Today we remember. ππ
Through these tough times we have learned the true strength and resilience of our communities and have witnessed first hand the abundance of aroha in Aotearoa.
Now more than ever, the fern seems to best capture the spirit of our country. If we look to our MΔori roots, we are reminded of the twist or pikorua which resembles two intertwined pikopiko ferns - a fern known for thriving in dark, damp areas of our woods. A reminder that difficult conditions can actually be an opportunity for tremendous growth.
The entanglement of the pikorua also has no beginning or end which is often used to represent an everlasting bond. Although we are all on our own path in life, in the end we always come back together - we are all connected through our interwoven lives.
#KiaKaha #ChristchurchStrong #NSNZcelebratecommunity
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Waimakariri district plan faces more delays amid changing rules
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Changing Government legislation is causing headaches for council staff, as Waimakaririβs new District Plan is set to be delayed again.
Waimakariri District Council development planning manager Matt Bacon said he was relieved when the last of the public hearings ended last week.
But with final council reports due on December 13, staff will have just two working days to present the final District Plan on December 17. A district plan helps to control and manage the development of the district or city.
ββWe are working through what it looks like and we will update the council at its meeting on December 3,ββ Bacon said.
ββBut we will likely seek another extension from the environment minister and the Resource Management Act (RMA) minister.ββ
The council first notified its draft District Plan in September 2021, but within months legislation was introduced with new medium density residential housing standards (MDRS).
ββWe needed to call for further submissions and we had to create a separate hearing panel to consider the plan variations to allow for the MDRS,ββ Bacon said.
ββWe have tried to merge the process as much as possible, as well as looking at re-zoning and incorporating other new legislation.ββ
When the draft plan was first notified there was no National Policy Statement (NPS) for Indigenous Biodiversity, but an NPS was introduced - and then replaced.
The Natural and Built Environment Act came into being last year and then repealed, and then there is the NPS on Urban Development and the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan.
The Government is now working on more RMA reforms and Environment Canterbury is working on the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement.
And then there is the Fast-Track Approvals Bill, which includes three proposed housing developments in Waimakariri - two of them outside of the future urban development areas identified in the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan.
All three housing developments in the Bill have been included in submissions to the District Plan, including a proposed 850-home development at Ohoka, near Rangiora, which is also subject to an Environment Court appeal.
ββWe havenβt seen the detail, so whether it is the same proposals, we donβt know, but they are different processes so we have to just keep doing what we are doing, until we are told otherwise,ββ Bacon said.
ββIt might just be a timing thing, but we just donβt know.ββ
Bacon said delaying the District Plan until new legislation is in place is not an option.
ββWe are looking at what we can control and having a watching brief, and we will look at transitional timings because we donβt always have to immediately change planning documents when new legislation comes in.ββ
Planning manager Wendy Harris said navigating changing Government legislation is a normal part of council planning work.
ββIf we waited we wouldnβt do anything and we would go nowhere.ββ
β LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
The tiger who came to tea
Trays are such a useful item to have in the home β they are obviously great for serving food and drinks, particularly breakfast in bed! Find out how to create your own with Resene wallpaper and Resene Colorwood wood stain with these easy step by step instructions.
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