Vaping at high school drops after sensors installed
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A Canterbury high school says vaping use has gone down significantly since vaping sensors were installed a year ago.
Rangiora High School installed sensors with cameras in toilet corridors in August last year in a bid to stamp out increasing problems with vaping and anti-social behaviour.
One year on, acting principal Remihana Emery said it is now ‘‘very rare’’ for the sensors to go off and there are fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour.
‘‘Kids will be kids and try what they try, we were no different.
‘‘It is really about informing our kids about the risks so they can make informed decisions.’’
Emery said the message seemed to be getting through, as most students now understood the risks.
‘‘But we can’t take our foot off the accelerator.’’
The sensors have cameras, which are triggered by the vapour to take a photo.
When students were caught, the school supported them and their parents to help them give up vaping.
Board of trustees presiding member Simon Green said the sensors were expensive, but he is pleased with the outcome.
‘‘The board is really supportive of the initiatives the leadership team is taking and we are pleased the students can now use the toilets for their intended purpose.’’
Rangiora High School has also been part of a pilot programme to use digital technology to help young people give up vaping.
Ignite Aotearoa and oVRcome have joined forces to pilot a virtual reality programme in four secondary schools, including Shirley Intermediate School (Christchurch), Wellington College and Tangaroa College (Auckland).
Young people are given access to clinical desensitisation therapy via a virtual reality headset linked to their smartphones.
Kaiapoi High School chose not to install vaping sensors, but principal Jason Reid said vaping use at school had decreased.
‘‘Since the beginning of the year our vaping stats have gone down to 10 percent of what there used to be.
‘‘A big part of that is being caught.’’
Reid said the school treated vaping as a public health issue and used restorative processes, working with the student and their parents.
‘‘When we have an open discussion around the table with parents they tend to be more honest.
‘‘After all, you don’t have to hide it - you’ve been caught.
‘‘There are still consequences, especially if they are repeat offenders, but the aim is to remove the harmful behaviour.’’
Reid said the focus was on supporting students to give up vaping.
There had been some push back from students who said they didn’t want to quit, but it had more to do with addiction, he said.
Vaping, like smoking, is banned in schools, but it is proving to be addictive, which leads to anxiety, increased impulses and irritation as students crave their next hit.
Not enough is known about the long term health impacts of vaping, Reid said.
Families could get support from their GP and their were resources on the Smokefree NZ website.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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Proposed Canterbury landfill faces huge opposition
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 500 submissions have been received in response to a proposed managed fill landfill in North Canterbury.
Christchurch-based Protranz International Ltd has applied to Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council for resource consents to establish and operate a quarry and landfill operation at White Rock.
Waimakariri District Council planning manager Wendy Harris said the applicant was up against ‘‘probably the most organised local group I’ve ever seen’’.
‘‘They organised a protest march, they’ve got signs all around and they’ve got a website and a Facebook page.’’
She said the 548 submissions was more than the 421 submissions to the draft Waimakariri District Plan, which was notified in 2021.
A proposed housing development at Ohoka, near Rangiora, in 2022 received 630 submissions.
While the details of the submissions have yet to be released, it is understood the majority are opposed.
Harris said planners from the two councils will plan joint hearings early next year.
More than 100 people marched from Southbrook in Rangiora to the Waimakariri District Council lawn in High St in September to express their opposition.
Organiser Mike McCaleb said residents are concerned about the potential environmental damage to the Karetu River, which feeds into the Okuku River, and then the Ashley/Rakahuri River.
He said he was surprised there were not more submissions but said he was aware of several people who had issues with Environment Canterbury’s website timing out.
‘‘It will be interesting to see the details of the submissions.’’
Protranz is seeking to restore the Whiterock Quarry, at 150 and 174 Quarry Rd, North Loburn, to near its previous landform, by filling it with managed fill, building and demolition waste and contaminated soil material, including asbestos.
The company bought Whiterock Quarry in 2022 with plans to fill it with soils and inert construction rubble removed from building and land development sites in Christchurch and North Canterbury, which are sent to Kate Valley Landfill.
‘‘Sending this stuff to Kate Valley adds a massive cost to developers, homeowners and community organisations who have dirt to move, and fills Kate Valley with material that can be better managed somewhere else,’’ Protranz founder Gerard Daldry said.
He said Protranz commissioned a wide range of testing including site investigations, technical assessments and design of the managed fill to support the resource consent applications.
The reports found environmental risks were ‘‘extremely low and able to be mitigated’’, Daldry said.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.3% Yes
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14.2% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
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