Our Nelson Issue 162 – 1 February 2023

Elma Turner's 'small but mighty' Pop-up Library just got bigger
Nelson City Council is delighted to announce the Elma Turner Pop-up Library extended into the Maitai River side of the building on Wednesday 25 January.
“The extension is the result of weeks of hard work over the holiday period from engineers, builders and Council staff,” says Nelson Mayor Nick Smith, who leads the Library Reopening Taskforce. 
With the ceiling grid and ceiling tiles now braced and secured, library staff and contractors have moved 240 shelves and 8,000 books into the newly strengthened space. 
The additional space means we can make more books, DVDs, magazines, newspapers and other items available on the floor for you to enjoy. We are also able to increase the number of computers and study spaces available for members of the public. 
Many of our much-missed library programmes will also return: 
The Children’s library will return to its normal space in the area next to the playground, and we will be able to resume our Small Times and after-school activities. 
More library programmes will be back, including our Library Knitters, Bookchat, STEM Writers, Shared Reading, Tea & Tales and author talks. You can see a schedule of these programmes on our online events calendar. 
The Activity Room will be available for community group bookings during our opening hours. You can fill out a booking form through the Nelson Public Libraries website.  
There will now be two entrances into the Pop-up Library – the existing one by the Pop-up Playground into the Children’s Area, and a second one accessible from the Library carpark directly into the extension. Signs will be posted directing people to both entrances. 
Contractors have installed a ramp up to the new entrance adjacent to the Library carpark, with a wider turning platform to increase access for people with wheelchairs and mobility scooters. It may still be difficult to fit large mobility scooters inside, and we have a wheelchair available for customers who need to leave their scooters outside.
“This extension opening is an important step to getting the building fully reopened. The safety of staff and the public is Council’s top priority. This is a place where everyone in the community, including families, children and seniors, spend a lot of time, and it’s essential we make sure these repairs are done to a high standard,” says Mayor Nick.
Although work on the Pop-up Library Extension is now complete, strengthening work is ongoing in other areas of the building, and the Pop-up may still be a little noisy while this work takes place. We do have headphones available for tamariki to wear and the Stoke and Nightingale Memorial Libraries will be open as normal. 
“Staff are so excited to welcome Whakatū Nelson back into this section of Elma Turner Library,” says Manager Libraries Sarina Barron.
“Thank you so much for your patience and support as we complete this important strengthening work. We really appreciate the love the community has shown this small-but-mighty Pop-up. Huge thanks are also due to the hardworking staff and contractors who have been putting in long hours behind the scenes to get the building open as quickly as possible.”
For more information, visit nelsonpubliclibraries.co.nz

New hours for Nightingale Library Memorial 
You let us know how much you loved the convenience of having consistent library hours during peak afternoon periods. We listened! From Monday 25 January, the Nightingale Library Memorial hours have permanently changed to make them more consistent throughout the week: 
Mon – Fri: 12-4pm 
Sat: CLOSED 
Sun: 1-4pm 
Find the most up-to-date hours for all three libraries at nelsonpubliclibraries.co.nz/about/opening-hours 

Smooth progress made on Rutherford Street upgrade 
The new year kicked off with another milestone for the project, completing the asphalt re-surfacing for the main carriageway along Waimea Road and Rutherford Street.
In the coming weeks, you may notice the site is a lot smaller compared to the size of the site last year. Council’s contractors are making great progress, but there are still a few tasks left before the project is finished.
One task is reinstating the pedestrian refuge immediately in front of Nelson College for Girls, as well as the other traffic islands along Rutherford Street. The new refuge will be an improvement on the old version as it will be built to modern safety standards.
The watermain and sewer works are currently being completed outside Rutherford Street Kindergarten. Once these are complete, the traffic Island at the bottom of Bronte Street will also be constructed. 
At the intersection of Van Diemen Street and Rutherford Street, we are completing some minor works, including widening the road to improve safety and upgrading the stormwater network. The traffic islands, linemarking and signs at this intersection will also be put back in place before the road is fully reopened. 
The temporary roundabouts, including signs and road markings, will also be removed. 
Work is on track, and we are scheduled to finish up before the end of February – weather dependent – well ahead of the original programme! 
We would like to thank all residents, businesses and the general public for their cooperation during the project.

Save Our Sheep: keep reserves open during fire season
Dog owners are asked to make sure they keep their dog on a leash in designated areas to protect sheep grazing on Nelson’s reserves.
There have been six reported dog attacks this Spring/Summer so far, which have resulted in three sheep being killed.
Sheep are an important part of Nelson City Council’s strategy to reduce fire risk on reserves. Sheep graze on potentially flammable vegetation in areas of the reserve that are harder to maintain using techniques like mowing.
“This is a bit of an SOS call for our grazing sheep. The attacks are completely preventable,” says Group Manager Community Services Andrew White. 
“The signage in reserves is clear, if you are asked to keep your dog on a leash there is always good reason. The sheep are not owned by Council, we rely on a local grazier. If he continues to lose sheep, grazing may become unsustainable and we will lose one of the key ways in which we reduce fire risk.
“Without sheep on the reserves the risk profile during fire season changes, and consequently Fire and Emergency New Zealand may recommend an early closure of the reserve. It really is in everyone’s interests to keep dogs under control.”
Areas where sheep are grazing in Nelson include:
The Grampians – 10% of the reserve only, look for signage
Wakapuaka Cemetery
Sir Stanley Whitehead Reserve
Areas of the Maitai Walkway
Paremata Flats Reserve
There are many places in Nelson where dogs can be exercised off leash, including:
Branford Park, Nelson
Corder Park, Nelson
Marsden Valley Dog Park
Railway Reserve, Nelson
Tahunanui Back Beach, Nelson

Mayor’s Message
I hope you have had the opportunity to enjoy Nelson’s great summer. Council has been busy supporting many of the cultural and sporting events that make Nelson vibrant.
We have a big job to do in supporting the recovery of our visitor industry after years of COVID disruptions. It is great to see the return of the tour buses and cruise ships, and to again hear accents from every corner of the world in Nelson’s streets.
I made the mistake of holidaying in Coromandel and got drenched, but did get to catch up on months of Council report reading. The Nelson history books I also read were helpful in focusing my mind on the future.
The year has started with the resignation of our Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. I have written, thanking her for her service and particularly her support for Nelson during events such as the 2022 storm and the 2019 fires. Her empathetic leadership following the horrific Christchurch mosque attacks and determination not to give the assailant notoriety was par excellence.
Nelson’s biggest problem this year is the rocketing cost of living, with inflation at 7.2%. Food prices are up over 10%. Interest rates have more than doubled. This is putting huge financial stress on households and businesses.
Council cannot shield our community from this cost-of-living crisis, but we need to avoid making it worse with large rate hikes. This is going to be difficult when we, too, are facing big cost increases. Construction costs that make up a large part of the Council’s budget are up 14%. Higher interest costs on our $112 million debt are adding to our costs. We face the added problem of $40–$60 million in costs for repairs from the storm last August. Councillors and our staff are working hard to limit the rate increase. 
I am also working hard on persuading the Government to reconsider its radical Three Waters reform. Nelson’s water infrastructure is in good shape, and we should not have to pay for cities like Wellington that have underinvested for decades. It is bad enough the Government is proposing to take from Council $750 million worth of water infrastructure, but the latest legislation, introduced to Parliament in December, enables the Government to also take from Council about 80% of our public reserves in areas such as the Maitai and Roding.
I invite Nelsonians to make submissions on the latest bill by February 12 (https://bit.ly/3H2NxWS) and to lobby our local MPs on getting a rethink of Three Waters.
A further priority for me this year will be bedding in my reset of how Council works. It will take time to change the poor governance culture of the last term of Council. I want to build a “Team Nelson” approach across elected members and staff to better enable us to navigate these difficult times ahead.

Help shape the future of Local Government in New Zealand
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) are calling for public submissions on their draft report for the Review into the Future for Local Government.
An Independent Panel will be reviewing submissions and presenting a final report to the Minister of Local Government and Local Government New Zealand by 19 June 2023. 
Want more info about the draft report before making a submission?
The Panel will be holding public webinars on 2, 7, 9 and 14 February to talk about their draft report. 
These webinars are for anyone in New Zealand who might be interested to learn more about the draft report before making a submission. 
Submissions can be made up until 28 February 2023.
For more information or to make a submission, visit the Department of Internal Affairs website at: futureforlocalgovernment.govt.nz

Councillors’ Comment
Opera in the Park – New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty Nelson Opera in the Park – started in 1999 at Saxton Field, on the site where the Saxton Stadium now sits. 
Uwe Grodd conducted the first event featuring Dame Malvina Major and the Nelson Symphony Orchestra alongside the Nelson Civic Choir. The first year to feature an out-of-town orchestra was 2003, when the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performed under the baton of Ken Young.
Many performers have graced the stage including opera stars Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Simon O’Neill, Jonathon Lemalu, Anna Leese, Ben Makisi, Jud Arthur, Chris Doig, Helen Medlyn, Margaret Medlyn, Aivale Cole, Madeleine Pierard, Anna Pierard, Pene Pati, Amina Edris, Eliza Boom and Jarrod Holt.
There has been a strong lineup of contemporary performers over the years, too, including Sir Howard Morrison, The Topp Twins, Dave Dobbyn, James Morrison, Julia Deans, Don McGlashan, Jackie Clarke, the Modern Māori Quartet, the Lady Killers, Hayley Westenra, Tim Beveridge, Phil Madsen, Yulia, Whirimako Black, Holly Smith, Jennine Bailey, Bella Kalolo, Trudi Wilson, Tama Waipara, Hinewehi Mohi, and Tami Neilson.
While the performers and the venue may have changed over the years, the essential formula of the event remains – a variety concert featuring opera excerpts, as well as contemporary items performed by great singers, accompanied by orchestra. 
The show has never been cancelled due to the weather (fingers crossed) and has used three venues over the years – Saxton Field, Trafalgar Park and the Tahunanui Domain – where, in 2010, the crowd was in excess of 15,000 people. 
This year we return to Trafalgar Park – with a huge sense of relief after the event was postponed due to COVID-19 a year ago.
There has been an emphasis on making the event family-focussed, and an opportunity for Nelsonians and visitors to come together, relax and enjoy some great music. I enjoy the challenge of putting together the programme and performers, as well as the opportunity to bring professional musicians to Nelson. 
It is important for Nelsonians to experience professional music making – visits from large professional orchestras to our city are scarce. Opera in the Park is one of the only opportunities to have an orchestra of over fifty players perform in our city. Council therefore recognises the need to make the event accessible, so when you purchase your ticket, I encourage you to pay-it-forward with a donation toward the costs of a ticket for those who otherwise couldn’t attend.
So pack your chilly bins and head over to Trafalgar Park on Feb 18 – you won’t regret it.
Sharing the magic of music with pay-it-forward
New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Nelson Opera in the Park is an event to be shared, and to help bring along as many people as possible those buying a ticket have an opportunity to pay-it-forward at the checkout.
The concert is the largest Nelson City Council-supported community event in Te Tauihu (the Top of the South Island), drawing more than 6,000 attendees to Trafalgar Park in Nelson for a unique mix of classical and contemporary music.
Tickets for the concert are on sale now through eventfinder.co.nz and Council’s Customer Service Centre. As part of the purchasing process, buyers can opt to donate $5, $10 or $25 to go toward purchasing a ticket for someone who would otherwise not be able to attend.
So far, 48 tickets have been bought via pay-it-forward this year, and will be given to a local community organisation, chosen by Council, to distribute. Pay-it-forward was added to the ticket purchasing system for the biennial concert in 2016 to promote inclusivity, and since then about 50 tickets have been donated to members of the community, and a further 150 donated by Council.
The 2023 lineup includes Stan Walker, Annie Crummer, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, lyric soprano Madeleine Pierard and tenor Oliver Sewell.
This year’s concert is generously sponsored by New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty, who join returning sponsors NBS and the Rātā Foundation.
This year’s showcase concert is a carbon-neutral event and, as part of this commitment, paper programmes will not be printed. Instead, information on the performers, tickets, where to park and what there is available to eat and drink will all be available closer to the concert date via the free Nelson App.
Tickets for the showcase are $35 for adults, $9 for children 5-15 years, and under-fives free. Pre-show community entertainment starts on the NBS Community Stage at 5:30pm. Bring a picnic and enjoy a wonderful night of music in the open air.

Looking to reduce or avoid waste? We can help 
Waste minimisation grants through the Rethink Waste Whakaarohia programme are a chance for community-led projects that help us all avoid and reduce waste to get started or keep up the good work.
Up to $40,000 is available, with a maximum grant value of $10,000 and minimum grant of $2,000 for any one project. 
Previous grants include diverting food waste and e-waste projects for schools, the introduction of an app focusing on food waste, reusable birthday party kits for a local toy library and waste minimisation at Nelson Airport. 
Applications for the grants open 20 February and close 31 March. If you’d like to know more or would like feedback on a potential project, email rethinkwaste@ncc.govt.nz or contact Karen Lee on 027 644 9800.
2021/22 Annual Report
Each year in June, Nelson City Council produces its Annual Plan, which outlines the activities that we plan to undertake during the following 12 months. At the end of those 12 months, we produce a second document, our Annual Report, which outlines the activities that were actually undertaken and includes a detailed set of audited financial statements..
The Annual Report presents the detail of how successful we were in meeting our goals for that year, what we did well and where we will look to improve. It also includes the income Council has generated, and how much money we have spent. As well as the full Annual Report, we also produce a summary that gives a condensed overview of the key findings and provides a snapshot of Council’s performance.
You can read the full Annual Report and summary at nelson.govt.nz/annual-report-2021-22. Copies are available to view at all Council libraries, and the Customer Service Centre.

Performance Measures
Council measures its performance each year using indicators that are set through the Long Term Plan. The results present a high-level view of the organisation’s performance.
The 2021/22 financial year was another challenging year, with COVID-19 continuing to have a significant impact on our region’s economy, and Council was not immune from rising supply costs, interest rates and the impacts of inflation. Council has successfully achieved 81% of the performance measures set as targets for the 2021/22 financial year. This is a 30.5% increase on the year prior. Detailed information on the targets and their revision in the 2021–31 Long Term Plan is included in the full Annual Report 2021/22.
The chart on the right summarises the results by activity area, with the total number of measures per activity listed alongside 
the name.

Our Achievements Council highlights 2021/22
Here are a few of the great things we have achieved this year:

•	Council achieved a 33% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions with the greatest reductions resulting from installation of a new flare at York Valley Landfill, and the relocation of the old York Valley flare to the Eves Valley Landfill.
•	Te Mahere Mahi a te Āhurangi – Climate Action Plan was adopted, and Council engaged with the community on sea level rise and lower Maitai River flooding.
•	Council was successful in its application to the Infrastructure Accelerator Fund for $36 million of investment in Nelson’s central watermains and wastewater network, and the Bridge Street Linear Park/Active Transport Corridor.
•	The Future Development Strategy 2022–2052 was adopted.
•	A Housing Plan Change was progressed, which will support greater housing intensification in existing residential and business zones.
•	Upgrades to the water supply, wastewater and storm water networks were carried out to increase resilience and to support more residential and business development.
•	The residential water meters project was completed, enabling more accurate measurement of water usage. This helps us to track down water losses from the network and to plan for droughts.
•	The Saxton Creek Upgrade project to improve flood protection is in its final stage and is due for completion in August 2023.
•	Council successfully applied for part-funding from the Ministry for the Environment for the establishment of a new sorting area at the Nelson Waste Recovery Centre, to enable diversion of building waste.
•	Four Jobs for Nature projects were delivered in 2021/22, creating over 40 new jobs, controlling animal and plant pests on Council and private land, and leading to the planting of more than 80,000 native plants. 
•	Upgrades and relocation of the stormwater system along Haven Road will support the future Nelson Science and Technology Precinct.
•	Council endorsed the final Waka Kotahi business case for the Nelson Future Access project, providing clarity on the way forward for transport projects.
•	The Active Travel Strategy, Parking Strategy and new Regional Public Transport Plan were developed, which all support sustainable transport options. 

Fostering resilience in our coastal ecosystems 
As part of our series on climate change, Nelson City Council Environmental Programmes Adviser, Scott Butcher, provides insight on some of the work happening to combat climate change and enhance Nelson’s coastal ecosystems.
The investment Nelson City Council is making to build resilience in coastal ecosystems has multiple benefits – for sequestering carbon, adapting to the impacts of climate change and enhancing biodiversity. 
As climate change increasingly impacts our coastlines, it’s important we build resilience in our remaining coastal ecosystems, especially saltmarsh and sand dune systems. 
Airport Peninsula is a Council coastal park that provides a good example of Council’s work in this space. Prior to development, the area would have been covered in healthy coastal vegetation including foredune sand-binding plants such as pingao (Desmoschoenus spiralis) and spinifex (Spinifex sericeus), dune slack wetlands with a range of sedges and rushes, and dryland coastal forest including tōtara (Podocarpus totara) and kānuka (Kunzea ericoides). The Peninsula today is largely dominated by exotic species, with very few native plants remaining. 
The recently completed Airport Peninsula Ecological Restoration Plan sets out actions that can be taken to improve the ecological integrity of the site over the next 10 years. This includes the reestablishment of the indigenous vegetation communities that have been lost and expanding those that are still present. Extensive weed control and restoration planting of suitable species are a big part of this work –ecosystems that are more robust will be better able to respond to extreme weather events. 
The Ecological Restoration Plan also focuses on gathering better data on species that currently inhabit this site. With increasing pressures on coastal ecosystems from sea level rise, there is an urgent need to better understand what indigenous species – such as penguins and lizards – are currently using our coastal ecosystems. Council is continuously working to improve its data on coastal species and ecosystems. 
Coastal dune ecosystems like the Airport Peninsula are rare in Whakatū Nelson; in close proximity to Nelson City there is only one other large sand dune system – Tāhunanui Beach. Ecological Restoration at Tāhunanui Beach has been very successful and has seen the expansion of many species, such as spinifex, which had previously declined. 
Scott Butcher, 
Environmental 
Programmes Adviser, 
Nelson City Council
Conservation workforce growing through ranger programme 
The most recent group of field rangers employed through Jobs for Nature projects in Te Tauihu have graduated with the Kūmānu Conservation Ranger Certificate after successfully completing the 18-month training course. 
The groundbreaking training initiative enabled by Nelson City Council’s Project Mahitahi and designed by Kūmānu Environmental has seen 12 rangers complete their qualifications so far, gaining a variety of practical skills. 
“The training is enhanced by the practical mahi that happens alongside the theory, and trainees are able to apply their new skills right away to condense their learning,” says Project Mahitahi Manager Susan Moore-Lavo.
Focused on hands-on environmental work, the training included modules on weed management and plant identification run by Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT), and pest plant and animal control training by the Primary Industries Training Organisation (PITO). Trainees undertook the study of Te Ao Māori and Tikanga Māori as a vital part of their learning.
The course replicates training that until now has only been available through full-time study. Participants are employed on permanent contracts by Kūmānu Environmental whilst training, and the majority continue to stay with Kūmānu in a variety of roles once their certification is completed.
Some have secured work with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and the Auckland Zoo Native Species Programme.
“Beyond the fantastic conservation outcomes, the programme is growing our conservation workforce, as well as providing a pathway for employment opportunities,” says Moore-Lavo. 
The Kūmānu Conservation Ranger programme, which started in Nelson, has now been extended to all Kūmānu Conservation Projects staff across Te Tauihu. In 2023, a further ten Rangers are enrolled to complete the Conservation Ranger Certificate. 
Jobs for Nature funded projects in Nelson include Project Mahitahi, the Wakapuaka Whangamoa project, and Protecting Flora and Fauna on the Grampians which have combined central government funding in excess of $5.7 million.

Celebrate at the International Kai Festival
The International Kai Festival is back in Founders Heritage Park, celebrating our community’s cultures with international food and craft stalls. 
Held on Waitangi Day, 6 February, residents and visitors are invited to take part in the fun family day out.
Waitangi Day - Monday 6 Feb, 10:30am-3:30pm 
Entry through the Founders Heritage Park windmill
Koha gold coin entry
Sample kai portions $5 or $10 
Art and craft stalls
Cultural performances throughout the day.
Please note, Whakatū Marae supports the Kai Festival, but the grounds of the marae will be closed to the public.
Navigating recovery from the August weather event 
Nearly six months on from the intense rain event that left thousands of people displaced, a group of friendly faces continue to help residents whose homes and businesses are affected. 
Nelson City Council provides a free and confidential service for people who are navigating their way through often complex claims involving multiple parties, such as Toka Tū Ake EQC, private insurers and geotechnical engineers. 
The team of Navigators provide one-on-one support and assistance, over the phone, online, and in-person from their drop-in hub in the State Advances building where people can drop in anytime, no appointment needed.
“It can make all the difference to have a familiar face to help when you find yourself in a difficult situation and having a regular, single source of contact is also vital,” says Katie Sellars, Nelson City Council Navigator Coordinator. 
Many homeowners have been receiving geotechnical reports from EQC and pay-out offer letters from insurers and struggling with the complexity of the content. The Navigator team along with Leanne Curtis from the Resident Advisory Service (RAS) have responded to 24 separate requests for on-site meetings with residents over the last two weeks. 
One resident was confused about the letter they received from EQC alongside their geotechnical report as it stated their land claim had been denied. 
“We were able to visit them in their home with Leanne from RAS and an agent from the insurance company who explained the difference between an EQC claim for land damage and building damage,” says Sellars. 
The Navigators can help anyone affected by the August weather event to access advice on things like insurance, temporary accommodation, debris removal and consents, as well as health and wellbeing – not just those with red and yellow placarded properties.
“It helps so much that the people we are helping do not have to go through the call centre and speak to a different person every time – they can just pick up the phone or pop over to our drop-in hub and speak to the person that has been helping them. Our team can also do home visits for those unable to come to the hub. 
“People are welcome to drop into the Navigator Hub to talk about anything they may have concerns or questions about. 
“Our team doesn’t have all the answers, but we can help people to cut through the red tape and make it easier to connect with the correct person from either Council or other agencies.” 
To access the 
Navigator service: 
Drop-in Hub: open Monday-Friday 9:30am-5pm, State Advances building, Trafalgar Street (directly beside the Nelson City Council building). Access is via the laneway that runs between Trafalgar Street and Wakatu Square carpark. 
Email: navigator@ncc.govt.nz 
Reducing fire risk – a Grampians case study
Nelson City Council uses several different strategies for reducing fire risk on our reserves and the Grampians are a great spot to see them all in action.
“The Grampians is a very large reserve that borders a lot of residential properties. It’s vital that we put in measures to reduce the risk of fire starting and spreading, but there are also things those who live nearby can do to help,” says Group Manager Community Services Andrew White.
In the 2021 – 31 Long Term Plan $11.5m was allocated over 10 years to accelerate weed control on our reserves. Prior to this, weed control focused on ecologically significant areas of the Grampians, but this funding has allowed us to massively expand that programme.
“On the Western slopes we have seen a decrease in gorse, broom and other woody weed infestations,” says Andrew. 
“Reducing these has drastically reduced the fire risk on the Grampians. This work will continue and we will see further decreases in the years to come.”
A couple of years ago sheep were re-introduced to the Grampians and they have been a huge asset in maintaining the less densely forested areas. 
“Sheep are natural allies in the battle to reduce fire risk,” says Andrew.
“Areas of rank grass are munched down by sheep to well-maintained paddocks. Difficult to maintain sections of the Grampians are now grazed and this has reduced fire risk considerably. One of the things putting this at risk is dogs being walked off-leash in areas where signage requires them to be on leash. Graziers are reluctant to leave sheep in places where they are worried about dog attacks.
“This only applies to 10% of the Grampians area, so there are still many places where dogs can go off leash on that reserve.”
Tracks are used as firebreaks throughout the reserve and work as a network of firebreaks. Contractors maintain vegetation around these tracks to keep fuel load down.
“The Grampians Walkway, on the main ridge, is actually one huge fire break, which is designed to slow down or stop a fire from jumping from one side of the Grampians to the other,” says Andrew. “Where this track isn’t grazed by sheep, it’s mown annually just prior to fire season.”
 Combined, these strategies reduce fire risk on the Grampians and other reserves considerably, but there are many things residents who live close to a reserve can do to help. 
What you can do:
Start reducing fire risks at your house and work your way out to the boundary
Don’t leave green waste in piles to dry out on your property – it can easily catch fire
Keep the grass near your home green and mown
Choose fire-resistant plants and trees (fireandemergency.nz/outdoor-and-rural-fire-safety/protect-your-home-from-outdoor-fires/flammability-of-plant-species/#low)
Keep a 4m wide x 4m high accessway to your property to allow fire trucks access
Outdoor fires (including braziers) are not allowed during a prohibited fire season. Keep fire at least 3m away from anything flammable and always keep a hose handy. Visit checkitsalright.nz for up-to-date info
Create safety zones around your home
Zone 1: 10m from your house:
Avoid tall trees close to the house.
Remove flammable debris like twigs and leaf litter
Zone 2: 10m – 30m from your house
Remove scrub and dead or dying plants and trees
Thin excess trees and evenly space remaining trees so they aren’t touching
Don’t put green waste into reserves

Conewatch: ongoing

Project name	Likely end date	Location	Benefit	
Saxton Creek Upgrade Stage 4 	End of October 2023 	Main Rd, Stoke 	Flood mitigation 	
Washington Valley Infrastructure Upgrade – 
Stage 1 (Hastings Street) 	May 2023  	Hasting Street 	Improve stormwater network and reduce flooding risk 	
Awatea Place Wastewater Pump Station 	August 2023 	Awatea Place & Parkers Road 	Improve wastewater network capacity and protect environment from overflows 	
Wastney Terrace Stormwater Upgrade 	February 2023 	Atawhai Crescent (Corder Pond) via private property to Wastney Terrace 	Improve stormwater network capacity and reduce flooding risk 	
NRSBU Sewer Line Installation Section 8 	March 2023 	Saxton Road, Stoke 	Improve the wastewater network 	
Hill Street North Watermain Renewal 	February 2023 	Hill Street North 	Renewals 	

What’s on… at a Council venue near you

Saxton Stadium
Cops with Cakes – Saturday 25 February, 10am – 1pm
Trafalgar Centre
Better Home & Living Show – Friday 
10 – Sunday 12 February, from 10am
1903 Square
Nelson Summer Sing Fest – Saturday 25 February, 10am – 4pm
Trafalgar Park
New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Nelson Opera in the Park – Saturday 18 February, 5:30pm entertainment, 7:30pm show starts
Rutherford Park
Tū Ngātahi – Saturday 25 February, 
2pm – 6pm
Founders Heritage Park
Hours: 10am – 4:30pm daily
Jazz on the Village Green – Sunday 12 and 
19 February, 12:30pm – 2:30pm
Baby & Kids Sale – Saturday 18 February, 10am – 12pm
Kramit – Acoustic Duo – Sunday 26 February, 2pm
Isel House and Park
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 3pm
Thursday: market hours (see below)
Saturday: 12pm – 4pm
Sunday, Monday and Public Holidays: Closed
Isel Twilight Market – every Thursday, 
4:30pm – dark 
Nelson Public Libraries:
Elma Turner Library – Open as the Pop-up Library 
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:30am – 6pm
Wednesday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 10am – 4pm
Sunday: 1pm – 4pm
Booksale – Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 February, 10am – 4pm Saturday and 1pm – 4pm Sunday
Shared Reading for Wellbeing – Tuesday 7 February, 11:30am
Pop-up Pukapuka – Wednesday 8 February, 5:45pm – 6:30pm
Nightingale Library Memorial 
Hours: Monday – Friday: 12pm – 4pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 1pm – 4pm
Wellby Talking Café – Thursday 9 February, 10am – 11:30am
Stoke Library
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:30am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday: 10am – 5:30pm
Saturday: 10am – 1pm
Sunday: Closed
Museums and Galleries:
Broadgreen Historic House
Hours: 10:30am – 4:30pm daily
Senior Summer Activities: Spin Poi in the Park – Tuesday 28 February, 10am – 11am
The Suter Art Gallery & Theatre
Hours: 9:30am – 4:30pm daily
Exhibition: Place Holder – Saturday 5 November – Sunday 26 March 2023
Exhibition: Bird in Space – Saturday 19 November – Sunday 12 February
Exhibition: Nicholas Duval-Smith: Wake Up Call (A Vibration from Within) – Thursday 1 December – Sunday 12 February
Exhibition: Darryl Frost: Inner Peace – Sunday 11 December – Sunday 5 March
Exhibition: Deep Material Energy – Saturday 18 February – Sunday 14 May
Refinery ArtSpace 
Hours: Monday – Friday from 10am – 5pm, Saturday from 10am – 2pm
Exhibition: Do You Copy? by Sigi Kennedy – Monday 16 January – Saturday 11 February, during opening hours
Exhibition: My Fantasy Amusement Park by Jenny Zhong – Monday 16 January – Saturday 11 February, during opening hours
Nelson Provincial Museum 
Hours: Weekdays from 10am – 5pm, Weekends & Public Holidays from 
10am – 4:30pm 
Exhibition: Curious Contraptions – Friday 16 December 2022 – Sunday 19 February 2023, during opening hours