Poll: Should apartment blocks up to 10 storeys high be allowed in parts of Christchurch?
Apartment buildings up to 10 storeys high will be allowed in Hornby, Riccarton and Papanui, if the Christchurch City Council has its way.
The council is working through changes to the district plan to allow for more housing intensification across the city, following a Government directive. It went out to public consultation earlier this year on a plan to allow six-storey (22m) buildings within 600m of main shopping areas in Hornby, Papanui, and Riccarton - a move that was opposed by residents’ associations.
But last week staff informed councillors, in a memo, that they would instead be recommending 10-storey buildings, 32m high, within the three main shopping areas. It was also recommending 22m-high buildings, 800m from the edge of those main shopping areas.
What do you think? Read reporter Tina Law's full story here (subscription required) and share your thoughts in the comments below.
*CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said 32m high buildings were proposed within 800m of the main shopping areas in Hornby, Papanui and Riccarton. Buildings of that height are allowed within those main shopping areas and 22m is proposed 800m out from the edge of those shopping areas. (Amended 5.24pm, August 30, 2023)
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14.1% Yes
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84.6% No
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1.3% Maybe/not sure (tell us your thoughts in the comments below)
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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48.5% Yes
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49.6% No
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2% Other - I'll share below
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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