Nor'West News: October 02, 2018

NOR’WEST NEWS Tuesday October 2 2018 7
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Your Local Views
Children are our present
Neighbourhood
Trust manager
Ginny Larsen
talks about
what children
in Mairehau
would like to
see in their
community
– from whanau hang-out
spaces to colourful murals
OFTEN YOU hear the phrase,
‘children are our future’.
I’d like to challenge that statement
by saying, ‘children are our
present’ and yet they are rarely
asked for their opinions, hopes
and dreams.
Through my work with Neighbourhood
Trust and Te Ora Hou
in the Children’s Voices project,
I’ve found that children have
important things to tell us.
They told us they wanted
colour and vibrancy in their environment;
they wanted people to
be kind to each other; they wanted
people to take responsibility
for things like their dogs and
rubbish; they wanted more family
friendly areas where whanau can
hang out together.
These are simple things, and yet
imagine a world where this vision
became a reality. Wouldn’t we all
love that?
I firmly believe that if we put
children at the centre of our
planning, our city will be a place
KIDS CHOICE: The mural at the entrance of Mairehau Primary
School. Pupils chose to have the school’s motto – Respect,
Believe, Aspire, Achieve – on the mural.
in which people will want to
live – that what is good for our
children, is good for adults too.
An example of this is the colourful
mural painted on a shop
wall at the entrance to Mairehau
Primary School.
It was an idea the children had,
and our community endorsed,
that is now a positive space for
everyone.
It was the children who asked
for their school motto – Respect,
Believe, Aspire, Achieve – to be
part of the mural. What great
words to have emblazoned on the
wall of a hang-out space.
When we take the time to ask
children what they think, we are
often amazed at how astute they
are.
I remember asking children
from our after-school programme
to help choose some
play/exercise style equipment.
Some that we thought looked
cool, they were able to say, ‘yeah,
but they get slippery and no-one
uses them much after a while’.
They preferred some of the
wooden equipment as it could
be used in a number of different
ways imaginatively.
How many mistakes could be
averted by simply asking the end
user?
So next time your organisation
is project planning, how about
including children on the team?
You’ll be glad you did.
Local
News
Now
Fire rages, homes at risk
Conflict over bus project
•From page 1
Mr Stringer voted against the
proposal.
Ms Jones said Mr Stringer
needed “clarification” about the
process of the proposal.
“As a relatively new member
of the board he just needed
clarification regarding the
process. Emma [Norrish], me
and ward staff spent a lot of time
before the meeting to ensure it
went as smoothly as possible,”
she said.
“We all understood this but
it can be difficult for someone
quite new to local politics to
follow so we supported John to
understand it.”
Mr Stringer said he was
surprised at Ms Jones’ comments
Triple threat at nationals
•From page 1
Sian won the all-round title in
her level at the Singapore Prime
Invitational last year and also
took out a title at last year’s New
Zealand national champs. She
has just recovered from a broken
foot.
“The preparation hasn’t been
ideal with my broken foot slowing
me down, especially since
I kept training on it for three
weeks before being diagnosed,”
she said.
Luke is a level eight gymnast
aimed at him. “We all strictly
agreed together as colleagues
there would be no comment
about the meeting or what was
said,” he said. “I’m disappointed
my chairwoman appears to have
breached that commitment we
all made.”
Ms Jones did not respond to
Mr Stringer’s comments that the
meeting was confidential.
Mr Stringer said the proposal
would “destroy” Papanui Village.
“The radical changes to Papanui
are proposed to make bus
commuting faster northward
. . . such benefits do not justify
such radical changes. I personally
hope city councillors reject
the project . . . I will be lobbying
strongly they do.”
and is the Canterbury champion
for his level. He has represented
Canterbury for the past five years.
Luke is also coaching junior
gymnasts.
Cole finished second at the
Canterbury senior gymnastic
competition in August and won
the pommel horse and parallel
bars.
Both Cole and Luke hope to
make the finals in at least one
apparatus.
Cole also helps his brother to
coach junior gymnasts.