The Waimakariri district hosts art competition in lieu of unity day
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
The Waimakariri district has celebrated unity in style.
Members of the local Iranian community joined forces with Global Locals of Waimakariri (Glow) and the Waimakariri District Council’s community team to organise an art competition.
Mayor Dan Gordon said the competition was ‘‘a truly wonderful collaboration’’.
‘‘Our district continues to grow and as a result we are honoured to welcome many new families from other parts of the world, as I do regularly at citizenship ceremonies.
‘‘Their arrival enriches our communities and provides us all with the opportunity to embrace new cultures.’’
Race Unity Day is marked in New Zealand on March 21, to coincide with Iranian New Year.
Members of the Iranian community came up with the idea of an art competition, inviting local school children to create a poster depicting what the theme ‘‘celebrating different cultures’’ meant to them.
It was the first time the Waimakariri District Council had been involved in events to coincide with Race Unity Day and community development facilitator Caroline Boswell said she was blown away by the response.
‘‘We had more than 120 entries which is pretty for the first year and is far more than we anticipated.’’
She says the competition was made possible with support from the Ministry for Ethnic Communities.
Gordon said he was impressed with the calibre of the entries.
‘‘I have to say I am extremely impressed with the calibre of work and the interesting way the brief has been interpreted, showcasing what celebrating different cultures means to them.
‘‘It is my hope that this will be the first of many for our district.’’
A prizegiving was held in the council chambers recently to celebrate the success of the competition.
Fernside School, near Rangiora, took home a special prize for the most entries.
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Fears motorway toll could leave North Canterbury town worse off
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A community leader fears a toll on the proposed motorway extension could leave a North Canterbury town worse off.
Woodend-Sefton Community Board chairperson Shona Powell said she fears Woodend could face increased traffic without promised safety improvements, if a toll is introduced on the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway extension, which includes the proposed Woodend Bypass.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) last month announced consultation for a toll of $4.30 for light vehicles and $8.60 for heavy vehicles (including trucks) on the new 11km Manawatu Gorge Motorway, which will be completed next year.
It means commuters could be stung with paying an extra $43 a week in their travel costs.
The agency said the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway extension will be 9km, including the Woodend Bypass and the realignment and four laning south of Pineacres.
Woodend residents have been waiting for safety improvements since NZTA began consulting with the community eight years ago.
But the safety improvements have been placed on hold, pending the progress of the motorway extension.
‘‘My biggest concern is people will continue using the existing road through Woodend and will go through Kaiapoi or Tuahiwi to avoid paying the toll,’’ Powell said.
‘‘And Woodend may not get the safety improvements, so nothing changes.’’
Powell was also concerned the speed reduction from 100kph to 80kph on State Highway 1 between the Pegasus roundabout and Waikuku could be reversed, following changes to the Setting of Speed Limits rule being announced.
‘‘It was a speed limit requested by the community as a safety improvement.
‘‘To go back to having that fast speed limit for traffic coming from the north, it would just be disastrous.’’
NZTA director regional relationships James Caygill said the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on land transport requires the agency to consider tolling for new roads.
‘‘But it is too soon to discuss any potential tolling options until the scope and cost of this project has been confirmed’’.
Caygill was unable to confirm whether the 80kph speed limit between Pegasus and Waikuku would remain.
He said the agency will identify locations affected by the rule once it is finalised later in the year.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown said Waka Kotahi ‘‘is working at pace’’ to deliver the motorway extension.
‘‘NZTA’s project teams are reviewing the scope, design, cost, and timing of all Roads of National Significance projects to ensure consistency with expectations in the GPS on Land Transport 2024.’’
He said Government ‘‘will support any recommendation from NZTA to toll roads’’.
The Government was also committed to ‘‘reversing Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions’’, Brown said.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?
There's nothing worse than strolling around the streets in your neighbourhood and seeing dumped rubbish.
Have you noticed this in your area? What could we do to combat this around the country?
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41.7% Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
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57.5% No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
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0.8% Other - I'll share below
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