Wellington gets its library back

The new Wellington’s central library, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui is designed as a flexible civic forum, a place for writers’ talks, musical performances and public discussion. READ MORE.

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News briefs – March

PARKing Day on Cuba street, Wellington

Gloria Mathias checked put the creative galore that is PARKing day.

Hosted by the Wellington Sculpture Trust in collaboration with the Creative Capital Arts Trust (CCAT) and Wellington City Council as a part of the NZ Fringe Festival, the Cuba precinct event invited artists and creative thinkers to display art in spaces such as a parking area usually occupied by cars.

Exhibits included a whiteboard reading ‘Department of Human Needs’ by ‘We The Collateral'. Kids flocked around the ‘Kiwi bird mascot’ and the ‘bubble fairy’ in green. Further down, the closet crew housed a party rave-like atmosphere and a mannequin arrangement by the Kapiti Art Studio.

The event accommodated 30 car park spots between Ghuznee and Vivian Street intersection and stretched as far as the lower part of Garrett Street providing a fun, thought-provoking weekend scene for the city dwellers, city lovers, art and artist cheerleaders and tourists alike.

Metlink fares to increase

Metlink public transport fares will increase by 3.1 percent in May, with discounts applied to off peak fares being reduced from 30% to 20%.
From 15 May, the cost of a three zone trip will increase by 14 cents, bringing the peak adult Snapper fare to $4.67 for those travelling to the CBD from Miramar or Karori. For Wairarapa passengers travelling by train from Masterton to Wellington, the fare will rise by 56 cents to $18.50 at peak times.

Metlink Senior Manager of Strategy and Investments, Tim Shackleton, says fare increases were needed to ensure council costs remain financially sustainable.
Metlink is also preparing to introduce new contactless payment options for full fare paying adults, ahead of the region’s transition to the national ticketing system Motu Move.

Adults will be able to tap on and off Metlink buses and trains using a debit or credit card, smartphone or smartwatch, through the existing Snapper system from 12 April. Once these additional payment options are vailable, Metlink will start to phase out the use of cash on board buses and trains over the next 12 months.

Concern about bikes on the footpath

Living Streets Aotearoa is opposed to a Government proposal that would allow children up to 12 years to ride bikes and e-bikes on the footpath with no speed restriction.

“E-scooters and e-bikes don’t belong on the footpath, because they are so often used in ways that pose a danger to all pedestrians, but especially to elderly pedestrians, parents walking with children, and pedestrians with disabilities,” says Living Streets Aotearoa President Tim Jones.

The organisation favours the status quo which is an age limit of 5, and small-wheeled bikes.

“E-bikes, with their greater weight and much greater speed, should absolutely not be allowed on the footpath.”

Living Streets supports other changes proposed to lane use, including one to allow e-scooters to be legally ridden in cycle lanes.