I’m not a footballer by any means, yet it is almost the last event in Whangarei for the under 20 FIFA tournament, and now is a chance to reflect and ask what has happened since a FIFA game was first played here on May 30 – and a FIFA scandal shocked the world.

As this is Queens Birthday weekend, my thoughts come back to NZ and money that is being spent on a new flag, and why we NZers are so keen to spend it on just that.

Whether you have been in the armed forces, or travelled around the world on your big OE, or competed for your country in the world sporting arena, you tend to understand the importance of a country’s flag and the concerns you have when someone gets it wrong.

Rates * Whangarei District Council * Debt * Housing

Can our locals and our land defeat the debt devil? 

There are few strategies to tackle the debt of $2000 per capita in Whangarei. I’m not talking just ratepayers – I’m talking every man, woman and child in Whangarei, where our council owes approximately $160m.

The Whangarei District Council debt problem

Whangarei * ratepayers * Vince * water rates

Every year, we property owners give the council around $2000 in rates, yet Council still has a whopping nine figure of debt – that’s $160 million. Divide that by the 80,000 population of Whangarei, and each of us appears $2000 in the red.

We’re starting to see the wintery side of Northland again. Personally, in my household, wemake sure our gutters are clean, the trees are trimmed back, and thegrape vines pruned. Keeping warm and dry is a mission for all of us, and every time I leave the house I try to dress warmly and take a few Vitamin Cs.

What Winter Means For Whangarei

The Rotary Club of Whangarei South is presenting the first evening screening of the Second thrilling Hobbit Series, on Thursday the 12th of December 2013.

The Whangarei BNZ Bank along with other sponsors are going to make the night a lot of fun.  So put on your Hobbit or Elf costume and join in the  festivities.

Tickets are $40 and these can be purchased from the Whangarei BNZ bank.  There are limited tickets, and if last year was any example tickets will sell very fast.

The 2013 Business Excellence Awards hosted on the 25th October, at Forum North in Whangarei are now over.

Great fun and entertainment was had by all.

The winners were:

ACC - Workplace safety award went to: Northpine Limited and Skydive Ballistic Blondes

Konica Minolta - Owner Operator Awards for Business Excellencewent to: The Bream Head Conservation Trust

My vision for Whangarei is one of prosperity and growth for the businesses and communities that are the fabric of our district. Northland is among New Zealand’s most diverse regions, and Whangarei is its commercial heart.

Whangarei it’s Time to Choose.

With only 30% of the public who have voted, it’s now time to make your voices heard, and make your vote count, by choosing a mayor who will put Whangarei First!

Whangarei is a district going forward. We are on the brink of change, at the turning of the tide which will bring development, expansion and economic growth to the District, and to the whole of Northland.

Prosperity

We can’t just sit back and wait for Whangarei to grow, says Mayoral Candidate Vince Cocurullo.