Selwyn Times: August 07, 2019

12 Wednesday August 7 2019
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Our People
‘I get the chance
to inspire the
next generation’
•From page 11
I like to have the ability
to share and inspire in an
industry that I am really
passionate about. I teach into
the sport and exercise degree
and sport psychology and
health psychology. I’ve seen a
lot of the world and worked
with some amazing athletes
and now I get the chance to
inspire the next generation of
people going into that industry
and that’s really cool. My
first boss was New Zealand
Olympic Committee chief
executive and secretary general
Kereyn Smith. She encouraged
me to do what I wanted to do
at the New Zealand Academy
of Sport. I think the industry is
amazing but you don’t get into
it to make money.
What do you think is the
biggest challenge at the
Selwyn Sports Trust?
It’s about cementing our
position in the region and being
more visible. One of the best
things is our physical activators
in schools, which allows kids
to have an opportunity in sport
and recreation, regardless of
whether they are in the top tier
of talent. It’s about giving kids
positive experiences in sport
because we know that leads on
to life-long participation, so to
have a programme that allows
that is fantastic. Too many kids
have negative experiences in
sport at school and that sticks
with them for life. The fact we
have a Thursday sport model
year 5-8, where they can try
everything from cross fit to
martial arts to rippa rugby, it
all feeds into that participation
cycle and not a competitive
cycle. I want kids to stay in
sport longer because they won’t
burn out and that’s what I’m
passionate about, especially in
that drop-off of 14 to 17-yearolds.
We have to find other
ways to engage people in sport
and it doesn’t have to be in
the typical Saturday model. If
kids can play multiple sports,
the cream will still rise to
the top and there needs to be
unstructured play, as well as
structured stuff. I don’t think it
will affect the top level of sport,
it may give us more players to
choose from.
Checking homes are up to scratch
in a booming building sector
THE DISTRICT’S building
boom has led to a growing need
for experts to check houses
before they are bought.
Property inspections are a key
part of the construction industry
as the district’s population of
60,000 is expected to grow by 33
per cent in the next 10 years.
The Selwyn Times revealed
last week just over 17,000 more
houses will be built in the district
over the next 30 years – with a
target of 8600 by 2028.
Well-known Selwyn builder
Jeremy ‘Brownie’ Brown has
launched a business called
Kiwi Building Inspections Ltd,
which specialises in property
inspections.
The business was conceived
after he received a number
of requests from friends and
associates to complete building
inspections for them. After 30
years of working on and running
construction projects, it was a
natural progression to utilise
his knowledge and experience
from a different perspective, Mr
Brown said.
Having a property checked
by an expert is vital not only for
people looking at new homes, but
also for those buying established
houses.
“The number of times over
my years of building that I have
GETTING IT RIGHT: Jeremy ‘Brownie’ Brown says a property
inspection is vital when buying a home.
PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER
been asked to do renovations
and found existing problems
that could have been picked up
before the person purchased the
property is quite high,” he told
the Selwyn Times.
Mr Brown said getting a
qualified person with industry
knowledge, experience and
equipment to do the property
check is vital.
“Having an experienced
qualified person to do a full
SELWYN TIMES
visual inspection on the property
before purchase is a worthwhile
investment. It is piece of mind
when making that potential
decision of a lifetime.
“Picking up signs of excess
moisture, cracking or movement
that could be signs of potential
problems further down the track
with an inspection can help a
potential property buyer make
a more informed decision about
their purchase.”