Keeping Christchurch beautiful
Keep Christchurch Beautiful is a local branch of Keep New Zealand Beautiful, and has been working in and around Christchurch since the 1980s. Initially and mostly in the litter abatement area, but also in general beautification of our physical environment. This can include reporting and removing graffiti; collaborating with schools and groups to paint murals on Chorus street side utility cabinets (to prevent graffiti); running our very successful schools environment programme (in its 27th year in 2020) which reaches around 40 schools a year; working with other environmental groups, individuals and community groups to carry out clean up and other environment enhancement events around the city; supporting and recognising volunteers who work regularly picking up rubbish, planting, caring for local parks, reserves and gardens, develop and maintain new native plantings in reserves; and also recognising those businesses that themselves support volunteers or have business practices that are environmentally sustainable.
KCB promotes and supports projects initiated by Keep New Zealand Beautiful, our parent organisation (while KCB is a branch, it is also independent and a stand-alone charity and incorporated society). KCB is also developing new projects, including scaling the schools programme to suits preschools; maintaining a ‘library’ of gear to lend and sometimes gift, to groups doing clean ups; and providing event coordination and management for business groups wanting to ‘give back’ to their communities with clean up events.
KCB is proud of its connections with other groups around the city; together we are more than the sum of our parts.
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
www.humansofchch.org......
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Poll: How do you feel about dogs being allowed indoors in cafes?
For most of us, seeing a friendly doggo while out and about instantly brings a smile to our faces. But how do you feel about cafes welcoming pups inside?
Cast a vote and share your thoughts below.
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28% I love it!
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32.3% Only in designated areas
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39.7% No, it should be outdoors only.
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