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Every week, locals are being nominated for a Nice Neighbour Award and we think there's likely someone in your life who is worthy.
Whether it's someone who has been there in a time of need, has helped your family, or who regularly volunteers their time in their community - we'd love… View moreEvery week, locals are being nominated for a Nice Neighbour Award and we think there's likely someone in your life who is worthy.
Whether it's someone who has been there in a time of need, has helped your family, or who regularly volunteers their time in their community - we'd love to hear about them.
If your neighbour is picked as this week's Nice Neighbour, you’ll both receive a $25 Prezzy® card plus your special neighbour will feature in community newspapers around New Zealand as an inspiration to us all.
Let us know who should be recognised for their good deeds by nominating now.
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From local democracy reporter David Hill:
North Canterbury’s three councils have no plans to introduce fluoride into drinking supplies.
The issue of fluoridation has been hotting up around the country since the passing of the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Act 2021.
The new … View moreFrom local democracy reporter David Hill:
North Canterbury’s three councils have no plans to introduce fluoride into drinking supplies.
The issue of fluoridation has been hotting up around the country since the passing of the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Act 2021.
The new legislation gives the director-general of health the power to direct councils to fluoridate drinking water supplies, but no directive has been issued to the Kaikōura, Hurunui or Waimakariri councils so far.
All three councils said it was unlikely any fluoridation will be introduced before July 2024, when it is proposed the new Three Waters entities would become operative.
Former director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield wrote to councils in December last year to confirm fluoridation of supplies serving more than 500 people would be required under the Act.
Information on the costs and timeframes for introducing fluoridation was requested and directives were subsequently issued to several councils.
But no directives have been received by the three North Canterbury councils to date.
A Kaikōura District Council spokesperson said fluoridation would only apply to the urban supply, as the other schemes served less than 250 people each.
“The council does not have any provision for capital or operational costs of fluoridation in our current long term or annual plans.
“Our understanding is there will be no requirements for Kaikōura District Council ahead of the current proposed creation of the regional three waters entities in July 2024.”
It was estimated it would cost $150,000 to upgrade the Kaikōura urban supply and $20,000 per year in operating costs.
The total annual operating cost for all eight of Kaikōura’s drinking water supplies was around $700,000, so introducing fluoridation would have a major impact on rates if no national funding was available.
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the council had not discussed the issue nor formed “a view” on fluoridation.
“If officers were asked, we would put together a paper to discuss the pros and cons.
“It [fluoridation] has been a very difficult issue for local government in the past.”
Mayor Marie Black feared fluoridation could become yet another “unfunded mandate”, with central government “imposing its will” and leaving ratepayers to bear the cost.
A Waimakariri District Council spokesperson said there was no desire to introduce fluoridation into Waimakariri’s water supplies.
“We have not received any such directive, and don’t know if or when the next batch of councils will be instructed to install fluoridation equipment.
“We don’t fluoridate any supplies but if and when we get a directive to do so, there will still be a long lead in time to allow us to budget for this work and construct the necessary upgrades.”
*Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
Hiya, does anyone know of any robberies in Rangiora township that have happened recently? Only asking as I have had a questionable interaction with someone.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The Hurunui District Council has confirmed a change to Tuesday meetings for the new council term.
Councillors voted to change the meeting day from Thursday to Tuesday at the first ordinary meeting on Tuesday, November 1.
Monthly council meetings will… View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The Hurunui District Council has confirmed a change to Tuesday meetings for the new council term.
Councillors voted to change the meeting day from Thursday to Tuesday at the first ordinary meeting on Tuesday, November 1.
Monthly council meetings will normally be held on the last Tuesday of the month, with the next meeting on November 29 and the last meeting for the year scheduled on December 20.
Three councils committees were confirmed, including the operations committee which will meet on the second to last Tuesday of the month.
The strategy and community committee will alternate with the audit and risk committee on the third to last Tuesday of the month.
Councillors’ remuneration was also confirmed, from a total remuneration pool of $305,015.
Deputy mayor Vince Daly will receive $38,820, the three committee chairs will earn $33,274 and the remaining six councillors will each receive $27,729.
Mayor Marie Black’s salary has already been confirmed at $113,138.
Chief financial officer Jason Beck said the mayor’s salary and the remuneration pool was set by the Remuneration Authority, but it was funded entirely from rates.
The Hanmer Springs Community Board chairperson will receive $8259, while board members will earn $4130.
Councillors also confirmed committee appointments, after Mrs Black chose not to exercise her Mayoral powers.
Hurunui District Council appointments:
Audit and risk: Cr Fiona Harris (chair), Cr Karen Armstrong (deputy chair), Cr Garry Jackson and Graeme McGlinn (independent member).
Operations: Cr Ross Barnes (chair), Cr Robbie Bruerton (deputy chair), Mrs Black, Cr Vince Daly, Cr Vanessa McPherson and Cr Fiona Harris.
Strategy and community: Cr Pauline White (chair), Cr Armstrong (deputy chair), Mrs Black, Cr Dave Hislop, Cr McPherson and Cr Tom Davies.
Hanmer Springs Community Board: Cr Davies.
Hurunui Youth Council: Cr Hislop and Cr Bruerton.
Water Liaison Committee: Mrs Black, Cr Barnes and appointees from community committees.
Hurunui Tourism Board: Cr Armstrong, Cr McPherson and Cr Bruerton.
South Ward Committee: Cr Jackson, Cr Bruerton, Cr McPherson and Cr White.
Amuri Community Committee: Cr Hislop and Cr Barnes.
Hurunui Community Committee: Cr Armstrong.
Cheviot Community Committee: Cr Harris and Cr Daly.
Glenmark Community Committee: Cr Harris and Cr Daly.
Hurunui Road Safety Committee: Cr Hislop and Cr Jackson.
Creative Communities NZ Fund Assessment Panel: Cr McPherson and Cr White.
Sport NZ Fund Assessment Panel: Cr Bruerton.
Secondary School Achievers Panel: Mrs Black, Cr Davies and Cr McPherson.
Enterprise North Canterbury Trust Board: Mrs Black.
Canterbury Regional Transport Committee: Mrs Black.
Civil Defence Emergency Management Group: Mrs Black.
Canterbury Waste Joint Committee: Cr Hislop.
Canterbury Regional Landfill Committee: Cr Hislop.
Wellbeing North Canterbury Community Trust: Cr White.
Canterbury Museum Trust Board: (joint appointment with Waimakariri District Council) David Ayers.
Personalise your tree this year with adorable homemade woodland characters. Use Resene testpots to create these four cuties. Find out how to create your own.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Waimakariri’s council has lost its gender balance.
Three years ago Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon hailed the gender balance, when he was joined by five men and five women around the council table after the October 2019 election.
But when the mayor … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Waimakariri’s council has lost its gender balance.
Three years ago Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon hailed the gender balance, when he was joined by five men and five women around the council table after the October 2019 election.
But when the mayor was sworn in for his second term last Thursday, October 27, he was joined by eight men and just two women.
The change of personnel follows the retirement of Kirstyn Barnett and Wendy Doody, while Sandra Stewart lost her seat in the election on October 8.
The trio have been replaced by three men - Jason Goldsworthy, Tim Fulton and Brent Cairns.
At 29, Goldsworthy, of Rangiora, is now the youngest councillor around the table.
He is fresh from a term on the Rangiora-Ashley Community Board.
The new councillor admits it will be tough juggling his new role around a young family, working at Rangiora New World and his volunteering.
‘‘It is particularly difficult for people in my demographic to get involved in local politics, juggling a mortgage, children and a career.
‘‘I will be having an interesting chat with my manager over the next few weeks.’’
Outside of work, Goldsworthy is married to Amber, has a 1-year-old daughter Manawa, is a firefighter with the Rangiora Volunteer Fire Brigade and a St John youth leader.
Tim Fulton was born and bred in the Oxford area and is a familiar face as a rural journalist.
‘‘I am representing a large rural ward and my goals will be focusing on land and water management and making sure we are preserving our natural assets.’’
He plans to ‘‘sit, look and listen’’ in the coming weeks as he becomes familiar with his new role.
‘‘I’m pleased I ran and it was great to get a result, but now is the time to establish those relationships.’’
Kaiapoi resident Cairns was elected to council after serving on the Kaiapoi-Woodend Community Board.
He is a familiar face in the community with his volunteer work, including playing an integral role in establishing the Kaiapoi Food Forest.
‘‘I look at the community groups that I am already involved with, so my time with the council over the next three years will be all about creating safer, connected communities and making this district a great place to live.’’
Cairns expects his new role will be a fast learning curve.
‘‘I am a joiner by trade, so I am a very practical person.
‘‘I will see an end goal and then I break it down and work out what I need to do.’’
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Amalgamation and funding loom large as North Canterbury’s three councils consider local government reform proposals.
An independent panel, chaired by former Waimakariri District Council chief executive Jim Palmer, has come up with 29 draft … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Amalgamation and funding loom large as North Canterbury’s three councils consider local government reform proposals.
An independent panel, chaired by former Waimakariri District Council chief executive Jim Palmer, has come up with 29 draft recommendations and a number of questions .
Among the proposals are scenarios for the future structure of local government, including moving to a unitary authority model, with local community boards to ensure some local representation.
A population of no less than 70,000 would be necessary to be sustainable, the report says, meaning under this scenario the Waimakariri District Council could survive, but Hurunui and Kaikōura would not.
Other scenarios included local councils and mayors continuing to operate under either a regional council and mayor, or a combined authority with an elected mayor and representatives from the local councils.
Kaikōura mayor Craig Mackle said the scenario had an all too familiar ring to it.
‘‘I can’t help but see a very similar situation to after the [2016] earthquake when they said that we were history.
‘‘But we proved them wrong and now we are in a better position than we have ever been.
‘‘We have done it with a lot of work and a lot less money than the officials said we needed to spend.’’
Hurunui mayor Marie Black said it ‘‘would be a very sad day’’ if local representation was lost.
‘‘Having a sense of belonging and a place of belonging is important to people, but when you marginalise people because they don’t have the numbers, they can lose that.’’
The panel was set up 18 months ago by Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta.
Suggested changes include allowing 16-year-olds to vote, Mana Whenua appointees potentially sitting alongside elected Māori ward councillors, moving all councils to the Single Transferable Vote system, four-year terms and more money for councillors.
The report also addresses ‘‘unfunded mandates’’, where central government passes on responsibilities to local government such as liquor licensing and building regulations without the necessary funding.
Black said there were no surprises in the report’s core principles, but ‘‘the devil will be in the detail’’.
‘‘I support local government as the best place to serve local communities, but when there is no funding to train staff or implement new regulations, it places the burden on ratepayers.
‘‘If we can pressure government to provide the funding, then we can strengthen local democracy.’’
She supports Mana Whenua representation, but it ‘‘needs to be authentic’’ to the local community.
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said several recommendations were ‘‘worthy of further investigation’’.
‘‘It would have been nice to see more of a focus on why the recommendations are important and how they will enhance local decision making.’’
Waimakariri District Council acting chief executive Jeff Millward said he welcomed the attention given to ‘‘unfunded mandates’’ and Mana Whenua representation.
The council considered the question of a Māori ward in last year’s representation review, but found no appetite for change.
‘‘We think we have a good relationship with Ngāi Tūāhuriri and it seems to work well,’’ Millward said.
Palmer said local government would be strengthened by being able to take a te ao Māori approach to local issues.
But decisions around the number of appointees should be left up to councils, rather than legislation.
‘‘We think it’s a more nuanced conversation than just ‘one person, one vote’.’’
Submissions on the draft report close on February 28, with the final report due to be delivered to the minister by June next year.
■ Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
There's a fine line between being helpful and minding your own business.
Scape, Christchurch's public arts festival, kicks off this Saturday. It's free to view and aims to revolutionise the city's open spaces.
ScreenSouth in Christchurch went all out to mark Breast Cancer Awareness month this October and highlight the BreastScreen Aotearoa national breast screening programme.
A pink-themed morning tea and fancy dress event was topped off with the Art Your Bra competition, shining a light on some of … View moreScreenSouth in Christchurch went all out to mark Breast Cancer Awareness month this October and highlight the BreastScreen Aotearoa national breast screening programme.
A pink-themed morning tea and fancy dress event was topped off with the Art Your Bra competition, shining a light on some of the team's creative talents.
The cleverly designed bras - which were given names like Treasure Your Chest, Candleabra, and Spooky Boobs - transformed the Papanui Rd office into a gallery of stunning bra art.
Jennie Corrin’s Succulent Breasts - a creation using straw cups, real succulent plants and a hint of Halloween - took out the top 3-D prize, while Jayne Swainson's Iridescent Intimates - an intricately hand drawn and coloured design - won the 2-D category.
Corrin, who works in the call centre team, talks with women to let them know about the free national breast screening programme, help them to enrol in the programme and arrange a mammogram appointment time.
Swainson works with general practice teams across Christchurch to help them invite eligible women to book their three-yearly cervical screen.
More than 650 women die of breast cancer in Aotearoa each year.
“Our team want to raise awareness about the most common cancer for women in Aotearoa” ScreenSouth general manager Louise McCarthy said.
“We especially want to highlight that every year over 400 wāhine Māori are diagnosed with breast cancer and early detection through screening
mammograms offers the best protection”.
Women aged 45 to 69 years can call 0800 270 200 or visit timetoscreen.nz/breast-screening to book a mammogram.
ScreenSouth, based in Waitaha/Canterbury, is contracted by Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand for the provision of breast screening services in the Te Waipounamu/South Island region, cervical screening regional coordination in the Waitaha/Canterbury and South Canterbury regions and bowel screening outreach in Waitaha.
Photo: Peter Meecham/Stuff
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