“Today’s growth in GDP is a testament to the hard work of Kiwi businesspeople, who through sheer will and determination have managed a positive result in spite of Labour’s policies that have restricted production and starved them of workers,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “In Christchurch last week I met a shopkeeper who had worked…
Tree canopy protections still at forefront for Council
Mayor Lianne Dalziel has taken steps to ensure that the protections included in the proposed Housing and Business Choice Plan Change for tree canopy cover are not lost. Earlier this week the Council decided it would not notify the Plan Change because it does not support the one-size fits all approach to housing intensification enabled…
Gallery visitors greeted by new harakeke art work
At your next visit, make sure you look up – a brand new commission from Mata Aho Collective is now swooping down from the skylights and across the foyer at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. This ambitious installation, Tīkawe, is made up of 530 metres of braided strands of harakeke, or flax. It’s…
Retired greyhounds are set to paint the country red This September
For the first time ever, Greyhounds in red-carpet themed fancy dress will be taking over every region in New Zealand. On September 25th hundreds of retired racing Greyhounds and their owners will set off, in full glam, on the Great Global Greyhound Walk (GGGW), which raises awareness for the breed. From Invercargill to Whangarei, 24…
Christchurch says no to government’s intensification direction
Christchurch City Council has voted against changing its planning rules to comply with government direction to enable more housing and development in the city. In a move aimed at showing the government that Christchurch does not want intensification forced upon it, the Council has decided not to formally notify and invite submissions on the proposed…
Can Christchurch plant its way out of climate change?
The question of whether Christchurch can plant its way out of climate change will be explored at the next event in the Christchurch Conversations series. Plants are vital for life on Earth. In a warming world, they provide shade, reduce erosion, slow flooding, store carbon, and more. The effective use of this green infrastructure is…
With Tourism Unleashed, It Is Time To Decide What We Want From It
MBIE defines it as bringing together different stakeholders to achieve the common goal of developing a well-managed, sustainable visitor destination. It is an ongoing process that requires destinations to plan for the future and considers the social, economic, cultural and environmental risks and opportunities. It is much more than just marketing and promoting a destination,…
News in brief from the reconvened Council meeting
Catch-up on some of the key decisions made at the reconvened 8 September Christchurch City Council meeting. Grants approved The organisers of this year’s Santa Parade event at the Canterbury Showgrounds are going to receive a one-off $50,000 grant so they can refurbish the parade floats. Money for the grant will come from the Council’s…
Community planting event to mark Travis Wetland milestones
A community planting event on Saturday will mark two special anniversaries for one of Christchurch’s ecological treasures – the Ōruapaeroa Travis Wetland Reserve. It is 30 years since a group of volunteers banded together to form the Travis Wetland Trust and 25 years since they achieved their goal of having the last, large freshwater wetland…
Cones Road Community Planting Day
Cones Road Community Planting Day Come down to the Rakahuri on Saturday 24 September at 10am and join us in planting seedings. What: Community planting day When: Saturday 24 September, approximately 10am – 1pm Where: The area between the primary and secondary stopbanks west of Cones Road – Ashley River/Rakahuri. RSVP: Not required, but feel free to join the…
Christchurch to hold memorial service for Queen
Christchurch will hold a memorial service for the late Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday 25 September. The Civic Service of Thanksgiving will take place in the ChristChurch Transitional Cathedral at 5pm and will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. “On the eve of Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day and the State Memorial…
Lifeline calls for people to reach out to others
Loneliness and isolation biggest reason people call LifelineImportant to re-establish connectionsInvitation to post photosLifeline is encouraging people to reach out to someone they haven’t connected with for a while – make a phone call, send a text or better yet, arrange to meet face-to-face. Lifeline Operations Manager Helena de Fontenay says the last couple of…
Youth-led planting day enhances Waimakariri River Regional Park
Youth-led planting day enhances Waimakariri River Regional Park Members of our Youth Rōpū recently held a successful planting event in Waimakariri River Regional Park. A group of 24 people, including Youth Rōpū members, Environment Canterbury staff and members of the public, planted 418 native trees in part of Templars Island known as ‘The Sanctuary,’ then celebrated…
Chamber sets out expectations for incoming Council
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce has today released our Business Expectations of Local Government document outlining 55 expectations that The Chamber working with our members and business community has identified for the next term of local government. “Local government affects every business and every resident, and in the case of businesses, local government can…
Prime Minister’s Statement to Parliament on the death of Queen Elizabeth II
Mr Speaker, It was with enormous sadness that New Zealanders woke to the news last Friday that our longest serving Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II had died. For the vast majority of New Zealanders we have known no other King or Queen To paraphrase the Prince of Wales, we knew this day would come, but it…
Air New Zealand takes NASA climate science mission to new heights
Air New Zealand’s daily operations are now helping to enable new research into climate change, with a ground-breaking approach to collecting data for the global scientific community. In a world-first, Air New Zealand flight NZ8844 took off this morning from Christchurch to Nelson carrying a NASA next-generation satellite receiver. Using direct and reflected GPS and…
Bottle Lake Forest Park protected by hi-tech fire detection network
Cutting-edge technology is reducing the risk of a fire in one of Christchurch’s most popular recreational spots – Waitākiri Bottle Lake Forest Park. Self-powered sensors have been installed in Waitākiri Bottle Lake Forest Park to help with early fire detection. Christchurch City Council and Spark New Zealand are trialling a new fire detection network that…
Additional funding for PRIME services announced – NZRGPN
Minister Henare announced additional funding for PRIME services at the National Rural Health Conference in Christchurch last week. Following discussions with Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network, Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) has provided further funding support to PRIME practices. This funding will be provided for medical attendances and clinical triage calls and paid on-top of…
Check which ward you are in for the elections
People taking part in October’s local elections may find they are voting in a different ward than in the last election, even though they have not changed addresses. How it works Christchurch is comprised of 16 wards, 15 of roughly the same population size, and the Banks Peninsula ward. Although fewer people live there, the…
Vital public health measures still missing from Covid-19 response – Greens
Strong public health measures are more vital than ever, the Green Party says as the Government removes many longstanding COVID-19 restrictions. “Today’s decision will leave people wondering if the Government has given up. The near complete removal of longstanding protections will be of considerable concern for immunocompromised and disabled whÄnau whose wellbeing should be at…
Coming up at the 15 September Council meeting
Christchurch City Council is meeting at 9.30am on Thursday 15 September. The main items on the agenda for the public part of the meeting are: An update on the recovery effort at the fire-damaged Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant. A report seeking Council’s approval to make speed limit reductions along Humphreys Drive between Tidal View and…
Devils make new home at Orana Wildlife Park
Five young Tasmanian devils have taken up residence at Orana Wildlife Park. The arrival last week of Pendlebury, Chester Campbell, Steele, Fox and John brings the number of Tasmanian devils at the park to nine, meaning Christchurch has one of the largest holdings of devils outside of Australia. The devils were transferred to Christchurch as…
Doubling our devils – Orana Wildlife Park
Orana Wildlife Park is excited to introduce Pendlebury, Chester Campbell, Steele, Fox and John. The three-year old Tasmanian devils were transferred to Christchurch last week as part of the Save the Tasmanian Devil (STDP) Ambassador Programme. The arrival of the five young males doubles Orana’s devil population to 9 and means Christchurch is home to…
New community maternity unit gifted special name – Kurawaka: Waipapa
NgÄi TÅ«Ähuriri has gifted a special name – Kurawaka: Waipapa – for Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury’s new central city community maternity unit. The gifted name was chosen by Reriti Tau and given by Te Maire Tau, Te NgÄi TÅ«Ähuriri hapÅ« Ūpoko, because Kurawaka has great significance in Te Ao MÄori, the MÄori world, for…
Overseas visitor numbers lift in July – Stats NZ
For the first month since March 2020 the number of overseas visitor arrivals exceeded 100,000, Stats NZ said today. There were 134,200 overseas visitor arrivals in July 2022. This coincided with school holidays in Australia and New Zealand. The July 2022 number is just over half of the 255,600 overseas visitor arrivals in July 2019,…
Dunedin singer and composer win Dame Malvina Major Foundation South Island Arts Excellence Awards
Coloratura soprano Calla Knudson and composer and musicologist Ihlara McIndoe are the winners of this year’s Dame Malvina Major Foundation Arts Excellence Awards for the South Island, each receiving $5,000 towards their future studies. This is the first year the awards, administered by the Dame Malvina Major Foundation’s Christchurch Committee, have been extended beyond Canterbury…
Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Change
Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Malcolm Johns is to leave the airport after nine years, to take up a Chief Executive role based in Auckland and will leave the airport team in 2023. Board Chair Catherine Drayton says “The Board and executive have worked closely to build a strong team and company over the past decade,…
Rolleston tamariki get involved in planting project along Te Waikēkēwai
Rolleston tamariki get involved in planting project along Te Waikēkēwai Students from Waitaha and Te Rōhutu Whio schools in Rolleston have had some hands-on planting experience during Kids Discovery Plant-out days with Te Taumutu Rūnanga in Te Waihora catchment. Source link
Investitures at Government House Wellington
To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, two additional members will receive New Zealand’s highest honour at investitures this week. Former Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright receives an additional Order of New Zealand for her extensive contributions to the legal profession; work that includes being part of a United Nations investigation of alleged war crimes in…
Hannah Wells second at Qatar Airways Ironman 70.3 Sunshine Coast – Ironman NZ
New Zealand’s Hannah Wells has finished second at Sunday’s Qatar Airways IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast in Australia, just behind winner Lotte Wilms. Wells finished the race in 4:01:53, just over a minute and half behind Dutch athlete Lotte Wilms, with Australia’s Penny Slater a further minute back in third. Sunday’s second place finish made it…