30kph speed zones rolled out in Mid Canterbury
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The rollout of 30kph school speed zones is complete, but one Ashburton District councillor hopes there isn’t a rise in speed infringements as a result.
There has been some frustration with the introduction of the reduced speed around schools, and councillor Richard Wilson is concerned about a potential increase in motorists being fined for exceeding the 30kph limits the council has introduced.
Wilson was worried that because the permanent speed variation was implemented before the council could roll out variable speed signage to all schools immediately, it would be catching out motorists.
“Someone caught doing 42kph at 10pm past a school is not the spirit of why were are going to 30kph,” Wilson said.
The speed limit was now legally set at 30kph and motorists needed to adapt to the change, chief executive Hamish Riach said.
The speed zones were introduced to increase safety for school children.
Council data last year showed that the median speed on the district's urban streets was around 35kph.
The limits will be reviewed in future, with a view to potentially adding variable signs to the urban zones as funds become available.
Variable speed signs cost about $10,000 each, road manager Mark Chamberlain said.
A minor delay with the urban rollout was down to having nothing to hold them up as across the country there had been a lack of aluminium poles for the signs, Chamberlain said.
The signs are now all in place at urban schools, as well as at Lauriston and Dorie as the two rural schools have low traffic volumes outside of school drop-off and pick up and the average speed data showed it was close to 30kph anyway.
At the rural schools, the variable signs are in place at Longbeach School, Lagmhor School, Carew Peel Forest School, and Wakanui School.
The only two sites yet to have the 30kph zones implemented are under Waka Kotahi jurisdiction - with 30kph variable speed limits planned for the front of the three Methven schools and Ashburton Borough on SH77.
*Public Interest Journalism funded through 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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48.6% Yes
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49.4% No
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1.9% 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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