North Canterbury News: April 09, 2020

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NEWS 2 North Canterbury News, April 9, 2020 Build customers, sales &profits with North Canterbury’s best read newspaper Thursday, January24, 2019 Issue 830 | www.ncnews.co.nz news Robyn Bristow Managing Editor 027 312 1581 robyn.bristow @ncnews.co.nz Reporters Neil Clarkson, David Hill, Shelley Topp, Rachel MacDonald. 46,000 46,000 0 readers every issue 46,000 readersevery week 30,150 copies delivered to EVERY home,farm, RDand lifestyle block in Waimakariri, Hurunui and Kaikoura districts every Thursday! advertising DaynaBurton Sales Co-ordinator 027 312 0089 dayna.burton @ncnews.co.nz Amanda Keys Advertising 027 536 6224 amanda.keys@ncnews.co.nz Claire Oxnam Advertising 021 560 386 claire.oxnam@ncnews.co.nz Kerryn Clark Advertising 021 586 138 kerryn.clark@ncnews.co.nz Vege shop owner seeks to open By DAVID HILL Woodend’sfresh produce retailer is hoping for some better news this week. Vege’n Out was forced to closeonMarch 25 for the Covid19 lockdown, even though it is the onlyfresh fruit and vegetables retailer in a town withnosupermarket, leaving owner Nick McLachlan ‘‘absolutely baffled by the wholeprocess’’. But he has received word that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) may be relaxing its rulesthis week,whichcould allowhim to offer a‘‘contactless’’ delivery service to customers. ‘‘It’s all very well telling us aftertwo weeks that we cando deliveries, because we are a Tough times again for Cheviot residents From Page He accepts therewill be another downturn, but Cheviot is surrounded by adedicated farming community and together theyhad all pulled through adverse times before. ‘‘Farmers are continuingto farm, spending moneyonanimal health and crops, and after the lockdownthey will have product to sell and crops to harvest. ‘‘I think it is great the farming community is ticking over. They willbeappreciated abit more at the end of this.’’ The localFour Squarewas a Godsend and the community was ‘‘resilient’’. ‘‘It is amazing what the community can do together. Open-air fires across region require permits By ROBYN BRISTOW Fires can be lit only withapermit in the Waimakariri and Hurunuidistricts. Principal RuralFireOfficer Bruce Janes is appealing to people to resistthe urgetoput amatchtotheirburn pilesof gardenand householdrubbish. “Fires arebypermit only, and we are generallyonlyissuingpermitstopriority burns suchascrop stubble andland managementburns. ‘‘Tostop falsecalls, we are requiring nearlyall permitholderstoringthe fire communicationcentretoadviseof fresh food business, so we will havetorestockentirely.’’ Nicksaid there was alack of clarity around whatdefined an essentialserviceinthe days leading up to the lockdown. He emailed MBIE at 8am on Tuesday,March24, but had received no replyby11am so he phonedthe hotline and was told‘‘we were finetotrade’’. He wanted confirmation in writing,sofollowed up with another email, but with no response. He phonedMBIE again to be told‘‘we were OK’’. Not convinced,hecontacted Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey who agreed to takeuphis case. Fiveminutesbefore closing at 6pm the following day,he received confirmation his fresh producebusinesswas not consideredanessential service. He was forced to close. We have been herebefore and while this is slightly different fromthe earthquake, we will recoverquicker because we are usedtoit,’’ he says. Meanwhile, at the guesthouse, where they havethree stranded international guests, everyone was justknuckling downand giving each otherspace. ‘‘They triedtoleaveearly, had flights booked, thenDubai closed its borders, so they are here for the duration.’’ Hurunui Deputy Mayor Vince Daly, who farmsnear Cheviot, saysitisnot aflash situation for towns like Cheviot. ‘‘Itwill be pretty hard to comeback from, and tourism is not going to crank up againinahurry.’’ Nick said it costhim around $2000 worth of producewhich he had to disposeof, andhe spent $1500 to makehis shop safe with splatter screens. Ironically, Vege’n Out is still required to offer its postal service as an NZ Post agent. ‘‘The feedback we had from the public is that they didn’t want to be driving into Rangiora or Kaiapoi to go to the supermarket. They wanted alocal placewhere they could buy their produceand they didn’tmind the onein, oneout situation because it was safer.’’ But Nick says being able to offer acontactlessdelivery service, whichcan be ordered onlineorover thephone, would be agood outcome. Matt Doocey says he has written to Economic Development Minister Phil lightingtheir burn. We appreciate peopleare at home,and what better time to ‘get thatburndone’, but we ask they hold offuntil after thelockdown so we don’thaveawhole lot of unnecessary exposure –which is the whole point. ‘‘We urgepeople to consider the appropriatenessofany burning at this time.’’ Mr Janessays any fireislikelytoresult in asmoke report,with more people beingathome.This thenresultsinfire crews —most of which arevolunteers— leaving theirfamily bubble to investigate. The Widest Music Variety Twyford advocating for Vege’n Out to be able to offera contactless delivery service and is optimisticofapositive outcome. ‘‘The issue of businesses that havebeen deemednonessential having to close is something I’m hearing alot from people, but if it canbe done contactless,why can’tit still continuetooperate?’’ He is also concerned about foodproducers in the district who sellatfarmer’s markets, which havebeen closedduring the lockdown. ‘‘There appears to be areal inequity because food producers which havecontacts withsupermarkets can continue to sell their goods, but if they only sellatfarmers’ markets they no longerhave the ability to selltheirgoods.’’ Toughtimes ... Cheviot was resurgent after State Highway 1 reopened afterthe 2016 earthquake, but now must endurethe Covid19lockdown. PHOTO: FILE ‘‘This in turnhas thepotential to jeopardise the health andsafety of the widercommunity,’’ Mr Janes says. He says volunteersdon’t have a bottomlesssupply of personal protective equipment,suchasmasks andsanitiser, giventhatthe country’sotheressential services require thesame products. The restricted seasoncameinat midnight on March 12 in theWaimakariri and Hurunuidistricts. Any openair fires must have an approved permitand conditions on thepermit mustbemet. To checkifafireneedsapermit, go online to checkitsalright.nz. getintouch Editorial info@ncnews.co.nz Advertising sales@ncnews.co.nz Graphic Design heather.hood@ncnews.co.nz Distribution/Deliveries 03 314 8335 Amberley: 03 314 8335 119 Carters Road, Amberley Rangiora: 03 313 2840 77-83 High Street, Rangiora Christchurch: 03 364 7460 www.starnews.co.nz *Source 2018 Nielsen readership survey. Tune in nowtolistenon104.9 North Canterbury and103.7 Hanmer Springs andKaikoura 2095268 Kaiapoi Lodge Residential Care Nursing Home, Hospital and Respite Person Centred Care, Care that’s built around you 6Cass Street, Kaiapoi Ph 03 327 7235
NEWS North Canterbury News, April 9, 2020 3 Another farm adventure By DAVID HILL The 2016 earthquake was just another challenge in the 100year history of Woodchester Station, near Waiau. Recent droughts, the 2016 earthquake and now the Covid19 lockdown are yet more chapters in the farm’s colourful history, Rebekah Kelly says. Her family has been farming at Woodchester Station, off Leader Rd and nestled between Waiau and Parnassus, since her greatgrandfather Linton Gardiner bought the farm more than 100 years ago. ‘‘On the property there’s a bit of heritage. They went through snows, droughts and financial crises and survived, and we can do it too. ‘‘Each generation uses the knowledge of the previous generations and what’s new, so they can pass the farm on to the next generation in as good acondition as we can. And we produce some food and fibre while we’re at it.’’ Rebekah and her husband David run the 2000hectare property, running 3500 breeding ewes, with halfbreed Merino/Romney sheep running on the steeper country and RomneyTexelcross ewes on the rolling hills. They also run 500 Angus Herefordcross cows. About 250 beehives are on the farm to produce manuka honey, in partnership with a local beekeeper. There are two QE2 covenants on the farm, including a37hectare triangle of beech forest and a twohectare block of manuka, bordering aneighbour’s QE2 covenant. The couple have four children, James, aged 15, Lucas, 13, Isaac, 10, and Victoria, 8. As with previous generations, the children are homeschooled until they are old enough to go to boarding school, due to the farm’s isolation. ‘‘It’s agreat lifestyle, whether it’s doing stock work, out on the tractor, mustering with ponies or going for a hunt, there’s lots to do.’’ And then there’s the lake that formed after the earthquakes, when alandslip Taking adip ... The Kelly children, James, aged 15, Isaac, 10, Victoria, 8, and Lucas, 13, enjoy swimming in their earthquake lake. PHOTO:REBEKAH KELLY dammed the river, creating a lake wide enough and long enough for awaterski lane. ‘‘It warms up enough in the summer to go for adip and it’s flat enough on the lake’s edge to pitch atent.’’ Rebekah says the earthquake created ‘‘a whole bunch of chaos and work,’’ but they are coming out the other end, having dealt with lots of land movement, fencing damage and water tanks destroyed. The socalled ‘‘great wall of Waiau’’, which caught the attention of University of Canterbury geologists, runs through Woodchester from Leader Rd to the new lake. ‘‘Our water system tanks — 30,000 litre tanks —split in half like an apple and pipelines snapped in half.’’ It took several months until new tanks and piping were installed, pumping water from anew source. She says 90 percent of farm fences were damaged, but the farm is gradually being refenced and they hope to complete the work next autumn. The Covid19 lockdown has meant quake repairs to the house of her uncle, Linton Gardiner, have been put on hold. Next autumn they hope to begin work to repair the wool shed and then their own house. ‘‘And then we will go, ‘at last the earthquake is over’,’’ Rebekah says, optimistically, until the next challenge. The Kellys have taken over the running of the farm from Rebekah’s parents, Jonathan and Sarah Gardiner, who have retired to Hanmer Springs, and Linton Gardiner. Rebekah holds arecreation management degree from Lincoln University and worked in events management in the North Island, while David played firstclass cricket for Central Districts and Northern Districts as an opening batsman during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Caring for North Canterbury Dr John Dehn Full Mole Checks using Dermoscopy Surgical Management and Aftercare Comprehensive, Affordable, Convenient Ph 03 9204060 52 Pegasus Main Street,Pegasus 7612 www.pegasusmedicalcentre.co.nz APRIL 2020 TIME TO GET GROWING BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO DIY VEGES FASHION THROUGH THE AGES ICONIC POP CULTURE MOMENTS ONLINE Read us on style.kiwi Southern Cross Affiliated Provider For selected services THE FASHION ISSUE OUR LEADING LADIES DUNEDIN’S FASHION GODMOTHERS AFEAST FOR THE EYES KIWI LABELS IN CHRISTCHURCH LOCATIONS with the South Island’s premier lifestyle magazine Follow us @stylechristchurch 1890742 WithCovid-19 at this stage we will be operating for ESSENTIAL SERVICES only for repairs and not servicing. This will be by appointment only. Numbers to contact WaikariWorkshop -Brian 021777 519 Amberley CarWorkshop- Michael021 444 521 Amberley Bridgestone Ashley-027 3202739 AmberleySuzuki Motorcycle Workshop -027 4465000 2270441-26/3-S Trusted in North Canterbury Markham Street, Amberley |www.arthurburke.co.nz ARTHURBURKE LTD Established 1935
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North Canterbury News: April 09, 2020

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