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Craving a dessert that makes the most of spring's fresh produce? Look no further than Georgina's signature Rhubarb Crumble.
This delicious treat has become a favourite at Ryman’s Bert Sutcliffe Village, where the sweet and tangy aroma often wafts through the air, tempting neighbours … View moreCraving a dessert that makes the most of spring's fresh produce? Look no further than Georgina's signature Rhubarb Crumble.
This delicious treat has become a favourite at Ryman’s Bert Sutcliffe Village, where the sweet and tangy aroma often wafts through the air, tempting neighbours in for a taste. It’s also a hit with Georgina's 13-year-old granddaughter, Brooklyn, who loves serving it warm with gooey custard or a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream.
Click read more for the recipe.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The former Ashburton District Council building has been sold, but the details won’t be revealed until the settlement date in the New Year.
The sold sticker went up last week after the councillors decided to accept one of two offers they had … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The former Ashburton District Council building has been sold, but the details won’t be revealed until the settlement date in the New Year.
The sold sticker went up last week after the councillors decided to accept one of two offers they had received for the site during the public-excluded part of the council meeting.
That means how much it sold for and who the new owners are remain sealed.
Chief executive Hamish Riach said details of the sale were confidential at this time, though more information would be released after settlement.
“There were two offers, which were discussed by councillors in-committee, and they accepted one for the entire site.
“We expect the sale to be finalised in early 2025.”
The property comprises 5059sqm in four titles and the sale was handled by Property Brokers agent Hamish Niles.
The three-storey council building was built in 1974 with a basement and the ability to add a fourth storey but that was scuttled by the changes to the building standards following the Canterbury earthquakes.
Issues with the building were first signalled in 2004, and in 2015 it was decided to combine a replacement with a new library.
The sale of the old council building will offset the $62.1m build cost of the new library and civic centre, Te Whare Whakatere, which opened in January.
The project received $20m from the Government’s shovel-ready infrastructure programme.
Earlier this year the council sold the former public library building for $1.1m to CBR Properties Limited, which plans to renovate the building into a boutique hotel.
It also sold two relocatable buildings for $160,000.
The three older prefab classrooms at the former Polytech site on Cameron Street were being sold for $1 each, but the tenderers need to pay for the removal by March 14.
The tenders closed on November 13 and the council is working through the sale process.
*LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Here are some items that have been recalled during October/November. Click on the blue title to learn more details about the recalled product.
Food recalls:
Equal brand European Dark Chocolate
Mrs Rogers spices - Butter Chicken, Curry Powder and Garam Masala
Bin Inn brand Ground Fennel
… View moreHere are some items that have been recalled during October/November. Click on the blue title to learn more details about the recalled product.
Food recalls:
Equal brand European Dark Chocolate
Mrs Rogers spices - Butter Chicken, Curry Powder and Garam Masala
Bin Inn brand Ground Fennel
Classic Taste Fennel Powder
Jongga Kimchi
Pure Delish Grain-ola
Homemade Baker Muffin Batter Banana Choc-Chip
Hellers Shaved Roast Chicken
My Food Bag middle eastern spice blend and All The Flavour dukkah
Gilmours Jalapeno flavour corn chips
Product recalls:
Goldair panel heaters
Boost Lab skin cleanser
Canyon E-bike batteries
Panasonic power supply adapter
Kids blanket hoodies
SCA lithium battery
Noxen Kids hooded towel
Kids rubber duckies
Justyling/YesBobbleheads custom Neon sign
Brompton T Line bike
We hope this update was helpful to you and your whānau.
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?
We've had early reports of toxic algae in some of our awa/rivers. Unfortunately, dogs like to seek out the algae and eat it, causing serious harm.
We monitor water quality at recreation sites over summer for toxic algae, however, site assessments are based on the risk to human health. It … View moreWe've had early reports of toxic algae in some of our awa/rivers. Unfortunately, dogs like to seek out the algae and eat it, causing serious harm.
We monitor water quality at recreation sites over summer for toxic algae, however, site assessments are based on the risk to human health. It is not always possible to observe small amounts of toxic algae that could still be dangerous for dogs.
If you’re ever in doubt about the water quality, then keep your dog on a leash and away from the water’s edge.
It's vital to know what to look for to keep your dogs safe 👉 www.ecan.govt.nz...
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Two people are being trespassed from Ashburton's new library and civic centre per month on average due to bad behaviour.
The problem has prompted the council to bring in new rules for its community facilities.
Te Whare Whakatere opened in … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Two people are being trespassed from Ashburton's new library and civic centre per month on average due to bad behaviour.
The problem has prompted the council to bring in new rules for its community facilities.
Te Whare Whakatere opened in January, and already 16 people have been trespassed in the first eight months – equating to one every two weeks.
It’s understood the causes included violent behaviour and wilful damage and that other facilities have had problems with visitor behaviour.
The threat to other user's safety and experience has forced the Ashburton District Council to introduce a new visitor code of conduct, which was adopted on Wednesday.
Councillor Carolyn Cameron said it was a shame the council had to take the step of formalising a code of conduct.
The code sets the behavioural expectations for visitors to the council’s public facilities and includes a range of lesser consequences up to and including trespassing.
The code states that extreme or repeated nuisance behaviour can result in a trespass of up to two years.
Extreme behaviour included threatening behaviour, assault, sexual harassment, theft, possession or use of weapons, drugs or alcohol, and using abusive or offensive language.
People and facilities general manager Sarah Mosley said the majority of the code is how things already operated.
“We see this document as a positive because it links a number of current practices in one document," she said.
“The code of conduct consolidates all aspects, and lets everyone know what behaviour is expected from visitors and staff within our core council facilities and what actions may be taken if any behaviour falls below our expectations.
“It sets our expectations, it provides us with the flexibility to deal and address behaviour in a positive way that doesn’t always mean a two-year sanction.”
Sport and recreation manager Richard Wood said he had witnessed a range of behaviours at EA Networks Centre and had trespassed people in the past.
There are measures to deal with some bad behaviours, but when they escalate to inappropriate, abusive, violent, or disruptive, “we can pull the other levers” outlined in the code, he said.
The code of conduct came into effect as soon as it was adopted by the council.
Mosely said the code does not specifically reference the new Gangs Legislation that came into effect on Thursday, making it an offence to display gang insignia in a public place.
“This is because the police, not staff, are responsible for enforcing any breach of the law.
“We don’t envisage any issues within our facilities as there have not been any recent occasions where gang insignia has been worn within them.”
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Mid Canterbury roads will get an extra 50km of road resealing after the council dipped into ratepayer funds to cover the cost.
The Ashburton District Council decided to use $2.46 million of ratepayer money after there was a shortfall in the NZ … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Mid Canterbury roads will get an extra 50km of road resealing after the council dipped into ratepayer funds to cover the cost.
The Ashburton District Council decided to use $2.46 million of ratepayer money after there was a shortfall in the NZ Transport Agency funding.
The council aims to complete an extra 50km of road resealing on top of the already planned 60km of NZTA-subsidised reseals.
Infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann said staff selected roads that would ensure the additional work was done as soon as possible.
The contractor has been given the selected sites to be completed by the end of March, he said.
“We’ll monitor that and make sure we can get as close to 50km done.”
As part of the selection process, staff found priority roads that didn’t require significant pre-seal work, he said.
“The sites selected are from the forward work programme, but ones that require minimal pre-reseal repairs, have relatively long lengths, and [are] having a single coat chip seal.
“They have been selected according to the need of being sealed before the cracks open up and water gets in and causes potholes.”
The 27 unsubsidised reseal sites are for pothole prevention rather than pothole repairs, he said.
When the council was deciding how to allocate the $2.4m last month, mayor Neil Brown had suggested putting it all into extra reseals, calling it "preventative maintenance” to avoid the roads cracking and forming potholes.
The extra reseals will push the total past 100km, doubling up on last year’s 49.5km of road resealing.
The estimated cost of the 50.8km of reseals added to the programme is $2.03m, which could leave around $400,000 in the roading budget to allocate to other work.
“We will wait and see if there is much left after doing the reseals before deciding what to spend the remainder on, as it will depend on available time and the season,” McCann said.
Major unsubsidised reseal sites:
Ashburton Staveley Rd 5.8km
Back Track 3.5km (4 sites)
Barkers Rd 5km
Chertsey Kyle Rd 6.4km
Dromore Methven Rd 5170 (2)
Hinds Arundel Rd 6395 (4)
Rakaia River Rd 5.6km
Springfield Rd East 3.7km
Timaru Track Rd 4.2km
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to … View moreKia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton's shift away from delivering stockwater services to rural properties is not a closure process, a councillor says.
The district council plans to get out of the management of stockwater races to rural properties by June 30, 2027.
… View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton's shift away from delivering stockwater services to rural properties is not a closure process, a councillor says.
The district council plans to get out of the management of stockwater races to rural properties by June 30, 2027.
“That could involve some being shut or other entities taking them over," councillor Richard Wilson said
Wilson is the chairperson of the stockwater transition working group, which is charged with planning the exit and ensuring properties that require stockwater have alternative options for delivery.
There are already plenty of examples around the district of other entities running stockwater schemes, he said.
Wilson pointed to an example of how the transition can work, with the Acton Farmers Irrigation Company now managing the scheme and going through a transfer agreement proposal with the council.
The district is also covered by irrigation schemes, he said.
“Some properties have stockwater on one side of the road and irrigation on the other, so that irrigation infrastructure could be used to provide stockwater efficiently.
"We don't need both."
The group is finalising the exit transition plan to present to the council by the end of the year.
The plan will outline the process the council will take and how it will engage with stockwater customers, stakeholders and the wider community as it works towards an exit.
It will be an intake-by-intake approach, Wilson said.
There is the possibility that the council retain some races for the amenity and biodiversity value.
Races that provide critical stormwater function could be declared drains, Wilson said.
“We haven’t made any decisions yet as we need to get the plan in place first.”
The working group includes councillors Carolyn Cameron and Wilson, mayor Neil Brown, representatives from Federated Farmers, Environment Canterbury, Te Runanga o Arowhenua and a consultant.
The core membership will make recommendations to the council based on their expert advice and input from the wider working group that consists of other key stakeholders.
The group are set to meet again on December 5 to finalise the plan to go to the council for adoption on December 18.
Once a transition plan is in place, the working group will monitor the progress towards achieving the stockwater delivery exit by June 2027.
Council chief executive Hamish Riach said the workload pressures facing the council over the next two years may challenge the stockwater exit timeframe.
“The timetable is well understood, but there are a range of issues at play.
“We are doing everything we can to mitigate against slippage of time, but there are some key people with significant workloads in some key areas around water that are impacting on each other.”
Council is seeking to recruit experienced staff into the team, he said.
*LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
This Fraud Awareness Week, we’re reminding everyone to stay sharp and look out for the warning signs of scams to stop them before they start.
Here’s what to watch out for:
🔍 Unrealistic offers or promises of easy money that are too good to be true
🔍 Pressure tactics: Scammers may … View moreThis Fraud Awareness Week, we’re reminding everyone to stay sharp and look out for the warning signs of scams to stop them before they start.
Here’s what to watch out for:
🔍 Unrealistic offers or promises of easy money that are too good to be true
🔍 Pressure tactics: Scammers may rush or threaten you to act immediately.
🔍 Requests for personal info: Be cautious if you’re asked for bank details, passwords, or sensitive information.
🔍 Unusual payment methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
🔍 Unverified contacts: Emails, calls, or messages from unknown or suspicious sources.
How to protect yourself:
✅ Stop and think before sharing personal details or making payments.
✅ Don't click on any links until you know that it is safe.
✅ Verify the source: Contact the organisation directly using official channels.
✅ If something’s not right, it's OK to hang up, walk away, ignore it and move on.
If you wish to report a scam, contact Police on 105 or report it online via 105.police.govt.nz/use-105.
Whether it’s a table setting, for the tree or a shelf display, use Resene FX Metallics to create your own modern Christmas decor. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
New scoreboards will allow Ashburton’s stadium to stay in the game and continue to boost the local economy.
That’s according to Basketball Mid Canterbury president Mark Douglas, who appealed to the Ashburton District councillors to upgrade the … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
New scoreboards will allow Ashburton’s stadium to stay in the game and continue to boost the local economy.
That’s according to Basketball Mid Canterbury president Mark Douglas, who appealed to the Ashburton District councillors to upgrade the EA Networks Centre's scoreboards following some serious failures.
Douglas said with Timaru planning a new 8-court upgrade and Christchurch’s new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre set to open next year, Ashburton can’t afford to fall behind.
Basketball Mid Canterbury has regularly hosted national tournaments at the venue, with three this year, and needs to remain a respected venue for them to keep coming, he said.
“These events have wide-ranging and significant financial benefits for our district.
“It’s imperative that we keep offering a top-notch venue to our users here in Mid Canterbury.
“The only issue we have ever had with the venue is the reliability of the scoreboards.”
Faults with the scoreboard have been getting progressively worse in recent months and were highlighted during a recent New Zealand Basketball tournament at the venue in October, he said.
Council’s sport and recreation manager Richard Wood told councillors that one court’s scoreboard and a shot clock on another court have completely failed.
Combined with “lagging issues” on clocks it is impacting users on all four courts.
“They are used every day for every sport.”
The option to fix or replace the faulty scoreboards would have caused further issues down the line as the current supplier is no longer stocking the scoreboards from the end of this year, Wood said.
The electronic scoreboards were scheduled for replacement next year with a budget of $100,000, but with the recent failures, the councillors approved bringing the upgrade forward.
A quote from a new supplier for $64,000 and $10,000 installation contingency, saved the council $26,000, Wood said.
The project will be funded by accumulated depreciation, and the cost of advancing it (10% of the project cost) will be covered by existing operational budgets.
Councillor Tony Todd said the “credibility of the centre will come into disrepute” if the equipment is faulty and supported bringing the project forward.
Councillor Liz Mcmillan said an up-to-date stadium was a must as it brings a lot of money into the district, considering teams also stay in Methven and Rakaia during tournaments.
Councillor Rob Mackle was the only councillor to vote against the motion, believing the user groups should be helping fund the scoreboards.
“Not all our ratepayers are users,” Mackle said.
People and facilities general manager Sarah Mosely said bringing the project forward helped maintain the stadium's level of service and has economic benefits from hosting tournaments.
The three national basketball tournaments in the last year resulted in $21,000 of revenue just to the centre, Wood said.
Mosley also noted that the existing sponsorship deal expires next year when the centre turns 10 and a renewal process will take place.
With the council's approval, it’s expected the new scoreboards will be installed early next year.
Mid Canterbury Netball centre manager Erin Tasker was celebrating the decision.
Tasker said the scoreboards are vital to all of the sports that use the stadium.
“We have a great facility here and when people visit from other netball centres they are always impressed by the set up, so it's vital that the quality is maintained so the stadium's good reputation is maintained.”
Welcome texture into your room by using leftover Resene Anaglypta wallpaper to accentuate furniture and décor items. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
Is the flooring at your school, early childhood, community or sports centre old and threadbare? Or perhaps you have a new space where there’s no flooring at all. Your organisation could be eligible to receive $2,000 + gst from the RhinoKids Flooring Fund to go towards new flooring. Plus, one … View moreIs the flooring at your school, early childhood, community or sports centre old and threadbare? Or perhaps you have a new space where there’s no flooring at all. Your organisation could be eligible to receive $2,000 + gst from the RhinoKids Flooring Fund to go towards new flooring. Plus, one lucky organisation will win a $20,000 flooring makeover!
Carpet Court is continuing its’ mission to help improve Kiwi kids’ learning environments by rolling out its’ nationwide fund for the fifth year in a row. Apply today!
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s mayor says there's no time for Grinches as the festive season gets under way.
The Government earlier this year called on councils to spend less on "nice-to-haves" and more on basics like roads and pipes.
This has … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s mayor says there's no time for Grinches as the festive season gets under way.
The Government earlier this year called on councils to spend less on "nice-to-haves" and more on basics like roads and pipes.
This has forced councils to analyse their spending spending habits.
South Waikato District Council recently debated whether its Christmas parade was core council business, but decided to go ahead with it.
Ashburton’s community Christmas event Light up the Night has a $30,000 budget.
Mayor Neil Brown said the event is probably a nice to have, not a must-have expenditure.
“But people enjoy having it so we should do it.
The event is a time to “connect as a community and reflect on the year, while also looking ahead with excitement to Christmas and New Year and the summer in general”, he said.
“Council doesn’t want to be the Grinch and cancel that.
“It doesn’t cost a huge amount, it’s just under $1 per person in the district. If it’s well supported, it's $30,000 well spent."
The council can review it next year if people don’t like it, he said.
“I think it’s a good thing to do.”
Light up the Night takes place on November 30 in the recently renovated Baring Square East, with an evening of entertainment, music, and the giant Christmas tree will be lit up at 9.15pm.
The tree had been on East St for the last few years while the CBD and square were revitalised, but returns to the square where it will be positioned in front of Te Whare Whakatere, the new library and civic building that opened this year.
East St will be closed from 7am until 9.30pm, with the event starting at 6pm.
A week after the Christmas tree is lit up, the NBS Ashburton Santa Parade will be centred around the Ashburton Domain, with the route again running along Walnut Avenue on December 7.
The parade is not a council-run event, but is organised independently by Carol Johns and her team of volunteers.
The council supports the event by assisting with $3000 towards the traffic management plan.
“It’s a huge help as it's one of the biggest costs,” Johns said.
She runs the event “on the smell of an oily rag” and relies on sponsorship to keep the event going.
“We all do it for the community and I’d hate to see the event go.”
This year’s parade was set to be even bigger, with a lot more entries in the theme (a song featuring a colour) section set to entertain the thousands, she said.
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