It’s quite clear — dealers get single number plate
Q: If you can’t hide car number plates behind bikes etc, why is it legal for car dealers to only put one number plate on a car at the back? Theoretically the same number could be on two cars on the road at the same time as they are issued in pairs, I’m sure. Murray Hunter, Titirangi. I’m afraid your information is incorrect, Mr Hunter. The NZ Transport Agency says trade plates are issued as singles only. They are displayed on the rear of a vehicle in an upright position so that they are clearly visible at all times. You may find this website helpful: http://tinyurl.com/d3vboy6
Q: I was looking at some tickets for a show at the Vector Arena and came across this gem among all the other fees: ‘‘A compulsory Arena Land Levy of not more than $2.75 applies to each ticket.’’ I know land in Auckland is overpriced but what? Perhaps you could shed some light on the origin and end use and purpose of this fee for use by non-Aucklanders. Ross Allen, Rotorua. What an excellent question. This is the response I received from QP AM (Quay Park Arena Management), the company responsible for management of Vector Arena. ‘‘The arena sits on a large tract of land bordering Quay St, Mahuhu Cres and the old rail yards adjacent to The Strand in Parnell. QP AM has a sublease for a period of 40 years under which QP AM will pay an annual ground lease fee to the lessor (land owners) Ngati Whatua O Orakei. Under the terms of the arena’s sublease the methodology of charging ground rent changed in August 2011 and now the ground lease is calculated as a percentage of the freehold market value of the land, which has resulted in a substantial increase in the ground lease fee. QP AM acknowledges Ngati Whatua as the owners of a valuable piece of land who are, as such, entitled to seek a return on that asset, and thus they have endeavoured to come up with a workable formula for all. ‘‘QP AM has absorbed a portion of the annual ground rent costs with the balance being funded in the form of a ticket levy. A levy of not more than $2.75 per ticket will appear as an outside ticket charge and for transparency is represented as ‘Land Levy' at the point of payment.’’ Thus it seems to matter not whether you are an Auckland resident, the levy applies to those taking advantage of the shows at Vector Arena.
Q: Why oh why is there not yet a tree on None Tree Hill? This lack of action for over 13 years shames both the city and iwi. Ross Stewart, Epsom. The most recent information I could find explains that until Treaty of Waitangi claims by local iwi are settled, there will be no replanting. Auckland Council is growing a number of pohutukawa and totara seedlings in the hopes of reinstating a grove as soon as the treaty claims are settled. Council staff have removed repeated illegal plantings, usually of pohutukawa, while waiting for this to happen.