Wendy Schollum for Hastings

It has been an especially busy few weeks in Council, as we review and draft preliminary ideas for our new Long Term Plan for the Hastings District. While this work has been incredibly challenging, rewarding and exactly the reason I wanted to join Council, it did mean missing out on some wonderful recent events. I am extremely grateful that my wonderful husband was able to take our children to the special storytime at Hastings District Libraries yesterday. Hosted by the fabu...lous Erika and Coco Flash, it focused on children's stories about love, families, acceptance, tolerance, diversity and the little things that make every one of us special. A huge thank you to these wonderful hosts, and the Hastings Library team, for ensuring all members of our community are valued and acknowledged.

As your smartphone likely just alerted you, Hawkes Bay (along with the rest of the country - excluding Auckland) will move to Alert Level 2 at midday tomorrow until midnight Friday. To prepare, please download the NZ COVID tracer app to your smartphone. For Apple devices: https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/id1511667597 For Android devices: ... https://play.google.com/store/apps/details Please remember to source COVID updates and information from https://covid19.govt.nz - rumours and speculation can cause unnecessary angst. As a reminder, Alert Level 2 means... - It is safe to send your children to schools, early learning services and tertiary education. - People can socialise in groups of up to 100, go shopping, or travel domestically (excluding Auckland) - Keep physical distancing of two metres from people you don’t know when out in public or in retail stores. Keep one metre physical distancing in controlled environments like workplaces. - No more than 100 people at gatherings. - Businesses can open to the public if allowing for physical distancing and record keeping. Alternative ways of working are encouraged where possible. - Hospitality businesses must keep groups of customers separated, seated, and served by a single person. Maximum of 100 people at a time. - Sport and recreation activities are allowed, subject to conditions on gatherings, record keeping, and where practical physical distancing. - Public venues such as museums, libraries and pools can open if they can ensure 1 metre physical distancing and record keeping. - Event facilities, including cinemas, can have more than 100 people at a time, provided that there are no more than 100 in a defined space, and the groups do not mix. - People at higher-risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (e.g. those with underlying medical conditions, especially if not well-controlled, and seniors) are encouraged to take additional precautions when leaving home. They may work, if they agree with their employer that they can do so safely. Stay calm. Stay kind. Wash your hands.

The kids and I had a ball playing around the new immersive light installation in Civic Square: Full Spectrum. Brought to us by Vesica Aotearoa, it is a reflection of the creative and technological competency right here in Hastings. The idea was born out of a love for passageway installations, pixel mapping technology and big bright colours. Full Spectrum will be in place in Civic Square from August 6 to 24. Make sure you get down to see it... it's impressive both during the day and night.

Often, it's the little things (done by many) that helps the most. My children's school is having a bake sale today to raise funds for school camp. So, I've spent the last few nights (after work each day) baking and decorating 64 cupcakes to donate to the cause. A huge thank you to all of the other parents and teachers that I am aware have also been busy baking cookies, cakes and slices... as well as those who are manning the bake sale stands today! Together, we'll make sure i...t's possible for every child to go to camp. For those who are interested, the bake sale is designed to give school students the first chance to buy baked goods, and the remaining baking (which we believe will be a lot) will be available for purchase from Mahora School, after school.

There are so many exciting developments happening in our CBD right now. If you haven't been for a walk through the heart of our city lately to see all the completed and in progress development, later this week would be a great time... especially as a new interactive light installation will be appearing https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm

At present, Councils are responsible for their community's three waters infrastructure (waste water, drinking water and stormwater). While Hastings has invested heavily in improving and maintaining this infrastructure, there has been historical underinvestment in three waters infrastructure in many other parts of the country, which has lead to affordibilty and compliance issues. As a result, central government has developed new legislation and created a new Water Services Reg...ulator (Taumata Arowai) to oversee and enforce a new drinking water regulatory framework and monitor wastewater and stormwater networks across the country. The Government has also indicated that it wishes to move towards a public multi-regional model for water service delivery. Meaning each Council would no longer be responsible for its own three waters infrastructure - instead, Hastings water services may (in time) be grouped with all other areas of HB and possibly other regions. There are significant challenges and some potential benefits of this proposed new approach. On Friday, I joined a number of HDC councillors, staff and our regional partners to review work on the government's Three Water Reform, so far. The goal was to get an understanding of (and provide feedback on) the delivery, new legislation and affordability challenges that councils across NZ are facing. As one of the few NZ Councils who have already completed a Three Water Review we will continue to look at the best model for our region’s community - ensuring we can achieve the best possible long term outcomes for our community (now, and in the future). by Sandra Hazlehurst

It was perfect weather for the Fabulous Flaxmere Park Day this morning. We loved getting along to hear the live performances, indulge in food truck cusine and put the park through it's paces (my 11 year old particularly enjoys the view from the top of the climbing frame). This morning was the anniversary of the weekly Park Run and a celebration of the park recently winning the coveted NZ National Active Park of the Year award. The award judges were impressed with the huge ran...ge of opportunities for physical and social activity at Flaxmere Park, saying every part of the park, from the cycleways to the splashpad, is constantly in use. If you haven't yet, get along to try out the nine-hole disc golf course, ki-o-rahi field, cycle tracks, outstanding play equipment and more...

It was back to school for me yesterday... It was such a privilege to be invited along to talk with the future leaders at Napier Girls High School. I was asked to share my bizarre career path and what I learnt about tech, media, politics, growing up and living life, so far.... My advice was: never stop learning, don't let other people define what drives you, seize every opportunity and "once you get your foot in the door, don't forget to hold it open for others" (aka be kind).

Hastings City has an ice rink for the school holidays and my whanau tried it out tonight. What fantastic fun, right in the heart of our city! It's open everyday (wind permitting) 9am - 5pm until July 10. Adults $10, children $5 and a family of 4 can skate for $20. Come for the skating and stay for the shopping, food, entertainment and people ... I highly recommend dressing in warm clothes and bring your gloves! You may also consider wearing thick pants... shortly after these photos were taken I fell flat on my bum (which caused my husband and children great amusement) #IAmHastings #HastingsProud

Life may be slowly returning to normal, but it's never been so important for us all to do our bit by shopping and playing locally. Many of the businesses that employ our people and add life, laughter, and vibrancy to our urban centres will continue to feel the financial impact of COVID-19 for many months to come. As an SME owner myself, I was proud to drive the establishment of a Hastings District Council Urban Centre Recovery Fund to assist the Flaxmere, Havelock North and... Hastings urban centres in these challenging times. Today, both Hastings City and Love Havelock North launched campaigns, using grants attained from this fund, to encourage our community to get back out and about (and spending) in our urban centres. My sincere thanks to both business associations for the huge amount of work that they have put in to not just these campaigns, but also in supporting their members through an unprecedented crisis. Whether you "Love Havelock North" or "You Are Hastings", I wholeheartedly encourage you to share these campaigns and get involved for your chance to win spectacular shopping sprees and even a Mitsubishi Mirage XLS, worth $19,990 + ORC. #IamHastings #lovehavelocknorth

We are so lucky to live, work and play in the beautiful, vibrant Hastings District. Share this snapshot of life in Hastings with someone that you think is overdue for a visit

Today, the Hastings Youth Council will meet for the first time, in person, since COVID-19 reached NZ. During the lockdown, youth councillors met every week (via Zoom) to develop their annual plan, plan events and elect and discuss the issues that those who will join Council committees and sub-committees (as youth representatives) will focus on. This is an incredibly passionate, motivated and hardworking group of rangatahi that I am incredibly privileged to support and work al...ongside. The future is bright with young leaders like this in our District!

Here is a great opportunity to proactively support local businesses, by joining the Hastings City focus group ... and you'll get a double movie pass for your efforts!