Horses return to Port Hills track for first time in 20 years
From reporter Carly Gooch and videopgrapher Alden Williams:
Riding horses is part of Pete Hurst’s heritage.
His father rode to Canterbury’s Motukarara races, and his grandfather took his horses to war – now he’s making it his mission to ensure horses are able to trot on the tracks they’re entitled to.
Nearly a dozen riders took to Kennedys Bush Track in Christchurch on Friday morning, clip-clopping from Halswell Quarry to the Summit Rd to celebrate new horse gates allowing them through for the first time in years.
The trail had been “locked up” for about 20 years, Hurst said, but after advocates put pressure on the Christchurch City Council, it installed 1m-wide horse gates that will let riders through, but not vehicles.
He said generations before him had access to ride between Christchurch and Akaroa, “so we want to restore that – this is a step on the right direction”.
The main goal was to be able to ride the historic track to Akaroa and bring horses “back to the high country”.
He expected to succeed.
Many of the tracks Hurst wants horses to have access to are “paper roads” owned by the council in trust for the public.
He said bikes, trampers, horses and vehicles should be capable of accessing the roads, but locked gates often prohibited this.
“They should be for everybody, they shouldn’t keep you off it. We’re just opening up what we’re entitled to at Kennedys Bush.
“These days, bikes are well catered for, not so much horses.”
Hurst said he had done a lot of work over the last five years to ensure access to tracks on public conservation land, including on Mt Thomas and Mt Richardson, and he was close to opening several others.
Riding is in Hurst’s bones – his grandfather took horses to Palestine and Gallipoli in the war.
His grandfather was “a great horseman”.
“It broke his heart when he had to dispose of his horse when he came back from Palestine.”
The trek on Kennedys Bush Track was an easy one for the horses, Hurst said.
“They just shot up here, none have a sweat on them. They’re all a good bunch of people and a good bunch of horses.”
A city council spokesperson said the track was never specifically closed to horses, but the fact much of it was unfenced and did not follow the legal road alignment meant vehicle gates were kept locked, “thereby limiting horse access”.
At the end of Friday’s ride, Hurst and his group of riders settled in for a barbecue and drinks where they “talk about horses”.
Horses were part of our heritage, he said.
“If they run out of fossil fuels, we might be back on our horses.”
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There's nothing worse than strolling around the streets in your neighbourhood and seeing dumped rubbish.
Have you noticed this in your area? What could we do to combat this around the country?
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5 Essential Tips for Parents as Kids Return to School and Travel Independently
As children return to school after the holidays, many will travel independently; walking, biking, scootering, or taking public transport.
Whilst this can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking time, encouraging independence helps children to build confidence and life skills.
Here are five tips for parents to help ease the process and ensure peace of mind.
1) Establish a Safe Route
Before school starts, take some time to practice the route with your child. Take the safest roads and pathways and be sure to cross over roads by using pedestrian and courtesy crossings, or at controlled intersections with traffic lights. Make sure they know key landmarks so they can easily navigate their way to and from school, and where they can safely go to, to ask for help if needed.
2) Teach Stranger Safety
Have regular conversations about the importance of staying aware of their surroundings (people and vehicles), and how to respond to strangers if approached. Teach them about 'safe strangers' like other families with children their age, shop assistants, and others in your neighbourhood who they can approach if they feel unsafe.
3) Equip Them with Emergency Contacts
Ensure your child knows important phone numbers, including yours and any other emergency contacts. An Emergency Card or Tag is a perfect solution for this. It's durable and easily attached to the inside or outside of a school bag, providing them with essential details like emergency contacts and medical information if they need to give it to someone. In a stressful situation, children may struggle to remember phone numbers, so having them written down can provide reassurance and peace of mind.
4) Create a Check-In Routine
If your child has access to a mobile phone, set up a simple routine where your child checks in with you at certain points of their journey - like when they leave school to come home, reach a specific landmark, or arrive at school, this way, you know they're safe.
5) Empower Their Confidence
Independence is about building confidence. Encourage your child by supporting them to develop their own problem-solving skills. Remind them that they can handle situations by asking for help or using their Emergency Card or Tag if they need it.
Over time with your guidance, children can embrace the independence of navigating their own way to and from school while you have peace of mind.
An Emergency Card or Tag acts as an extra layer of safety, ensuring that in case of any unforeseen situation, your child has vital information accessible at all times, and you can be reached when needed.
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