The cost of the leaky building crisis has grown so “ginormous” that the Government has almost despaired of finding a solution, says the minister in charge.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson told the Weekend Herald the official $11 billion figure – which experts believe is half the true cost – was about what the Government spent each year on health or education.

“It’s simply ginormous. A Government who’s running very large surpluses would still struggle to find the money to help with this.  Read more... (766 words, estimated 3:04 mins reading time)

If you live on the shore then this will give you some tingles about what a great place we have as our local community.

If you don’t then if you want to know more about what a great place the North Shore is to live in then visit our facts page here.

Popularity: 1% [?]

North Shore City encourages you to get out onto the streets on Tuesday afternoon (24 November) in support of Special Olympics and the 2009 Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR).

Special Olympics New Zealand athletes and local law enforcement officers will carry the Flame of Hope™ from North Shore Police Station to Council Chambers, where they will be greeted by Mayor Andrew Williams and a civic function will be held.

Cheer the torch carriers along their way from 2.30pm. They will start their journey at the Police Station on Huron Street and travel onto Burns Ave, Anzac Street, Lake Road and finish at The Strand.  Read more... (303 words, 1 image, estimated 1:13 mins reading time)

Government plan to profit from victims a cruel hoax, says North Shore Mayor (NSCC)

A government rescue package to help leaky homes victims get their homes fixed and get on with their lives will actually make the government a profit of over $300 million, North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams said today.

“After years of berating the previous government for its heartless denial of responsibility for leaky homes and failure to provide hard cash to get the leaky homes fixed, this government has come up with a ‘claytons’ deal that will see local councils paying their full share and the government running away with a multi-million dollar profit,” said Mayor Williams.  Read more... (895 words, 1 image, estimated 3:35 mins reading time)

By Claire Ahuriri

From left: Quinton, Nicole, Amber, and Gail Arendse

A North Shore family is in desperate need of help

Arriving in New Zealand for a fresh start, from South Africa, an unknown health problem may mean the family is forced to return home.

Without surgery Gail Arendse may be facing death.

Gail and her family were spurred to move to New Zealand to escape danger. A family friend was killed by thieves in his own home.  Read more... (242 words, 1 image, estimated 58 secs reading time)

By Claire Ahuriri

IN VISUAL ARTS – Naked Nomad Narcisscus, an exhibition by Ian Peter Weston, shows in The Depot Artspace at 28 Clarence Street, Devonport.

See http://www.depotartspace.co.nz/ for more information.

IN MUSIC – A charity event fundraising for North Shore Hospice and Starship Hospital among others, there are two Beatles Nights to Remember being held in the Takapuna Soccer Clubrooms on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st of October, featuring New Zealand’s finest Beatles tribute band.

For more details go to http://www.tourismnorthshore.org.nz/id/13234/event/

IN THEATRE – The Bruce Mason Centre has the hilarrious Busting Out showing tonight, Saturday 24th and tomorrow, Sunday 25th of October.  Read more... (130 words, 1 image, estimated 31 secs reading time)

By Claire Ahuriri

'Clouds' by Nick Fedaeff

IN THEATRE – North Shore Music Theatre brings you High School Musical, opening on Friday the 23rd of October.

Their website: http://www.nsmt.org.nz/index.php

IN MUSIC – The Devonport Folk Music Club has two shows, one Sunday 18th October, and one Monday 19th October, 8pm at The Bunker, Mt. Victoria.

More information at http://devonportdirectory.co.nz/realmusic.htm

IN ART – Til the end of the month the Fedaeff Family Experiment is exhibiting at the Bruce Mason Centre.

Popularity: unranked [?]  Read more... (130 words, 2 images, estimated 31 secs reading time)

By John Grant

A recent national TV advertising campaign featuring a creepy looking man and his spinning risk wheel is being brought to life on the North Shore to remind local drivers that ‘Bad Calls Can Be Deadly’ at intersections.

6 October marked the launch of a multi-agency educational and enforcement style road safety campaign that aims to make North Shore intersections safer in October – statistically the worst month for intersection related accidents.

Popularity: 1% [?]  Read more... (508 words, 2 images, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)

Here is some quick facts about North Shore City

• 205,605 people usually live in North Shore City. This is an increase of 20,784 people, or 11.2 percent, since the 2001 Census.
• Its population ranks 4th in size out of the 73 districts in New Zealand.
• North Shore City has 5.1 percent of New Zealand’s population.

source:statistics NZ

Popularity: 5% [?]

By John Grant

Mike Cohen, Chairperson of the Devonport Community Board took the opportunity to explain about proposed zoning changes for Navy land in and around Devonport, to a small group at a public meeting on Wednesday night.

Mr Cohen explained that the changes including the zoning of areas of Navy land that had not previously been zoned by Council. The Zoning made it clear what the land use could be and was more restrictive than how it is currently described.

Members of the public who are concerned by this, have the opportunity of making a submission to Council and to be heard by them if needed. Public submissions close on 15 October.  Read more... (143 words, 1 image, estimated 34 secs reading time)