The new roundabout on State Highway One at Kawakawa may have been open to traffic for most of the year, but a ceremony to mark the completion was to be held on Friday. The roundabout, on the SH1/SH11 intersection, is part of the regional package of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme delivered by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. The new roundabout and hillside retaining wall have created a safer and more efficient intersection for all road users in the Far North and will also support regional growth and development, the agency says. The formal ceremony was to be at the Kawakawa District War Memorial Carpark, next to the roundabout, from 10am on Friday. However because of the Covid level 4 lockdown it is now unlikely to happen.
Kerikeri rates shock
Kerikeri residents shocked by their latest rates hikes are holding a public meeting today. Bill Fenton, a Kerikeri businessman, organised the meeting after discovering rates for some commercial properties had gone up by as much as 33 per cent while a church-owned residential property was facing a 64 per cent increase. Councillors Ann Court, Kelly Stratford, Rachel Smith and David Clendon are expected to attend the meeting at the Cornerstone Church, by the Heritage Bypass, at 3pm today. While the average general rate increase across the Far North is about 6.5 per cent, council chief financial officer Janice Smith said the Kerikeri Sewerage Capital rates had increased for all ratepayers in the ''area of benefit'' of the new sewerage plant — whether they were connected or not — to pay for the increased borrowing and depreciation. The council had also changed the way it rated urban stormwater with most of the costs now borne by urban ratepayers. Another factor was the increase in regional council rates, which the district council was not responsible for but collected on their behalf.
Covid 40+ rollout starts
The Covid vaccine rollout for people aged 40 and over was to start today however all vaccinations have been suspended for 48 hours due to the Covid level 4 lockdown. Government last Thursday announced a faster vaccine rollout for Group 4. People aged 30 over will follow next week, August 25. The rest of the group, people aged 16 and over, will be eligible for the vaccine from September 1. There will now be a six-week period between the first and second dose. To book a vaccine appointment, visit BookMyVaccine.nz or call the Covid Vaccine Healthline 0800 28 29 26.
