One elderly couple's grassy struggle

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Wed, 03 Aug 2011 7:00p.m.

The Kapiti District Council says no-go

The Kapiti District Council says no-go

A berm is that piece of lawn between your property and the road. It's usually quite a small strip of ground, but some of them are quite large.

Vicky and Lou Greoneweg have a very large one, and for the last two decades they've mowed it. But they're getting on a bit now - and would like the local council to take up the work.

The Kapiti District Council says no-go.

Reporter Richard Langston met the elderly couple left pushing the lawn-mower.

Watch the video.

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Comments

29 Aug 2011 12:11p.m.

Gloria wrote:

We know of many pensioners who are elderly and suffer ill health who receive a special allowance in their pension which enables them to pay someone to come in and cut their lawns as they are no longer able to. I think a medical certificate is all that is required showing details of their illness/disability.
Was this not offered when they made contact with the pension department?

07 Aug 2011 12:51a.m.

Anne wrote:

lol @ w. Agree with david - just leave it, it's not your responsibility.

05 Aug 2011 03:08p.m.

david wrote:

It's council land and therefore council responsiblity to mow it. End of story. (P.S. They will eventually mow it if you just leave it... )

05 Aug 2011 04:46a.m.

w wrote:

i'm not a ratepayer,so i don't know if mowing berms is home owner's job,however,1. they r elderly and sick and that's one of the points here for this report--respect and help the old.2.the lawn's not even in their property,but outside,so why do they have to mow it.should they also have to mow a public park if there's one outside their place?it's a public place,so it should be council's job to do so,isn't it?3.they pay rates,why can't they expect the gov't look after them when they r aged?we would all be aged one day,so why cant we respect them and expect to be respected when we grow old,they r old,sick and retired,and they did not neglect their own property,and also have been taking care of the berms on a public path outside their property,they've never said a word but keep mowing till now when they r no longer able to,so why cant they stop helping council's to look after the public place now?i so don't understand that!perhaps the couple might need to sell their property and buy another one that has no lawn inside or out of their property to take care of ever again.

04 Aug 2011 06:26p.m.

Chris wrote:

Can see both sides to the story. Can't expect council to mow all berms, rates are too high as it is. This does seem to be a big berm, council says it will mow it of it becomes a fire hazard. So don't mow it and leave it at that. If you feel you want more of a service than this then I'm afraid you'll probably have to pay for this yourself. Goodluck.

04 Aug 2011 03:09p.m.

Judy wrote:

Are all the people who constantly moan about Kapiti rates
happy for the council to mow berms? Obviously it won't just stop at the berm in question. So that would be another 3 or 4 workers' salaries .....

04 Aug 2011 02:47p.m.

Tony wrote:

And the point of this story was what exactly? How many other councils in NZ mow peoples berms? As they say.....Get off the grass John!

04 Aug 2011 11:15a.m.

aaron wrote:

Councils are all the same in every area.The theory that if you throw enough money at a problem it will go away doesnt seem to work on the council..We keep throwing money at them and they just keep coming back!!

03 Aug 2011 09:20p.m.

Roger wrote:

This is typical of the Kapiti council! Again they show there complete disregard for the people who pay there wages and put them in power, We have the second highest rates increase in the country again this year! but im willing to bet the people who work at the council wont be going without a payrise! Time and again they wont listen to the ratepayer, now they want the rate payer to pay for water meters! so they can collect even mere money from us! and when we wanted them to fight for us against the proposed expressway through Kapiti (something they were opposed to) all of sudden they are on the expressway alliance with the nzta, and telling us how great it will be having a big slice of concrete just over our fences! not to mention the poor people who will lose there homes! I for one as a Kapiti ratepayer am sick of there total disregard for the ratepayer! I think that the people on your program have two options, 1. move there fence out a few meters as obviously the council doesn't want the land. 2. just don't mow it any more! sure it will probably become an eyesore but I bet the council will fold and mow it eventually, and if they tell them they have to mow it give them the finger and tell them your land your problem.

03 Aug 2011 08:24p.m.

Christina wrote:

Suggesting "Round Up" is funny, but can surely not be taken as a serious suggestion. There is already too much poison used to combat weed and parasides in New Zealand. I therefore would like to make the following suggestion: A few years ago the Auckland council put out wildflower seeds in the middle of the motorway, lovely to look at, so why not do the same on this strip of grass in front!?