Teacher shortage eases in Canterbury schools
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
After a difficult few years, North Canterbury school principals say they have plenty of quality teachers to choose from.
A global teacher shortage in recent years has seen local schools competing against Auckland principals for staff at university recruiting events.
But education advocate Simon Green said heading into term four, local primary schools were well placed ‘‘to fill their vacant positions from a good pool of quality applicants’’.
Green is the Rangiora High School board of trustees presiding member, and is a leadership adviser with Evaluation Associates, working with principals and school boards in Otago and Canterbury.
While there is a slight overall drop in primary school rolls in North Canterbury, he said more specialist structured literacy teachers were required.
Additional classroom release time for teachers meant relief teachers were also needed.
‘‘The secondary school job market remains challenging for our high school principals,’’ he said.
Rangiora High School has 22 vacancies for next year, mainly due to short term teaching positions, promotions and new opportunities opening up.
But principal Bruce Kearney said the positions are filling up fast.
The school roll is expected to close in on 1800 students next year, but Kearney said growth could begin to slow down, in the short term at least.
‘‘Our role can fluctuate depending on the rolls of our contributing schools and there is a sense we are seeing the end of a bubble.’’
Longer term that could change with new sub-divisions planned in the Waimakariri district.
‘‘We don’t want to grow much more,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘But I don’t think it would make economic sense for the Government to build a new secondary school on a new site when both Rangiora and Kaiapoi have land for more growth.
‘‘Communities may need to accept that big schools are more economical. Auckland has been managing schools of up to 3000 students for years.’’
Kearney said it was possible the Ministry of Education could build another primary school across the road from Rangiora High School, next to the school farm, in 10 years time.
Last year Kaiapoi High School had 22 vacancies to fill, but principal Jason Reid said he has just one vacancy advertised on the Education Gazette, for now.
For the first time in a decade Kaiapoi will have a slight dip in its year 9 roll for next year.
‘‘I don’t think it is indicative of anything other than a population blip,’’ Reid said.
With several contributing schools, including Woodend School and Te Kura o Tuahiwi, bursting at the seams, growth at Kaiapoi High School is set to continue for sometime yet.
For now, Reid is expecting the roll to remain at 1080 next year, just under the site capacity of 1100.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?
In October, the fine for parking in a designated mobility car park without a permit has jumped from $150 to $750—a 400% increase!
The goal is to keep these spaces open for those who truly need them. Do you think this big increase in the fine is fair? Share your thoughts below.
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88.8% Yes, it's fair
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10.3% No, it's unreasonable
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0.9% Other - I'll share below
Have your say on Canterbury’s public transport
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Canterbury residents are being encouraged to have their say on public transport in the region.
Environment Canterbury has released its draft public transport plan and is seeking submissions.
The draft plan outlines a vision for public transport in the region and notes key priorities such as improving the environment, growing patronage, accessibility, innovation and technology, and affordability.
‘‘Public transport takes many forms with communities across our region,’’ councillor Peter Scott said.
‘‘With limited funding available, we need to make sure we make the best decisions to deliver a public transport network that is integrated with urban development, innovative and meets the needs of new and existing customers.
‘‘Effective public transport is the lifeline that connects us to work, school, recreation and our friends and family, so it is important we get this right.’’
The Canterbury’s population is growing and by 2050, it is projected 700,000 people will be living in Greater Christchurch.
The draft plan covers public transport for the region, which includes the Metro service (Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri), MyWay by Metro in Timaru, Total Mobility and Community Vehicle Trusts.
It was developed in partnership with local councils and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Environment Canterbury has been planning to step up its public transport efforts by increasing the frequency of existing services and introducing mass rapid transport in Greater Christchurch.
But these plans have been stalled by a lack of public transport funding in the Government’s 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.
A proposal to allow people to travel with domestic pets is also included in the draft plan.
Having pets on buses has been successfully trial in other parts of New Zealand, councillor Joe Davies said.
‘‘We’re keen to understand what controls are needed for our bus users in Greater Christchurch and Timaru to be comfortable with pets on public transport.
It is proposed to allow adult passengers to bring a single pet on board, as long it is in an approved carrier at off-peak times, weekdays between 9am and 3pm or after 6pm, and during weekends.
Another proposal would loosen those restrictions in future to allow for leashed and muzzled dogs and increasing the limit to two pets per passenger.
‘‘We want to gauge how people feel about these proposals. Now is the time to have your say,’’ Davies said.
Submissions close on Thursday, October 24.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Cyclists forced to use ‘more dangerous’ crossing if cycleway closed
Closing a Christchurch cycleway to avoid an unsafe rail crossing will lead cyclists across an even “more dangerous” crossing, cycling advocates say.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has weighed in on the issue, calling the move to shut a 1.5km section of the Heathcote Expressway for up to two years, “illogical”. He has asked KiwiRail to explain.
KiwiRail is demanding Christchurch City Council close part of the expressway until $6.5 million worth of safety improvements can be made to the Scruttons Rd rail crossing.
It said the “unsafe” crossing posed the risk of death or serious injury once every thousand years.
What do you do think? Read the full story by reporters Sinead Gill and Tina Law here and tell us what you think in the comments. (A subscription is required, but you can see two free articles a month).
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