North Canterbury News: September 05, 2019
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Importance of bonds stressed<br />
By DAVID HILL<br />
Building relationshipsinChina<br />
remains important to<br />
Waimakariri’s future.<br />
Mayor David Ayerssays he<br />
welcomes the efforts of local<br />
schools to develop cultural<br />
exchanges in China’s Hubei<br />
province. He also expressedhis<br />
pleasure overthe stagingofthe<br />
WaimakaririEnshi Hubei<br />
Youth Arts Exhibition in the<br />
Kaiapoi Library.<br />
‘‘I guess as apersonItend to<br />
be an internationalist in my<br />
outlook,’’ Mr Ayers says.<br />
‘‘It’sbecoming more important<br />
to be awareofinternational<br />
trendsthat are likely to impact<br />
on local government in New<br />
Zealand, whether it’sthings like<br />
climate change or sea level rise,<br />
which does concern us, or<br />
economic trends.<br />
‘‘As acouncil, it’s important to<br />
be aware of internationaltrends<br />
and how that affectsnot only<br />
what we do, but attitudes,as<br />
peopleare influencedby<br />
travelling and what they see on<br />
television, on social media and<br />
on the internet.’’<br />
Greater Christchurch councils<br />
have been forming relationships<br />
with the Hubeiprovince in<br />
recentyears, with Christchurch<br />
forming asistercity relationship<br />
with provincial capital Wuhan<br />
and Waimakarirideveloping a<br />
relationship with the Enshi<br />
Tujia and Miao Autonomous<br />
Prefecture.<br />
Mr Ayers led aWaimakariri<br />
delegation to Wuhan and Enshi<br />
last year, visiting schools in abid<br />
Powhiri ... Rangiora High School pupils offer ahongi to visitors from Wuhan, China.<br />
to open up opportunities for<br />
local schools.<br />
‘‘Cultural exchanges are<br />
certainly happening and<br />
contributing to our international<br />
understandings.’’<br />
The council has since formed<br />
the WaimakaririEnshi Sister<br />
City Advisory Group to further<br />
developthe relationship,<br />
leadingtothe exhibition being<br />
held in the Kaiapoi Library.<br />
Meanwhile, Rangiora High<br />
School recently hosted22<br />
studentsand threeteachers<br />
from Wuhan on atwoweek<br />
stay.<br />
The groupwas welcomed by Cr<br />
Kirstyn Barnett, standinginfor<br />
Mr Ayers.<br />
Wuhantour organiser Ji Wei<br />
says the studentscome from four<br />
differentschools and are visiting<br />
New Zealand to learn about<br />
‘‘different cultures and different<br />
education styles’’.<br />
‘‘They are very excited to<br />
make new friends. Rangiora is<br />
NEWS<br />
<strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>September</strong> 5, <strong>2019</strong><br />
PHOTO: DAVID HILL<br />
very friendly and they have<br />
received awarm welcome,so<br />
they are very happy’’.<br />
The school’s international<br />
department has been enjoying a<br />
busy term,with around 100<br />
international students at the<br />
schoolthis week, including the<br />
Wuhan group.<br />
It also hosted agroup from<br />
JuntenJuniorHigh Schoolin<br />
Japan,which left the day the<br />
Wuhan group arrived, after a<br />
stay of afortnight.<br />
23<br />
Focus on<br />
anxiety<br />
Many parentsandschools<br />
report an increaseinanxiety<br />
among youngchildren.<br />
Parentingexperts Anna<br />
MowatandDeanSutherland,<br />
from AllRight? AndReal<br />
Parents Ltd, arekeento<br />
reduce anxiety.<br />
Thepairwillspeak on<br />
supporting children with<br />
anxietyatAmberleySchool’s<br />
ArahuraHallonThursday<br />
next week at 7pm.<br />
They will take abroadlook<br />
at whatanxieties and worries<br />
areall about atthe free event.<br />
Thepairwill alsodiscuss<br />
how theseemotions have<br />
come to be seen as so<br />
prevalent.<br />
They will also provide<br />
strategiestohelp children<br />
(and parents) learnto<br />
regulatemajor emotions.<br />
Anxiety is acommon<br />
problem amongchildren.<br />
People withananxiety<br />
disorder arelikely to worry<br />
more than others andbe<br />
more sensitive to danger.<br />
Research indicatesitcan<br />
runinfamilies: whenparents<br />
areanxious, childrencan<br />
follow asimilarpattern.<br />
Theevent is suitable for<br />
parentsofchildren aged 13<br />
andunder,and marks<br />
Parenting Weekin<br />
Christchurch andthe<br />
Hurunui District.<br />
Formore information on<br />
Parenting Weekevents, visit<br />
nht.org.nz/parentingweek.
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