Category: Christchurch Updates

A wastewater bypass solution in Parnell that will significantly reduce overflows into the Waitematā Harbour is now operational after a massive 20-day effort to get it planned and built in record time. Watercare began work on the bypass on Thursday September 28, after a sinkhole formed above the Ōrākei Main Sewer and the pipe was…

The Safer Boating Forum (Forum) is launching its new Recreational Craft Strategy 2023-2025 to reduce harm and save lives, as part of the 10th annual Safer Boating Week. The Safer Boating Forum is a network representing a cross-section of national and regional government agencies, local body groups, organisations and the marine industry, involved in promoting…

McDonald’s restaurants across the country will be opening their doors for Macca’s Careers Day on Friday October 27. Last year’s National Hiring Day proved to be very successful with over 3,500 job hunters choosing to drop in to their local Macca’s in search of employment. It’s such a great chance for people to explore potential…

Waitomo District Council’s elected members will not introduce Māori Wards for the next two Local Government elections, but have instead opted to increase Māori and mana whenua participation in other ways. After an extensive consultation which asked the public to submit on how Māori should be represented in Council decision-making, WDC’s elected members unanimously voted…

A former Waikato sharemilker found responsible for tail injuries to 84 cows, leading to some tails being amputated, has been placed on home detention for seven months and banned from being in sole charge of animals for two years. Following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries, Mark Donald Richardson (48) was sentenced…

Internationally renowned consumer advocate and environmental activist, Erin Brockovich will give the keynote address on the second day (tomorrow) of the Water New Zealand Conference and Expo 2023. Erin Brockovich became an overnight icon for her relentless persistence in uncovering the poisoning of the water supply in the small US town of Hinckley by the…

DoorDash New Zealand is thrilled to announce the launch of its membership programme DashPass in Auckland, following the arrival of the food delivery service in the City of Sails in July. From today, Aucklanders will be able to enjoy unlimited $0 delivery fees- on eligible orders and access to members-only offers and items from their…

A young woman who has just returned from representing NZ at an international governance forum wants to see more Kiwi girls step up to leadership positions in all walks of life. Ciara Gibson (20) was selected as the 2023 GirlGuiding New Zealand young leader representative at the 38th World Association of Girl Guiding and Girl…

The University of Waikato intends to accept its first students in a new graduate-entry Master of Pharmacy Practice degree in early 2025, as it responds to the chronic shortage of pharmacists in the health workforce. Te Huataki Waiora School of Health Dean, Professor Jo Lane, says the University of Waikato was approached by several key…

New Zealand’s first-ever ‘hole-in-the-wall’ food ordering service has arrived, with an official launch in Ōtautahi this weekend. Tiny Door opens in Christchurch’s Guthrey Centre laneways, near Riverside Market this Saturday, September 2. With time slots dedicated to breakfast, lunch and dinner, Tiny Door works by having different food producers and restaurants serve from the kitchen…

Top Energy, the local lines company, and electricity generator in the Far North, has won the Outcomes Award at the 2023 New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards in Christchurch. Chief Executive Russell Shaw says the award recognises the company’s efforts to deliver affordable electricity to its energy consumers may of whom experience energy poverty. In 2017,…

KiwiRail’s Regional Freight Hub in Palmerston North has taken a strong step forward, with its designation being confirmed. The planned 175 hectare rail-road hub on the northern edge of the city is an important part of Te Utanganui, the Central New Zealand Distribution Hub – a unique multi modal freight distribution hub consisting of rail,…

A trained nurse, psychotherapist and creative – Annie Currie had a sense of adventure and an infectious joy for life described as rare. She passed away in 2021 from a long illness after a lifetime of striving to expand her mind and encouraging others to do the same. Now her warm and generous spirit will…

Black type targets await promising filly Mis Speaks who will return to competition on her home track at Riccarton on Saturday. She will take on a competitive age group event line-up in the NZ Cup Meeting Tickets On Sale Now 3YO (1000m) and trainer Meg Cunneen has been more than satisfied with her representative’s progress…

Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will reveal their newest juvenile prospect at Wanganui on Saturday, with impressive trial winner Bellatrix Star having her race-day debut. A daughter of Star Witness, Bellatrix Star was an undeniable stand-out among the two-year-old contingent at the Te Rapa trials last month, and will contest the first juvenile event of…

Stakes winner Illicit Dreams will kick-off her preparation toward the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November when she heads to Riccarton on Saturday to contest the NZ Cup Meeting Tickets On Sale Now Three-Year-Old (1000m). The daughter of Vancouver had a pleasing juvenile season for trainers Ken Rae and Krystal Williams,…

The pace of decline in New Zealand average property values continued to peter out in August as a number of key sub-markets recorded increases, the CoreLogic House Price Index (HPI) shows. National values nudged just 0.2% lower in August, with the three-month change also easing to a 1.8% fall. The average property is now worth…

New supply code prohibits abuse of power by supermarkets over suppliers Supermarket duopoly must pay on time and treat suppliers fairly Penalties include the greater of 3% of turnover or $3 million for breaches of new code Grocery Commission to act as watchdog to enforce new rules Big supermarket chains face stiff fines for not…

“When Chris Hipkins said he was going to ‘fight back’ I thought he would attack me and other politicians, but I never thought he’d make Trumpian attacks on truth, and especially not on the back of March 15,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “As reported by Newshub last night, Chris Hipkins and Labour have been…

Entries are now open for the 2023-2024 PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit. The series incorporates the McSkimming Memorial Triple Crown which was first presented after a three-round series in 1972-1973, starting at the New Zealand Merino Shearing Championships in Alexandra, ending at the Golden Shears in Masterton, and described as the first national all-breeds…

A simple blood test could replace the need for colonoscopies in children with inflammatory bowel disease, while a new psychological therapy for bipolar disorder is being investigated. These are two of the six research projects soon to be underway thanks to $651,597 in funding announced today by the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation. The Major Project…

QV CostBuilder is Aotearoa New Zealand’s most comprehensive construction cost database. In its latest construction cost update – just two months after its previous one – nearly 12,000 new material and labour prices have been applied to QV CostBuilder’s database of more than 60,000 rates in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. This…

Christchurch Airport has released Unlocking Potential: Central Otago’s runway to future-focussed aviation which outlines the latest information on the exploration of a potential airport near Tarras. The company is exploring the potential for a new regional airport to ease well-known air capacity constraints in the Central Otago region. The report released today outlines the need…

A Customs investigation resulted in a four year ten month jail sentence for a 39-year-old Auckland man, who was found guilty of 16 charges of possessing, importing, exporting, distributing and making objectionable materials. The defendant appeared at Auckland District Court on Monday 28 August. Overseas law enforcement contacts alerted Customs to a New Zealander’s illegal…

Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL) reports the post-pandemic environment of financial year 2023 (FY23) has signalled the true commencement of its aviation re-start, which has seen the airport perform ahead of forecasts. The airport today reports a net surplus after tax (including underlying operating profit and revaluations of investment property) of $36.8m. Underlying operating surplus…

The latest market snapshots from real estate consultancy JLL reveal a continued trend of rent rises across all of Auckland’s commercial property sectors, headlined by a new benchmark of $5,500 per square metre for top prime luxury retail. Retail The snapshots, which examine Q2 market activity in the industrial, office and retail sectors across New…

In a New Zealand first, Aelia Duty Free has partnered with JB Hi-Fi to open multiple tax-free electronics stores in Auckland and Christchurch airports. JB HiFi stores are now open in Aelia Duty Free Departures stores in Auckland and Christchurch, with Arrivals stores in both airports due to commence trade during September. JB Hi-Fi already…

New Zealand’s rental car fleet is set for a multi-million-dollar boost following a new agreement between the country’s largest airport and the local franchisee of Enterprise Holdings, the world’s largest car rental business. The new agreement between Auckland Airport and GO Rentals will open an in-terminal branch inside the international arrivals hall. The company will…

Christchurch Airport’s new approach to minimizing waste and its work mentoring other airports to become more sustainable has netted it two international awards. The Airports Council International Asia-Pacific awarded Christchurch Airport the ‘Green Airports Recognition 2023’ and the ‘Airport Carbon Accreditation – Mentor’. The airport’s created a new waste sortation room where a team of…

Another New Zealand hospital reaches breaking point but Labour still refuse to admit there is a crisis, National’s Health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti says. “Palmerston North’s emergency department joins the growing list of hospitals around the country that are reaching breaking point this winter. “Already we have seen struggles with Waikato emergency department, Oamaru emergency…