Christchurch's leafy status under threat, urgent action needed to protect city's tree canopy
From reporter Tina Law:
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New figures, released on Thursday by the Christchurch City Council, show 13.5 per cent of the city is covered by tree canopy, some 2 percentage points lower than in 2015-16, when it was 15.6 per cent.
However, the figures are based on data collected in 2018-19 and city councillor Yani Johanson suspects the actual tree loss now would be much greater, possibly double, given the number of trees that have been cut down to make way for housing intensification.
Auckland had a canopy coverage of 18.4 per cent between 2016 and 2018 and in Wellington the tree canopy covered about 30.6 per cent in 2019.
The lack of trees is most stark in some of Christchurch’s lowest socio-economic areas like Hornby and Linwood, sitting at 6.5 per cent and 8.9 per cent respectively. Banks Peninsula has not been included in the study.
Some of the city’s more affluent suburbs have the highest tree cover with Cashmere sitting at 21 per cent and Fendalton at 19 per cent. The Coastal ward, which stretches from Southshore to Brooklands, has 27 per cent coverage, but that includes Bottle Lake Forest. Continue reading here.
Poll: How should Guy Fawkes be celebrated?
While it is a fun occasion, fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night has caused much conflict over the years, upsetting our pets and disrupting the sleep of neighbours.
How should we celebrate Guy Fawkes Night? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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28.9% With a city-wide public fireworks display
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19.5% Small fireworks displays in each community
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7.6% Keep it as is
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33% We shouldn't celebrate it!
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10.6% Anything but fireworks
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0.4% Other - I'll share below
Addictive Eaters Anonymous
I was spiralling out of control
I don't have many memories from my childhood, but the memories I do have relate to food - picnics with bacon and egg pie, my mother’s home cooking, Sunday bread. I was never much of a sweet tooth, but instead I preferred savouries, pastries, breads and the like. I grew up on a farm and food was plentiful and was never restricted and I lived a pretty healthy, active lifestyle.
Once I hit my teenage years, however, I remember starting to get worried about my weight. (I'll just mention here that I don't think I have ever been overweight and I certainly wasn't overweight as a teenager).
Gang presence this weekend
International members of the Mongols MC are expected in Canterbury for an event marking five years since the gang established itself in New Zealand.
What you need to know:
-The gang has three chapters in the South Island. Wainoni-based Ōtautahi East, Ashburton-based Mid-South and SH1, Burnham.
- Police say they will have ‘considerable resource’ in the region during the event from November 7-10.
- Police in Canterbury have planned a major operation around the event - thought to coincide with a national meeting - from November 7 to 10, and have drafted in staff from two other districts to help.
- Mongols members from across the country are expected to meet at the gang’s original South Island headquarters - a fortified property on SH1, Burnham, on the outskirts of Christchurch.
- Canterbury district commander Superintendent Tony Hill says:
“We’re prepared for multiple contingencies. We will be monitoring their behaviour very closely over the period, if they’re not behaving appropriately then we will be taking appropriate action quite swiftly.”
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