What does the ARC do?

The Auckland Regional Council Group (ARC Group) manages the region’s air and water quality, its growth and development, regional parks, public transport, the coastal and marine environment, and natural and cultural heritage sites.

The ARC works towards ensuring the region’s development meets present needs without closing off options for future generations.

The ARC’s Vision

The Auckland region – a great place to live.
Ko papatuanuku te matua o te tangata.
The ARC’s Mission

Working in partnership with our regional community to achieve social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being.
Toitu te marae o Tane
Toitu te marae o Tangaroa
Toitu te iwi
How does the ARC plan to achieve its objectives?

The Auckland Regional Council has two strategic plans.

* The Annual Plan 2007/08 sets out plans for this year (July 2007 to June 2008). This plan is based on year two of the Long-Term Council Community Plan and includes amendments to that ten-year plan.
* The Long-Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) The LTCCP 2006-16 is a ten-year plan that identifies the role that the ARC will play in achieving a sustainable, liveable and prosperous region.

The ARC’s role and activities

* Statutory requirements
* Governance Responsibilities
* Regional Strategies
* Regional Community Outcomes

The ARC can be found here www.arc.govt.nz

Giapo can now be found at http://gelato.co.nz

A little while back I asked the question “Can going to an ice cream store be called an event” now I’m going to ask “Can going to an ice cream store make you healthy?”.

The answer I found out is yes!

So not only can going to an ice cream store be called an event, it can now also make you healthy.

Heres what the owner of Giapo has to say

Every week we will meet at Giapo at 6pm to go Jogging.

This is about you ( and me) that we like to have our giapo every so often but we also want to have a healthy lifestyle. I am conscious that there is no Giapo if you are not healthy and fit. Therefore from one side we have all our products organic and additives free, from another side we want you to exercise and get fit or we might start stopping you from having your fix.

I personally want to become healthier and you can become healthier with me! Together we can have fun and start this new form of fitness centered socialization.

Just bring your iPod with you and we will meet every Tuesday at 6pm outside the store. We leave at 6.15.
Next Tuesday we will go to the viaduct moving towards the Vodafone building and then back to Giapo again.

So come along, get fit and enjoy a great community event.

Visit the Giapo Website

It can if that store is Giapo on Queen St.

Ask the 1700 people following @giapo on twitter or the nearly 4000 fans on face book if going to Giapo is an experience that is great enough to be called an event and I am sure you will get a resounding yes.

I experienced Giapo for the first time yesterday and lets just say I had to go back a second time in the same day. What a place, the vibe is incredible, the Gelato and Sorbets are fantastic…actually lets say amazing instead.

I tried three yesterday, a heavenly dark chocolate Sorbet that has no dairy in it. If you like chocolate you will love this. It is rich and absolutely devine if you are a chocoholic.

I also had the organic Macadamia which I thought was nothing short of spectacular and even though I am a chocoholic I felt this was my favorite.

Gianpaolo said “my friend you must try this”  which was the Hazelnut and that too was just gorgeous.

My story does not stop there though, yes the sorbets and Gelato’s are delicious and yes they are made from fantastic organic ingredients and yes there are no artificial additives in Gianpaolos ice creams however Gianpaolo and his team are what make going to @giapo an experience worthy enough to call an event.

When you are in the store you can take a video of your self and post it to you tube, soon you will be able to do this to Face book, the store is bright and shiny and everybody is happy. It is a fantastic place to hang out and watch Auckland go by while having a great time nibbling away on your favorite sorbet.

One of Auckland’s most popular summer events, the Auckland Lantern Festival brings Chinese New Year celebrations to a glowing finale with hundreds of beautiful lanterns, including brand new designs from China.

This year will be Auckland’s 11th Lantern Festival to welcome in the new Year of the Tiger.

There will be performers from New Zealand and overseas, dozens of authentic food stalls as well as crafts, fortune-telling, fireworks and martial arts displays.  Hundreds of beautiful feature lanterns are specially imported from China for the festival.

Auckland City Council organise the Auckland Lantern Festival in partnership with the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Entries have sold out for the 2009 adidas Auckland Marathon and Half Marathon, but entries are still available in the quarter marathon, 5km walk or the all new kids marathon.

Anyone can take part, from the elite runner through to the recreational runner who wants to achieve a personal fitness goal or finish time.

A live show by The Black Eyed Peas is not one you’ll forget overnight. The band’s last tour drew rave reviews for their originality and ability to shatter expectations.

Location: Motions Road, Western Springs. Ph: (09) 360 3800

Location: Corner of Victoria and Federal St, Auckland Central. Ph: (09) 363 6000.