Warmer welcome planned for migrants to North Canterbury
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Two North Canterbury councils are stepping up their efforts to welcome new migrants.
The Waimakariri District Council has joined with 33 councils, including Hurunui, to be accepted into Immigration New Zealand’s Welcoming Communities programme.
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said new migrants faced a number of challenges when settling into a new community.
"We see Welcoming Communities as a means to bridge the gap between newcomers and long term residents, celebrate diversity, and support our new migrants to apply their unique skills, talents and experience to creating more vibrant communities across the district."
The council had already established a migrant facilitator portfolio within the community team back in 2016 in response to the growing number of migrants, particularly in the dairy sector and assisting in the earthquake rebuild.
Now new funding allowed for a half-time facilitator to be employed over a three year period to work alongside migrants, employers and migrant advocates.
Community team leader Tessa Sturley said the money would support the good work already happening in the migrant space.
The community team has already helped to establish the Migrants and Newcomers Network, now known as Glow (Global Locals of Waimakariri), which ran a number of initiatives including English language classes.
Since then the booming hospitality sector and the growing retirement village sector have been "significant employers of migrant staff", Sturley said.
Often the families of migrant workers had limited English making it difficult to find work or integrate into the community.
The Hurunui District Council was accepted into the programme last year and received its initial accreditation in April.
It was now close to completing the first of four accreditation stages, welcoming communities facilitator Natalie Paterson said.
A Welcoming Communities advisory group had been established to complete a stocktake of support available for different ethnic groups and newcomers to determine what was working and to identify any gaps.
A three-year Welcoming Communities plan has now been developed, which was adopted by the council last week.
"We feel it is important to put migrants at the centre of conversations so we can hear their experiences," Paterson said.
Feedback from migrants had already led to extending a driver licensing programme, which supported young people to pass their learners’ license, to migrants.
Even setting up a bank account or enrolling children in school could be a challenge for migrants, Paterson said.
The Welcoming Communities programme supported New Zealanders moving into the district from other parts of the country, as well as those arriving from overseas.
Paterson said conversations had already begun with agencies like the Rātā Foundation to seek funding once the initial seed funding ran out.
■ Public interest journalism through New Zealand on Air.
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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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