GUYS. I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE TO FILE THIS ONE: NEWTOWN WANTS LEAF BLOWERS BANNED BEFORE 10AM
An apology, an accounting, and a petition making its way through the southern suburbs.
Guys. Guys. I never thought I'd have to make this article. deep breath A group of Newtown residents have started a petition to ban leaf blowers before 10am on Sundays. I have been sitting with this news for two days now, doing the work.
To my community of blokes on the tools who fire up the Stihl at 7.15 on a Sunday because the job's gotta be done Tuesday — I hear you. I see you. I have been you. When I first read the petition, I reacted. I said things in the group chat about public servants that I am not proud of. I called one of them a knob. That was wrong. He's a person. With a rake, apparently.
Petition organiser Beatrice Halvorsen said the noise was "absolutely fucking relentless" and her flat shook every Sunday from 7am. "It's not gardening," she said. "It's a man with a grudge and a two-stroke." My first instinct was to defend the man. The man is my brother. But I'm growing.
A Wellington City Council spokesperson said they were "aware of the petition" and would consider it "in due course", which is council for never. Meanwhile a Tawa bloke called Macca, who drove in specifically to be interviewed, said if they banned his blower he'd "do the whole street with a hairdryer out of spite". Macca is not sorry. Macca has not done the work. That's on Macca.
To the leaf blower community, to Beatrice, to Macca, to my producer who I snapped at earlier — I am so sorry. From the bottom of my hi-vis. I'm taking some time off the site to reflect, and I want to be clear this is not a PR move.
Links below for my new course on accountability. First module drops Tuesday.
Know someone this is about? Send it to them.
Spotted something like this in your area?
Send us a photo and a sentence. We'll write the article.
SUBMIT A YARN →Free. Anonymous if you want. Takes 60 seconds.
Read next
More from Suburban Crime →AUCKLAND PARKING WARDEN TICKETS MOBILITY SCOOTER OUTSIDE FITZROY DAIRY
The warden was on holiday. He brought the ticket book.
WHITBY WHEELIE BIN LEFT OPEN OVERNIGHT — STREET GROUP CHAT NOW AT 340 MESSAGES
One resident called the sight 'confronting'. Another has offered to draft a bylaw.
LINWOOD CAT NAMED 'PERSON OF INTEREST' IN NEIGHBOURLY POLL, DECLINES TO COMMENT
The cat, known to the street as Mr Whiskerston, has received 43 of 61 votes and is currently asleep on a Corolla.
WAINONI GNOME CUSTODY BATTLE ENTERS THIRD WEEK, TWO HENDERSON FAMILIES REFUSE TO SPEAK AT LETTERBOX
Keith the gnome has been photographed on both lawns. Neither Henderson will say who moved him last.
BETHLEHEM LEMON TREE AT CENTRE OF 14-MONTH BOUNDARY DISPUTE, STUFF UNDERSTANDS
Two neighbours. One tree. Approximately 400 lemons a season. A dossier.
HAWERA WOMAN CALLS 111 ON COURIER FOR BEING "TOO POLITE" — RECKONS IT'S A FRONT
He said please. He said thank you. He wiped his feet. Something's off, says Colleen.
Reader Letters
Trev_Hornby
Leaf blowers are bloody necessary, mate. Keep them going.
ropeable_dave
Mate, they aren't removing blowers, just asking for a bit of quiet before 10am. Let's all calm down.
Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day, we didn't have these loud contraptions disturbing the peace. Everyone just raked the leaves manually! Why can't we return to simpler times?
tired_in_riccarton
Why didn't the council address this noise issue years ago? They’re always reactive rather than proactive, leaving us residents rooted.
MumOf3_Welly
That petition is a fantastic idea. It's hard enough getting kids ready for school without being woken by leaf blowers!
wayne1987
My flatmate is rooting for the ban. Personally, I think it's all a piss-take. These folks need real hobbies.
eco_warrior_123
Guys, why are we talking about leaf blowers when the real issue is climate change? Priorities, people.
couchgremlin
Couches are gross.