559 days ago

Shamla

The Team from Humans of Christchurch Ōtautahi

“I am a reader. I didn’t grow up with siblings, I had a lot of free time. From my childhood, I read lots of books. One of my favourite authors, she’s Enid Blyton. I grew up reading Famous Five, Secret Seven, Malory Towers – they constituted a big part of my world. The first thing I did when I came to New Zealand was to hunt down libraries nearby.

I usually visit Tūranga. Lot of events happen there. Being inside four walls doesn’t light up your mood, so I come out to Tūranga and spend my time there surrounded by people. It makes me calm. I borrow books and go for a walk around the city. That’s my way of getting to know Christchurch. I just close my Google Maps and explore. So far, I haven’t got lost! It’s very easy to find my way around. In Christchurch city, everything connects.

I earned my Bachelor’s in Environmental Science. I am also passionate about conservation, which made me join Conservation Volunteers. One of the first things that I did when I came to Christchurch was to call them and ask how I could participate.

Moving to a new city could be intimidating. But these volunteering events have helped me a lot to put myself out there and talk to people. People are usually nice and warm. When I say I’m new to Christchurch, they ask about, like, how are you doing? Settling down? How do you find Christchurch? I found a lot of people who are like-minded as well, a lot of people who do conservation work like working outdoors. I also get to go to new places, like Amelia Rogers Reserve and McCormack’s Bay.
And I’m enjoying it very much, that’s the most important thing. When you’re volunteering you should enjoy and really kind of get into what you’re doing. So, I’m happy. I’m learning a lot. I’m getting to know a lot of new people, new environments.

I’m grateful that we moved to Christchurch; it’s one of the best decisions that we have made. I feel welcome in New Zealand, in Christchurch, particularly.”

- Shamla

View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org...

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More messages from your neighbours
42 minutes ago

Secure your homes over summer

The Team from New Zealand Police

Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.

Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”

Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”

If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.

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6 days ago

Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.

We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?

Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.

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Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
  • 90.2% Yes
    90.2% Complete
  • 9.8% No
    9.8% Complete
82 votes
12 hours ago

Boxing Day Mega Bed Sale is now on!

Marketing Manager from Beds4U - Hornby

Hey neighbors,

Our Boxing Day Mega Sale has officially started and the savings are some of the biggest you’ll see all year. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to upgrade your bed or mattress, this is your chance. The deals have already started moving quickly across our 31 stores.

Boxing Day Highlights:

• Up to 65% OFF selected NZ-made beds
• TEMPUR sets with special Boxing Day pricing
• Sealy Posturepedic mattress-only deals
• Free Delivery
• Free Premium Pillows and Free Size Upgrades on select beds
• Daily Knockout Deals

Customers have already started securing their favourites and several models are moving faster than expected.

Once these Boxing Day offers end, they will not return.

Find your nearest Beds4U store: beds4u.co.nz...
Browse all Boxing Day deals: beds4u.co.nz...

Don’t wait, Neighbours. Stocks won’t last long.