Richard Taki (centre) with two of his volunteers Balloons, bins and barriers are lining Ponsonby Rd as it’s readied for tonight’s Auckland Pride Parade. People are being prevented from parking along the central Auckland strip ahead of the road’s full closure to traffic at about 3pm. The GABA Glamstand is taking shape and a few floats are in very early stages of preparation in back streets. Vegetable and fruit collection bins are in place as part of the response to the fruit fly discovery in neighbouring Grey Lynn (see below for more info). It’s becoming more and more overcast and very humid, with dark clouds to the north and west. However parade director Richard Taki’s forecasters are telling him that although there’ll be rain probably around the Herne Bay area and perhaps over the harbour, there is unlikely to be rain in the actual Grey Lynn and Ponsonby area itself. If there is rain it will be just ‘a few spits’ and there is definitely no need to delay or cancel the parade. Taki is expecting the first volunteers to arrive and get to work imminently. A message from the Ministry for Primary Industries: An isolated population of the Queensland fruit fly has been found in Grey Lynn (Auckland). The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has set up a ‘Controlled Area’ within which the movement of fruit and vegetables is restricted. This is to ensure that fruit flies are not spread. Whole fresh fruit and vegetables (except for leafy vegetables and root vegetables) cannot be moved outside of the Controlled Area. Full information about the rules can be found at www.mpi.govt.nz To check whether or not you are in an area affected by movement restrictions – enter your address into our interactive map at http://esam.co.nz/fruitfly/
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 21st February 2015 - 1:03pm