Nelson Mail, Friday, May 20th, 2016)
Almost two years after their original church building was demolished, Nelson’s Unite Church is close to a resurrection of sorts in their new premises.
Formerly known as the Nelson City Church of Christ, the old building on Rutherford St was demolished in July 2014 as a result of what Pastor Paul Burton referred to as ‘‘a miserable failure’’ in earthquake code compliance.
Now fully enclosed and awaiting some last-minute finishing touches, the new pavilion structure will be ready in time to hold its first Sunday service on May 29.
The completion brings to an end a 22-month journey to modernise the facilities, beginning with some long discussions evaluating the future path, post-demolition.
(The Nelson Mail, Saturday, May 21st, 2016)
Blacked out windows of The Nook design store have been intriguing passers-by for weeks.
Store owner Kerri Graham said the blackout was on purpose and proved very effective. ‘‘We wanted to build up that anticipation and it worked really well, there was a little gap in the door and people were looking in.’’
The Nook opened on May 14, revealing a open space design store with Kiwi and international homewares.
(The Nelson Mail, Saturday, May 21st, 2016)
"Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child,
and one teacher can change the world.".
Malala Yousafzai