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Christmas is just around the corner and for most kiwis this means preparing our homes to host a nice warm meal, but for some this can be a really hard time of the year.
Filled with food essentials and Christmas treats, a Christmas Box is a much-needed addition to the table and also a … View moreChristmas is just around the corner and for most kiwis this means preparing our homes to host a nice warm meal, but for some this can be a really hard time of the year.
Filled with food essentials and Christmas treats, a Christmas Box is a much-needed addition to the table and also a much-needed reminder that people care. This year we will deliver 45,000 boxes to those in need but we need your help!
Help us bring hope to the table for those struggling by donating a Christmas Box for just $40 at christmasbox.co.nz.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
An upgrade of Ashburton’s police station has been ruled out - for now.
In 2019, then Minister of Police Stuart Nash said police planned a major refurbishment or replacement of the existing Havelock St police station "for approximately … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
An upgrade of Ashburton’s police station has been ruled out - for now.
In 2019, then Minister of Police Stuart Nash said police planned a major refurbishment or replacement of the existing Havelock St police station "for approximately 2025-26”.
Police have now confirmed there are no plans to redevelop the Ashburton station and that “it remains serviceable”.
“The plans were in the very early stages, and have not progressed to an approved concept, option, or business case.
“Police has portfolio planning work under way and the Ashburton station’s future will be considered as part of that.”
The council is in the middle of vacating the Havelock Street site this month, to move into Te Whare Whakatere Ashburton Library and civic centre, and put it on the market next year.
The possibility of the Ashburton police shifting 400m up the road resurfaced, only to be deemed a non-option by police.
Ashburton station’s future will be considered as part of a wider portfolio of planning work, police said.
In 2019, Nash said an analysis of the existing building and potential future site or redevelopment options were in a preliminary stage.
He later confirmed that an initial inspection of the Ashburton District Council's headquarters had been undertaken by police's regional property manager.
During 2020, then-Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon was on Nash’s case for progress updates, and if the council building was being considered as a potential site for a new police station.
Nash responded to Falloon’s enquiries that the police were “assessing options in relation to the current Ashburton police station site and its ability to accommodate future policing services for this community”.
An assessment of the existing station building and site were due to be undertaken and completed by end of 2020, but the timing was subject to change, Nash said.
Falloon then resigned in July 2020 and the dialogue around the future of Ashburton’s police station went quiet.
Council chief executive Hamish Riach confirmed there had been discussions with police.
“We understand that any change or update to their existing premises is not scheduled until 2029.
“This effectively rules them out of any serious consideration for the existing administration building site."
It still begs the question, the same one repeatedly asked by Falloon back in 2020, if the soon to be vacated council site is a viable option for an upgraded justice precinct given its location next to the courthouse.
Under the Policing Act 2008, the operational and administrative decisions including decisions on the use of police resources are matters for the police commissioner, not the Ministry of Justice.
Find the new Chemist Warehouse in Ashburton, next to Noel Leeming.
With the biggest range of all your health and beauty essentials at the lowest prices and Free Prescriptions* - the team are ready to help 7 days a week!
Don't worry if you can't make it in-store, you can … View moreFind the new Chemist Warehouse in Ashburton, next to Noel Leeming.
With the biggest range of all your health and beauty essentials at the lowest prices and Free Prescriptions* - the team are ready to help 7 days a week!
Don't worry if you can't make it in-store, you can shop online 24/7!
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Chemist Warehouse - Great Savings, Every Day!
For many people, the thought of downsizing and moving to a new house can be pretty daunting, especially if you’ve lived in the family home for the last 20 to 30 years. But if you take the plunge, it can open the door for you to truly expand your life.
There are two things to consider when … View moreFor many people, the thought of downsizing and moving to a new house can be pretty daunting, especially if you’ve lived in the family home for the last 20 to 30 years. But if you take the plunge, it can open the door for you to truly expand your life.
There are two things to consider when you’ve decided to sell up – how to present your home so it’s appealing to buyers and packing up your home for the physical move.
Before you jump into renovations to make the place look shiny and new, think carefully about the value they will add to the house and whether you’ll recover that cost in the sale price. Renovations can be costly, stressful and time-consuming, so they’re only worth making if they’ll add significant value to your house sale.
Click to read more.
Get into the festive spirit with homemade gifts crafted by your little ones!
Our list of the top 5 DIY gifts for kids is here to spark their creativity and spread joy. Check it out now!
Struggling to find the perfect small Christmas present? For just $15 each, you can buy Heart Foundation Lottery tickets for family, friends or even good neighbours. Not only will they have the chance to win a stunning Jennian home in Clarks Beach, Auckland, but you are also supporting the … View moreStruggling to find the perfect small Christmas present? For just $15 each, you can buy Heart Foundation Lottery tickets for family, friends or even good neighbours. Not only will they have the chance to win a stunning Jennian home in Clarks Beach, Auckland, but you are also supporting the life-saving work of the Heart Foundation.
If you have a furry friend at home, be sure to submit your entry for this year's Santa Paws campaign - a celebration of the cutest Christmas pets in town!
There's ten great prizes of $100 Prezzy® cards up for grabs - but only a few days left to enter so move fast!
… View moreIf you have a furry friend at home, be sure to submit your entry for this year's Santa Paws campaign - a celebration of the cutest Christmas pets in town!
There's ten great prizes of $100 Prezzy® cards up for grabs - but only a few days left to enter so move fast!
Check out the fantastic entries received so far and don't forget to share your photo today!
Sale now on at Resene ColorShops! For a limited time only save the GST value on Resene premium paints, wood stains, wallpaper and decorating accessories at Resene ColorShops.
Many of us love to transform our home in December to bring in the Christmas spirit. But perhaps you feel you've gone the extra festive mile? We are looking high and low for NZ’s Merriest Home. Is it yours? Let us decide!
Share just one photo below of your house (inside or out) to … View moreMany of us love to transform our home in December to bring in the Christmas spirit. But perhaps you feel you've gone the extra festive mile? We are looking high and low for NZ’s Merriest Home. Is it yours? Let us decide!
Share just one photo below of your house (inside or out) to go into the draw to win the title of NZ's Merriest Home.
The Neighbourly team will choose the finalists but you, our Neighbourly members will vote on the ultimate winner who'll receive the prize of a $600 Prezzy® Card and the title of NZ's Merriest Home. So, go ahead! In the comments below, share your one festive photo to enter.
It's been a cool summer, but hopefully, warmth will soon embrace us! We're overjoyed to announce a whopping 1100 responses from all you wonderful folks, spreading those delightful summer vibes!
Thanks for sharing your awesome summer holiday plans for a chance to WIN 1 of 2 $100 Prezzy … View moreIt's been a cool summer, but hopefully, warmth will soon embrace us! We're overjoyed to announce a whopping 1100 responses from all you wonderful folks, spreading those delightful summer vibes!
Thanks for sharing your awesome summer holiday plans for a chance to WIN 1 of 2 $100 Prezzy Cards! And now, the moment you've been waiting for – did you hit the jackpot as the lucky winner? Find out now!
If this round didn't bring you the big win, no worries! Keep up with NZ Compare for all the scoop on future contests and cool deals! We're here to brighten up your budget and make things fun.
Repurpose an old pallet and decorate in Resene paints to make a luxurious garden swing.
Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
Not sure what to buy for your loved one this holiday season? Let's exchange ideas and create a gift guide together!
Share your ideal Christmas gift or offer suggestions for others in need of inspiration.
For more inspiration, check out PriceMe.co.nz for gift ideas and compare the … View moreNot sure what to buy for your loved one this holiday season? Let's exchange ideas and create a gift guide together!
Share your ideal Christmas gift or offer suggestions for others in need of inspiration.
For more inspiration, check out PriceMe.co.nz for gift ideas and compare the goodies from your favourite brands.
Metservice has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for people in the following local areas:
Marlborough, Christchurch and Canterbury Plains
Hurunui, Selwyn and Waimakariri
Darfield, Glentunnel, Hororata, Oxford, Sheffield, Kirwee and Charing Cross.
Cust, Eyrewell Forest and West Eyreton
… View moreMetservice has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for people in the following local areas:
Marlborough, Christchurch and Canterbury Plains
Hurunui, Selwyn and Waimakariri
Darfield, Glentunnel, Hororata, Oxford, Sheffield, Kirwee and Charing Cross.
Cust, Eyrewell Forest and West Eyreton
Oxford, Rangiora, Ashley Forest, Lees Valley
These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain, large hail and damaging wind gusts.
What you need to know:
- Very heavy rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.
- Large hail can cause significant damage to crops, orchards, vines, glasshouses and vehicles, and make driving conditions hazardous.
- Very strong wind gusts can break branches from trees, damage roofing, and make driving hazardous especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
The National Emergency Management Agency advises that as storms approach you should:
- Take shelter, preferably indoors away from windows;
- Avoid sheltering under trees, if outside;
- Get back to land, if outdoors on the water;
- Move cars under cover or away from trees;
- Secure any loose objects around your property;
- Check that drains and gutters are clear;
- Be ready to slow down or stop, if driving.
During and after the storm, you should also:
- Beware of fallen trees and power lines;
- Avoid streams and drains as you may be swept away in flash flooding.
Keep up to date with active MetService warnings here.
If you’ve seen the current Ryman TV commercial, then you’ve probably seen Judy rowing past the camera on a beautiful still Auckland morning.
Rowing is one of Judy’s passions, and she’s had great success with it, competing up and down the country since picking up the sport in her 50s. A … View moreIf you’ve seen the current Ryman TV commercial, then you’ve probably seen Judy rowing past the camera on a beautiful still Auckland morning.
Rowing is one of Judy’s passions, and she’s had great success with it, competing up and down the country since picking up the sport in her 50s. A highlight in her rowing career was in 2017 when Judy, along with her rowing partner Alison, competed in The World Masters Games, winning a silver medal in the 1000m Women’s Pairs.
She currently holds the title of top women's single sculler in the 70-75 year age group in New Zealand and is second in the North Island for the 65-75 year age group.
Adventure is in Judy’s DNA. She’s always up for hitting the open road and exploring the fantastic wilderness that Aotearoa has to offer. When she’s not rowing, Judy loves to hike. And she’s no stranger to several hard South Island trails.
Having a lifestyle this active and busy means that Judy doesn’t want to be worrying about her home while she is away. She chose Ryman’s Murray Halberg Village because it suits all her needs, right down to the location near the water as well as all the safety and security benefits.
“It’s a lock up and leave it situation,” she says.
Click to read the full story.
After 16 long years, the former site of Ashburton's Chinese market
garden settlement will finally open in February as a community heritage park.
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown said it has taken years of work to restore the Ng King Brothers Chinese Market Garden Settlement.
“It’s a … View moreAfter 16 long years, the former site of Ashburton's Chinese market
garden settlement will finally open in February as a community heritage park.
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown said it has taken years of work to restore the Ng King Brothers Chinese Market Garden Settlement.
“It’s a special moment to have an opening date after 16 years since the late Yep Ng came forward to council with the family’s vision.
“I’d like to thank the many people that have been involved in making this project come to life.
“It honours the memory of Yep Ng and the descendants of the Ng King brothers, past and present, and will be a great community asset for all to enjoy.”
Brown described the site as an “outdoor museum” where the community can learn more about the history of Chinese pioneers in Ashburton.
The market garden settlement on Allens Road operated from the early 1920s until 1964, and was the largest Chinese community in the South Island during that time.
The approximately 2.3-hectare site remains home to a group of historical buildings and facilities that have been stabilised to stop further deterioration.
A landscape plan will take several years and will include pathways, interpretive panels detailing the history of the site, sitting areas and extensive planting, a council spokesperson said.
The project was born in 2008 when one of the group of owners, Yep Ng, worked with other family members to have the settlement come under council management.
A memorandum of understanding was signed in 2013, which saw the descendants of the five original settlement landowners retain ownership and handover stewardship of the site to the council so it could become a community reserve.
A working group began developing plans for the site in 2016 and the work to turn it into a heritage park began in 2019.
The site was declared an archaeologically significant site in 2019 and the following year it became a Category 1 historic place on the New Zealand Heritage List Rārangi Kōrero.
As well as a $25,000 Chinese Poll Tax grant, the council had committed $40,000 to the project that was conditional on the project receiving a $65,000 grant from Heritage New Zealand.
It only received a $50,000 grant and the council opted to fund the $15,000 shortfall in 2020 to ensure the project was completed.
The opening on February 25 is a private invite-only celebration for the descendants of the Ng King settlers and the people involved in the project over the past 16 years.
It will then be open to the public.
The Ng King Brothers Chinese Market Garden Settlement is a rare remaining example of a 20th century Chinese market garden settlement in New Zealand.
The early Chinese settlers in Ashburton were all male, with the first women and children arriving in 1939 when three of the men were able to bring their families out to New Zealand under the war refugee scheme.
The community settlement grew and at its peak during the late 1940s and 1950s there were around 12 houses and as many as 80 people living on the site.
As it grew, its purpose changed from a small hub for single men who operated the market garden business, to a vibrant small community settlement with multiple families and a wide range of functions, making it almost entirely self-sustainable.
Towards the late 1950s, families began to disperse and the numbers living and working in the settlement declined.
The market garden and on-site shop at Allens Road were closed in 1964, and Yep Ng and his brothers retained the King Brothers fruit shop on Burnett Street, which kept trading until 2006.
Over time, the buildings fell into disrepair and a number of the ancillary buildings were lost but the core of the settlement remains standing.
The site is home to one of the last remaining original Chinese pig pit ovens in Australasia, which was restored in 2013 with funding from the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust.
The remaining buildings have been stabilised to form a focal point of the community heritage park.
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga describes the site as “a significant reminder of a once flourishing business, the Chinese immigrants that drove it, and the important contribution they made to the Ashburton and wider Canterbury community”.
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