Swannanoa - Ohoka, Swannanoa

316 days ago

Poll: What power issues have you faced?

The Team from NZ Compare

Hey neighbours! How has your power been treating you lately? Any sparks or stumbles in the past year?
Share the woes and let's brighten each other's day!

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What power issues have you faced?
  • 13.1% Power Outages
    13.1% Complete
  • 73% High Bills
    73% Complete
  • 2.9% Billing Errors
    2.9% Complete
  • 4.2% Voltage Fluctuations
    4.2% Complete
  • 6.8% Poor Customer Service
    6.8% Complete
382 votes
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317 days ago

Corokia 'Genties Green' Plants

Vicki from Rangiora

Corokia Gentys Green is a hardy New Zealand native plant with a small compact leaf. Very versatile - excellent for background planting, shelter, and clipped hedging. Perfect for hedging or as an individual specimen to add to your garden. Great for boundary.$4 per plant. Around 100 available. $4 per… View moreCorokia Gentys Green is a hardy New Zealand native plant with a small compact leaf. Very versatile - excellent for background planting, shelter, and clipped hedging. Perfect for hedging or as an individual specimen to add to your garden. Great for boundary.$4 per plant. Around 100 available. $4 per plant

Price: $4

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318 days ago

Rangiora Photographic Society

Arthur from Rangiora

February already and we are up and running ready for a great year. Meetings are every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Mainpower Oval Clubrooms - the Cricket Club - starting at 7 pm. We have speakers, competitions - which are optional, and Camera Craft nights when we learn more about our … View moreFebruary already and we are up and running ready for a great year. Meetings are every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Mainpower Oval Clubrooms - the Cricket Club - starting at 7 pm. We have speakers, competitions - which are optional, and Camera Craft nights when we learn more about our cameras etc. Next meeting - 20th February we have the well known photographer Kevin Clark - a most amusing speaker and along with the laughter we can learn so much. Everyone is welcome.

318 days ago

North Canterbury residents vow to fight landfill proposal

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

About 100 people gathered at a community meeting to "fight" a proposal to create a landfill in North Canterbury.

Christchurch company Protranz Earthmoving Ltd wants to establish a landfill at its quarry at White Rock, near North Loburn, north … View more
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

About 100 people gathered at a community meeting to "fight" a proposal to create a landfill in North Canterbury.

Christchurch company Protranz Earthmoving Ltd wants to establish a landfill at its quarry at White Rock, near North Loburn, north of Rangiora.

Community meeting organiser Mike McCaleb said he was thrilled with the turnout at the Ashley Rugby Club rooms on Tuesday evening, where people expressed their opposition to the proposed landfill.

‘‘Better to have all these people to fight this thing with me, than to fight it alone from White Rock.’’

Residents at the meeting raised concerns about the risks to groundwater and the Karetu River, which a dozen households rely on for drinking and stock water.

McCaleb said he believed the quarry was unstable due to the limestone and porous rock, and the underground springs.

The prospect of more trucks driving up and down the road was also a concern, he said.

The group has set up a website to oppose the landfill [whiterock.org.nz] and was seeking environmental engineers and experts to help them.
Protranz was not invited to speak at Tuesday’s meeting.

The company recently invited neighbours to visit the site with its engineering consultants WSP.

‘‘Around 75 people showed up and it got a bit heated and unruly, so we didn’t want a repeat of that,’’ McCaleb said.

Protranz Earthmoving Ltd is seeking to restore the Whiterock Quarry, at 150 and 174 Quarry Rd, Loburn, to near its previous landform, by filling it with managed fill.

The proposed class 3 landfill would accept ‘‘inert and sorted construction and demolition waste, and contaminated soil material’’, a leaflet produced by the company says.

It would not accept uncontrolled construction and demolition waste, or municipal solid or green waste.

Protranz general manager Shaun Coakley acknowledged the concerns voiced by residents.

"I want to reassure the community that comprehensive site investigations have occurred and various technical reports will be completed, addressing factors such as stability and ground/underground (groundwater seepage) conditions."

The reports would be available as part of the consenting process.
He said the resource consent applications were being prepared to lodge with Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council.

The company proposed establishing ‘‘a relatively small" managed fill landfill 500,000 cubic metres.

He said the design exceeded best practice for the inert type of fill accepted, and there would be environmental and contingency measures.

Truck movements would be relatively low, with an average of one truck every 20 to 25 minutes, he said.

The Whiterock Quarry dates back to the 1950s.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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318 days ago

Uni text books

Tania from Rangiora

Hi. Wanting to buy secondhand books for Uni. "The Bedford Handbook" 11th edition,
"Writing for Psychology" 2013. Please pm if you have these available for a good price, i.e cheaper than new, lol. Thank you, Tania

318 days ago

Rapid roll growth puts pressure on Canterbury schools

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Rapid growth at North Canterbury schools due to new housing developments is set to put pressure on classroom space.

Kaiapoi and Rangiora high schools have seen their roll size jump, while Amuri Area School is hoping some long-awaited new classrooms will… View more
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Rapid growth at North Canterbury schools due to new housing developments is set to put pressure on classroom space.

Kaiapoi and Rangiora high schools have seen their roll size jump, while Amuri Area School is hoping some long-awaited new classrooms will be built this year.

Principal Jason Reid said he expected Kaiapoi High School’s roll to pass 1050 for the first time this year, up from 450 in 2012.

A redevelopment of the school in 2018 boosted its maximum roll to 1100.

Reid said he has started speaking with the Ministry of Education about stage 2 of the development, which would allow for another building.

‘‘We have the land, so the key is what does it look like.

‘‘It needs to be carefully managed because we need to look long term and not just for the next five years.’’

Local primary schools, including Woodend School and Te Kura o Tuahiwi, have also experienced rapid growth as more houses are developed in Woodend, Ravenswood and Pegasus.

Kaiapoi’s population of 13,000 is projected to grow by 52% over the next 30 years, based on Stats NZ’s high growth scenario.

However, Reid said the school did not want to lose its community feel.

The school had just 450 students when Reid’s predecessor Bruce Kearney arrived in Kaiapoi in 2012

Kearney approached the Ministry of Education about the need for the new building, before moving to Rangiora High School nearly two years ago.

Ministry of Education Te Tai Runga (south) Hautū (leader) Nancy Bell said Kaiapoi High School has planned for a future capacity of 1800 students.

‘‘Roll growth would only be considered when there are increased numbers of in-zone students.’’

Rangiora High School’s roll was set to top 1750 students this year, including 400 year 9s and up up from 1660 last year.

The school’s roll was nearly 1800 in 2016, before dropping back to 1600 the following year, after the board of trustees was replaced by a commissioner.

‘‘It is not just about population growth. It shows people value what their local school has to offer and that hasn’t always been the case,’’ Kearney said.

He feared the Ministry of Education may reduce Kaiapoi’s zone, with Rangiora High School picking up more students.

Bell said Rangiora High School has a permanent capacity for 1740 students, with temporary onsite space for 1940 students.

‘‘We continue to monitor the rolls and capacity of all schools in the catchment to manage the network, with no current plan for a new primary or high school in the Waimakariri district.’’

Rangiora High School uses old prefab classrooms across the road, which were owned by the board of trustees.

But presiding member Simon Green said the board was planning to decommission the old prefabs because it wanted to have the entire campus on one site.

He said the board had not spent much time discussing roll growth, with the immediate focus on building a new cultural and learning centre, installing walls in the open plan Rakahuri building, a revamp of the school farm and planning a new performing arts centre.

Amuri Area School principal Matt Barlow (pictured) said his school roll finished last year on 375 students and he predicted more growth this year.

Planning for new classrooms began under his predecessor James Griggs, but the Ministry of Education had yet to set a date for the build.

‘‘Whether you are at 1750 or 350, the challenges are similar and you can only control what your site and your staffing allows,’’ Barlow said.

He said the growth was due to the booming tourism in Hanmer Springs and the influx of migrant workers on local dairy farms.

Kaiapoi High School’s board of trustees was contacted for comment.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

318 days ago

Wedding dresses old and new on show

Charles Upham Retirement Village

This week, we're celebrating love in all its forms, with some of our residents celebrating by sharing cherished memories, including their wedding dresses and the beautiful stories behind them.

An array of wedding dresses, ranging from the modern to the traditional, were on display along … View more
This week, we're celebrating love in all its forms, with some of our residents celebrating by sharing cherished memories, including their wedding dresses and the beautiful stories behind them.

An array of wedding dresses, ranging from the modern to the traditional, were on display along with dozens of amazing wedding photos dating back to the 1800s in a nod to Valentine’s Day.

“With it being Valentine’s Day this week, we wanted something that would be inclusive of all the residents, those who are still lucky enough to have their partners but also those sharing happy memories of those that they have lost.”

Click read more for the full story.

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318 days ago

Fresh Nectarines last 3 days

Sue from Kaiapoi

sold at gate in $5 bags 1 and half kgs
last 3 days
021 2222 838
Pick up Bramleys Road turn off lineside road 2nd house on left

Price: $5

318 days ago

Is your furry friend protected?

Southern Cross from Neighbourly Nz

The Pet Life.

It’s the life you share with your pet, and the life they share with you. We believe the pet life’s a life worth protecting.

Which is why we are dedicated to helping pets live longer, healthier and happier lives every day.

We’re proudly born and bred in New Zealand, and … View more
The Pet Life.

It’s the life you share with your pet, and the life they share with you. We believe the pet life’s a life worth protecting.

Which is why we are dedicated to helping pets live longer, healthier and happier lives every day.

We’re proudly born and bred in New Zealand, and are equally proud to partner with the NZ Veterinary Association and Pet Refuge. Just two ways we’re there to support the Pet Life community.

Protect the Pet Life.
Learn more now

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325 days ago

Council questions ‘impossible’ drinking water standards

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Chlorine exemption applications have been withdrawn by the Waimakariri District Council due to ‘‘impossible’’ drinking water standards.

Mayor Dan Gordon said he has raised concerns with Local Government Minister Simeon Brown about the Water … View more
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Chlorine exemption applications have been withdrawn by the Waimakariri District Council due to ‘‘impossible’’ drinking water standards.

Mayor Dan Gordon said he has raised concerns with Local Government Minister Simeon Brown about the Water Services Act’s drinking water standards, which are imposed by national regulator Taumata Arowai.

‘‘In my conversation with the new minister I raised that it is almost impossible to achieve an exemption under the new standards, so maybe it is something that needs to reviewed,’’ he said at a council meeting on Wednesday.

The council voted to withdraw its applications for chlorine exemptions for the Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Oxford urban and Waikuku Beach drinking water supplies for now, and to write to Brown asking him to reconsider the standards.

An application for the Cust water supply was declined last year, while the Woodend-Pegasus exemption application is still being considered.

Three Waters manager Kalley Simpson said the council would have a better idea of what was needed to achieve chlorine exemptions once it had received feedback from the Woodend-Pegasus application.

‘‘We believe our applications in their current form would be declined, based on the Cust decision, so we need to withdraw and look to resubmit when we have done the necessary work.’’

He said initial estimates suggested it would cost up to $100 million to bring the six urban supplies up to an acceptable standard to receive a chlorine exemption.

The Rakaia Huts drinking water supply in the Selwyn district has received a chlorine exemption for five years, with conditions, Simpson said.

The council opted to chlorinate all of its drinking water supplies last year, after the Cust application was declined.

But Gordon said the council had not given up.

The Waimakariri district was one of the last to chlorinate its water supplies and the had long believed it had ‘‘gold standard’’ drinking water, which was fed to deep underground aquifers, Gordon said.

‘‘We have pushed back as strongly as we could and it is clear we are going to have to do more work to comply, but we are not giving up.’’

‘‘I don’t like the position we are in, but we are obligated to follow the law.

‘‘In order to achieve exemptions, the bar is incredibly high, so we need the new Government to consider whether that is acceptable.’’

Health experts recommend chlorine to kill harmful natural organisms that can grow in water, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, and to make it safe to drink.

World Health Organisation studies show the small amount of chlorine needed to treat drinking water is safe for people.

Chlorine added when the water leaves the treatment plant continues to protect the drinking water by killing bacteria that enters the system, Taumata Arowai says on its website.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

320 days ago

Troubleshoot Your Broadband: Tips & Savings!

The Team from NZ Compare

Experiencing broadband troubles? Our recent neighbourly poll reveals the top two issues: unstable connections and pricey bills!

Don't worry! Check out our latest article for expert tips to solve these issues.

PLUS, use Broadband Compare to compare NZ's best broadband deals & … View more
Experiencing broadband troubles? Our recent neighbourly poll reveals the top two issues: unstable connections and pricey bills!

Don't worry! Check out our latest article for expert tips to solve these issues.

PLUS, use Broadband Compare to compare NZ's best broadband deals & save up to $300/year. Enjoy smoother internet while keeping cash for treats!
Troubleshoot Now

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321 days ago

Lonicera nitida plants (Box Honeysuckle)

Vicki from Rangiora

Good sized plants. Looks like buxus when grown but grows at twice the speed. Tiny oval dark green leaves. Plant in full sun or semi shade. Ideal plant to shape into balls cones etc perfect for planting now $3.50 per plant

Price: $3.50

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321 days ago

Bulk Griselinia Plants

Vicki from Rangiora

Great for hedges. Good size. 100s available.$4 per plant.

Price: $4

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321 days ago

mother of bride / groom outfit, ideal for cupday

Doug from Rangiora

Beautiful black & green Taffeta silk dress and bolero designed and made by award winning designer Sonya Smith. Includes matching clutch bag and fascinator. Size 12-14. Worn once, Paid over $1500 , asking $750 ono cash, pickup is Rangiora

Price: $750

321 days ago

Rebecca renews her Cambridge connections

Charles Upham Retirement Village

Classical crossover singer Rebecca Nelson told a captivated Cambridge audience how the town holds a special place in her heart for several reasons.

Rebecca’s performance was one of three shows lined up to entertain residents and soon-to-be residents of Ryman Healthcare’s Patrick Hogan … View more
Classical crossover singer Rebecca Nelson told a captivated Cambridge audience how the town holds a special place in her heart for several reasons.

Rebecca’s performance was one of three shows lined up to entertain residents and soon-to-be residents of Ryman Healthcare’s Patrick Hogan Village in Cambridge, Hilda Ross Village down the road in Hamilton and James Wattie Village in Havelock North.

Describing her connection to Ryman, she says: “It feels like coming home and performing for friends and family.”

Click read for the full story.

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