Selwyn Times: October 09, 2018

SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Wednesday October 10 2018 15
Local
News
Now
Fire rages, homes at risk
Population’s increasing diversity
At the Famous Grouse,
all you need to do is park
your van on Williams St
and the problem is solved
or get the district council
to remove that one car park
giving a clearer line of
sight.
I have mentioned this
problem before to the
district council but nothing
ever seems to be done.
Come on people – sort it
out before a child gets killed.
Readers respond to
Senior Constable Andy
Williamson giving a
sobering message at
the Famous Grouse
Hotel in Lincoln
Jed Knight – Great to
see them being proactive
rather than reactive.
Heather MacKay –
About time too.
Selwyn MP Amy Adam
writes about Selwyn’s
growing diversity and how
its changed over time
I ATTENDED CultureFest,
along with my colleague
Melissa Lee, the National
Party spokeswoman for ethnic
communities.
This event was held at the
Lincoln Event Centre, and
was organised by the district
council, in partnership with
the Christchurch Multicultural
Council.
As has been the case in previous
years, it was a very successful
day, showcasing music and
dance performances, arts and
crafts and delicious food from a
variety of different cultures.
Over the past decade, Selwyn
has been one of the fastest growing
regions in New Zealand.
Between 2008 and 2017 the
population of Selwyn District
grew by 55.2 per cent, which
means an additional 21,100 people
moved into the region. This is
roughly the same as adding the
population of the town of Ashburton,
which is around 20,000,
to Selwyn.
While many of those people
who have moved to Selwyn
have come from suburban
Amy Adams
Selwyn MP
BRIGHT: Kabaddi demonstration players at the CultureFest
2018.
Christchurch or from other
regions of the South Island, we
are also welcoming newcomers
from around the globe.
Historically, Selwyn has been
less ethnically diverse than
other regions around New
Zealand, with over 90 per cent
of our residents identifying as
European, and this can make it
more challenging for those from
different backgrounds to feel at
home here.
However, we are seeing
increasing diversity amongst
our younger population with
80 per cent of our school pupils
here in Selwyn recorded as
European, 10 per cent Maori,
4.5 per cent Asian, 1.8 per cent
Pacific Peoples and 1.2 per cent
Middle Eastern, Latin American
or African.
For people coming to live in
Selwyn from other countries and
other cultural backgrounds, and
for whom English is not a first
language, I can only imagine
how challenging it must be to
adjust to life in a strange new
place.
However, I hope for those of
you who have experienced this
that you have felt warmly welcomed
by the local community.
From my own perspective it
seems that here in Selwyn we
do generally do a great job of
welcoming newcomers from all
backgrounds and helping people
feel part of our communities.
CultureFest is about celebrating
our region’s growing
diversity, learning about our
neighbours and experiencing the
amazing richness of culture in its
broadest sense.
This is one of my favourite
events on the Selwyn calendar
and I am sure that many others
feel the same, so if you missed it
this year, make sure you put it on
your must-do list for next year.
GOLD
CARD
LUNCHES
MON - FRI
Woodfired Pizzas / Full Menu •
$20 Pizzas Mon / Tues •
$7 Beers 4-6pm Every day •
Gaming Room •
Tues Quiz Nights •
$15 Burgers Wed •
$15 Curry Thurs / Fri •
Roasts every lunch and Sunday nights $22 •
Function room - Fundraisers/private dining •
Takeaways Available •
Open 7 days Coffee/Lunch/Dinner
Open 11.30am Mon-Sat | Ph 03 421 6481
Sunday Breakfast from 9am
West Melton Village, Weedons Ross Road
www.twofatpossums.co.nz
Courtesy Van available
SUNDAY4 NOVEMBER 2018
21.1km, 10km, 5km, 1400m Kids Dash
www.selwynsportstrust.org.nz
Incorporating the Athletics Canterbury Half Marathon Championship
An Athletics New Zealand Sanctioned Event