9 days ago

This Monday

Ange Newman from Oaklands Toastmasters Club

Tonight(17 June @7.15pm at Halswell Bowling club)we have the wonderful Jess Farrar as Toastmaster. The theme is
adding to our life skills toolbox. If you have been contemplating coming to check us out or you may be needing to do a speech then tonight is definitely a night to come. We are having a workshop on speech writing presented by a former member Sarah Taylor. Giving us some tools to make the speech writing process less intimidating and easier!
Come and add to your toolbox 🧰 😀

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More messages from your neighbours
2 days ago

Poll: Is it still rude to wear a hat inside?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Times have changed and perhaps so has our societal rules around taking off hats when indoors. What are your thoughts?

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Is it still rude to wear a hat inside?
  • 73.8% Yes, take them off indoors
    73.8% Complete
  • 25% No, it's not anymore
    25% Complete
  • 1.2% Other - I'll share below
    1.2% Complete
2312 votes
4 hours ago

KidsFest - Waves Meet Wonders

Lincoln Envirotown Coordinator from Lincoln Envirotown

Come and see what happens when Waves meet the Wonders of our Coasts. Enjoy various craft activities, exciting science demonstrations and a tunnel for younger kids. High School students will help you discover what lives or grows on our coastline and how you can look after these areas.

Friday 12th July 10am - 12.30pm
Lincoln Event Centre
Booking is required, a $5 ticket allows entry for up to 4 people, including caregivers.
events.humanitix.com...

The Lincoln High School Sustainability Council have devised over 10 craft activities and simple science experiments for our annual KidsFest Event. This year children are invited to explore the coast through hands-on interactive crafts and science activities. They will learn about the life to be found on our beaches and rock pools and their importance to us. This craft morning is truly a community experience with the older students getting as much out of it through their organising and mentoring as the younger ones doing the activities and the learning.


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Our Sponsors

A big thank you to our wonderful sponsors!

We extend our sincere appreciation to all our sponsors, Rata Foundation, Selwyn District Council, COGS, Lottery Community, Lincoln University and Creative Communities Scheme.

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6 days ago

New Canterbury bypass set to be a toll road

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Motorists could be paying a toll to drive a new bypass on State Highway 1, in North Canterbury, once it's complete.

Meanwhile, planned safety improvements to the area have been canned for now, as officials review the planned work as part of the Woodend Bypass design.

The Government is considering a proposal for its promised roads of national significance to be partially funded by a toll.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said the Woodend Bypass has been confirmed as one of the first five roads of national significance and that a safety review will be undertaken.

Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey said the Government has backed recommendations by NZTA to introduce tolls in its Government Policy Statement on Land Transport.

‘‘As a Government, we are open to a wide range of funding tools to ensure we are able to deliver the roads that will allow kiwis and freight to get to where they want to go quickly and safely.’’

Safety improvements for Woodend’s Main North Rd were announced in December 2022, as part of a $35 million funding package for State Highway 1 between Saltwater Creek and Cam River, with work due to begin this year.

NZTA had previously advised the safety improvements were on hold, pending the revised policy statement on Land Transport.

Doocey said it made sense to have another look at the work programme.

‘‘When you look at the Woodend safety improvement programme, it was in response to Labour cancelling the bypass, so it is right to relook at that programme in the context of the new motorway.’’

The former Government included the Woodend Bypass in its policy statement on Land Transport announced in August 2023.

Funding was also announced in December 2022 for a $6 million project, including cycleways linking Kaiapoi, Woodend and Pegasus, as part of NZTA’s Transport Choices Programme.

But the programme was axed last December by the new Government.

Doocey said the proposed cycleways and an under-pass at the Pegasus roundabout would be considered as part of the final bypass design.

‘‘When you look at the Christchurch Northern Corridor, the (Christchurch to Kaiapoi) cycleway was an important part of it, so I think it would make sense to consider the cycleways and an underpass as part of the bypass design.’’

Woodend-Sefton Community Board chairperson Shona Powell said she welcomed news about the bypass, but the safety improvements were needed now.

‘‘It will take several years to build the bypass. It is just getting frustrating.’’

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said he had been seeking clarity about the promised safety improvements without success.

But he welcomed Doocey’s comments that the cycleway and under-pass would be considered as part of the final design.

‘‘It makes total sense to construct this as part of the works and I know the community would be thrilled to have these included.

‘‘This is an incredibly important project for our district and I am delighted by the depth of consideration the Government is giving to it.’’

He would also like to see a cycleway clip-on added to the State Highway 1 bridge over the Ashley-Rakahuri River.

The council has been planning the Kaiapoi to Woodend and Woodend to Pegasus cycleways for several years, along with a Rangiora (Southbrook) cycleway.

Proposed safety improvements had included road widening, wider centrelines and safety barriers, and reducing the speed to 60kph at the Pegasus roundabout, which would have become one lane with raised safety platforms.

Traffic lights were also proposed at the Rangiora-Woodend Rd intersection, roundabouts at the Woodend Beach Rd and Williams St intersections and a crossing refuge for people using bus stops near Pineacres.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.