Swannanoa - Ohoka news is brought to you by the team at Northern Outlook
Recent posts
Thank you for using Neighbourly
Wednesday 16 November, 5.45pm, Rangiora Town Hall Cinemas
Tickets $25.00 includes film and small gift on arrival. Doors open 5.00pm. Christmas gifts, raffles and auction on the night.
Get your friends together, glam it up and come for a entertaining night out!
Tickets available from the … View moreWednesday 16 November, 5.45pm, Rangiora Town Hall Cinemas
Tickets $25.00 includes film and small gift on arrival. Doors open 5.00pm. Christmas gifts, raffles and auction on the night.
Get your friends together, glam it up and come for a entertaining night out!
Tickets available from the following locations:
Cancer Society North Canterbury, 143 Percival Street, Rangiora, Phone: 0800 226 695. Eftpos available.
Online: events.humanitix.com...
Contact Tiff on tiffany.wafer@cancercwc.org.nz or 021-139 4909 for more information.
What better way to while away a Friday afternoon and get your weekend DIY inspiration than drooling over the most beautiful house and garden content of the week?
|Homed newsletter| takes you inside gorgeous New Zealand homes, showcases the latest interior trends, provides project ideas, and … View moreWhat better way to while away a Friday afternoon and get your weekend DIY inspiration than drooling over the most beautiful house and garden content of the week?
|Homed newsletter| takes you inside gorgeous New Zealand homes, showcases the latest interior trends, provides project ideas, and more. Be inspired to dream big about your own space - and get on the path to making those dreams come true. Sign up for free here.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School plans to revitalise its school farm as a centre of sustainability.
The school’s board of trustees has made the decision to ‘‘regenerate’’ the school farm, principal Bruce Kearney said.
‘‘There is excitement in the … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School plans to revitalise its school farm as a centre of sustainability.
The school’s board of trustees has made the decision to ‘‘regenerate’’ the school farm, principal Bruce Kearney said.
‘‘There is excitement in the community about the farm, but I find it difficult to market it because it is still very much a 1970s style farm and it has served its purpose.
‘‘But we are in a new world, with a focus on having a sustainable environment, so we need to re-address what we do.’’
Head of science David Newsham-West will take a year off from teaching next year to develop a plan for an ‘‘innovation hub’’ and a sustainability centre.
Newsham-West said he was keen to get buy-in from the local community and local businesses.
There were opportunities to work alongside Lincoln University, research organisations such as AgResearch, Industry Training Organisations and Ngāi Tūāhuriri, he said.
Rangiora students could even be involved in cutting edge research, such as testing digital collars on sheep and gathering the data or conducting soil tests.
One suggestion was even to develop a mountain bike track on the farm, with the school possibly hosting endurance events one day.
‘‘People are open to the idea of farms being diverse and flexible. Farms can’t just be a monoculture any more,’’ Newsham-West said.
‘‘We want to have a farm which models flexibility, sustainability and innovation.’’
The farm would continue to work alongside youth training service, ComCol, in offering equine studies and apiaries, while the intention was to continue farming sheep.
But it could also incorporate some viticulture, horticulture and other ideas which the school has not even thought of.
‘‘We are open to ideas across the board, we could have bio-nodes, we could teach pest control and biodiversity and we could even put in solar panels,’’ Newsham-West said.
He also saw opportunities for engaging staff across different subjects in the school and with ComCol North Canterbury next door.
‘‘There are opportunities for integrated learning and our geology and geography teachers are already talking about getting in drones and doing soil sampling.
‘‘Rather than fictitiously making up projects students can do on paper, we can get the students doing something real on site.
‘‘You can read a book or do film editing at home, but you can’t learn about moving stock unless you are hands on.’’
Building and hard materials and other school departments were also looking at ways of being involved in the farm, he said.
Whatever future plan was developed, Kearney said selling the farm was not option.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Hello neighbours,
I’ve decided to fundraise for the SPCA, and I need to fundraise $800 dollars to sky dive. Any amount would be very very appreciated, I don’t see the money it goes directly to the SPCA and the link is below for donations.
jumptotherescue.spca.nz...
Thank you for … View moreHello neighbours,
I’ve decided to fundraise for the SPCA, and I need to fundraise $800 dollars to sky dive. Any amount would be very very appreciated, I don’t see the money it goes directly to the SPCA and the link is below for donations.
jumptotherescue.spca.nz...
Thank you for reading, Angela.
Well used but still going strongly. Basic with 3 settings - hot, warm, cooling. On castors. It has a S.African plug on it. Compatible with a N.Z. adapter. Collect Kaiapoi. Msg 02108437041 if interested.
Does anyone please have any countdown bricks do not need please. Collecting for my wee grandson. Thankyou
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Volunteers fear for the welfare of birds at the Ashley River Estuary as ‘‘hoons’’ are caught on camera tearing through nesting sites.
Waimakariri district councillor Al Blackie says volunteers are fed up with people driving around nesting sites … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Volunteers fear for the welfare of birds at the Ashley River Estuary as ‘‘hoons’’ are caught on camera tearing through nesting sites.
Waimakariri district councillor Al Blackie says volunteers are fed up with people driving around nesting sites with no regard for the welfare of threatened species of birds.
‘‘We do have a bylaw, but there is not much we can do until they actually do some harm - other than naming and shaming them on social media.’’
Blackie said the council’s Pegasus Bay Bylaw Committee, which he chairs, would be reviewing the bylaw soon and was keen to hear any suggestions of how to better manage the area.
Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group operations manager Grant Davey said nesting birds were threatened by four-wheel-drives, helicopters hovering in the area and predators such as rats, cats and dogs.
Threatened birds included wrybills, black-bill gulls, banded dotterels, black-fronted terns and pied oystercatchers.
Some of these bird species were also endangered.
He said the presence of these multiple threats could scare the birds off, and lead them to abandoning their nests.
‘‘Along the river, we have most access points blocked, but there are areas we cannot block like State Highway 1 near the estuary.
‘‘Access is allowed for white baiters and some of them are pretty horrified by what is happening, and most of them are pretty helpful. They yell at the hoons and report it back to us.
‘‘You’ve got hoons who drive around all over the place and do donuts and sometimes it is in the early hours of the morning.’’
Motion sensor cameras have been placed in the nesting areas to monitor the presence of rats and cats, but they also picked up vehicles - and sometimes even the number plates.
Davey said Environment Canterbury’s rangers did an excellent job, but there was not enough of them.
‘‘They go and talk to people and give them a warning, but there is not much you can do.’’
Anyone caught harming the nesting birds could be fined or serve time in jail, but prosecutions were expensive, he said.
‘‘If you catch someone like the person who shot a white heron recently then you can prosecute them, but you are unlikely to actually catch people doing something like that.’’
Davey said dogs running loose were also a threat, with people ignoring or not reading signs.
‘‘It is usually perfectly respectable people doing it, but they just don’t understand.’’
The Rivercare group has received funding from the Waimakariri Zone Committee to fund a researcher to complete a thesis to better understand the full extent of the multiple threats to the birds.
■ The Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group is looking for volunteers for its annual bird count on the Ashley Rakahuri River on Saturday, November 19, at the Cones Road picnic area from 8.30am.
‘‘We like to have about 25 people, preferably with some ability to identify braided river birds including the wrybill, banded dotterel, pied stilt, black-fronted tern and black-billed gull,’’ organiser Beverley Alexander said.
‘‘If people are interested, but have little knowledge of the birds they can come along and we will partner them with others who have done the count previously.’’
Volunteers formed into teams, with each team taking a couple of hours to walk their designated zone.
Wet feet were guaranteed, but volunteers were rewarded with a barbecue.
Anyone interested can register by contacting Beverley Alexander on 027-3184713 or email birdiebev@xtra.co.nz.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Hi,
I’ve picked up a child’s bag from southbrook park near the club rooms. Has a water bottle too. Contained no valuables at the time of finding it but fruit and baby food inside.
PM if you think it’s yours with a description of the bag.
Also posted in lost and found.
Cheers.
About 20 to give away if anyone would like some ,
Free to dig out Clarkville Area
Has anybody got a reverse mortage,are you happy ? , how you did you find it?
HI all.
I'm looking for a rural property to rent able to pay up to $450 weekly.
Reliable and honest people with excellent rent history.
If this appeals to you contact Joe on 0273093745
I people's anybody seen our pet magpie we live on kainga rd,she's been gone for 3 days so not holding much hope.
Swan Plants for sale.
Same price as last Spring!
On sale Sundays till Fridays.
Morning till evening.
Biodegradable PB2 bags of 3 or more swan plants autumn sown and hardy for $10.
19 Golf Links Road, Rangiora.
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
Rangiora’s newest and largest housing development expects to have its first residents moving in by Christmas 2023.
While site development is under way, Mike Greer Homes North Canterbury director Mike Flutey says work to build the new homes in the … View moreFrom local democracy reporter David Hill:
Rangiora’s newest and largest housing development expects to have its first residents moving in by Christmas 2023.
While site development is under way, Mike Greer Homes North Canterbury director Mike Flutey says work to build the new homes in the Bellgrove sub-division will get under way by the middle of next year.
Sections in stage one were already on the market, with 60 percent of the nearly 200 sections already sold.
A wide range of house and land packages will be offered from two-storey town houses to high density and medium density housing and large sections.
‘‘We will have options for first home buyers and downsizers and some big family homes. We should be able to provide options under $600,000. I think all our price increases have probably settled,’’ Flutey said.
Within stage one there was provision for a community shopping and commercial centre and a pre-school, which would be surrounded by the higher density sections.
Recreation reserves have been allocated in the later stages, along with walkways and cycle ways.
The entire development was 100 hectares, with up to 1300 sections.
Standalone sections ranged from 330 square metres, with some large sections expected to be more than 1100 square metres.
Higher density sections, including duplex and multi-storey units, will be from around 200 square metres.
The $595,000 to $600,000 price tag will buy a 200 square metre section with a two-bedroom, one bathroom house and garage, Flutey said.
Three-bedroom houses with a double garage will sell from $650,000.
Large three to four bedroom family homes will sell for around $850,000 with ‘‘views out to Mt Grey’’, Flutey said.
The smaller sections will have an entrance way and ‘‘a bit of hard landscaping’’, with raised garden beds for the larger sections.
The subdivision received a $5.7 million grant last month for transport and three waters projects from Kainga Ora’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund to kick-start development.
The funding was subject to providing affordable housing under the $750,000 price cap for new homes in the Greater Christchurch area.
Flutey anticipated 40% of house and land packages would be under $750,000, in line with the funding application.
Bellgrove Rangiora project manager and director Paul McGowan and Flutey were joined by Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon and councillors, and MP Matt Doocey on Thursday to officially break ground.
‘‘This is a significant milestone,’’ McGowan said.
‘‘We are pretty happy to be finally under way after two-and-a-half years of planning.’’
Gordon noted the Bellgrove homestead, which will take centre stage in the new development, was once the home of Waimakariri’s first mayor Trevor Inch.
‘‘This is exactly what our town needs because we are running out of sections and it is great to be on a property which was once the home of a former mayor.’’
■ According to Westpac’s online mortgage calculator, a couple with a combined income of $95,000, no children and no debts may be able to buy a $600,000 home on a 30 year mortgage with a $120,000 (or 20%) deposit.
Fortnightly repayments would be around $1522, based on Westpac’s residential base rate of 7.35% per annum.
With two children the combined income would need to increase to at least $105,000.
According to Statistics New Zealand, the median individual income in the year to June 30, 2022, was $1189 per week or $62,000 a year (or $1320 a week for men and $1055 a week for women).
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
© Neighbourly 2024
Loading…
