Funding boost to monitor native birds
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A project to monitor native birds on the Ashley Rakahuri River has received a funding boost from the Waimakariri Zone Committee.
The Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group will receive $9000 from the zone committee’s 2023-24 action plan budget to assist with the costs of its shorebird monitoring.
The group extended its monitoring efforts last year, engaging a postgraduate student from the University of Canterbury to undertake the work.
The project monitored banded dotterel/turiwhatu, pied stilt (poaka), black-fronted and white-fronted tern/tarapirohe and tara, South Island pied oystercatcher/tōrea and black-billed and black-backed gull/tarāpuka and karoro.
Zone committee chairperson Carolyne Latham said the rivercare group had been working to protect native birds on the river and estuary for several years.
"You have to admire them for getting on with the work," she said.
"We are pleased to be contributing to the extension of that work which will expand the data that we have on the birds."
The rivercare group has been working with Eleanor Gunby, who is studying for a masters of science degree under the supervision of Professor Jim Briskie.
The project was the first to receive funding for the new financial year.
The funding has increased from $50,000 to $75,000 this year and Latham said the committee was keen to hear from other groups working on projects to enhance the environment and water ways.
"We want to hit the ground running this year and so we encourage groups to get in contact with the zone committee if they have a project."
She said the action plan budget funding was similar to the "immediate steps" funding, which zone committees had allocated in the past, but it had greater flexibility.
"We have more scope to support a wider range of projects and an example of this is a water monitoring project by the Waimakariri Landcare Trust, which wouldn’t have qualified under the immediate steps funding. Identifying where groundwater and surface water monitoring is happening in the zone is something we have been talking about at the zone committee for a while.
"We are delighted the trust is proceeding with the project, which will also trial nitrate testing in private wells."
The Waimakariri Landcare Trust’s monitoring project received $26,400 out of the $50,000 available in the zone committee’s 2022-23 action plan budget.
The Waimakariri Zone Committee is a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Photo: Banded dotterels (pohowera) pictured on on the the Ashley-Rakahuri River. Photo supplied by Grant Davey of the Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group
Secure your homes over summer
Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.
Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”
Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”
If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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72.5% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16.4% Hmm, maybe?
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11.1% Yes!
Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.
We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?
Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.
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90.5% Yes
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9.5% No
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