Here's the Air New Zealand flight schedule for next Thursday. I physically can't get there and back to do meetings. Unless maybe the meet was from 11am to 11:45am.

Air New Zealand must be managing it's loadings and operating on a reduced schedule.  Last weeks flights were horrendously priced.  Next week I'll have to drive and waste 8 hours.

Not a happy @FlyAirNZ customer so far this year.

While it probably wasn't the most important thing the council had to do it was obvious that without having some sort of access to the beach, many people would be very frustrated and end up cutting their own tracks.

After a call to the council they had a look and in a very short time created a new roadway down to the beach.  If there is a silver lining in the floods, the river mouth now has a huge sandy area and has become a great spot for families.

The road is very well used and it has certainly made beach life a lot better.

So bouquets to the Hastings District Council.

Now if Telecom could just get XT working at Hawkes Bay most popular beach hangout so we could spend more time there. Vodafone coverage is now excellent.

Update after rain bomb of 8th January

Unfortunately Waimarama just got hammered again. Here's what it looks like now.

Bummer.

This year we've flipped to a Monday to capture the Winery Tour with Gin Wigmore, Mutton Birds and Avalanche City.

We're expecting Accelerate to sell out quickly so keen to see a few more local businesses along to build connections with the very high calibre visitors coming down.

All information at http://0to60.com

Pure Black are New Zealand's first international UCI ProTour road cycling team.  Arriving last Saturday after coming 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th (hire the guy that got 5th boys) in the Taupo to Napier Race, they've been living out at Waimarama for the week and training around the Bay.

The Bay is a great place to train and they've enjoyed the relaxed environment and surf over the past week. We hope we'll see the Pure Black team around next year and wish them well for their upcoming international season.

In last weeks HB Today I was asked how I felt about amalgamation.  I responded that as a frequent traveller I see how other regions get coordinated and compete and that it must be a waste of money having services repeated by 3 different authorities. I also commented that it requires some leadership and vision to paint the picture and bring people together.

Chris Tremain published a plan for the Bay which was also in the paper.

I've known Chris since our days at Napier Boys High School. Anyone that knows Chris knows that he is one of those guys that always make a positive difference. I have no idea why people would go through the pain of being a politician but I'm very glad that Chris does it - he's the sort of guy you want to have looking after you.

Craig, Chris (blue) and Stuart (red) have over the past 6 years been looking after the interests of the Bay by spending a lot of time outside - so I think they provide a useful perspective.

I thought Chris's approach to the amalgamation issue is sensible and I really liked him putting up a plan.

What do you think?

I love hearing Rod speak as he's always logical and challenging.

One of his threads was the proposed new Auckland Convention Center we he labelled as 'conventional'. He showed other conference centres in other countries which were stunning buildings but big, cavernous, and gloomy.

Imagine a conference center with windows and Audio Visuals where you could see outside.

My favorite conference venue is the War Memorial Hall in Napier.  You can present with the curtains open and hear the surf crashing on the beach, and see the sea.

Cool!

There's rumours the new machines will allow prepay cards and you just swipe at the gate. No queue. That would be fantastic,

However there is no information at the airport.  I arrived back from a trip mid week and tried to whack my parking card in as did many others.  Eventually we worked out the barrier arms were up and you could just drive out.  Today, several days later, still no info.

New technology should be something to get excited by and can easily intimidate some people so I don't understand why the airport isn't jumping on the opportunity to make the transition process simple and easy. A simple sign by the machines would be a start.

They do have an updated picture on their website but no information.  http://www.hawkesbay-airport.co.nz/Car_Parking_11.aspx

Except prices have gone up but it's still pretty cheap compared to Auckland and Wellington.

The All Day Park is intended for passengers flying out for shorter periods, the charge is $2 per hour up to a maximum of $8 per 24 hour day. With effect from 21 June 2011 the maximum charge has been increased to $10 per 24 hour day

The airport and parking systems are key interfaces between the region and visitors. It sounds like we're going to get a much better system but I hope whoever runs the airport improves communications. Seems like a simple thing to make ten times better.

Looking forward to seeing the details of the  prepay system.  I hope it can use the Koru club card as we already have a card for that.

Anyone have any information?

With this many people traveling out there you'd of course be surprised that Telecom's mobile XT Network doesn't really work and the long promised new cell tower has been pushed out until next year. Maybe.

Waimarama has had it tough over the past month with the terrible flooding.

So you can imagine the local school would feel that this letter is the real kick in the guts.

From: UFB in schools
Date: 21 April 2011 4:05:39 PM NZST
To: Waimarama School
Subject: UItra-fast broadband in schools – update on progress

Good afternoon

RSBI

Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce announced this week that a contract has been signed with Telecom and Vodafone to supply improved broadband services to rural New Zealand under the first phase of the Rural Broadband Initiative.

View the Minister’s statement on the Beehive website.

We have confirmed with the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) that your school is not covered under the current contract with Telecom and Vodafone for the first phase of the RBI.

Due to your school’s remote location, MED has advised that fibre is unlikely to be a practical option for your connection. We are currently working with MED to determine how an improved service can be delivered to your school through alternative technologies.

We expect to be able to confirm a proposed method and timeframe by the end of Term 2, and will contact you when this information is available.

In the meantime, if you have further questions about your school’s situation please email ufb.schools@minedu.govt.nz in the first instance.

Kind regards,

xxxx
Project Manager – Schools Connection Project
Ultra-Fast Broadband in Schools Programme

20 minutes from Havelock North and the Hawkes Bay's premium holiday destination with numerous local residents is a remote location?

This has deeply upset the local school community

The Ministry of Economic Development has recently decided that fibre optic cable is not coming to Waimarama. This not only impacts on our school, but on our whole community. Many business people use Waimarama as a retreat to work from, and internet speed and capability is vital for both them, and our school, being a remote location.

We don't understand why this decision has been made, and wondered if you had any idea who we should approach in order to have this decision reconsidered.

I'm not sure but how do others feel about this?

MP Craig Foss picks up ministerial roles

Craig picks up some important portfolios: Civil defence, racing and senior citizens portfolios vacated by Carter. He will also be the Associate Minister of Local Government and Associate Minister of Commerce.

Both Tremain and Foss have important jobs in the current Government.

Well done Craig. Well deserved and great for the Bay.

Almost every hillside paddock has significantly slips.

Everywhere you look the topsoil has slid away.

Apparently it's even worse further south.

At the village end of Waimarama the creek turned into a raging river gouging out massive amounts of riverbank resulting in 3-4 metre drops down to the new river bed. He is the view up from mouth of the creek.

I have no idea how that will be fixed and what the incoming waves will do in a big sea.

Further south the domain filled up until the sand dunes were burst through from behind. This is the view from the beach into the domain, with the domain road washed away. They'll need to get the dunes reinstated quickly to prevent further damage from the surf.

The bridge by Waimarama Hall (and the Hall)  is in a bad way with a temporary bridge already in place.

More pictures here: Waimarama Aftermath on Flickr

There were plenty of people out of the beach pumping water out of their houses. We didn't get to Gillies Ave but heard a few people have lost everything. There is a massive clean up operation required and many people who will appreciate assistance over the next few months.

It amazes me how quickly the council and contractors have been to open up access. There is so much to do but they've got the basic infrastructure working again very quickly.

I'm not aware of what programs are organised to help people out or route assistance so if someone can post a comment on how best others can lend a hand please let all of us know.