Latest news with #Tripe
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Is This The Lowest Rates Rise In The Country? Whanganui Council Holds Firm On 2.2 Percent
Article – Moana Ellis – Local Democracy Reporter The council is holding firm on an increase of 2.2 District Council is sticking to an average rates increase of 2.2 percent following deliberations on its draft Annual Plan. Mayor Andrew Tripe believes it's the lowest rise in the country for the year ahead. The plan for 2025/26 will go before the council in June to be adopted. Tripe said the council has focused on doing the basics well, investing in core infrastructure, and involving the community in decision-making. The big topics thrashed out by the council in this week's deliberations were creating a standalone housing entity to grow housing stock, adopting a new strategy for Whanganui, changes to fees and charges, and increasing loan repayments. In each case, community feedback aligned with the council's preferred options. On Thursday, the council confirmed it would: Continue to consider a standalone housing entity Consider all submissions and feedback to inform any minor changes ahead of adopting the draft Strategy for Whanganui Proceed with proposed changes to fees and charges for the year ahead Pay off an additional $590,000 of debt. Operational budget changes have also been made since the council opened its draft Annual Plan 2025/26 for consultation. This includes water levies set by water services authority Taumata Arowai to recover the cost of regulatory functions. These levies will take effect from 1 July, 2025 and are expected to cost around $16 per household. Tripe said it was 'incredibly frustrating' to receive news of the levies just as the council was about to adopt its budgets for the year ahead. 'It is yet another example of central government shifting costs to local councils and communities – when it should be administered and funded at a national level.' These levies, along with proposed Commerce Commission levies, would be incorporated into the Annual Plan budget for 2025/26 and would affect three waters rates for connected households. To ensure full transparency, the levies would be identified on rates notices. However, they would not increase overall rates due to additional income from other council revenue streams. The Annual Plan will be adopted on 26 June, with the plan taking effect from 1 July.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Is This The Lowest Rates Rise In The Country? Whanganui Council Holds Firm On 2.2 Percent
Whanganui District Council is sticking to an average rates increase of 2.2 percent following deliberations on its draft Annual Plan. Mayor Andrew Tripe believes it's the lowest rise in the country for the year ahead. The plan for 2025/26 will go before the council in June to be adopted. Tripe said the council has focused on doing the basics well, investing in core infrastructure, and involving the community in decision-making. The big topics thrashed out by the council in this week's deliberations were creating a standalone housing entity to grow housing stock, adopting a new strategy for Whanganui, changes to fees and charges, and increasing loan repayments. In each case, community feedback aligned with the council's preferred options. On Thursday, the council confirmed it would: Continue to consider a standalone housing entity Consider all submissions and feedback to inform any minor changes ahead of adopting the draft Strategy for Whanganui Proceed with proposed changes to fees and charges for the year ahead Pay off an additional $590,000 of debt. Operational budget changes have also been made since the council opened its draft Annual Plan 2025/26 for consultation. This includes water levies set by water services authority Taumata Arowai to recover the cost of regulatory functions. These levies will take effect from 1 July, 2025 and are expected to cost around $16 per household. Tripe said it was "incredibly frustrating" to receive news of the levies just as the council was about to adopt its budgets for the year ahead. "It is yet another example of central government shifting costs to local councils and communities - when it should be administered and funded at a national level." These levies, along with proposed Commerce Commission levies, would be incorporated into the Annual Plan budget for 2025/26 and would affect three waters rates for connected households. To ensure full transparency, the levies would be identified on rates notices. However, they would not increase overall rates due to additional income from other council revenue streams. The Annual Plan will be adopted on 26 June, with the plan taking effect from 1 July.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Just shifting gears': NOTO business moving, blowout sale
Video aired Jan. 23. TOPEKA (KSNT) – A vintage goods store in NOTO, which will be closing its doors and moving to another location, will have big deals and a blowout sale this weekend. Decades Garage announced that it will be closing its location at 837 N. Kansas Ave. and be moving into Avenue Collective and Kaw River Rustics, another business located in the NOTO Arts & Entertainment district. Owner Trish Tripe said that while the storefront is closing, it is just 'shifting gears'. 'By shifting my business model, I can focus my efforts on the individuality of my collection and everyone wins,' Tripe said. National Weather Service staffing impacts Kansas In January, 27 News visited Decades Garage to see what kinds of items were for sale. Some of the items Tripe was selling included used ice hockey pucks, sticks, as well as Topeka Roadrunners and Scarecrows jerseys that were worn in-game, and later signed and authenticated. According to a press release from Decades Garage, most items and furniture will have deals up to 70% off. The blowout sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 18. For more info you can call (785) 851-0267 it email info@ For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NZ Herald
03-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
‘Focus on the basics': Whanganui Mayor pushes back on Associate Education Minister David Seymour's truancy appeal
Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe said truancy was a nationwide issue that his community was also grappling with. But he said the minister's call to arms contradicted the Government's own directive to stick to the basics and focus on core local government duties. 'To ask councils to get involved in tackling truancy is a contradiction to the directive we have been given,' Tripe said. 'From day one of this triennium, this has been the focus for Whanganui District Council to the point where now we have the lowest rates [rises] in the country, are well-invested in infrastructure renewals and maintenance, and have very manageable debt.' Seymour's letter to mayors encouraged local councils to speak with their community about supporting schools to improve attendance. 'Even small steps like encouraging local businesses to be aware that school-aged children should be at school during school hours is helpful.' Seymour said 58.1% of students attended school regularly in Term 4 of 2024, up from 53% in Term 4 of 2023 – a 5.1% rise. Every region saw an increase on the previous year, he said. The Whanganui Mayor said truancy in Whanganui was exacerbated in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic in the early 2020s. 'As with all social issues, getting to the root cause of this is complex,' Tripe said. He said factors could include poverty, housing instability and limited access to transportation, and health and wellbeing challenges including mental health issues, anxiety and family dynamics, leading to families having difficulties in supporting their children's education. Students failing to connect with the curriculum could also lead to disinterest in attending school. Tripe said there had been efforts by the Ministry of Education to boost attendance in Whanganui, including the Kaitakawaenga pilot programme involving primary schools Aranui, Whanganui East, Gonville, Carlton and St Mary's. 'The aim has been to build relationships with students through sports and physical activities, which can result in building resilience and a sense of belonging and lead to improved attendance,' Tripe said. 'There has also been increased funding to tackle truancy nationwide, including establishing attendance officer roles. 'However, in local government, we have been given firm direction to focus on the basics and deliver core local government services.'
RNZ News
03-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Seymour's truancy appeal contradicts government's own directive, Whanganui mayor says
Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin The associate education minister's appeal for the country's 78 mayors to drive up school attendance has failed to gain support in Whanganui. David Seymour called on local leaders this week to pitch in on his push to keep students in school, citing it as a foundation for community and national success. The Minister wrote to all mayors across New Zealand urging them to use the government's new daily school attendance dashboard to raise awareness and spark local action. "I'm calling on mayors to be champions for education in their regions. When students go to school, communities are stronger and better prepared for generations to come," Seymour said. Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe said truancy was a nationwide issue that his community was also grappling with. But he said the Minister's call to arms contradicted the government's own directive to stick to the basics and focus on core local government duties. "To ask councils to get involved in tackling truancy is a contradiction to the directive we have been given," Tripe said. "From day one of this triennium, this has been the focus for Whanganui District Council to the point where now we have the lowest rates [rises] in the country, are well invested in infrastructure renewals and maintenance, and have very manageable debt." Seymour's letter to mayors encouraged local councils to speak with their community about supporting schools to improve attendance. "Even small steps like encouraging local businesses to be aware that school-aged children should be at school during school hours is helpful." Associate Education Minister David Seymour. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Seymour said 58.1 percent of students attended school regularly in Term 4 of 2024, up from 53 percent in Term 4 of 2023 - a 5.1 percentage point rise. Every region saw an increase on the previous year, he said. The Whanganui mayor said truancy in Whanganui was exacerbated in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic in the early 2020s. "As with all social issues, getting to the root cause of this is complex," Tripe told Local Democracy Reporting. He said factors could include poverty, housing instability and limited access to transportation, along with health and wellbeing challenges including mental health issues, anxiety and family dynamics, leading to families having difficulties in supporting their children's education. Students failing to connect with the curriculum could also lead to disinterest in attending school. Tripe said there had been efforts by the Ministry of Education to boost attendance in Whanganui, including the Kaitakawaenga pilot programme involving local primary schools Aranui, Whanganui East, Gonville, Carlton and St Mary's. "The aim has been to build relationships with students through sports and physical activities, which can result in building resilience and a sense of belonging, and lead to improved attendance," Tripe said. "There has also been increased funding to tackle truancy nationwide, including establishing attendance officer roles. "However, in local government, we have been given firm direction to focus on the basics and deliver core local government services." LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
