Nor'West News: August 20, 2020

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14 Thursday August 20 2020 Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz ews NOR’WEST NEWS Students part of planting project HIGH SCHOOL students across the city have planted thousands of native trees in part of New Brighton’s red zone this year and plan to add another 10,000 over the next four years. An additional planting day has been planned for the end of the month, where the students will add a further 1100 native trees and plants at Chimera Cres. The students, who will be joined with members from the local community, are from Shirley Boys’ High, Avonside Girls’ High, Christchurch Girls’ High, Linwood College, Rawhiti School, Heaton Intermediate, Christ’s College, St Margaret’s College, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, St Andrew’s College and Cathedral Grammar. Head of physics at Christ’s College David Newton is responsible for leading the ambitious project which began last year. “Over the next four years we’re going to complete the current area we’re working on, plant the QE II Adventure Nature Trail and start another large block which is currently under negotiation with the Christchurch City Council,” he said. The planting was an opportunity for the students to practically realise the “positive impact” they can have on the community, and the planet, by contributing their part. “Our work will grow a forest that will be a lasting memorial for their efforts,” he said. “It demonstrates the power ordinary people have to change our city, country and the planet by helping mitigate climate change and increasing biodiversity.” Twenty different species of native trees and grasses will be planted, including pittosporum, ake ake, totara, flax, carex secta, and lophomyrtus. Said Newton: “We’ve selected these plants to provide both habitat and food for native birds and lizards. We want to see more native birds in Christchurch, and this is a huge opportunity to plant a forest that runs as a green spine through the city. “The best thing you can do to encourage native birdlife back to the city is to plant trees that become a year-round supply of bird food.” Newton welcomes help from DIGGING DEEP: Led by Christ’s College head of physics teacher David Newton, students from high schools across Christchurch helped plant thousands of native trees in New Brighton’s red zone. the community if they have an hour or two to spare. He urges people to bring their own spades, but that tools were available for use if needed. The replanting work is being undertaken in conjunction with city council parks and Land Information New Zealand. •Treemendous effort, page 16 Ray White Landlord Quiz - Answers 1. What are the official deadline dates that bring in new legal requirements for landlords to comply with the healthy homes standards? Answer: D - All of the above - Each of the listed dates are all attached to new requirements landlords must comply with. A statement of intent is required in all new or varied tenancy agreements now, a much more detailed statement of compliance is required in December 2020, and finally, compliance with all standards is required in 2021. 2. Will a newly constructed property (completed 2020 or later) automatically comply with the healthy homes standards and therefore not require a healthy homes statement of compliance? Answer: C - No - Even if a brand new home meets the latest building code standards and relevant council regulations, it may not meet the healthy homes standards. A common example of this is the heating standard requirements, which many new homes do not meet. Regardless of the age a property is built, every single tenancy agreement must include a comprehensive healthy homes statement from 1 Dec 2020. 3. Landlord’s can complete their own healthy homes statement of compliance? Answer: A - True - A landlord can complete their own healthy homes statement of compliance, however, this would almost certainly require a site visit to the property and significant time and care to complete properly. The current statement template contains 13-pages of required detail that must be included with measurements, site evidence, heating tool calculations and more. 4. Landlords will comply with the healthy homes heating standard if they provide a tenant with a high-quality portable fan heater. Answer: B - False - The heating standard dictates that every main living room must be provided with a “fixed” qualifying heater, so a portable unit would not comply. 5. Since 2019 Privacy Commission updates, what information cannot be asked of a tenant when they initially apply for a rental property? Answer: D - All of the above - In accordance with Privacy Commission guidelines, all of the information listed cannot be asked for from a tenant when they initially apply for a rental property. A landlord can only ask for details on where a tenant may be employed right now and details around where they live right now. There is real skill and knowledge required to ensure you ask the right questions at the right time so no breaches of the privacy guidelines occur. 6. Within any tenancy agreement, how many unique statements are currently required to be included? (Each statement contains unique information). Answer: B - Three - Three statements are currently required in any new or varied tenancy agreement. An insulation statement, a healthy homes statement of intent and an insurance statement. 7. What are the potential fines a landlord can currently receive if they do not include all the required statements within their tenancy agreement? Answer: C - $1,500 - A landlord could receive penalties of up to $1,500 if using incorrect tenancy agreements and not including the required statements. Each of the three required statements carries a penalty of up to $500. 8. An invoice for insulation work carried out and detailing what was installed in a rental property will pass the insulation statement requirements. Answer: B - False - An insulation statement must outline the location of any insulation, its condition, what type has been used, and the R-value. It must also be signed by the landlord or their agent. An invoice will not generally include all this information. 9. Landlords must now provide tenants with a copy of their own insurance policy if requested. Answer: A - True - Personal details can be redacted, however, all policy information including cover and excess amounts should be visible and must be provided to a tenant if requested. 10. What is the maximum allowable level of methamphetamine presence in a rental property before it is then deemed uninhabitable? Answer: B or C depending on who you talk to and the situation ( 1.5 μg / 100 cm2 or 15 μg / 100 cm2 - one measure being 10 x higher than the other). - We currently operate in a limbo state with conflicting guidelines being provided by the NZS:8510 standards and the Gluckman report. The Tenancy Tribunal may also look at other factors such as the timing and extent of contamination. Methamphetamine contamination is still a very real risk for landlords, where in a worst case scenario the tenant may be entitled to all or part of their rent back if they conduct their own test to find they live in a contaminated property. 11. Tenant X is renting a property at $400 per week and causes damage through careless behaviour that totals $4,000 to repair. Landlord X has an insurance policy in place with an excess amount of $1,000. How much of this repair cost will the tenant be liable for? Answer: C - $1,000 (the excess) - In careless damage situations, a tenant is liable for up to a maximum of four weeks’ rent or the landlord’s insurance excess, whichever is the lower amount. The remaining damages would need to be covered under the landlord’s insurance. This highlights the importance of having good landlord insurance cover. 12. Tenant X is renting a property at $400 per week and causes damage through careless behaviour that totals $4,000 to repair. Landlord X has no insurance policy. How much of this repair cost will the tenant be liable for? Answer: B - $1,600 (four weeks’ rent) - In careless damage situations where a landlord has no insurance, a tenant is liable for up to a maximum of four weeks’ rent. The remaining damages would need to be covered by the landlord - even though the tenant has caused it. This highlights the importance of having good landlord insurance cover.
NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Thursday August 20 2020 15 Sharing the joy of music during tough times THE GLOBAL pandemic stopped a concert but it could not stop memories from being made. The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s Karawhiua! Let’s Play! Residency Programme usually finishes with a concert for school communities – but Covid-19 tore the run sheet. Children at Wairakei School and Burnside Primary School were unable to end the programme with a concert because of the alert level 2 physical distancing rules. Gatherings of more than 100 people were banned from Wednesday last week as the country tackled the community transmission of Covid-19 in Auckland. Community concerts became impractical – but that did not mean the pupils’ parents and whanau had to miss out on seeing what the children learned during the week. Orchestra head of engagement Cathy Irons, who helped deliver the programme at Wairakei CREATIVITY: Burnside Primary School pupils were treated to a special workshop by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. School, said the children were very excited to learn they would instead make a video of their work to share with their whanau. It was a pragmatic response to the Covid-19 response rules, and a new way to get the fruit of the children’s work into homes and the wider community, she said. The programme gives children the chance to experience music by learning to play new instruments and taking part in interactive musical projects. In one project, pupils spell their name in Morse code and use it as the base rhythm for a song they compose. Instruments ranged from ukuleles and chime bars to violins and buckets. Irons said the programme, which started in 2009, aimed to give children access to new experiences and promoted confidence, and individual and shared creativity. As the country dealt with the global pandemic, it also reinforced a sense of common purpose and belonging, she said. FOCUS ON HEALTH Centuries old folk remedy supports good health! A fermented liquid health tonic offers an array of powerful health benefits. It is none other than the popular apple cider vinegar or ACV. Since the time of Hippocrates – the “Father of Medicine” – ACV has been renowned for its curative properties. In his popular book “ARTHRITIS and FOLK MEDICINE”, DR. D.C. Jarvis reports how he found that Vermonters who regularly consumed ACV and Honey had excellent health with many putting in a vigorous day’s work on the farm even when well into their eighties. He also noted the effects of ACV and H on arthritis to be remarkable with many patients reporting almost total relief after taking a course of the mixture. Dr. Jarvis surmised that the acid and potassium in cider vinegar counteracted calcium deposits and helped the body control calcium use. He also noted that Vermonters who consumed ACV and H around meal time had excellent blood pressure and circulation. The reason he found was that protein foods thickened the blood and vinegar thinned it. As the blood thickens it cannot pass as easily and quickly through the blood vessels and capillaries. This poor blood flow would reduce cellular health by limiting nutrients to the cells as well as waste elimination from the cells. To prevent cell damage the body naturally increases blood pressure but this puts more stress on the blood vessels, organs and heart. Having ACV and H with meals will help prevent protein raising the blood pressure. It also contributes to a feeling of greater well-being because the thinner blood circulates quickly and more easily through the blood vessels. Dr. Jarvis found regular consumption of CV and H to be an excellent health tonic with numerous health attributes. ACV is highly nutritious as it contains all the goodness of the apple in a form that is readily accepted by the body. Good health starts with good digestion and assimilation of nutrients. ACV taken before food will stimulate and promote healthy digestion and assimilation of vital nutrients for good health. A well-functioning digestive system helps prevent disease by neutralising any toxic substances that enter the body. It is important to note not all ACV is produced in the traditional way and results are likely to prove disappointing with these other vinegars. Marshall’s Premium ACV and ACV with 20% Manuka Honey is produced in Canterbury from organic whole apples in the traditional way. It is double strength so you can use less. Further information is available instore from the Natural Health Advisers at Marshall’s Health & Natural Therapy, 101 Seaview Road, New Brighton, Phone: 388-5757. We are always happy to help! ‘CEREC’ & cosmetic dentistry Wisdom tooth removal Painless, high quality dentistry Sedation dentistry Experienced, conscientious team Experienced hygienists OPEN SATURDAYS 355 9380 144 Cranford Street www.stalbansdentalcentre.co.nz Apple Cider VinegAr Powerful Natural Health Tonic ACV is a highly nutritious health tonic with all the goodness of apples (one of our most health-giving fruits) in a form that is readily accepted by the body. It promotes healthy digestion, assimilation of nutrients & elimination of wastes. It is detoxifying, purifying as well as supporting the function of vital organs like the kidneys, bladder, liver & heart. It helps neutralise toxic substances & harmful bacteria in food. A time-honoured natural remedy to improve health & longevity. Highly recommended as a daily health tonic for everyone! ACV SUPPORTS • Healthy digestion, assimilation of nutrients, elimination of wastes • Energy – Vitality – Endurance • Elimination of viruses, bacteria, fungus & parasites • Powerful antioxidant • Cardiovascular health, blood flow & healthy blood pressure • Diabetes – improves insulin sensitivity • Arthritis & joint support • Longevity & improved health • Settles the stomach & reduces reflux • Weight Loss MAIL ORDER AVAILABLE Super price PrEmIum QuALIty N.Z. DoubLE StrENgtH, orgANIC APPLE CIDEr VINEgAr: 750ml only $9.90, 2ltr only $19.90 WItH 20% mANukA HoNEy ADDED: 750ml only $14.90, 2ltr only $29.90 ALWAYS INSIST ON MARSHALL’S TRUE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR FOR MAXIMUM NUTRITIONAL VALUE & HEALTH BENEFITS! Bringing You the Best in Natural Health MARSHALLS HEALTH & NATURAL THERAPY CONSULTING - PRESCRIBING - DISPENSING - MANUFACTURING - MEDICAL HERBALISTS 101 SEAVIEW RD, NEW BRIGHTON • PH 03 388 5757 • Email: enquiry@marshallshealthshop.co.nz - WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HELP! -
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Nor'West News: August 20, 2020

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