Premier performing arts centre planned for Rangiora
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School plans to build a community performing arts centre.
Board of trustees chairperson Simon Green said the school aimed to build "the premier performing arts centre in North Canterbury".
A formal proposal is being prepared for the Waimakariri District Council to gain their support.
Principal Bruce Kearney said the school hoped to build a facility similar to the Aurora Centre at Burnside High School in Christchurch.
The proposed 800-seat theatre would replace the school hall and have state-of-the-art equipment to serve almost 1700 students and the wider community.
‘‘We need the voice of the community and so we want to consult with the council, the community and local schools.
‘‘We want to come together and produce a plan which everybody can benefit from.’’
The new facility would be managed by the school, but available to the 19 contributing schools and local performing arts schools and organisations.
‘‘We are growing our performing arts programme and we want to be known as a performing arts school as well as an academic school,’’ Mr Kearney said.
Waimakariri District Council community and recreation general manager Chris Brown said the council has just adopted a new arts strategy.
Recreation Sport and Leisure Consultancy Ltd has also been engaged to develop a network plan of facilities in the district and future needs.
Both pieces of work will feed into next year’s 2024-34 long-term plan.
‘‘If there is a need in the community, then the council will absolutely look at it, alongside drainage, roading and extending our libraries,’’ Brown said.
‘‘The arts are definitely on the council’s radar and we have had a clear direction from our mayor and from our community.’’
Mayor Dan Gordon said he was keen to hear more about the school’s proposal.
‘‘I’m a champion and strong supporter of the arts so personally I will be looking forward to seeing where this plan lands.’’
The district is well served for performing arts, with the council maintaining the Rangiora and Oxford town halls, while Mainpower Stadium can be retrofitted for concerts.
Kaiapoi High School also has a 340-seat auditorium.
Hartley School of Performing Arts director Dale Hartley-Brown said the idea ‘‘sounds exciting’’.
She regularly booked the Rangiora Town Hall’s 350-seat auditorium for productions and events, but the venue had its limitations.
‘‘We definitely need something bigger. An 800-seat auditorium would be so good, I could do less shows and still make budget.
‘‘We used the school hall after the earthquakes and the school was fantastic.’’
Timeframes, cost and how the project would be funded were still being worked out, Kearney said.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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Canterbury councils team up to tackle climate change
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
North Canterbury’s three councils have thrown their weight behind a plan to tackle climate change.
The Waimakariri, Hurunui and Kaikōura councils have endorsed the Canterbury Mayoral Forum’s draft climate partnership plan.
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon, who chairs the mayoral forum’s climate action reference group, said by working together larger councils could help the smaller councils.
‘‘Climate change doesn’t recognise territorial boundaries, so we need something that works across Canterbury.
‘‘Christchurch is further ahead, which is fantastic, and in Waimakariri we are developing our work programme.’’
The Waimakariri District Council adopted its natural environment strategy at a council meeting last week, after completing its consultation alongside the long-term plan.
The 30-year strategy aims to protect the district’s natural ecosystems and its special indigenous biodiversity.
Gordon said the mayors hoped to officially launch the Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan later this year and he planned to invite Climate Change Minister Simon Watts.
‘‘I have raised with the Minister about attending a public launch to provide some inspiration of what can be done in other regions.’’
The plan sets out 10 climate actions to help the 11 Canterbury councils prepare for ‘‘a sustainable future’’.
The actions included understanding climate risks and improving resilience, reducing emissions, adaptation planning, nature-based solutions, education and advocacy, supporting papatipu rūnanga, integrating climate change considerations into council processes, identifying co-funding opportunities, monitoring and evaluation, and implementation.
Hurunui mayor Marie Black said her council had endorsed the plan in principle.
The Hurunui District Council was represented on the climate action reference group by Councillor Dave Hislop, a dairy farmer.
‘‘Dave brings a pragmatic approach and he is grounded in farming principles,’’ Black said.
Hislop and other rural councillors had questioned aspects of the plan and science behind it, before giving their support, chief executive Hamish Dobbie said.
‘‘I think it has been through a robust process and councillors of all persuasions have been involved.
‘‘We might not 100% agree with everything, but it is important Canterbury stands together and is seen to be working together.
‘‘There is a desire for us to thrive and do well and loom large in the consciousness of the Government and the Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan is just one of those things which we are working on collectively.’’
Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said his council had endorsed the plan and budgeted for its contribution over the next three years in its long-term plan.
‘‘We believe it is a great initiative to be looking at the issues from a wider regional perspective.
‘‘We are very keen to see some tangible outcomes from the climate actions.’’
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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