Swannanoa - Ohoka, Swannanoa

Introduce yourself, neighbour!

Introduce yourself, neighbour!

Head to our Know Thy Neighbour page.

923 days ago

Local business hero 'not just a regular pharmacist'

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

A “delightfully different character” with a great sense of humour and a friendly manner is how customers describe Kaiapoi’s local business hero.

Robert Fenwick, the owner of Fenwicks Pharmacy in Kaiapoi, Canterbury, is the national winner of the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero award.

The … View more
A “delightfully different character” with a great sense of humour and a friendly manner is how customers describe Kaiapoi’s local business hero.

Robert Fenwick, the owner of Fenwicks Pharmacy in Kaiapoi, Canterbury, is the national winner of the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero award.

The award recognises community heroes who own small businesses throughout New Zealand.

Fenwicks Pharmacy was passed down to Fenwick from his father when he retired in 1985.

He has seen many changes in technology and treatments over his 37 years of running a pharmacy.

Fenwick said the toughest times were during the Canterbury earthquakes and the Covid-19 pandemic.

To ensure customer safety after the earthquakes, the pharmacy operated out of a caravan parked at the front of the premises.

Like for most businesses, the start of the pandemic was a “scary” time for Fenwick, though he acknowledged pharmacies, as essential busineses, had been “lucky economically”.

“I feel for all those workers that are struggling.”

Fenwick was “very surprised” to hear he had been nominated for the local hero award.

“There are plenty of other heroes out there. I’m thankful. I appreciate the community.”

He did not want to take all the credit, saying the pharmacy worked as a team.

Kaiapoi resident Michael Mckay said he had never left Fenwicks Pharmacy without a smile on his face.

“Rob’s a delightfully different character with a great sense of humour. The staff are all wonderful, professional and happy. They always pick you up,” Mckay said.

Fenwick was recognised by his community for his ongoing service and support through some of country’s toughest times. Fenwicks Pharmacy remained open throughout the lockdowns and, despite the challenge that brought, the community appreciated the team’s friendly greetings, conversations and smiles.

Regular customer Nadia Bell said Fenwick went out of his way to help his customers.

“He’ll provide you not only with a good belly laugh but extra valuable knowledge. He’s not a regular pharmacist, he will go out of his way to acknowledge you even when he’s under the pump,” Bell said.

The Prospa Local Business Hero awards is in partnership with Neighbourly. A small business owner is nominated each year for the award and wins a package worth $10,000 including $2500 worth of Neighbourly advertising, $5000 worth of Stuff advertising and $2500 cash.

Head of Neighbourly Sarah Moore, said a pharmacy winning the award demonstrated “the value Kiwis place on their connection with their local pharmacist”.

“They're often the first port of call for minor ailments and hold a position of real trust in our communities”.

Adrienne Begbie, managing director of Prospa NZ, said it is great to celebrate hard-working small business owners for their service and support of the community

“We hope this award displays the appreciation felt by the local residents for [Robert Fenwick’s] dedication to the community with service that goes above and beyond, especially witnessed during lockdowns.

“We would also like to acknowledge all those nominated, and hope many business owners felt the gratitude expressed by those took the time to vote.”

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923 days ago

Benefit Entitlements – Talk to a Financial Mentor Today

Sharon Grant from

Here in New Zealand our Ministry of Social Development, through their Work and Income offices, are able to provide a range of support services, including financial assistance, to support a wide range of needs.

The types of things they can help with are:
• If you’re not working, have lost … View more
Here in New Zealand our Ministry of Social Development, through their Work and Income offices, are able to provide a range of support services, including financial assistance, to support a wide range of needs.

The types of things they can help with are:
• If you’re not working, have lost your job and/or need help to get a job.
• If you have urgent or unexpected bills, or maybe a family emergency.
• You need help with your living expenses.
• A range of services for Seniors.
• A range of services for Youth (16 to 19 year olds).
• Support with health and disability issues.
• Help for those caring for others.
• Help and support for those raising children.
• Help for those who’ve had a change in relationship status and need extra support.
• Other benefits and entitlements.
The Work and Income website offers a lot of information on how to access help, including what support you can receive, as well as all the forms you might need to fill-in.

workandincome.govt.nz...

However, you might be finding the website difficult to navigate, or you’re not sure if you are able to access support at all. You can talk to the great people at Work and Income, and they are only too happy to help.

However, if you want to talk to a Financial Mentor first (it’s free and confidential), we can discuss your particular situation and support you with your conversations with Work and Income.

In some cases we can even accompany you to Work and Income appointments.
Or we can work with you on-line using your own MyMSD Log-in to help you navigate the large amount of information available, and help with filling-in forms.

Our Financial Mentors are friendly, knowledgeable and more than happy to help.

They understand the Work and Income system – and what they don’t know they will certainly find out for you.

So, if you’d like some support to find out what benefits or extra support you can access, contact us to talk to a Financial Mentor today.

926 days ago

Sinking coastlines mean parts of Christchurch will feel impact of sea-level rise earlier than expected

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From reporter Tina Law:
Parts of Christchurch will feel the impacts of sea-level rise earlier than expected because the land is sinking, according to new data.

Large areas from Woodend to Lake Ellesmere, including Banks Peninsula, are subsiding up to three millimetres per year, which means an … View more
From reporter Tina Law:
Parts of Christchurch will feel the impacts of sea-level rise earlier than expected because the land is sinking, according to new data.

Large areas from Woodend to Lake Ellesmere, including Banks Peninsula, are subsiding up to three millimetres per year, which means an extra 30 centimetres of sea-level rise over the next 100 years.

The data has come from NZ SeaRise, a five-year research programme funded by the Government involving 30 local and international experts.

It has taken into account the natural rises and falls of the country’s coastline, as well as climate change and warming temperatures to project sea level rises.

Using a www.searise.nz... |new online tool|, New Zealanders will for the first time be able to see how much and how fast sea levels will rise along their own stretch of coast and in their neighbourhood.

Programme co-leader Professor Tim Naish​, of Victoria University of Wellington, said 20 years ago it was thought sea-level rise was like pouring water into a bathtub – if you put more water in, it rises uniformly around the world, but Naish said it is actually much more complicated.

Sea levels are expected to rise at different rates across New Zealand and even at different levels across Canterbury’s coastline.

The largest increases in sea levels are expected to occur along the southeast of the North Island along the Wairarapa Coast.

Programme co-leader Dr Richard Levy, of GNS Science and Victoria University of Wellington, said subsidence rates along that coast were high, and sea levels could rise by well over 1.5 metres by 2100 if the least optimistic climate change scenario was followed.

Based on current international emissions reduction policies, global sea levels are expected to rise by about 60cm by 2100, but for large parts of New Zealand this could double to about 1.2m due to ongoing land subsidence, Naish said.

“We have less time to act than we thought.”

According to the data, Akaroa on Banks Peninsula would see 30cm of sea-level rise by 2040, instead of 2060. The coastline in the area is sinking by 3mm a year.

“Thirty centimetres of sea-level rise means the one in 50-year coastal storm flood will occur annually,” Naish said.

However, some areas at the top of Lyttelton Harbour have shown a rise in the land.

Land movement data was based on median numbers taken between 2003 and 2011, and does not include the impact of the Christchurch earthquakes.

The data showed New Brighton’s coastline was sinking at 0.8mm a year, but Naish said since the earthquakes it has actually been sinking at 8mm a year, twice as fast as the global sea-level rise.

“We don’t know how long this will go on for.”

Levy said he expected councils and planners to be the primary users of the new projection information, and that the finance and insurance sectors had already been asking for the data.

Naish said the new science would give time to put in place equitable and effective adaptation measures that would limit the impact of unavoidable sea-level rise.

The Christchurch City Council has already embarked on a long process to adapt the city and Banks Peninsula to climate change.

Changes to managing new developments are being made to the district plan and the council has agreed on guidelines for adapting existing areas.

Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour will be the first area in Christchurch to go through climate change planning, expected to start in the spring and take 18 months.

Simon Watts, observatory director at Brighton Observatory of Environment and Economics who built his home in Southshore, said it was always better to know about things rather than be ambushed, but said the devil was always in the detail.

He said there were areas in Christchurch that rose after the earthquakes and others that sunk.

“For some areas it could be good news and others it could be bad news.

“Yes, people should be concerned because if parts of New Zealand sink by 3mm a year, that is effectively doubling the rate of sea level rise for those places."

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924 days ago

Stand up Comedy Is Back at 5 Stags Tonight

Tina from Swannanoa - Ohoka

www.facebook.com...
Its time to get your laugh on. Stand up comedy is back at 5 Stags Rangioria.

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930 days ago

Last ditch bid for fast tracking ‘out of control’ hedge removal

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

From local democracy reporter Adam Burns:
Maintenance of an “out of control” hedge at could cost ratepayers in a small North Canterbury village tens of thousands of dollars over the next couple of years, despite plans for it to be cut down.

But there are hopes the axing of the shadowy shrub … View more
From local democracy reporter Adam Burns:
Maintenance of an “out of control” hedge at could cost ratepayers in a small North Canterbury village tens of thousands of dollars over the next couple of years, despite plans for it to be cut down.

But there are hopes the axing of the shadowy shrub can be fast tracked, following suggestions its removal was at least another two years away.

Plans for the macrocarpa shelterbelt hedge, which stands between 6 and 8 metres high on Waikuku Beach’s Parks Ave, continue to cause headaches for the small beach town community, including funding avenues for the hedge’s swift removal.

A report was tabled at the Woodend-Sefton Community Board meeting a fortnight ago, which recommended the hedge be removed.


However, it was initially proposed the project be considered for inclusion in the Waimakariri District Council’s 2024 long-term plan, with costs for the removal of the hedge and replanting estimated to be about $105,000.

The hedge could also absorb ongoing maintenance costs “at health and safety levels” until it was removed in 2024-25, according to the report.

Maintenance of the hedge costs the council about $20,000 for the first trim, followed by a further cost of “between $10,000 and $15,000 every 18 months”.

During a public deputation at the April 11 meeting, Waikuku Beach resident Jo Kane fumed at the proposed time frames following what she described as some drawn out deliberations with council staff on the matter.

“This was never the expectation from anyone in the community,” she said.

“This is a longstanding and unsustainable maintenance issue, and it really galls me that for the next three years you will have to trim this hedge back off the road.

“I feel really let down when I saw that piece of the report [indicating 2024].

“It needs to be gone, sooner rather than later.”

The removal of the hedge was later approved, but the community board agreed to amend its previous recommendation, in order for a last ditch request to go to the council for funding through this year’s annual plan.

Several concerns around the hedge were raised by residents during community consultation a year ago.

Ongoing maintenance costs, a lack of sunlight leaving ice and moss on the road, a desire for landscape views to be restored, and concerns the hedge was a fire risk were raised by those wanting it gone.

Other community members, favouring its retention, believed the hedge offered privacy and was a good windbreak for homeowners.

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925 days ago

Can you help a business in your community?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We are incredibly proud to launch Short Notice is a new initiative designed to connect neighbours with a little spare time on their hands with local businesses that need a bit of extra help!

It's very simple; using the new Short Notice community hub, share a little about yourself, your … View more
We are incredibly proud to launch Short Notice is a new initiative designed to connect neighbours with a little spare time on their hands with local businesses that need a bit of extra help!

It's very simple; using the new Short Notice community hub, share a little about yourself, your availability and how you'd like to help.

If you're a business owner sign up for a FREE Premium Business listing to get access to Short Notice and let your community know what help you need.

Together, let's help keep small businesses busy!
Explore Short Notice

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925 days ago

Mum-believable Mother’s Day sales

NZ Beds

How’s it going neighbours, the friendly team here at NZ Beds wanted to remind you that we have some mum-believable deals to celebrate this Mother’s Day. Thank your mum and gift her an unforgettable serene sleep because she deserves it. From a luxury mattress to ultra luxurious bedding gift her … View moreHow’s it going neighbours, the friendly team here at NZ Beds wanted to remind you that we have some mum-believable deals to celebrate this Mother’s Day. Thank your mum and gift her an unforgettable serene sleep because she deserves it. From a luxury mattress to ultra luxurious bedding gift her the experience she will never forget.

Pop into your nearest NZ Beds store to browse our range. Find your nearest store with our store locator.

NZ Beds Team look forward to help you in getting a good night sleep.
Find us

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925 days ago

Any size McCafé® coffee is $4

McDonald's

Grab yourself a delicious Barista Made Coffee for only $4 at McCafé.

McCafé, simply good coffee.

Available for a limited time.
Find out more

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926 days ago

Bird cage on stand

Ann from Rangiora

Large bird cage on stand

Negotiable

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926 days ago

Ladies bicycle

Ann from Rangiora

1960's era. Sturmey Archer 3 speed gears and dynohub lighting

Negotiable

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926 days ago

Chestnuts for Sale

Claudia from Swannanoa - Ohoka

1 kg of good quality chestnuts, just picked, grown in the Ohoka area.

Medium size (6 - 7 grams per nut at time of picking) $ 8.00
Large size (8-11 grams) $ 9.00
Extra large (12 - 15 grams) might be available depending on ongoing harvest $ 10.00

Not sprayed, no artificial fertiliser used.
View more
1 kg of good quality chestnuts, just picked, grown in the Ohoka area.

Medium size (6 - 7 grams per nut at time of picking) $ 8.00
Large size (8-11 grams) $ 9.00
Extra large (12 - 15 grams) might be available depending on ongoing harvest $ 10.00

Not sprayed, no artificial fertiliser used.
Please text to 022 675 8317, send me a message or comment on here.
Pickup by meeting in the R.D.2 Kaiapoi area. But usually some drop off appointment within reasonable distance of Christchurch/Kaiapoi/Rangiora can be arranged. Please contact me for details.
GST invoice available, please indicate when messaging.

How to prepare chestnuts?
Put them flat side down and cut them across (very important) with a sharp knife (if you don't they will explode). Then either
1) Roast them in the oven at 250 degrees for 20 minutes or
2) Boil them in water for 20 minutes or
3) Roast them on the log burner (my personal choice) when it is NOT going at full steam for about 10 to 20 minutes (if too hot they will get burned) and turn them once.
Let them cool a bit, then shell and eat them.
They can also be used as stuffing for poultry or in various dishes with venison, or as a puree with apples or for a cake. On the internet there are plenty of recipes.

Negotiable

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926 days ago

Pair of Lamps 38cm high

Ella from Rangiora

2 gorgeous touch lamps for sale
Condition as per photos.
Both come with working bulbs
Price for the pair.
Pick up Rangiora

Price: $45

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927 days ago

Chest Waders - Ideal for Duck Shooters

Betty from Swannanoa - Ohoka

Snowbee Classic Chest Waders Size 12
Worn Once maybe twice!

Price: $125

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927 days ago

Duck Decoys

Betty from Swannanoa - Ohoka

20 Duck Decoys of varying age. Selling as one lot.

Price: $100

928 days ago

Our 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero Winner!

Prospa

Congratulations to Robert Fenwick, owner of Fenwicks Pharmacy in Canterbury, the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero.

Robert has been recognised for his ongoing service and support for the community through tough times. Fenwicks pharmacy remained open throughout the lockdown with friendly greetings,… View more
Congratulations to Robert Fenwick, owner of Fenwicks Pharmacy in Canterbury, the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero.

Robert has been recognised for his ongoing service and support for the community through tough times. Fenwicks pharmacy remained open throughout the lockdown with friendly greetings, conversations and smiles!

Congratulations to all the finalists and thank you for nominating your favourite local business. We'd like to acknowledge the official winner of the public voting poll, Josh Coe, owner of Page 42 cafe. Unfortunately, Josh has decided to close his business after 3.5 years and we wish him all the best.

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