Nelson Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
03 548 2770 41 Nile Street East, Nelson
03 548 2770 03 548East, 2770 41 Nelson 41 Nile Nile Street Street East, Nelson 41 Nile Street East, Nelson
Wednesday 26 June 2024
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Un-pelletable problems
Quad in full swing
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Driver’s ‘frustrated’ with licence delays SARA HOLLYMAN The state of Nelson Tasman’s driver licencing system is in disarray with average wait times of two to three months, cancellation rates soaring, pass rates falling and candidates forced to hit refresh for days to secure a booking. A spokesperson for NZTA says it is aware of the increased demand for driver testing. They say in the last six months, AA and VTNZ, who deliver driver licence services on behalf of NZTA, have seen a “large increase” in demand for tests. “There are more tests being booked, and applicants are approaching the tests differently than they have in the past. This has led to demand exceeding
testing capacity.” Jake Goff began checking online as soon as he was eligible to sit his restricted licence back in March. The 16-year-old says he spent weeks hitting refresh online every 30 minutes to an hour until a spot finally became available on 9 April. Thankfully he passed on his first attempt but is now looking ahead to when he can sit his full licence. “It was frustrating, there was nothing available in Nelson, Blenheim, Westport, anywhere close. I want to get my full booked in as soon as I can.” He says many of his friends are still waiting to find an available time. On 1 October 2023, the Labour government
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LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
Capuchin monkey Sam has never lived in an open environment. Photo: Tess Claus.
New enclosure no monkey business SARA HOLLYMAN After more than 50 years in an enclosed exhibit, Natureland’s capuchin monkeys are getting a brand-new open enclosure to stretch their legs
and swing their tails. The new, more natural environment will see Natureland’s six tufted capuchins move to a 425sqm open enclosure, seven-times larger than their previous 50-year-old caged area,
with its own heated den to keep them warm overnight in the winter. The enclosure will be the first infrastructure project to make use of the
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