Hurunui council backs community board concept, but split on representation
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A community board is being proposed for Hurunui’s south ward, including Amberley.
The Hurunui District Council accepted a proposal to create a South Ward Community Board as part of its representation review at a meeting on Tuesday, March 12.
It will now go out for public consultation on Monday, March 25.
The concept of a South Ward Community Board received unanimous support, but the late addition of splitting the south ward into two subdivisions created division and was supported by six councillors, with five opposed.
Governance team leader Michelle Stanley proposed community board membership comprising two members from the Amberley subdivision and three from the Kowai subdivision (the rest of the ward), as well as four councillors.
If successful, the community board would replace the existing south ward community committee, which comprises local appointees, for the 2025 and 2028 local government elections.
Councillor Pauline White, who represents the south ward, said she initially opposed the idea of a community board, but later changed her mind.
‘‘One of my initial fears was it could disempower the different voices we get at the community committee, but having the sub-divisions will help to overcome that.
‘‘If we put this out to our constituents they will submit and tell us whether this is the right thing.’’
Councillors Vanessa McPherson and Gary Jackson, who both serve the south ward, said they could not support splitting the ward.
Jackson said the south ward was ‘‘one community’’ and adding the subdivisions was ‘‘an added complication, which will confuse people’’.
McPherson said having the subdivisions would be ‘‘too limiting’’.
The Hurunui district already has one community board at Hanmer Springs and councillor Tom Davies, who lives in the village, said it worked well.
‘‘We all have slightly different interests and there is very strong debate at the meetings and outside of meetings.
‘‘In a small community differences tend to disappear and you come to a decision of what is best for the village.’’
Council staff estimated a South Ward Community Board would cost ratepayers around $50,000 a year, or about $25 per south ward ratepayer.
Councillors backed retaining the status quo of the mayor and 10 councillors representing the south, west and east wards, and the Hanmer Springs Community Board.
The remaining community committees in Amuri, Hurunui, Cheviot and Glenmark, will also be retained.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Older residents call for Amberley bus service
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A lack of public transport and access to healthcare were among the issues raised in recent a survey of older residents in the Hurunui district.
The Hurunui District Council surveyed residents aged over 60 during August and September, as it looks to develop an age-friendly community plan to support an ageing population.
There are currently no public bus services in Hurunui, which includes the town of Amberley, about 40km north of Christchurch.
Community development facilitator Vanessa Nelmes said public transport is a big issue for many elderly people, while accessing medical care when needed remains a concern.
While there are a number of community vehicle trusts operating in the district, respondents felt a regular bus service from Amberley to Rangiora and/or Christchurch is needed.
Hurunui mayor Marie Black has been among those advocating for a bus service, but for now Environment Canterbury says there are no plans to offer public transport in the district.
The distance to medical care in Christchurch and the lack of a dentist were also mentioned, Nelmes said.
The survey received 213 responses from residents aged from 60 to their 90s, with half coming from residents in the south ward, which includes Amberley.
Nelmes said the survey found a majority of the respondents felt confident using computers, internet and / or smart phones.
‘‘It kind of puts that myth to bed that old people don’t like using technology.
‘‘I think we really do need to change our mindset compared to what is really happening in our community.’’
Although about 50 respondents said they were not confident using technology, showing there was still a need for providing support.
The survey also asked if people would like to improve their skills with technology and it was ‘‘evenly split’’, Nelmes said.
A concerning trend in the survey was a number of respondents who said they felt socially isolated, especially those new to the community, she said.
‘‘We had half a dozen people who replied along the lines, ‘you have to put yourself out there, but it’s how to make the first step’.’’
The survey has been analysed by the age-friendly steering group, which plans to widen its membership to include different agencies such as district nursing and is seeking a rural voice, Nelmes said.
Council staff plan to do a stocktake of services available for senior citizens in the district, before beginning work on a draft age-friendly plan.
Environment Canterbury public transport strategy and planning manager Sonia Pollard said there are no plans to extend bus services into Amberley or the wider Hurunui district.
‘‘The focus for public transport improvements is on delivery of the core routes in Christchurch and the direct services between the main urban areas in Waimakariri and Selwyn districts and Christchurch City.
‘‘Service improvements are reliant on funding through local rates and the National Land Transport Programme.’’
She said routes outside large urban areas are unlikely to meet the funding criteria in the 2024/27 National Land Transport Programme.
But as part of the 2025/26 annual plan staff are considering how to best serve the rural community, including assessing new routes outside the Greater Christchurch boundary.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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5% Second half of November
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44.6% 1st December
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16.7% A week before Christmas
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32.5% Whenever you wish
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
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