New story walk for Kaiapoi
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
Kaiapoi residents will get the chance to walk and talk next month.
After the success of a Matariki story walk in Rangiora, the Waimakariri District Council is going to create a new story walk in Kaiapoi’s Te Korotuaheka Reserve (Honda Forest).
The Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board last week approved the story walk, which will be launched to coincide with Te Wiki o Te Reo (Māori Language Week).
The project is a collaboration between Waimakariri Libraries and the council’s greenspace team.
‘‘A story walk is mainly aimed at young children,’’ greenspace design and planning team leader Grant Stephens said at last week’s meeting.
‘‘Families go along and read the story together and the Rangiora one has been incredibly successful and it gets people reading and into our reserves.’’
Waimakariri Libraries staff have obtained permission to use the children’s story, "There’s a Tui in our Teapot", written and illustrated by New Zealand authors Dawn McMillan and Nikki Slade.
The cost of creating, installing and the later removing the temporary story walk panels is estimated at $1500.
It will be funded from within the existing libraries and greenspace budgets.
Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board member Cr Al Blackie said the project had his full support.
‘‘What’s not to like. It’s an excellent initiative and it’s cheap.’’
The idea came out of the Covid-19 lockdown, as library staff explored new ways of connecting with people.
Story walks have been created in other parts of New Zealand, including the Gore, Hastings and Napier districts.
The council launched a story walk with the story, "The Little Kiwi’s Matariki" by Nikki Slade Robinson, in Rangiora’s Northbrook Reserve on Matariki Day, June 24.
Each panel in the Rangiora story walk is like a different page, telling a story and linking to the local environment.
More than 1000 people are estimated to have attended the opening of Rangiora’s story walk.
Te Korotuaheka Reserve is a regeneration initiative in Kaiapoi’s former red zone.
Te Wiki o Te Reo (Māori Language Week) runs from September 12 to 18.
Poll: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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0% Yes
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0% No
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0% Other - I'll share below
Canterbury’s Woodend Bypass route confirmed
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The route of the proposed Woodend Bypass in Canterbury has been confirmed - and it might look familiar to locals.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says it has decided the stick with the route which was first designated nine years ago.
Engineers reviewed the route after the Government gave them the green light in July to push ahead with plans.
The 9km stretch of road will provide an extension to the Christchurch northern corridor, otherwise known as the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway.
Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey has advocated for the project for several years and said he is thrilled at the latest announcements.
‘‘Many residents across the Waimakariri and further afield will be in no doubt about my passion for this project.
‘‘For far too long now, elderly residents of Woodend have missed medical appointments as they refuse to cross the main road due to safety concerns, and school children have run the gauntlet of getting to and from school.
‘‘Business owners have also suffered because customers refuse to stop on the main road due to traffic.’’
Waimakariri deputy mayor Neville Atkinson said it will be welcome news for local residents.
‘‘It has been a long time coming and the council has always been supportive of this project, so we are delighted that it is moving forward at the pace it is.’’
Last week, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to build an overpass to replace the Pegasus roundabout and provide better access for Pegasus, Ravenswood and Woodend residents.
He said NZTA will release a request for tender for detailed design and construction supervision this week.
The first stage of early works will likely begin in early 2026 with preparation for road widening to four lanes between Lineside Rd and Cam River, while the main physical works are expected to begin later in 2026.
An NZTA spokesperson said it is too soon for concept drawings to show what the Pegasus interchange will look like.
‘‘We’ll be able to share these as the designs progress during this next phase.’’
Details of how environmental challenges, such as two shingle pit lakes which have been created over the last decade, will be overcome have yet to be released.
Final costs have yet to be determined, but it is believed it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Woodend Bypass is one of the Government's first five roads of national significance.
The Government is considering roads of national significance to be partially funded by a toll.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.1% Yes
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15.1% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
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