Anzac Day opening planned for historic Hanmer building
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The restoration of the historic Soldiers’ Block in Hanmer Springs is on track to be completed in time for Anzac Day 2025.
Hurunui mayor Marie Black says she is excited at the prospect of unveiling the restored building, given the building’s history.
The Soldiers’ Block was opened in 1916 to rehabilitate soldiers returning from World War I, and was later used as a drug and alcohol treatment facility.
The site also has cultural significance for Ngāti Kurī, with the council working closely with Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura.
The project is part of a $3.5 million redevelopment of the Queen Mary Historic Reserve and includes earthquake strengthening and restoring the building for public use.
‘‘There is a real sense of excitement in the community and not just in Hanmer,’’ Black said.
‘‘People have been coming up and asking about it at community events, so I think it is quite special from a district-wide perspective.’’
Local firm O’Brien Construction was granted the contract to create a multi use community space in the middle of the building.
All going to plan, the wharenui will be available to Ngāti Kurī to occupy by Anzac Day, and the two octagons will be ready to use, but not fitted out.
Community groups from Hanmer Springs and the wider region were starting to think about how they might use the space, Black said.
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said it had been a long journey, since the buildings were signed over to the council in 2010.
The $3.5 million project is being funded by a Lotteries grant, $1.5m from the Government’s Better Off funding, development contributions and a grant from the council’s Earthquake Prone Buildings Fund.
A 2022 report, prepared as part of a concept plan developed by Weta Workshop, of Wellington, says Hanmer Springs was known as Te Whaka takaka o te karehu o te ahi a Tamatea (the resting place of the embers of the fires of Tamatea).
The thermal reserve was recognised as a place of regeneration and healing, making it a sacred place for Ngāti Kurī.
Stage two of the project involves turning the two Soldiers’ Block octagons into museum spaces to recognise the site’s heritage.
It would require the community to raise a further $6m, the council’s chief strategy and community officer, Judith Batchelor, said.
‘‘The vision is to potentially create something similar to the New Zealand experience at Le Quesnoy in France.’’
Staff plan to bring a report to the council later this month to ask for funding, in the form of a loan to be paid off through fundraising, and approval to establish a community trust.
The council is also proposing to build a new sports pavilion on the site and has budgeted $400,000 in the long-term plan.
■ 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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49.5% Yes
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48.6% No
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1.9% Other - I'll share below
Education changes: Area schools ‘copping it from all directions’
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A North Canterbury principal says area schools are ‘‘copping it from all directions’’ with Government changes to education.
Amuri Area School principal Matt Barlow has written to Education Minister Erica Stanford to ask whether the pace of change can be slowed down.
Area schools cover all year levels from new entrants to year 13, tend to be smaller and are based in rural areas, meaning they face pressures to implement curriculum changes across the board.
‘‘Schools like Rangiora High School don’t have to worry about year 1 to 3 literacy and numeracy, and primary schools don’t have to worry about changes to NCEA.
‘‘We are a bit of an afterthought. Area schools are like an airport and principals are like air traffic controllers, with planes coming from all directions.’’
While some rural school rolls are falling, Amuri Area School is managing a growing roll.
The roll has jumped from 335 to 380 students since the start of 2023, which includes its largest roll of year 7s (50) and year 13s (22).
Barlow said the school is working with the Ministry of Education to design a new building for science, technology and arts classes.
No budget or timeframe has been decided.
Amuri Area School is in Culverden, on the way to Hanmer Springs, and the relative isolation adds to the challenges.
The relief teacher pool is limited, meaning Barlow and his two deputy principals have had to step into the classroom several times this year.
Roger Hornblow became principal at Cheviot Area School in term four last year, having been a long serving primary school principal.
‘‘Area schools are very complex and I don’t think it is appreciated by everybody.
‘‘We are dealing with the NCEA changes and the year 0 to 8 changes. It is really complex.
‘‘But that is part and parcel of the beast and we need to make sure we do it in a way which give students the best outcomes.’’
It means professional development is constant, and Hornblow is pleased with how his staff are stepping up.
He would like to see ‘‘a unified education policy’’ which did not change every time there is a change of Government.
The New Zealand Education Institute Te Riu Roa and the New Zealand Principals' Federation also called on the Government last week to slow down the implementation of new structured math and English curriculum.
New NCEA literacy and numeracy online tests have also come under fire from secondary school principals around the country.
Education Minister Erica Stanford said extra support is being provided to area schools in North Canterbury, with curriculum advisors visiting schools, assisting with teacher only days and providing webinars.
The schools also have the support of the ministry's area school leadership advisor Stephen Beck, who is taking a year out from his role as principal at Hurunui College.
"Support will be ongoing as the local team looks to ensure our rural area schools have the assistance they require to implement and embed these changes."
But she said introducing structured literacy and numeracy will take time, especially for schools teaching it for the first time.
"Embedding a curriculum refresh, running professional development and responding to our sector feedback are things we will work on together over the coming years."
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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