Covid still has impact on KCDC facilities and services

The Ka¯ piti Coast District Council is continuing to have problems caused by Covid, as Omicron lingers in the community.

From Sunday, the O¯ taki Pool will be temporarily closed on Sundays, and reduced weekend hours will remain at the Coastlands Aquatic Centre due to ongoing challenges with staff availability for at least the next four weeks.

Acting chief executive Sean Mallon says the council team is being as agile as it can but its ability to keep the doors open is compromised by staff needing to isolate at home.

‘‘We’ve always been very up front with our community about the need to operate some of our facilities and services differently as we continue to navigate the pandemic,’’ Mallon said.

‘‘We had hoped, like everyone else, that we would be out the other end of this pandemic by now but it’s becoming clear as we look overseas that Covid-19 has a long tail. Making sure we can keep our facilities open and provide continuity of service to the Ka¯ piti Coast community is important to us and we are very grateful for the patience and support our community continues to extend to our staff.’’

Libraries and service centres are operating normally for the most part.

‘‘We’ve had the odd occasion where we’ve been forced to close our Waikanae Library and Service Centre and Paeka¯ka¯riki Library at short notice due to staff availability but this has been the exception,’’ Mallon said.

‘‘If you are unsure about our facilities’ opening hours or availability of council services, please give us a call on 0800 486 486. Our people are more than happy to help.’’

THIS WEEK’S NICE NEIGHBOUR IS DANNY WILSON, OF LEVIN, NOMINATED BY MARK BRADMAN

Our neighbour, Danny, is always doing things for us, for other neighbours, and for others in our community. I’ve often told him I’d nominate him for ‘Best Neighbour’ should I ever come across such an award. So, after seeing the Neighbourly email immediately after coming inside from receiving a couple of capsicums from him from his own garden, I knew this was ‘The Moment’!

I first met Danny after we’d had firewood delivered to our home after moving into our home four years ago. He came across the road unannounced wheeling his wheelbarrow.

He said he couldn’t really help me himself (he’s in in seventies and not as fit as he was) but that it might be useful to me. I had a wheelbarrow of my own but having his in addition to mine helped my son and I us complete the wheeling and stacking

NICE NEIGHBOUR

of the wood in half the time.

He later moved in next door and I’ve since got to know him even better. That’s when his generosity and good-naturedness became even more evident.

Apart from regularly offering us fresh produce from his garden, he often makes pickles, chutneys, etc which he takes to op-shops for them to sell.

He checks in with us most days with a warm bright disposition with his catch-phrase – ‘‘Everything good in the hood?’’ – which seems particularly apt given your heading for this award ls ‘‘Got a nice neighbour in your hood?’’

He’s always on hand to help with any odd jobs, including lending me his tools and advice.

Recently, he helped me fix some guttering that had been a long term annoyance for me - he even provided some materials he picked up for me (which I hadn’t even asked him for) while he was at the hardware store shopping for himself…

He’s also been known to help neighbours pick their fruit because he doesn’t want it to go waste or be taken by birds – I found this out after he gave me some apples recently. He even roped me in to join him in one of his fruit-picking ‘adventures’ because he’s not so good on ladders these days to reach the fruit on the higher branches. It turned out to be great fun with him as seems to be the norm whenever dealing with him.

. He’s easily the best neighbour I’ve ever had… anywhere…

‘‘We

Sean Mallon

We’re looking for the nicest neighbours in town. Nominate someone in your ’hood, and your special neighbour could feature in community newspapers around New Zealand as an inspiration to us all. Plus, you’ll both receive a $25 Prezzy card. A Nice Neighbour is someone who has helped to make a difference in your life – or the lives of others. Let us know why your neighbour is so nice by sharing a few words at neighbourly.co.nz/niceneighbour.