Horses return to Port Hills track for first time in 20 years
From reporter Carly Gooch and videopgrapher Alden Williams:
Riding horses is part of Pete Hurst’s heritage.
His father rode to Canterbury’s Motukarara races, and his grandfather took his horses to war – now he’s making it his mission to ensure horses are able to trot on the tracks they’re entitled to.
Nearly a dozen riders took to Kennedys Bush Track in Christchurch on Friday morning, clip-clopping from Halswell Quarry to the Summit Rd to celebrate new horse gates allowing them through for the first time in years.
The trail had been “locked up” for about 20 years, Hurst said, but after advocates put pressure on the Christchurch City Council, it installed 1m-wide horse gates that will let riders through, but not vehicles.
He said generations before him had access to ride between Christchurch and Akaroa, “so we want to restore that – this is a step on the right direction”.
The main goal was to be able to ride the historic track to Akaroa and bring horses “back to the high country”.
He expected to succeed.
Many of the tracks Hurst wants horses to have access to are “paper roads” owned by the council in trust for the public.
He said bikes, trampers, horses and vehicles should be capable of accessing the roads, but locked gates often prohibited this.
“They should be for everybody, they shouldn’t keep you off it. We’re just opening up what we’re entitled to at Kennedys Bush.
“These days, bikes are well catered for, not so much horses.”
Hurst said he had done a lot of work over the last five years to ensure access to tracks on public conservation land, including on Mt Thomas and Mt Richardson, and he was close to opening several others.
Riding is in Hurst’s bones – his grandfather took horses to Palestine and Gallipoli in the war.
His grandfather was “a great horseman”.
“It broke his heart when he had to dispose of his horse when he came back from Palestine.”
The trek on Kennedys Bush Track was an easy one for the horses, Hurst said.
“They just shot up here, none have a sweat on them. They’re all a good bunch of people and a good bunch of horses.”
A city council spokesperson said the track was never specifically closed to horses, but the fact much of it was unfenced and did not follow the legal road alignment meant vehicle gates were kept locked, “thereby limiting horse access”.
At the end of Friday’s ride, Hurst and his group of riders settled in for a barbecue and drinks where they “talk about horses”.
Horses were part of our heritage, he said.
“If they run out of fossil fuels, we might be back on our horses.”
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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89.3% Yes, it's fair
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9.9% No, it's unreasonable
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0.8% Other - I'll share below
House fire causing road closures
Pages Road is closed this afternoon from Breezes Road, this is due to a house that has caught fire in the area.
Coastal Ward Community Board member, Alex Hewison, shared the closure on a local Facebook page.
Fire and Emergency are at the scene but further details have not been shared at this stage.
Avoid the area where possible.
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.
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