Local voice could be lost in unitary authority – mayors
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
North Canterbury’s three mayors fear local democracy could be lost amid talk of a ‘‘super city’’.
The mayors were responding to the Christchurch City Council’s submission on the draft future for local government report, where it advocated for the city to become a unitary authority.
A unitary authority would incorporate the power and responsibility of a regional council.
There are just six unitary authorities in New Zealand – Auckland, Gisborne, Nelson, Marlborough, Tasman and the Chatham Islands.
Given the close relationship between the Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri councils, the prospect of a Greater Christchurch unitary authority has been mooted.
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said he was surprised to hear of the city council’s submission, but there was no appetite for amalgamation.
‘‘One of the biggest challenges if you have a unitary authority is where would the boundaries be and who would look after the rivers.
‘‘Canterbury stretches from Waitaki to Kaikōura and rivers are often the boundaries between districts, so who would look after the rivers which sit on the boundaries between districts.
‘‘We don’t agree with everything Environment Canterbury does, but we have a good relationship.’’
Hurunui mayor Marie Black said a unitary authority would ‘‘rob our communities of the voices that we have been advocating for across all the reform process’’.
‘‘A super city is an interesting concept as where would you draw the boundaries and how does this capture the place of belonging, which is very much a feature of how we relate to our community and our people.
‘‘I would not see that a unitary authority would bring value to a district like the Hurunui.’’
Kaikōura mayor Craig Mackle said he was not surprised to hear of the Christchurch submission, but he feared a unitary authority could leave Hurunui and Kaikōura out on their own.
‘‘I was guessing they were going to have crack at it.
‘‘I don’t see we would be any better off. All I can see is the big players demanding what they want.’’
If there was going to be any amalgamation, Mackle said he could live with a partnership between Kaikōura, Hurunui and Waimakariri.
But his preference was for the status quo.
‘‘We do work in with Hurunui and we have good relationships across North Canterbury.’’
In its submission, Environment Canterbury suggested the differences between regional councils and city and district councils ‘‘could be better articulated and considered’’.
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
Family Friendly Service and Discussion
Note change of time from summer start time.
Next family-friendly monthly service - Sunday, 6 October - at the Ashley Community Church. The gathering will start at 3.30 pm with a shared afternoon tea. Remember to bring something to share!
Also remember to go before you come as there is no toilet on site.
Enquiries to Paul or Lesley, Ph 021 140 2074
39 Canterbury St, Ashley.
Poll: Is it okay to grocery shop in your PJs?
I'm sure you've seen it while doing your weekly shop... In fact, it may have even been you.
What do you think about people heading to the supermarket in their pyjamas?
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14.3% It's fine!
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75.1% It's questionable
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10.6% Other - I'll share below
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