Quips & Quotes

Abraham Lincoln: It's not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years.

Moving Pictures

My choice of video from a week's work at Hawke's Bay Today ☺

It's been a bit of a slow week for video, but I had some fun putting this one together ☺

Winning Woohoo!

Winning owners cheer for Leith Innes on Kawi, who won Race 7, Makfi Challenge WFA Stakes, $200,000, 1400m, the feature race at the Makfi Challenge Stakes Daffodil Raceday at the Hawke's Bay Racing Centre, Hastings Racecourse, Hastings, a fundraiser for Cancer Society Hawke's Bay.

(Video autostarts after the break, may take a little time to load)

Living the Dream

"Hope, Hair and Dreams Coming True

"God agrees with declaration of a seemingly impossible dream and provides within hours of declaration above and beyond what is expected.

Tuesday morning a hairdresser attended Hope Inc. meeting gathering of small business people in town of Red Bluff. She shared a seemingly impossible dream ( her family does not have the money) of going to India with her son on a mission trip. We all agreed and declared the dream a reality.

That afternoon at her workplace (a hair salon) her hope and her faith has increased from being at the meeting and one of her clients who she's cutting hair for offers spontaneously to pay for 2 FIRST CLASS tickets for her and her son to go to India!

via Dave Charlson, Red Bluff, CA (Oct, 2014)"

Living the Dream, a series of true and verified stories of real people who have encountered God for themselves and have learnt to apply His principles in their normal everyday world, sourced from Dream Culture: Bringing your Dreams to Life

My World

Not all graffiti is bad
Chesterhope Bridge, Pakowhai

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography

My World

After the rain

"Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one's voice." - Joseph B. Wirthlin

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography

I've weighed it up, and I'm voting Yes

Other than retaining the Ranfurly Shield, the question of local body amalgamation must surely be one of the biggest issues on the minds of Hawke's Bay residents. Whichever way the vote goes, it's going to have a huge impact on the future of our region. I've weighed it up, and I'm voting Yes.

Firstly a few disclaimers:

This post is my personal opinion and I continue to act professionally and without bias in my job as press photographer with Hawke's Bay Today. In that role I have only a little influence in the editorial decisions or direction of the company.

No company resources were used in the preparation of this post, other than those readily available in the public arena.

I have little personal involvement with any of the parties other than a few friends in three of the councils, and I also supply commercial photography work for Hastings District Council. In a community as small as Hawke's Bay it's not surprising that I am also Facebook friends with people from both sides of the debate.

I live in Hastings, but I work throughout Hawke's Bay and am passionate about our province. And here's a thought. Does it really matter where I live? Shouldn't we be thinking regionally? The fact that some folks would rate or criticise my opinion based on where I bought a house is indicative of the problem the region faces.

It's not about Hastings vs Napier

It's about Hawke's Bay.

       It's not about the people or the personalities.

There are people on both sides of the argument for whom I have considerable respect. And there are others, on both sides, who do themselves little favour with behaviour bordering on the childish, with unsubstantiated claims and uninformed, illogical arguments. 

There are opponents I admire and supporters for whom I have mixed feelings. I'm not excited by the amount of money that A Better Hawke's Bay has thrown around, but neither am I swayed by it. My view is not based on the people or the organisations involved in the debate.

       In a nutshell

If we don't learn from the mistakes of the past, we'll be destined to repeat them, and Hawke's Bay has a long history of unfortunate decisions based on short-sighted patch protection. And while the current flurry of regional co-operation and joint committees is to be commended, it doesn't go far enough. We need to take a more regional longer-term approach to decision-making in Hawke's Bay.

The final proposal put up by the Local Government Commission is not perfect, but it's better than the original, and it's better than the status quo. As sure as night follows day, the Commission was never going to be able to please everyone.

My own concerns allayed

I've had the privilege of attending a lot of meetings and have spoken to and listened to many influential people, and I've also read a great deal. Both supporters and opponents of the proposal have made some very good points, but have also thrown up a lot of red herrings, so in this post I'll simply address what were some of my biggest concerns.

       Council takeover

There's a very real fear amongst Napier supporters that they'll be swamped by the Hastings councillors or vice-versa. I doubt it. In the event of a stoush between the cities, with the vote going 6-6, there would still be another six councillors sufficiently distant from the action to be objective, and do what is best for the region. That's one big advantage of including Wairoa and Central Hawke's Bay in the proposal.

       Local representation

I was concerned in the initial proposal about the loss of local representation. However, the final proposal retains a regional oversight but allows for sizable local boards. Best of both worlds. It's worth noting that within the current regime, Hastings District Council operates a rural community board which, despite having no specific seat at the table, is able to have significant influence in the decision making process.

They also have a Maori joint committee, made up of elected councillors and appointed locals who bring a different perspective to the discussions and are able to make recommendations to the council.

I would anticipate that a new council would build on those strengths.

       Unitary council

It made sense to me that there should be one council for general ratepayers' concerns and another council for the protection of the environment. How could one council play the opposing roles of poacher and game-keeper? Apparently they can. Gisborne has a unitary council, and when the council needs to be both applicant and regulating authority, they make use of independent commissioners. Hawke's Bay could do the same.

       Three tier government (two local plus national)

I am still concerned about the cost and potential inefficiency of introducing a second tier of local government. However, this region needs a regional approach, and if we are also to retain local representation, then that's just a cost we'll have to pay. Change is risky but so is the status quo.

Red herrings

       "The Local Government Commission is just pushing the National Government agenda."

It's interesting to note that the former Minister of Local Government, Chris Tremain, was also National MP for Napier, which historically has been opposed to amalgamation. Political suicide or a genuine belief that a regional perspective is better? And for the red team, current Napier MP Stuart Nash leads the fight for the status quo, while over the river Labour candidate Anna Lorck is staunchly pro-amalgamation. Amalgamation is obviously a bigger issue than party politics. 

       "Debt and deferred maintenance will be unfairly allocated." 

Could one district really force the others to share their debt burden after the ring-fencing period has expired? I think not. Or would it be fair for all districts to pay out for the lack of infrastructure maintenance in another? Would the other councillors or their voters allow it? I doubt it. Obviously it takes a measure of trust to anticipate a positive outcome for the larger issues, but even our current council is elected on trust, so what's changed? 

Other issues

       Loss of employment

It's tough when people are made redundant, and I personally know people in three of the five councils, but I don't believe in employment for employment's sake. Yes, we will lose people with institutional knowledge, but where is the sense in employing two to five of everything? The new CEO will have the pick of the crop in selecting staff for the new council.

       Red tape

I can only imagine how frustrating it is for small or large business owners needing to deal with and apply different rules and policies from three or more different councils. Even if the new council throws up a rule they're not happy with, at least it would be the same across the region, thus creating a level playing field.

       Dollars and sense

Surprisingly, the least of my concerns are the costs of the final proposal for which all sorts of figures have been thrown around, re costs and potential savings. I'll happily tell any councillor that I don't like paying rate increases higher than inflation and councils need to pull back on some of their non-core activities. You might say, "Well, they just won't listen," True, but you could just as easily apply the same premise to the current crop i.e. it's an invalid argument.

       Wairoa and CHB

I had wondered about whether or not Wairoa and Central Hawke's Bay should be part of the mix, as geographically they are some distance from the main centres. 

Will they be swallowed up and lose their identity? I doubt it. Following the 1989 amalgamations, Taradale and Havelock North continue to thrive, with local business and interest groups still promoting their own interests and working for their own communities. Ratepayers in the former Hawke's Bay County Council initially revolted, but we've hardly heard a negative from them since they were properly included in the decision-making process. Smart move by the Hastings District Council. 

The reality is that modern roads have shrunk Hawke's Bay. It is nothing for me to drive between the cities several times a day, and working for a regional newspaper, I can be sent to Wairoa or Waipukurau at the drop of a hat. Waipukurau is a mere 35 minutes from Hastings, and I've known people who were happy to travel from Hastings to Takapau for their daily work. Waipawa has suffered more from the loss of rural businesses than the loss of their council. 

At 1.5 hours away, maybe Wairoa should have been excluded from the proposal, but like many rural towns, Wairoa is shrinking, and there is a lot to be said for economies of scale. Talking to folks there, despite being just an hour’s drive from Gisborne, they relate a lot closer politically and commercially to Napier. 

Wairoa may well continue to decline in population, but that's possible with or without amalgamation. People will always move to where they sense a better opportunity. I recall when I grew up in Woodville it was a railway town of 1500 people and five pubs, a primary school of 300-plus children, with both a borough council and a county council. Times have changed and so has the town. 

I don't believe the Wairoa component is enough to sink the whole proposal.

       Undefined structures

I would have been happier if the Commission had been more specific in its proposal. There are significant gaps in the detail, particularly around the Hawke's Bay Regional Planning Committee, the appointed Maori Board and the Natural Resources Board.

       Maori representation
The proposed council will have a much greater input from local Maori, appointed, not elected, to the Maori Board.  Additionally, the Regional Planning Committee will have 10 Maori appointees and 10 councillors. Some would say that it's unfair, while others would say it's a step towards righting the wrongs of the past. Either way, we have to accept that it's government policy and, if it wasn't introduced with the proposed Hawke's Bay Council, the chances are that the existing councils would soon be required to involve more Maori in the decision-making process.

       Commercial interests vs conservation
There will also be appointments on the Natural Resources Board. Some will be businessmen, but so what? It's just silly to suggest that most business owners are anti-environment. Indeed, many conservation projects are funded by business, for example, Cape Sanctuary at Cape Kidnappers. And even if the Board were to include environment-raping profit-driven racketeers, the proposal allows for such influence to be mitigated and balanced out by councillors and environmental organisations.

       Regional cooperation
Supporters of the status quo refer to the growing level of cooperation evident between the councils and they're right, it's great, but I doubt it would have come about so quickly if it wasn't for the 'threat' of amalgamation over the last few years.

In summary:

I have no doubt that, if the proposal is voted in and implemented, imperfect people will work within an imperfect proposal and some of the outcomes will be less than ideal. But the prospect of having local governance which is regionally focussed must surely produce better outcomes for the whole of Hawke's Bay than the (at times) dysfunctional relationship we see between the current five councils.

I've weighed it up, and I'm voting Yes.

For more information:

The Local Government Commission's Final Proposal (PDF)
Hawke's Bay Today

Pro-Amalgamation
A Better Hawke's Bay
Amalgamate Hawke's Bay,     also on Facebook
Lawrence Yule, Hastings mayor
Bay Buzz, by Tom Belford, Hawke's Bay Regional Councillor

Anti-Amalgamation

Hawke's Bay Democratic Action Association,    also on Facebook as DAD (Dedicated & Democratic)
Hastings Against Amalgamation,     also on Facebook

Bill Dalton, Napier mayor

Wairoa Against Amalgamation

Amalgamation is not the answer (PDF)

Feel free to suggest more links in the comments  ☺

Tomorrow Today

by Lynette Love

"A Thankful Heart

"In a vision, I see a woman pounding on a door. "What is she doing, my Lord?" I ask.

Encounters with the King

"This woman," Jesus replies, "is pounding the door in prayer but I have given her a door handle. If she does not turn the handle in faith, nothing happens.

I am not saying that she is to stop asking. No! It is about how she asks me; it's about putting her trust in My Spirit to walk with her and to guide her. When she believes and receives with a thankful heart and is willing to praise Me no matter where I take her, she will walk into all I have planned for her.

She will discover that her request has already been met at Calvary. Even when she goes through the door it will not be as she thinks as I have much more for her than she could ever imagine."

Tomorrow Today is a series of excerpts from books by Lynette Love, who regularly encounters heaven - and Jesus - and Holy Spirit - and Father - now, in this life, today. 

My prayer is that you also might experience Him, and that in your own daily walk you might hear His voice, and see His face, and know His love - now, in this life, today.

Lynette's books and e-books are all available on Amazon.com

© Lynette Love, used by permission.

My World

Detail from "Elements"
A sculpture by Liz Earth, in the Hastings CBD

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography

Spice of Life

My choice from a week's work at Hawke's Bay Today ☺ 

(including at times, photos for the Napier Courier, the Hastings Leader
the Havelock North Village Press and/or The Link)

Tough job

Armed police on the Ashcott Bridge on Ashcott Rd, south of Waipukurau. Police arrested a man.

Still got the puff
Blowing out the candles: L-R: Karin Campbell, Havelock North, only daughter of Rona McCarthy, Mary Doyle Trust Lifecare, Havelock North, who celebrated her 99th birthday

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
L-R: Tina Grant, with her son Jaden Grant, 9 - Memorial service at Western Hills Cemetery, Park Island, Napier, for New Zealand SAS Corporal Douglas Grant KIA, aka Duggy Grant, killed in action in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2011. Tina is from Clarks Beach, Auckland.

On the run
With ball: Gemma Woods, Hawke's Bay Tuis - rugby vs Auckland Storm, in the Tuis' first NPC game of the season.

The name's Bond...
L-R: Mike van Workum, Havelock North, Denise Clark, Havelock North, at a "CF Casino Night - Viva Las Vegas", at Havelock North Function Centre, organised by Hawke's Bay Branch of Cystic Fibrosis Association.

When losing money is fun
L-R: Sean Baty, David Phillips, Megan Boaler, Robyn Stallard, all from Havelock North, at a "CF Casino Night - Viva Las Vegas", at Havelock North Function Centre, organised by Hawke's Bay Branch of Cystic Fibrosis Association.

Hawke's Bay Today Photo Sales

Quips & Quotes

Mignon McLaughlin: A successful marriage requires falling in love many times - always with the same person

Moving Pictures

My choice of video from a week's work at Hawke's Bay Today ☺

This one was a real tear-jerker, one of those weird parts of the the job when the media is invited to attend a funeral or a memorial, in honour of the person who has died. It was a privilege to be there.

Corporal Duggy Grant remembered

Memorial service at Western Hills Cemetery, Park Island, Napier, for New Zealand SAS Corporal Douglas Grant KIA, aka Duggy Grant, killed in action in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2011.

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Living the Dream

"Testimony: When God Works For You:

"Local VP of Customer Development for a company was at a seasonal low in sales. He had just told the company he had no sales for an upcoming month. As he spent time waiting on God in prayer and worship he said, "God I would love a deal in... [a certain area.]" He then went about his day. At the end of that very same day he received a random phone call that resulted in a $30,000 deal from a single contact four months earlier. God works on behalf of those who wait for Him. Isaiah 64:4!

Tim Kopania, Redding, CA (Oct, 2013)"

Living the Dream, a series of true and verified stories of real people who have encountered God for themselves and have learnt to apply His principles in their normal everyday world, sourced from Heaven in Business

My World

My favourite colour

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography

Citizenship Ceremony at Hastings District Council

I guess you're never too old for a cuddly lamb :-)

Another wonderful welcome to our newest citizens at Hastings District Council on 19 August, 2015.

Photos by Glenn Taylor

See the full set, with order form at Duncan Brown Photography, and feel free to tag yourself or your friends on Facebook.

My World

Don't forget

Daffodil Day next Friday 28 August
Raising funds for The Cancer Society of New Zealand

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography

Tomorrow Today

by Lynette Love

"Heartbreaks and Joys

" "Jesus," I ask, "What was the hardest thing that You had to endure while you were on this earth?"

Encounters with the King

"Before I answer you my Child, I have another question for you to ask - What was one of my greatest joys?"

"Yes, I will ask you that question, but still, what was the hardest thing you had to endure?"

"My child, it was when I was hanging on the cross and I could no longer see My Father, My Heart broke; now My precious little one, ask Me My question."

"My Lord, what was Your greatest joy?"

"When I hung on the cross and saw you my child!" "

Tomorrow Today is a series of excerpts from books by Lynette Love, who regularly encounters heaven - and Jesus - and Holy Spirit - and Father - now, in this life, today. 

My prayer is that you also might experience Him, and that in your own daily walk you might hear His voice, and see His face, and know His love - now, in this life, today.

Lynette's books and e-books are all available on Amazon.com

© Lynette Love, used by permission.

My World

Mum and twins

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography

My World

Train them up in the way they should grow
Proverbs 22:6

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography

Spice of Life

My choice from a week's work at Hawke's Bay Today ☺ 

(including at times, photos for the Napier Courier, the Hastings Leader
the Havelock North Village Press and/or The Link)

Chocolate box
Cold weather, snow on the ranges, pictured from Roy's Hill, SH50, Hastings.

Tough time
Julia McIntosh speaks to media after the sentencing of Annie Rangi for the manslaughter of Aileen Macdonald, Napier, in December last year.

A joy to listen to
Iona Intermediate Choir, Iona College, Havelock North - The Kids Sing Primary and Intermediate Schools Choir Festival, organised by New Zealand Choral Foundation, at Heretaunga Intermediate School, Hastings.

Woo hoo
Centre right: Jehoshua Monegro, Ongaonga School, celebrating his team's win - junior soccer vs St Joseph's School, Waipukurau - Ongaonga Sevens Tournament at Ongaonga, Central Hawke's Bay.

Wonder what sort of speed he was going
A car driven by a male, with passengers, smashed through a 10x 6x1" timber fence of the Stortford Lodge Saleyards in Southampton St West, Hastings, before coming to a halt after crashing through another pen. Police, St John Ambulance attended.

In good heart
Hearty from Heart Foundation visited Riverslea Community Preschool and Riverslea School, Hastings, promoting exercise.

Sadly prophetic
" "If one day speed kills me, don't cry because I was smiling" R.I.P Paul Walker 1973-2013" - written on a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV commonly known as an Evo 4, a car in which a person died in a fatal accident on Farndon Rd, Hastings, last week. Pictured at Hawke's Bay Towing, Whakatu, Hastings.

Too fast
Senior constable Andy Clinton, pictured with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV commonly known as an Evo 4, a car in which a person died in a fatal accident on Farndon Rd, Hastings, last week. Pictured at Hawke's Bay Towing, Whakatu, Hastings.

Rain on its way
Barren tree, bleak sky, weather forecast for rain - tree on Ruahapia Rd, Whakatu, Hastings.

Hawke's Bay Today Photo Sales

Quips & Quotes

Charlie Chaplin: You'll never find a rainbow if you're looking down.

Moving Pictures

My choice of video from a week's work at Hawke's Bay Today ☺

It's been a big week for video this week, but my favourite has to be the day Hawke's Bay Magpies winger Ryan Tongia came and spent the morning with me. As soon as he got in, we rushed off to a car accident, then met the advertising staff and he got interviewed by senior reporter Doug Laing. Then I took him out on a shoot, looking for people who were enjoying the fine weather. Too bad his picture didn't get published, it would have been great to see his picture over his byline. ☺ Ryan then went out visiting advertising clients with Gary Locke. Next week, reporter Jonathan Dine will complete the swap and spend the morning training with the Magpies. Can't really say I'd be fit enough. ☺

Hawke's Bay Magpie Ryan Tongia works out at Hawke's Bay Today

Hawke's Bay Magpies winger Ryan Tongia spent some time working at Hawke's Bay Today, as part of The Great Magpies Job Swap (plus an interview with senior reporter Doug Laing).

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Living the Dream

"God Cares About EVERYTHING… "I got my stuff back" testimony:

"Was on a business trip in Dallas yesterday. In the morning I got up and read the email you sent out with the testimony from the lady who lost her wedding ring. I was so struck when she couldn’t find her ring and then she thought “God can make it materialize anywhere” and then boom! She finds it in her coat pocket! I absolutely believe He does that. How good is our father?!

After I checked out of my hotel room I stopped in the lobby to get a cup of coffee. When I sat down I realized I couldn’t find my sun glasses. Not a huge deal but I was upset with myself because I have an attachment to these for a particular reason. I searched my bag, my briefcase and the pockets of my sport coat thoroughly and they were not to be found. I checked my coat and bags a few more times just to be sure because I didn’t want to go back up to my room only to find I had them all along. I then went back up to the room and still…no sun glasses.

At that point I decided to move on, irritated with myself for losing another perfectly good item yet again. As I was in the cab on the way to my meeting (trying not to beat myself up about my poor stewardship) I remembered the testimony of the lady who lost her wedding ring. I thought “why wouldn’t I ask him to do that for my sunglasses?” and so I prayed “God, if you can do that for a ring then you can do that for a pair of sun glasses”.

With butterflies in my stomach I reached over to my left where my sport coat was laid over my bag and stuck my hand into the first pocket I could get to and boom!.. There they were! I was amazed, blown away and so blessed! Are you kidding me!? He just DID that!

Just a goofy pair of sunglasses? Maybe, but just like the birds of the air, the lilies in the field and the hairs on my head He cared. If He cares about the small things in my life how much more the big things? Thank you Abba.

Patrick McDonald, San Francisco, USA (August 2015)"

Living the Dream, a series of true and verified stories of real people who have encountered God for themselves and have learnt to apply His principles in their normal everyday world, sourced from Dream Culture: Bringing your Dreams to Life

My World

Keep out! Or stay in, as the case may be....

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography

My World [Updated]

It's a duck (I think)

and there aint nothing like it on Google or Bing, deep sigh...

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography
Update: Friends on Facebook have identified it as a Muscovy Duck - maybe a female, and maybe a hybrid, as it doesn't match all the description. That would of course explain my confusion. ☺

My World

Poolside greenery

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography

Tomorrow Today

by Lynette Love

"River full of life - vision regarding the church

"A very wide and very deep river flows from the throne of God. There's one main river and it breaks into many smaller rivers - all have the same source.

Encounters of Heaven

I am shown three of these rivers. One of them along towards doors of a building which I recognise as a church, but when it goes through the doors it trickles to a minimum flow and then dries up. Sadly it comes to an end.

Another river has a rough start. Many boulders are in its path. It moves rapidly and gets stronger and wider as it flows smoothly across a vast area of countryside. There is abundance of life around and in the river.

I see another river which increases in size as it flows to the sea. Large cities are situated on its banks and seagoing boats go in and out from its port."

Tomorrow Today is a series of excerpts from books by Lynette Love, who regularly encounters heaven - and Jesus - and Holy Spirit - and Father - now, in this life, today. 

My prayer is that you also might experience Him, and that in your own daily walk you might hear His voice, and see His face, and know His love - now, in this life, today.

Lynette's books and e-books are all available on Amazon.com

© Lynette Love, used by permission.

My World

Four and twenty Turdus merula baked in a pie?

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography

My World

Herringbone blockwork
Unsurprisingly, named after a fish

A 5x-weekly photograph from around Hawke's Bay ☺

duncan brown photography

Spice of Life

My choice from a week's work at Hawke's Bay Today ☺ 

(including at times, photos for the Napier Courier, the Hastings Leader
the Havelock North Village Press and/or The Link)

Up and over
Top: Tom Biss, Napier City Rovers - Napier City Rovers beat Palmerston North 4-1 to win the Central League Cup - soccer, football at Park Island, Napier.

Jubilation
Harry Morton celebrates after Napier City Rovers beat Palmerston North 4-1 to win the Central League Cup - soccer, football at Park Island, Napier.

Never too old
L-R: Tyler Harford, Douglas Barrett, resident, Jean Barrett, visitor, sister - pupils from Mahora School, Hastings, playing domino-based activities with residents of Gracelands Lifestyle Care and Village, Hastings.

Top chefs
L-R: Daniel Kelly, year 11, Jakob Dawson, year 11, Sam Heaven, year 12, Daniel Moss, year 12, St John's College, Hastings. Between them they won seven gold and two silver medals at a culinary fare run by the New Zealand Chefs Association. They also won the New Zealand National Secondary Schools' Excellence Award.

Answering the questions
Lawrence Yule, mayor, Hastings District Council, speaking at a public meeting about local government amalgamation, hosted by A Better Hawke's Bay, at the Civic Theatre, Waipukurau.

HUGE crowd
Hundreds of extra chairs/seating were needed at a public meeting about the proposed Ruataniwha Dam, hosted by Hawke's Bay Today, at Tamatea Intermediate School, Napier.

Setting the rules
L-R: Andrew Newman, CEO, HBRIC Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company; Meg Rowe, Transparent Hawke's Bay; Andrew Austin, editor, Hawke's Bay Today - Public meeting about the proposed Ruataniwha Dam, hosted by Hawke's Bay Today, at Tamatea Intermediate School, Napier.

Hawke's Bay Today Photo Sales

Quips & Quotes

Napoleon Hill: Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.

Moving Pictures

My choice of video from a week's work at Hawke's Bay Today ☺

We are the Champions, my friend....

Napier City Rovers celebrate after beating Palmerston North 4-1 to win the Central League Cup, football at Park Island, Napier.

(Video autostarts after the break, may take a little time to load)

Living the Dream

"God Loves Dreams, Combines and MUD! 

"So this past winter in dream culture class, my dream was to send my combine west to harvest wheat in the wheat belt of the USA as a custom harvester.

To be honest with you, in my mind I never really thought that it would be possible to do. I have been out on the wheat harvest to work for other custom harvesters but have always wanted to do it with a machine of my own. It takes a ton of money to get set up, truck the combine out there, and hire on help as it takes many people to pull off an operation like this. That had me quite discouraged.

Well, it has all been a whirlwind, but my combine is sitting in TEXAS and will start combining wheat for a farmer on MONDAY!!!!! I have no idea where the money came from, it just showed up when I've needed it! Tell me that's not JESUS!!! I have had this in my heart for many years and here it is in the blink of an eye!!

Now here is the cool part, last year, the John Deere dealership at home approached me to trade the machine I had in on a much larger machine with huge tires that were excellent for going through the mud. They made me an offer that I just could not refuse! So I did the deal. I traded for the largest machine that John Deere makes!!! It's huge! A few months after trading, I was starting to second guess my decision, because it was almost too large to use at home in NY. It was a pain to move down the road because of its size!!!

So, move ahead to now! It's in Texas where fields are huge and just the perfect size for Texas! AND, the rains in Texas have made for EXTREME muddy conditions!! Guess what my machine is all set up for!!!??? MMUUDD!!! God had a hand in this a year ago when I traded machines!!!

Taught me to sit back and work with and for him!!! Quite the deal!!

Thanks for the dream culture class!!!

Dan Sturzenbecker via Kim Blanchard, Russell, PA"

Living the Dream, a series of true and verified stories of real people who have encountered God for themselves and have learnt to apply His principles in their normal everyday world, sourced from Heaven in Business