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By David Hill local democracy reporter
North Canterbury’s three councils are sticking with first past the post (FPP) for local government elections.
The Hurunui and Kaikōura District Councils are in the midst of representation reviews, but have decided to stick with their voting system, … View moreBy David Hill local democracy reporter
North Canterbury’s three councils are sticking with first past the post (FPP) for local government elections.
The Hurunui and Kaikōura District Councils are in the midst of representation reviews, but have decided to stick with their voting system, FPP, rather than the single transferable vote (STV) system.
Hurunui mayor Marie Black said the council has accepted a recommendation from its working group to stay with FPP for the 2025 and 2028 local government elections.
“There was a great deal of discussion on the merits of first past the post and STV.
“STV is a very different system and it was felt first past the post was familiar and changing systems may lead to a decrease in voter turnout.”
Under FPP, voters simply vote for their preferred candidate, whereas under STV voters rank the candidates in order of preference.
Discussions are continuing on a Māori ward being established in the Hurunui district.
Black said the council was actively seeking the views of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura.
“It is important we canvas those views and make a decision based on the evidence.”
Speaking at a Kaikōura District Council meeting earlier this month, corporate services senior manager Peter Kearney said there were pros and cons with both systems.
“First past the post is well understood, but the Future for Local Government Report has stated a preference for STV.
“The data suggests it (STV) is slightly fairer, but people find it harder to understand and there can be a later release of the end result.”
Councillors voted to stick with FPP for the 2025 and 2028 elections.
Councillor Robby Roche said FPP “fits our community”, while councillor Kevin Heays said “simple is best”.
The council is continuing to engage with Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura on the question of a Māori ward.
The Waimakariri District Council decided to stay with FPP at its May council meeting, mayor Dan Gordon said.
The councils have until September 19 to issue a public notice on the preferred voting option.
Voters have until February 21 to request a poll on the electoral system, if 5% of registered voters in the district sign a petition.
The Waimakariri council consulted with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tūāhuriri on the question of a Māori ward during the last representation review in 2021.
At the time rūnanga indicated it was satisfied with the existing hapū and council relationship.
* Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
We're not saying 'Ka kite' to 'Kia ora' but let's challenge ourselves a little more for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori...
Held from the 11th-17th September, Māori Language week gives us a chance to celebrate our beautiful national language. Maybe you'll be … View moreWe're not saying 'Ka kite' to 'Kia ora' but let's challenge ourselves a little more for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori...
Held from the 11th-17th September, Māori Language week gives us a chance to celebrate our beautiful national language. Maybe you'll be celebrating by watching the Toku Reo videos and using Te Aka (Maōri Dictionary) to improve your knowledge, or maybe you've found a buddy for the week that will only kōrero in te reo with you. Ka pai!
If you're a fan of chocolate, we have five blocks of Whittakers Miraka Kirīmi tiakarete to give away. Whether long or short, simply share your show-off phrase below to be in to win. (Winners randomly drawn and notified on Mon, 18th Sept).
Spring is now here it is a great time to organise your painting and decorating projects to be started before Christmas sneaks up on us.
Get in touch with Andy and the Friendly team at Enviro Painters today.
Hi. Does anyone have a tree (or limbs) that has been felled a year or more ago? Tree types: apple, birch, maple, oak, alder or poplar. I don't need a lot, 2-3 big limbs would do it. This is for a Hugelkultur planter box.
Thanks.
This September, Bayleys Canterbury presents Bayleys Plate Up for a Purpose - a month of festive dining supporting the Christchurch City Mission’s Back to School programme. Bayleys Canterbury has supported the Back to School programme since 2019 and raised over $500,000 to date.
… View moreThis September, Bayleys Canterbury presents Bayleys Plate Up for a Purpose - a month of festive dining supporting the Christchurch City Mission’s Back to School programme. Bayleys Canterbury has supported the Back to School programme since 2019 and raised over $500,000 to date.
Check out today, there’s over 30 venues across wider Christchurch – including two in Rangiora - with a feature Plate Up meal on their menu.
Choose one, or more, of our partner venues and make a date to visit! A donation is automatically made to the Christchurch City Mission for every Plate Up feature dish ordered.
Put down the coffee, feed your brain every weekday and hopefully have a bit of fun in the process.
There’s a new word puzzle that’s a little “anagram-istic”, a tad “Boggle-ing” and a bit harder than both. It’s aptly named, The Hard Word.
You get one scramble of letters, one … View morePut down the coffee, feed your brain every weekday and hopefully have a bit of fun in the process.
There’s a new word puzzle that’s a little “anagram-istic”, a tad “Boggle-ing” and a bit harder than both. It’s aptly named, The Hard Word.
You get one scramble of letters, one cryptic clue and one tense minute to unscramble the letters and guess the answer.
Proudly brought to you by Neighbourly, The Hard Word can be found 9am weekdays on Stuff. Give it a go today - if you dare…
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The global teacher shortage is starting to bite in North Canterbury secondary schools.
Local schools have already begun advertising for teaching staff for 2024, while some secondary school principals are heading back into the classroom to fill staffing … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The global teacher shortage is starting to bite in North Canterbury secondary schools.
Local schools have already begun advertising for teaching staff for 2024, while some secondary school principals are heading back into the classroom to fill staffing gaps.
The Ministry of Education said staff retention rates in Canterbury remained high.
But a global teacher shortage is creating challenges, including finding enough relievers to cover for staff sickness during winter months.
Simon Green, an advocate for principals and boards of trustees, said staff recruitment is becoming a headache for Canterbury principals.
"The pay settlement will make it more attractive, but we might have to play a long game.
"No-one is hitting the panic button yet, but schools are having to get better organised in advertising for teachers.
"Some principals are even having to step into the classroom because they can’t get enough teachers and that is almost unheard of at secondary schools."
Having principals in the classroom meant other matters such as discipline may not be addressed in a timely manner.
Subjects like maths, physics and hard materials (woodwork and metal work) were traditionally hard to recruit, but even the number of English teachers has "dropped off", Green said.
Green works as a leadership adviser with Evaluation Associates, supporting principals and boards across Otago and Canterbury.
He is also the Rangiora High School board of trustees chairperson.
Kaiapoi High School principal Jason Reid said he had eight roles to fill for next year, so had begun advertising already.
"There are shortages of teacher trainees across New Zealand, particularly in the North Island.
"We’ve had Auckland principals down here at open days, so we don’t want to miss out."
Rangiora High School principal Bruce Kearney said the number of applicants for teaching positions has dropped back significantly in recent years.
"You used to have 20 people apply for a position, but now you might only get one or two applicants.
"It means teachers can take the opportunity to move or to go for a promotion or to work closer to home, so you can’t really blame them."
Ministry Te Tai Runga (south) hautū (leader) Nancy Bell said enrolment numbers for South Island teacher training courses have returned to pre-Covid levels.
"There is a global shortage of teachers, so training and retaining teachers in Aotearoa is a priority.
"Our teaching workforce is diverse and is made up of great teaching talent that is both domestically trained and trained overseas."
Staff retention rates in Canterbury were at 88.6%, compared with 88.9% nationally.
Bell said the Government has significantly boosted funding over the last 12 months to help out.
The funding is targeted at initiatives to attract New Zealanders into teaching and to recruit talent from overseas.
Photos: Kaiapoi High School has already begun advertising to fill teaching positions for next year + Simon Green, an advocate for principals and boards of trustees.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter.
The future of alternative education for vulnerable young people in North Canterbury is in doubt.
This follows Rangiora High School’s decision to withdraw from being the provider of the Maungatere alternative education service.
Principal Bruce … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter.
The future of alternative education for vulnerable young people in North Canterbury is in doubt.
This follows Rangiora High School’s decision to withdraw from being the provider of the Maungatere alternative education service.
Principal Bruce Kearney said the school has advised the Ministry of Education it will no longer be the provider for Maungatere after December.
Ministry Te Tai Runga (South) hautū (leader) Nancy Bell said the ministry is discussing possible arrangements with other local schools.
"Our staff will continue to support young people in North Canterbury who have disengaged from school, and their whānau, to locate an education provider that will work for them."
Rangiora High School has hosted the Maungatere alternative education service for about 30 years on behalf of local secondary schools, in partnership with the Christchurch City Mission.
"Maungatere has provided an alternative education for young people where school is not the right place for them, instead of suspending or excluding them," Kearney said.
In the city students could change schools relatively easily by enrolling at another school down the road.
"But it is different in a semi-rural community, because if we don’t engage with them, who will?"
Maungatere director Carol Weaver said it gave students who struggled in mainstream schooling "a second chance".
"They’re not all bad kids. We see many good things happening from taking them out of the big school, and giving them another chance.
"Police youth aid has said it reduces their workload considerably as it stops a lot of the petty crime."
Maungatere has had a number of success stories, with one former student going on to play for the Melbourne Storm rugby league team.
Some of the students have been busy working on their literacy and numeracy standards for NCEA.
Weaver said she is concerned what will happen to vulnerable students in North Canterbury if the service is no longer available.
"We’ve got parents asking us ‘what the heck do we do now?’."
An "alternative education service" is a collaboration between schools, whānau, the wider community and the ministry.
It is designed to transition younger students back into school, while 16-year-olds were transitioned into further education, training or employment.
Maungatere is funded for up to 16 students, with the City Mission covering the cost of the building.
But even with the support of the City Mission, funding did not go far enough.
An Education Review Office report into alternative education services, released in June, found the funding model was "inadequate" and called for sweeping changes.
In response the government has increased funding from next year by 30%, from $12,720 to $16,536 per learner per year.
But the funding model did not allow providers like Maungatere to employ qualified teachers, and providers struggled to keep up with building costs, power and resourcing.
Rangiora High School board of trustees chairperson Simon Green said the school had "done its bit over the years".
"The ministry has under-funded it, so it makes it very hard for us as a school board.
"We've had a good run with it over the years and now it is time for someone else to take it on."
In the meantime, Rangiora High School has developed its own programme to support year 9 and 10 students "who require some time out of class", Kearney said.
The programme is being funded by the school’s board of trustees.
"It is about keeping the connection with the school so they can transition back into mainstream education."
Photo: Maungatere director Carol Weaver is concerned about what will happen to the students she works with. By David Hill/LDR
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
More clarity is needed around Waimakariri’s roading projects, mayor Dan Gordon says.
Gordon said he hoped to get clarity on the status of the proposed Woodend safety improvements, now that the two major political parties are promising to build the … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
More clarity is needed around Waimakariri’s roading projects, mayor Dan Gordon says.
Gordon said he hoped to get clarity on the status of the proposed Woodend safety improvements, now that the two major political parties are promising to build the Woodend Bypass on State Highway 1.
"It is good to get some certainty around the Woodend Bypass, but we also need to ensure the safety aspects are addressed as well."
The Labour-led Government announced in August that the Woodend Bypass was included in the Government Policy Statement and was set to be included in the National Land Transport Plan 2024-27.
The National Party has also confirmed it would build the Woodend Bypass, if elected.
The Woodend safety improvements were announced in December as part of a $35 million package.
But the proposals did not include an underpass at the Pegasus roundabout for pedestrians and cyclists, which Gordon has been advocating for.
He was also seeking clarity on $19 million of funding Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency had set aside for Lineside Rd, linking Kaiapoi with Rangiora.
The council was also pushing to get a proposed eastern Rangiora link road and a replacement of Skew Bridge in west Kaiapoi included in the National Land Transport Plan.
The eastern link road would provide another link between SH1 and Rangiora, and help ease pressure on the Southbrook business area.
Gordon said the council was exploring different funding options, including the Local Government Infrastructure Financing and Funding (IFF) works programme, in a bid to speed up these projects.
"For a growth council like ours, these projects are very important to address traffic congestion. We need solutions and we need funding.
"We would rather not have to fund it all ourselves upfront because it is a burden on ratepayers."
The council last week approved funding of $1.2m to upgrade the Island and Ohoka roads intersection at Silverstream, Kaiapoi.
The funding is subject to confirmation of a 51% funding share from Waka Kotahi.
The Moving Forward: Waimakariri Integrated Transport Strategy 2035+ has also been approved by the council for consultation.
It will be open for consultation until October 1.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Try our online heart-health tool 'My Heart Check' to find out your estimated heart age compared to your actual age. The result may surprise you!
Click the link to find out more.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
An increase in destructive heavy rain events is forcing the Waimakariri District Council to rethink how it responds.
The council has established an infrastructure resilience team to lead flood recovery efforts.
Councillors have also approved $4 … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
An increase in destructive heavy rain events is forcing the Waimakariri District Council to rethink how it responds.
The council has established an infrastructure resilience team to lead flood recovery efforts.
Councillors have also approved $4 million for infrastructure repairs, following a flood event in July 2023, which saw more than 150mm of rain fall over three days.
‘‘We know severe weather events are happening more regularly and during each event we learn more about our stormwater, wastewater and roading networks and where they need be strengthened and investment focused,’’ mayor Dan Gordon said.
‘‘Rather than engaging consultants to work alongside staff, we’ve decided to recruit and put in place a specialist team to work on current known issues and improve the resilience of our entire network.’’
The council received 335 service requests from residents following July’s rain event, compared to more than 800 requests from a more severe rain event last year.
The July rain event led to a precautionary self-evacuation of Tuahiwi at its peak, numerous road closures and widespread surface flooding.
"Residents have told the council they’re concerned about flooding during heavy rain events, especially now they are happening more regularly," Gordon said.
"And they want assurance we’re doing what we can to reduce the likelihood of flooding."
He said the new fund provided a budget to fix known issues and to put skilled people in place as part of an infrastructure resilience team.
The main areas to experience issues from July’s rain event included Cam River/Ruataniwha, the Tuahiwi area, and Waikuku Beach.
There were also road repairs needed, including Lees Valley Rd.
Over the past three years $22.3 million has been spent in Kaiapoi on flood protection works such as pumping stations, drain and culvert improvements and mains replacement.
It was partially funded from the Government’s ‘‘shovel ready", fund.
‘‘We’ve already seen the benefit of these improvements during the July 2023 flooding - known low-lying areas in Kaiapoi remained safe,’’ Mr Gordon said.
‘‘We want to continue to build on this momentum with this new team and new fund.’’
PHOTO: The Ashley River in flood during July's heavy rain event. By John Cosgrove/North Canterbury News
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Five colour and styling tips with Resene for creating an at-home work space that works for you.
Costs are on the rise! Who's the hero doing the hard yards to keep things running in your household?
NZ Compare wants to pay $350 towards their Broadband and Power bill! Nominate NOW! Entry ends 28 Sep 2023.
Need more ways to save money? Comparing your power and broadband bills is one … View moreCosts are on the rise! Who's the hero doing the hard yards to keep things running in your household?
NZ Compare wants to pay $350 towards their Broadband and Power bill! Nominate NOW! Entry ends 28 Sep 2023.
Need more ways to save money? Comparing your power and broadband bills is one way to see if you can save more or simply switch to something that better suits your needs. If you’re paying for it, make sure it works for you.
Experienced mousers seek full time employment
Barn cat qualifications include:
Excellent work ethic (they do however require the occassional nap)
Work well alone or as part of a team…why not adopt two?
Desexed and vaccinated
No adoption fee (donations are always gratefully received)
… View moreExperienced mousers seek full time employment
Barn cat qualifications include:
Excellent work ethic (they do however require the occassional nap)
Work well alone or as part of a team…why not adopt two?
Desexed and vaccinated
No adoption fee (donations are always gratefully received)
Fully installed by the boss lady at Kitty Kingdom
Barn cat salary expectation:
Food, Water, Shelter, Love from afar
Barn cats help deter rodents in barns, wineries, storage facilities, workshops or any property suitable for independent minded felines.
Call Karen at Kitty Kingdom cat rescue today: 021 253 1842
Rangiora Menz Shed in association with Citizens Advice Bureau are holding a Car Boot Sale/Market this Saturday 16th September 9am - 1pm.
Come along and support our local community
Tender
Marketed by Maurice Newell
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