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From reporter Sinead Gill:
A cat believed to have owners died painfully of sepsis following an air rifle wound – and while it’s unclear if it’s linked to a hunting competition for children, it highlights the risk of “unnecessary pain and distress” for the animals targeted, the SPCA … View moreFrom reporter Sinead Gill:
A cat believed to have owners died painfully of sepsis following an air rifle wound – and while it’s unclear if it’s linked to a hunting competition for children, it highlights the risk of “unnecessary pain and distress” for the animals targeted, the SPCA says.
Hunters aged 14 or younger are being offered a $250 cash prize for whoever can kill the most feral cats in North Canterbury over the next two and a half months.
It is part of the annual North Canterbury Hunting Competition, a beloved community event and fundraiser for Rotherham School and pool. There is also a $4600 spot prize for junior hunters in the form of a kids motorbike.
Junior hunters have from April 15 until late June to kill as many cats they can. The new category was met almost entirely with praise by locals when it was launched, but some have since expressed concern that most people, let alone children, would not be able to tell the difference between feral and non-feral cats.
One domesticated cat may already be a casualty, though the SPCA said a link was not certain.
Inspectorate team leader Sam Cairns said a North Canterbury cat was taken into the SPCA on Monday with an air rifle pellet wound. It later died from sepsis.
The cat was handed in by a member of the public. The SPCA had yet to locate an owner, but the cat was microchipped and desexed.
“While we are uncertain of whether this cat was shot during the [hunting] event, it demonstrates that the use of an air rifle caused unnecessary pain and distress for the cat,” a spokesperson said.
Cairns recommended people use lostpet.co.nz and relevant social media pages to find their missing pets.
“These are very sad situations, causing a painful death for the cat and distress to those who’ve lost a pet.”
An SPCA spokesperson said the charity was “extremely concerned” about the competition, which could see domestic pets and strays caught in the crossfire.
The likelihood of air rifles being used could increase pain, distress, and the chance of prolonged death for the targeted animals.
The organisation was investigating the cat’s death and making inquiries with competition organisers, but had yet to receive a response. The SPCA noted on social media that the event itself was not breaking any laws.
On a now-deleted social media post by competition organisers, which opened the junior competition on April 15, participants were warned anyone found with a microchipped cat in their bounty would be eliminated.
Margaret Maguire, a former sponsor and local, said she feared for her cats’ safety, particularly her cat George, and others like him who were born feral but raised domestically.
“The animal would have to be dead before they know [it was chipped].”
Maguire was raised rurally and understood the importance of pest control, but was doubtful that most people, let alone children, could tell the difference between her domesticated farm cats and wild ones, she said.
Feral cats were considered cats who lived independently of humans, and were not the same as stray and house cats, which had varying interactions and dependence on people.
Craig Gillies, a principal science adviser for DOC, said the difference in appearance was “virtually impossible” to tell.
Feral cats had a major impact on native wildlife, and its introduction as a category was mostly met with praise by locals.
Gillies said DOC “absolutely” supported the control of feral cats, as they had a major impact on native wildlife, but it had to be “undertaken by experienced people using approved humane methods”.
That included equipment of the correct calibre, used by trained professionals.
The competition ends on the weekend of June 23 to 25.
Competition organisers declined to comment until before a formal meeting on Tuesday evening.
By David Hill, local democracy reporter
Big brothers are wanted to support young people in North Canterbury.
Mentors are in short supply for boys needing a bit of extra support, Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Canterbury programme manager Ellie Le Gros says.
‘‘We are getting women, … View moreBy David Hill, local democracy reporter
Big brothers are wanted to support young people in North Canterbury.
Mentors are in short supply for boys needing a bit of extra support, Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Canterbury programme manager Ellie Le Gros says.
‘‘We are getting women, but we need more men because we match by gender. Our boys are missing out.
‘‘You don’t need special skills or interests. You just need to be reliable for one hour a week.’’
Le Gros said mentors were needed throughout the Waimakariri and Hurunui districts, and there was an in-school programme run in Kaiapoi and Rangiora schools.
She said Covid had forced the organisation to be innovative in its fundraising and connecting with young people, and social media had proven to be a valuable tool.
But nothing beat face-to-face interactions.
The annual ‘‘Big Breakfast’’ is returning to Rangiora on May 3, after a Covid enforced absence last year.
Internationally acclaimed Christchurch barber and hair artist Matt Brown, the author of "She Is Not Your Rehab", is this year’s guest speaker.
Brown created a barbering programme that is taught in men’s prisons and is an ambassador for the It’s Not OK campaign.
‘‘Matt talks about his childhood and the difficulties he experienced growing up with alcohol and domestic abuse, and what he does now to help men,’’ Le Gros said.
‘‘After the earthquakes he started cutting hair in his garage and he had gang members and business people sitting together, and he found they had something common - they had come from violent upbringings.’’
Once again Big Brothers patron and former Kiwis rugby league coach Frank Endacott will host the breakfast.
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon regularly attended the annual big breakfast and said he saw the value in mentoring young people.
‘‘I have seen the value they provide in mentoring and supporting young people and by attending the breakfasts over the years you get to hear from the mentors and mentees.
‘‘When they stand up and talk you can see the real value that mentors bring.
‘‘It is certainly a valued service in our community and I think Ellie and her team do a great job.’’
■ The annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Canterbury Big Breakfast will be held at the Rangiora Baptist Church hall on Wednesday, May 3, with doors opening at 6.30am.
Tickets are $45 each and can be purchased at Humanitix.com. For more information follow Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Canterbury on
Facebook.
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"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
From the poem 'For the fallen' by Laurence Binyon
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Don't go old-school this winter and just throw on another jersey to beat the cold. You deserve to be truly comfortable in a warm, dry home without stressing about power bills.
Warmer Kiwi Homes is a government grant that offers 80% of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation, and up to… View moreDon't go old-school this winter and just throw on another jersey to beat the cold. You deserve to be truly comfortable in a warm, dry home without stressing about power bills.
Warmer Kiwi Homes is a government grant that offers 80% of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation, and up to 80% off an energy-efficient heater, like a heat pump.
And you may get it even cheaper than that - lots of community organisations offer extra funding to reduce the cost further.
Check your eligibility, or check for your whānau, at www.warmerkiwihomes.govt.nz
64gig iPhone XR
Always had a screen protector on but the back is cracked.
Great condition otherwise, everything works as it should.
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By David Hill, local democracy reporter
The risk of flooding in the Waimakariri district has caused a rethink of building guidelines.
The Waimakariri District Council has endorsed new flood mapping freeboard and floor level guidelines for very low, low and medium risk areas as it plans ahead … View moreBy David Hill, local democracy reporter
The risk of flooding in the Waimakariri district has caused a rethink of building guidelines.
The Waimakariri District Council has endorsed new flood mapping freeboard and floor level guidelines for very low, low and medium risk areas as it plans ahead for future flood events.
The new guidelines recommended floor levels of 300mm to 500mm above the flood level.
But staff were recommending no building in areas considered to be high risk flood hazard areas.
‘‘It is really important that our district continues to be built in a way that provides minimal risk to people and property,’’ mayor Dan Gordon said.
‘‘There has been a significant amount of work undertaken to ensure any risk of flooding has been mitigated the best it can be and that the process is as streamlined and cost effective as possible to developers.’’
In a report to April’s council meeting, utilities and roading general manager Gerard Cleary said the freeboard level was the height above the designated flood level.
In the Waimakariri district, the previous standard was a freeboard level of 300mm.
‘‘If the flood level is one metre above the ground at a house site and a 300mm freeboard level is applied, then the building’s floor level would need to be 1.3 metres above the ground,’’ he said.
Guidelines varied throughout New Zealand, but the freeboard allowance was generally between 300mm and 500mm.
In Christchurch the freeboard allowance was 400mm.
Cleary said the Waimakariri district was located in a large and predominantly flat floodplain, which meant a 300mm freeboard allowance was sufficient in a number of areas.
But there were several factors supporting the raising of the freeboard allowance to 500mm.
These included vehicle wash, survey error and inaccuracy, fences impeding flow, less public and insurance industry acceptance of flooding, modelling error and uncertainty, minor earthworks, ongoing movement due to seismic activity, climate change and catchment
changes.
National guidelines for new greenfield developments recommended a 500mm freeboard allowance above the flood level, Cleary said.
‘‘Where the land has a low risk of flooding, there is little or nothing that needs to be done by the developer to achieve the freeboard requirement.
‘‘In areas of medium or higher risk there may need to be additional filling or careful design considerations given to achieve the desired level protection.’’
Cleary said the guidelines took into account variation 1 to the Waimakariri District Plan, required by the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021.
Variation 1 identified areas of Kaiapoi as unsuitable for further housing intensification due to flooding risk.
Refresh an old table with a Resene Colorwood Whitewash finish.
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By David Hill, local democracy reporter
A proposed cycle way in Rangiora has been approved for further consultation, despite safety concerns.
The Waimakariri District Council’s utilities and roading committee has chosen Railway Rd as the preferred route over Southbrook Rd, as it looks to … View moreBy David Hill, local democracy reporter
A proposed cycle way in Rangiora has been approved for further consultation, despite safety concerns.
The Waimakariri District Council’s utilities and roading committee has chosen Railway Rd as the preferred route over Southbrook Rd, as it looks to link the Passchendaele Pathway (between Kaiapoi and Rangiora) with the Rangiora town centre.
The proposed route would head up Railway Rd, along Torlesse and Coronation streets and up Ellis Rd.
But Pak’nSave store owner James Flanagan and Foodstuffs South Island Ltd property development manager Rebecca Parish said following Railway Road past the supermarket was ‘‘the wrong option’’.
In a deputation to Tuesday’s (April 18) committee meeting, Flanagan said up to 10 large, 2.9 metre wide trucks made deliveries to Pak’nSave each day via Railway Rd.
The lack visibility for truck drivers made it unsafe for cyclists, he said.
‘‘The council is making a decision over funding, rather than safety.’’
The project was being funded through the Government’s Transport Choices funding package, which required all works to be completed by June 2024.
But senior engineering adviser Don Young said the safety concerns could be mitigated.
He suggested making Railway Rd one-way, widening the road, and installing signage and flashing lights to warn cyclists of trucks.
The only other viable route would involve crossing the railway line at Marsh Rd and crossing back further up, but this would require agreement from KiwiRail, he said.
Council staff had approached KiwiRail and been advised it could take ‘‘years to complete’’, following KiwiRail processes due to staff shortages.
‘‘We don’t have that timeframe with the funding we have, but we could look at it for the long-term plan,’’ Young said.
Councillors voted to authorise staff to proceed with detailed design and consultation with businesses in the area and other stakeholders.
A road safety audit will be completed and a report will be presented to the utilities and roading committee in July.
The 2023 General Election is to be held on Saturday 14th October 2023 - that's less than 6 months until you make your vote!
In the lead up to the election, what issues are you most wanting to hear from parties and their candidates about?
Type NFP if you want your comments excluded from … View moreThe 2023 General Election is to be held on Saturday 14th October 2023 - that's less than 6 months until you make your vote!
In the lead up to the election, what issues are you most wanting to hear from parties and their candidates about?
Type NFP if you want your comments excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
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