Ashburton District, Ashburton

Have you got your tickets yet?

Have you got your tickets yet?

For just $15, you could win a fully furnished home in Clarks Beach, Auckland worth over $1 million. Buy your tickets today!

426 days ago

‘Absolutely fabulous’ recognition from Aged Advisor

Ngaio Marsh Retirement Village

Ryman Healthcare has again been recognised as a top provider at the 2023 Aged Advisor ‘People Choice Awards’.

This year Ryman was selected as a finalist for Best Provider Nationwide, and Diana Isaac took home Best Large Retirement Village / Lifestyle Village.

The awards, run by … View more
Ryman Healthcare has again been recognised as a top provider at the 2023 Aged Advisor ‘People Choice Awards’.

This year Ryman was selected as a finalist for Best Provider Nationwide, and Diana Isaac took home Best Large Retirement Village / Lifestyle Village.

The awards, run by agedadvisor.co.nz are based on almost 11,300 reviews and ratings for more than 890 facilities. Over 1600 of those in-depth reviews went towards this year’s awards.

Ryman took home the top prize in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. As a finalist this year Aged Advisor voters recognise Ryman’s continued growth and efforts within the aged care sector.

Click to read more.

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427 days ago

What's your favourite Christmas dish?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours, surely it's not too soon to think of this most wonderful time of the year. In fact, we're looking for recipes for your favourite Christmas dishes, whether it's your mum's pavlova, grilled tiger prawns or a colourful summer salad, to feature in the magazine. … View moreDear neighbours, surely it's not too soon to think of this most wonderful time of the year. In fact, we're looking for recipes for your favourite Christmas dishes, whether it's your mum's pavlova, grilled tiger prawns or a colourful summer salad, to feature in the magazine. Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by October 29, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the December issue of NZ Gardener.

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438 days ago

Got a Nice Neighbour?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We’re looking for the nicest neighbours in town, and Pam Driver of Burswood has shared her lovely neighbours, David and Lara Hurst, saying they “are just wonderful”.

This year, Pam had a missing cat, which was quite out of character. Driver let the Hursts know, and they joined the search, … View more
We’re looking for the nicest neighbours in town, and Pam Driver of Burswood has shared her lovely neighbours, David and Lara Hurst, saying they “are just wonderful”.

This year, Pam had a missing cat, which was quite out of character. Driver let the Hursts know, and they joined the search, successfully locating him in the gap between the ceiling and roof of their neighbour’s house.

Pam said “They rescued him and brought him home to me... complete with some scratches! I hate to think what would have happened had he not been found”.

Pam nominated the Hursts to let them know she is thankful for them: “It’s so good to know I have such caring neighbours who have my back. Thank you neighbours!”

Nominate someone in your hood, and your special neighbour could feature on Stuff and Neighbourly as an inspiration to us all (plus there are prizes to be won!).

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428 days ago

Have you got your tickets yet?

Heart Foundation

Don’t miss out! For only $15 a ticket, you could be in to win this Jennian home in the Coromandel's beautiful Whitianga worth over $1 million. Featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two outdoor decks and an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, this home is waiting to be lived in and … View moreDon’t miss out! For only $15 a ticket, you could be in to win this Jennian home in the Coromandel's beautiful Whitianga worth over $1 million. Featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two outdoor decks and an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, this home is waiting to be lived in and loved by its new owners.

Make this property your permanent residence, a holiday home, rent it or even sell it – it could be all yours! Be in to win by purchasing your tickets today.
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431 days ago

Best Shows to Stream this Labour Long Weekend!

The Team from NZ Compare

Hello Neighbours, are you ready for a relaxing Labor Day long weekend?

If you're looking for some leisurely activities, we've got just the thing – a selection of fantastic shows to enjoy from the comfort of your home!

PLUS, we've got the scoop on broadband providers … View more
Hello Neighbours, are you ready for a relaxing Labor Day long weekend?

If you're looking for some leisurely activities, we've got just the thing – a selection of fantastic shows to enjoy from the comfort of your home!

PLUS, we've got the scoop on broadband providers offering FREE streaming subscriptions! Let's dive in!

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431 days ago
431 days ago

Safer Speed Plan

Christchurch City Council

Lower speeds can saves lives and prevent serious injury. Reducing the speed vehicles travel makes a major difference in a crash. People make mistakes on our roads, and those mistakes shouldn’t cost our neighbours, whānau or pets their lives.

We're asking for … View more
Lower speeds can saves lives and prevent serious injury. Reducing the speed vehicles travel makes a major difference in a crash. People make mistakes on our roads, and those mistakes shouldn’t cost our neighbours, whānau or pets their lives.

We're asking for feedback on a Draft Safer Speed Plan which sets out a three-year implementation plan and 10-year vision for safe speed areas in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.

To read the plan and give feedback by 25 October visit our website.
Find out more

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435 days ago

Poll: Can you paint a shared fence?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

A common neighbourhood quandary is the shared fence and we wonder what you would do... Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.

Your fence needs a paint but it's a fence that is shared with your … View more
A common neighbourhood quandary is the shared fence and we wonder what you would do... Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.

Your fence needs a paint but it's a fence that is shared with your neighbour's property. Do you...

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Can you paint a shared fence?
  • 78.7% Paint just your side and try not to drip paint on theirs
    78.7% Complete
  • 1% Paint both sides while they’re not home
    1% Complete
  • 17.6% Offer to paint the neighbour’s side so it matches
    17.6% Complete
  • 2.8% Decide not to paint it at all as you don’t want to cause conflict
    2.8% Complete
1827 votes
432 days ago

Vote for People's Choice Awards!

The Team from NZ Compare

Wondering about your power, broadband and mobile providers? It's time to have your say!

Voting for the PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS in the Power, Broadband and Mobile categories is now open. Click below to VOTE NOW!

Share your voice and VOTE for who you think deserves to WIN … View more
Wondering about your power, broadband and mobile providers? It's time to have your say!

Voting for the PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS in the Power, Broadband and Mobile categories is now open. Click below to VOTE NOW!

Share your voice and VOTE for who you think deserves to WIN People's Choice - Power, Broadband and Mobile in New Zealand.
Voting ends on November 17th, 2023.

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432 days ago

Is Three Waters dead under National? Ashburton mayor says not quite

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Three waters reform isn’t dead and buried with a change in Government, Ashburton’s mayor Neil Brown says.

“Three waters reform is not dead, it is just going to be done differently.”

As politicians begin wheeling and dealing to seal the … View more
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Three waters reform isn’t dead and buried with a change in Government, Ashburton’s mayor Neil Brown says.

“Three waters reform is not dead, it is just going to be done differently.”

As politicians begin wheeling and dealing to seal the balance of power after the election, it’s business as usual for local government.

At least while they await the new direction from the incoming National-led Government.

“There will be a few things set to change, and Three Waters is probably the biggest one,” Brown said.

“National have said they would repeal it as soon as they could and start work on what the reforms should look like in conjunction with councils."

National has a 100-day action plan that includes scrapping Labour’s affordable water reforms, featuring a co-governed mega-entities model.

Under National's plan, councils will retain the ownership of water assets under stronger government oversight, including requiring councils to put aside money for water infrastructure.

Another big piece of legislation in National’s sights is the Resource Management Act reforms.

“What’s drafted is not what most people want and work needs to be done on that to make it more acceptable,” Brown said.

Following the election results, Brown contacted new Rangitata MP James Meager to congratulate him and thanked outgoing MP Jo Luxton for her support. Luxton is in line to remain in Parliament as a Labour list MP.

He also sent messages to incoming Prime Minister Chris Luxon and the likely new Transport Minister Simeon Brown.

The two Browns will be set to discuss the plans for Ashburton’s second bridge, a project National has committed to starting in its first term.

The Labour Government included the bridge in the draft Government Policy Statement on land transport.

National will issue its own revised draft to incorporate its roads of national significance and public transport projects.

Given National's election pledge to build the second bridge, mayor Brown was confident it will stay there.

“The existing draft GPS lines up with what National promised so there shouldn’t be any tinkering there.”

All the work has been done for the second bridge project to hopefully start next year, he said.

“All that needs to be done is the detailed design and go out for tender.

“It shouldn’t take too much time but it won’t start until after July 1 next year when the new GPS comes in.”

National has also promised to work on replacing the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2022.

That could result in a change to the rules that forced the council to impose 30kph permanent speed areas outside of urban schools.

National could introduce 30kph limits within specific timeframes, which isn’t currently an option, Brown said.

433 days ago

New Ashburton half marathon gets a leg up

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

A funding boost is helping an Ashburton rugby club get a new half marathon event up and running.
The Allenton Rugby Club is holding the inaugural Ashburton River Trail half marathon event on March 2, 2024.

Event organiser Ryan Jameson said a group… View more
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

A funding boost is helping an Ashburton rugby club get a new half marathon event up and running.
The Allenton Rugby Club is holding the inaugural Ashburton River Trail half marathon event on March 2, 2024.

Event organiser Ryan Jameson said a group came up with the idea for a running event along the river trail and quickly partnered with the rugby club.

“The location, facilities, and accessibility to the track made it the perfect place.”

Entrants will run along the established track by the Ashburton/Hakatere River, starting and finishing at the club’s adjoining grounds.

There will be a 5km event on the Friday night and the 10km and 21km events on the Saturday, followed by a social function at the clubrooms.

Organisers will look to add a full marathon in the future, taking runners from the rugby club all the way to the coast and back, Jameson said.

“The aim is to make it an annual event and entice runners from all over the country to Ashburton for a weekend to compete.

“To our knowledge, it’s the only sort of running event of its type in Ashburton.

“The river track is a hidden gem and this is an opportunity to showcase that.”

Many consider it a bike trail, but it's also a great running track, he said.

Jameson said the Hakatere River Trail users group deserved a lot of credit for the state of it.

The Ashburton District Council helped organisers by directing them to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Regional Event Fund.

The river trail marathon was one of nine Mid Canterbury events to receive a grant from the fund, which was set up to kickstart local events that support cross-regional tourism recovery.

A $30,600 grant for the event would help attract visitors from outside the district.

Hemsworth Estate, an Edwardian Villa just out of Ashburton, received a $4000 grant to hold a Bridgerton Ball, for fans of the Netflix series Bridgerton.

Bridgerton Balls have been held in Auckland and Hamilton but this is the first for the South Island.

Council compliance and development group manager Jane Donaldson said there were 17 applications and the successful ones were decided by a panel including council and community representatives.

“There were some great events seeking grants, so it was a hard job.

“It was clear though, that local groups and businesses are back in the event business and that is great to see.

The Regional Event Fund aims to help events that will boost visitors to local businesses.

"These visitors stay on and shop, eat at local restaurants and explore the district," Donaldson said.

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Regional Event Fund grants:
Ashburton Rowing Club: $4000 for rowing regattas
Hemsworth Estate: $4000 to run Bridgerton Ball
Allenton Rugby Football Club: $4000 for Ashburton River Trail Marathon
Mid Canterbury Vintage Machinery Club: $3000 for Wheat and Wheels Rally
Dynamic Gymnastics Sports: $4000 for three events
Ashburton Aviation Museum and Society: $7000 for Militaria and Aviation Extravaganza
Methven and Foothills Walking Festival: $1000
Mid Canterbury Netball: $2400 for senior tournament
Multicultural Bite: $1200 for annual event on Waitangi Day

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434 days ago

WIN $100 Prezzy Card

The Team from NZ Compare

WIN 1 of 5 $100 Prezzy Cards - It's just a few clicks away!
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WIN 1 of 5 $100 Prezzy Cards - It's just a few clicks away!
Simply complete our EASY PriceMe survey and get ready to win big!
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But that's not all – your insights will help us create the best deals for Black Friday, tailored just for you.
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434 days ago

Landowners contacted as Significant Natural Areas identified in Mid Canterbury

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Five landowners have already been contacted as Significant Natural Areas (SNA) are identified in Mid Canterbury.

The SNA process has been contentious in other parts of the country, particularly in Northland and the West Coast, as greater … View more
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Five landowners have already been contacted as Significant Natural Areas (SNA) are identified in Mid Canterbury.

The SNA process has been contentious in other parts of the country, particularly in Northland and the West Coast, as greater restrictions can be placed on designated land.

In Mid Canterbury the process is in its infancy, but is building on previous environmental provisions.

It is not known how many private properties could be affected, but five letters have already gone out to landowners in the region, the Ashburton District Council confirmed.

The council started a survey earlier this year of existing areas of significant nature conservation value (ASCV) that could be deemed SNAs.

Council compliance and development group manager Jane Donaldson said the move came in anticipation of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB), which has recently come into force.

This policy statement directed councils to have consistent approaches in their policies, plans and strategies to maintain indigenous biodiversity.

"The survey is currently an audit of existing SNAs, referred to as ASCV’s, but it also has crossover with council’s responsibilities under the NPSIB, and also council’s draft biodiversity strategy.”

The process of identifying SNAs was still under development, with the council required to identify SNAs by 2028, Donaldson said.

It was unknown how many landowners in Mid Canterbury are likely to be affected, she said.

“It is expected that affected owners will initially be contacted individually”.

So far five letters had been sent out, Donaldson said, noting that some additional land was within the conservation estate.

A copy of a letter to affected property owners provided by the council outlined how it was undertaking an initial assessment of the existing ASCVs and “has discovered some areas where further investigation is needed”.

“In some cases, this might be because of vegetation change, but in others, it might be because of errors in the initial creation of the overlay maps.

“There is the possibility that these might be creating unnecessary regulatory hurdles or risks for farming operations,” the letter stated.

The letter also explained that due to the NPSIB, the council “may have to take a district-wide look at biodiversity” to ensure its existing mapping is correct and accurate.

The preference is “for this to be a collaborative project between council and landowners.”

Eventually, a Resource Management Act process would need to be followed to seek any changes in the District Plan, Donaldson said.

The District Plan, adopted in 2014, has provisions regarding ASCVs – listing 67 sites across the district, but the current project and related work may result in changes, Donaldson said.

“But these are yet to be developed and would also require a Resource Management Act process to be considered”.

Local iwi have been briefed and approached for discussion about involvement in the process, but those discussions are yet to occur, Donaldson said.

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EXPLAINER: What is an SNA?

Significant Natural Areas are considered to be areas of New Zealand’s most important remnants of native habitat that must be protected to ensure the ongoing biodiversity of the country.

The Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 requires that they are protected.

It refers to "the protection of areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna" - or SNAs.

The term 'significant' is not defined by the Resource Management Act, and its ambiguity has resulted in confusion among resource managers and users, as well as national disparity in approach to the identification of SNAs.

Councils around the country are responsible for identifying SNAs in their territory, and because of that issue around "significant", each council can apply different standards when assessing SNAs.

Part of the public concern about SNAs is that most are on private land, and those who own that land are worried about losing it, or the land itself losing its value and adding complications for owners.

Existing practices in or near SNAs will generally be able to continue, but restrictions will apply if a landowner wants to use the land for a new activity, and therefore need to apply for consent.

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436 days ago

Hi help wanted for wind blown out fence in Oxford **** job done by Todd Property services ****

Bill from Oxford

looking for some one that can repair a wind damaged, mine and Neighbours's side boundary fence that ,the corrugated iron has been blowen off of the broken (rotten wood) fence railings so , requires new rails supplied and fitted ,small amount of the iron sheets need straighten. Maybe half … View morelooking for some one that can repair a wind damaged, mine and Neighbours's side boundary fence that ,the corrugated iron has been blowen off of the broken (rotten wood) fence railings so , requires new rails supplied and fitted ,small amount of the iron sheets need straighten. Maybe half adays work cash if required ,need done a.s.a.p to keep our dog on in our section
please phone or text Bill on 027 5204264

434 days ago

Not everyone is looking forward to Christmas.

Christmas Box

Right now, kiwi families are facing some really big challenges and many find themselves struggling to make ends meet. For some, this will mean Christmas won't be a time to celebrate.

This Christmas, give the gift of hope. With a $40 donation, you have an opportunity to help those who need … View more
Right now, kiwi families are facing some really big challenges and many find themselves struggling to make ends meet. For some, this will mean Christmas won't be a time to celebrate.

This Christmas, give the gift of hope. With a $40 donation, you have an opportunity to help those who need it most. With Christmas Box, 100% of donations go to not only feeding a family with food essentials and treats but will also provide much-needed hope. Only together, can we bring hope to those in need all across Aotearoa. We can't do it alone.
Find out more

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