School phone ban good but ‘void’ being created
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Removing cell phones from schools is a positive step, but Sport Canterbury says something has to “fill the void" or students will potentially fill it with trouble.
Sport Canterbury’s sector support manager Megan Harlick said the removal of phones has created a void.
“Unless there is something there to activate them, they will find their own trouble.
“It’s critical we don’t leave this void that is then filled by something else.”
She said Sport Canterbury’s programmes in primary and secondary schools, which aim to keep schoolchildren active, are one way to fill that void.
Mid Canterbury community adviser Alice Breading said using phones and other devices at home can become normal behaviour, and the phone ban is an opportunity to “remind them play is out there”.
“Kids need to remember and re-learn sometimes how to play.
“They don’t have to grow up too fast, which is a big piece of the play work we are doing in primary school ... to enjoy playing, climbing trees, enjoy using the playgrounds in different ways.
“Kids don’t tend to find trouble when they are having fun and keeping busy.”
Sport Canterbury recently presented its annual report to the Ashburton District Council, which granted $67,600 for 2024-25 as part of the council’s ongoing support of the organisation.
The report detailed how Sport Canterbury has supported Ashburton College to access $360,000 over three years from Sport New Zealand’s Active As programme.
“It’s all around the enhancement of well-being through physical education,” Breading said.
It’s a student-led programme aimed at increasing physical activity at school but also extended outside the school gate by connecting with local sports groups and the EA Networks Centre.
Then there is healthy active learning facilitator Anna Holland who is working across 10 primary schools in the district around “what quality PE looks like” for the pupils.
One of the popular sessions is “chalk bombing”, where an activity circuit is created using chalk instructions around the school playground.
Breading and Holland presented a case study of what they have achieved at Ashburton Intermediate this year following a playground mapping exercise that identified some barriers and possible improvements to make at the school.
Rather than children wandering around with nothing to do, which can lead to behavioural issues, the goal was to provide more options and opportunities to keep them active, Breading said.
The process gained traction due to the support from the school and a few small changes will make a big impact over time Holland said.
“It will take longer than a term but it will become the new norm.”
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
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Poll: Is it okay to grocery shop in your PJs?
I'm sure you've seen it while doing your weekly shop... In fact, it may have even been you.
What do you think about people heading to the supermarket in their pyjamas?
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14.3% It's fine!
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75.1% It's questionable
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10.6% Other - I'll share below
Vanessa
“Giggly girt! Giggly girt!”
“See I got my hair cut on Friday. I've got my hair band to keep it up. See? Like this I keep it up.
Biscuit Blair - she's my favourite woman. And you. And that cheeky lady over there.
My last name is Rule. I'll write it down for you, you silly old duff.
I was born on West Coast. I moved here when I was a little girl.
I like doing pictures here that’s why I like pictures. Doing art. I like going for a walk. I come here Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
My sister, I go see her on Saturday. Have a cup of coffee, at home. She's five, nine. 59. I'm five, seven, 57. This year I'll be 58. My birthday's on a Thursday. I'm having chocolate cake and pizza. And lolly ice cream.
Some people are noisy. Nicholas, and Peter and Chris, they are my friends and that giggly girt over there.
I get headache sometimes at other work, because noisy.
I'm happy here. I could go for a walk if I want to. I'm good.”
- Vanessa, White Room Creative Spaces
The White Room is a community creative space that removes barriers to
making art. Through this, artists build confidence and connections and
embrace new opportunities.
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