Halswell Christmas Tree
Our annual collection for the Halswell Giving tree is underway.
This year at the Halswell Community Hub we are supporting Housing First Otauhai, local families and Open Home Foundation.
New items only please. Donations of toys/books/games as
always appreciated, we are changing it up a little this year
and looking to put together some bags with essential
items for Housing First. Donations of (new only)
toiletries, sanitary items, socks, underwear,
facial wipes, portable radio's/batteries, grocery vouchers all
much needed. This will make a real difference to those
living it tough on the streets this Xmas.
Open Home Foundation are in need of gifts for children
aged 8-14 years in particular.
Please drop items to the Halswell Hub Monday to Friday
381 Halswell Road
What word sums up 2024, neighbours?
If 2020 was the year of lockdowns, banana bread, and WFH (work from home)....
In one word, how would you define 2024?
We're excited to see what you come up with!
We're talking new year resolutions...
Tidying the house before going to bed each night, meditating upon waking or taking the stairs at work.
What’s something quick, or easy, that you started doing that made a major positive change in your life?
Is now the time to change "The Garden City" Title?
Something to natter about over tonight's events.
Since the 2010/2011 Earthquakes, Christchurch has struggled to replicate or make a come-back to regain the "Garden City" title.
There are a large number of contributing factors, land and properties being destroyed and rendered inhabitable = gardens lost for many years or altogether, during the Chaos that followed, residents, businesses and the council had far greater priorities to worry about.
Now the dust has mostly settled, it is becoming more and more obvious that "The Garden City" title can never be lived up to again.
My observations are decisions are being made that are making it impossible:
Huge chunks of land are now mown wastelands, for exercising and dog walking.
Other areas have been converted into water retention/nature and wildlife reserves, none of the plans I have seen or heard, indicate a move back to a Garden City image.
Add to this that high-density housing is reducing the land to grow a garden on and the latest charging for water usage has had a visible effect on how people keep the berm outside their houses. Lots of the properties that are still intact for gardening are now rental properties and it is not hard to see which of those properties are as you drive around, but lots would not win the Garden Award.
I am not in favour or against any of the factors mentioned, I heard chch referred to as "The Garden City" and thought if we had to come up with a new name, what would we want it to be, that reflects a new Image?
Cathedral City is out
Cycle City.....
Wetland wonderland ......
Dog-Friendly City.
I hope you receive all that you deserve in 2025
.