News in brief 5 August
The Big Latch On
Nelson mothers are taking part in the annual breastfeeding celebration as they latch their babies on for a feed on Friday August 5 at the Wholemeal Café in Golden Bay.
Last year in New Zealand 1514 women were recorded as breastfeeding simultaneously (84 in Nelson). This year it is anticipated that even more mothers will help to break the record, which has been broken annually since 2005.
Last year more than 176 countries participated in World Breastfeeding Week events involving more than 409,480 celebrants. The Big Latch On celebrates breastfeeding mums and babies; promotes the benefits of breastfeeding for babies, mums and society at large; and sends a message that breastfeeding in public is acceptable and will be supported. It is a great opportunity to get community recognition for the great work these breastfeeding mothers are doing.
The 2011 Big Latch On countdown begins at 10.30am today, Friday.
Submitted by Nelson Bays Primary Health
LGC to clarify union proposal issues, not withdraw its report
The Local Government Commission has rejected the call from the Tasman District Council for the withdrawal of its consultants’ report on financial and service delivery issues relating to the proposal for the union of Nelson City and Tasman District.
Instead, Commission chair Basil Morrison said “an addendum to the report will be released to clarify specific matters in the report that the council had queried”.
This decision follows meetings between representatives of Strateg.Ease Ltd, the firm who prepared the report for the Commission, and senior managers of both Tasman District and Nelson City Councils.
Mr Morrison said “he had been advised that the meetings had been useful to clarify a number of issues including the information used in the consultants’ report to compare councils”.
Mr Morrison said he was confident that with the addition of the soon-to-be released addendum to the Strategy.Ease report, “residents would have accurate information on which to base submissions expressing their views on the draft reorganisation scheme”. He confirmed that the deadline for submissions remained 19 August.
The Commission was keen to get as detailed and wide-ranging information as possible in response to the proposal. It would carefully consider all submissions received on the draft reorganisation scheme and the views expressed at the further round of hearings that will be held in Nelson and Tasman.
“Then, and only then, would the Commission make a decision on whether or not to issue a final reorganisation scheme,” Mr Morrison said. If it did issue a final scheme, electors of both districts would make the decision on whether the scheme would be implemented.
Submitted by Local Government Commision
