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660 days ago

Advocates fear for bird safety on Crate Day

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Braided river bird advocates are fearing for the safety of nesting sites on the Ashley River ahead of Crate Day this Saturday.

The Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group has taken to social media to raise its concerns, with four-wheel-drives expected to be out in force on the river bed.

Crate Day is an ‘‘unofficial holiday’’ held on the first Saturday in December and last year it is thought between 150 and 200 4WDs were on the Ashley River bed.

Committee member Judith Hughey says birds, chicks and nests are not easily seen.

‘‘Last year I was observing at the entry point at the Okuku bridge and on the river just to see what happens. I was shocked by the number of vehicles, possibly 150 or more.’’

Last year Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group volunteers, Department of Conservation (DOC) staff and Environment Canterbury park rangers were out in force to monitor the 4WDs, but were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers, she said.

She said most participants ‘‘did not seem to be malicious’’, but were unaware of the damage they could have caused.

‘‘At least one driver went out of his/her way to destroy signs advising of nesting birds.

‘‘A vehicle came within centimetres of one nest, but no nests were found to have been destroyed.

‘‘At least two nests contained small chicks, which would have been unable to move away from a vehicle.’’

Four-wheel-drive enthusiasts responded on Facebook, saying they were aware of the nest locations and ‘‘do their best to avoid them’’.

Drivers said they had ‘‘legal rights as tax payers to legally drive down a river’’ and suggested DOC should ‘‘put more effort into identifying and fencing off the nesting areas’’.

■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.

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3 days ago

Here's Thursday's thinker!

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I am lighter than air, but a hundred people cannot lift me. What am I?

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6 days ago

Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

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).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?

Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱

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Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
  • 47.9% Yes
    47.9% Complete
  • 50.2% No
    50.2% Complete
  • 1.9% Other - I'll share below
    1.9% Complete
3305 votes
4 days ago

Hero

The Team from Humans of Christchurch Ōtautahi

“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
www.humansofchch.org......

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