HOW A CHILLY BIN PROBABLY SAVED OUR LIVES AND WELL DONE A TRUE UNSUNG HERO
Sunday early evening….We stopped on the way home to Hawarden to get shopping in Amberley. I had issues with getting the lid on the chili bin for some reason it just would not fasten and those few extra seconds fastening it probably saved our lives!!
We left the supermarket and were driving north on SH1 not far from Amberley when my husband suddenly yelled WHEEL! I was looking out the passenger window at the time at the red sun and did not grasp the word wheel and what he was on about but in that split second as I turned to face forward this wheel was flying across the road right to left in front of us and had we been those few seconds earlier(WITHOUT the chilly bin issue) it maybe would have struck us. Coming towards us traveling south was a car towing a caravan that was now yawing over the road as the driver tried to stop as the caravan was lopsided having lost the flying wheel and the axle was gouging out the road/berm where it had started at least two fires just short of a pine shelter belt. It was a raging Norwester wind and tinder dry so this fire was going to spread.. We had pulled over by now in shock to call the fire brigade then realized we did not have a phone with us or any water or fire extinguisher that we could use, only a wet towel as we had just been swimming and were bare foot.. not a good idea in a fire! We slowed the oncoming traffic down to alert them and fortunately, one of those vehicles pulled over and someone leaped out with a fire extinguisher. WHAT A HERO. WHOEVER THAT WAS SAVED THE DAY AND DESERVES RECOGNITION.
By now we were really in the way as traffic was now coming from the south and several other vehicles had stopped coming from the north so we moved off to allow room for people the skirt around the scene. As there were now a lot of vehicles on the scene we felt sure someone else would have got a phone to call the fire brigade so shaken at our very close shave we drove off but we could see the smoke as we looked back from across the Weka Pass. Shortly after a police car from the Waikari direction came screaming towards us in the direction of the fire so we knew it was no good us stopping at the Waikari station as we had planned they were already onto it and some traffic direction would have been needed as the SH1 was busy
If we had not had the chilly bin lid issue for those few seconds things could have been very different!! The wheel bounced right in front of us and flew at a great height over the fence and way into a paddock on the west side of the road. I would be very surprised if they found it as it went so far from where the caravan pulled over. We have informed the police of what we saw and we hope that the caravan and driver were OK and that the fire was controlled as the wind was very strong. We checked when we got back but the only fires on the news were the ones in the Ashley River and near Ashburton. The Waikari and Hawarden fire crews had not been called out so we hope all ended well.
Well done to that quick thinking person with the extinguisher. Note to everybody, maybe we should all carry an extinguisher just in case. WE USUALLY DO but our vehicle had just come back from a WOF so everything had been taken out and not yet put back as I intended getting the vacuum in there before returning everything . So THANK YOU to that person whoever you are and maybe the car and caravan driver needs to check his wheelnuts before your errant wheel kills someone. It was VERY CLOSE!!!
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Warnings about scams
This Fraud Awareness Week, we’re reminding everyone to stay sharp and look out for the warning signs of scams to stop them before they start.
Here’s what to watch out for:
🔍 Unrealistic offers or promises of easy money that are too good to be true
🔍 Pressure tactics: Scammers may rush or threaten you to act immediately.
🔍 Requests for personal info: Be cautious if you’re asked for bank details, passwords, or sensitive information.
🔍 Unusual payment methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
🔍 Unverified contacts: Emails, calls, or messages from unknown or suspicious sources.
How to protect yourself:
✅ Stop and think before sharing personal details or making payments.
✅ Don't click on any links until you know that it is safe.
✅ Verify the source: Contact the organisation directly using official channels.
✅ If something’s not right, it's OK to hang up, walk away, ignore it and move on.
If you wish to report a scam, contact Police on 105 or report it online via 105.police.govt.nz/use-105.
Older residents call for Amberley bus service
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A lack of public transport and access to healthcare were among the issues raised in recent a survey of older residents in the Hurunui district.
The Hurunui District Council surveyed residents aged over 60 during August and September, as it looks to develop an age-friendly community plan to support an ageing population.
There are currently no public bus services in Hurunui, which includes the town of Amberley, about 40km north of Christchurch.
Community development facilitator Vanessa Nelmes said public transport is a big issue for many elderly people, while accessing medical care when needed remains a concern.
While there are a number of community vehicle trusts operating in the district, respondents felt a regular bus service from Amberley to Rangiora and/or Christchurch is needed.
Hurunui mayor Marie Black has been among those advocating for a bus service, but for now Environment Canterbury says there are no plans to offer public transport in the district.
The distance to medical care in Christchurch and the lack of a dentist were also mentioned, Nelmes said.
The survey received 213 responses from residents aged from 60 to their 90s, with half coming from residents in the south ward, which includes Amberley.
Nelmes said the survey found a majority of the respondents felt confident using computers, internet and / or smart phones.
‘‘It kind of puts that myth to bed that old people don’t like using technology.
‘‘I think we really do need to change our mindset compared to what is really happening in our community.’’
Although about 50 respondents said they were not confident using technology, showing there was still a need for providing support.
The survey also asked if people would like to improve their skills with technology and it was ‘‘evenly split’’, Nelmes said.
A concerning trend in the survey was a number of respondents who said they felt socially isolated, especially those new to the community, she said.
‘‘We had half a dozen people who replied along the lines, ‘you have to put yourself out there, but it’s how to make the first step’.’’
The survey has been analysed by the age-friendly steering group, which plans to widen its membership to include different agencies such as district nursing and is seeking a rural voice, Nelmes said.
Council staff plan to do a stocktake of services available for senior citizens in the district, before beginning work on a draft age-friendly plan.
Environment Canterbury public transport strategy and planning manager Sonia Pollard said there are no plans to extend bus services into Amberley or the wider Hurunui district.
‘‘The focus for public transport improvements is on delivery of the core routes in Christchurch and the direct services between the main urban areas in Waimakariri and Selwyn districts and Christchurch City.
‘‘Service improvements are reliant on funding through local rates and the National Land Transport Programme.’’
She said routes outside large urban areas are unlikely to meet the funding criteria in the 2024/27 National Land Transport Programme.
But as part of the 2025/26 annual plan staff are considering how to best serve the rural community, including assessing new routes outside the Greater Christchurch boundary.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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