Increased infrastructure investment will continue to play a critical part in securing New Zealand’s recovery from COVID-19. “For decades New Zealand’s infrastructure has been neglected. This has helped fuel the housing crisis, made it difficult to reduce emissions and negatively affected our productivity and overall wellbeing,” Grant Robertson said. “We must address our current infrastructure…
Muslim community leader describes ‘gold standard’ Covid-19 healthcare
Hamilton-based Muslim community leader Anjum Rahman has described the health and welfare support she received after logging her positive COVID-19 test on My COVID Record. In a series of tweets she described the supportive calls from public health, the Waikato Care in the Community Hub, her GP, and medication delivered to her doorstep by her…
Online sessions new way to connect with residents
Residents will increasingly be able to engage in Christchurch City Council’s decision-making processes from the comfort of their own home. With most people now having access to either a smartphone or a computer, the Council is moving to introduce online meeting sessions – often referred to as webinars – for public consultations on key issues….
New greenhouse gas emission tracker shows the way we’re going
People in Ōtautahi-Christchurch district can now get a sense of how we are tracking with our greenhouse gas emissions thanks to a new tool created by Christchurch City Council. The Council’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Tracker allows people to see how the district is tracking across different emission sources, as well as displaying general transport trends….
Updates on the wastewater treatment plant stench
Check here for regular updates relating to the fire-damaged Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant and how we are dealing with the issues. More from the Council source here
Academic’s 20-year quest to restore rare African forest
Academic’s 20-year quest to restore rare African forest #WorldBiodiversityDay On a remote Nigerian plateau, in one of Africa’s rarest ecosystems, a kiwi scientist has created a model for biodiversity conservation that has created local jobs, accommodated PhD students, produced valuable research, discovered new species, and given hope to the community for a better future for…
Plunket and long-term partner Huggies celebrate 30 years together – Plunket
May 2022 is a special month for two iconic brands Not only is it WhÄnau Äwhina Plunket’s 115th birthday but it is also celebrating 30 years of enduring relationship with long-term partner Huggies™ (Kimberly-Clark). WhÄnau Äwhina Plunket CE, Amanda Malu, relates the partnership to that of a happy marriage, where the corporate and not-for-profit sectors…
Pacific Radiology announce PET-CT scanner for Otago/Southland region
Pacific Radiology are excited to announce their commitment to installing a state-of-the art, high-tech PET/CT scanner in a new central Dunedin purpose-built facility, providing significant benefits for cancer patients and their referring specialists. Dr Greg Harkness, Pacific Radiology’s managing radiologist for Otago-Southland confirms that planning is now underway for the construction of a new centralised…
Professionalism of Police Search and Rescue squads acknowledged
Three Police Search and Rescue (SAR) squads have been recognised for their professionalism and expertise at the annual New Zealand Search and Rescue Awards held at Government House in Wellington last night. – West Coast and Christchurch SAR squads received a Gold Award for the rescue of a tramper from Mungo Pass in February 2021,…
Jolt to roll out EV charging network throughout New Zealand
Australian-based global electric vehicle charging company JOLT will in July this year start rolling out a network of free and fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers around New Zealand. The first EV fast chargers will be installed at Mitre 10 stores and retail locations in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch this year. JOLT’s national partnership with Mitre…
Stormwater Conference tackles climate issues
Challenges around climate change, increased flooding and infrastructure affordability will be the under the spotlight at a two-day Water New Zealand Stormwater Conference which gets underway this morning in Åtautahi Christchurch (18-19 May). Water New Zealand chief executive, Gillian Blythe says there is a need for well-informed conversations with communities about potential flooding risks and…
Pavilion to form centrepiece of Korean garden
A traditional Korean roofed pavilion to be installed in the Songpa-gu Garden at Halswell Quarry Park will commemorate Canterbury veterans of the Korean War. The pavilion (jeongja) is being shipped from Busan in Korea and on arrival at Lyttelton Port will be assembled at the quarry park and placed on the western side of the…
Autumn leaves carpet the city
This year’s autumn leaf fall is keeping Christchurch City Council contractors busy as they sweep and clear footpaths and parks across the city. “With the number of mature deciduous trees we have throughout the city, autumn can be quite a hectic time for our street maintenance teams,” says Council City Streets Maintenance Manager Steve Guy….
Central city cycle projects approved
Christchurch City Council has approved three projects that will make it easier and safer for people to get into the central city by bike. The first project involves creating a separated cycle lane on each side of Antigua Street, from St Asaph Street to Moorhouse Avenue, where it will link into the Quarryman’s Trail major…
Traffic signals for Rapanui/Shag Rock cycleway
Two new signalised crossings on Humphrey’s Drive will provide safe crossing points for people using the Rapanui/Shag Rock cycleway. Construction work began last week and is expected to take between five and seven months to complete. Accompanying works will also take place to widen ‘pinch points’ on Humphrey’s Drive and upgrade Tidal View. The crossing…
Proposed plan changes attract feedback
A healthy number of submissions have been received on a series of Draft Plan Changes aimed at preparing Christchurch for future growth. Feedback closed last week on four Draft Plan Changes: The Housing and Business Choice Plan Change, which will enable more development in the city’s existing urban footprint in line with government direction, received…
Endangered birds set course for new home – Department of Conservation
Nine juvenile tÅ«turuatu / tchÅ«riwat’ / shore plover were translocated to Portland (Waikawa) Island earlier this month as part of ongoing efforts to preserve this rare and threatened species, thanks to ongoing efforts by the Department of Conservation with financial support from the New Zealand Nature Fund. Hatched in January and raised at the Isaac…
Support for residents most impacted by treatment plant stench
Christchurch City Council is responding to calls from residents living close to the fire-damaged wastewater treatment plant for help to deal with the impacts of the stench. Mayor Lianne Dalziel and Councillors received a briefing today from Council staff on discussions they have had with partner agencies on what help can be provided to the…
UCx MicroMasters build skills for better workplaces
UCx MicroMasters build skills for better workplaces Learning how to hone recruitment skills and create positive workplaces is just a click away, thanks to an innovative online MicroMasters programme. The Organizational Psychology MicroMasters programme is unique in Aotearoa New Zealand and already attracting a global following on UCx – the University of Canterbury’s online learning…
Pretty but invasive: stopping monkeyflower spread
Pretty but invasive: stopping monkeyflower spread #WorldBiodiversityDay An invasive weed threatening to swamp our waterways is the focus of Aaron Millar, a master’s student at the University of Canterbury. UC master’s student Aaron Millar is researching ways to stop the spread of monkeyflower, an attractive North American plant that is invading pristine areas of Canterbury…
How NZ could become a world leader in decarbonisation using forestry and geothermal technology
How NZ could become a world leader in decarbonisation using forestry and geothermal technology On The Conversation, Civil and Natural Resources Engineering lecturers Rebecca Peer and David Dempsey, and PhD student Karan Titus explain geothermal BECCS, a new method to capture electricity production emissions and trap them in geothermal fields. But what if we could…
Nearly 200k children set to benefit from more mental health support – PR Little and Tinetti
Budget 2022 will continue to deliver on Labour’s commitment to better mental wellbeing services and support, with 195,000 primary and intermediate aged children set to benefit from the continuation and expansion of Mana Ake services. “In Budget 2022 Labour will deliver on its manifesto commitment to expand Mana Ake, with $90-million set aside to start…
Tyre Extinguishers in New Zealand spread as Christchurch SUVs hit
The Tyre Extinguishers in NZ have spread from the North Island to the South Island, with reports of SUVs deflated in the suburb of Halswell, Christchurch, New Zealand. SUVs in the Luxembourg Crescent, Tongariro Street, Koareare Avenue, Bouma Street and Kokoda Street area were reported to be targeted. This comes one week after Tyre Extinguishers…
Freshwater ecosystems under threat in a warming Aotearoa
Freshwater ecosystems under threat in a warming Aotearoa #WorldBiodiversity Day Nature is taking with one hand and giving with the other when it comes to Aotearoa New Zealand’s freshwater ecosystems. Professor Angus McIntosh is concerned about how climate change will affect native species such as this brown mudfish, from a South Westland tree tip-up pool….
Innovative tech could generate renewable energy and capture carbon
Innovative tech could generate renewable energy and capture carbon University of Canterbury engineering researchers are investigating an innovative method that could solve two wicked problems of climate change – creating renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions. UC Civil and Natural Resources Engineering Senior Lecturer Dr David Dempsey: “Basically, we have a way to suck huge…
New lifestyle and cooking programme helps participants’ health and wellbeing – research
New lifestyle and cooking programme significantly helps participants’ health and wellbeing, research shows. All participants in a pilot of Pegasus Health’s new lifestyle and cooking programme in the Pacific community lost body fat – with the majority also improving on key health and wellbeing measures such as lower cholesterol and more social connection. PuÄwai-Kai is…
Two Lotto players win $500,000
Two lucky Lotto players from Auckland and Christchurch will be feeling on top of the world after each winning $500,000 with Lotto First Division in tonight’s live Lotto draw. The winning First Division tickets were sold at Hornby Mall Lotto in Christchurch and on MyLotto to a player from Auckland. Powerball was not struck this…
New partnership to prepare an ambitious plan for Greater Christchurch – CCC
Central government, mana whenua, and local government met today to mark the beginning of a new strengthened partnership to drive planning for Greater Christchurch. Minister of Housing Hon Megan Woods, Minister of Local Government Hon Nanaia Mahuta, and members of the existing Greater Christchurch Partnership have established an Urban Growth Partnership for Greater Christchurch –…
New partnership to prepare an ambitious plan for Greater Christchurch
Central government, mana whenua, and local government met today to mark the beginning of a new strengthened partnership to drive planning for Greater Christchurch. Minister of Housing Megan Woods, Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta, and members of the existing Greater Christchurch Partnership have established an Urban Growth Partnership for Greater Christchurch – the Whakawhanake…
Removing GST on food is back in the news, proving some bad ideas just never go away
Removing GST on food is back in the news, proving some bad ideas just never go away In a new article on The Conversation, Director Business Taught Masters Programme Stephen Hickson argues that removing GST on food is not the most efficient way to support New Zealand households. It’s an idea that voters like. A recent…