Reach high, take on challenges and dig deep to overcome fear. Never let anyone or any experience bring you down.
New role at UC to deliver on sustainability goals The University of Canterbury has appointed Professor Jan Evans-Freeman to the newly created role of Pro-Vice Chancellor of Sustainability, to deliver the environmental sustainability goals of the university’s Strategic Vision 2020-2030. Professor Evans-Freeman previously served as Pro-Vice Chancellor of Engineering at the University of Canterbury and…
Introducing our new coastal team Canterbury’s beautiful landscapes form the backdrop for many offices within the region, including one of our own. Our new coastal team is based at Te Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour and get to enjoy the views it provides each day. The team was formed after a need was identified for more knowledge in the…
‘If you want summer, get vaccinated’ – Jacinda Ardern sets the target for re-opening New Zealand In a new article on The Conversation,UC’s Professor Michael Plank and UoA’s Shaun Hendy say it’s simple – the more people vaccinated in Aoteaoa New Zealand, the more freedom we’ll enjoy. GettyImages As part of today’s major announcement, Prime…
A rebate scheme set up to incentivise residential development in Christchurch’s city centre after the earthquakes could be stopped because the central city housing market is now booming. Since 2013 Christchurch City Council has been offering developers building new homes and apartments in the Central City a Development Contributions rebate. By the numbers A total…
Long read: reflections of a volcanologist as a science organisation faces charges in the wake of the 2019 Whakaari eruption Volcanologist Professor Ben Kennedy had spent 12 years studying why Whakaari erupts and is now sharing his thoughts on the disaster in an article on The Conversation. The eruption on White Island sent sent huge…
The Citizens’ War Memorial has been gifted to the people of Christchurch and is set to be reinstated on public land in Cathedral Square next year. Mayor Lianne Dalziel formally received the Memorial as a gift from the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch at a special ceremony held today. The ceremony was attended by the Right…
Christchurch City Council is exploring a new approach with its Christchurch Housing Initiative funding after running into regulatory barriers with the existing project. A report will go to the Council’s Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee on Wednesday 27 October seeking to end the existing Deed of Participation with Habitat for Humanity and instead redirect the…
International students to share knowledge with Canterbury businesses International students at the University of Canterbury will work with local businesses keen to expand into Asia under a new partnership scheme. Under the programme, international students studying Business will be matched with local businesses. The aim is to help the students gain real-world experience and enable…
At 12 years of age Jordan Wilson is the youngest person to be granted a temporary land use licence for Christchurch’s Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor regeneration area. His vision of creating a community garden was given the green light by Toitū Te Whenua/ Land Information New Zealand in July. Since that time a number of…
As Group Controller, Mr Poff will lead, direct and co-ordinate local multi-agency responses to emergencies in Canterbury and the transition to recovery. Mr Poff is currently working in Wellington as the Director of Science, Data and Insights for the Ministry for the Environment. He is passionate about emergency management and has previously worked in the…
Construction of the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena (CMUA) is estimated to be completed in mid-2025, according to an update to Christchurch City Councillors. The update, which was published today ahead of next week’s Finance and Performance Committee meeting, indicates that the CMUA’s design and construction phase could be completed at the end of Quarter 2, 2025….
Christchurch City Council is implementing a five point action plan in response to the findings of its annual Residents’ Survey. “Like a number of other local government and public sector organisations, we have experienced a decline in satisfaction ratings over the past few years,’’ says Council Assistant Chief Executive Lynn McClelland. New survey being carried…
Local committee backs bat for Bird of the Year The Orari Temuka Opihi Pareora (OTOP) Water Zone Committee is backing the long-tailed bat/Pekapeka-tou-roa to take out this year’s annual Bird of the Year/Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau competition. Long-tailed bats live throughout the country and fly at dusk along forest edges using echolocation calls to hunt…
Making scents – the art & science of perfume Few areas combine art and science as well as perfumery, according to the University of Canterbury’s Head of the School of Product Design, Professor Conan Fee, who is giving a free public talk on making scents later this month. Professor Fee explains: On one hand, perfumery…
NZ study finds airborne microplastics directly impact climate change Aotearoa New Zealand scientists recently found that microplastics – which are in our rivers, oceans, and land – are also in the air we breathe. Now local scientists have discovered airborne microplastic pollution is likely to directly affect climate change. University of Canterbury’s Dr Laura Revell…
Microplastics are in the air we breathe and in Earth’s atmosphere, and they affect the climate In a new article on The Conversation, University of Canterbury’s Dr Laura Revell explains how widespread microplastic pollution is, and how it could impact the world’s climate in the future. Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images In our research,…
From north to south – education opportunities abound Hinds School has joined forces with our land management and biodiversity advisor Heath Melville to tackle weeds in a Banded dotterel/pohowera breeding hotspot. Hinds School students Before this year’s lockdown, students from mid-Canterbury’s Hinds School visited Kaikōura to learn about the local environment and help remove lupin…
The Living Wage will soon be paid to the staff employed to clean Christchurch City Council’s public facilities. The cleaners work for facilities management services company OCS Limited, who are contracted to supply cleaning services to the Council. OCS and the Council have recently renegotiated their contract and for the first time it includes a…
Ashburton Water Zone Committee refresh The Ashburton Water Zone Committee is pleased to introduce its newest members: Adi Avnit, Clare Buchanan and Sidinei Teixera. Chris Allen and Angela Cushnie were also reappointed to the committee. Adi Avnit Most of Canterbury’s water zone committees have undergone a refresh this year, with members who have served three…
Stay safe on the water this summer Make the most of your time on the water this summer. Prep and check your vessel now and brush up on your responsibilities for keeping yourself and others safe. Safer Boating Week, which runs from October 18-25 this year, is the ideal time to make sure you’re fully…
Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee welcomes three new members The Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee is pleased to introduce its newest members, Trudi Bishop, George Howden and Elisa Knight. Gina Waibl was also reappointed to the committee. Most of Canterbury’s water zone committees have undergone a refresh this year, which has seen members who have…
Ōtautahi Christchurch has continually been referred to as New Zealand’s most affordable city. But recent articles have cast some shade on this claim. Jorge Chang Urrea, ChristchurchNZ’s Senior Economist, talks to us about what affordability means and if Christchurch, New Zealand’s second-largest city, can still claim the top spot. What does ‘affordability’ mean? Jorge: Affordability is…
Akaroa’s Gloria Calcutt is a force to be reckoned with. Each week the diminutive 85 year old heads out with her foster son Keith. They’re on a mission to check the recycling collection points at remote communities on Banks Peninsula. Gloria used to drive herself but when Keith got his heavy vehicle licence he took on…
Engineering a more sustainable future for commercial fishing A prototype juvenile fish sorting system developed by UC Masters of Engineering student Stefano Barfucci as part of a NIWA-led project offers exciting potential as a way to reduce unwanted by-catch. The prototype juvenile fish sorting system developed by Stefano Barfucci, UC Masters of Engineering student. As…
A community initiated food forest in Birdsey Reserve will be supported under a new proposal which has opened for consultation. Under the proposed two-stage plan a food forest and garden currently being developed by local community groups would be continued, along with a revegetation programme involving students from Heathcote Valley School. The second stage would…
Celeste Donovan has been officially sworn in as a Christchurch City Councillor Cr Donovan won a seat on the Council after a by-election was held in the Coastal Ward to replace James Daniels, who resigned earlier this year. Thanking the Coastal Ward voters for their support, Cr Donovan promised to make sure their voice was…
Jorge: During the last decade, the average weekly median household income in Canterbury has been $1,543, slightly above the national figure ($1,529). Also, during the same period, the average unemployment rate in Christchurch has been 4.6 percent, below the national unemployment rate (5.1 percent). In Canterbury, from 2016 to 2019 annual average income growth was…
UC student develops more equitable, less painful breast cancer screening University of Canterbury PhD student Jessica Fitzjohn is developing a new prize-winning tool for breast cancer diagnosis, which aims to break down the socio-economic, cultural and accessibility barriers of breast-screening. She is part of the research team working alongside Tiro Medical on a breast cancer-diagnosis device…
Sean Poff named Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Controller Canterbury’s Civil Defence Emergency Management Group has a new Group Controller – Sean Poff. Mr Poff is currently the Director of Science, Data & Insights for Ministry for the Environment, based in Wellington. He has previous experience throughout military and central government sectors, both in New…
Cashmere Stream receives funding for water quality and biodiversity improvement Government funding has been granted to help the community improve the health of Cashmere Stream, which has water clarity issues due to supended sediment. Cashmere Stream runs along the northern base of the Port Hills and into the Ōpāwaho/Heathcote River. Its water clarity has been…