Public meeting in Hurunui over Government's proposed Three Waters reform
Hurunui mayor Marie Black says Sunday’s gathering at the Glenmark Rugby Grounds will provide a forum for locals to discuss their concerns.
“Hurunui District Councillors have unanimously adopted a statement opposing the Government’s Three Waters Reform. We know however, that the council’s voice alone isn’t enough. Ratepayers have real issues with the proposed reforms and Sunday’s meeting is all about giving them a voice," she said in a statement.
Black said there was a real sense that water assets belonged to the community.
“Pipes were literally laid by hand by locals in the 1950s and 1960s, when land owners were given the choice to chip in and pay for new infrastructure or pay in manual labour. It means that for many farmers today, it was their fathers and grandfathers who actually built their water systems.”
“There’s a real lack of understanding in Wellington about how important the ownership of water assets is to our community.”
Black said the proposed reforms also ignored the importance of local knowledge.
“Most farmers know exactly who their utilities person is. If they have a problem, they call them and it is fixed. Having these local relationships is priceless.”
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the reforms opened the door to the future privatisation of water assets.
He believed people had lost total faith in the democratic process.
“Government initially promised councils we would have the chance to opt out of the proposed reforms but have since gone back on that promise. It’s clear that it now comes down to people power and giving our local community the opportunity to be heard.”
Event details:
Glenmark Rugby Grounds
2.30pm to 4pm (Speeches will begin at 2.30pm)
Sunday, November 14
The event will be available to watch virtually via Facebook Live on the Hurunui District Council FB page.
Rangiora after-hours clinic faces more delays
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The wait continues for a promised North Canterbury after hours healthcare facility.
Work is yet to begin on the proposed new Rangiora Medical Centre at the Rangiora Health Hub on Ashley St, which was first proposed more than five years ago.
The Waimakariri District Council granted a resource consent for the project in 2022, while the building consent is still being processed.
A council spokesperson said the application was on hold while some civil construction details are resolved by the applicants’ consultants.
‘‘We hope to be able to grant the consent in the very near future.’’
The Ministry of Health entered into an agreement with South Link Health Group in 2021 to build the after hours facility, following a petition being presented to the former Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) two years earlier.
South Link Health Group is a network of 26 medical practises, and is responsible for funding and constructing the new facility.
It will include full radiology services (ultrasound, CT and MRI scans), GP services, a pharmacy, and urgent after hours healthcare.
A spokesperson for South Link Health said in December work was expected to begin on the site in March, with the medical centre on track to open in the first half of 2025.
In the meantime, limited after hours healthcare is available at Durham Health, Rangiora, and the Amberley Medical Centre, and at local pharmacies.
Residents can ring 111 in an emergency, contact their GP to speak to a triage nurse, call Healthline 0800 611116 for free advice from a nurse, or arrange online video consultations with a doctor (for a charge).
The after hours triage service is delivered by Whakarongarou and operates in North Canterbury, with access to a St John paramedic if a face to face assessment is required.
A rural after hours service, Ka Ora Telecare, offers phone or video consultations with a doctor. Go to kaora.co.nz/app/services/sub-services/3. The Pegasus 24 Hour Surgery in Christchurch is also available.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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Turn downsizing stress into strength
Downsizing can open the door to a new stage of your life that is rich in opportunity. However, it can be a daunting prospect. If you are embarking on a new chapter of life, the thought of shedding familiar possessions can feel even more stressful. This can be true even if the life changes are a good thing, such as a move to somewhere you will love to live.
Once you understand why you have this feeling, you can reframe it as creating a new environment that will support your present life while reminding you of your best experiences.
Click read more for the full article.
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