Latest news with #NPDC
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Self-Service Kiosks Available For Quick And Easy Payments
Press Release – NPDC NPDCs Manager Customer and Communications Ben Kohlis says the self-payment kiosk will help residents get in and out quickly, without having to wait in line. NPDC is trialling self-service kiosks at its Civic Centre and Waitara Service Centre for customers on the go, to pay for Council services. Residents can now avoid the queues to pay for parking tickets, dog registrations, rates, building consents and other payments through the kiosk. NPDC's Manager Customer and Communications Ben Kohlis says the self-payment kiosk will help residents get in and out quickly, without having to wait in line. 'It's all about creating efficiency and giving our customers options,' said Ben. 'People can still chat to our front counter team, but when it gets busy and people don't have time to wait, the kiosk is another option to make payments as well as on our NPDC website.' The machine at the Civic Centre in Liardet Street has been in place for nine weeks, while the one in Waitara went live on Monday (30 June). The kiosks feature user-friendly touchscreen where customers can follow prompts and make payments using EFTPOS, debit or credit card. It is also accessible and wheelchair friendly. FAST FACTS NPDC's front counter desk have helped customers with about 12,500 payments in person over the last 12 months (Feb 2024 – Feb 2025). NPDC had 20,788 walk-ins to the front counter for the same period. The top three payment types to NPDC's front counter were rates, dog registrations and applications.
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Self-Service Kiosks Available For Quick And Easy Payments
NPDC is trialling self-service kiosks at its Civic Centre and Waitara Service Centre for customers on the go, to pay for Council services. Residents can now avoid the queues to pay for parking tickets, dog registrations, rates, building consents and other payments through the kiosk. NPDC's Manager Customer and Communications Ben Kohlis says the self-payment kiosk will help residents get in and out quickly, without having to wait in line. 'It's all about creating efficiency and giving our customers options,' said Ben. 'People can still chat to our front counter team, but when it gets busy and people don't have time to wait, the kiosk is another option to make payments as well as on our NPDC website.' The machine at the Civic Centre in Liardet Street has been in place for nine weeks, while the one in Waitara went live on Monday (30 June). The kiosks feature user-friendly touchscreen where customers can follow prompts and make payments using EFTPOS, debit or credit card. It is also accessible and wheelchair friendly. FAST FACTS NPDC's front counter desk have helped customers with about 12,500 payments in person over the last 12 months (Feb 2024 - Feb 2025). NPDC had 20,788 walk-ins to the front counter for the same period. The top three payment types to NPDC's front counter were rates, dog registrations and applications.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
New Plymouth resident claims moral victory over fate of overgrown pohutukawa
Alana Brough is the daughter of first-term councillor Max Brough. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin The daughter of a New Plymouth councillor is claiming a victory of sorts, after facing a hefty fine and a years-long battle with council over who was responsible for a massive pohutukawa outside her home. Lines company Powerco has sent in contractors to remove the 15m-tall pohutukawa at no cost, after it had grown through powerlines on Ballance St. Alana Brough, who is the daughter of first-term councillor Max Brough, was overjoyed and baked for the contractors, who were bringing down the tree in the rain. "The tree's coming down, whoohoo," she said. "I had a phone call from Powerco to say it was in the lines, and then [the contractor] Asplundh said they could come and cut it out at no charge." Brough got into a stoush with council, after asking it to trim the branches of the pohutukawa, which had grown in the leafy suburb of Vogeltown for decades, Council said no, because the tree straddled Brough's property and the footpath, and it had not planted it, while she argued it was in the berm and the NPDC's responsibility. After discovering the pohutukawa would cost $10,000 to trim, Brough planted dwarf fruit trees and a vegetable garden in her berm against council rules in an act of defiance, but was threatened with a $1000 fine, plus $50 for each day the garden remained, so pulled it out. She remained defiant as the tree came down. "It's a council tree on council land, it's up to the council to take care of it," Brough said. "Then Powerco have come in and said it is hazardous, because it's up above the power lines." Brough would still have to pay a $1300 bill to mulch the remnants of the tree, but was still happy with the outcome. The pohutukawa would cost $10,000 to trim, but Powerco removed it for free. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin "I think it's amazing what Powerco are doing, although it makes sense, because it's under their powerlines and, if there's a storm and it comes down, it is a hazard. The contractors have been amazing, working in the pouring rain to remove this tree." Not everybody was thrilled, with one neighbour expressing their frustration on social media. "Absolutely gutted this is happening," they said. "The beautiful pohutukawa tree that we have seen out our lounge window for 25 years is being removed today." NPDC parks and open spaces manager Conrad Pattison said work on trees was prioritised according to the safety risk they posed, either to the public or infrastructure. "We've found no immediate safety issues regarding this pohutukawa, but we'd relook at it if that changed," he said. "This tree straddles the boundary between the public pathway and the private property, but we didn't plant it. If the property owner wants it removed, she can do that, but at her cost." In a statement, Powerco said it monitored trees growing close to powerlines, but it was the property owner's responsibility to keep their trees a safe distance from overhead lines. "Tree owners are sent a 'cut or trim notice', if their tree is encroaching on power lines, which is a safety risk. Powerco will cover the reasonable cost of the first cut, if the tree has not previously been cut by a Powerco contractor. "The tree on Ballance Street is being removed today to eliminate the risk to Powerco's network." Powerco said property owners were legally required to keep trees a minimum safe distance away from overhead power lines under the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003. For more information about trees near powerlines, including Powerco's first-cut policy, click here . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Council Resolution Administrative Error To Be Corrected
Audit New Zealand has identified an administrative error in relation to the decision made by Council when it adopted the rates for 2025/2026, compared to what is included in the final NPDC Annual Plan document. At the May 13 Council meeting, the resolution said the figures were inclusive of GST but were in fact exclusive of GST. The Annual Plan itself remains valid and approved; however, we need a resolution that matches what is in the Annual Plan. This approach is consistent with legal advice which recognises the error as essentially as a typo. 'We apologise we got this wrong and are looking at our processes to identify what we can do better,' says NPDC General Manager Corporate Innovation, Jacqueline Baker. This matter will go to the Council on 1 July. The report on this matter should be on our website within the next couple of hours (today).
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Find Out What It Takes To Make The Big Decisions For New Plymouth District
It's almost time to take a stand with nominations for NPDC Mayor, Councillors and Community Boards opening 4 July. We're looking for people who can provide leadership, are not afraid to make the big decisions that will make a difference for the whole district, while also advocating for the interest of smaller communities and bring forward the views and aspirations of Māori to the council table. Those considering stepping up to stand for Mayor, Councillor or Community Board member can find out more about what's involved on our website ahead of nominations opening. Additionally, we are hosting a briefing on 5 July, which is a chance for prospective candidates to get information and ask questions, before making their decision to stand. What: Candidate information briefing When: Saturday, 5 July, 3-5pm Where: NPDC Council Chamber, Liardet Street, New Plymouth. Being an elected member can be incredibly rewarding but comes with big responsibility as you will help decide how rates are set, how ratepayers' money is spent and manage assets worth around $4 billion. If you want to find out more before taking a stand, go to Positions up for grabs are: Mayor Kaitake-Ngāmotu Ward (New Plymouth city to Ōkato) – six councillors Kōhanga Moa Ward (Inglewood and surrounding area) – one councillor. North Ward (Waitara up to Waitomo District Council border) – one councillor Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori ward – one councillor. Councillors at large (across the whole district) – five councillors. Clifton, Waitara, Puketapu Bell Block, Inglewood and Kaitake community boards – four board members each. For voters outside New Plymouth city. Fast Facts: Nominations to stand open 4 July and close midday 1 August Voting papers start being delivered from 9 September Voting closes midday Saturday 11 October This election, councils with Māori wards, including NPDC, will run a poll to decide if they will have Māori wards for future elections. Results will be legally-binding.
