Views sought on Shirley Community Reserve
Residents are being asked to share their vision for the future of the Shirley Community Reserve - including whether a community hub should be created, the recreation faciltiies developed, or the site left as it is.
The reserve at 10 Shirley Rd was previously home to the Shirley Community Centre, which hosted various organisations and projects.
The centre was damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes and demolished in 2012. The reserve was then fitted with facilities including a basketball court, playground, pump track and a large green space.
In 2020, feedback from 58 public submitters was split between replacing the old community centre and developing the area into an open green space.
In 2021, the council approved $3 million of funding to rebuild of the Shirley Community Centre and requested an updated feasibility study.
Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board chairperson Emma Norrish said the board wanted to "develop a meaningful, dynamic, and fun space for everyone, so that the reserve becomes a destination of choice for the community".
The community is being asked their opinion on three options for the reserve.
The options are:
- A recreation space with a full basketball court, renewed playground, planting, a picnic and BBQ area, a community garden and a walkway.
- Creating a community hub that's open to partnerships with local organisations.
- Leaving the space as it is.
Visit the council's website to have your say.
Here's Friday's Fizzler!
I can be written, I can be spoken, I can be exposed, I can be broken. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
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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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