Permits
The Building Code and Compliance is it consumer protection or
bureaucracy gone mad? Why for example does it take eight
inspections to get building approval for a toilet - eight! How
about a small alteration job where you're pinged more than two and
a half thousand dollars for a permit and consent. Talk to any
builder, designer or architect and they'll tell the whole process
has come outrageously complex and slow. John Sellwood with examples
of consent process excesses and an interview with the minister of
local government and regulatory reform, Rodney Hide.
Waipu
It's no secret it's not easy to sell real estate right now and
everyone's looking for a pitch with a difference. But how about
this gimmick - the store owners trying to sell their business by
insulting the locals. By offering to sell their business to only
ugly people so they will fit in with the locals. And they even put
a sign outside the store to that effect. It certainly caught
Michael Holland's interest.
Fat dogs
A few months ago, it wasn't looking good for Bert and
Ernie. We met the two dogs from the SPCA when they were seriously
overweight and could hardly waddle their way through the garden.
Now, they're completely different beasts, with the pounds piling
off they've been entered into Pet Slimmer of the Year. And they're
healthy enough to be considered for adoption to have a family they
can call their own. Gill Higgins with a happy tail.