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Hierarchies of knowing Knowledge should be a common inheritance for the growth and sustainability of humanity, not a market commodity for the benefit of the few, writes Professor Steven Ratuva, Director of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Canterbury. Professor Steven Ratuva FRSNZ, Director of the Macmillan Brown Centre for…
A rare snuff jar discovery and a 19th century ‘Russian Bears Grease’ ointment pot – on show at Tūranga – come from the site of the new Te Pae Convention Centre. Archaeologist Jessie Garland says she has “not seen a snuff jar on a Christchurch site before” while the early “hair restorative claimed to cure…
Christchurch City Council’s contractors are working with Fire and Emergency New Zealand to address the flooding issues in Sumner. “Tonight’s intense rainfall has caused surface flooding on roads in many parts of the city but the flooding appears to be the worst in Sumner,’’ says Christchurch City Council Three Waters Service Manager Tim Drennan. “Our…
Gory or glory? The Handmaid’s Tale season 4 walks a fine line between dystopia and torture porn University of Canterbury’s Dr Erin Harrington writes in The Conversation that though The Handmaid’s Tale is horrrifying, the show’s gleeful approach to violence feels exploitative. The show feels increasingly numb to the violence it depicts — as do…
Join the Waimakariri Biodiversity Trust The Waimakariri Water Zone Committee Biodiversity Working Group is looking for trustees for an independent community-based biodiversity trust that will work together to improve the local environment. Biodiversity Working Group member Dr Judith Roper-Lindsay said they are seeking people from a variety of age groups and backgrounds to reflect the…
Join the Dawn Service on Anzac Day, take in one of the many family friendly walks on offer, find a scarecrow, step back in time or head to the rugby. Anzac Day A Dawn Service will be held in Cranmer Square on Sunday to mark Anzac Day. Veterans will gather outside the Returned and Services’…
Christchurch City Council is closely monitoring weather forecasts and water demand in Banks Peninsula with the hopes of being able to lower restrictions in the near future. Akaroa, Duvauchelle and Takamātua residents have been under Level 4 water restrictions – a total ban on outdoor water use – since late February. The streams that supply…
Understanding each other The Mayfield Hinds Valetta (MHV) irrigation scheme’s application for a consent renewal made the news a lot over the past couple of months, with strong voices on both sides of the argument. Unfortunately, the issue has been subject to exaggerations and misunderstandings. The Ashburton Water Zone Committee wants to reflect the public’s…
Freedom camping along a popular part of Christchurch’s coastline will become more restricted under proposed changes to the city’s Freedom Camping Bylaw. Christchurch City Council staff are bringing a report to next week’s Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee which recommends that Council begin consulting the public about making changes to the existing freedom camping bylaw….
Six young adults from a school that supports students with a disability are making the most of their workplace lessons after gaining internships with the Christchurch City Council. Four Ferndale School students have secured placements at South Library while two are digging into their intern roles in the Botanic Gardens. They are the first Council interns…
Kids will be able to run ‘wild’ in a new natural play area planned for Rawhiti Domain. Featuring a fort, embankment slide, swing set, net nests and woodland gardens, the design of the natural ‘playscape’ aims to boost physical and mental well-being in a space where children can freely interact with the local environment. Eastern…
People can again gather in Cranmer Square to mark Anzac Day on Sunday after the pandemic disrupted plans for a public Dawn Service last year. Veterans will gather at the Christchurch home of the Returned and Services’ Association (RSA) in Armagh Street at 6am before marching to Cranmer Square for the service. During the Dawn…
Christchurch City Council has agreed to provide more detailed information of Wharenui Pool’s running costs to the Wharenui Swim Club as they consider their next steps. The Council currently plans to decommission Wharenui Pool once Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre opens in early 2023, but the Wharenui Swim Club have expressed a desire to keep…
The move by the six winter sports codes to shorten the playing season for junior and youth sports is being welcomed by Christchurch City Council. “Our Recreation and Sports team has worked with Sport Canterbury and the sporting codes on this initiative, which will ensure that children and young people who play both winter and…
Why you should join a water zone committee If you’re passionate about the protection of Canterbury’s precious water resource, now is the time to join your local water zone committee. Ancient Māori rock art protected in Taniwha Gully Nine of Canterbury’s 10 water zone committees are looking for new community members. Applications opened on 12 April and…
Weed control projects to enhance Waihao River tributaries The Lower Waitaki Water Zone Committee has supported the allocation of more than $40,000 of Immediate Steps biodiversity funding over two years on two weed control projects in tributaries of the Waihao River. These projects were presented by our southern zone biodiversity officer Kennedy Lange at a recent…
Christchurch’s Citizens’ War Memorial is officially on the move. Work to carefully deconstruct the earthquake-damaged Memorial started today with the use of a crane to lift the first piece of bronzing away from the supporting stonework. The Memorial’s bronzing and stonework will be slowly disassembled in stages over the coming weeks and then transported and…
Hefty fine for contamination of Mt Somers waterway A company has been fined $120,000 after discharging a chemical that entered a Mt Somers water race killing hundreds of fish. Harrison Spraying Services Limited pleaded guilty in Court to discharging a contaminant onto land where it entered a stock water race. The offending occurred after a…
Divorced grannies provide more childcare – new research Grandparents often play an important role in childcare, but some are more involved than others, University of Canterbury Social Work Associate Professor Gretchen Perry has found. University of Canterbury social work Associate Professor Gretchen Perry “My research focuses on non-parental caregiving, who provides support to children beyond…
Celebrating Earth Day 2021 Thanks to Te Kura o Ōhinetahi Governors Bay School for sharing this climate change song written by students Sarah H and Kate R. It’s Earth Day today. People worldwide are thinking about ways to restore our planet and prevent climate change and environmental destruction. Here in Aotearoa, more than 15,500 individuals…
From our Chair: Keeping rubbish out of our regional parks Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury Why some people choose to dump rubbish in our regional parks, when the same effort taking it to an appropriate facility would see that waste responsibly and sustainably taken care of, staggers me. Last year, Environment Canterbury spent more than…
UC epidemiologist comments on NZ’s major health sector reforms The government has announced sweeping changes to the health system. University of Canterbury public health expert, epidemiologist Associate Professor Arindam Basu comments on this major shake-up. University of Canterbury public health expert, epidemiologist Associate Professor Arindam Basu (pictured above left). A University of Canterbury public health…
Why strict border control remains crucial if we want to keep the travel bubble safe In the latest article in The Conversation, UC’s Professor Michael Plank and UoA’s Nicholas Steyn write that we need to constantly evalaute and improve our border systems to minimise the risk of Covid-19 to Aotearoa New Zealand. People returning from…
UC steers through hurdles of pandemic In a year full of extraordinary challenges, the University of Canterbury (UC) found opportunities, fast-forwarding plans to provide a more accessible, flexible education and contributing innovative research to help protect New Zealand from Covid-19. Tumu Whakarae | Vice-Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey says last year the University, like…
Ted talks – April 2021 Ted Howard – Chair of Kaikōura Water Zone Committee Nine of Canterbury’s ten water zone committees are looking for new members, including Kaikōura. I thought I would take some time to explain what zone committees do, what the refresh involves, and hopefully encourage some wai warriors to put their hand…
Fake news and half-truths take a toll on financial markets Three University of Canterbury (UC) financial economists have shed light on a puzzling relationship between economic policy uncertainty and the Volatility Index (VIX) – fear gauge of the stock market, and how the quality of political signals impacts on this relationship in a new research…
From our Chair: Thank you for having your say on the draft Long-Term Plan Jenny Hughey, Chair, Environment Canterbury On behalf of Council, a sincere thank you to all those who took the time to make a submission on Environment Canterbury’s draft Long-Term Plan 2021-31. We have received just under 1300 submission from across the…
Lancaster Park is set to be the scene of sporting clashes once more. Work to turn Lancaster Park into a green recreational space and community sports fields kicks off this week and it is likely that sports games can be played there from early next year. This first stage of the redevelopment is expected to…
An internal review into the drinking water contamination that affected Akaroa and Takamātua earlier this year identifies the poor condition of the L’Aube Hill Reserve reservoir as the likely cause. “Unfortunately the poor condition of the reservoir and the lack of mesh coverings on the overflow pipes allowed animals to get into the reservoir, which…
Large drilling rigs have made their way onto the site where the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena will be built to undertake geotechnical and environmental investigation works. The work signals the first for the Kōtui consortium – local and international organisations responsible for the design and construction of the arena – that was announced in late March….