Noel
“I took to bikes from a very young age, I got into Penny Farthing riding when I was 12. There were Penny Farthing races happening in Oamaru and I asked a guy if I could have a go on one. Half an hour later, I won my first race, and six months later, I built my first Penny Farthing from scratch. I’ve built about 56 Penny Farthings in my time, there are bikes of mine all over the world.
I'm the type that has a bike for every kind of cycling. There are project bikes, I always tend to have projects on the go. I work as much as possible with recycled materials, so I'll have all these projects going, but they may be completely still until such a resource is available. I grew up in a household with a workshop. We strapped a chainsaw to a Raleigh 20 and ripped around the neighborhood, so I was very familiar with motorized bikes.
I love e-bikes as a great form of transport. I can get out to places that would literally be out of my range on a normal bike, I just don't have quite the same steam as I used to. And e-bikes make even the hills flat, I love the freedom I have.
After the earthquakes there was a major issue with bike theft. At one point, we were losing over 200 bikes a week in Christchurch. I started the stolen bikes group on Facebook with the mission of trying to combat it, that's been going solidly for the last 10 years.
Back then, bikes were maybe two grands worth that were getting pinched. Nowadays you've got bikes that are worth more than cars so it's become even more critical that groups like mine exist. I'd love it if we didn't need to exist, but unfortunately, we do. We’re getting multiple bikes back, empowering people, teaching people how to secure their bikes. We're actually making a difference.
We have a zero tolerance for people asking for money, no one's allowed to accept rewards at all. If people insist on giving rewards, we say, give it to charity. It's cyclists helping cyclists, that’s how it should be. I like the fact that Christchurch is one of those cities that if you break down on the side road, another cyclist will stop for you. Christchurch really is a bike city.”
Do you recognise these men?
Christchurch Police are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the two males pictured.
Police would like to speak to these two males in relation to an incident that occurred on Wainoni Road on 31 October.
If you recognise these people or have any information, please contact Police on 105, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 251031/1056.
Have you seen Rowena?
Police are urgently appealing for sightings of Rowena, 39, reported missing from Christchurch.
She was reported missing to Police on 22 October 2025, and was last seen on 14 August 2025. Rowena hasn’t been in contact with her children and her family are worried for her safety.
Police investigating her disappearance have identified her as being in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch in the recent months prior to her missing person report being made.
If you have seen Rowena, or have any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact us immediately.
You can contact us via 105 either over the phone or online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” and referencing file number 251022/9026.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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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72.6% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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17.7% Hmm, maybe?
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9.7% Yes!
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