Local business hero 'not just a regular pharmacist'
A “delightfully different character” with a great sense of humour and a friendly manner is how customers describe Kaiapoi’s local business hero.
Robert Fenwick, the owner of Fenwicks Pharmacy in Kaiapoi, Canterbury, is the national winner of the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero award.
The award recognises community heroes who own small businesses throughout New Zealand.
Fenwicks Pharmacy was passed down to Fenwick from his father when he retired in 1985.
He has seen many changes in technology and treatments over his 37 years of running a pharmacy.
Fenwick said the toughest times were during the Canterbury earthquakes and the Covid-19 pandemic.
To ensure customer safety after the earthquakes, the pharmacy operated out of a caravan parked at the front of the premises.
Like for most businesses, the start of the pandemic was a “scary” time for Fenwick, though he acknowledged pharmacies, as essential busineses, had been “lucky economically”.
“I feel for all those workers that are struggling.”
Fenwick was “very surprised” to hear he had been nominated for the local hero award.
“There are plenty of other heroes out there. I’m thankful. I appreciate the community.”
He did not want to take all the credit, saying the pharmacy worked as a team.
Kaiapoi resident Michael Mckay said he had never left Fenwicks Pharmacy without a smile on his face.
“Rob’s a delightfully different character with a great sense of humour. The staff are all wonderful, professional and happy. They always pick you up,” Mckay said.
Fenwick was recognised by his community for his ongoing service and support through some of country’s toughest times. Fenwicks Pharmacy remained open throughout the lockdowns and, despite the challenge that brought, the community appreciated the team’s friendly greetings, conversations and smiles.
Regular customer Nadia Bell said Fenwick went out of his way to help his customers.
“He’ll provide you not only with a good belly laugh but extra valuable knowledge. He’s not a regular pharmacist, he will go out of his way to acknowledge you even when he’s under the pump,” Bell said.
The Prospa Local Business Hero awards is in partnership with Neighbourly. A small business owner is nominated each year for the award and wins a package worth $10,000 including $2500 worth of Neighbourly advertising, $5000 worth of Stuff advertising and $2500 cash.
Head of Neighbourly Sarah Moore, said a pharmacy winning the award demonstrated “the value Kiwis place on their connection with their local pharmacist”.
“They're often the first port of call for minor ailments and hold a position of real trust in our communities”.
Adrienne Begbie, managing director of Prospa NZ, said it is great to celebrate hard-working small business owners for their service and support of the community
“We hope this award displays the appreciation felt by the local residents for [Robert Fenwick’s] dedication to the community with service that goes above and beyond, especially witnessed during lockdowns.
“We would also like to acknowledge all those nominated, and hope many business owners felt the gratitude expressed by those took the time to vote.”
Waimakariri district plan faces more delays amid changing rules
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Changing Government legislation is causing headaches for council staff, as Waimakariri’s new District Plan is set to be delayed again.
Waimakariri District Council development planning manager Matt Bacon said he was relieved when the last of the public hearings ended last week.
But with final council reports due on December 13, staff will have just two working days to present the final District Plan on December 17. A district plan helps to control and manage the development of the district or city.
‘‘We are working through what it looks like and we will update the council at its meeting on December 3,’’ Bacon said.
‘‘But we will likely seek another extension from the environment minister and the Resource Management Act (RMA) minister.’’
The council first notified its draft District Plan in September 2021, but within months legislation was introduced with new medium density residential housing standards (MDRS).
‘‘We needed to call for further submissions and we had to create a separate hearing panel to consider the plan variations to allow for the MDRS,’’ Bacon said.
‘‘We have tried to merge the process as much as possible, as well as looking at re-zoning and incorporating other new legislation.’’
When the draft plan was first notified there was no National Policy Statement (NPS) for Indigenous Biodiversity, but an NPS was introduced - and then replaced.
The Natural and Built Environment Act came into being last year and then repealed, and then there is the NPS on Urban Development and the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan.
The Government is now working on more RMA reforms and Environment Canterbury is working on the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement.
And then there is the Fast-Track Approvals Bill, which includes three proposed housing developments in Waimakariri - two of them outside of the future urban development areas identified in the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan.
All three housing developments in the Bill have been included in submissions to the District Plan, including a proposed 850-home development at Ohoka, near Rangiora, which is also subject to an Environment Court appeal.
‘‘We haven’t seen the detail, so whether it is the same proposals, we don’t know, but they are different processes so we have to just keep doing what we are doing, until we are told otherwise,’’ Bacon said.
‘‘It might just be a timing thing, but we just don’t know.’’
Bacon said delaying the District Plan until new legislation is in place is not an option.
‘‘We are looking at what we can control and having a watching brief, and we will look at transitional timings because we don’t always have to immediately change planning documents when new legislation comes in.’’
Planning manager Wendy Harris said navigating changing Government legislation is a normal part of council planning work.
‘‘If we waited we wouldn’t do anything and we would go nowhere.’’
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
The tiger who came to tea
Trays are such a useful item to have in the home – they are obviously great for serving food and drinks, particularly breakfast in bed! Find out how to create your own with Resene wallpaper and Resene Colorwood wood stain with these easy step by step instructions.
Loading…
