ACROSS THE REGION

July 2024

Chair's Message

Tēnā koutou and welcome to the second edition of Across the Region for 2024. Earlier this year, we consulted with our community on Horizons’ draft 2024-34 Long-term Plan (LTP). As a council, we laid out a plan to manage our region’s
natural resources for the next 10 years, so we can ensure we have a healthy environment where our people are thriving.

I want to thank all who provided feedback on our plan, and to emphasise that your voices were heard. We received 540 written submissions, and listened to 63 submitters in person; a huge increase on our 2021 LTP consultation. It has been clear that affordability is front of mind for many in our community, and as a council we have tried to strike the right balance between the work we are required to do, and ensuring rates are affordable.

It has been challenging, with plenty of debate around the council table. Ultimately, I believe the decisions we have made as a council will provide an environment we can all be proud of now, and for generations to come. An outline of the key decisions made can be found within this newsletter.

So what does this mean for your household? The rating impact will differ from district to district, property to property, due to factors such as changes to property values, and specific rating inputs such as river schemes, biosecurity and passenger transport. The best way to find out what your rates look like for 2024/25 is to check out the Horizons rates calculator on our website. Information on how to pay your rates is included within this newsletter. 

This edition of Across the Region also provides a timely reminder from our
Manawatū-Whanganui Civil Defence team, to be prepared in case of disaster. Have your grab and go bag ready, ensure you have plentiful supplies at home and make a plan for your household. Disaster planning is something many of us try to avoid, however I cannot emphasise enough how important it really is.

This month we also feature some of the pest plants and animals to look out for in our region. Pest management is a combined effort and with your support we can make a real difference in creating an environment in which our native plants and
animals thrive.

Ngā mihi nui,

Rachel Keedwell, Chair.

Horizons adopts 2024-34 Long-term Plan

Last month, Horizons Regional Council’s 2024-34 Long-term Plan (LTP) was formally adopted by councillors.

The LTP sets out how we plan to manage our region’s natural resources for the next 10 years, so we can ensure we have a healthy environment where the people are thriving.

Earlier this year, we presented our draft LTP to our community and received 540 submissions (an increase on 439 received in 2021), and we heard from 63 submitters in person. While affordability was an overarching theme, a large portion of these people provided feedback on the key issues highlighted in our LTP consultation document.

These included proposals regarding:

• levels of service for mapping highly productive land,
• transitioning to an integrated catchment management approach,
• increases in river management insurance,
• reduced levels of service for freshwater activities,
• increased levels of service for public transport in Whanganui, Horowhenua and the wider region,
• and changes to the fee structure for water meters.

In addition, Council also sought feedback on our proposed strategic framework, and proposed updates to our Revenue and Financing Policy.

“We heard from a large number of passionate community members who shared their feedback on the key issues,” explains Horizons Regional Council chair Rachel Keedwell.

“Council considered all of the submissions put forward to us, and more often than not, there was some robust discussion during the deliberations process, as we tried to strike the right balance between affordability and the work we must do,” she says.

As a result, Council resolved to increase levels of service for public transport in Whanganui, Horowhenua and the wider region, approve funding for Land Search and Rescue and the Ruahine Kiwi Trust project, and to increase funding for the Manawatū Estuary and the Te Pūwaha project. In addition, Kanorau Koiora Taketake, Council’s contestable fund for projects related to biodiversity, has proven to be hugely popular, so council have also increased the budget for this
by $100,000 per annum. Meanwhile, there will be no change in insurance level cover for river management insurances.

Following public feedback, Council also adjusted some of the proposed changes detailed in our draft Revenue and Financing Policy. Opposition from 66% of submitters resulted in Council reconsidering the use of investment revenue to reflect where our investment money originated from, with 20% to offset Uniform Annual General Charges and 80% to offset the General Rate.

In addition, the funding of drainage schemes will remain as per the 2021 policy, with 20% to come from the general rate, and 80% to come from the targeted rate. This came after the large majority (87%) of submitters were opposed to council’s proposed split of 10% general rate and 90% targeted rate.

Council’s preferred option of 100% user pays for the water meters fee structure,
remains.

“LTPs are often measured as the average rates increase for ratepayers, however
when looking across our region that type of figure is hard to quantify,” says
Rachel Keedwell.

“The rating impact will differ from district to district, property to property, due to factors such as changes to property values, and specific rating inputs such as river schemes, biosecurity and passenger transport.”

The total rate increase in the Horizons Region for Year 1 will be 11.7%, then 12.0% in Year 2, and 9.0% in Year 3.

“As a Council, we recognise that any increase to rates will increase pressure on
households, especially during these already tough economic times.”

“We have been as prudent in our spending as possible, as we know the work we will carry out as part of this LTP has a direct impact on our community and providing an environment we can all be proud of right now, and for generations to come.“

The final Horizons 2024-34 Long-term Plan, with the full details of Horizons’ work programmes, is available to read here. Anyone wanting to check what their next rates invoice will look like can use our online rates search tool. 

Are you ready for an emergency?

With the winter season upon us, now is a good time to refresh you and your
whānau’s emergency plan and kit.

Disaster planning is something a lot of us tend to not want to think about, but it’s something you’ll thank yourself for when you’ve got an action plan and kit ready to go.

If you haven’t got an emergency plan for your whānau yet, here are some handy tips to get you started.

Have a whānau/family hui (meeting) and sort out:
Where each of your family members will be on an average day – whether it be at school, work or at home. Discuss and agree on a safe place you’ll all meet when WiFi and phone lines are down and you can’t get in touch with each other.

Sort your household’s ‘grab and go’ evacuation kit, and emergency storage kit. Depending on where you live, you might need to evacuate in the case of an emergency. Alternatively, you could be isolated and stuck at home for hours or
even days. Make sure you plan for both scenarios with a ‘grab and go’ kit, with the essentials like a first-aid kit, medications, bottled water, canned food, clothing and anything else your whānau might need. If you’ve got a big family, it might be
easier for everyone to have their own ‘go bag’. Likewise with your emergency storage kit: have three to seven days’ worth of food and water (or 14 days worth if you’re in a more isolated area), medications and anything else you know you’ll
need in an easily accessible spot in your home.

Follow the Manawatū-Whanganui Emergency Management Facebook page for live updates in an event, and find which radio stations are the designated emergency stations that operate in your district. It might be useful to write down the FM numbers for these and pop them into your emergency kits, just in case. You can find these, and other useful information on our website. 

How to pay your rates

Your rates contribute to caring for our vast and varied region.

As your regional council, Horizons manages the region’s land, air and water resources on behalf of the communities we serve. We also manage pest plants and animals, enhance biodiversity, contract passenger transport services, plan regional transport, work to mitigate the risk and impact of flooding, undertake science and monitoring, and lead the planning for and response to natural disasters to help keep people and property safe.

To see what your rates will be this year, please check out our online calculator. 

• Rates notices will be sent out in mid-August 2024
• Payments are due by 27 September 2024

We understand that many people are under financial pressure at the moment and there are several ways to pay your rates, including options to spread payments throughout the year. You can pay via:

• bill payment (internet banking)
• automatic payment
• credit card
• direct debit
• in person at one of our offices

If you plan to set up an automatic payment for your rates, please contact our team on our dedicated rates enquiry line 0508 700 800 to confirm your payment amount and frequency.

You can also sign up to receive future invoices by email by following “Go Green, Go Electronic” instructions in your invoice.

If you don’t receive your rates invoice by mid-September please contact us on 0508 700 800.

Only burn Good Wood

Did you know the average person inhales about 14,000 litres of air daily?

Our region’s air quality is generally good, but in some areas, the local climate and
forms of home heating can lead to poor air quality in winter.

Smoke from home fires and outdoor burning can carry particles that irritate our eyes, throat, and lungs, exacerbating allergies, asthma, and respiratory infections
and contributing to serious health conditions like heart disease.

To help keep our air clean and our communities healthy this winter, here are some tips:

• Only burn good, dry wood in your wood burner to create a warmer, more efficient fire that smokes less.
• Never burn rubber, plastics, waste oil, treated or painted timber, or agricultural waste in your backyard—recycle, compost, or take it to the transfer station instead.
• Consider upgrading wood burners that are more than ten years old with a cleaner heating alternative.

Let’s work together to keep our neighbourhoods smog-free and our friends and whānau breathing easy.

Rook management programme makes impact

Rooks pose an ongoing threat to our region’s crop production and native biodiversity.

They feed on crops, opening up pasture to weed infestation and can trigger soil erosion. Rooks also intimidate native birds in areas where rookeries are located.

These considerably large birds (around 45cm when fully grown) can be identified by several distinct features. Adults have black feathers with a purple sheen or gloss, a long sharp beak and a bare light grey face. Juvenile rooks
have a black-feathered face.

Rooks most commonly travel in flocks, but due to low numbers in our region, through successful control efforts, they are more difficult to spot now.

Horizons’ rook eradication programme began in 2005 with 2,942 nests treated. The program runs from September to November each year, as populations are
concentrated for breeding at rookeries. Staff also respond to calls about crop damage if possible, either with control or deterrence.

Thanks to the Horizons’ Pest Management team and vigilance from our community, nearly twenty years later, the number of known rookeries have dropped significantly to 109, and treated nests 72.

Insect quartet to be released
 

Horizons is gearing up for a unique battle against the invasive menace, purple loosestrife. This notorious plant has been wreaking havoc in wetlands, lakes, and streams across New Zealand, posing a significant threat to native ecosystems. But fear not, for a team of tiny heroes is on the way!

Thanks to the Environmental Protection Authority’s approval, four biological control agents, set to be released, have the ability to tackle purple loosestrife head-on. These include two leaf-eating beetles and two weevils targeting the roots or flowers of the plant. This eco-friendly approach is preferred over chemical or manual removal methods which could harm native aquatic habitats.

With over 30 years of successful use in the USA and Canada, these insects promise to slash purple loosestrife populations by up to 90%. But before the bug brigade goes into action, Horizons aims to engage with mana whenua and the community to ensure widespread support for this innovative habitat protection strategy.

Purple loosestrife might have had a head start, but with these biocontrol allies, its days of unchecked expansion are numbered. Together, let’s root out this purple pest and safeguard our precious wetlands for generations to come!

Watch out for Wilding Pines

About a century ago, conifer species were introduced to Aotearoa New Zealand for use as timber, shelter and erosion control. Since then, they’ve spread far and wide across the North and South Islands.

Horizons are on the lookout for wilding pines, also known as wilding conifers, in our region. These self-seeding trees pose a threat to New Zealand’s unique environment. Unlike planted forests, wilding infestations do not allow for native undergrowth, are not managed for fire risk, and are rarely a useable resource.

Of particular concern to our team are the lodgepole pine (contorta) and the scots pine (sylvestris). Both are considered highly vigorous spreaders.

If you spot these plants, please give Horizons a call on 0508 800 800 and we will remove them free of charge.

Keep your eyes peeled for banana passionfruit

While it might sound delicious, banana passionfruit, with its flashy pink flowers and oversized fruit is a major pest in our region.

Banana passionfruit is like a botanical bully, smothering canopies, hogging all the sunlight, and preventing native plants from establishing.

If you spy banana passionfruit making itself a little too comfortable in your neighbourhood, don’t just stand there admiring its tropical charm. Reach out to us the moment you lay eyes on this troublemaker. Together, we can nip this invasive villain in the bud and give our native plants a fighting chance to reclaim their rightful territory.

So, keep those peepers peeled for anything resembling a drooping pink paradise and contact our Pest Plant team on Freephone 0508 800 800. Remember, when it comes to banana passionfruit, it’s better to squash it early than to
let it turn our native green spaces into fruity jungles

Be on the watch for woolly nightshade

Beware the sneaky villain that is woolly nightshade! This pesky weed, with its kerosene scent and dusty-haired demeanour, may seem harmless at first glance. But don’t be fooled by its fuzzy exterior, pretty purple flowers and clusters of
berries — it’s a menace on a mission to wreak havoc on our native bush and wetlands, essentially poisoning the surrounding soil, excluding other plants.

Horizons is on high alert, ready to take down this hairy troublemaker wherever it dares to rear its head.

If you spot this botanical bandit lurking around your district, don’t hesitate to contact our Pest Plant team on 0508 800 800. They have the expertise and tools needed to send woolly nightshade packing.

Palmy bus route trial extended

Good news, Awapuni and Roslyn residents! Thanks to councillors voting to put additional funding into the Long-term Plan, the 108 trial route between Clyde Cres and Rugby St will run for another year.

The 108 was implemented as a trial when the new Palmerston North and Roslyn bus network launched in March. Running four times in each direction every weekday between 9am and 3pm, the 108 helps to connect people from Roslyn and Awapuni to essential services and the centre of the city.

We are monitoring patronage on the 108 as part of the trial, and there has been slight growth since it launched. If you have any feedback on the 108 and how it could be changed, you can get in touch by emailing transport@horizons.govt.nz or calling freephone 0508 800 800.

For detailed route information and timetables, as well as other public transport news, head to the transport page on our website, download the free Transit app, follow Connect – Horizons Regional Transport on Instagram and Facebook, or giving us a call.

Tregenna Street amenity works completed

The latest portion of works under Te Pūwaha have now been
completed, with the recreational space around Tregenna Street revitalised, while also providing flood protection for neighbouring households.

Over the past few months, the area has become increasingly popular for fishing, walking and cycling thanks to a new walk/cycle way and the installation of the two fishing platforms. The grassed area now features street furniture utilising recovered timber from the Whanganui Port works, along with corten steel. Picnic tables, bench seats, rubbish bins and bait boards, created and installed by local builder Mike Tamakehu and contractor Mills-Albert Limited look fantastic in the space.

The next stage of aspirational works at the North Mole are to be led by community and Hapū under Ngā Ringaringa Waewae. An artist impression can be found at: ngaringaringawaewae.org/artists-impressions.

In relation to the Horizons portion of work for Te Pūwaha, consents have been lodged for the Tanae Groyne and the South Mole, with council aiming to start reinstatement works for the Tanae Groyne by the end of this year. Horizons will also be applying for additional central government funding to complete the South Spit and South Mole works.

How does the environment contribute to your wellbeing?

Can you tell us with art, photography, or the written word?

Later this month, Horizons will launch a region-wide arts competition, asking our community to share how the environment contributes to their wellbeing. Entries can be in the form of artwork, a photographic image from our region, or the written word (short story or poem).

Entries will be broken into age groups and categories, with the winning entry for each category to be published in Horizons State of the Environment report 2024 (SoE), along with vouchers to spend at local stores. We are also encouraging schools to get on board, with vouchers for art and book supplies up for grabs!

The overall winner will then be selected by online public vote, with their entry published on the front cover of the report.

This is a unique opportunity to celebrate our environment and get those creative juices flowing - so watch this space on our website, with details shared in the coming weeks. 

Dam safety regulations are now in force

On 28 March 2024, the Government announced changes to the height and volume thresholds of dams that will be impacted by the regulations. Now only dams that are four or more metres high and store 20,000 or more cubic metres volume of water, or other fluid, are subject to the regulations. Dams that meet this threshold are called ‘classifiable dams’.

If you own a classifiable dam, you are responsible for ensuring that the dam classification certificate is completed and certified by a recognised engineer. These need to be submitted to Horizons by 13 August 2024. Find out more about all the steps dam owners need to take here. 

Horizons adopts updated dams policy

Horizons recently adopted an updated policy on dangerous dams, earthquake prone dams, and floodprone dams. The policy applies to classifiable dams that either have a high or medium potential impact, are likely to fail in the ordinary course of events, or a ‘moderate earthquake’ or ‘moderate flood’ as defined in the Building Act 2004.

Your Councillors

Council Meetings

August 2024

• Regional Council meeting, 14 August, 9:30am, Followed by Integrated Catchment Committee meeting. 
• Regional Council meeting, 27 August, 9:30am

September 2024

• Climate Action Joint Committee, 2 September, 1:30pm
• Regional Transport Committee, 3 September, 11:00am
• Strategy & Policy Committee, 10 September, 10:00am
• Regional Council meeting, 24 September, 9:30am
• Audit, Risk & Investment Committee meeting, 25 September, 9:30am

October 2024 

• Passenger Transport Committee, 15 October, 10:00am
• Regional Council meeting, 30 October, 9:30am

Unless otherwise stated meetings are open to the public and will be held at Regional House, 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North. Please note all details were correct at the time of publication. However, for the most up-to-date dates and times for council meetings please check our website at www.horizons.govt.nz.

On the day of full Regional Council and committee meetings, we livestream the meeting directly to our Facebook page. These recordings are then available later to watch on Vimeo.