Happy New Year!
Last week our Chinese community celebrated the Chinese New Year.
According to the Chinese legend, people born in the zodiac sign of Year of the Tiger are said to possess strength, confidence and bravery.
Those are qualities many might wish for in this time of uncertainty.
After the long lockdown of 2021, we were all ready for a new ‘sense of freedom’ in this new year.
Getting back to clubs, sports and social events were high on the list but, sadly, the red light has said ‘stop’!
Local board members continue to do their board business and hold their meetings online.
So many cancellations
Summer was to bring a range of great free events for our wider community.
Sadly, we’ve had to make the decision to cancel a number of these.
At this time our popular Kiwi Anthems of Music in Parks and the Movie in the Park for Lloyd Elsmore Park, are cancelled for this year.
We have also had to cancel our popular Celebrating Cultures event.
Our sympathies go to the many other organisations that are unable to hold the events they had planned.
Annual budget – have your say!
Auckland Council’s annual budget sets the activities, services and investments for the following year, and details how we might pay for them.
We publish an annual budget every year.
Every three of those years a 10-year budget is published in place of the annual budget for that year.
Consultation on this annual budget is open from February 28 to March 28, 2022, online at www.akhaveyoursay.nz.
Howick Local Board funding round
We have two funding rounds coming up.
If your group is seeking a grant over $3000, the next funding round commences on February 14 and runs until March 25, 2022.
Our Quick Response Grant for grants from $250 to $3000 opens on April 18 and runs until May 20, 2022. Details and an application form can be found online at www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/grants.
Caring for others
Please take care and understand there are many amongst us who are not confident about being out and about.
A phone call or an offer of help to a neighbour may be very much appreciated at this time.
Those in isolation may also require assistance with non-contact grocery or pharmacy pick-ups.
You might even make a plan now with your family or neighours for this eventuality.
- Adele White, chairperson Howick Local Board
