Rangiora’s ground breaking development under way
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
Rangiora’s newest and largest housing development expects to have its first residents moving in by Christmas 2023.
While site development is under way, Mike Greer Homes North Canterbury director Mike Flutey says work to build the new homes in the Bellgrove sub-division will get under way by the middle of next year.
Sections in stage one were already on the market, with 60 percent of the nearly 200 sections already sold.
A wide range of house and land packages will be offered from two-storey town houses to high density and medium density housing and large sections.
‘‘We will have options for first home buyers and downsizers and some big family homes. We should be able to provide options under $600,000. I think all our price increases have probably settled,’’ Flutey said.
Within stage one there was provision for a community shopping and commercial centre and a pre-school, which would be surrounded by the higher density sections.
Recreation reserves have been allocated in the later stages, along with walkways and cycle ways.
The entire development was 100 hectares, with up to 1300 sections.
Standalone sections ranged from 330 square metres, with some large sections expected to be more than 1100 square metres.
Higher density sections, including duplex and multi-storey units, will be from around 200 square metres.
The $595,000 to $600,000 price tag will buy a 200 square metre section with a two-bedroom, one bathroom house and garage, Flutey said.
Three-bedroom houses with a double garage will sell from $650,000.
Large three to four bedroom family homes will sell for around $850,000 with ‘‘views out to Mt Grey’’, Flutey said.
The smaller sections will have an entrance way and ‘‘a bit of hard landscaping’’, with raised garden beds for the larger sections.
The subdivision received a $5.7 million grant last month for transport and three waters projects from Kainga Ora’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund to kick-start development.
The funding was subject to providing affordable housing under the $750,000 price cap for new homes in the Greater Christchurch area.
Flutey anticipated 40% of house and land packages would be under $750,000, in line with the funding application.
Bellgrove Rangiora project manager and director Paul McGowan and Flutey were joined by Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon and councillors, and MP Matt Doocey on Thursday to officially break ground.
‘‘This is a significant milestone,’’ McGowan said.
‘‘We are pretty happy to be finally under way after two-and-a-half years of planning.’’
Gordon noted the Bellgrove homestead, which will take centre stage in the new development, was once the home of Waimakariri’s first mayor Trevor Inch.
‘‘This is exactly what our town needs because we are running out of sections and it is great to be on a property which was once the home of a former mayor.’’
■ According to Westpac’s online mortgage calculator, a couple with a combined income of $95,000, no children and no debts may be able to buy a $600,000 home on a 30 year mortgage with a $120,000 (or 20%) deposit.
Fortnightly repayments would be around $1522, based on Westpac’s residential base rate of 7.35% per annum.
With two children the combined income would need to increase to at least $105,000.
According to Statistics New Zealand, the median individual income in the year to June 30, 2022, was $1189 per week or $62,000 a year (or $1320 a week for men and $1055 a week for women).
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
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1.9% Other - I'll share below
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
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