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The Hindu
21-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Stick to stipulated deadline, Tirunelveli Corporation Commissioner tells officials and contractors
Corporation Commissioner Monika Rana, who inspected some of the ongoing development works in Palayamkottai and Thatchanallur zones of the urban civic body on Monday, instructed officials and contractors to stick to the stipulated deadline for completing the projects with superior quality. Since the clogged sewage channels near the water tank at Samathanapuram in Palayamkottai Zone would cause instant flooding during downpours on the Tiruchendur Road and along the Pothunala Street, Dr. Monika inspected the drainage channels at this spots and asked the officials to regularly clean these channels to avert flooding. When the Commissioner visited the Ramasamy Temple and the road connecting this temple and LIC Divisional Office near VOC Ground, she appealed to the public and the traders running roadside eateries not to leave the garbage getting generated in their shops on the road and dump it in the nearby drainage channels. She also instructed the officials to ensure cleanliness along this busy road by constantly monitoring the traders. 'Those who defy the Corporation's instructions and discard waste on the roads or dump it in the drainage channels should be taken to task if the repeated appeals go in vain,' she said. When she inspected the ongoing works at Children's Park, swimming pool, skating rink, walkers' path etc., all under the Smart City Mission near Bharathi School, the Commissioner asked the officials and the contractors to complete the projects assigned to them within the stipulated deadline. 'Any compromise on quality will be viewed very seriously as it will land you in legal complications besides blacklisting,' the Commissioner warned. Superintending Engineer Kannan and Assistant Commissioners Purandira Das and Johnson Devasahayam accompanied the Commissioner during the inspection.
NZ Herald
14-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Real Life: Jon Hartley, Kiwibank chair and priest - ‘There's more to life than the corporate world'
'I went through a period of disillusionment with that corporate world, predominantly triggered by an incident where I encountered lying in the boardroom which I knew was lying, and it just shook me. 'And then I started to work through in my own mind, who did I want to be around? What sort of organisations did I want to be involved with? And, most importantly, a faith started to emerge.' The re-emergence of his Christian faith, which by his own admission had laid dormant for many years, would ultimately lead Hartley to make big changes to how he operated in his career. He became more selective with the organisations he served on the board of, effectively 'gave away' two days of work a week to focus on causes that matter, and later, opted to join the Anglican priesthood. Hartley told Real Life it was a combination of his wife Chris' strong faith, and searching conversations with a vicar friend, that led him to start asking the big questions about life. '[This friend] introduced me to having conversations about faith without trying to persuade me about what I should do,' he said. 'It was really introducing you to the idea that there's more – a mystery, a bigger transcendent component in life that we're invited into if we choose to be walking that path. 'I naively thought that, having given my life to Jesus, that was a hard decision. Actually, that was what led to all the hard decisions, because that then causes you to recalibrate all that's going on in your world.' Hartley was inspired by Bob Buford, a US entrepreneur who was compelled by his faith to pivot from a life of pursuing profits to one where he could use his considerable business acumen for good. It was the final push Hartley needed to change course. 'I literally stopped working for money for two days a week and gave those two days a week away,' he told Cowan. 'I didn't know where they were going to go, and that's when I found myself invited into the City Mission in Wellington where I spent 15 years, the last six as chair. Then World Vision involved me in their economic development [and] microfinance, using commercial skills for social purposes. 'That broadened my outlook in terms of outworking my faith, which was to use the skills that I had from the first 50-odd years of my life in ways which expanded me into touching the lives of people.' This work saw Hartley recently awarded the Queen's Service Order, in recognition of his decision to volunteer his skills in business, strategy governance, leadership development and transformative change management in the service of those living in poverty locally and internationally. Hartley is now retired, but continues in his roles as chair of Kiwibank and director of Ngāi Tahu Holdings, two organisations he says are 'systemically important' to New Zealand. He is also an Anglican reverend, a position that came about upon the recommendation of the Bishop of Wellington, who had noticed work he had been doing helping Christian leaders remain true to their faith in whatever sphere of influence they found themselves in. 'It's a discernment process, it's not a recruitment process,' Hartley says of the path to priesthood. 'One thing led to the other – and I have to say, I was only persuaded that it was the right thing for me after it happened, when I took my first communion.' Hartley told Cowan the role has opened doors for him to be able to help people in a new way. 'It invites questions, certainly, but I'm much more about doing things than trying to explain things, and so, certainly in places like World Vision, it's been instrumental in helping grow my faith – but also helping others grow their faith,' he said. 'I find myself now drawn into places like the Wellington Cathedral, where I help run services and I preach, and that is [about] connecting and bringing the real world into the church.' Hartley says the boards he's appointed to understand who he is and what he stands for, and that, 'as a consequence, you get the whole package.' 'There will be times where you will ask questions which may seem strange to others, but you know why you're asking them or you're making observations. But at the core of the gospel are principles which it's really hard to argue against in the way people live,' he told Real Life. 'I recently spoke at the cathedral and lamented the way we now speak of peace as an absence of war rather than a way of living. Those are the sort of insights which I personally feel I need to and should offer to share, to try and move people a little bit away from our neo-liberal world.' Despite the perception the church and the boardroom are worlds apart, Hartley says he doesn't live a compartmentalised life, instead allowing the purpose and values of all he's involved in 'seep across' into other places. 'It's interesting how many times that seepage actually leads to a much richer set of engagements and relationships around boardroom tables or on a field visit or within the church,' he says. 'Bringing the real world into the church – as well as bringing the church or the gospel into the real world – is part of the challenge I try and set myself.' Real Life is a weekly interview show where John Cowan speaks with prominent guests about their life, upbringing, and the way they see the world. Tune in Sundays from 7.30pm on Newstalk ZB or listen to the latest full interview here. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
More rough sleepers on Auckland streets: 'NZ doesn't have to be this way'
A makeshift shelter on Hobson St in central Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Amy Williams Makeshift shelters of cardboard and blankets - some propped up with road cones - are dotted along the street near Auckland City Mission, which is struggling to support an increase in rough sleepers. City Missioner Helen Robinson said its outreach team is in regular contact with 129 people living on the street, a big jump on the 40 almost a year ago. "The mission quite appropriately, here on Hobson Street, acts as quite a beacon. All throughout the city here in Auckland and up and down the country the prevalence of street homelessness is growing." Helen Robinson Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi The numbers spurred Auckland Council to ask the government for help after outreach teams recorded a 53 percent increase in homelessness between September and January - an updated tally is expected this month. Shop owners near the mission said they worry for their safety, and their business. Across the road from Auckland City Mission's Homeground on Hobson Street, a kebab shop does thriving business in felafel, fried chicken and scoops of chips. Berein Patel has worked there for six years and now owns the eatery. He has noticed an increase in people sleeping rough. "It's quite terrible, the numbers are increasing day by day so it's not good for the country," he said. "At the moment, in front of our shop there's a couple of guys always sitting [there], bothering our customers coming in." Kebab shop owner Berein Patel Photo: RNZ / Amy Williams Patel said the shop loses about $50 a day in theft. "When we try to stop them they run after us, which is not good. Sometimes we feel we're not safe. The worst part is they pee and poo on the street which is really bad for others. Normally we call the cops." A few doors down, Quest Apartment Hotels night manager James Salva said the increase in rough sleepers was affecting business. "We usually get bad reviews from our guests, especially foreign ones from out of Auckland," he said. The hotel has more than 300 customer reviews on TripAdvisor, with an average three-and-a-half stars. "They usually say that the hotel is nice, very convenient because it's in the city centre but after that the negative reviews we've got are many people loitering outside, sheltering at night, especially women are afraid at night to go out." There is no night shelter in Auckland and social services report emergency housing is hard to get . Last year, the Ministry of Social Development introduced stricter entry criteria for emergency housing, and new requirements that make it more difficult to stay. The City Mission is a magnet for those with nowhere to go, offering one free meal a day to those in need and outreach teams that link people to support services. Robinson said they were working with more first-timers on the street. She understood shop owners' dilemma but said moving people on was not the answer - she wanted access to emergency housing restored. "Our job is not to move people on, if we are we're moving them onto a house and a home and support services that are really appropriate. I think the madness about moving people on is where are we moving people on to?" Homeless shelters outside the City Mission on Hobson Street in Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Amy Williams Robinson said there was a lack of public amenities in the city, something the council was trying to address. "In the bigger picture you move someone on who has no home, no place to stay, no place to sleep and no place to go to the bathroom... what do they do? "People are moved on to another place but then it's actually just the same story again. We will have rough sleepers who talk about being moved on multiple times in any one day or week, which is totally understandable and madness." Rough sleepers often stayed awake at night to keep safe and warm - during the day, the mission's busy lobby has half a dozen people sleeping on the floor or bench seats. "The mission stands to be a refuge for people and we will always be a refuge. Very honestly though, my heart breaks every day when I go down and see people sleeping in our laneway. New Zealand doesn't have to be this way." At the end of this month, Auckland Council's community committee is due to table a report with updated numbers on the city's rough sleepers. It also has a team that works with the city's homeless, doing morning rounds to wake and move people from doorways. Council head of community impact Dickie Humphries said they also relied on the public to alert them to any concerns about a rough sleeper, including the vulnerable person's safety. "We have seen a steady flow of traffic to our community safety and support page online and through our contact centre, where people can find information on how to report a safety issue, or contact the various support agencies that help those experiencing homelessness," he said. "The council continues to receive reports of homelessness at council-run spaces, like libraries. However, as awareness grows, we are aware that more people are contacting social service providers and community organisations involved in these responses directly." Shop owners, including Berein Patel, would like to see more support for the city's homeless. "There's not a proper solution for this, the council people are getting rid of them but usually they're back here in an hour," he said. "I think the government should work on the problem and provide them shelter and food." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Glasgow Times
26-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Hundreds accessed emergency winter homeless help in Glasgow
Glasgow City Mission changed its services from an Overnight Welcome Centre to one where its Housing Settlement Officers helped people get accommodation. The charity has revealed it dealt with 619 guests. It arranged 233 emergency hotel stays over six months for vulnerable individuals, prioritising safety during winter. Those 233 were people who were at risk of sleeping rough that night. READ NEXT:Get You in Town: New campaign to promote Glasgow city centre as a destination The other guests were already accommodated in four city centre hotels assigned to Glasgow City Mission HSOs who were able to give other assistance. The City Mission, a Christian charity, said it supported 51 individuals into permanent tenancies and 21 into temporary furnished flats. The report showed 81% of those supported were international and 19% British, with an average age of 34. Ove the winter the charity witnessed those at the sharp end of the city's growing homelessness crisis. The Glasgow City Mission report stated: 'Glasgow is facing increased demand due to factors such as the asylum backlog, the cost-of-living crisis, and Glasgow's attractiveness as a destination. 'The numbers in temporary accommodations rose significantly, from 1,400+ to 1,800+ during the season. Limited resources led to delayed access to emergency accommodation for some individuals, often taking up to three weeks before temporary accommodation was offered.' It wants to see a return to the previous model. READ NEXT:Complaint over Reform councillor's speaking record since defection The report continued: 'The project aims to advocate for a return to the Overnight Welcome Centre model with wraparound care and emergency beds. 'It is our view that a fully funded permanent welcome centre would be the gold standard, a view shared by sector partners and Scottish Government.' The HSOs delivered practical support, including furniture, appliances, and assistance with integrating into local communities. A spokesperson said:' The team advocated for individuals in temporary accommodation, helping them transition into stable housing. 'They built trust with guests through personalised, compassionate interactions, fostering long-term stability. 'Barriers like language and digital poverty were addressed by providing tailored support for diverse needs. 'HSOs also conducted neighbourhood tours to familiarise guests with prospective housing areas, promoting informed choices. ' Weekly Drop-ins were hosted within our city centre project to assist with applications, healthcare access, and housing navigation.
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- RNZ News
Police officer cleared over drunk man's fatal fall
Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen The police watch dog has found an officer was not at fault when an intoxicated man he was escorting fell and was fatally injured. Police had been called to the Auckland City Mission in Grafton on 4 November, 2024, where an intoxicated man had reportedly been acting aggressively. "The man refused to leave despite the officer's requests, so the officer placed a hand on his shoulder to guide him along," a spokesperson for the Independent Police Conduct Authority said in a statement. "The man fell, hitting his head on the tarmac surface of the ground. Unfortunately, he was seriously injured and later died in hospital." During its investigation the IPCA reviewed security footage of the accident, which revealed the officer had not used force when placing his hand on the man's shoulder. "The man resisted and pulled away, then lost his balance on the sloping driveway and fell to the ground. We also concluded that the officer's actions were reasonable in the circumstances," the spokesperson said. Police accepted the findings. "This was an incredibly unfortunate incident for everyone concerned, including our attending staff," Auckland City District Commander Sunny Patel said in a statement. "Our sympathies remain with the man's family and friends during what was no doubt a very challenging time." The IPCA confirmed it did not believe any criminal charges or employment considerations were necessary for the officer. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
