Heads up in September

 Māori ward

Whether or not Hastings can keep its Takitimu Māori ward will go to a binding public vote next year. If you have an opinion on this you will need to be ready to vote on it at the same time as the council elections are held, later next year. Given the public support in Hastings for the ward, Council has clearly said it wants to keep it, but the final decision will sit with residents. Keep informed people. 

Youth awards – nominate now

These awards, run by Hastings District Council, aThese awards, run by Hastings District Council, are for young people who deserve recognition for continuing to work hard, despite facing challenges and adversity on a day-to-day basis. If you know a young person who deserves this, get your youth group, marae or school to nomiate them. More info here: www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/hastings/youth-services/youth-potential/awards

 Parking fines

If you’re heading into Hastings city (or anywhere there are parking signs including Flaxmere), watch where you park. The Government has re-set the parking fines and the increases are not small. The fine for staying too long in a car park ranges from $20 to nearly $100 (depending on how long you go over the time), while if you get caught parking in a mobility park without a mobility card, the fine is $750.

 New housing for vulnerable seniors

For the first time in 40 years, Council is planning to build new affordable senior housing. Subject to getting Resource Consent, it will build 39 warm, safe, quality homes in Flaxmere’s new Swansea Ave subdivision. The facility will sit alongside other housing options included in the full development. At the time of the announcement this month, Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the construction of senior housing aligned with the one of the aims of Council’s housing strategy: to provide an affordable rental option for seniors struggling in the private rental market. The units will be built on Council-owned land in the southwest corner of Flaxmere town centre, bounded by Caernarvon Drive, Swansea Ave, Pam O’Keefe Avenue, and Te Ara Huata.

 Supermarket goss

There is all sorts of talk, especially in the media, about the Flaxmere supermarket situation. That talk has raised the idea that Flaxmere might get two supermarkets!

Fresh In Fresh Out (FIFO) is reportedly in negotiations with the owners of the building formerly home to Flaxmere New World, although FIFO has told media it’s not ready to talk publicly. Additionally, Hastings District Council has indicated it has signed a deal for a piece of its commercial land in Flaxmere with a developer who is in discussions with a supermarket company. Watch this space!

Food boxes

Fresh fruit and vege boxes are proving popular in Flaxmere, 10 weeks into the programme. Each Thursday, locally-sourced produce is delivered to the Flaxmere Community Centre to fill orders received over the previous week. Orders are stable at between 15 and 20 a week and customer feedback on the quality and value has been great, said Sustainable Hawke’s Bay operations manager Sam Paterson. The boxes come in three sizes, $20, $30 and $40, and, on average, work out between $5 and $20 cheaper than the same produce bought from a supermarket. “We do want to get the word out more widely, to encourage more families to take advantage of this fresh food supply.” 

Sam said a highlight was working with Flaxmere College students who volunteered each week to sort the fruit and veges into boxes for whānau to pick up. “They’re great kids who are happy to get involved for the benefit of their community.”

Sam also thanked the Flaxmere Community Centre team. “They provide the space for us to pack the boxes and welcome families as they come to pick them up - they make a real effort to make the process easy and friendly.”

The initiative is organised by nationwide network Foodtogether, a social enterprise based in Christchurch, and brought to Flaxmere by Sustainable Hawke’s Bay.