North Canterbury News: January 16, 2020

NEWS
North Canterbury News, January 16, 2020
29
Networking ... Sharon Ward, second from left, and Community Wellbeing North
Canterbury Mana Ake worker Katie Thomas, centre, catch up with grandparents raising
grandchildren.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Grandparents raising
children supported
With our increasingly busy lives, it’s not
unusual for grandparents to play more of
an active role in caring for, or raising,
their grandchildren.
In North Canterbury, alocal trust has
responded by setting up support groups
aimed at grandparents who are taking
care of family full­time.
The groups were created and are run
by Mana Ake workers Marie Simpson
and Katie Thomas, who say that part of
improving the mental health of our
children is to consider the wellbeing of
their carers.
“As part of my work with young people
through Mana Ake –Stronger for
Tomorrow, Imeet many grandparents
who are caring for their grandchildren
full­time,’’ Katie says.
‘‘Lots of them feel as though they’re
the only ones in this situation and have
been struggling with feelings of
disconnection and isolation.
“Some grandparents have also shared
with us their feelings of shame and
stigma, for example, if grandchildren
have lost their parents to drug and
alcohol addiction or are in jail.”
Realising what little support was
available, Katie and Marie, who are
employed by the Community Wellbeing
North Canterbury Trust, set up two
North Canterbury grandparents’
support groups, one in the Hurunui and
another in Waimakariri.
The groups meet once amonth and
feature aguest speaker to answer
questions on arange of parenting topics.
“More than anything, it’s about
grandparents sharing their experiences,
finding support and much­needed
connection with others in similar
situations,” Katie says.
Members of the Amberley
Grandparents’ Support Group held their
final meeting of the year at alocal cafe,
with athank­you morning tea courtesy of
Westpac Rangiora.
“It’s an opportunity to celebrate these
unsung heroes in our communities,”
Katie says.
The grandparents’ support groups
meet once amonth in Amberley and
Kaiapoi.
To find out more, contact the
Community Wellbeing North Canterbury
Trust, phone (03) 310 637 or email
katie.mana.ake@wellbeingnc.org.nz.
Busy summer welcomed
By DAVID HILL
Kaikoura’s tourism operatorshave been
enjoying abusysummer.
Forward bookings remain strong and
local business owners are feeling
positive about the summer so far.
Whale WatchKaikoura marketing and
sales manager Lisa Bond saysbookings
have beenstrong. ‘‘Summer has been
busy for Kaikouraand Whale Watch.
‘‘Wehavehad somebooked­out days
as of late,withmanywanting to come
and enjoy atripouttoseethe amazing
marinelife we haveoff thecoasthere.
‘‘Forward bookings are looking good,
especially with Chinese New Year
coming up nearthe endoftheJanuary
andinto early February.
‘‘When theweather is good we are full
steam ahead, but there have been afew
days that haven’t been on our side this
summer, so we make the most of it when
the sea andweatherconditionsdoallow
forour tours to sail.’’
Deputy Mayor JulieHowden, who
runs abed and breakfast,saystherehas
been ‘‘plenty of demand’’ for
accommodation since Christmas Day.
‘‘It laysoff awee bitas people go back
❛Forward bookings are
looking good, especially with
Chinese New Year coming
up.❜
—WhaleWatch’s Lisa Bond
to work,but weexpectFebruaryand
March to be busy with international
tourists.
‘‘Thetown is buzzing.Everyoneseems
to be fulland therestaurants are full, so
there isabit ofawaitforthosedining
out.’’
She recommends visitors planning to
stay in Kaikoura this summer to book in
advance.
White Morph Motor Inn owner John
Arbuckle says he has ‘‘heaps of forward
bookings’’.
The hotel has 31 units and can
accommodateupto90people,making it
the largest accommodation provider at
present, until the new 120­bed Sudima
Hotel opens next year.
‘‘We have been pretty full. We are fully
booked more often than not.’’
PamsFresh Sweet
Temptation
Tomatoes
500g Prepack
Product ofNew Zealand$
2 29 pk
FreshNZSkinless
Chicken Breast
Fillets
Pams Fresh
Cooked Chicken
Large (Available at
Selected Stores)
12 99 ea
$
12 99 kg
Heartland
PotatoChips
150g
$
1 99 Puhoi Valley
Yoghurt 450g
$ 4 99
ea
ea
Keri Premium
FruitJuice
1Litre
TheNed 750ml
ANY
(excludes Pinot Noir
2FOR
$
4 99
www.foursquare.co.nz
&Chardonnay)
$
13 99 ea
facebook.com/FourSquareNZ
SpecialsavailableSouthIsland onlyfromMonday13th January until Sunday 26th
January 2020orwhile stocks last. Wine andbeeravailable at stores with an off
licence.Wine andbeerpurchases restricted to persons aged 18 yearsold andover.