North Canterbury News: August 13, 2020

OPINION
6 The North Canterbury News, August 13, 2020
KAIKŌURA VIEWS
MAYOR CRAIG MACKLE
Counting our blessings
We’re along wayoff business as usual,
butIkeepthinking howluckyweare to
be living in New Zealandright now.
Things are not exactly normal, but
we’re lightyearsahead of the rest of the
world and the turmoil other nations are
going through.
Thatsaid, there are several
uncertaintiesand we’re doingthe best we
cantopredict andprepare for the future.
The endof the wage subsidyon
September 1will have an impact on many
businesses and peoplein Kaikoura.
The councilhas beenworking with the
KaikouraEconomic Recovery
Governance Groupon severalfunding
applications. If successful, this will result
in more employment opportunities
within the district.
There is alot to considerand the
playingfield keeps changing, but the
council is working hard to ensure we
have takeneveryopportunity availableto
supportour community.
Somerecentfunding announcements
have helped boost the moodofthe town,
including the $1.47 milliontowards both
the aquatic centre and the renovation of
the scout hall.
Destination Kaikoura hasreceived
$400,000fromthe government to support
local tourism operators and push the new
tourism campaignfor domestic travel.
Greatnewsalso, that Dolphin
Encounter has been offered assistance —
a$450,000 grant from the Government’s
Strategic Tourism Assets ProtectionPlan
andaloanofthe sameamount if
☑
Calling all
candidates
forthe Saturday,
September 19,
General Election.
TheNorth Canterbury News will be
publishing aspecial edition
“meet the candidates” feature for
the Kaikoura electorate August 27,
Waimakariri electorate September 3.
To be involved, please contact us
at info@ncnews.co.nz.
❛Ikeep thinking how lucky we
are to be living in New
Zealand right now. ❜
required. Good work, Kaikoura.
The Wakatu Quayprojectiskicking
off. We had ablessing at the site from
the local runanga on Tuesday,August
11.
Ihave spentagood few years of my
working life here working for the
fisheries and loading boats. Iremember
that every sparemoment was used
maintaining the buildings.
It has beenashame to watchthe area
degrade overtime, so I’m looking
forward to seeing aclean building
platform, and Iamconsidering the
possibilities that might takeshape here.
Iattended ameetingin Christchurch
recently with acouple of fellow
councillors andcouncil stafftolearn
more about the proposed3Water
ReformPackage.
At this stageitlookslike amajority of
Canterbury councils will sign the
memorandum of understanding to work
with the Government, but it’s still work
in progress as we lookathow exactly
this will unfold.
What we all agree on is the needto
improve and maintain water
infrastructure.
Fundingfor projects hasalsobeen
announced.
There is alotgoing on rightnow, but
don’t forgetto take some time this
weekend to appreciatewhere welive,
and the people who live here.
LOST AND FOUND
The following property has been
reported as lost to NorthCanterbury
police. Have you seen it?
Ablue and greyVelcro “Blue juice”
wallet, ablack iPhone 11 in ablack case,
apeach and cream card wallet with a
gold clasp, an iPhone 11 in apurple
flowery case, agrey phone walletwith a
zip pocket,ablack card wallet, abrown
leather wallet, and ablack leather
wallet.
The following property is waiting to be
claimed: Ared trolley jack(Amberley).
Clearance of woodland
amounts to vandalism
Dear Editor,
To: David Parker, Minister for the
Environment.
As aresidentofRangiora, my wife and
Iwalked on abeautiful walking track
through thewoodland area on the bank
of the Ashley/Rakahuri River three or
four times every week.
We took our grandchildren through
this woodland each weekend and they
played and learnedabout nature. The
walking track,along with acycle track
and fitness stations, were the best in
Rangiora.There were hundreds of
poplars and the bird life was great, with
our favourite being the black fantails.
On our return from atrip up northwe
were shocked to read in the North
Canterbury News that the trees had been
felled. We immediately drove to the
Ashley River bridge and into the car
park. The site was like ascene of
devastationfrom War of the Worlds.The
entire woodlands had been flattened,
with logs piled in severalareas and
large machines turning these great trees
into chips. The walking track,the cycling
tracks and the fitness stations, the
wildlife and birds all gone.The reasons
given by Environment Canterbury for
felling everything just do not add up.
Environment Canterburysays this was
just some routine work, and this forms
part of our wider river management
works. Engineer Shaun McCrackengoes
on to say the tree­felling would improve
the resilience of Rangiora and Kaiapoi
to the threat of floodingfrom the Ashley
River. However, the Ministry for the
Environment reportpublished in 2008
concludedthat flood damage during
New Zealand floods is rarely causedby
floods exceedingdesign protection
levels of stopbanksonrivers. It states
that these risks do not change even
when afforestation is factored in.
My comments are, first, regarding the
500 trees cut down: Most of these trees
were soundand healthy.
Further, our government has been
encouraging the whole countrytoplant
thousandsmore trees to help reduce
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
The stopbankwas installed in two
stages. Stage one was completed in 2015,
with stage two finishedin2018.
There was never any indication of the
removal of any trees or vegetation.The
last time floodingoccurredonthis river
north of Rangiora was 1952. If any water
did manage to get over the recently built
stopbanks, which is highly unlikely, then
the trees would help to soak up any
excess water.
LETTERS
Now, the result could be boggy land.
The Rangioraresidents have never
been consulted or notifiedregarding
this issue, nor the councilorministry as
far as Iamaware.
The clearing of this once beautiful
woodland,the wildlife and birdlifeis
nothing more than vandalism. Whoever
gave the order for this devastation to
take place without consultation should
be taken before the courts and
prosecutedfor vandalism.
Ieagerly await your reply and to know
what the Government is going to do to
restore Rangiora’s most beautiful
walkway, cycleway, fitness stations,
wildlife and birdlife,and to replace the
trees.
Yours,
Keith BHarris
(Abridged)
Highway upgrades
Dear Editor,
Iread with interest about the roading
projects southofKaikoura in the North
CanterburyNews (July 16).
There is rockfallprotection work
being undertaken south of Peketa and
stabilisationworks near the South Bay
Racecourse. However there are other
parts of State Highway 1that require
attention south of Kaikoura,one being
the one­lane bridgeacross the Hurunui
River which is achoke point.
There are the tortuous hairpin bends
just north of the Conway River flats and
the twists and turns that still have to be
endured by motorists in the Hundalees.
Can we still call this astate highway,
let alone SH1? Or is this just aglorified
goat track?
Yours,
John Moody
Cannabis
Dear Editor,
Regarding cannabis, in my day it was
the norm to smoke cigarettes.
Recently, my childrenjoked about
how they used to steal mineand have a
sneaky puff. Sadly, 30 years after Iquit,
they are still smoking. Ijust can’t help
but think that if cannabis becomesthe
norm, this pattern will be repeated.
There is no way Iamvoting yes.
Yours,
Nigel Cook
McALPINES MITRE 10 MEGA RANGIORA -OCEAN WATCH
This
Week
Sun
Fishing
Guide
Moon
Wind
Ok
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19
Rise 7:25am
Set 5:42pm
Best
Times
7:06am
7:30pm
Rise 2:08am
Set 11:58am
Light NEbecoming
moderate SE
Ok
Rise 7:24am
Set 5:43pm
Best
Times
7:55am
8:20pm
Rise 3:11am
Set 12:34pm
Moderate S
Ok
Rise 7:22am
Set 5:44pm
Best
Times
8:47am
9:14pm
Rise 4:13am
Set 1:19pm
Light NWturning
E
Fair
Rise 7:21am
Set 5:45pm
Best 9:42am
Times 10:11pm
Rise 5:12am
Set 2:12pm
Light Wbecoming
moderate SW
Good
Rise 7:19am
Set 5:46pm
Best 10:39am
Times 11:08pm
Rise 6:06am
Set 3:15pm
Light NE
Good
Rise 7:18am
Set 5:47pm
Best 11:37am
Times
Rise 6:54am
Set 4:26pm
Light NE
strengthening
Good
Rise 7:16am
Set 5:48pm
Best 12:05am
Times 12:33pm
Rise 7:34am
Set 5:40pm
Moderate NE
becoming fresh N
Swell
Pegasus Bay
Tide Chart
3
2
SE 0.7 m SE 0.9 m SE 0.7 m SE 0.9 m SE 0.9 m SE 1.0 m E1.4 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
1
0
Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows
Waimakariri 11:49am 2.1 5:36am 0.8 12:12am 2.0 6:23am 0.7 1:01am 2.0 7:10am 0.7 1:49am 2.1 7:57am 0.7 2:37am 2.2 8:46am 0.6 3:25am 2.2 9:37am 0.5 4:15am 2.3 10:29am 0.4
Mouth
6:07pm 0.8 12:38pm 2.1 6:58pm 0.8 1:28pm 2.2 7:47pm 0.7 2:17pm 2.3 8:35pm 0.7 3:05pm 2.4 9:23pm 0.6 3:53pm 2.4 10:11pm 0.5 4:41pm 2.5 11:00pm 0.4
Amberley 11:49am 2.1 5:36am 0.8 12:12am 2.0 6:23am 0.7 1:01am 2.0 7:10am 0.7 1:49am 2.1 7:57am 0.7 2:37am 2.2 8:46am 0.6 3:25am 2.2 9:37am 0.5 4:15am 2.3 10:29am 0.4
Beach
6:07pm 0.8 12:38pm 2.1 6:58pm 0.8 1:28pm 2.2 7:47pm 0.7 2:17pm 2.3 8:35pm 0.7 3:05pm 2.4 9:23pm 0.6 3:53pm 2.4 10:11pm 0.5 4:41pm 2.5 11:00pm 0.4
11:58am 2.1 5:45am 0.8 12:21am 2.0 6:32am 0.7 1:10am 2.0 7:19am 0.7 1:58am 2.1 8:06am 0.7 2:46am 2.2 8:55am 0.6 3:34am 2.2 9:46am 0.5 4:24am 2.3 10:38am 0.4
Motunau
6:16pm 0.8 12:47pm 2.1 7:07pm 0.8 1:37pm 2.2 7:56pm 0.7 2:26pm 2.3 8:44pm 0.7 3:14pm 2.4 9:32pm 0.6 4:02pm 2.4 10:20pm 0.5 4:50pm 2.5 11:09pm 0.4
5:47am 0.8 12:23am 2.0 6:34am 0.7 1:12am 2.0 7:21am 0.7 2:00am 2.1 8:08am 0.7 2:48am 2.2 8:57am 0.6 3:36am 2.2 9:48am 0.5 4:26am 2.3 10:40am 0.4
Gore Bay 12:00pm 2.1 6:18pm 0.8 12:49pm 2.1 7:09pm 0.8 1:39pm 2.2 7:58pm 0.7 2:28pm 2.3 8:46pm 0.7 3:16pm 2.4 9:34pm 0.6 4:04pm 2.4 10:22pm 0.5 4:52pm 2.5 11:11pm 0.4
5:46am 0.6 12:25am 1.6 6:31am 0.6 1:11am 1.6 7:16am 0.5 1:57am 1.6 8:02am 0.5 2:43am 1.6 8:49am 0.5 3:31am 1.7 9:38am 0.4 4:20am 1.7 10:28am 0.3
Kaikoura 12:01pm 1.6 6:17pm 0.6 12:48pm 1.7 7:06pm 0.6 1:35pm 1.7 7:54pm 0.5 2:22pm 1.8 8:40pm 0.5 3:09pm 1.8 9:27pm 0.4 3:57pm 1.9 10:14pm 0.4 4:46pm 2.0 11:03pm 0.3
*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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