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Almost $40,000 of Immediate Steps (IMS) biodiversity funding has helped some hard-working locals protect water quality and biodiversity values along Albert Stream in St Martins. The funding, recommended by the Christchurch West Melton Water Zone Committee, helped the Port Hills Park Trust plant more than 3000 natives as part of this restoration and enhancement project….
Christchurch teenagers are bringing their A-games to Tūranga to battle for League of Legends supremacy at the biggest esports tournament hosted by a library in New Zealand. Forty high school gamers will compete over two days from Saturday, 17 October, with a live stream capturing all the strategic moves, tactical ploys and epic plays on…
A permanent skate and scooter park is a “kickflip” closer with a proposed design now open for community feedback. The Christchurch City Council wants local views on the draft plan for the new skate park in Nayland Street that will cater to beginners and intermediate-level skaters and feature a “skateable art” quarter pipe in a…
Gary and Karen Manning opened award-winning The Dubliner Irish pub in Methven in 2014. The initial shock of COVID-19 was considerable, with patronage disappearing overnight. “We had to close of course, so there was no business whatsoever,” Gary Manning said. Through Level 3 their business was down 75 per cent and was still down 25…
New book: Tourism and Earthquakes New book Tourism and Earthquakes, edited by Professor C. Michael Hall and Professor Girish Prayag explores the relationship between tourism and earthquakes through the different stages of a disaster. Tourism and Earthquakes edited by Professor C. Michael Hall and Professor Girish Prayag. The book is particularly useful to students and…
Essential Freshwater package implementation underway We have started the journey towards implementing the Government’s new freshwater policy package. Our Chair, Jenny Hughey, said the engagement and implementation plan was underway in Canterbury and involved many moving parts. “While much good work has been done here, there is more to do,” she said. “First we must…
Oceans policy needed to protect $7 billion environment – Law Professor You might think as a nation New Zealand would actively protect an environment that contributed over $7 billion to the economy, but University of Canterbury (UC) Law Professor Karen Scott says we aren’t doing enough to protect New Zealand’s maritime zone – something that…
UC Student Grace Steinmetz is well on track to a successful career in sport University of Canterbury Law and Business student Grace Steinmetz is keeping her career options open. As a force to be reckoned with on a rugby seven’s field she’s eyeing the 2024 Olympics in Paris too. Grace Steinmetz made her Farah Palmer…
Student internet access prevents creating systemic inequities E-learning specialist Associate Professor Cheryl Brown said that internet access needs to be available to all students to avoid creating systemic inequities in NZ Herald article, which showed evidence that the student internet rollout was too slow for most in need. “If you’re not able to interact with…
NZ stamps out COVID-19 for the second time: UC Expert says we can’t let our guard down A new article from the New York Times discusses how New Zealand has stamped out the COVID19 virus for a second time. They spoke to University of Canterbury Engineering Professor Michael Plank who said, “We need to be…
UC Connect public talk: Pandemics, Protests, and Populists: The 2020 Presidential Election In an upcoming free UC Connect | Tauhere public talk, University of Canterbury Political Science and International Relations academic Associate Professor Amy Fletcher will discuss the 2020 Presidential Election in a Divided United States. In an upcoming free UC Connect | Tauhere public…
From our Chair: Winter air Spring is here, bringing with it daylight saving, lambs, spectacular blossom, and the all-familiar nor’westers blasting away thoughts of cold, smoggy winter nights and replacing them with worries about hay fever. Our experts have just finished analysing this winter’s air quality, as measured in key locations across the region. The…
Christchurch City Council has approved the concept designs for the new Hornby Centre planned to be built on the east side of Kyle Park. The Council is investing $35.7 million into the multi-use centre to meet the community and recreational needs of the growing population living in the south-west of Christchurch. “The new Hornby Centre…
Groups keen to make use of the city’s pools and recreation facilities, including the new Metro Sports Facility, Te Pou Toetoe: Linwood Pool, and the new Hornby facility, are being invited to register their interest with Christchurch City Council. “We’ve had great feedback from people about the designs of our new facilities, and want to…
Serve up a weekend of tennis, Antarctica exploration, sustainability, artisan crafts and plenty of fun activities around the city. Explore Antarctica in the city Days of Ice brings Antarctica to Christchurch this weekend, with a range of activities and events on offer. The Arts Centre will host the Explore Antarctica Family Day on Saturday and…
A new three-storey building and a second Rolleston Avenue entrance are included in concept designs for the $195 million redevelopment of Canterbury Museum. The concept designs have been drawn up by Athfield Architects and are now on display in the Bird Hall at the museum for people who want to look at them and give…
University of Canterbury students raise more than $1000 to fight period poverty UC students are fighting Aotearoa’s period poverty crisis by donating sanitary products to Te Puna Oranga and Aviva Families. In the first week of fundraising, the students have collected more than 1000 packs of sanitary products, with another week of the campaign still…
QuakeCoRE awarded $31.5 million TEC funding The University of Canterbury (UC) has been awarded $31.5 million of government funding over seven years to continue hosting Te Hiranga Rū QuakeCoRE, a national centre of research excellence for earthquake resilience. “Building on achievements during its first five years since establishment, Te Hiranga Rū QuakeCoRE will further establish…
Proglacial lakes are accelerating glacier ice loss Meltwater lakes that form at glacier margins cause ice to recede much further and faster compared to glaciers that terminate on land, according to a new study. But the effects of these glacial lakes are not represented in current ice loss models, warn the study authors. Photo courtesy…
Combining education, science and dance With a passion for making positive change to family life in Aotearoa New Zealand, University of Canterbury (UC) graduate Shawn Thomas believes “dance can change the world”. Shawn Thomas uses his passion of dance alongside his experiences from UC to make a positive change in Aotearoa New Zealand. His experiences…
Stormwater Superheroes swoop in at World Rivers Day event Canterbury’s rivers and fish were the stars at the recent Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network (OHRN)’s annual World Rivers Day event. World Rivers Day aims to celebrate the value of our rivers and increase public awareness and stewardship of waterways. Celebrations had to be held inside due…
Seeking New Zealand’s top student volunteer The SVA is searching for the extraordinary New Zealand secondary school student who has completed the most volunteering hours this year. SVA was founded after the Christchurch Earthquakes in 2010 and has since diversified to administer programmes aimed at developing a volunteering culture across Aotearoa at all stages of…
Takapō/Tekapo focus for water meeting The water quality of the rivers and alpine lakes near Takapō/Tekapo will be the focus of a public meeting scheduled for Friday 16 October in Takapō. The Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee, made up of community members, local councillors and rūnanga, is inviting the public to its October meeting to…
Dip into history and find out more about a range of cultures at the upcoming Christchurch Heritage Festival. This year’s celebration starts on Saturday 24 October with more than 50 events and activities that invite people to explore Christchurch and Banks Peninsula’s past and gain a better understanding of its present. Open days, walking tours,…
Water quality in most Christchurch waterways has remained steady, the latest research shows. The Christchurch City Council has just published its annual Christchurch Surface Water Quality Report, an analysis of water quality data collected throughout 2019. A summary of the report is also available. The Council’s Waterways Ecologist, Dr Belinda Margetts, led the research and…
Christchurch residents are being urged to start watching their water use as demand on the city’s water supply network ramps up early. The city’s water demand is already trending higher than the previous five years, with an extra 700 million litres used over the past three months. The seasonal outlook from the National Institute of…
Deep roots in Selwyn Waihora It’s spring, and as we celebrate warmer weather and (hopefully) an end to COVID-19 restrictions, a lot is happening around the region. The Selwyn Waihora Zone Committee is no exception, as we work to renew our efforts to promote healthy waterways from the mountains to the sea. Fiona McDonald, Co-Chair,…
UC Professor discusses historic NZ crime case with RNZ University of Canterbury Professor Elisabeth McDonald talks to RNZ’s Jesse Mulligan about the historic killing of David McNee and the partial ‘provocation defence’ the killer used. UC Law Professor Elisabeth McDonald teaches and researches in legal issues related to criminal law, criminal justice, the law of…
Fifty years of asteroid hunting for Kiwi couple From moonbows and asteroids to everything between and beyond – the astronomical half-century adventures of University of Canterbury Adjunct Fellows Alan Gilmore and Pam Kilmartin have been profiled in an excellent new Stuff.co.nz article from Education reporter, Lee Kenny. Written in the stars: Couple Pam Kilmartin and…
Climate explained: does building and expanding motorways really reduce congestion and emissions? In the latest Climate Explained article for The Conversation, UC’s Professor Simon Kingham considers the real impact of building and expanding motorways when it comes to the reduction of congestion and emissions. Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the…