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He iwi tahi tatou. Together we are one nation, united by Te Whare Rūnanga, standing tall next to the Treaty House and built by the hands of my whānau for not only Māori and Pākehā, but all New Zealanders. I invite you to come and share in their story.”
Pita Tipene is the Chair of the … View moreHe iwi tahi tatou. Together we are one nation, united by Te Whare Rūnanga, standing tall next to the Treaty House and built by the hands of my whānau for not only Māori and Pākehā, but all New Zealanders. I invite you to come and share in their story.”
Pita Tipene is the Chair of the Waitangi National Trust. He, and all of those all of those at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, invite you to come and feel the stories that shaped Aotearoa.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The district's largest tourism operator believes the council taking over district promotion will help “make some noise” as the industry returns to pre-Covid levels.
James McKenzie, Mt Hutt ski area manager and a director of Ōpuke Thermal… View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The district's largest tourism operator believes the council taking over district promotion will help “make some noise” as the industry returns to pre-Covid levels.
James McKenzie, Mt Hutt ski area manager and a director of Ōpuke Thermal Pools, says there is a lot of value in the Ashburton District Council's centralised role of promoting the district.
“The initiative the council has taken is fantastic,” Mckenzie said.
“Operators in the district will continue doing as much marketing as they can but a district strategy provides a single point of contact and focus.”
Every other district is promoting itself to the domestic and international markets and “Mid Canterbury shouldn’t be any different”.
ChristchurchNZ walked away from the role on February 7, halfway through its three-year contract with the decision based on a new strategic decision to focus on the city.
The council decided the best solution to the void was to bring district promotion in-house.
Chief executive Hamish Riach said that as visitor promotion and economic development were “two fingers on the same glove” it made sense for the council’s economic development team to take on the role.
McKenzie said Tourism NZ does a great job selling the country to the world to bring visitors in and once they are here it’s up to each district to fight for their share of visitors.
“We still have to work to get them to come here and there are districts that will be spending a lot more money than we are to attract visitors to their districts.
“We have to be in the game if we want to play it, so we have to be making enough noise that they hear us.
“The council can facilitate the impact of what [operators] are doing and coordinate it in a way that will be more effective than each operator working standalone.”
Just because the council is marketing the district doesn’t mean the tourism operators will ease back on doing their own graft.
Mackenzie said each operator’s promotion is unique to what they offer and the council can build off that existing work to promote the district as a whole.
“Operators will spend a good percentage of revenue on marketing but individually we will lose the limelight against the bigger district-wide campaigns.”
Councillor Russell Ellis described Methven as the jewel in the district's tourism crown, but there are plenty of gems scattered throughout the district that can benefit from a collective promotional approach.
McKenzie said the benefits of a strong tourism industry flow downstream to other businesses and the local economy as a whole.
Give a dull brown table a fresh light look using a modern chalk paint style effect.
Find out how to refresh your table with this handy advice.
We've seen the devastation of flood waters, yet the Government backed down on plans to protect wetlands (which help soak up heavy rain) after they received complaints by property developers.
Are you confident we're making the right decisions to protect us from future disasters? … View moreWe've seen the devastation of flood waters, yet the Government backed down on plans to protect wetlands (which help soak up heavy rain) after they received complaints by property developers.
Are you confident we're making the right decisions to protect us from future disasters? Let's discuss!
Share your thoughts in the comments below - add NFP if you don't want these shared in the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s iconic rail footbridge will be restored, when the funding becomes available.
In adopting the conservation management plan for the footbridge, the Ashburton District Council agreed to fund the maintenance and renewal of the historic … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s iconic rail footbridge will be restored, when the funding becomes available.
In adopting the conservation management plan for the footbridge, the Ashburton District Council agreed to fund the maintenance and renewal of the historic structure.
How it will be funded is the next step for the 106-year-old footbridge.
Roading manager, Mark Chamberlain said the decision was the council has an asset and “do we want to keep it and spend money on it in the future”.
The answer from the councillors was yes.
Councillor Carolyn Cameron said for the sake of connectivity “it needs to be maintained”.
As well as the connection between East and West streets, councillor Phill Hooper believed the council had safety obligations to maintain the 25-metre long overpass option because, as chief executive Hamish Riach pointed out, with the shunting yards shifting north to the Fairfield Freight Hub trains will be passing through town at a greater speed in future.
In his report, Chamberlain outlined there was $255,000 worth of work that was identified in 2018, so likely to have risen, and “while the bridge is in poor condition … there is little risk associated with leaving the work until funding is approved”.
As it is a footbridge, Chamberlain said it is eligible to be part of the council’s subsidised roading budgets for structures, with Waka Kotahi contributing 51%.
That budget in the current 2021-24 period is $297,979, or around $99,000 per year, which is to cover the 187 bridges in the district.
Chamberlain said in the next period there will need a significant funding increase.
An assessment of the bridge assets estimated around $2.58 million of maintenance and renewals, including the footbridge, and there are four bridges due for replacement at an estimated $1.18m.
Other funding options for the footbridge include possible grants from the Railway Heritage Trust, Historic Places Mid Canterbury, or Heritage New Zealand.
A curve ball option is to use some of the $900,000 of Three Waters Better off funding that was allocated to new footpaths.
Riach said where that $900,000 is to be spent was still to be decided by the council, so there was “potential” it could include the footbridge.
“We could give some consideration to how this might apply,” Riach said.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton District councillor Lynette Lovett believes the future of the district’s hall and reserve board committees is under serious threat.
The council is in the final stages of holding triennial meetings for all of the council-administered … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton District councillor Lynette Lovett believes the future of the district’s hall and reserve board committees is under serious threat.
The council is in the final stages of holding triennial meetings for all of the council-administered boards but Lovett was concerned about a lack of numbers in some cases and that “it’s the same people making the commitment year after year” in others.
“It’s not sustainable,” Lovett said.
“A lot of these people on these reserve boards are all ageing and I don’t know where we are going to go in three or four years.
“Some of these people have been in these positions for many years and there is no one coming through to take over these jobs which worries me.
“These halls and reserves are the central part of these communities.”
So far 16 of the 20 boards have elected their new boards for the 2022-25 term, with the Mayfield Reserve and Hall board and the Chertsey Reserve Board still to hold their meetings, while the Lynnford and Maronan Reserve Boards are being wound up.
Each of the boards has an appointed councillor, with Lovett on six within the Eastern Ward including the Dorie Reserve Board which she said has had several new younger members but has reservations about the future of some others.
Lovett fears a lack of new people stepping up across the district will mean some boards face an uncertain future.
“The expectations on a few people managing [the facilities] is actually quite huge.
“It’s something we need to look at.
“We want to keep these assets but we need a community commitment to them so need people to start stepping up.”
Chief executive Hamish Riach said the future of the hall and reserve governance would be in the hands of the new group manager of democracy and engagement, Toni Durham.
“[Her new role] will give us the capacity, once she is fully resourced, to think about the future and the way in which the hall and reserve boards can be represented for the best interest of the community,” Riach said.
*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ on Air
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There will be an investigation into Methven’s ihub returning to booking agency services, the same activity that wasn't working and had the town's i-site shut three years ago.
The Ashburton District Council has accepted a request from … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There will be an investigation into Methven’s ihub returning to booking agency services, the same activity that wasn't working and had the town's i-site shut three years ago.
The Ashburton District Council has accepted a request from the the Mt Hutt Memorial Board, where the ihub is situated, to investigate the Methven ihub becoming a booking agent, with the council to weigh up the economic benefit.
Chief executive Hamish Riach reminded councillors that the i-site in Ashburton was closed and Methven’s restructured in 2017 due a decline in revenue for bookings before the Methven i-site then closed in 2020, only to be reborn as the Methven ihub, an information centre without online booking services.
“The i-site lost money and was closed to form the ihub,” Riach said.
There may have been a shift in demand which was worth investigating he said, and there will be upfront costs in setting up as a booking agent to consider, as part of the investigation.
Deputy mayor Liz McMillan, who attended the board meeting, said the request had come from the people working at the ihub who were receiving a number of booking inquiries, particularly for the Ōpuke Thermal Pools.
Currently, the ihub is only able to pass on information to visitors.
“They still feel there is an element of visitors that would benefit from using a service where they could call up a motel and make the booking on their behalf for example,” democracy and engagement group manager Toni Durham, said.
“They don’t have that ability at this stage, they just pass on contact details.”
As a booking agent they would receive income from making the bookings.
“There would be a little bit of income but there would be a cost as well so we would need to go away and understand what those numbers look like before we decided to go that way or not.”
Once the investigation is complete, a report will go before the council for a decision.
*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ on Air
The affordability of everyday items just keeps increasing!
If it’s not the petrol prices, it’s the cost of food, insurance or rates and let’s not get started on mortgage interest costs!
Home loan interest rates don't stay the same for long these days and it’s causing many … View moreThe affordability of everyday items just keeps increasing!
If it’s not the petrol prices, it’s the cost of food, insurance or rates and let’s not get started on mortgage interest costs!
Home loan interest rates don't stay the same for long these days and it’s causing many households to feel stressed out. Could you be saving thousands of dollars a year? If you don't check, you don't know.
Get a FREE mortgage health check through Money Compare and find out. If you could save money, why wouldn’t you right?!
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Trees being removed in the Ashburton Domain are part of a planned upgrade of the kiosk.
Members of the community were alarmed to see the trees being removed but it is part of some domain upgrade work the Ashburton District Council announced in … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Trees being removed in the Ashburton Domain are part of a planned upgrade of the kiosk.
Members of the community were alarmed to see the trees being removed but it is part of some domain upgrade work the Ashburton District Council announced in January.
Contractors are working to upgrade services to the kiosk in the picnic ground off Grigg St, which council infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann said was part of long-term planning for the domain.
“The kiosk is regularly booked by people or businesses hosting outdoor functions in the picnic ground area and this is a good opportunity to upgrade services to it.”
The available for hire kiosk has running water, electricity, a Zip water heater and facilities to wash dishes and prepare food.
The kiosk building will be improved or rebuilt over time as part of the long term Ashburton Domain Development Plan.
The council’s open spaces staff are overseeing the current upgrade work, which involves contractors digging a trench alongside the sealed path for a new services pipeline that runs east from the corner of Grigg and Elizabeth streets.
On the southern side of the sealed path some Ash trees, of varying size, shape and quality, have been removed but will be replaced as the area is refurbished over time.
Strawberry trees under the big cedars have also been removed because they were all intertwined and overgrown, and once the services have been dug in a new hedging shrubbery will be planted there.
*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ on Air
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A shortage of lifeguards is forcing reduced hours at the Tinwald Pool for the rest of summer.
The lifeguard shortage is impacting the operation of Ashburton District Council run pools, with the EA Networks Centre (EANC) based team also covering … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A shortage of lifeguards is forcing reduced hours at the Tinwald Pool for the rest of summer.
The lifeguard shortage is impacting the operation of Ashburton District Council run pools, with the EA Networks Centre (EANC) based team also covering the Tinwald Community pool, but also other centres across the country.
The shortage has hit harder in Ashburton in recent weeks due to a combination of staff returning to university and multiple fulltime lifeguards isolating due to Covid, people and facilities group manager Sarah Mosley, said.
“It has been disappointing to reduce Tinwald’s operational hours sporadically during this season, however, it was the only option given the staff we had available,” Mosley said.
“Like many other facilities around New Zealand, we’ve had lifeguard vacancies all summer, which has made it challenging to staff both pools.”
It meant at Waitangi weekend, in the middle of a run of 30C days, the pool hours were reduced and even closed on the Saturday.
The council lifeguard team consists of six full-time permanent staff and 14 part-time employees, Mosley said.
“We require 384 lifeguard hours per week to operate EANC in accordance with our Pool Safe Certification and when Tinwald Pool is open, we need an additional 119 lifeguarding hours per week.”
That’s a total of 503 lifeguard hours every week in the peak of summer to keep both facilities open but this summer they don’t have the cover.
“Given these challenges, and with the end of the season approaching, Tinwald Pool will now be open Friday to Sunday to align with higher usage.”
A Children’s Day event will be held in the Tinwald Domain on March 5, which is also the last day of the Tinwald Pool season, which will be free entry. Mosley said.
Following some recent recruitment, Mosley said they still have six shifts needing filled at EANC.
Other community pools are not run by council and Mosley said they follow a non-supervised season subscription (key holder) operation model.
“Some offer hours where supervision is provided, whereas others don’t, and most rely on parents or guardians supervising children.”
Mosley said the council supports and funds some health and safety related projects and operational costs for five pools - Hinds, Rakaia, Mt Somers, Ruapuna, and Mayfield - which are on council land but are managed by community groups.
There are seven other community pools in the district that are not on council land and managed by community groups - Willowby, Hampstead, Fairton, Dorrie, Wakanui, Lauriston, and Methven.
Methven Community Pool has been closed this summer as fundraising efforts continue to raise the $250,000 for major repairs.
Ōpuke Thermal Pools in Methven utilises lifeguards for its discovery (all ages) pools and director James McKenzie said they are always on the hunt for lifeguards.
“We are a lot better off this year than the same time last year but could always do with a couple more as many only work part-time on a casual basis,” McKenzie said.
*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ on Air
Dear neighbours,
Last year, Jane Horne and partner Simon Bartholomew's Mondrian-inspired cube took the title of Resene Shed of the Year. Now, we're on the hunt for this years winner! Send us photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever storage spaces, cute chicken … View moreDear neighbours,
Last year, Jane Horne and partner Simon Bartholomew's Mondrian-inspired cube took the title of Resene Shed of the Year. Now, we're on the hunt for this years winner! Send us photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever storage spaces, cute chicken coops and potty potting sheds to win amazing prizes worth more than $2000. The Resene Shed of the Year 2023 winners will be announced in the April issue of NZ Gardener.
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Winter is on it’s way !
Cyclone Gabrielle has had a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of Kiwis. As the long clean up begins and support becomes more and more needed, Stuff is calling for readers to support the Red Cross and Mayoral Relief Funds in areas where a local state of emergency has been declared. … View moreCyclone Gabrielle has had a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of Kiwis. As the long clean up begins and support becomes more and more needed, Stuff is calling for readers to support the Red Cross and Mayoral Relief Funds in areas where a local state of emergency has been declared. We'd love your support. You can donate here.
Dear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are still on the hunt for amazing and inventive taro recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by Feb 26, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the April issue of NZ … View moreDear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are still on the hunt for amazing and inventive taro recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by Feb 26, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the April issue of NZ Gardener.
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