Ban proposal upsets Fish & Game
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Fish and Game is unimpressed with a proposal to ban hunting dogs from the Ashley Rakahuri River estuary during duck shooting season.
The Waimakariri District Council is consulting on a new Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw, which includes banning all dogs on the spit and the Ashley Rakahuri River and Saltwater Creek estuary.
The bylaw governs what activities are allowed on the district’s beaches.
The new rules will remove an exemption which has allowed holders of Fish and Game hunting licenses to take their dogs into the estuary area during gamebird hunting season.
The measures are designed to protect ecological values and bird habitats around the estuary and wetlands.
But Fish and Game North Canterbury game bird specialist Matt Garrick was not impressed with the proposed ban.
He said he corresponded with the council a year ago, but had not had any further contact.
‘‘I explained that duck season does not overlap during critical, sensitive periods, such as nesting, so there would be no conflict with dogs used for game bird hunting.’’
He said he requested data to demonstrate game bird hunting and dogs in the winter was having an effect on the estuary's bird life, but had heard nothing further.
The estuary is home to threatened bird species including wrybills, black-bill gulls, banded dotterels, black-fronted terns and pied oystercatchers, some of which are also endangered.
A council spokesperson said staff reached out to Fish and Game North Canterbury in January and May last year to inform the organisation it was conducting a review of the bylaw.
‘‘Based on feedback we received from the public consultation on the bylaw, which ran for three months over summer of 2023-24, we are now proposing to exclude all dogs and this would include hunting dogs.
‘‘We welcome any feedback on the proposed changes to the bylaw from Fish and Game and any other group or individual.’’
Submissions can be made at letstalk.waimakariri.govt.nz... until June 14.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
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49.2% Yes
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48.9% No
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1.9% Other - I'll share below
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Rangiora school’s Te Whare Mātauranga aims to boost arts, culture
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School is investing in arts and culture with a new learning whare, as the principal looks to support a growing community.
The school’s much anticipated Te Whare Mātauranga (house of learning) is due to open in term four, while a community performing arts centre is also proposed.
The Government has told schools to focus on literacy and numeracy, but acting principal Remihana Emery, himself a maths teacher, said there was still merit in arts and culture.
The $1.2 million, multi-purpose Te Whare Mātauranga is being fully funded by the school’s board of trustees.
‘‘The whare is waiting on some minor things to be completed and we are hoping to open it in term four,’’ Emery said.
‘‘It is a great investment for the school and the community.’’
The 171 square metre whare has an ‘‘imposing’’ frontage, and will be used for cultural and community events.
It will have a multi-use cultural and teaching space equivalent to 1.5 classrooms, a wet room / dining space and a huge 51m2 north-facing verandah.
The teaching space will be big enough for 35 students.
As an auditorium, it will seat 65 people, while 30 could be seated in the dining room.
The whare is located on Wales St at the northwest corner of the school grounds, facing Mt Grey.
Board of trustees presiding member Simon Green said the school worked closely with Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga in planning the whare.
‘‘We are really pleased with how it is coming along.
‘‘Our intention is for every student to spend time in the building during the year and to understand the significance of it.’’
He said the school’s Māori department will move into the new whare building, which will mean moving it back on to the main site rather than being housed in an old prefab across the road.
A sub-committee has been formed to develop a proposed 800-seat performing arts centre / auditorium which is likely to cost $10-12 million.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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