Published as Issue No. 80
September 11, 2013
‘We’ now have a website: www.houghtonvalley.org.nz has local information and opportunities for locals to communicate with each other. There are seven click and follow red dots on the homepage. Here is a brief description of how it works:
- Streaming: about the community; how it started; where to from here;
- Playing: information about the projects in the area (go to Ian’s webcam page for instance and get updates on the local weather);
- Remembering: historical photos, maps, stories and timeline;
- Gurgling: a forum to have you say;
- Gesturing: where you can swap and share;.
- Murmuring: to enter dates into the calendar;
- Weaving: all the contacts in the area we know about. Say what you think about the website on the forum or contacts page.
[NB The website is being upgraded in 2023, so now has slightly different pages.]
Film evening: All welcome to the next film night Wednesday 25 September 7.30 pm Houghton Valley School. Mind the Gap, a NZ documentary by award winning director Bryan Bruce, explores why the gap between rich and poor is widening faster in New Zealand than in most OECD countries and why this inequality affects us all. This documentary was recently shown on TV and the subject of follow-up discussion in the media, e.g. this week’s Listener.
Leachate discharge: Discharge into Houghton Bay continues to be featured in the media. Local people are considering how this might be addressed and are in discussion with the Council. See http://houghtonvalley.org.nz/playing/Leachate/leachate.html
Lifting the Creek: As there has been a growing interest in this, a meeting is planned for the 22 September at the community garden at (3 pm). We will discuss what we can do to make it happen. If wet, we will make use of a school class room. http://houghtonvalley.org.nz/playing/lifting%20the%20creek/lift_creek.html
Successful events: Houghton Valley Playcentre raised more than $4000 from its Annual Great Debate on August 29 at the Pines, more than 20 locals at a meeting at the school last week learned more from Matt King about how to make and maintain your own toilet in a civil defence emergency http://www.composttoilets.co.nz/, and on Sunday long standing resident Peter/Piebe of Piebe’s seat http://houghtonvalley.org.nz/playing/Seat%20for%20Pete/Seat-for-pete.html celebrated his 80th birthday (a few days late) at afternoon tea at the Community Garden.
Norman and Grant
This newsletter goes out every 2 weeks to 180 households, to join email news@houghtonvalley.org.nz