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Does your teen disengage at school?
At Vision College we offer our free 'Ultimate' programme, designed for 16-19 year olds who haven’t enjoyed school and are looking to gain skills and insight towards a pathway for their future.
Students gain valuable life and employment skills … View moreDoes your teen disengage at school?
At Vision College we offer our free 'Ultimate' programme, designed for 16-19 year olds who haven’t enjoyed school and are looking to gain skills and insight towards a pathway for their future.
Students gain valuable life and employment skills that prepare them for life outside of study, all while achieving the NZ Certificate in Foundation Skills Level 1 and 2, both NZQA qualifications, in just one year.
teapot and jug in perfect condition , $10.00 minitaure tea cups (no saucers) , $5.00 each , prefer pickup as they are fragile ,
two school calculators one is working the other needs a battery, sliding covers , can post or contactless pickup
This modern, stylish planter finished in Resene is a great option to show off a statement plant. Find out how to create your own.
Big Community Garage Sale - Saturday 7 May 8 am -2 pm Sefton and Ashley. The Ashley Community Church will have a fund-raising stall at 39 Canterbury St.
Addresses:
ASHLEY VILLAGE
25 Wellington Street
39 Canterbury Street
29 Canterbury Street
10 High Street
8 Lower Sefton Rd
… View moreBig Community Garage Sale - Saturday 7 May 8 am -2 pm Sefton and Ashley. The Ashley Community Church will have a fund-raising stall at 39 Canterbury St.
Addresses:
ASHLEY VILLAGE
25 Wellington Street
39 Canterbury Street
29 Canterbury Street
10 High Street
8 Lower Sefton Rd
SEFTON/BALCAIRN
40 Railway Street
273 Factory Road
246 Gartys Road
266 Toppings
30 Vaughn Street
Sefton Domain open to a lot of stalls
There will be a sausage sizzle on Wellington Street
Something for everyone
From local democracy reporter Adam Burns:
Hurunui mayor Marie Black believes the council has done everything it can to try to avoid a sizable rates increase for residents.
An average rates rise of 10.5%, more than double what was forecast in its long-term plan, is recommended by the Hurunui … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Adam Burns:
Hurunui mayor Marie Black believes the council has done everything it can to try to avoid a sizable rates increase for residents.
An average rates rise of 10.5%, more than double what was forecast in its long-term plan, is recommended by the Hurunui District Council for the 2022-23 year after the annual plan budgets were unveiled at its meeting last week.
The impact of inflation is highlighted as the main cause, putting a strain on council's operational and capital expenditure.
Council chief financial officer Jason Beck told councillors it "did not make for happy reading".
Black said after scrutinising the books, the council was left with little choice.
"[We] understand what it will mean to members of our community," she said at the April 28 meeting.
"I think we're all incredibly mindful of the impact but I think with confidence we can say we've looked at every aspect of the business to see where there are opportunities for savings to be made."
It could have been even worse for ratepayers after initial calculations called for a 16% increase.
Several areas in the budget were revised by council, in an effort to find cost savings, which brought the adjusted rate down.
Last year, the council approved an 8.5% average rate rise for 2021-22, followed by 4.99% increases for the following two years in its 2021-31 plan.
"Those budgets were based off a number of assumptions, including inflation and interest rates," Beck said.
It was revealed last week the consumer price index had reached a 30-year high, with the annual inflation rate at 6.9%, below expectations.
Council recently renewed its roading contract, allowing a budget increase of 30%.
It is expected the increase in contract rates will not result in an increased subsidy from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, as the level of subsidy for its programme was fixed at 52%.
"Any escalation in cost will be required to be met from the local share, which means an increase in rates," the council report said.
The increased costs to roading were predicted to be a "long-term economic trend."
Based off the most up to date numbers, only four other districts around the country are proposing average rates rises over more than 10%, including Tararua, Westland, Tauranga City and the Mackenzie district.
Some Hurunui councillors pleaded with operations staff at the meeting as to whether there was any other way to soften a potential rates rise.
Council chief operations officer Dan Harris was adamant there was no other way, without reneging on previous commitments or cutting council services.
The community has until June 6 to provide feedback on the draft plan.
A “delightfully different character” with a great sense of humour and a friendly manner is how customers describe Kaiapoi’s local business hero.
Robert Fenwick, the owner of Fenwicks Pharmacy in Kaiapoi, Canterbury, is the national winner of the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero award.
The … View moreA “delightfully different character” with a great sense of humour and a friendly manner is how customers describe Kaiapoi’s local business hero.
Robert Fenwick, the owner of Fenwicks Pharmacy in Kaiapoi, Canterbury, is the national winner of the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero award.
The award recognises community heroes who own small businesses throughout New Zealand.
Fenwicks Pharmacy was passed down to Fenwick from his father when he retired in 1985.
He has seen many changes in technology and treatments over his 37 years of running a pharmacy.
Fenwick said the toughest times were during the Canterbury earthquakes and the Covid-19 pandemic.
To ensure customer safety after the earthquakes, the pharmacy operated out of a caravan parked at the front of the premises.
Like for most businesses, the start of the pandemic was a “scary” time for Fenwick, though he acknowledged pharmacies, as essential busineses, had been “lucky economically”.
“I feel for all those workers that are struggling.”
Fenwick was “very surprised” to hear he had been nominated for the local hero award.
“There are plenty of other heroes out there. I’m thankful. I appreciate the community.”
He did not want to take all the credit, saying the pharmacy worked as a team.
Kaiapoi resident Michael Mckay said he had never left Fenwicks Pharmacy without a smile on his face.
“Rob’s a delightfully different character with a great sense of humour. The staff are all wonderful, professional and happy. They always pick you up,” Mckay said.
Fenwick was recognised by his community for his ongoing service and support through some of country’s toughest times. Fenwicks Pharmacy remained open throughout the lockdowns and, despite the challenge that brought, the community appreciated the team’s friendly greetings, conversations and smiles.
Regular customer Nadia Bell said Fenwick went out of his way to help his customers.
“He’ll provide you not only with a good belly laugh but extra valuable knowledge. He’s not a regular pharmacist, he will go out of his way to acknowledge you even when he’s under the pump,” Bell said.
The Prospa Local Business Hero awards is in partnership with Neighbourly. A small business owner is nominated each year for the award and wins a package worth $10,000 including $2500 worth of Neighbourly advertising, $5000 worth of Stuff advertising and $2500 cash.
Head of Neighbourly Sarah Moore, said a pharmacy winning the award demonstrated “the value Kiwis place on their connection with their local pharmacist”.
“They're often the first port of call for minor ailments and hold a position of real trust in our communities”.
Adrienne Begbie, managing director of Prospa NZ, said it is great to celebrate hard-working small business owners for their service and support of the community
“We hope this award displays the appreciation felt by the local residents for [Robert Fenwick’s] dedication to the community with service that goes above and beyond, especially witnessed during lockdowns.
“We would also like to acknowledge all those nominated, and hope many business owners felt the gratitude expressed by those took the time to vote.”
Here in New Zealand our Ministry of Social Development, through their Work and Income offices, are able to provide a range of support services, including financial assistance, to support a wide range of needs.
The types of things they can help with are:
• If you’re not working, have lost … View moreHere in New Zealand our Ministry of Social Development, through their Work and Income offices, are able to provide a range of support services, including financial assistance, to support a wide range of needs.
The types of things they can help with are:
• If you’re not working, have lost your job and/or need help to get a job.
• If you have urgent or unexpected bills, or maybe a family emergency.
• You need help with your living expenses.
• A range of services for Seniors.
• A range of services for Youth (16 to 19 year olds).
• Support with health and disability issues.
• Help for those caring for others.
• Help and support for those raising children.
• Help for those who’ve had a change in relationship status and need extra support.
• Other benefits and entitlements.
The Work and Income website offers a lot of information on how to access help, including what support you can receive, as well as all the forms you might need to fill-in.
workandincome.govt.nz...
However, you might be finding the website difficult to navigate, or you’re not sure if you are able to access support at all. You can talk to the great people at Work and Income, and they are only too happy to help.
However, if you want to talk to a Financial Mentor first (it’s free and confidential), we can discuss your particular situation and support you with your conversations with Work and Income.
In some cases we can even accompany you to Work and Income appointments.
Or we can work with you on-line using your own MyMSD Log-in to help you navigate the large amount of information available, and help with filling-in forms.
Our Financial Mentors are friendly, knowledgeable and more than happy to help.
They understand the Work and Income system – and what they don’t know they will certainly find out for you.
So, if you’d like some support to find out what benefits or extra support you can access, contact us to talk to a Financial Mentor today.
From reporter Tina Law:
Parts of Christchurch will feel the impacts of sea-level rise earlier than expected because the land is sinking, according to new data.
Large areas from Woodend to Lake Ellesmere, including Banks Peninsula, are subsiding up to three millimetres per year, which means an … View moreFrom reporter Tina Law:
Parts of Christchurch will feel the impacts of sea-level rise earlier than expected because the land is sinking, according to new data.
Large areas from Woodend to Lake Ellesmere, including Banks Peninsula, are subsiding up to three millimetres per year, which means an extra 30 centimetres of sea-level rise over the next 100 years.
The data has come from NZ SeaRise, a five-year research programme funded by the Government involving 30 local and international experts.
It has taken into account the natural rises and falls of the country’s coastline, as well as climate change and warming temperatures to project sea level rises.
Using a www.searise.nz... |new online tool|, New Zealanders will for the first time be able to see how much and how fast sea levels will rise along their own stretch of coast and in their neighbourhood.
Programme co-leader Professor Tim Naish, of Victoria University of Wellington, said 20 years ago it was thought sea-level rise was like pouring water into a bathtub – if you put more water in, it rises uniformly around the world, but Naish said it is actually much more complicated.
Sea levels are expected to rise at different rates across New Zealand and even at different levels across Canterbury’s coastline.
The largest increases in sea levels are expected to occur along the southeast of the North Island along the Wairarapa Coast.
Programme co-leader Dr Richard Levy, of GNS Science and Victoria University of Wellington, said subsidence rates along that coast were high, and sea levels could rise by well over 1.5 metres by 2100 if the least optimistic climate change scenario was followed.
Based on current international emissions reduction policies, global sea levels are expected to rise by about 60cm by 2100, but for large parts of New Zealand this could double to about 1.2m due to ongoing land subsidence, Naish said.
“We have less time to act than we thought.”
According to the data, Akaroa on Banks Peninsula would see 30cm of sea-level rise by 2040, instead of 2060. The coastline in the area is sinking by 3mm a year.
“Thirty centimetres of sea-level rise means the one in 50-year coastal storm flood will occur annually,” Naish said.
However, some areas at the top of Lyttelton Harbour have shown a rise in the land.
Land movement data was based on median numbers taken between 2003 and 2011, and does not include the impact of the Christchurch earthquakes.
The data showed New Brighton’s coastline was sinking at 0.8mm a year, but Naish said since the earthquakes it has actually been sinking at 8mm a year, twice as fast as the global sea-level rise.
“We don’t know how long this will go on for.”
Levy said he expected councils and planners to be the primary users of the new projection information, and that the finance and insurance sectors had already been asking for the data.
Naish said the new science would give time to put in place equitable and effective adaptation measures that would limit the impact of unavoidable sea-level rise.
The Christchurch City Council has already embarked on a long process to adapt the city and Banks Peninsula to climate change.
Changes to managing new developments are being made to the district plan and the council has agreed on guidelines for adapting existing areas.
Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour will be the first area in Christchurch to go through climate change planning, expected to start in the spring and take 18 months.
Simon Watts, observatory director at Brighton Observatory of Environment and Economics who built his home in Southshore, said it was always better to know about things rather than be ambushed, but said the devil was always in the detail.
He said there were areas in Christchurch that rose after the earthquakes and others that sunk.
“For some areas it could be good news and others it could be bad news.
“Yes, people should be concerned because if parts of New Zealand sink by 3mm a year, that is effectively doubling the rate of sea level rise for those places."
From local democracy reporter Adam Burns:
Maintenance of an “out of control” hedge at could cost ratepayers in a small North Canterbury village tens of thousands of dollars over the next couple of years, despite plans for it to be cut down.
But there are hopes the axing of the shadowy shrub … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Adam Burns:
Maintenance of an “out of control” hedge at could cost ratepayers in a small North Canterbury village tens of thousands of dollars over the next couple of years, despite plans for it to be cut down.
But there are hopes the axing of the shadowy shrub can be fast tracked, following suggestions its removal was at least another two years away.
Plans for the macrocarpa shelterbelt hedge, which stands between 6 and 8 metres high on Waikuku Beach’s Parks Ave, continue to cause headaches for the small beach town community, including funding avenues for the hedge’s swift removal.
A report was tabled at the Woodend-Sefton Community Board meeting a fortnight ago, which recommended the hedge be removed.
However, it was initially proposed the project be considered for inclusion in the Waimakariri District Council’s 2024 long-term plan, with costs for the removal of the hedge and replanting estimated to be about $105,000.
The hedge could also absorb ongoing maintenance costs “at health and safety levels” until it was removed in 2024-25, according to the report.
Maintenance of the hedge costs the council about $20,000 for the first trim, followed by a further cost of “between $10,000 and $15,000 every 18 months”.
During a public deputation at the April 11 meeting, Waikuku Beach resident Jo Kane fumed at the proposed time frames following what she described as some drawn out deliberations with council staff on the matter.
“This was never the expectation from anyone in the community,” she said.
“This is a longstanding and unsustainable maintenance issue, and it really galls me that for the next three years you will have to trim this hedge back off the road.
“I feel really let down when I saw that piece of the report [indicating 2024].
“It needs to be gone, sooner rather than later.”
The removal of the hedge was later approved, but the community board agreed to amend its previous recommendation, in order for a last ditch request to go to the council for funding through this year’s annual plan.
Several concerns around the hedge were raised by residents during community consultation a year ago.
Ongoing maintenance costs, a lack of sunlight leaving ice and moss on the road, a desire for landscape views to be restored, and concerns the hedge was a fire risk were raised by those wanting it gone.
Other community members, favouring its retention, believed the hedge offered privacy and was a good windbreak for homeowners.
We are incredibly proud to launch Short Notice is a new initiative designed to connect neighbours with a little spare time on their hands with local businesses that need a bit of extra help!
It's very simple; using the new Short Notice community hub, share a little about yourself, your … View moreWe are incredibly proud to launch Short Notice is a new initiative designed to connect neighbours with a little spare time on their hands with local businesses that need a bit of extra help!
It's very simple; using the new Short Notice community hub, share a little about yourself, your availability and how you'd like to help.
If you're a business owner sign up for a FREE Premium Business listing to get access to Short Notice and let your community know what help you need.
Together, let's help keep small businesses busy!
Don't miss this indoor market, running fortnightly from Saturday 21 May through to the end of September 2022. New stallholders welcome to apply.
How’s it going neighbours, the friendly team here at NZ Beds wanted to remind you that we have some mum-believable deals to celebrate this Mother’s Day. Thank your mum and gift her an unforgettable serene sleep because she deserves it. From a luxury mattress to ultra luxurious bedding gift her … View moreHow’s it going neighbours, the friendly team here at NZ Beds wanted to remind you that we have some mum-believable deals to celebrate this Mother’s Day. Thank your mum and gift her an unforgettable serene sleep because she deserves it. From a luxury mattress to ultra luxurious bedding gift her the experience she will never forget.
Pop into your nearest NZ Beds store to browse our range. Find your nearest store with our store locator.
NZ Beds Team look forward to help you in getting a good night sleep.
Grab yourself a delicious Barista Made Coffee for only $4 at McCafé.
McCafé, simply good coffee.
Available for a limited time.
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