Nor'West News: February 21, 2017

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6 City councillor Yani Johanson writes about the value of diversity in our society Tuesday February 21 2017 Your Local Views Diversity enriches city At a time when the world is coming closer together through cheaper long distance travel and greater connectivity via the internet, it feels like there is more conflict and chaos than ever before. Whether it’s the huge number of refugees fleeing war zones or the fear-based politics of Donald Trump and Brexit, it is a time of great concern for where we are heading as humans. As such, I believe we have to ask ourselves why is this happening? And, more importantly, how can we stop this from happening? Last week, in my role as city councillor, I had the privilege of being involved in two positive things to address this. First, at the city council we have signed off on a multicultural strategy, which recognises “the council has a leadership role in making Christchurch a city where CELEBRATION: The city council’s new multi-cultural strategy recognises Christchurch’s diversity. PHOTO: DEB WILSON diversity is welcomed and celebrated.” This strategy has been long overdue and is a fantastic start on a journey towards being a more inclusive place. Second, I was asked to speak at the opening of the Friendship Force national conference. Friendship Force is a voluntary group with mission values including mutual respect, cultural diversity, cultural exploration and service. Its members do this by opening their homes and hearts to host visitors from other cities and countries throughout the world. They have done an amazing job bringing people to our city even after the devastating impact of the earthquakes. The work they do and the work the city council has done on the multicultural strategy is based on a simple premise that we all have a common bond of being human and that we all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. In my view, when people are afraid of the unknown, scared of difference or lacking understanding, I believe the world is fundamentally a worse off place to live. And yet, when we provide opportunities for dialogue and communication, for living and learning and for understanding and sharing, we are creating a better world, a better country and a better city. In essence, we are creating a community that celebrates and cherishes difference rather than being scared of it. NOR’WEST NEWS Free dental care extended •From page 1 The hospital had worked towards opening these clinics for more than a year and Ms Graham said it had been a drawn-out process so it’s good to see the clinics finally opening for people to get the help they need. Since opening in 2007, the hospital has also offered free general surgery, orthopaedic care, family planning and counselling services to people who could not otherwise access them. The new clinics will be opened by Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust patron and former Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae. The opening on Saturday will be attended by Mayor Lianne Dalziel, city councillor Aaron Keown and Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board member Aaron Campbell as well as volunteer oral surgeons, dentists and support staff. It will be held between 10.15 and 11.45am, at 349-353 Harewood Rd. HELPING US, HELPS THE COMMUNITY Drop off or buy 2 family stores in your community 30 Main North Rd, Ph 352 4581 520 Cranford St, Ph 352 0515 south Island superstock champs + southern saloon serIes saturdaY februarY 25 th 7pm start 27 of the best entries from around nz including red waka racings 2nz Jordan dare & wayne hemi the place to be thIs summer! doubledaYs road kaIapoI InfolIne 03 364 8833 www.woodfordglen.co.nz
NOR’WEST NEWS Tuesday February 21 2017 7 News Tags likened to ‘cat pee’ PARKING • By Julia Evans TAGS HAVE been likened to cats marking their territory as north-west suburbs see a rise in graffiti. Of the 15 north-west suburbs, St Albans, Shirley and Papanui make up the majority of recorded graffiti incidents by city council graffiti removal contractor Intergroup. Its statistics show 47 per cent of tagging in the northwest happened in St Albans alone during April and May last year. Local businessman and Papanui-Innes Community Board member John Stringer is fed up with seeing graffiti in the area and has labelled it “cat pee.” “(These) ‘cats’ selfishly tag our community fences, bus stops, utilities, shops, churches and residential fences like tomcats marking their territory,” he said. Mr Stringer said there was one particular tagger in St Albans who had vandalised the new Rugby Park facilities, St Albans Pharmacy, Beulah Church and dozens of homes. Even with the city council’s comprehensive anti-graffiti programme, Mr Stringer said there should be a more interventionist bylaw at local level to fix the issue. “It’s a nonsense to wrap war memorials in perspex sheets to deter vandalism. We have to address this at the source. I want to be more creative in our responses.” He will be bringing it to the attention of the board at the next meeting, but said they need to get people and businesses to report graffiti more urgently. Local businesses and residents with graffiti should immediately inform the city council by phone, email or through its Snap, Send, Solve app and its will remove it within 48 hours, he said. FED UP: John Stringer is tired of seeing his community covered in tags. In Brief RESTRICTIONS No-stopping restrictions will be placed on the Bethel Cres and Farrington Ave intersection in Bishopdale. The community requested the restrictions because of visibility problems exiting Bethel Cres when cars are parked on the corner of Farrington Ave. The restrictions were approved at last week’s Fendalton-Waimairi- Harewood Community Board meeting. DANCING SISTERS St Albans sisters, Kate and Tessa Holmes, have received funding from the Fendalton-Waimairi- Harewood Community Board. Tessa was granted $300 to go towards her participation in the New Zealand School of Dance Associates Programme in Wellington. Kate received $250 to attend the same programme. The programme is for ballet and contemporary dance students working towards a career in dance performance. ROAD UPDATE Road closures on Edgeware Rd between Lindsay St and Allard St for repairs to a wastewater main have been extended until the end of March due to difficult ground conditions on Edgeware Rd. Central City Transport Projects Update If you haven’t been along Manchester or Durham Streets lately, take a closer look. For people who drive these streets regularly, thank you for your patience. 2 3 1 Hospital Corner – Tuam Street (Durham to Antigua Streets) and St Asaph Street (Hagley Avenue to Antigua Street) Starting Feb/Mar 2017 • Work on the remaining blocks begins on 27 February. There will be separated cycle lanes and more street lighting and plantings on both of these key east–west one-way streets. • On Tuam Street a high quality bus stop between Hagley Avenue and Antigua Street adjacent to the hospital will provide better public transport amenities at the busiest stop in the city. 2 Durham Street – Kilmore to Tuam Street Finishing late 2017 • This street will have two lanes of southbound traffic and on-street parking on the western side. There will be a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians on the eastern side beside the Ōtākaro/ Avon River. • Trees, landscaping and rain gardens will improve the streetscape and suit the slower speed environment. 3 Manchester Street – Lichfield to Kilmore Street Finishing late 2017 • This section of Manchester Street is becoming a tree-lined boulevard beside the East Frame residential development. • It will be the main north-south public transport corridor in the central city, with bus priority and a high quality bus stop. • Widening the street by nine metres will provide room for cars, buses and a wide shared pavement for pedestrians and cyclists. • Changes to the traffic directions around Hospital Corner and the closure of 600 metres of Oxford Terrace near the Antigua Boatsheds were finished in 2015. 1 PLAN AHEAD FOR PARKING BY VISITING CCC.GOVT.NZ (SEARCH ‘PARKING’). Thank you for your patience. Please keep supporting central city businesses. Work starts soon to improve traffic flow, cycle and pedestrian access, and introduce trees, landscaping and rain gardens. Cross-section showing how Durham Street will look when finished. Artist impression giving a sense of how Manchester Street will look when finished. For information about other transport projects and impacts visit Transport for Christchurch at tfc.govt.nz E: info@otakaroltd.co.nz P: 03 357 6300 W: otakaroltd.co.nz Manchester Street taking shape – looking north from Hereford Street intersection. New paving installed on Manchester Street – looking north.
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Nor'West News: February 21, 2017

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