Council funding halved for Christchurch's Citizens Advice Bureau
Funding cuts are forcing Christchurch's Citizens Advice Bureau to consider scaling back its services.
Three years ago the Christchurch City Council funded about 35 percent of its annual budget, however that funding is now half of what it once was. The organisation aimed to help people with a range of issues, including legal problems, employment issues, family disputes and tenancy concerns. The council itself refers people to the service.
Bureau chairperson Neil Lancaster said if funding cuts continued, the organisation would have to scale back its programmes.
"We appreciate the funding restraints that exist for the Christchurch City Council at the moment," he said.
"But I guess our worry is that on one hand they class us a priority one community group, but at the same time they have halved our funding.
The organisation wanted to expand in the city's east, but that might not be possible.
They operated a "face-to-face" service in Eastgate Mall, as part of a group of similar community groups, and could now only afford to be there once a week.
"If our funding had stayed the same, we could be looking at offering a service there three days a week," he said.
There was strong demand for the bureau's service in the city's east, Mr Lancaster said.
"Sometimes we would go along there about half an hour before we start and there could be two or three people waiting."
RNZ News has approached the Christchurch City Council for comment.
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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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27.7% I love it!
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32% Only in designated areas
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40.3% No, it should be outdoors only.
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
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