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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Environment Canterbury (ECan) has adopted its revised representation review proposal after earlier agreeing to U-turn on plans to shift Ashburton's boundary.
But ECan chairperson Crag Pauling signalled the work isn’t finished at a council … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Environment Canterbury (ECan) has adopted its revised representation review proposal after earlier agreeing to U-turn on plans to shift Ashburton's boundary.
But ECan chairperson Crag Pauling signalled the work isn’t finished at a council meeting on Wednesday.
The review sets the constituency boundaries for the upcoming elections in 2025, but it has been recommended a full review take place before the 2028 elections.
Pauling backed the process the regional council had been through, but said "the process isn’t finished”.
The regional council’s decision is open to appeals before the Local Government Commission makes a final decision in April.
But the council’s decision also suggested it would be up to the next council to complete.
An earlier plan to revise boundary lines sparked protest from Ashburton's mayor who argued it would not provide effective representation for Ashburton District or rural communities.
ECan subsequently reversed the plan and decided to retain the status quo, aside from some boundary changes in Christchurch. It will recommend the next council undertakes a comprehensive representation review in three years.
It means the Ashburton District remains part of the Mid Canterbury/Ōpākihi constituency with the Selwyn District, rather than being merged with South Canterbury.
Christchurch Central/Ōhoko councillors Genevieve Robinson and Greg Byrnes, and Christchurch South/Ōwhanga Paul Dietsche voted against its adoption.
Robinson and Byrnes were aggrieved at losing 360,000 constituents in the Christchurch boundary changes that they felt weren’t consulted on.
Byrnes called it a gerrymander – “the manipulation of an electoral constituency boundary so as to favour one over another”.
Each councillor has one vote, but several councillors "represent far less numbers than others”.
He said he was appalled with the review outcome.
“You accept the unacceptable gerrymander in South Canterbury, while at the same time give a two-finger salute to the ratepayers and council of New Zealand's fastest-growing district.”
Robinson said the outcome undermined the process.
“What is the point of people coming forward and voting or giving opinion on something if the result is this?
“It’s not at all what people spoke about or submitted on.”
Mid Canterbury/Ōpākihi councillor John Sunckell said he was comfortable with retaining the status quo.
While there had been a strong push from the Selwyn District to become a stand-alone constituency, the challenges of having two people representing all of South Canterbury, with South Canterbury starting at the Rakaia River, “just was not tenable”.
Christchurch South/Ōwhanga councillor Vicky Southworth said she was swayed to the status quo as she was opposed to having just two representatives for 50% of Canterbury’s land area.
“Regional council is around natural resource management.
“That rural understanding and ability to connect with your councillor is actually really important.”
Addressing future representation around Selwyn’s continued growth will require some serious thinking,she said.
Deputy chairperson Deon Swiggs said it had been a full-on process and “you can never please everybody”.
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There's only a few differences between our larger chain supermarkets here in New Zealand. Having someone bag your groceries is one of them.
Does having your groceries packed for you at the checkout influence where you do your grocery shop? If so, tell us why.
As we come up to the festive season, a lot of us want to shop online and look for good bargains 🛍️🛒
Here’s a few tips to help you stay safe, avoid buying stolen property, and not get taken advantage of:
💸If it is too good to be true, it probably is, or it could be stolen property.
… View moreAs we come up to the festive season, a lot of us want to shop online and look for good bargains 🛍️🛒
Here’s a few tips to help you stay safe, avoid buying stolen property, and not get taken advantage of:
💸If it is too good to be true, it probably is, or it could be stolen property.
💸If it’s being sold as new, ask for the receipt for the warranty. If they can’t provide it, that’s a red flag.
💸Check the seller’s profile, is it new or relatively blank?
💸If you make a purchase and need to meet somebody to get it, choose somewhere well-lit and well populated in public, near CCTV. If it has to be somebody’s home, take someone with you and let someone else know where you’re going and when.
💸Be especially cautious when buying power tools or high-end toy brick building block sets.
Sadly, if you unknowingly buy stolen property, you’re aiding criminals and inadvertently supporting them to steal more.
If you find a suspect listing or social media scam, call 105, or report it with us online at 105.police.govt.nz
Using your car is convenient, except for finding parking.
Cycling lets you leave anytime, but you might arrive soaked.
So, neighbours, if public transport had the perk of being free, would it be your main way to commute?
The winners of the $100 Westfield vouchers are:
Patrice Hamilton from Sunnyhills
Lorraine Heffernan from Wigram
Rodney Norris from Papatoetoe
… View moreThe winners of the $100 Westfield vouchers are:
Patrice Hamilton from Sunnyhills
Lorraine Heffernan from Wigram
Rodney Norris from Papatoetoe
Lucy Ayres from Richmond
If you're a winner, get in touch here.
If you're not a winner this week, check back next week!
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Price: $25,000
We're proud to be named Best Provider Nationwide - for the fifth time - at the 2024 Aged Advisor People’s Choice Awards for Best Retirement Village and Aged Care Facilities.
The high ratings and reviews we receive from our residents and their families reflects the effort our team puts … View moreWe're proud to be named Best Provider Nationwide - for the fifth time - at the 2024 Aged Advisor People’s Choice Awards for Best Retirement Village and Aged Care Facilities.
The high ratings and reviews we receive from our residents and their families reflects the effort our team puts into providing the best possible experience for our residents.
Our passion is creating communities where our residents can thrive. Receiving this award for the fifth time tells us that we’re on the right track.
It’s easy to create your own colourful bird house from an old wooden box and some Resene testpots. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s roading contractor is improving, but not enough for councillors to grant a two year extension to its contract.
Instead, the contract will be put up for tender at the end of 2025, a decision that split the council and required mayor … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s roading contractor is improving, but not enough for councillors to grant a two year extension to its contract.
Instead, the contract will be put up for tender at the end of 2025, a decision that split the council and required mayor Neil Brown to use his casting vote.
“It puts the contractor on notice they need to lift the performance,” Brown said.
HEB was awarded the contract in 2020 and the five-year term ends on November 30, 2025.
A clause in the contract allows for a two-year extension if all parties agree and conditional on approval from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
HEB applied for the extension and it was approved by NZTA, but it failed to get a majority backing from councillors due to performance concerns.
The performance rating grade has shown a continued improvement – from a 58% score in the first year to 78% last year, but that wasn’t high enough for some.
“We are in year four and they are just achieving at 75%,” Brown said.
“It’s taking too long.
“Nowhere near 100% but we paid 100%. We haven’t been getting value for money.”
HEB has room to improve in their traffic management and efficiency, he said.
Chief executive Hamish Riach wanted the councillors to remain realistic in their expectations as a 100% performance score was “a myth” and unachievable.
Roading manager Mark Chamberlain said HEB came in fresh in 2020 and has now got a handle on the network.
“If it wasn’t improving, we wouldn’t be recommending a two-year extension.
“We are not dissatisfied with the work that HEB is doing, there are always some things in a maintenance contract that aren’t don’t quite as well as you want them to do and rework is needed.”
The contract extension was for an estimated $11m per year.
Councillor Rob Mackle said he was keen to take the gamble of going out for tender for an improved price, suggesting contractors were hungry for the work.
“I think it’s worth the risk.”
Councillor Russell Ellis urged caution on assumptions the tender will come in cheaper, as it could cost more.
Wilson put the motion for the contract to go out for tender next year, which was supported by Brown, Phill Hooper, Mackle, and Cameron.
Ellis, Tony Todd, Leen Braam, Lynette Lovett and Liz McMillan voted against the motion.
With the vote spit 5-5, mayor Brown used the casting vote to determine the contract will go out for tender as planned next year.
HEB will have the opportunity to retender.
Wilson said if they are “improving as well as we think they are, they’ll get the job”.
“We are not sacking them, we are just renegotiating what our expectations are.”
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Neil Brown has yet to decide if he will stand for a third term as Ashburton mayor.
A year out from the next local body elections, none of the elected members have confirmed their names will be on the ballot.
The next local body elections will be … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Neil Brown has yet to decide if he will stand for a third term as Ashburton mayor.
A year out from the next local body elections, none of the elected members have confirmed their names will be on the ballot.
The next local body elections will be held on October 11, 2025, with candidate nominations opening on July 4 and closing on August 1.
Brown, who celebrated 20 years of service to the Ashburton District Council this week, said he is yet to decide on standing for a third term, but has a timeframe in mind.
“I haven’t made a decision yet.
“I will probably mull it over during the Christmas break and make a decision by early March.”
Making an announcement a few months before nominations open will help other potential candidates with their planning and decision whether to run, he said.
Only two of the other elected members indicated it was likely they would stand again, but they stopped short of confirming it.
Deputy mayor Liz McMillan said she has been thinking about it and “there is a high chance I’ll stand again”.
“A year is a long time and you never know what can change.”
Councillor Russell Ellis, in his third term on the council, said he was “90% sure I’ll be standing”.
With the effects of long Covid finally fading, councillor Leen Braam said he is bouncing back, and “there is a lot of things to do before making any decision” to stand again.
Councillor Lynette Lovett said she planned to make a decision early next year on whether to run for a fourth term.
It is the same for second-term councillor Carolyn Cameron and the four first-term councillors.
Rob Mackle said he is focused on the current tasks at hand at the council and joined Tony Todd, Richard Wilson, and Phill Hooper in saying it was something they hadn’t seriously thought about yet.
The elected members aren’t the only ones tossing up their future next year, with chief executive Hamish Riach coming to the end of his contract in September 2025.
Riach said it was too far away to consider if he'll reapply.
“I’ve been focused on the work at hand at the moment.”
Riach became the chief executive in September 2018, after 17 years at the helm of the Crusaders super rugby franchise.
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Here are some items that have been recalled during September - October. Click on the blue title to learn more details about the recalled product.
Food recalls:
Farro Kitchen pulled lamb shank ragu (product may contain glass!)
ABC sweet soy sauce
Kelp & Seaweed Products (elevated level of … View moreHere are some items that have been recalled during September - October. Click on the blue title to learn more details about the recalled product.
Food recalls:
Farro Kitchen pulled lamb shank ragu (product may contain glass!)
ABC sweet soy sauce
Kelp & Seaweed Products (elevated level of arsenic!)
On The Go chip products
Pams cracked pepper salmon & Origin salmon
All Good Barista Oat Milk
Product recalls:
Toyota Pruis model years 2022-2024
Brompton t line bike
John Deere 1023ev tractor
Suzuki GSX1300RRQ model years 2020-2024
UVC Disinfection Unit Purifier
Kia EV9 model years 2024-2025
Polaris xp kinetic ranger
Cummins diesel engine
Mazda models years 2013-2020
We hope this update was helpful to you and your whānau.
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