Money Worries? We Can Help…
If you have money worries, bills you can’t pay, creditors keep phoning demanding payment – or maybe your situation has changed and you would like help to budget for your new circumstances; then contact Budgeting Services North Canterbury.
Budgeting Services North Canterbury is a registered charity and has been working with families and whānau across the Waimakariri and Hurunui districts since 1980.
You’ll always work with a fully qualified Financial Mentor, who provides you with free and confidential advice to support you budget better.
We also offer community education via MoneyMates, where people can talk, share and learn about money.
We provide advocacy services to help negotiate fairer repayment options with creditors. Whether it’s a government department, a bank, or a financial institution, we can advocate on your behalf.
If you need help with insolvency documents or want to understand your consumer rights, our team of Financial Mentors have the expertise to help you improve your situation.
The Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act now requires lenders to implement more stringent lending criteria to ensure that borrowers have the funds to repay their loan.
As a result, lenders are asking for much more detailed information concerning your financial situation.
Our Financial Mentors can help you understand what this means for you, and help you get your paperwork in order.
As lenders will investigate your previous three months’ worth of transactions, through your bank accounts, it is best to come to us well before that so that we can discuss how your spending habits might influence the lender’s decision.
Sharon Grant, Service Manager of BSNC says: “It’s a real privilege to be able to support families to improve their financial wellbeing. We have received wonderful feedback from people delighted to finally repay long-term debts and who are now able to save for the first time in their lives. Talk to us about your situation, we’d be glad to help you to budget better.”
Phone or email to talk about your situation:
03 315 3505 or email: servicemanager@bsnc.org.nz
We’re on Facebook and www.bsnc.org.nz...
Our office is in the War Memorial Hall, 1 Albert Street, Rangiora.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.6% Yes
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14% No
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1.4% Other - I'll share below
Heritage gem or dangerous burden? Bowling club’s dilemma with historic pavilion
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A Rangiora sports club is frustrated with the increasing maintenance and insurance costs of its 113-year-old pavilion, which can't be demolished due to its historic importance.
The Rangiora Bowling Club approached the Waimakariri District Council last year for help, but was yet to find a satisfactory solution for the pavilion.
It is registered with Heritage New Zealand and listed in the Waimakariri District Plan, leaving the club with few options.
The club’s ex-president Norman Hewett said the pavilion on Good St, north of the town centre, is unsafe and no longer fit for purpose.
Hewett said the council has been supportive and Heritage New Zealand has offered advice, but no funding.
‘‘Everybody thinks the building is worth preserving, but there is a cost and it shouldn’t be put on the bowling club.
‘‘As far as we are concerned it is not fit for purpose and we want to know how we can get round that.
‘‘We want to know what the community thinks and if they want to retain it, are they willing to pay for it?’’
The club has formed a sub-committee to explore what options are available.
Sub-committee member Rodger Wilton said the club has been unable to find any record that the club had a say when the building was given heritage status.
Built in 1911, the pavilion served the Rangiora Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club, which originally shared the site.
It cost 945 pounds and was opened on October 28, 1911.
The three clubs purchased 1.25 acres on the corner of Blackett and Good streets in April 1905, but later parted company, with tennis and croquet moving to new sites.
While no quotes have been sought, Hewett believed it would cost more than $1 million to bring the pavilion up to code.
Ideally the club would like to demolish the pavilion so it can upgrade its main building and remain on site.
The stairwell was non-compliant and there was no wheelchair access, meaning the club was unable to use the upstairs facilities.
There are loose tiles on the roof which need replacing.
An attached building behind the pavilion is sufficient to meet the needs of the 140 members and for hosting the largest bowls tournament in North Canterbury, Hewett said.
He said the club is open to all options, including a land swap or selling to a developer with the expertise to restore the pavilion.
Waimakariri District Council community and recreation manager Chris Brown said the council is working through various opportunities with the bowling club as part of a feasibility study.
‘‘There are a lot of options to consider. Each have various financial, social and operational implications.’’
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga said it had ‘‘expressed support for the adaptive reuse of the building and supported the club’s intention to investigate options for the pavilion and the associated land parcel’’.
The Rangiora Bowling Club is keen to hear the views of the community. Email rangiorabowling@gmail.com.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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