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From local democracy reporter David Hill:
An Employment Court ruling around teacher working hours could have major implications, North Canterbury schools say.
The New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association successfully argued that a school is ‘‘not open for instruction’’ during … View moreFrom local democracy reporter David Hill:
An Employment Court ruling around teacher working hours could have major implications, North Canterbury schools say.
The New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association successfully argued that a school is ‘‘not open for instruction’’ during weekends, public holidays, vacations and outside of 8.30am to 4.30pm on school days, in a recent Employment Court hearing in the North Island.
But principals said there needed to be flexibility in a teacher’s day to ensure work/life balance and being available for meeting with parents.
Rangiora High School board of trustees chairperson Simon Green was unaware of the ruling, but said it would be ‘‘disappointing’’ if it became binding.
The teaching day was structured from 9am to 3pm and then it was ‘‘flexible’’, Rangiora High School principal Bruce Kearney said.
To accommodate the Employment Court ruling, Kearney changed the start time for staff meetings from 8.20am to 8.30am, ‘‘but you can’t put rigidities around the end time’’.
Some teachers might choose to start earlier or to remain at school after 3pm, while others needed to go and pick up their children after school and took home marking to do later in the evening, he said.
Schools also relied on teachers being available to run cultural activities and coach sports teams outside of teaching hours.
‘‘Teachers are paid a salary and there is a flexibility built in, and it is about how we can best serve our students,’’ Kearney said.
Oxford Area School principal Mike Hart said the ruling was about fairness in recognising an eight hour working day as the accepted limit for teachers.
Collective agreements had a ‘‘call back’’ clause, which gave provision for attending evening meetings, such as those with parents, or for staff training during term breaks.
‘‘Employment law is the guiding document, but we have to remember there are 12 weeks in a calendar year where we don’t expect teachers to do an eight hour day,'' Hart said.
‘‘It is a choice, where teachers can work out what is best for their work/life balance.
‘‘Some may choose to work longer hours during term time and take a break, while others choose to work a consistent number of hours throughout the year.’’
Kaiapoi High School principal Jason Reid said many teachers worked long hours with burnout a major concern, particularly for new teachers.
He said his advice for new teachers was to ‘‘pace yourself’’ in the first two years.
‘‘The challenges of doing this job are incredibly complex and it will absorb as much time as you will throw into it.’’
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has essential maintenance work to do on the single lane Hurunui River Bridge, starting Sunday night, November 20.
Drivers who use SH1 between Picton and Christchurch may need to build some extra time into their journeys over up to 15 nights of closure, Waka Kotahi… View moreWaka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has essential maintenance work to do on the single lane Hurunui River Bridge, starting Sunday night, November 20.
Drivers who use SH1 between Picton and Christchurch may need to build some extra time into their journeys over up to 15 nights of closure, Waka Kotahi says.
The work on the bridge’s deck and joints will close the bridge for up to 50 minutes at a time, 7pm to 6am. The schedule is Sunday to Thursday, weather dependent, from November 20 to Thursday night, December 8, with 10-minute openings at the top of each hour.
The bridge is between Greta Valley and Cheviot on SH1, North Canterbury and is the key route for freight and the inter-island ferries.
“People who are using the route overnight to make the Picton Ferry may need to factor in delays of up to 50 minutes in their schedules,” Waka Kotahi network manager Jessica McFarlane says.
Emergency vehicles will be accommodated at all times.
The Hurunui River Bridge is south of Cheviot on SH1, north of Greta Valley.
Shockingly, 93% of Variety families live with food insecurity every day. Let’s make Christmas day different for them.
Mia and Jade love Christmas, but their parents are struggling financially. “Christmas time brings a lot of stress. I want to put a good meal on the table and give my kids a … View moreShockingly, 93% of Variety families live with food insecurity every day. Let’s make Christmas day different for them.
Mia and Jade love Christmas, but their parents are struggling financially. “Christmas time brings a lot of stress. I want to put a good meal on the table and give my kids a good and exciting Christmas but with bills and rent, our credit card is already maxed out,” Jenna says.
Please donate today to provide grocery support for struggling families this Christmas.
Fundraising Movie Night for the Cancer Society North Canterbury.
Come and enjoy a fabulous evening, a heartfelt film, raffles & auction.
Tickets $25.00 includes film and small gift on arrival. Can be purchase online at: events.humanitix.com... or at the Centre, 143 Percival Street, Rangiora,… View moreFundraising Movie Night for the Cancer Society North Canterbury.
Come and enjoy a fabulous evening, a heartfelt film, raffles & auction.
Tickets $25.00 includes film and small gift on arrival. Can be purchase online at: events.humanitix.com... or at the Centre, 143 Percival Street, Rangiora, eftpos available.
We'd love to see you there and greatly appreciate our community's support.
A few of our residents have been doing a bit of resizing and have some items to sell in The Sterling's Annual Garage Sale!
Come along to The Sterling, walk around the village and see if anything piques your interest. As they say, one person's trash is another person's treasure!
… View moreA few of our residents have been doing a bit of resizing and have some items to sell in The Sterling's Annual Garage Sale!
Come along to The Sterling, walk around the village and see if anything piques your interest. As they say, one person's trash is another person's treasure!
Our Showhome Open Day is also on from from 10am to 2pm so why not come and check it out.
There will be a coffee van and sausage sizzle so you can take a break between all the browsing!
The Sterling's Annual Garage Sale will be taking place at 4 different villas at The Sterling, Kaiapoi from 9am - 12pm on Saturday 19th November.
Wednesday 16 November, 5.45pm, Rangiora Town Hall Cinemas
Tickets $25.00 includes film and small gift on arrival. Doors open 5.00pm. Christmas gifts, raffles and auction on the night.
Get your friends together, glam it up and come for a entertaining night out!
Tickets available from the … View moreWednesday 16 November, 5.45pm, Rangiora Town Hall Cinemas
Tickets $25.00 includes film and small gift on arrival. Doors open 5.00pm. Christmas gifts, raffles and auction on the night.
Get your friends together, glam it up and come for a entertaining night out!
Tickets available from the following locations:
Cancer Society North Canterbury, 143 Percival Street, Rangiora, Phone: 0800 226 695. Eftpos available.
Online: events.humanitix.com...
Contact Tiff on tiffany.wafer@cancercwc.org.nz or 021-139 4909 for more information.
What better way to while away a Friday afternoon and get your weekend DIY inspiration than drooling over the most beautiful house and garden content of the week?
|Homed newsletter| takes you inside gorgeous New Zealand homes, showcases the latest interior trends, provides project ideas, and … View moreWhat better way to while away a Friday afternoon and get your weekend DIY inspiration than drooling over the most beautiful house and garden content of the week?
|Homed newsletter| takes you inside gorgeous New Zealand homes, showcases the latest interior trends, provides project ideas, and more. Be inspired to dream big about your own space - and get on the path to making those dreams come true. Sign up for free here.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School plans to revitalise its school farm as a centre of sustainability.
The school’s board of trustees has made the decision to ‘‘regenerate’’ the school farm, principal Bruce Kearney said.
‘‘There is excitement in the … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School plans to revitalise its school farm as a centre of sustainability.
The school’s board of trustees has made the decision to ‘‘regenerate’’ the school farm, principal Bruce Kearney said.
‘‘There is excitement in the community about the farm, but I find it difficult to market it because it is still very much a 1970s style farm and it has served its purpose.
‘‘But we are in a new world, with a focus on having a sustainable environment, so we need to re-address what we do.’’
Head of science David Newsham-West will take a year off from teaching next year to develop a plan for an ‘‘innovation hub’’ and a sustainability centre.
Newsham-West said he was keen to get buy-in from the local community and local businesses.
There were opportunities to work alongside Lincoln University, research organisations such as AgResearch, Industry Training Organisations and Ngāi Tūāhuriri, he said.
Rangiora students could even be involved in cutting edge research, such as testing digital collars on sheep and gathering the data or conducting soil tests.
One suggestion was even to develop a mountain bike track on the farm, with the school possibly hosting endurance events one day.
‘‘People are open to the idea of farms being diverse and flexible. Farms can’t just be a monoculture any more,’’ Newsham-West said.
‘‘We want to have a farm which models flexibility, sustainability and innovation.’’
The farm would continue to work alongside youth training service, ComCol, in offering equine studies and apiaries, while the intention was to continue farming sheep.
But it could also incorporate some viticulture, horticulture and other ideas which the school has not even thought of.
‘‘We are open to ideas across the board, we could have bio-nodes, we could teach pest control and biodiversity and we could even put in solar panels,’’ Newsham-West said.
He also saw opportunities for engaging staff across different subjects in the school and with ComCol North Canterbury next door.
‘‘There are opportunities for integrated learning and our geology and geography teachers are already talking about getting in drones and doing soil sampling.
‘‘Rather than fictitiously making up projects students can do on paper, we can get the students doing something real on site.
‘‘You can read a book or do film editing at home, but you can’t learn about moving stock unless you are hands on.’’
Building and hard materials and other school departments were also looking at ways of being involved in the farm, he said.
Whatever future plan was developed, Kearney said selling the farm was not option.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Hello neighbours,
I’ve decided to fundraise for the SPCA, and I need to fundraise $800 dollars to sky dive. Any amount would be very very appreciated, I don’t see the money it goes directly to the SPCA and the link is below for donations.
jumptotherescue.spca.nz...
Thank you for … View moreHello neighbours,
I’ve decided to fundraise for the SPCA, and I need to fundraise $800 dollars to sky dive. Any amount would be very very appreciated, I don’t see the money it goes directly to the SPCA and the link is below for donations.
jumptotherescue.spca.nz...
Thank you for reading, Angela.
Well used but still going strongly. Basic with 3 settings - hot, warm, cooling. On castors. It has a S.African plug on it. Compatible with a N.Z. adapter. Collect Kaiapoi. Msg 02108437041 if interested.
Does anyone please have any countdown bricks do not need please. Collecting for my wee grandson. Thankyou
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Volunteers fear for the welfare of birds at the Ashley River Estuary as ‘‘hoons’’ are caught on camera tearing through nesting sites.
Waimakariri district councillor Al Blackie says volunteers are fed up with people driving around nesting sites … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Volunteers fear for the welfare of birds at the Ashley River Estuary as ‘‘hoons’’ are caught on camera tearing through nesting sites.
Waimakariri district councillor Al Blackie says volunteers are fed up with people driving around nesting sites with no regard for the welfare of threatened species of birds.
‘‘We do have a bylaw, but there is not much we can do until they actually do some harm - other than naming and shaming them on social media.’’
Blackie said the council’s Pegasus Bay Bylaw Committee, which he chairs, would be reviewing the bylaw soon and was keen to hear any suggestions of how to better manage the area.
Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group operations manager Grant Davey said nesting birds were threatened by four-wheel-drives, helicopters hovering in the area and predators such as rats, cats and dogs.
Threatened birds included wrybills, black-bill gulls, banded dotterels, black-fronted terns and pied oystercatchers.
Some of these bird species were also endangered.
He said the presence of these multiple threats could scare the birds off, and lead them to abandoning their nests.
‘‘Along the river, we have most access points blocked, but there are areas we cannot block like State Highway 1 near the estuary.
‘‘Access is allowed for white baiters and some of them are pretty horrified by what is happening, and most of them are pretty helpful. They yell at the hoons and report it back to us.
‘‘You’ve got hoons who drive around all over the place and do donuts and sometimes it is in the early hours of the morning.’’
Motion sensor cameras have been placed in the nesting areas to monitor the presence of rats and cats, but they also picked up vehicles - and sometimes even the number plates.
Davey said Environment Canterbury’s rangers did an excellent job, but there was not enough of them.
‘‘They go and talk to people and give them a warning, but there is not much you can do.’’
Anyone caught harming the nesting birds could be fined or serve time in jail, but prosecutions were expensive, he said.
‘‘If you catch someone like the person who shot a white heron recently then you can prosecute them, but you are unlikely to actually catch people doing something like that.’’
Davey said dogs running loose were also a threat, with people ignoring or not reading signs.
‘‘It is usually perfectly respectable people doing it, but they just don’t understand.’’
The Rivercare group has received funding from the Waimakariri Zone Committee to fund a researcher to complete a thesis to better understand the full extent of the multiple threats to the birds.
■ The Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group is looking for volunteers for its annual bird count on the Ashley Rakahuri River on Saturday, November 19, at the Cones Road picnic area from 8.30am.
‘‘We like to have about 25 people, preferably with some ability to identify braided river birds including the wrybill, banded dotterel, pied stilt, black-fronted tern and black-billed gull,’’ organiser Beverley Alexander said.
‘‘If people are interested, but have little knowledge of the birds they can come along and we will partner them with others who have done the count previously.’’
Volunteers formed into teams, with each team taking a couple of hours to walk their designated zone.
Wet feet were guaranteed, but volunteers were rewarded with a barbecue.
Anyone interested can register by contacting Beverley Alexander on 027-3184713 or email birdiebev@xtra.co.nz.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Hi,
I’ve picked up a child’s bag from southbrook park near the club rooms. Has a water bottle too. Contained no valuables at the time of finding it but fruit and baby food inside.
PM if you think it’s yours with a description of the bag.
Also posted in lost and found.
Cheers.
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