citynews The countdown is on! 13 December 2013 Check on what’s open and when over the holiday season. Making it easier to do business with us
The development of a new Customer Service Centre on the ground Work is underway on the development of a ‘one stop floor of Council’s Garden Place building will consolidate all the services customers are expected to currently find on different floors shop’ for Hamilton City Council customers. throughout the building. There will be changes to the main entry and customer service counters, as well as the creation of defined visitor waiting and meeting areas. Key benefits include improved visitor management and easier access to council services for customers in one central location, which helps Council deliver on its goal of “making it easier to do business with us”. While the changes are carried out the building will remain open, except during the planned Christmas closure from 3pm on 24 December to 8am on 3 January 2014 (see over page for more details) and customers will still be able to use the Council’s free 10-minute parking spaces on Anglesea Street. It is the first time since the 80s that work has taken place at Council’s ground floor reception area, with the refurbishment due for completion by the end of January. The development of the centralised Customer Service Centre is part of Council’s commitment to improve customer service for residents and ratepayers over the next 12 months. A number of other initiatives already delivered include development of online services and a call centre.
Customers are reminded that they are able to access a range of services online 24/7 through the Council website (www.hamilton.co.nz), including paying rates, dog registrations and parking infringements, and submitting requests for services. As well as paying by credit card, customers are now able to opt to pay using the POLi internet banking system – which was introduced to the website in November and allows secure An artist’s impression of how the new payment using funds directly from your bank account. Customer Service Centre will look.
revision notes date General notes: scale: (original size A3) plot date: client: Hamilton city Council de Lisle Jenkins 30/04/2013 project title: architects Administration Bdg Ground Floor Alteration 298 Tristram Street designed: M. de Lisle drawing title: PO Box 1552 drawn: Hamilton R. Leu / S. Chen Perspective P 07 839 7014 approved: status: project no.: drawing no.: revision: F 07 839 7016 [email protected] © Copyright of de Lisle Jenkins Architects Ltd. CAD file : www.delislejenkins.co.nz This drawing may not be used or reproduced Concept 11015 111 Administration Bdg Ground Floor 3D.pln in any form without consent. Kaumatua appointed Tame Pokaia has just been appointed as kaumatua for of Trust Waikato and Wintec. Hamilton City Council and the Office of the Mayor. Mr Pokaia has been with Wintec since 1993 first as a Mr Pokaia is from Ng ti Mahuta and Ng ti Hikairo student and secondly as an academic staff member. descent, and was born and raised at Ng ruaw hia. He Following the passing of the late Dr Hare Puke, Mr Pokaia comes from one of the papak inga families that lived on received the blessing to replace him as kauamatua for T rangawaewae marae. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (First Wintec and he will continue in this role alongside his Class Honours) from the University of Waikato. commitment to Hamilton City Council. The appointment of Mr Pokaia to this honoured position “I am very honoured to have this opportunity to work more was endorsed by King Tuheitia at a special meeting with closely with Hamilton City,” says Mr Pokaia. “I have a Her Worship the Mayor, Julie Hardaker, and Deputy Mayor passion for tikanga Maori and education and this role will Gordon Chesterman. Mr Pokaia has been in the interim complement and build on this.” kaumatua role since the passing of Moko Hamiora (Ngati Mr Pokaia attended his first official function on 9 December Maahanga) earlier this year, and he is also the kaumatua to welcome new citizens of Hamilton (Kirikiriroa). Hamilton City Council kaumatua, Tame Pokaia
www.hamilton.co.nz www.facebook.com/hamiltoncitycouncil www.twitter.com/CouncilHamilton citynews Hamilton City Council holiday season opening hours Council’s main Building Hamilton i-SITE Council’s main Customer Service Centre will close from 3pm Tuesday Normal business hours, but closed on 25 December, Open from 24 December and reopen at 8am on Friday 3 January. 9.30am – 3.30pm on public holidays and weekends. Call Centre assistance is available right through the holiday period by Refuse transfer station calling 838 6699. Closed Wednesday 25 December 2013 and Wednesday 1 January 2014. Hamilton City Libraries Public holidays and Sundays: 10am - 3pm. • Tuesday 24 December: All libraries close at 4pm • Wednesday 25 December: Closed Animal Control • Thursday 26 December: Closed Our Animal Education and Control team will be on call 24/7 over the • Friday 27 December: All libraries close at 5.30pm Christmas and New Year period. The Animal Education and Control • Saturday 28 December: Normal hours Centre will be closed to the public only on public holidays. • Sunday 29 December: Normal hours • Monday 30 December: All libraries close at 5.30pm Building Control • Tuesday 31 December: All libraries close at 5.30pm If you need a building inspection done over the Christmas and New Year • Wednesday 1 January: Closed period, you can phone Council on 07 838 6699 and get hold of one of • Thursday 2 January: Closed the on-call inspectors. • Friday 3 January: Normal hours resume. Building or Resource Consents On the days the libraries are closed, the after hours returns bin will be Building consents or Resource Consents will be accepted at any time open at Garden Place Library only. Bins at all Community Libraries will over the Christmas and New Year period, however they will not be be closed. processed between 20 December and 10 January. These dates are not Did you know? considered “working days” and we will ensure we still meet deadlines for responses. • You can still renew and reserve items online while the libraries are closed. • You can put your reservation on hold while you are away on holiday. Refuse and recycling collections No more getting back to find your reservation came through and you Christmas missed it. Just give us a call before you go away and we will sort your • Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 December: Normal collection reservations for you. Phone: 07 838 6824. • Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 December: Collections occur one day later New Year Waikato Museum, Hamilton Zoo, • Monday 30 December and Tuesday 31 December: Normal collection Hamilton Gardens Information Centre • Wednesday 1 January to Friday 3 January: Collections occur one day later Open every day except for Wednesday 25 December. Waterworld View these opening hours online at • 24 December: 6am - 6pm • 25 December: Closed www.hamilton.co.nz/christmashours • 26 December: 9am - 6pm • 27 December: 6am - 9pm • 28 December: 7am - 9pm • 29 December: 9am - 9pm • 30 December: Normal hours • 31 December: 6am - 6pm • 1 January: 9am - 6pm Gallagher Aquatic Centre • 24 December: 6am – 6pm • 25 December: Closed • 26 December: 8am – 6pm • 27 December: 6am - 9pm • 28/29 December: 7.30am - 8pm • 30 December: 6am - 9pm • 31 December: 6am - 6pm • 1 January: 8am - 6pm
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Comment keep the city ‘ticking over’ Mayor Julie Hardaker While the Council office will be closed and a number of staff Another get to enjoy a break, there will still be plenty of staff working to great year ensure we deliver essential services to our city. and an even We asked three of our staff who are working on Christmas Day bigger one to give us the run down on what they will be doing... to come Name: Kyle Denness Christmas time is that special time of year when we get Job title: Water Treatment Plant Operator together with family and friends What will you be doing on Christmas day? and enjoy the summer holidays. I am on call for the Christmas period for the Water Treatment Plant. This will I’m sure everyone is looking forward to having some time to involve checking in on the plant remotely (via our mobile tablet and plant relax and enjoy the sunshine, operating system). I will be monitoring the city’s water supply, as well as how and hopefully put aside the the plant is operating and the plant alarm management system (which tells stresses of our everyday lives. us if anything is going wrong). If any issues arise on Christmas Day, I will be As another year comes to a responsible for fixing them. close, it’s a time to reflect on Have you worked Christmas Day before? the year that’s been and our plans for the future. Yes, this will be my second Christmas on call. Hamilton has had another Do you plan to celebrate Christmas in some way? big year. More work has been My family and I tend to treat the first weekend after my on call period, as completed on the roading Christmas Day. This does not stop us opening presents with our four year old network, another section of the son on Christmas morning though! Waikato Expressway is open, a new plan for the Hamilton Gardens has been completed Name: Monique Alexander and there have been some Job title: Zoo Keeper exciting events at Claudelands. Planning is well underway for What will you be doing on Christmas Day? development of the river, and I’ll be working my normal hours, 8am to 4.30pm, and carrying out most of the Chiefs are back to back my usual daily routines (maybe just in a more relaxed style). My daily routines Super Rugby champions. involve feeding the animals on my section breakfast, lunch and dinner, as The Council has dealt with well as diet preparation for each of them, cleaning enclosures, and creating fluoride, alcohol plans and now awesome enrichment to make their day interesting and exciting. Usually we psychoactive substances and also give keeper talks on various animals, but as Christmas is the only day we more changes to the way local are shut we all have a day off from these! government works. Have you worked Christmas day before? The new council elected in Never – at a paying job anyway. My mum likes to put me to work most October has spent the first Christmas Days. I also come from a dairy farming background so work on weeks getting to know the city Christmas Day is not a new concept for me! and work is now underway for Do you plan to celebrate Christmas in some way? Family Christmas for me the next three years. There’s a feeling of optimism in the city will be on Boxing Day, but my Dad will come to work with me on Christmas and what the future will be. Day – he has offered his services as my minion. As for the animals, I plan to help them enjoy the festive season just like we do with a few delicious treats 2014 will be an even bigger and lots of exciting presents! I may even have Christmas lunch with the Tapirs. year, as the city celebrates its 150th birthday. Events that celebrate our past and Name: Damian Birch look to our future are being Job title: Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator planned, and it will be a time of celebration for all things What will you be doing on Christmas Day? unique about Hamilton and our I need to spend time on site doing the essential jobs such as checking over identity. I invite everyone to join the plant, recording figures, topping up chemical supplies, adjusting any in these celebrations. plant settings and fixing any problems if they arise. So it will be business as usual really. A big thank you to everyone for their work in 2013. I hope Have you worked Christmas Day before? Hamiltonians have a safe I have worked Christmas many times in the last nine years in my role. holiday and the Councillors Do you plan to celebrate Christmas in some way? and I wish you all a very Merry I will be home in the evening to have Christmas with my family. It is my 9 month Christmas. old daughter’s first Christmas, and I have a three year old son so Christmas is lots of fun for him. He gets far too many toys and sweets this time of year!
www.hamilton.co.nz www.facebook.com/hamiltoncitycouncil www.twitter.com/CouncilHamilton Dec 2013/ Jan 2014 www.whatsonhamilton.co.nz
YOUR MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS
Julie Hardaker Rob Pascoe Angela O’Leary Mayor Councillor: East Ward Councillor: West Ward 021 284 8618 07 838 6766 021 343 774 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Gordon Chesterman Philip Yeung Leo Tooman Deputy Mayor Councillor: East Ward Councillor: West Ward 021 922 927 07 838 6766 07 838 6766 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Margaret Forsyth Martin Gallagher Ewan Wilson Councillor: East Ward Councillor: West Ward Councillor: West Ward 021 616 562 021 241 8434 021 276 6644 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Karina Green Andrew King Councillor: East Ward Councillor: West Ward Visit www.whatsonhamilton.co.nz 07 838 6766 07 838 6766 for local Christmas event listings [email protected] [email protected] Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/HamiltonChristmasCity Garry Mallet Dave Macpherson Follow us on Twitter Councillor: East Ward Councillor: West Ward www.twitter.com/HamiltonXmas 07 838 6766 021 477 388 [email protected] [email protected] We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.
Assemble: 8.50pm / Depart: 9pm Trees at the Meteor Roman Machines Route: Harrowfield/Temple View 17 December - 21 December - Julius Caesar Compliments of GO Bus, jump on board this free service The sixth annual Trees at The Meteor is a unique Military Genius and sing your way around the city enjoying Temple View Harrowfield Lights experience of Christmas creativity with an abundance of and Mighty and other festive lights. ‘Trees of Awesomeness’ on show! Bring a shirt for free Machines 8 December onwards Bookings: [email protected] screen printing ! Complimentary coffee and Residents of Harrowfield warmly welcome visitors to Seats limited. Get in quick! Gold coin donation. 25 January – hot chocolate. share and enjoy the unique lighting displays adorning Where: Meteor Theatre, South End Victoria Street 4 May 2014 homes in this enchanting street. Christmas lights Christmas Fun in Frankton Time: Tue-Sat: 7pm-10pm; Sat: 10am-2pm Journey back in competition judging takes place on the evening of 14 December 2013 $5 entry/ $15 family (2+2). Proceeds to charity. time to relive history Monday 16 December. Come to our evening of music on the stage, dance Contact: Dave White on 027 476 0280 or visit and discover the Where: Harrowfield Drive, Time: From 9pm performances, shopping with retail stores open to 9pm www.treesatmeteor.co.nz life, the culture, the and a variety of market stalls and food outlets set up in determination and the Temple View Lights the street. There will be competitions, prizes and also Christmas Drive-In Movie: “The Star” engineering genius that carved the great Roman 13 December - 31 December car and bike displays to reflect the strong motor trade 18-21 December Temple View Lights is a majestic experience with the industry in Frankton. Empire 52BC - 476AD. “The Star” is a Christmas Drive-In Movie which is cast, special spirit of Christmas felt in every twinkle. Lights Where: Commerce Street, Time: 4-9pm This exhibition was filmed, edited and hosted by Eastside Church, Hamilton. switch on for the first time on Friday 13 December and Phone Vinod 027 476 1245 born from the desire to It is a fun and unique presentation of the Christmas go through until Tuesday 31 December. The Temple View recreate this fascinating message which you won’t want to miss! A free event – Visitors Centre will be open until 10.30pm each night. Christmas at the Park period of history as ideal for adults and children of all ages. The movie will Where: Hamilton NZ Temple, Tuhikaramea Rd realistically as possible 15 December run for approximately 30 minutes. Entertainment and Time: Lights on each evening after 7.30pm and to explore and Christmas at the Park is a family event raising money food vendors will be available while you wait for your Contact the Temple View Visitors Centre on 07 846 1780 experience the mighty for Rainbow Place. There is on-stage entertainment screening session. or visit www.lds.org/church/temples/hamilton-new- machines, gadgets and for all ages and then plenty of activities to keep the Where: Eastside Church, 11 Bisley Road zealand clever technologies of the Roman Empire. Created by kids happy! A relaxed atmosphere creating a wonderful Time: Screenings from 7pm-10pm The Artisans of Florence International and sponsored by sense of community before Christmas, raffles, bouncy Phone 07 8550260 or email Waikato Times and The Radio Network. FREE GO Bus Service: Temple View/ castles, face painting, Chiefs players, dunk tank ... and [email protected] Admission fee applies. Harrowfield Lights of course Santa! Waikato Museum, 1 Grantham Street, Hamilton. 16, 17, 18 December Where: Flagstaff Park, Time: 3-8pm Pick up and drop off: Caro Street Coach Park www.facebook.com/Christmas-At-The-Park-Flagstaff
For more events and further information visit TICKET AGENTS: Hamilton i-SITE on the corner of Caro and www.whatsonhamilton.co.nz or scan this QR code Alexandra Streets IS AN AGENT for Ticketek and Dash Tickets. with your smartphone. Open from 9am-5pm weekdays and 9.30am-3.30pm on weekends.
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