Residents’ group opposes new Canterbury community board
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The fate of a proposed community board in North Canterbury will be decided by the Local Government Commission.
Eleven objections were received on the Hurunui District Council’s decision to create a community board for its south ward, which includes Amberley, at next year’s local government election.
Councillors who supported said it was ‘‘more democratic’’ and would better represent the south ward's growing population.
The Amberley District Residents’ Association is among the eleven objectors. Association chairperson Roy Myers said there was ‘‘no evidence’’ to support the change.
‘‘I can’t see any advantage whatsoever with an elected community board of five members who are paid by a targeted rate of $20,’’ Mr Myers said.
‘‘I think it is going to reduce representation.’’
He said under existing structure, committee members were accountable to the group they represented, but he questioned how the board members would be accountable.
‘‘The south ward has quite a diverse character. You have the urban part, the rural part and the beach communities.’’
Councillors voted in favour of replacing its south ward committee with an elected community board in June, following a representation review.
This was despite opposition from residents’ groups, with 14 of the 22 submissions opposed to the change.
The proposed community board would have five members elected at large, plus the four ward councillors and the mayor.
The south ward committee comprises nine community members elected at its first meeting in a council term, plus the four ward councillors and the mayor.
Community members include representatives from residents’ associations, the Amberley Reserves Advisory Group, the Hurunui Youth Council and three independent members.
South ward committee chairperson Jo Hassall said she looked forward to hearing the Local Government Commission’s decision.
‘‘I do like the fact it is being taken to a separate person, who will look at it independently.
‘‘It has gone through the right process and whatever decision is made is final.’’
The Local Government Commission is an independent body that can make decisions on the structure of local government.
South ward councillor Vanessa McPherson was among those who voted in favour of establishing the community board.
She said it would be ‘‘more democratic’’ as elected board members would be accountable to the whole community and not just to the groups they represented.
‘‘We are looking at the population growth in Amberley and I think moving forward the south ward needs and deserves democratic representation that will support that growth.
‘‘I know there are some associations and groups who feel they will lose their voice, but councillors will still have direct links with those groups.’’
The residents’ associations will also be able to make deputations to the community board.
Fellow south ward councillor Pauline White voted against establishing a south ward community board.
She said the 11 appeals was "another thread in a thorough representation review process".
"The community is continuing to engage, and this is evidence of their vested interest in representation to fit the current needs of the south ward."
The Local Government Commission will make its determination by April 10.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Teacher shortage eases in Canterbury schools
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
After a difficult few years, North Canterbury school principals say they have plenty of quality teachers to choose from.
A global teacher shortage in recent years has seen local schools competing against Auckland principals for staff at university recruiting events.
But education advocate Simon Green said heading into term four, local primary schools were well placed ‘‘to fill their vacant positions from a good pool of quality applicants’’.
Green is the Rangiora High School board of trustees presiding member, and is a leadership adviser with Evaluation Associates, working with principals and school boards in Otago and Canterbury.
While there is a slight overall drop in primary school rolls in North Canterbury, he said more specialist structured literacy teachers were required.
Additional classroom release time for teachers meant relief teachers were also needed.
‘‘The secondary school job market remains challenging for our high school principals,’’ he said.
Rangiora High School has 22 vacancies for next year, mainly due to short term teaching positions, promotions and new opportunities opening up.
But principal Bruce Kearney said the positions are filling up fast.
The school roll is expected to close in on 1800 students next year, but Kearney said growth could begin to slow down, in the short term at least.
‘‘Our role can fluctuate depending on the rolls of our contributing schools and there is a sense we are seeing the end of a bubble.’’
Longer term that could change with new sub-divisions planned in the Waimakariri district.
‘‘We don’t want to grow much more,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘But I don’t think it would make economic sense for the Government to build a new secondary school on a new site when both Rangiora and Kaiapoi have land for more growth.
‘‘Communities may need to accept that big schools are more economical. Auckland has been managing schools of up to 3000 students for years.’’
Kearney said it was possible the Ministry of Education could build another primary school across the road from Rangiora High School, next to the school farm, in 10 years time.
Last year Kaiapoi High School had 22 vacancies to fill, but principal Jason Reid said he has just one vacancy advertised on the Education Gazette, for now.
For the first time in a decade Kaiapoi will have a slight dip in its year 9 roll for next year.
‘‘I don’t think it is indicative of anything other than a population blip,’’ Reid said.
With several contributing schools, including Woodend School and Te Kura o Tuahiwi, bursting at the seams, growth at Kaiapoi High School is set to continue for sometime yet.
For now, Reid is expecting the roll to remain at 1080 next year, just under the site capacity of 1100.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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New Amberley community board confirmed
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A new community board has been confirmed by Hurunui’s south ward.
The Local Government Commission has rejected an appeal against the establishment of a community board for next year’s local government election in the Hurunui District Council’s south ward, which includes Amberley.
Eleven objections were received, but just one, Amberley District Residents’ Association chairperson Roy Myers, gave an oral presentation to commissioners at a hearing last month.
Several objectors preferred the existing ward committee structure, which comprised representatives from residents’ associations, the Amberley Reserves Advisory Group, the Hurunui Youth Council and three independent members.
But the commissioners agreed with the council’s position that a community board elected by the community at large would be more democratic.
‘‘It may potentially attract candidates who may not have been traditionally in a position that would result in their becoming members of the ward committee,’’ the commissioners said.
South ward councillor Vanessa McPherson said she is ‘‘delighted with the outcome’’.
‘‘The decision reinforces the robust process undertaken by the council to deliver an outcome that will provide a fair and effective representation of benefit to the entire south ward.’’
But Myers said he is disappointed with the decision, which he believes is based on ‘‘wrong information’’.
‘‘The argument was that a community board would be able to be more strategic in its decision making.
‘‘But the existing ward committee doesn’t have any money to spend.’’
Hurunui mayor Marie Black told the commission a walking and cycling fund of $370,000 has been established from development contributions since 2010, but the ward committee has been unable to agree on how to spend it.
But Myers rejected this and said the ward committee was unaware ‘‘we were able to spend it’’.
‘‘How are these five representatives going to be in contact with the community?
‘‘Under the present structure, you have residents’ groups which represent their communities.’’
While the new community board will have five board members, the commissioners reduced the number of elected councillors on the board from four to two.
The commissioners’ also recommended a Hurunui Youth Council representative be appointed as an observer.
Remuneration of board members would cost $36,078 a year, or $20 per south ward ratepayer per year.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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