North Canterbury News: March 19, 2020

NEWS
6 North Canterbury News, March 19, 2020
Ambassadors help campers
Ambassadors are helping freedom
campers to stay on track in the Cheviot
area of Hurunui district.
Two ambassadors havebeen employed,
Nukuroa and Heidi Tirikatene­Nash,
who share a20­hour­a­week position
funded by the Ministry of Business
Employment and Innovation (MBIE).
Hurunui District Council’s compliance
team leader,AndrewBrown, saysthe
programme is goingwell.
Behaviour of freedom campers has
improvedand complaints havebeen
reduced in Cheviot’s popular coastal
locations of GoreBay, Nape Nape and
nearby hot spotswhere the ambassadors
have been workingover summer.
Previously, freedom camping concerns
were dealt with by districtcouncil
officerswho had to drivelong distances to
tackle complaints in the area.
Ambassadors now provide the service,
visiting when freedom campersare
setting up forthe night, giving themthe
opportunity to educatecampers on their
responsibilities, share theirlove forthe
area,and inform campers on what their
options are, while savingratepayer
dollars.
When required,they enforce the
council’s bylaws if acamper has setup
wherefreedomcamping is prohibited.
Nukuroa says their experiences have
been largely positive,with overseas
visitors happy to comply with by­laws.
“Manyvisitors are really thankfultobe
in the country and want to be good
kaitiaki (guardians) and responsible
travellers,” Nukuroa says.
As tangata whenua, visitorshave
appreciated the culturalinteraction with
Nukuroa and many special connections
have beenmade.
“We’re mindfulthat we are partofa
visitor’s travel experience in Hurunui so
we try to get them on­board to work with
us,and for themtohave enjoyed meeting
us.
‘‘We’vehad people say they haveleft
theWest Coast and Queenstowntoreturn
to the Hurunuiasitwas such agreat
travel experience.”
As ambassadors, Nukuroa and Heidi
direct alot of business intothe
community by sendingpeople to nearby
camping grounds, or to the allocated
freedom camping sites. They always give
peopleoptionsfor movingon, whichhas
been successful.
“There are always people who wantto
tryiton, and it’s surprisinghow well
informedand howprecise the questions
arefrom campers who wishtointerpret
thefreedom campingby­laws in their
favour.
‘‘Most of the concerns are with New
Zealanderswho have less tolerance to
compliance,’’ Nukuroasays.
Driving programme planned
Mentordrivers are neededfor anew
community­based programme in the
Waimakariri district.
The SalvationArmy is launchingafree
community drivermentor programme in
Rangiora today to assist drivers in getting
their restricted and full driver’s licences.
Regional co­ordinatorJuliaGraham
says the programme hasbeen
running in Christchurch since
2014, with 760 drivers
advancing through the
initiative.
It is being extendedtothe
West Coast,Timaru, Ashburton
and the Waimakariri thanksto
support from the Salvation
Army, the government’s
Provincial Growth Fund, the
policeand StadiumCars.
‘‘We really need mentors for this
programme. They need to have had afull
licence for at least two years, aclean
drivers’ licence and to be patient; and they
will go through apolice check.’’
Julia was involved in setting up the
OxfordU­Driveprogramme to help young
peopletogain their restricted licence.
‘‘The new programme is different
because it’s not just for teenagersbut for
Julia Graham
anybodywho’s got any barriers.It’s alsofor
people on parole, single mums on a
benefit, peoplewith disabilities or who
struggle with mental health. Anxiety is a
big one.’’
Julia says she already has six people on
the waiting list before the launch.
Two sponsoredcars are being provided
for the programme.
The cars will be automatic.
Drivers who sit the restricted
licencedriving testare only
licensed to drive automatics,
but oncethey obtaintheir full
licencethey will be able to
drive both manual and
automatic cars,Julia says.
She says concerns havebeen
raisedbydrivingschoolsthat
theymay lose business.
‘‘It’s not competingwith driving schools
becauseweare helping thosewho can’t
afford to pay for lessons. It’s about making
driverssafer. If we can get all those people
on our programme then we are goingtoget
safer drivers on ourroads and that’swhere
we are lookingtowork withthe police.’’
Prospective volunteers able to commit to
two hoursaweek cancall Juliaon(021)
953 754.
Industry growth... Regions alreadyknowhow to get thingsdone, but have to navigate
too muchred tape to get funding to get ventures off the ground,anew report says.
PHOTO: FILE
Regions best placed
to drive economy
By RACHEL MACDONALD
Wellington needs to letgoof the reins
and letthe country’ssmaller
communities get on withdrivingtheir
own economic development.
Thatisthe thrustofareport,
Powering Up theRegions,recently
released by DavidWilson,directorof
Economic Development NewZealand.
Mr Wilson sits on an advisorypanel
for the government’s $1 billion
Provincial Growth Fund,but thatonly
applies to six regionsnationwide.
He saysthe time hascometolookat
economic development forall regions,
along withfundingtosupport earlystage
start­upsthat will add value to the
area.
Waimakariri MayorDan Gordon,who
sits on theboard of Enterprise North
Canterbury (ENC), says thepaperneeds
careful consideration, and its findings
willbediscussedwithENC and the
council’s staff andrepresentatives in
due course.
He saysitraises amix of matters for
existing economic development
agencies such as ENC, their respective
councils and thegovernment to get
their headsaround.
The reportargues thatregional
councils and economic agencies have
the on­groundknowledge and contacts
needed to getlocally relevant,
profitable, and sustainablebusinesses
off theground.
Theyalready knowhow to getthings
done, it says, buthave to navigate too
muchred tapetoget funding from
central government to makeithappen.
Thatisgetting in theway of the
government’s30­year economic plan,
which calls forasustainable,
productive andinclusive economy, but
doesn’tset out howtoget there.
‘‘Wedon’t have apolicy or strategy
probleminNew Zealand;wehave an
implementation problem,’’ thereport
says.
It also suggests thecurrent approach
to regional development is too
centralised, witharesultant lack of
trust between local councils andcentral
government.
It recommendsbuilding capacity and
capability for regional economic
development,which willtake abetter
understanding of policyand practice at
all levels.
It addsthat theregions needgood
economic development agencies, but
councils oftenstruggle to fundthem,so
theyare under­resourcedand therefore
workingatless than full capacity.
‘‘Fromwhat Isee of Mr Wilson’s
findings, there are many aspects
reflected in the way North Canterbury
alreadygoes abouteconomic
developmentpromotion, throughENC,
thatwecan be proud of,’’ Mr Gordon
says.
He addsthat thereare undoubtedly
thingsthe regionmightdobetter,but
resource implications, as noted in the
report, needtobetaken intoaccount.
McALPINES MITRE 10 MEGA RANGIORA -OCEAN WATCH
This
Week
Sun
Fishing
Guide
Moon
Wind
Swell
Pegasus Bay
Tide Chart
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Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25
Rise 7:30am
Set 7:42pm
Best 9:42am
Times 10:07pm
Ok
Rise 7:31am
Set 7:40pm
Best 10:31am
Times 10:55pm
Fair
Rise 7:32am
Set 7:38pm
Best 11:19am
Times 11:41pm
Fair
Rise 7:33am
Set 7:37pm
Best 12:04pm
Times
Rise 7:34am
Set 7:35pm
Best 12:25am
Times 12:46pm
Rise 7:36am
Set 7:33pm
Rise 7:37am
Set 7:31pm
Rise 1:52am
Rise 2:51am
Rise 3:53am
Rise 4:54am
Rise 5:55am
Rise 6:55am
Rise 7:55am
Set 5:26pm
Set 6:04pm
Set 6:36pm
Set 7:03pm
Set 7:28pm
Set 7:50pm
Set 8:14pm
Light Wturning
Moderate SE
Moderate NE Moderate Wturning
Light SEturning
Light Eturning
NW
easing
strengthening
E
E
NE
Light NE
SE 0.9 mturning
E1.0 m SE 0.9 m
E1.5 m SE 1.4 m SE 1.0 m SE 0.8 m SE 0.9 m
3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9
Good
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Times
1:07am
1:28pm
Good
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Times
1:48am
2:08pm
0
Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows
Waimakariri 1:50am 2.3 8:07am 0.6 2:45am 2.3 8:59am 0.6 3:35am 2.3 9:47am 0.6 4:21am 2.3 10:32am 0.6 5:03am 2.3 11:15am 0.6 5:44am 2.2 11:57am 0.6 6:24am 2.2 12:17am 0.6
Mouth
2:14pm 2.2 8:25pm 0.6 3:06pm 2.2 9:17pm 0.6 3:54pm 2.2 10:05pm 0.6 4:39pm 2.2 10:52pm 0.6 5:22pm 2.2 11:36pm 0.6 6:04pm 2.2
6:45pm 2.2 12:38pm 0.6
Amberley 1:50am 2.3 8:07am 0.6 2:45am 2.3 8:59am 0.6 3:35am 2.3 9:47am 0.6 4:21am 2.3 10:32am 0.6 5:03am 2.3 11:15am 0.6 5:44am 2.2 11:57am 0.6 6:24am 2.2 12:17am 0.6
Beach
2:14pm 2.2 8:25pm 0.6 3:06pm 2.2 9:17pm 0.6 3:54pm 2.2 10:05pm 0.6 4:39pm 2.2 10:52pm 0.6 5:22pm 2.2 11:36pm 0.6 6:04pm 2.2
6:45pm 2.2 12:38pm 0.6
1:59am 2.3 8:16am 0.6 2:54am 2.3 9:08am 0.6 3:44am 2.3 9:56am 0.6 4:30am 2.3 10:41am 0.6 5:12am 2.3 11:24am 0.6 5:53am 2.2
6:33am 2.2 12:26am 0.6
Motunau 2:23pm 2.2 8:34pm 0.6 3:15pm 2.2 9:26pm 0.6 4:03pm 2.2 10:14pm 0.6 4:48pm 2.2 11:01pm 0.6 5:31pm 2.2 11:45pm 0.6 6:13pm 2.2 12:06pm 0.6 6:54pm 2.2 12:47pm 0.6
2:01am 2.3 8:18am 0.6 2:56am 2.3 9:10am 0.6 3:46am 2.3 9:58am 0.6 4:32am 2.3 10:43am 0.6 5:14am 2.3 11:26am 0.6 5:55am 2.2
6:35am 2.2 12:28am 0.6
Gore Bay 2:25pm 2.2 8:36pm 0.6 3:17pm 2.2 9:28pm 0.6 4:05pm 2.2 10:16pm 0.6 4:50pm 2.2 11:03pm 0.6 5:33pm 2.2 11:47pm 0.6 6:15pm 2.2 12:08pm 0.6 6:56pm 2.2 12:49pm 0.6
1:55am 1.8 8:14am 0.4 2:48am 1.8 9:05am 0.5 3:38am 1.8 9:52am 0.5 4:24am 1.7 10:36am 0.5 5:08am 1.7 11:19am 0.5 5:51am 1.7
6:33am 1.7 12:20am 0.5
Kaikoura 2:19pm 1.7 8:27pm 0.5 3:09pm 1.7 9:17pm 0.5 3:56pm 1.6 10:06pm 0.5 4:42pm 1.6 10:52pm 0.5 5:26pm 1.6 11:37pm 0.5 6:10pm 1.6 12:02pm 0.5 6:53pm 1.6 12:44pm 0.6
*Not for navigational purposes. Wind and swell are based on apoint off Gore Bay. Maori Fishing Guide by Bill Hohepa. www.ofu.co.nz www.tidespy.com Graphic supplied by OceanFun Publishing Ltd.
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