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By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A Canterbury school is weighing up the future of animals on its farm as urban life spreads into the traditionally rural area.
Rangiora High School is exploring opportunities to make its farm relevant in the 21st century, board of trustees chairperson … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A Canterbury school is weighing up the future of animals on its farm as urban life spreads into the traditionally rural area.
Rangiora High School is exploring opportunities to make its farm relevant in the 21st century, board of trustees chairperson Simon Green says.
"The board is excited about moving away from a more traditional farm to an outdoor lab or outdoor classroom."
The school’s head of science, David Newsham-West, took a break from classroom duties this year to review the farm and explore future opportunities.
Principal Bruce Kearney said they needed to consider what was sustainable and added value to the school.
It meant the future of animals at the school was under consideration.
Options included moving from raring lambs to fattening stock, or moving away from animals altogether.
"The world is shifting to be more sustainable and shifting away from meat, so we need to prepare our students for a changing world," Kearney said.
The makeup of the school's students has also changed.
"When the school was established in the 1880s it was mostly farming families, but now more than 80 percent of our students are urban."
Kearney said they wouldn't sell the farm.
The school had been building connections with Lincoln University and was looking at a similar model.
"They do the full process really well on a larger scale, so we can learn from Lincoln and what they do and look to offer it on a smaller scale."
Green said the farm was placed under great scrutiny as the environment around the school became increasingly urbanised.
"It is like a glasshouse. People are looking in at what we are doing, whether it is raising farm animals, plants or biota nodes.
"And it is important to us for our learning to be seen in action, but we need to ensure that what we do is ethical."
Green said students who are keen on farming had the opportunity to spend time on a large scale dairy or dry stock farm during class time.
But the farm still had a role to play in giving students a taste of the rural sector and what opportunities were available.
The school was also looking to move all of its classrooms on to the main school site, on the west of East Belt, which would make more land available for the farm.
Newsham-West will present a proposal to the board by the end of the year, before consulting with the wider school community.
Kearney said the vision would include working alongside Lincoln University, the Ministry of Primary Industries and Environment Canterbury to prepare students for future careers in the rural sector.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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Every issue of NZ House & Garden is filled with inspirational homes and gardens, as well as sumptuous food, lifestyle features, shopping trends, and much more.
Enjoy,
The team at NZ House & Garden
*T&Cs apply. The offer applies to one and two year subscriptions only.
Rae at Room to Heal in Rangiora now offers clients the ability to Earth/Ground while receiving a Therapeutic Massage or Reiki Energy Healing. Earthing is so simple, take your shoes off and walk on grass, the beach, swim in the sea, lakes etc. Or make an appointment and lay on my earthing bed.
I … View moreRae at Room to Heal in Rangiora now offers clients the ability to Earth/Ground while receiving a Therapeutic Massage or Reiki Energy Healing. Earthing is so simple, take your shoes off and walk on grass, the beach, swim in the sea, lakes etc. Or make an appointment and lay on my earthing bed.
I will attach earthing patches to parts of your body for targeted pain relief or I will apply the patches onto the soles of your feet. The K1 area on the soles are the most conductive points on your body and impacts the lower body for added healing.
If you would like more information on purchasing your own earthing products or would like more information on the benefits of Earthing please visit my website listed below:
www.immersioncosmetics.co.nz...
Please text Rae 0273 621 601
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Maximise that awkward corner or otherwise inaccessible space with sleek fitted shelves painted in Resene paints.
Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
Star gazers are peering into Oxford’s dark sky. Local Democracy Reporter DAVID HILL visits the group to speak about their quest for dark sky park status.
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A group of volunteers are looking to the stars in a bid to gain dark sky park status for a conservation area in North Canterbury.
… View moreStar gazers are peering into Oxford’s dark sky. Local Democracy Reporter DAVID HILL visits the group to speak about their quest for dark sky park status.
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A group of volunteers are looking to the stars in a bid to gain dark sky park status for a conservation area in North Canterbury.
The newly formed Oxford Dark Sky Group is close to submitting an application with the International Dark-Sky Association.
To complete the application, volunteers travel to the Oxford Forest Conservation Area to measure the dark sky.
My daughter, Sasha, and I met volunteers Raul Elias-Drago and Susi Schulze at the Oxford Area School Observatory at 11.30pm on a recent Friday, before heading out to the conservation area.
We take our first readings on the dark sky reader after stepping out of the car at the Coopers Creek car park.
As Elias-Drago explained, we need readings of magnitude 21.2 or higher to support the application.
Stellar magnitude is what astronomers use to measure the brightness of star or object in space. The brighter the object, the lower magnitude.
The Sun has an apparent magnitude of -27, while Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, is -1.46. Venus at its brightest is -5 and the International Space Station can reach a magnitude of -6.
Most people can see up to magnitude 6 with the naked eye on a clear night.
A magnitude of 21.2 is optimum for stargazing, as the sky is dark enough to see distant objects and get a clear view of the centre of the Milky Way through a telescope.
Our first set of readings were around 21.16 to 21.18.
Undeterred we drove further into the conservation area to take readings at different locations.
It was a partially cloudy night, but as we ventured further and the sky got darker our readings were consistently well over 21.2 and as high as 21.48.
On clear nights, Elias-Drago said he picked up readings as high as 21.66 and 21.76.
A $500 grant from the Oxford-Ohoka Community Board allowed the group to buy a dark sky reader.
The newly formed Oxford Dark Sky Group has 22 member organisations, including schools, community groups, sports club, the Oxford Promotions Action Committee (representing local businesses), the Department of Conservation and the Waimakariri District Council.
Elias-Drago said the ultimate goal is to become a dark sky reserve.
The first step is to obtain dark sky park status for the 11,350 hectare conservation area.
‘‘We can use that to generate momentum and then continue the conversation with the council and local businesses, generate some funds and come back to addressing the lighting in the township.’’
A dark sky reserve would include the conservation area as the core and the township and surrounding area as the periphery.
Elias-Drago said there were questions around lighting in the town and changes to the Waimakariri District Plan would need to be considered.
He said good lighting policies could reduce light pollution, improve melatonin levels in humans and improve animal welfare.
A study commissioned by Enterprise North Canterbury, the council’s economic development arm, earlier this year suggested a dark sky reserve could generate $5.4 million in additional spending in the town, and create up to 24 jobs.
After taking measurements in the conservation area, we took a set of readings at the observatory to compare.
Even with a street light outside the observatory and a partially cloudy sky, those readings were only just below 21.2.
The Oxford Dark Sky Group has received an award in the inaugural Waimakariri Zone Committee's environmental awards. (The Waimakariri Zone Committee is a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council.)
■Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School plans to build a community performing arts centre.
Board of trustees chairperson Simon Green said the school aimed to build "the premier performing arts centre in North Canterbury".
A formal proposal is being prepared … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School plans to build a community performing arts centre.
Board of trustees chairperson Simon Green said the school aimed to build "the premier performing arts centre in North Canterbury".
A formal proposal is being prepared for the Waimakariri District Council to gain their support.
Principal Bruce Kearney said the school hoped to build a facility similar to the Aurora Centre at Burnside High School in Christchurch.
The proposed 800-seat theatre would replace the school hall and have state-of-the-art equipment to serve almost 1700 students and the wider community.
‘‘We need the voice of the community and so we want to consult with the council, the community and local schools.
‘‘We want to come together and produce a plan which everybody can benefit from.’’
The new facility would be managed by the school, but available to the 19 contributing schools and local performing arts schools and organisations.
‘‘We are growing our performing arts programme and we want to be known as a performing arts school as well as an academic school,’’ Mr Kearney said.
Waimakariri District Council community and recreation general manager Chris Brown said the council has just adopted a new arts strategy.
Recreation Sport and Leisure Consultancy Ltd has also been engaged to develop a network plan of facilities in the district and future needs.
Both pieces of work will feed into next year’s 2024-34 long-term plan.
‘‘If there is a need in the community, then the council will absolutely look at it, alongside drainage, roading and extending our libraries,’’ Brown said.
‘‘The arts are definitely on the council’s radar and we have had a clear direction from our mayor and from our community.’’
Mayor Dan Gordon said he was keen to hear more about the school’s proposal.
‘‘I’m a champion and strong supporter of the arts so personally I will be looking forward to seeing where this plan lands.’’
The district is well served for performing arts, with the council maintaining the Rangiora and Oxford town halls, while Mainpower Stadium can be retrofitted for concerts.
Kaiapoi High School also has a 340-seat auditorium.
Hartley School of Performing Arts director Dale Hartley-Brown said the idea ‘‘sounds exciting’’.
She regularly booked the Rangiora Town Hall’s 350-seat auditorium for productions and events, but the venue had its limitations.
‘‘We definitely need something bigger. An 800-seat auditorium would be so good, I could do less shows and still make budget.
‘‘We used the school hall after the earthquakes and the school was fantastic.’’
Timeframes, cost and how the project would be funded were still being worked out, Kearney said.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
National MP Shane Reti shared pre-election that he's wanting to review the Health Star Rating used on NZ grocery products. This rating is voluntary and uses a scale of 0.5 to five stars to rank packaged food on its nutrient profile. Have these ratings had an affect on what you've been … View moreNational MP Shane Reti shared pre-election that he's wanting to review the Health Star Rating used on NZ grocery products. This rating is voluntary and uses a scale of 0.5 to five stars to rank packaged food on its nutrient profile. Have these ratings had an affect on what you've been buying?
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Ryman Healthcare has again been recognised as a top provider at the 2023 Aged Advisor ‘People Choice Awards’.
This year Ryman was selected as a finalist for Best Provider Nationwide, and Diana Isaac took home Best Large Retirement Village / Lifestyle Village.
The awards, run by … View moreRyman Healthcare has again been recognised as a top provider at the 2023 Aged Advisor ‘People Choice Awards’.
This year Ryman was selected as a finalist for Best Provider Nationwide, and Diana Isaac took home Best Large Retirement Village / Lifestyle Village.
The awards, run by agedadvisor.co.nz are based on almost 11,300 reviews and ratings for more than 890 facilities. Over 1600 of those in-depth reviews went towards this year’s awards.
Ryman took home the top prize in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. As a finalist this year Aged Advisor voters recognise Ryman’s continued growth and efforts within the aged care sector.
Click to read more.
For all your painting and decorating projects contact Andy and the friendly team at Enviro Painters Today.
Have a bar set for sale. Need gone. Originally from briscoes, never been used. Pick up from Kaiapoi or drop off for extra
Did you know that our pets can suffer the same illnesses as humans if they do not make regular contact with the Earth. Your beloved pets need Earthing too!
Earthing is one of the most natural and safest things you can do if your pet struggles with chronic pain, immune disorders, anxious behaviour,… View moreDid you know that our pets can suffer the same illnesses as humans if they do not make regular contact with the Earth. Your beloved pets need Earthing too!
Earthing is one of the most natural and safest things you can do if your pet struggles with chronic pain, immune disorders, anxious behaviour, or inflammatory diseases.
Lying down on our earthing mat promotes instant relief to your pet.
Daily Earthing either in nature or on our indoor earthing pet mat can result in progressive and sustained improvements in sleep, stress, pain, and disease recovery.
Size: 90 x 68 cm Soft 100% conductive perforated carbon leatherette that is eco-friendly and easy to clean. Simply wipe them down with any non-corrosive cleaner and allow them to air dry.
Give your furry friends the gift of grounding with our Earthing indoor pet mats. They deserve to be connected to the Earth's energy just as much as we do.
Purchase your mat here: Pickup is available from Rangiora
www.immersioncosmetics.co.nz...
Dear neighbours, surely it's not too soon to think of this most wonderful time of the year. In fact, we're looking for recipes for your favourite Christmas dishes, whether it's your mum's pavlova, grilled tiger prawns or a colourful summer salad, to feature in the magazine. … View moreDear neighbours, surely it's not too soon to think of this most wonderful time of the year. In fact, we're looking for recipes for your favourite Christmas dishes, whether it's your mum's pavlova, grilled tiger prawns or a colourful summer salad, to feature in the magazine. Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by October 29, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the December issue of NZ Gardener.
We’re looking for the nicest neighbours in town, and Pam Driver of Burswood has shared her lovely neighbours, David and Lara Hurst, saying they “are just wonderful”.
This year, Pam had a missing cat, which was quite out of character. Driver let the Hursts know, and they joined the search, … View moreWe’re looking for the nicest neighbours in town, and Pam Driver of Burswood has shared her lovely neighbours, David and Lara Hurst, saying they “are just wonderful”.
This year, Pam had a missing cat, which was quite out of character. Driver let the Hursts know, and they joined the search, successfully locating him in the gap between the ceiling and roof of their neighbour’s house.
Pam said “They rescued him and brought him home to me... complete with some scratches! I hate to think what would have happened had he not been found”.
Pam nominated the Hursts to let them know she is thankful for them: “It’s so good to know I have such caring neighbours who have my back. Thank you neighbours!”
Nominate someone in your hood, and your special neighbour could feature on Stuff and Neighbourly as an inspiration to us all (plus there are prizes to be won!).
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