Caz Blundell holds one of the $3 rubbish bags which she says breaks easily.
Caz Blundell holds one of the $3 rubbish bags which she says breaks easily.
Dargaville pre-paid rubbish bags are utter rubbish. So say local residents who believe the bags break too easily and have shrunk in size.
The rubbish bags cost the district's residents and ratepayers and its surrounding areas $3 per bag to purchase, and this allows for their rubbish to be collected come rubbish day.
However, some residents are calling on the council to do better and to consider bringing in the option of wheelie bins.
Caz Blundell posted her concerns to the Dargaville Grapevine Facebook page recently, saying she had just had her third blue rubbish bag in a week split down the side, "spilling all my rubbish over my kitchen floor".
A Kaipara District Council spokesman said changes had indeed been made to the bags.
"Kaipara Refuse [the council's contractor] manages the procurement of the rubbish bags, due to machinery change by their supplier the shape of the bag has changed, but the internal dimensions have stayed the same."
Blundell, however, says the council needs to step up and fix the problem.
"These bags are expensive. Not only are they now being made smaller but it looks like they are weaker too. Who can afford to throw away money on poorly made rubbish bags?
"We need wheelie bins so we can use the big, strong black-sac bags. We had a bin in Mangawhai, so for the love of God why don't we have them here in Dargaville," she asked.
Kaipara District Council's spokesman said there were no plans at this point to introduce wheelie bins.
"However, in the Long Term Plan, which is set for adoption at a council meeting next week, there is a programme of work to investigate recycling and refuse waste options across the district.
Blundell said she wants to take the council to task over the matter and would like to see it address the issue at next month's meeting.
"I would like them to consider seriously the adoption of wheelie bins, if a small village like Mangawhai can have them, then why can't we, there are so many benefits to such a change."
Blundell's post has drawn a huge amount of likes and comments with close to 100 people in support of her post.
"I was blown away that in a short space of time my post drew such attention, it just goes to show that the community really would like to see change."
Amanda Yeabsley said she too finds the rubbish bags rip too easily so she buys the cheap $1.50, five-packs of black rubbish bags, "then once the black bags are full I tie it and pop the blue bag over it".
Blundell said that was fine but it was an unnecessary added expense that residents should not have to pay for.
Morgan Rawhiti also had the experience of the bags splitting and said that they weren't even full when it happened.
Dargaville High introduces tupenu as official uniform
Dargaville High is believed to be the first school in Northland to introduce what's known as the tupenu in Tonga, the Sulu va in Fiji or Le Faitaga in Samoa as a school uniform option.
Students embrace the new uniform option, from left back: Kaden Bowman, Danny Apai, Brody Lemon, Hawaiki Tohu-Gregory; front left: Fane Lisiate, Chantelle Gray, Sela Ma'ake, Sheridan Kira.
The uniform was introduced to the school in recognition of it's Pasifika community.
School Principal Michael Houghton said the decision was made after consultation with the school community.
"Through the consultation process, faitaga/tupenu were included as part of the new uniform being introduced.
"The inclusion of faitaga/tupenu was as a result of student voice. It is also important as part of the identity of the students."
Houghton said he personally thinks the new school uniform looks smart. "It looks very good and the feedback has been very positive and there are a number of students wearing faitaga/tupenu regularly."
Popular book store bucks trends Despite predictions that books, DVDs, CDs, tapes, vinyl LPs and sheet music will go the way of the dinosaurs, a tiny Ruawai shop is showing there's plenty of life left in them yet.
Robyn Dormer, owner of Books @ Ruawai.
The store is getting so much stock in and selling it that they have decided to have a clearance sale to make space for more stock.
Store operator Robyn Dormer said: "We've been operating in Ruawai now for 15 months and still get visitors, who are amazed at the variety and amount of stock we have.
"We list a lot of our books on the website abebooks.com, and are selling books regularly online overseas and around New Zealand.
"Many of our local customers check our listings on abebooks and order from us directly - which is still proving to be a worthwhile part of the business."
The store offers a unique customer experience and staff goes the extra mile even offering to source books for people, "we have a good record in that area," she said.
"We've been fortunate to have amassed even more stock from locals so are needing to do a bit of clearing to make way for new stock.
"We look forward to seeing you at 5 Freyberg Rd, Ruawai."
■ Email Rose — if you have news that you would like to share with Northern Advocate readers: rose.stirling@gmail.com
