The Anglican Dean of Taranaki, Jamie Allen and Puke Ariki’s Historian Andrew Moffat are on a 9 day Pilgrimage throughout Taranaki. Bell Block Residents are invited to meet with Dean Jamie and Andrew to hear about the history of our township. Bring along your memories to share!!! This key event is being held at the St Lukes Church, 2 Mangati Road, Bell Block, New Plymouth, 4312 on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 at 4.30pm. This will be followed by a Pot Luck Finger Food Meal at 6pm. Everyone is very welcome. For further information and for catering purposes please contact Gay Harvey on: 06 755 0046

Bell Block Police are urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of accepting rides from strangers after a teenaged girl was approached in Bell Block this morning, Tuesday 21st May 2013. The 14-year-old girl was walking to the bus stop along Parklands Avenue, near the intersection with Acacia Place when the driver, of a van or people mover, stopped and spoke to her just after 8am. Bell Block Police were alerted by the girl’s father and they searched Bell Block streets but were not able to find the vehicle or driver. Bell Block’s Constable Andrew Wong Too said it would be a timely reminder for parents to speak with their children about stranger danger. ”My advice to them would be to tell their children to decline the offer, leave the area and look for safety around other people and to contact police so that we are aware of the situation,” Mr Wong Too said. He said the girl was on her way to catch the bus to school when she was approached. ”As she was walking along Parklands Avenue a vehicle has pulled up alongside her and asked her if she wanted to get in or wanted a ride,” Mr Wong Too said. He said the teenager had done everything right. ”The girl’s correctly declined the offer and has walked away briskly and contacted her father who phoned police.” Mr Wong Too said police inquiries were continuing. ”We don’t know what his motives were at this stage or whether or not it was a case of mistaken identity. ”Mr Wong Too was not aware of any other children being approached in the same way in Bell Block. ”It’s a good community to walk and bike around.” He said drivers shouldn’t be offering rides to children for no reason. News article by the Daily News/www.stuff.co.nz

Bell Block and Taranaki’s Sri Lankan community brought its culture alive on Saturday 18th May 2013 in celebration of their religious and cultural festival Vesak. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha, it is similar to what Diwali was to Hindus and what Ramadan was to Muslims. More than 125 people attended the fifth celebration held in Bell Block, as well as three monks who travelled from Auckland to take part in the ceremony. The day began with an offerings ceremony, in which flowers, incense and beverages were passed around a circle to the monks who then placed them on a statue of Buddha.

Bell Block School of Trustees Election Declaration of Parent Election Results: At the close of nominations, as the number of valid nominations was equal to the number of vacancies required to be filled, I hereby declare: Suzanne Bradburn, Ross Dixon, Kane Innes, Jason Vinsen, and Greg Watt duly elected. Declaration of Staff Election Results: At the close of nominations, as there was only one valid nomination received I hereby declare: Andrew Georgeeson duly elected: Signed Bruce Lobban, Returning Officer

Saturday the 18th May 2013 saw the marathon urgency session of Parliament finally pass The Customs and Excise Amendment Bill – 67 votes for, to 26 against with Bell Block’s MP Jonathan Young voting for it. The session began on Thursday afternoon 16th May 2013 to progress five bills, with three going through all stages. The Customs and Excise Amendment Bill means petrol tax will rise three cents per litre each July for the next three years. The Government says the hike is needed to help fund roading projects. No doubt this may go some way to help paying for the Waiwhakaiho bridge upgrade and other road improvements in North Taranaki.

Bell Block’s TSB Bank chief executive Kevin Murphy has called a decision by international ratings agency Standard & Poor’s to give his bank a negative outlook for future credit ratings “ultra conservative”. In his opinion the assessment did not reflect the bank’s financial performance or position. Standard & Poors downgraded the status outlook for eight New Zealand banks, including TSB Bank, from stable to negative. It was the first time TSB Bank has had its outlook status revised to negative. It was also his opinion that “we need to be clear it’s not a reflection of the bank’s financial results. It’s a reflection of where Standard & Poor’s see the New Zealand economy and the potential impact it could have on banks,”. TSB Bank customers should not be concerned. Its annual results, which would be made public in two weeks time, ( Start of June 2013) were very positive.

Bell Block Horse Trainer Janelle Millar produced her second upset winner in the space of just 6 days when Hi Yo Soo scored in the rating 65 1600 at Hawera on Thursday 16th May 2013. Hi Yo Soo started at odds of just over 20-1 and sustained a strong finishing run from well off the pace early to snatch victory on the line. The previous Saturday 11th May 2013, Janelle Millar saddled La Stellina to win a rating 65 race at double-figure odds on her home track in New Plymouth. Both horses were ridden by in-form Palmerston North jockey Kane Smith.

Bell Block’s MP, Mr Jonathan Young vote in favour of doing tweaks to four-week-old mining legislation which enforce stronger restrictions on anti-mining protests at sea have passed through parliament under urgency. The amendments to the Crown Minerals Amendment Act passed a third reading on Saturday morning 18th May 2013 by 68 votes to 46. The original act, which was passed in April 2013 and comes into force on this coming Friday the 24th May 2013, deals with allocation of permits and aims to regulate the development of Crown-owned minerals. It also cracks down on anti-mining protests at sea. But the act had more than 20 errors and omissions which are addressed in the Crown Minerals Amendment Act (2013) Amendment Bill. The amendment bill alters the requirements for some permit applications, ensures recognition of mining licenses granted under old law and extends the area in which anti-mining protests are illegal to the seas over New Zealand’s continental shelf.

Lions Clubs – Ready to Help, Worldwide Whenever a Lions club gets together, problems get smaller. And communities get better. That’s because we help where help is needed – in our own communities and around the world – with unmatched integrity and energy.The World’s Largest Service Club Organization Our 46,000 clubs and 1.35 million members make us the world’s largest service club organization. We’re also one of the most effective. Our members do whatever is needed to help their local communities. Everywhere we work, we make friends. With children who need eyeglasses, with seniors who don’t have enough to do, and with people we may never meet.

The Lions Club of Bell Block & Districts are currently looking for five more female or male members for upcoming projects in and around the Bell Block & Districts area. Just two evening meetings per month. If you are aged between 20 – 75 years old and would like to put something back into your great community then Phone Chris Wright: 06 755 2883 or text 027 2222 800 for a no obligation informal chat.

Bell Block and the New Plymouth District Council dog owners are swiftly obeying orders from the council to register their dogs. A rising number of animal attacks and wandering dogs over the past three years caused the New Plymouth District Council to this year say all dogs would be taken to the pound if discovered unregistered. Since a letter was circulated in March 2013, more than 350 dog owners have responded to the crackdown. The NPDC council plans to employ two extra animal control officers in July 2013 to help combat the unregistered dog problem, after it proved successful in the Hastings district. As well as employing two extra staff the council will increase late registration fees from a 25 per cent extra penalty to 50 per cent in 2014. The extra revenue from this and an increase in dog registration compliance is expected to cover the $120,000 annual cost of hiring and equipping two rangers, on two-year contracts.

Bell Block’s TSB Bank is one of eight New Zealand banks to have their status downgraded by international ratings agency Standard & Poor’s. The banks’ outlook was revised on Friday May 17th 2013 from stable to negative, citing rising economic risks. The eight banks were TSB Bank, Co-operative Bank, Heartland Bank, Credit Union Baywide, Credit Union South, First Credit Union, New Zealand Association of Credit Unions, and Police and Families Credit Union. A negative outlook means the banks’ credit ratings may be lowered six to 24 months in the future. The ratings agency meanwhile confirmed its assessment on ANZ, ASB, Bank of New Zealand, Westpac, Bank of India, Rabobank, and Kiwibank, whose ratings and outlook remain unchanged, reflecting support from their parents. The heightened risk assessment comes a day after Finance Minister Bill English’s fifth Budget, which included giving the Reserve Bank the power to slap controls on bank lending to help dampen the housing market.

160 Runners and Walkers took off from Bell Block’s Jennian Homes Showhome in the Link’s Sub-Divison on Mothers Day, Sunday 12th May 2013. This was the 2nd year the Jennian Homes Mother’s Day Fun run event has been held. In what is a nationwide event, that supports the Heart Foundation’s Go Red for Women campaign to improve the heart health of Kiwi women.In their inaugural event last year just 55 people turned up. With everyone dressed in a red t-shirt, a surge of red was seen on the New Plymouth Costal Walkway.

The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce Annual General meeting will be held on Tuesday May 14th 2013, at the Devon Hotel, 390 Devon Street East, New Plymouth. Doors open at 5pm and the meeting starts at 5.30pm. An elected chair and board members will be announced on the evening. For more information PH: 06 759 9080 OR EMAIL: lisa@taranakichamber.co.nz

The $16 million project aimed at unlocking New Plymouth city’s traffic gridlock will begin early next year (2014), says the New Zealand Transport Agency. The project, called the Vickers Rd to City Upgrade, which includes two new bridges, will significantly improve the 5.3km link between the Bell Block bypass and New Plymouth city. It will include two new bridges, one over the Waiwhakaiho River, another over Te Henui Stream. “The Bell Block industrial area is growing and will continue to support economic growth in the region and within New Zealand at a national level.” An essential part of the project will be addressing congestion on and around Waiwhakaiho Bridge by constructing a second bridge to create two lanes of traffic in each direction, along with a right-turn lane into Devon St East. Pedestrian and cycle facilities will also be improved with dedicated walking and cycle paths along the route.

Few bonds are as close – or as complicated – as those between us and our mothers. To pay tribute to all the amazing Bell Block mums out there on this 2013 Mother’s Day, take a moment to recall what your mum means to you.

What’s the best advice your mum ever gave you? What impact has she had on your life? How has your relationship changed over the years? What makes her the best mum in the world? Make sure today you told your mum how you feel about her.

On Monday week, the 20th May 2013 see’s the Bell Block Puketapu Kindergarten Annual General Meeting on at Dillion Drive, Bell Block, New Plymouth, 4312. The AGM is held at the kindergarden, at 7.00pm Monday, 20th May 2013 and all are welcome to attend. For more info, check out http://www.ntkindergartens.co.nz

The Hurricanes will be blown out of Taranaki if an audacious bid to claim a share in the Chiefs is ratified by the New Zealand Rugby Union. Full details of the potential deal remain sketchy but Taranaki Rugby yesterday confirmed it was investigating buying into the Super Rugby champions. Speculation has been growing in the province about a possible deal, after a number of sponsors were approached about their interest in being part of the investment. Just how much capital would be required remains unclear, and is likely to not be made public, but http://www.bellblock.co.nz understands a potential deal could see the Chiefs playing two games a season at Yarrow Stadium. Taranaki Rugby, along with other major stakeholders in the region, are believed to have been working on the project for some time. Last month it received a $137,000 grant from the TSB Community Trust to undertake a feasibility study into “potential strategic growth initiatives”. A licence to manage several of New Zealand’s Super Rugby franchises was offered up by the NZRU last year. If a deal with the Chiefs was to go through, it would effectively end Taranaki’s 18-year association with the Wellington-based franchise, although several high-profile players would probably stay with the team, including All Black Beauden Barrett. Despite Taranaki being a franchise partner, the relationship has often been strained, with the province afforded limited games and usually against lowly opposition. The biggest stumbling block appears to be the NZRU giving Taranaki Rugby the green light, with concerns rugby fans could be alienated by the severing of ties with the Hurricanes. (yeah right) http://www.bellblock.co.nz research in Bell Block tells us the sooner we dump the Hurricanes the better.

It’s crunch time for the public to have their say on which direction the Coastal Walkway should take when it is extended to Bell Block Beach. Public consultation will start on Friday 10th May 2013 as the New Plymouth District Council seeks residents’ thoughts on three potential routes through Bell Block’s Hickford Park, as well as the proposed relocation of New Plymouth BMX from Marfell, to Bell Block’s Hickford Park. The most expensive route, and perhaps the most popular as shown by http://www.bellblock.co.nz research, is the “Coastal Route” estimated to cost $1,138,000. While option two is the cheapest and would have least impact on the environment, it is not popular with Ultra Posh Parkvue Drive residents who have expressed concerns in the past over a loss of privacy should the track go past their properties at an elevated level. An open day is being held on June 8th 2013 and would include a guided tour of the route options, while each home in Bell Block would receive information this week. The council will also have a presentation at the Bell Block District and Residents Society meeting to be held on June 12th 2013 at the Fred Tucker Hall on Parkland’s Avenue. Submissions close on Friday, June 28th 2013

WHICH WAY?

■ OPTION ONE: THE COASTAL ROUTE

Follows the coastline to Bell Block Beach through a section of sand dunes. Further investigation has revealed potential risks to the ecology, erosion issues and high development costs.

Estimated cost: $1,138,000.

■ OPTION TWO: THE SPORTS PARK ROUTE

This route goes from St Andrews Drive through Hickford Park’s sportsfield and grazing area to link with Mangati Walkway, and down to the beach. The route avoids the most sensitive part of the coast, but one section is in front of a row of houses on Parkvue Drive.

Estimated cost: $377,000.

■ OPTION THREE: THE INLAND ROUTE

This route follows the coastline about two-thirds of the way, then diverts inland between the sand dunes and the oxidation pond to link with Mangati Walkway and down to the beach. The route avoids sensitive dune ecology and does not pass alongside residential properties.

Estimated cost: $643,800.

Storybook characters came to life and paraded through the new library at Bell Block Primary School on Friday 10th May 2013. Snow White, Peter Pan and Robin Hood were among the favourite characters at the opening of the building, It was not just the students who had donned their favourite costumes for the opening of the library, teachers also joined in on the fun. Teacher Don Freebairn-Read was reported as looking dashing in a gold coat and a big wig, capturing the essence of Prince Charming. Mr Freebairn-Read was impressed with the library, which had cost the school close to $400,000. The popular Bell Block school had been without a library for more than two terms after the previous library had to be reverted back into classrooms when the school roll grew. The building used to be the school wharenui (meeting house), and a 40 metre extension had been added.