Youth encouraged to join emergency services
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Recruiting young people into emergency services is back on the agenda for two North Canterbury councils.
The Hurunui District Council is bringing back its Youth in Emergency Services camp in July, while the Waimakariri District Council is looking to replace its successful cadet programme with a Youth in Emergency Management course.
Youth in Emergency Services (YES) was a national programme to introduce young people to volunteering in emergency services, until funding ran out five years ago.
The programme is being re-introduced in the Hurunui district thanks to the efforts of the Hurunui Youth Council
‘‘I was informed about the YES camp concept last year when I took the lead on the emergency services portfolio,’’ youth council deputy chairperson and Amuri Area School year 13 student Sam Bush said.
‘‘I decided it was something worth looking into and, through our youth council processes, it was voted on to proceed and planning began.’’
The youth council has joined forces with police, Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR), St John and the Red Cross.
Funding has come from the Ministry of Youth Development, the Rāta Foundation and Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM).
The YES camp will run during the July school holidays, from July 10 to 14, at the Hanmer Forest Residential Camp and is open to young people aged 16 to 19-years.
‘‘The camp is a good pathway for youth who are interested in becoming a volunteer or are looking at one of the emergency services as their future career,’’ Bush said.
‘‘It will provide them with an opportunity to experience some of what is involved with these organisations.’’
After running the YES programme for several years in collaboration with the Hurunui and Selwyn District Councils, the Waimakariri District Council’s CDEM team developed its own cadet programme.
But the programme became difficult to sustain during Covid-19, Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said.
‘‘It was an initiative that we were very proud to have developed, however, the past couple of years have provided a difficult environment in which to operate the programme.’’
Council staff reviewed it last year and decided they could not continue it in its present form.
‘‘After engaging with the cadets, their families and key staff, it was decided the best option would be to replace the CDEM cadet programme with a sustainable long-term programme for Youth in Emergency Management,’’ Gordon said.
The new initiative would run for eight weeks, instead of being run for the duration of the school year, with the potential to offer it up to four times a year.
The focus would be on Civil Defence training.
■ To apply for the Hurunui District Council’s YES Camp, go to hurunui.govt.nz/yescamp2023.
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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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84.7% Yes
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13.9% 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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