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A huge congratulations to mother and son duo, Mary and Sam Danielson from The Puketapu Hotel.
The votes for all finalists have been tallied and they have been chosen by Neighbourly members across the country as the Prospa Local Business Hero of 2024.
The Puketapu Hotel was nominated by a … View moreA huge congratulations to mother and son duo, Mary and Sam Danielson from The Puketapu Hotel.
The votes for all finalists have been tallied and they have been chosen by Neighbourly members across the country as the Prospa Local Business Hero of 2024.
The Puketapu Hotel was nominated by a local called Margaret and the nomination reads:
'On Feb 14, 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle flooded many of the rural areas. Puketapu Hotel went under perhaps half a meter of water. However, immediately Mary Danielson and her son, Sam Danielson, along with their loyal staff pulled it together to cook copious amounts of food that without electricity would have been wasted. Throughout the years many of us have been treated with a pub gathering where we can reconnect and a free meal. At Christmas there was Santa, games, gifts for kids, donated patchwork for adults, an ice cream truck and lots of camaraderie.
This February on the cyclone anniversary, they again pulled out the stops to give hundreds of us a special night. We are all tired of the cyclone cleanup and they understood that it was needed.'
Such a deserving business and team, well done Mary and Sam. And thank you to all those who voted!
Ryman Healthcare offers the very best of retirement living and aged care with retirement villages throughout New Zealand. You'll find Ryman retirement villages near you, each with a unique personality and a range of living and care options. Gain a lifestyle you can thrive in and connect with … View moreRyman Healthcare offers the very best of retirement living and aged care with retirement villages throughout New Zealand. You'll find Ryman retirement villages near you, each with a unique personality and a range of living and care options. Gain a lifestyle you can thrive in and connect with like-minded people in a welcoming community.
In addition to independent and assisted living, Ryman villages offer a range of care options. Depending on the village, the levels of care we provide include rest home, hospital, specialist dementia care, and respite care. In some instances we may also be able to offer rest home care in an assisted-living apartment. This option enables you to remain in your own apartment but with a little extra support.
Click read more for the full article.
Create a colourful bouquet that won’t need watering. Get the whole family involved and let everyone choose their favourite Resene testpot colours to finish their flowers.
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Now is your chance to dress up your walls and save 25% off* the extensive range of Resene wallpapers available at your local Resene ColorShop! Patterned or bold, textured or neutral – there’s something to suit all tastes. Offer ends 17 June 2024.
* Discount off the normal retail price at … View moreNow is your chance to dress up your walls and save 25% off* the extensive range of Resene wallpapers available at your local Resene ColorShop! Patterned or bold, textured or neutral – there’s something to suit all tastes. Offer ends 17 June 2024.
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Get the best protection you can before winter. The flu vaccine is free if you’re over 65. It’s also free for pregnant people and for many others with certain underlying health conditions, including diabetes, heart and lung diseases, and mental health conditions.
To book your flu vaccine … View moreGet the best protection you can before winter. The flu vaccine is free if you’re over 65. It’s also free for pregnant people and for many others with certain underlying health conditions, including diabetes, heart and lung diseases, and mental health conditions.
To book your flu vaccine contact your doctor, pharmacy or healthcare provider, or visit our website.
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This comprehensive guide is researched, written and produced by an … View moreWe believe kiwis should have unbiased hearing device information.
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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Pilots are opting for paddocks over Ashburton Airport after the council made it one of the "most expensive small provincial airfields" to train and fly at, users say.
The Ashburton District Council, which owns the recreational, … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Pilots are opting for paddocks over Ashburton Airport after the council made it one of the "most expensive small provincial airfields" to train and fly at, users say.
The Ashburton District Council, which owns the recreational, grass-runway airport, hiked and changed the fees for pilots in a bid to increase profits.
It was part of a 30-year plan to reduce the burden on ratepayers having to subsidise the airfield.
However, the council has been told it has had the opposite effect, with a drop in planes using the airport since the fees were introduced at the start of the 2023-24 financial year.
Several submitters to the long-term plan said the airport lost 1700 aircraft movements in the last year because of the higher fees and reputational damage.
Pilot Michael Oakley said bad management decisions and poor communication from the council had caused the marked reduction in landings, and something needed to change before it’s too late.
“The decisions that are being made by this council are being talked about all over New Zealand and it is having a rippling effect across airfield users.”
Another submitter, Michael Thomas, described a “toxic situation” developing at the airport and suggested the management of the airfield be taken over by a user-group committee – like the boards that run some of the district’s halls and reserves.
“There are empty hangers in Ashburton right now because people are going.”
Pilots were landing in private strips in paddocks instead, he said.
Submitter Neville Bailey said that last year the fees were raised significantly, the bulk annual landing fee was abolished, and a touch-and-go fee was introduced.
The changes made Ashburton "one of the most expensive small provincial airfields to train and fly at in New Zealand”.
The result had been a significant drop off in landings and the fee structure needed to be reassessed, he said.
Mid Canterbury Aero Club Graham Closey said the council inadvertently decreased the revenue from aircraft and is concerned the proposed changes would make things worse.
“It needs to be fair for everybody and reasonable because there is only a certain price point you can go to before people start turning their nose up.”
Club secretary and treasurer David Wright argued the community benefit from the airfield made it “reasonable to ask the community to contribute”.
Ashburton Aviation Museum’s Owen Moore did not want the museum based at the airport to be seen as a cash cow.
The museum was concerned the council’s pursuit of making the airport operate at no cost to the ratepayers “could see the museum as a cash cow and up the rent and rates to levels that make the museum unsustainable”.
Their storage hangar was facing a rental increase of 75%, he said.
As one of the premier tourist attractions in the district and in recognition of what they do for the community, Moore wants acceptable rates locked into the long-term plan to provide certainty.
Business support group manager Leanne Macdonald said the council “don’t feel it is a toxic environment”.
“Our aim has always been to balance the needs of a small user group against the amount of general rates required to top up and operate the airport.
“We all want a vibrant airport that can grow in an orderly way, without relying too much on ratepayers.”
The council will address the claims made in the hearings and any changes to the fee structure during its long-term plan deliberations this week.
Our Tuesday prize draw is here and the following members have won a $50 movie voucher:
Nazim Molla from Te Atatu South
Cassie Stirling from Napier
Jacob Ferris from Saint Martins
… View moreOur Tuesday prize draw is here and the following members have won a $50 movie voucher:
Nazim Molla from Te Atatu South
Cassie Stirling from Napier
Jacob Ferris from Saint Martins
Shania Kenny from Woolston
Are you a winner? Get in touch with our Neighbourly team here to claim your prize.
Not a winner this time? Come back each Tuesday and we will have ongoing prize draws and more winners!
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Mid Canterbury Rugby wants to shift across town to a “premium facility”.
And it wants the Ashburton District Council to help it do it.
Mid Canterbury Rugby Union chairperson Gerard Rushton (pictured) presented a personal submission to the … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Mid Canterbury Rugby wants to shift across town to a “premium facility”.
And it wants the Ashburton District Council to help it do it.
Mid Canterbury Rugby Union chairperson Gerard Rushton (pictured) presented a personal submission to the council’s long-term plan last week and spoke of the union's desire to establish a new base at the EA Networks Centre.
Rugby and the council needed to start to plan for the EA Networks Centre greenspace development as rugby’s “present tenure at the showgrounds is unstable with the financial viability of the A&P association”, Rushton said.
“Rugby has funds ready to go and invest now, but council seems reluctant to future-proof the community by providing this facility.
“We are probably the only sport in Mid Canterbury that has concentrated on building a balance sheet to ensure we have got a future and that is probably to our detriment.
“The sports that haven’t concentrated to strengthen their balance sheet to ensure their future just get looked after by the council.”
He called for the “equitable development” of the EA Networks Centre for all sports.
Rugby was the biggest sport in the district “but the council won’t actually help them out”.
“We have other sports they are prepared to fund a whole new building for. Is that equitable?
“We just have to give everyone the same deal”.
In building the EA Networks Centre, Rushton said the council set a precedent of building facilities for sports without the sports contributing capital.
Extending the EA Networks Centre sets that precedent again while the rugby union has been told it would have to contribute 50% of the capital to fund developing a facility in the green space, he said.
Rugby involved 25% of the community on any given Saturday and was the only Heartland union that did not have a council-provided facility, he said.
The council will hold a separate hearing on the EA Networks 30-year master plan in June.
Rugby wasn’t the only sport to make a plea to the council in the long-term plan.
Basketball Mid Canterbury’s Mark Douglas submitted in support of the proposed stadium court extension, although he would prefer it sooner than construction in 2029.
Basketball has no problems finding players but struggles finding court space, he said.
The growth of basketball has wider impacts, as the recent hosting of the under 14 tournament was estimated to have contributed $750,000 to the local economy, Douglas said.
More courts means bigger tournaments and a bigger input into the economy, he said.
It was a similar message from Netball Mid Canterbury.
President Angela Mitchell said netball was thriving, but operating at capacity with the available court space, turning away players and teams this year.
Netball committed to being based at EA Networks Centre when it opened, moving all netball indoors. It has no plans to go back outside, and has benefitted with a growth in numbers that has now hit a ceiling.
Additional courts would allow them to continue to grow but would also benefit other indoor sports, she said.
“We don’t want to dominate all of those courts.
“It’s not just about netball, we want to be able to play alongside other sports.”
Former Sport Mid Canterbury boss Jan Cochrane presented her plea to extend EA Networks Stadium with concerns about demand and cost escalations by 2029.
“As time moves on the dollars move up. We’ve seen it on the bridge.
“There would be a [rates] increase but to delay would be a massive increase.”
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A proposed $200m equine stud and equestrian training centre at Lake Hood near Ashburton has the go-ahead.
Commissioner Graham Taylor granted Southern Parallel Equine Centre Limited (SPEC) land use consent, subject to conditions, on Thursday.
It … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A proposed $200m equine stud and equestrian training centre at Lake Hood near Ashburton has the go-ahead.
Commissioner Graham Taylor granted Southern Parallel Equine Centre Limited (SPEC) land use consent, subject to conditions, on Thursday.
It had already received resource consent approval from Environment Canterbury in March.
Project director Catherine Stuart could not be reached last week, but on social media said her team’s long-term focus, strength of purpose, commitment and enduring patience have been rewarded.
“Other than a few conditions placed on SPEC, we have approval to move forward with our ground-breaking plans to bring growth, opportunity, and revenues to the Ashburton region.
“The SPEC team looks forward to supporting and further developing the equestrian sector in the region and wider realms.
“The team looks forward to the work ahead to establish SPEC, ensuring future successes towards confirming Ashburton as an equestrian sports horse destination.”
After “‘jumping’ the hurdles” to get resource consent, the next step is getting building consent.
The plan is to develop the 65ha of land next to Lake Hood and SPEC wants to start construction later this year for an expected opening before the end of 2025.
According to the consent documents, the equine centre would feature an indoor horse sale centre, veterinary clinic, stables with 650 stalls and training arenas as well as fields for show jumping, dressage, eventing, polo training, and grazing pastures.
It was estimated the project would create 850 jobs during construction, and once fully operational would employ 160 people.
Stage two would be an SPC Life Skills and Education Centre, the foundation of the project, built on a separate site.
The consent came with 30 conditions, including that the conditions can be reviewed annually by the Ashburton District Council.
Taylor was satisfied with the proposed 25 calendar day limit for events, with events classified as having over 50 visitors and each event requires a traffic management plan.
All horse manure needs to be cleaned out from the stable areas and disposed of off-site daily and cannot be stored outside the stables.
A proposed condition limiting residential activity on site was requested by submitters but as no consent was sought for any other residential use, Taylor was unable to place further conditions on residential use that has not been applied for.
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People associate bullying with children in schools, but it can actually stretch beyond childhood to workplaces or neighbourhoods.
This Friday is Pink Shirt Day, which began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing … View morePeople associate bullying with children in schools, but it can actually stretch beyond childhood to workplaces or neighbourhoods.
This Friday is Pink Shirt Day, which began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. People across the globe are now encouraged to wear pink on this day to take a stand against bullying and promote inclusivity.
Have you or your whānau ever experienced bullying? Share your thoughts on Pink Shirt Day below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
Building framed bunk beds and finishing with curtains, Resene Indian Ink and Resene Colorwood Bark elevates the bach classic. Kids also love them at home. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
We are continuing our Q&A sessions on Neighbourly. This week we have the amazing Sacha Green from Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand (CABNZ) who will be answering your questions about your renting rights.
A little bit about Sacha:
She has been working for CABNZ for 10 years and is … View moreWe are continuing our Q&A sessions on Neighbourly. This week we have the amazing Sacha Green from Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand (CABNZ) who will be answering your questions about your renting rights.
A little bit about Sacha:
She has been working for CABNZ for 10 years and is passionate about empowering people with knowledge of their rights as well as ensuring access to justice.
She helps support the team of over 2,000 trained volunteers who deliver the CAB service in 80 neighbourhoods around Aotearoa by providing advice and support at a national level on a wide range of issues. One of Sacha’s work areas is leading the CAB’s social justice work on housing and tenancy issues.
Whether you're a flatmate, landlord, boarder or flatmate, you can leave a comment below and Sacha will share an answer on Wednesday from 9.30am. You may want to ask about notice periods, bond fulfillment, reasonable rent increases, or even whose responsibility it is to deal with mould in the home.
Join Sacha here on Wednesday at 9.30am. See you then!.
⇩ Share your question below ⇩
Moving to a retirement village marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities waiting to be explored. Naturally, you want to share this journey with your beloved furry companion, and at Ryman, you are welcome to bring your pet along, provided they are suitable for the village … View moreMoving to a retirement village marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities waiting to be explored. Naturally, you want to share this journey with your beloved furry companion, and at Ryman, you are welcome to bring your pet along, provided they are suitable for the village environment.
Once your pet is approved for the village, the focus shifts to ensuring a smooth transition for them. Dogs and cats, being creatures of habit, may find relocating stressful. However, with patience and a thoughtful approach, we can mitigate their anxiety and help them settle into their new surroundings seamlessly.
For more tips click read more.
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