Environmental payoff for SailGP event
The Waimakariri Sailing Club (WSC) is gearing up for SailGP to hit Lyttelton with a few events in the lead-up.
As part of getting local fans closer to the SailGP teams, each local sailing club has been adopted by a SailGP team and their environmental impact league partners.
The WSC has been adopted by the Canadian SailGP and its impact league partner, Ocean Wise.
"The SailGP is the epitome of yacht racing on the edge," WSC Commodore Sam Jones said.
"With nine teams racing at speeds of almost 100kph around a tight course on foils is exciting, heart stopping and so good to watch. Every team wants to win so they throw everything at it, and Lyttelton is such a great amphitheatre to hold such a great event."
SailGP isn't all about racing - it's also about local inclusion, community events, inspiring young people and environmental sustainability, which the North Canterbury community can be part of. Other community partners will be involved, including the North Canterbury Coast Guard.
On Sunday (March 12), the WSC will host Ocean Wise in a shoreline rubbish collection from Kairaki Beach north up to Waikuku, and the banks of the Waimakariri River. They will also work with the Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara Trust to plant as many trees as possible along the coastal pathway near where fire destroyed a large section in November last year.
"We need people, as many people as we can get," Jones said.
"We want everyone who can to join us to look after our backyard and bring awareness to why our environment is so important - it will be a lot of fun and something different to do."
The event starts at 11am at the Waimakariri Sailing Club, 65 Featherston Ave, Kairaki Beach.
"We will bring all of the rubbish we collect back to the sailing club for Ocean Wise to sort and recycle."
A sausage sizzle will be held at the end of the event to thank those who helped.
The WSC will also host the Canadian SailGP team at 6.30pm on Thursday March 16 for a meet and greet, and people will be able to join club members on March 18 and 19 to watch the racing on the big screen.
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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
www.humansofchch.org......
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