An international team, including University of Canterbury Associate Professor Wolfgang Rack and researchers from Cambridge and Newcastle universities, UK, have used a combination of historical satellite measurements, along with ocean and atmosphere records, to gain the most detailed understanding of how ice conditions are changing along the 1400km-long eastern Antarctic Peninsula. More at the source
Artificial turfs provide top-quality boost to region’s sport – Selwyn DC
Two international quality artificial sports turfs will open in Selwyn today, giving a major boost to sports participation and excellence in Waikirikiri Selwyn District. The football and hockey turfs at Foster Park, Rolleston, will be opened this evening, providing a facility to support all-weather sport from community games to major tournaments. Canterbury sporting icon and…
School takes guardianship of former community centre
The former Woolston Community Centre will be gifted to Te Waka Unua School for $1 following a Christchurch City Council decision. It sits on Woolston Park and was used as a base for the Woolston Community Association until that organisation was wound up in 2021. Following a formal request from Te Waka Unua School to…
Canterbury astronomers spot quadruple stars which may spark supernova explosions
A quadruple star system discovered in 2017 and recently observed at the University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory could represent a new channel by which thermonuclear supernova explosions can occur in the Universe, according to results published in Nature Astronomy today (13 May NZ time) by an international team of astronomers. More at the source
Green light for new Akaroa wharf design
A concept design to replace the 134-year-old Akaroa Wharf has today been approved by the Christchurch City Council. It will see the wharf rebuilt in the same position and the same length as the existing wharf, using a mix of timber decking and concrete piles. Some material may be incorporated into the new structure for items…
Airborne microplastics and climate change – free UC public lecture
Since large-scale production of plastics began in the 1950s, around 5 gigatons (Gt) of plastic waste has amassed in landfills or the natural environment. As they age, plastics become brittle through exposure to sunlight and break down to produce microplastics (and even smaller nanoplastics). It is a well-established fact that microplastics are in our oceans,…
Hamilton throws support behind alcohol bill – Council
Hamilton has joined other councils in supporting a law change to reduce alcohol-related harm in the community. Hamilton City Council Elected Members today voted unanimously to support Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick’s private members bill which aims to put more controls around the sale of liquor. Whanganui, Christchurch and Auckland councils have already indicated their…
Lower speeds to be implemented in Shirley and Scarborough
Motorists travelling through the Scarborough and Shirley areas will notice new, lower speed limits coming into effect over the next few months. Christchurch City Council today adopted changes which will see the speed limits reduced from 50km/h to 40km/h on 28 streets in Shirley and nine streets on and around Scarborough Hill, as part of…
Commission invites feedback on Wellington Airport’s pricing decisions
The Commerce Commission is inviting feedback on its initial views, released today, about Wellington Airport’s pricing decisions for specified airport services, such as aircraft parking or airfield and passenger terminal charges, for the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2024. Under Part 4 of the Commerce Act, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch International Airports must…
Contractors to continue work on Coastal Pathway
Contractors are using the next phase of work on Te Ara Ihutai Christchurch Coastal Pathway to get an idea of how the community could be affected by upcoming work on a tricky section around Moncks Bay. Fulton Hogan are building the final section of the Coastal Pathway between the eastern end of Redcliffs Village and…
What’s on in Christchurch this weekend
Whether you love a good book bargain, want to get out in nature or spend time amongst some furry friends there’s plenty do this weekend in the Garden City. Big Bargain Book Sale Thousands of great books will be on offer at the annual Big Bargain Book Sale which begins on Friday at Pioneer Recreation…
Welcoming our international students back to NZ shores
Welcoming our international students back to NZ shores At the University of Canterbury (UC), we are delighted that the government is re-opening the visa system for international students. We are looking forward to supporting students who have persevered with online learning and welcoming them to campus, as well as welcoming new students to Canterbury. As…
PR: More support for Alcohol Harm Minimisation Bill – Swarbrick
Hamilton City Council and Whanganui District Council have both joined a growing list of Local Authorities to pass a motion in support of Green Party Drug Reform Spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick’s Members’ bill to minimise alcohol harm. “Barely a day goes by without hearing about alcohol harm, but it’s been years since we’ve seen meaningful political…
Strong momentum across local government for alcohol law change – AHW
– Whanganui and Hamilton City Councils vote to support MP ChlÓ§e Swarbrick’s Private Members’ Bill – The Bill seeks to empower community voices to address local alcohol availability and reduce the harm from alcohol sponsorship of sport Whanganui District Council and Hamilton City Council are the latest to join growing calls for stronger protections from…
Volunteers return to Solomon Islands – Volunteer Service Abroad
Solomon Islands will host the 2023 Pacific Games starting in November next year and is gearing up with the help of Kiwis. Helen Egan, a professional coach in equestrian and national coach for the New Zealand Pony Club Association is packing her bags to fly to Solomon Islands on 18 May as one of Volunteer…
NZSL is essential to ‘Get Ready’ for emergencies – NEMA
Deaf people across Aotearoa New Zealand will now have access to comprehensive advice about emergency preparedness, with New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week marking the launch of Get Ready in NZSL by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in partnership with Deaf Aotearoa. Getready.govt.nz supports individuals, whÄnau, communities, schools and businesses to get ready for,…
Christchurch Industry Calls For More Skilled Migration as Labour Shortages Bite
The case for more skilled migration is made in a report that focuses on the most severely affected industry sectors, manufacturing and tech. These two sectors are strategically important due to their significant number of high-value jobs, export revenue, growth potential and contribution to regional prosperity. After two years of relatively closed borders and an…
Christchurch industry calls for more skilled migration as labour shortages bite
Christchurch industry, through economic development agency ChristchurchNZ and the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, are calling for the Government to increase skilled migration as the impacts of an extreme skilled labour shortage are putting the brakes on Canterbury’s economic growth. The case for more skilled migration is made in a report that focuses on the…
Neuron and Brake promote safer streets for all this Road Safety Week
Australia and New Zealand’s leading e-scooter operator Neuron Mobility is marking this year’s National Road Safety Week by launching a new campaign to highlight the impacts that irresponsible e-scooter riding can have on different members of our communities. Partnering with National Road Safety Charity, Brake New Zealand, the campaign explores community perspectives around e-scooter use…
Māori knowledge, customs and language at the centre of new teaching qualification
Māori knowledge, customs and language at the centre of new teaching qualification A critical need for more reo Māori-speaking teachers will be addressed next year when a new training course launches at the University of Canterbury. A Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha |University of Canterbury team has helped create a new Mātauranga Māori teaching qualification…
Greyhound is killed after suffering a ‘catastrophic’ racing injury in Christchurch
On Tuesday, following a race at Addington Raceway, greyhound ‘Epic Addi’ was found to have a displaced compound fracture of the right fore ulna and radius, with soft tissue damage up to the elbow joint. Eight greyhounds have died on racetracks to date this season, with five of the eight deaths occurring at Addington Raceway….
Dancing to a new beat, making museums easier to navigate
Dancing to a new beat, making museums easier to navigate An international classical ballet dancer has pivoted to mastering how to make museums easier for everyone to navigate, including people who are neurodivergent. International ballet dancer turned University of Canterbury MBA student Kase Craig (left) with MBA coordinator Dr Christian Walsh and a display of…
Kiwi businesses ‘continue to prioritise sustainability’
New research into New Zealand’s sustainability profession has found Kiwi businesses are continuing to invest in and prioritise sustainability by embedding it more broadly across their organisations, but highlights there are challenges ahead. Oxygen Consulting in collaboration with the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), Sustainable Business Network (SBN) and Auckland University of Technology (AUT) will today…
Connecting Linwood through celebration of suburb’s history
A showcase of Linwood’s history aims to help boost the sense of community at the local library. A new Reflections of the East photography exhibition has been curated by Linwood librarians and highlights images of the suburb from the early 1900s through to the 1990s. “After the last two years the team really wanted to…
Work to end wastewater plant stench starting tomorrow
Southern Demolition and Salvage Ltd will begin the task tomorrow of removing the rotting material from the fire-damaged trickling filters at the Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant. “We have given them the contract to do the job and they will be working 12 hour days, six days a week to remove the filter material,’’ says Christchurch…
KidsFest to start with a bang
Keeping the kids entertained this winter holidays will be a breeze with hundreds of activities and events planned for KidsFest in 2022. The Council-produced Winter Fireworks Spectacular at New Brighton is also set to coincide with the first day of the festival, which runs from Saturday 9 July to Sunday 24 July. KidsFest is produced…
Council promises full public disclosure on Te Kaha costs
Information about the escalating costs of building Christchurch’s new multi-use arena will be made publicly available as soon as it is possible, says Christchurch City Council Chief Executive Dawn Baxendale. “We have been advised by the Te Kaha delivery company that the $533 million budget for the arena is under pressure and there have been…
Speed limit changes for Christchurch – Akaroa roads
New lower speed limits have been recommended for some side roads adjoining State Highway 75 on Banks Peninsula and in some rural townships. The recommendations are in a Christchurch City Council report which will be considered by the Banks Peninsula Community Board at its meeting on 16 May. If accepted, they will go to the…
We can generate green hydrogen, but how will we store it?
We can generate green hydrogen, but how will we store it? The Aotearoa New Zealand goal of zero emissions by 2050 brings urgency and pressure to create enough green hydrogen and safely store it for the future. University of Canterbury Senior Lecturer Dr David Dempsey and Professor Andy Nicol Hydrogen is currently stored in tanks,…
Canterbury researchers in global effort to save Mekong Delta from drowning
Canterbury researchers in global effort to save Mekong Delta from drowning Vietnam’s Mekong Delta is a global agro-economic powerhouse, home to 17 million people, but rising sea levels and the unsustainable management of water and sediment could drown the delta by the end of the century. University of Canterbury Professor Tom Cochrane (far right) next…