Kia orana, Talofa lava, MÄlo e lelei, Taloha ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Noa’ia e mauri, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia ora, Tena Koutou Katoa. Labour Party President Jill Day, Prime Minister Hipkins, Party faithful, delegates and comrades, whÄnau and friends, it’s a privilege to be here today. I begin my speech with an acknowledgement of…
Stuff’s journalism shines at 2023 Voyager Media Awards
Stuff’s national, metropolitan and regional journalism has been recognised among the best in New Zealand with 23 prizes at this year’s 2023 Voyager Media Awards. The awards celebrate excellence in New Zealand journalism across print, broadcast and digital, recognising and rewarding the best in the craft. Stuff’s popular mobile app, which is used by hundreds…
Concerning pest plant sales now being monitored
Concerning pest plant sales now being monitored Header: Tradescantia/wandering willie is often sold at market stalls without the vendor’s knowledge of the potential biosecurity outcomes. Everyone has a part to play in understanding what they are buying and selling online to ensure Canterbury is protected from invasive plants. House plants have become increasingly popular in recent…
New look for Mobile Library service
“Over recent years the Mobile Library has seen a decline in patronage,” says Christchurch City Council Head of Libraries and Information, Carolyn Robertson. “Our staff have engaged closely with our Mobile Library users and we think a hybrid model is the best way forward to ensure all customers can continue to have free and equitable…
Street trees to grow urban canopy in inner east
The decision to approve the plantings was made by the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board with funding set aside over two years from the 2022/23 draft Annual Plan. It’s part of a development plan to gradually ‘green the east’ with more trees and walkways, nature play areas, pocket parks and spaces that encourage biodiversity. Hereford Street…
Funding increase for Halswell road extension
Christchurch City Councillors approved the extra funding at last Wednesday’s meeting to cover project escalations and increased KiwiRail costs. Fulton Hogan Limited have been secured as the main contractor. The project will create an improved link from Halswell Junction Road at Foremans Road to Waterloo Road. This will improve safety and the freight network connections…
Multiple factors impact planned Christchurch cycleways
“Since the projects base estimates were established, a number of other factors have driven increased costs. These include KiwiRail interfaces, project delays, contaminated material discovery and increased infrastructure renewals due to poor conditions,” a report to Christchurch City Councillors says. Read the full Finance and Performance Committee report here. The cost of the KiwiRail component…
Residents share views on how the Council’s performing
The annual Residents Survey programme, which finds out what people think about Christchurch City Council services, shows that overall satisfaction has stabilised at 43% in 2022/23 – consistent with last year’s 42%. There have also been some improvements, and dissatisfaction has fallen from 29% to 24%. “While there’s a lot of room for improvement, we’re…
Singapore airlines adding extra summer flights direct to Christchurch
Singapore Airlines has announced a total of an extra 40 flights, flying three times a week from November 19, as well as the daily year-round service. General Manager of Aeronautical Development, Gordon Bevan, says indications suggest passengers will welcome and make good use of the extra flights three times a week. “South Islanders love this…
How are we tracking
How are we tracking Our Reporting Back hub has been updated and highlights the progress we have made on our work programmes. Our Reporting Back hub is a new way we are presenting the progress we are making. The information is produced in year-to-date updates at the end of each three-month period. The information reports…
New business and knowledge opportunities at MEETINGS 2023 – BEIA
Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s MEETINGS national trade exhibition on 21 and 22 June will welcome back international buyers with a raft of new business, networking and knowledge opportunities. MEETINGS will be held for the first time in New Zealand’s capital Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, and it will be the first large exhibition event to take place…
A win for social and community housing – Community Housing Aotearoa
Budget-23 funding a win for social and community housing – now let’s use it and keep going, together Community Housing Aotearoa CEO Paul Gilberd welcomed over 500 attendees at the opening of the 3-day CHA Conference Making the shift from crisis to transformational change, in Åtautahi Christchurch today. “We care enough to tackle deep social…
Environment Canterbury office becomes the first in NZ to achieve green certification trifecta
Environment Canterbury office becomes the first in NZ to achieve green certification trifecta Our Tuam Street building has become the first in the country to be awarded three certifications for environmental performance. “The triple ratings achievement demonstrates Environment Canterbury’s commitment to lead in climate change resilience, and we are very proud of this,” said Director…
Central Districts Community Cricket legend to pull stumps – Central Districts Cricket
Central Districts Cricket won’t be the same without Nigel Brooke. The CD Community Cricket Manager is one of CD’s longest serving staff – and will leave enormous shoes to fill as he heads toward retirement. Born in ManawatÅ« and now based in Levin, “Brooky” has a vast and intrinsic knowledge of Central Districts Cricket and…
Hurunui recyclers do their bit for kidney patients and their families – Council
A record 24 sacks of wine bottle lids from Hurunui recyclers have gone to assist Canterbury kidney-failure patients and their families over the 2022-2023 year. Hurunui District Council supports the Amberley Lions Club by collecting aluminium wine bottle lids at Hurunui transfer stations, which are picked up by the Lions Club and sold for metal…
Five community energy projects kick start fund – Megan Woods
Eighty-nine households will soon benefit from secure, renewable, and more affordable energy as five community-level energy projects are about to get underway, Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods announced today. Five solar projects – in WhangÄrei, Tauranga, Palmerston North and Christchurch – are the first to receive funding from the government’s Community Renewable Energy Fund….
NZ Bus and Go Bus solve driver shortage with over 500 new drivers employed
Kinetic Group is pleased to confirm that its NZ operating units Go Bus Transport and NZ Bus are projecting a return to full driver staffing levels in all main centres over the coming weeks. The two companies, who have delivered urban transport routes across six of New Zealand major cities for nearly three decades, had…
Entries open for New Zealand Beer Awards 2023
Entries opened this week for the New Zealand Beer Awards, New Zealand’s most prestigious beer competition. In its 17th year, the New Zealand Beer Awards, managed by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand, recognises excellence in beer as well as other accolades across New Zealand’s brewing industry. The competition is open to commercial brewers of…
Checkmate for Canterbury's rooks
Checkmate for Canterbury’s rooks Eradication of a pest animal is a rare achievement. But when the pest is intelligent and moves as fast as the rook in an area as large as Canterbury, the task becomes that much harder. Source link
NZ’s biggest ever emissions reduction project unveiled – Hipkins, Woods, Shaw
The Government is partnering with New Zealand Steel to deliver New Zealand’s largest emissions reduction project to date, with half of the coal being used at Glenbrook steel to be replaced with electricity to recycle scrap steel. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins made the announcement alongside Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods and Climate Change Minister…
Contaminated soil to be removed from Edgeware site
Up until the 1960s the site operated as an informal landfill where all sorts of materials, including hazardous waste, were dumped. The contaminated material needs to be removed to ensure the long-term safety of the water supply network. “Testing of the soil that we did as part of our wellhead improvement programme has confirmed the…
IAG New Zealand Board update
– Catherine Drayton appointed independent non-executive director – Wendy Lai resigns as independent non-executive director IAG New Zealand Limited today announces the appointment of Catherine Drayton as non-executive director to the Board. IAG New Zealand Board Chair Simon Allen says, “We are extremely pleased to have someone of Catherine’s calibre join us. The depth of…
Temporary alcohol ban to continue in Woolston Village
The ban was introduced by the Christchurch City Council in December after residents and businesses raised concerns about the negative impact public drinking was having in the area. The current alcohol ban has been found to be effective in creating an improved environment in Woolston Village and the Council has agreed to continue the ban…
Backyard trappers wanted around Christchurch’s red zone
A trap collection day is being held on Tuesday 23 May from 5pm by the Ōtākaro Urban Trapping Project, part of the Richmond Community Garden. “We’ve become a trapping hub for the area and are managing around 30 traps at the moment, but we’ve got a target of getting 100 in backyards by the end…
The Court Theatre on its way up
Christchurch City Council’s Head of Vertical Capital Delivery Darren Moses says this exciting step signals a new milestone in The Court Theatre’s build. “People are going to see real visual progress happening on-site now that the contractors have begun the vertical construction,” Mr Moses says. “The main construction gets underway in May with the delivery…
What's on this weekend in Ōtautahi
NZ Music Month The month of May marks New Zealand Music Month 2023! The purpose of NZ Music Month is to celebrate music from Aotearoa, and the people who make it. There’s a whole heap of epic music happening in and around Canterbury throughout May – find out more here. Christchurch Libraries are celebrating Music…
Big planting season ahead for Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor
The Council’s red zone rangers will team up with community groups and volunteers to plant tens of thousands of natives at Brooker Reserve, Chimera Crescent, Dudley Creek, Richmond Community Garden, Waikakariki-Horseshoe Lake, Dallington, Cedarwood Reserve and Amelia Rogers Reserve. Christchurch City Council’s Residential Red Zone Manager, David Little, is expecting the 2023 OARC planting season…
Next phase of Te Kaha construction about to begin
Te Kaha Project Delivery CEO, David Kennedy, says the $683 million project continues to meet its timeframes and budget, with the major concrete pours expected to be finished next month. “We are very pleased with how the project is tracking, with the major concrete pours due to finish ahead of schedule,” says Mr Kennedy. “There…
Thrills not spills on new pump track
The 2,500m2 track caters for wheels of all kinds, from bikes and scooters to skateboards and even wheelchairs. North Avon Christchurch BMX Club has funded and built the new track on land next to its existing BMX track. The club then gifted the track to the Christchurch City Council which will look after ongoing maintenance. …
‘NZ woman comments on global campaign for gender equality’
North Christchurch resident, Rohiyyeh Faramarzi, says a global campaign being launched in June to support gender equality in Iran serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities suffered by women at the hands of the Iranian authorities. Mrs Faramarzi left Iran as a refugee in 1980. The campaign honours the 40-year anniversary of the execution…