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Dear neighbours,
To celebrate National Gardening Week (October 17-25), Yates have partnered with NZ Gardener to give away some fantastic prizes to some of the most inspirational compost builders in the country. Show us your compost setup, whether it’s tiny or huge, and the best looking compost … View moreDear neighbours,
To celebrate National Gardening Week (October 17-25), Yates have partnered with NZ Gardener to give away some fantastic prizes to some of the most inspirational compost builders in the country. Show us your compost setup, whether it’s tiny or huge, and the best looking compost wins 1 of 9 Compost Kits (RRP $319 each).
So email through your best tip for successful compost and one photo of your composting setup to loveyourgarden@yates.co.nz by August 26, 2022 to be in to win.
Use Resene Colorwood stain and colour to easily refresh a dated bedside drawer unit.
Find out how to create your own.
With the 75+ population projected to double in 20 years’ time, it’s more important than ever to choose a retirement village that is equipped to support you when you’re fully independent as well as if you need care.
That’s why Ryman villages plan ahead by offering independent living in … View moreWith the 75+ population projected to double in 20 years’ time, it’s more important than ever to choose a retirement village that is equipped to support you when you’re fully independent as well as if you need care.
That’s why Ryman villages plan ahead by offering independent living in apartments and townhouses, assisted living in serviced apartments, resthome care and, in most villages, hospital and specialist dementia care.
We offer a higher ratio of care in our villages so that if your needs change, you have priority access to our care centres.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The recent run of heavy rainfall has caused an estimated $1.5 million of damage to the Ashburton district's already battered roading network.
Ashburton District Council infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann informed the councillors … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The recent run of heavy rainfall has caused an estimated $1.5 million of damage to the Ashburton district's already battered roading network.
Ashburton District Council infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann informed the councillors Wednesday that the expected cost of the last few weeks of heavy rainfall events has been initially estimated at $1.5m.
As a comparison, McCann said the district had suffered about $5m worth of damage from the May 2021 flood event.
“We currently are desperately trying to chase potholes,” McCann said.
“We now have three teams out working on road, tidying up and filling in potholes.
“This time of the year it’s really difficult to fix them. We can only temporarily fill until the weather gets better and we can do some decent repairs.”
The council is preparing an application for emergency works funding to cover a large percentage of the damage bill he said.
Roading manager Mark Chamberlain said most damage had occurred in the high country: Double Hill Run Rd, Ashburton Gorge Rd, Hakatere Potts Rd, Hakatere Heron Rd and the roads affected by Dry Creek flooding again.
The council added $300,000 to the previous financial year’s roading repair programme to bring in an extra stabilising machine to focus on potholes.
“A large proportion of that work has stood up really well. A few areas not as well.”
Those failures were the responsibility of the contractors to repair at no extra cost to the council, McCann said.
The council has included an extra $1.7m in the annual plan for major roading repairs.
Sitting mayor Neil Brown said potholes were not an issue unique to Ashburton and had not been helped by the reduced amount of funding coming from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to maintain roads.
“Underfunding over the years is starting to show up,” Brown said.
“We have stretched the things out and sweated the asset and we are now paying for it from a lack of funding.”
He said the council applied for more money every year and Waka Kotai was not approving all of it, leaving a shortfall.
All local roads around the country are subject to the FAR (financial assistance rate) of about 51% from Waka Kotahi and 49% from the local council.
Brown had raised the issue with the other Canterbury mayors at the regional transport committee, which he said was investigating the funding shortfall across the Canterbury region and would have a dollar figure at its next meeting.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The race is on in the Ashburton Ward with the local voice of Mid Canterbury radio one of the latest people in the running for Ashburton District Council.
Hokonui FM breakfast host Phill Hooper is running for a seat on the council in the Ashburton … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The race is on in the Ashburton Ward with the local voice of Mid Canterbury radio one of the latest people in the running for Ashburton District Council.
Hokonui FM breakfast host Phill Hooper is running for a seat on the council in the Ashburton ward and is joined by Carol Johns, the organiser of community events like the Santa Parade, Mid Town Mardi Gras and Waitangi on East.
The other new candidates coming forward are Rob Mackle and Keith Townshend in the Eastern ward.
With Hooper, Johns, and sitting Councillor Carolyn Cameron also expected to enter the race, there will be at least 10 candidates running for the five seats in the Ashburton ward.
Of those Cameron and Braam are the only current councillors standing again, Russell Ellis and Thelma Bell are former councillors and the other six candidates are newcomers.
The nominations of Mackle and Townshend means there will be an election in the Eastern Ward with sitting councillor Lynette Lovett and newcomer Richard Wilson, the son of retiring councillor Stuart Wilson already standing.
The mayoralty remains a two horse race between incumbent Neil Brown and local businessman Jeff Swindley.
The West ward currently has enough candidates to fill the vacancies without an election process.
There will be no need for an expensive by-election for the Methven Community Board with the nominations of Allan Lock, Robin Jenkinson, and Megan Fitzgerald providing enough to cover the five vacancies.
The Braided Rivers Community Trust had only five nominations for its six vacancies.
There are three nominations for the two seats in the Environment Canterbury Mid Canterbury Ōpākihi ward, with incumbents Ian Mackenzie and John Sunckell along with Peter Trolove.
Where they stand
Nominations Received (as at Wednesday 2pm)
Mayor: Neil Brown, Jeff Swindley.
Western Ward (2): Rodger Letham, Liz McMillan.
Eastern Ward (2): Lynette Lovett, Richard Wilson, Rob Mackle, Keith Townshend.
Ashburton ward (5): Russell Ellis, Leen Braam, Hayden Tasker, Bev Skates, Tony Todd, Thelma Bell, Brie Burgess, Carol Johns, Phill Hooper.
Intending to stand: Carolyn Cameron.
Ruled out: Stuart Wilson, Angus McKay, Dianne Rawlinson, John Falloon.
Methven Community Board (5): Kelvin Holmes, Richie Owen, Allan Lock, Robin Jenkinson, Megan Fitzgerald.
Braided River Community Trust (6): Tim Silva, Chris Robertson, Robert Harnett, Kerry Clough, Kieran Breakwell.
Nominations close: August 12
Voting opens: September 16
Knitting needles are clicking across our villages and the wider community for the Yuri Bear project🐻❤️.
We’re aiming to knit 20,000 teddy bears for children displaced as a result of turmoil in their country.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the response so far, but 20,000 bears is no … View moreKnitting needles are clicking across our villages and the wider community for the Yuri Bear project🐻❤️.
We’re aiming to knit 20,000 teddy bears for children displaced as a result of turmoil in their country.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the response so far, but 20,000 bears is no small ask!
If you can knit, know someone who can or would like to find out how you can help, please click on the link below.
Dear neighbours,
How many of you remember gardening in school? Hopefully, more students and teachers will be inspired by the great work being done at this amazing school.
12v dc/240v pure sine wave inverter.
1000w peak 2000w
great remote everything works perfectly.
selling as i have upgraded
Dear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for asparagus recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before August 21, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Vegetable … View moreDear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for asparagus recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before August 21, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Vegetable Growing Made Easy.
Making it onto the first rung of the property ladder can be an incredibly rewarding journey – and Stuff is here to help you through.
Stuff Homed has launched the First Time Buyers’ Club, an email series to help you navigate the equal-parts exciting and terrifying process of buying your first… View moreMaking it onto the first rung of the property ladder can be an incredibly rewarding journey – and Stuff is here to help you through.
Stuff Homed has launched the First Time Buyers’ Club, an email series to help you navigate the equal-parts exciting and terrifying process of buying your first ever home. When you join our six-week LearnStuff course, you’ll get an email every week giving you all the basics on what you need to know, who you need on your side, and what you need to do at each stage of the journey.
We can’t make the houses any cheaper, but we can guide you through the process, share some tips from the experts, and help you avoid some of the trips and traps.
Sign up (it's free) and get started on your house-buying journey.
It’s easy to age a brand new terracotta pot using Karen Walker Chalk Colour and Vintage Wax from Resene.
Find out how to create your own.
The countdown is on! Make sure you’re enrolled and your details are up to date by 12 August to make voting in the local elections easy.
Visit vote.nz or call 0800 36 76 56 to find out more.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Work is set to begin that will reduce 40% of what the Ashburton District sends to the landfill.
The Ashburton District Council has adopted its Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP), which will kick start the process of introducing organic … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Work is set to begin that will reduce 40% of what the Ashburton District sends to the landfill.
The Ashburton District Council has adopted its Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP), which will kick start the process of introducing organic waste bins.
A 2021 waste audit showed that about 40% of the district’s kerbside rubbish collection is food waste, which is transported to landfill at a significant cost.
In the plan’s consultation, which had 130 submissions –as many as the annual plan received, 63% of respondents supported the introduction of the green bin.
Infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann said there was a lot of feedback regarding the potential food and green waste options which the council will now look into.
“We will investigate options for the collection of green waste and food waste,” McCann said.
“We have received conflicting information regarding the mixing of food and green waste, so we will gather as much information from other councils and experts in the waste minimisation industry.
“We will aim to provide the information with options and associated costs to be able to consult with the community at a suitable stage, either next year or in the next long-term plan.”
The WMMP sets the priorities and strategic framework for managing waste in the district and provides the direction for the council in its planning.
One of the key actions is forming a working group with waste service providers to look into improving services by November.
McCann said the group will facilitate improved and targeted services in the district to various business sectors, including construction and demolition, farms and industries – services beyond what the council currently provides.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Two sitting councillors and three fresh faces have officially joined the race for a place on the next Ashburton District Council.
Leen Braam and Lynette Lovett have filed their nominations to run for another term while Hayden Tasker, Richard Wilson, … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Two sitting councillors and three fresh faces have officially joined the race for a place on the next Ashburton District Council.
Leen Braam and Lynette Lovett have filed their nominations to run for another term while Hayden Tasker, Richard Wilson, and Bev Skates have come forward as new candidates.
With just over a week before nominations close, their names bring the total nominations to nine, with 10 seats needing to be filled or the district will bear the cost of a by-election.
Lovett and Wilson, the son of current councillor Stuart Wilson, are chasing the two vacancies in the eastern ward.
Tasker, the son of former councillor Bev Tasker and former deputy mayor Roger Tasker, joins former two-term councillor Russell Ellis in the Ashburton ward which has five vacancies to fill.
Carolyn Cameron has indicated she will stand, whereas John Falloon is yet to signal his intentions.
Incumbents Liz McMillan and Rodger Letham are in the running for the two vacancies in the western ward.
Mayor Neil Brown is looking likely to run unopposed.
Chris Robertson and Robert Harnett make it three nominations for the Braided Rivers Community Trust while there have been no nominations for the five Methven Community Board seats.
Ashburton District electoral officer Anthony Morton said that in the event that there are not enough or any nominations to cover the vacancies, those that have been correctly nominated will be declared elected unopposed and no election process is required.
“A by-election process is then started in November to seek candidates for any remaining vacancies,” Morton said.
The organisations requiring by-elections have to meet the costs he said.
“The cost of the by-elections would largely be determined by the number of nominations subsequently received and whether a voting process was then required.”
In Selwyn, the race is on in the Malvern ward with six nominations in for the two vacancies.
Incumbents Jenny Gallagher and Bob Mugford are nominated along with Andrea Clemens, Lydia Gliddon, Samantha Samuel, and Samuel Wilshire.
Only one name is down for mayor and it’s not Sam Broughton who has confirmed he is running for a third term but is yet to file his paper work.
He will come up against Calvin Payne, who is also the only nomination for the three-seat Rolleston ward.
Sitting Councillor Shane Epiha is the lone name in the Ellesmere ward, and there have been no nominations yet for the Springs ward.
Meanwhile in the Environment Canterbury Mid Canterbury/Ōpākihi ward, incumbent councillors John Sunckell and Ian Mackenzie have filed their nominations.
They join NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers president Peter Trolove as confirmed candidates.
Nominations close at midday on August 12.
It’s time to start thinking about what you can do to help out those who need it most this Christmas. 1 in 5 Kiwi children are currently living in households that don’t have enough food. Christmas Box is a food box that caters to a family of 4-6, helping supplement breakfast, lunch and dinner … View moreIt’s time to start thinking about what you can do to help out those who need it most this Christmas. 1 in 5 Kiwi children are currently living in households that don’t have enough food. Christmas Box is a food box that caters to a family of 4-6, helping supplement breakfast, lunch and dinner meals over a week.
For just $40 you’re not only providing food essentials and treats but you’re also giving hope to families in need.
To sponsor a box, go to christmasbox.co.nz.
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