The Star: May 21, 2020

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The Star Thursday May 21 2020 4 NEWS High-value items being sold cheaply •From page 1 Many have been pilfered from locked sheds, with tools being used to break in. Some victims are understood to be doing their own investigative work. Police data shows that of all callouts coded as “burglaries” around the Madras St area since alert level 4 was introduced on March 26, around a quarter included theft of a bicycle. “These bikes are valued at Leairne Dow thousands of dollars,” said Christchurch Metro prevention manager Inspector Leairne Dow said. The stolen bikes are then being sold through second-hand stores and online sites including Facebook, police say. Police say they have had an officer working with a focus on preventing bike thefts “for some months now.” They are working with the city council, bike retailers, major local companies whose employees may bike to work, and other operators, and looking at trends and prevention methods. Inspector Dow said online purchasers often tend not to question why such high-value items are being sold so cheaply online. “While online may be a great place to nab a bargain, it’s worth questioning the seller if you think the deal is too good to be true,” she said. “They may have a record of Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz •If anyone has any information, about bikes such as these phone 105 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. purchase of the items, or another way of proving their legitimacy. “If you’re in doubt, ask whether the seller can provide information which confirms they own the item, then consider whether you ought to make the purchase.” – NZ Herald • By Jess Gibson THREE BANKS are proposing to close a total of six branches across the city. BNZ plans to close its Cashel, Fitzgerald and Russley branches, while the Co-operative Bank has proposed the closure of its Papanui branch. Westpac’s help stations in Halswell and St Martins remain unstaffed under level 2, and it would stay that way if its proposal to close the branches goes ahead. Westpac spokesman Will Hine said a total of nine employees working across Halswell and St Martins would be offered transfers to nearby branches and continue to work their current contracted hours. PROPOSAL: Westpac’s help stations in Halswell and St Martins remain unstaffed under level 2, and it could stay that way. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN Three banks plan branch closures “We are still consulting with those team members about the proposal.” Halswell Community Project manager Kate Cleverly said it would be a sad day for the community if it meant there was no longer a bank where residents could actually go and see someone. She said the nearest Westpac is in Hornby, and the only other bank in the suburb is a KiwiBank inside Halswell’s NZPost Shop which does not provide full services. “It’s hard to know what kind of impacts it would have at this stage but I imagine for older folk banking there who are used to going locally it’s going to be a bit tricky.” Smooth-Air Ventilation Equipment Suppliers totrade retail The most efficient way to ventilate your home & HEX 390 For Healthy Indoor Air Heat is transferred to the incoming filtered fresh air STUDY CHRISTCHURCH CAMPUS Made in New Zealand,for New Zealand conditions Fresh air from outside Exhaust air to outside ª New Zealand Certificate in Nail Technology (Level 4) SEMESTER 2: 25 June 2020 COURSE DURATION: 40 Weeks full-time Warm, stale air from house Warm fresh air to house ª New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory SEMESTER 2: 08 July 2020 COURSE DURATION: One year full-time ª New Zealand Certificate in Exercise (Level 5) SEMESTER 2: 27 July 2020 COURSE DURATION: 19 Weeks full-time Substantial energy savings over traditional domestic ventilation systems. www.sit.ac.nz 0800 TO STUDY 0800 SMOOTH (0800 766 684) sales@smooth-air.co.nz 264 Annex Rd Riccarton Christchurch 03 343 6184 Monday - Friday 7.30am - 5pm www.smooth-air.co.nz
• By Conan Young THE CITY’S council-owned red buses could be about to be sold off to the highest bidder. A potential sale was discussed by city councillors behind closed doors two weeks ago as the council grapples with the prospect of a lower rates take due to businesses closing, and at the same time, calls for a zero per cent rates increase. The big red buses have been a feature on the streets of Christchurch for generations. But all of that could be about to change. Red Bus was now carrying out due diligence on three options – retain the company, wind it up, or sell it. The Amalgamated Workers Union represents most of its 225 staff. Organiser Lindsay Chappell said they were already looking at 60 jobs going after the company lost out to its rivals in tendering for a number of bus routes. “The members are pretty upset and anxious obviously. They are all good, hard-working people and they are frustrated as hell,” he said. While most drivers would most likely be kept on if a sale went ahead, there was a good chance their terms and conditions would be eroded at the hands of a private owner, he said. “The drivers, particularly the old-timers, their preference was that the council owned the business. And everything we were told at deregulation time has come true. The amount of runs, the long hours, the broken shifts.” Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce chief executive Leeann Watson said the city council was right to consider selling Red Bus and should not stop there. “In the past, they’ve been a pretty closed book at looking at any assets that the council has and I hope that this is a sign of further exploration to come on some of the other assets, when the time is right,”she said. Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Council looks at selling Red Bus hot ULEBs are Metro Ultra Insert Pyroclassic Mini and Pyro IV Woodsman Serene Metro Ultra See our range of these ultra Low emission Burners on our website and take a Virtual Tour of our showroom online at : www.simplyheat.co.nz These burners comply with the strictest clean air regulations so you can cosy up to a wood fire in comfort. John Minto of Keep Our Assets Canterbury said the economic hard times brought on by Covid-19 were being used as an excuse to push through the sale of an asset that most ratepayers preferred retaining. “What business says is never let a good crisis go to waste, and so they will use this crisis as a way to try to privatise our local community assets. And that would be a disaster because those assets bring in income that helps to keep down rate increases.” While Red Bus was the city council’s worst performing asset and had not returned a dividend to the council in years, Mr Minto said this was not the company’s fault and was more about a failing public METRO ULTRA INSERT Fits existing masonry fireplace and chimney. NEW ASSETS: Leeann Watson says the city council was right to consider selling Red Bus. transport model. Whatever was decided, the views of ratepayers would likely not be taken into account. The last time councillors considered selling Red Bus – as the city grappled with crippling quake rebuild debt – it was decided the company was not a strategic asset and there would therefore be no need to consult before pressing the sell button. As the matter was discussed in secret, due to its commercial sensitivity, councillors were barred from discussing it. A council spokesperson said the recommendation to seek a sale as an option was not linked in any way to the concept of a zero per cent rates scenario. – RNZ • Editorial, page 14 Thursday May 21 2020 The Star NEWS 5 Meetings in private to discuss finances CITY COUNCILLORS will continue meeting behind closed doors through to Saturday as they consider how to adjust the council’s finances in the face of Covid-19. The organisation is bracing itself for a deficit of $33.2 million as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. This is mainly down to the $26 million dividend from the city council’s investment arm Christchurch City Holdings Ltd no longer being expected to be returned. City council chief financial officer Carol Bellette said whether any of the dividend would be returned would become clearer after a CCHL board meeting which was held yesterday. However, CCHL did not respond to requests for comment from The Star. City councillors will be tasked with signing off a revised draft Annual Plan next Friday before it is sent out for public consultation. The Annual Plan will dictate the level at which rates will increase for the next financial year. This is likely to be a source of debate with a number of councillors calling for a zero per cent rates rise and others favouring some form of increase. •Lianne Dalziel, page 14 When the latest Ultra Low Emission Burners are here, Simply Heat will have them. PYROCLASSIC MINI ANd PYRO IV Inside colour: flame red Exterior colours: 200+ WOOdSMAN SERENE Latest in the range. Come and see us, our showroom is open for business! NEW METRO FITS FINE right where any old woodburner did. 95 Byron Street, Sydenham, opposite Clip ‘N Climb Call today 03 365 3685 www.simplyheat.co.nz facebook.com/simplyheat GAssoN sT Moorhouse Ave CArLYLe sT BYroN sT BrIsBANe ST WALThAM rD overBrIDGe
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The Star: May 21, 2020

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