Schools offer support to migrants
By David Hill, local Ddemocracy reporter
A Rangiora school has answered a call to help migrants learn English.
Rangiora Borough School has donated old reading books to support an initiate run by the Global Locals of Waimakariri (Glow) to teach English to new migrants.
Waimakariri District Council community development facilitator Carolyn Boswell said there was a growing demand for English language classes following the opening up of the border.
‘‘"It is pretty exciting, in the last year we’ve gone from one class on a Saturday morning to three classes catering to a different range of abilities.
"It highlights the fact we are getting more and more people from overseas and there is now a lot of diversity in our district."
She said the initiative came out of a recent Race Unity Day art competition involving the local schools, which was run by local Iranian migrants, Glow (formerly the Migrants and Newcomers Network) and the council community team.
The network runs free English language classes and was looking for resources to start up a new beginners English language class.
Rangiora Borough School pupils participated in the art competition and principal Shane Buckner offered some old reading books.
"Our involvement with the Race Unity Day highlighted the fact we can support local in these endeavours," Buckner said.
"We have excess stock through culling of our resources and we would love to see the books used locally.’’
He put the call out to other schools in the local Puketeraki Kahui Ako (Rangiora community of learning) to support the initiative.
St Joseph’s Catholic School (Rangiora) and Kaiapoi Borough School have since responded and offered some reading books.
English language and conversational English classes are run on Saturday mornings at the Rangiora Town Hall during school term time.
To find out more contact Carolyn on 027-2933407 or email carolyn.boswell.wmk.govt.nz
Welcome to Waimakariri
Waimakariri has the chance to step up its efforts to welcome migrants.
The Waimakariri District Council has been accepted into the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Welcoming Communities programme.
Community team manager Tessa Sturley said the council would receive funding to employ a half-time facilitator over a three year period to boost the council’s efforts to support migrants.
‘‘There has been fantastic work done to date to support the migrant community, such as supporting the business sector and advising employers on how they can support their migrant workforce.
"This funding will allow us to build on that and to continue to support our growing migrant community."
The council established a migrant facilitator portfolio within the community team in 2016 in response to the growing number of migrants, particularly in the dairy sector and assisting in the earthquake rebuild.
The community team helped to establish the Migrants and Newcomers Network, now known as Glow (Global Locals of Waimakariri), which ran several 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.
Neighbouring councils, including Hurunui and Selwyn were already part of the Welcoming Communities programme.
Sturley said the council hoped to get up to date information on the number of migrants living in the district, following the recently completed census.
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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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