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We're looking to move some of our pittosporum hedging plants to make room for next season's stock. Usually $7.50 each - now $6 each for a limited time. 100cm tall and bushy.
I have 8 acres of long term grazing available by the Christchurch Airport. $200 per week. Phone Sue on 021 722 497
Have a bit of fun playing around with verdigris paint effects with Resene paints and add classical highlights to your summer garden.
Follow our easy advice to get started getting creative at your place.
By David Hill, local Ddemocracy reporter
A Rangiora school has answered a call to help migrants learn English.
Rangiora Borough School has donated old reading books to support an initiate run by the Global Locals of Waimakariri (Glow) to teach English to new migrants.
Waimakariri District … View moreBy David Hill, local Ddemocracy reporter
A Rangiora school has answered a call to help migrants learn English.
Rangiora Borough School has donated old reading books to support an initiate run by the Global Locals of Waimakariri (Glow) to teach English to new migrants.
Waimakariri District Council community development facilitator Carolyn Boswell said there was a growing demand for English language classes following the opening up of the border.
‘‘"It is pretty exciting, in the last year we’ve gone from one class on a Saturday morning to three classes catering to a different range of abilities.
"It highlights the fact we are getting more and more people from overseas and there is now a lot of diversity in our district."
She said the initiative came out of a recent Race Unity Day art competition involving the local schools, which was run by local Iranian migrants, Glow (formerly the Migrants and Newcomers Network) and the council community team.
The network runs free English language classes and was looking for resources to start up a new beginners English language class.
Rangiora Borough School pupils participated in the art competition and principal Shane Buckner offered some old reading books.
"Our involvement with the Race Unity Day highlighted the fact we can support local in these endeavours," Buckner said.
"We have excess stock through culling of our resources and we would love to see the books used locally.’’
He put the call out to other schools in the local Puketeraki Kahui Ako (Rangiora community of learning) to support the initiative.
St Joseph’s Catholic School (Rangiora) and Kaiapoi Borough School have since responded and offered some reading books.
English language and conversational English classes are run on Saturday mornings at the Rangiora Town Hall during school term time.
To find out more contact Carolyn on 027-2933407 or email carolyn.boswell.wmk.govt.nz
Welcome to Waimakariri
Waimakariri has the chance to step up its efforts to welcome migrants.
The Waimakariri District Council has been accepted into the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Welcoming Communities programme.
Community team manager Tessa Sturley said the council would receive funding to employ a half-time facilitator over a three year period to boost the council’s efforts to support migrants.
‘‘There has been fantastic work done to date to support the migrant community, such as supporting the business sector and advising employers on how they can support their migrant workforce.
"This funding will allow us to build on that and to continue to support our growing migrant community."
The council established a migrant facilitator portfolio within the community team in 2016 in response to the growing number of migrants, particularly in the dairy sector and assisting in the earthquake rebuild.
The community team helped to establish the Migrants and Newcomers Network, now known as Glow (Global Locals of Waimakariri), which ran several initiatives including English language classes.
Since then the booming hospitality sector and the growing retirement village sector have been "significant employers of migrant staff", Sturley said.
Often the families of migrant workers had limited English making it difficult to find work or integrate into the community.
Neighbouring councils, including Hurunui and Selwyn were already part of the Welcoming Communities programme.
Sturley said the council hoped to get up to date information on the number of migrants living in the district, following the recently completed census.
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When you move to a Ryman village, the last thing you need to think about are unexpected costs. We offer financial security with rates, home insurance, exterior maintenance and gardening all covered under one fixed base weekly fee*, meaning once you’ve moved in you can focus on the things you … View moreWhen you move to a Ryman village, the last thing you need to think about are unexpected costs. We offer financial security with rates, home insurance, exterior maintenance and gardening all covered under one fixed base weekly fee*, meaning once you’ve moved in you can focus on the things you enjoy.
Find out more about our living options today and get ready for a new lifestyle.
*some conditions apply
By David Hill, local democracy reporter
Environment Canterbury plans to consult on its Ashley River strategy later this year.
North Canterbury zone manager Andrew Arps says the Rakahuri/Ashley River Braided River Strategy is an important piece of work.
It will be one of the first out of … View moreBy David Hill, local democracy reporter
Environment Canterbury plans to consult on its Ashley River strategy later this year.
North Canterbury zone manager Andrew Arps says the Rakahuri/Ashley River Braided River Strategy is an important piece of work.
It will be one of the first out of the blocks, along with a Rangitata River strategy, he said.
"We are working through reach by reach to see how it all works together as an over-arching plan.
"ECan is writing the strategy, but it is a multi agency, community approach, which is why the consultation process is important."
The regional council consulted on its masterplan for the Rangiora Reach, at Cones Road, Rangiora, last year, which will be incorporated into the overall strategy.
Some initiatives were already under way, including woody weeds clearance work at the Ashley River Gorge and Okuku River.
The consultation process would identify more work which was needed.
The recent experience of Cyclone Gabrielle in the North Island had highlighted the dangers of forestry "slash", Arps said.
"The forestry down here and the terrain is at a different scale, but there are things we need to look at.
"It is a different environment, but there are also risks which is why the clearance of the willows is important work.
"As has been highlighted, we are likely to see more of these events in the future so we need to be as best prepared as we can be."
But the biggest barrier was funding and the council would need more central government support to tackle the problem to prevent a repeat of what was seen in the North Island.
Braided river revival regional lead Greg Stanley said the strategy would provide an action plan for organisations to work together to restore ecological and riparian corridors, and to re-connect people with the river.
"Community input will be essential to shaping a strategy that helps meet the vision for the people who live, work and play along the river."
The strategy was being co-drafted with Mahaanui Kurataiao Ltd to ensure mana whenua input, Stanley said.
An initial draft strategy had been prepared to engage with local community groups which had indicated suggestions for improvement.
For more information, go to www.ecan.govt.nz...
Downsizing my garden due to health reason .
Black beauty, Cabana Banana, Daniel's Favourite, Edinburgh, Duet, Colour Spectacle, Happy Jill and many more!!
(too many varieties to put the photos here)
Pick up at:
TRADEZONE BUILDING (by the shop's door entrance)
326 Flaxton … View moreDownsizing my garden due to health reason .
Black beauty, Cabana Banana, Daniel's Favourite, Edinburgh, Duet, Colour Spectacle, Happy Jill and many more!!
(too many varieties to put the photos here)
Pick up at:
TRADEZONE BUILDING (by the shop's door entrance)
326 Flaxton Road, Rangiora,
Monday - Friday: 10.00am - 4.30pm
Saturday: 10am - 12.30pm
Please pay with the exact amount, as no change will be given (Honesty box - Red Box)
Happy to post nationwide, will be paid by buyers. Just send me a message.
Listed elsewhere also.
Manual juicer, easy and convenient, easy washed, ideal for one person. Hardly used. Tele 03 3270633
Kitty Kingdom Cat Rescue in Rangiora hope to present a petition to Waimakariri District Council requesting a bylaw, which would make it mandatory for domestic cats to be desexed, microchipped and registered on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register. A bylaw would reduce the cat population, … View moreKitty Kingdom Cat Rescue in Rangiora hope to present a petition to Waimakariri District Council requesting a bylaw, which would make it mandatory for domestic cats to be desexed, microchipped and registered on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register. A bylaw would reduce the cat population, enforce responsible cat ownership, protect our wildlife and reduce cases of animal cruelty in our district. Please check out the link below and sign and share if you agree. If not, thank you for taking the time to read this post.
www.change.org...
By David Hill, local democracy reporter
Waimakariri ratepayers can expect a small rates hike to balance the council’s ballooning roading budget.
Mayor Dan Gordon says the council has increased its proposed rates rise from 5.97%, signalled in the draft annual plan, to 6.24% as staff work to … View moreBy David Hill, local democracy reporter
Waimakariri ratepayers can expect a small rates hike to balance the council’s ballooning roading budget.
Mayor Dan Gordon says the council has increased its proposed rates rise from 5.97%, signalled in the draft annual plan, to 6.24% as staff work to keep on top of rising road maintenance costs.
"Most of the emails, messages and submissions we have received are around roading issues.
"So when it came down to a decision whether we defer some road maintenance or do we keep up with the work we do, the message from ratepayers was pretty clear."
The extra 0.27% rates rise will net an additional $220,000 for council staff to spend on roads.
Gordon said he had been talking to other councils around the country that were facing similar issues with rising roading costs.
And for some, their roading budget had already blown out, he said.
With the rising roading costs, Gordon said staff will be monitoring the council’s contractor closely to ensure road maintenance is kept up to date.
"We feel that level of audit is very important when we are talking about ratepayer and tax payer money."
The increase to the roading budget was the only change from the draft annual plan presented to ratepayers earlier this year.
The council will meet again on June 20 to sign off the 2023-24 annual plan.
Even well-insulated homes can lose up to 45% of the room's heat without having adequate curtains. This is why Curtain Banks are in high demand at this time of year.
A petition is circulating to get curtains added as part of the Healthy Homes Standards in the hopes of helping renters avoid… View moreEven well-insulated homes can lose up to 45% of the room's heat without having adequate curtains. This is why Curtain Banks are in high demand at this time of year.
A petition is circulating to get curtains added as part of the Healthy Homes Standards in the hopes of helping renters avoid living in cold, damp conditions. Do you think curtains should be mandatory for New Zealand homes?
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
Get a group of friends together and head on over to Cheviot for the community Matariki Weekend Two-Day Market on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 July. Quality stalls including arts and crafts, antiques and collectables, clothing, locally made wooden items, fresh walnuts, baking, jams pickles and … View moreGet a group of friends together and head on over to Cheviot for the community Matariki Weekend Two-Day Market on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 July. Quality stalls including arts and crafts, antiques and collectables, clothing, locally made wooden items, fresh walnuts, baking, jams pickles and sauces, bric a brac, second-hand books and DVDs and lots more. We're indoors in the lovely warm and welcoming Knox Community Centre Hall between 10am and 2pm on both days. Plenty of parking close by and just a short stroll to great coffee and eats. See you there.
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
Housing, road reserve management, and the funding of Waimakariri’s three town promotions associations are set for review.
The Waimakariri District Council appointed hearing panels to consider its draft housing and road reserve management policies, … View moreFrom local democracy reporter David Hill:
Housing, road reserve management, and the funding of Waimakariri’s three town promotions associations are set for review.
The Waimakariri District Council appointed hearing panels to consider its draft housing and road reserve management policies, and a working party to review how it supports the Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Oxford promotions associations at a council meeting on Tuesday (June 6).
Deputy Mayor Neville Atkinson will chair the housing policy hearing panel.
‘‘Social housing is something we have provided, but we also have the Vision Wests of this world and Kāinga Ora, who are very good at running these things,’’ he said.
‘‘We don’t need to be experts ourselves, we just need to make sure people are pointed in the right direction.’’
The council formed a housing working group two years ago to review the housing challenges in the district and the council’s role in supporting ‘‘positive housing outcomes’’, property unit manager Rob Hawthorne said.
The working group has prepared a draft housing policy which will go out for public consultation in August.
Mayor Dan Gordon suggested the hearing panel consider raising the age eligibility from 65 to 60-years, while councillor Brent Cairns suggested accessibility needed to be considered.
The draft road reserve management policy will be out for consultation from June 19 to July 19.
Senior transport engineer Shane Binder said the draft policy had been updated to include roadside berms, unformed legal roads, road corridor usage, utilities on the roadside and work zone traffic management.
It also included paper roads.
Gordon said Rangiora Promotions, the Kaiapoi Promotions Association and the Oxford Promotions Action Committee all played valuable roles in their communities.
‘‘The sustainability of our promotions associations is really important in our district and we helped Rangiora Promotions earlier this year to get through a period where they had a funding gap.
‘‘Changes happen so we need to make sure our promotions associations are fit for purpose and our funding is where it needs to be.’’
Cairns has been asked to lead the working party, with support from councillors Joan Ward and Tim Fulton, representatives from the four community boards and the three promotions associations.
‘‘I have met with all three promotions associations and they all have challenges,’’ Cairns said.
‘‘Most of the members have their own businesses, so they have pressures of trying to make money in this environment and then putting in the time to support their community.’’
He said the promotions associations promoted their towns, made them vibrant and attracted new people.
Council staff will also provide support.
Strategy and business manager Mark Maxwell said the review will begin by considering the challenges the promotions association are facing, before exploring solutions.
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
Waimakariri residents’ desire to retain Three Waters services in local ownership has been reinforced in a recent survey.
The Waimakariri District Council’s 2022 customer satisfaction survey has found between 92 and 96% of respondents considered it… View moreFrom local democracy reporter David Hill:
Waimakariri residents’ desire to retain Three Waters services in local ownership has been reinforced in a recent survey.
The Waimakariri District Council’s 2022 customer satisfaction survey has found between 92 and 96% of respondents considered it very important / important for the council to be involved providing stormwater drainage, sewerage and water reticulation.
The survey findings were released at a council meeting on Tuesday (June 6).
Chief executive Jeff Millward said the result reinforced the results of previous surveys conducted by the council.
‘‘The 90% water result is not surprising to see as people do not want to lose control of the assets they own and of a council they know delivers services well, as shown by the results.’’
More than 90% of respondents also believed the council should be involved in providing recycling services, parks and reserves, rubbish collection, roading activities, public toilets, emergency and hazard management, and supporting resident safety and wellbeing.
The survey was completed during October to December last year and 772 surveys were completed, which was significantly higher than previous surveys in 2013, 2016 and 2019, when 450 to 490 surveys were completed.
The council received an 86% satisfaction rating, compared to 85% in 2016 and 2019, and 76% in 2013.
Millward said it was a pleasing result.
‘‘We are a hard working council on behalf of our residents and this result is a credit to our elected members and staff.
‘‘The response rate from our community was also great to see, showing they are well connected and like to be consulted.’’
Services which scored high satisfaction ratings included parks and reserves, sewerage systems and library services.
But there was work to do in the district development, environmental management and regulatory performance spaces, which received high dissatisfaction ratings.
Mayor Dan Gordon said the council was always keen to hear feedback from the community.
‘‘This is just a snap-shot of the survey results overall, but I’m pleased to see that we’re maintaining high satisfaction scores consistently across years.
‘‘Like every bit of community feedback, there are things to take on board and items to work on, and the council is always ready to listen to our residents and make changes.’’
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