North Canterbury News: December 04, 2020

NEWS AND OPINION
6 North Canterbury News, December 3, 2020
In the Electoratewith
MattDoocey
MP forWaimakariri
Authorised by MattDoocey,Level1ConwayLane,188 High Street,Rangiora.
Corridor agame-changer
On Monday morning, Igot up early before
the kids —and those withchildren will
know how early that is —and drovein
from Waimakariritobeone of the first to
help bed the chip­seal surfacefor the
partial opening of the northern corridor
to vehicles.
Iwas at the Cranford Street opening at
7am but,Murphy’s Law,ithad been
postponed because of wet weather.
Ihelped turn the sod with then prime
minister John Key in 2016for this project,
and have been advocating for it each step
of the way.
Ipetitioned for the three­laning of the
bridge southboundtobeincluded in the
northern corridor works because it made
sensetoget it done at the sametime to
resolve congestion in the mornings
backing up to Tram Road.The northern
corridor will be agame­changer for North
Canterbury commuters, unlocking traffic
corridorsinand out of Christchurch.
Add to that thegains we enjoy from the
Western Belfast Bypass and it puts more
emphasisthan everonour need for the
Belfast to Pegasus motorway,including
the WoodendBypass, to be started
without delay.
Our country’s 53rdParliament was
officially opened last week and arainy
day didn’t detractfrom the solemnity of
the event.
Our country faces challenges as we look
to our economic recoveryfollowing the
pandemic,aswellasincreasingdemand
for housing and healthservices.
As National’sspokesperson for mental
health, associatespokesperson for
health, and associate spokesperson for
social development and employment,I’ll
be holding the government to account
over these key areas.
As senior whip, Ihave been in
Wellington assistingour new MPs to find
their way aroundthe complexitiesof
what can be abewilderingenvironment,
andproviding them with pastoral
support.
It was greatnews last weektohave our
newafter­hours healthcare centrefinally
signed off by the healthminister. Imet in
personwith Canterbury District Health
Board chief executive Andrew Brant
followingthe board’s recent loss of
leadership to ensuretimeframes and
deliverywould remain apriority.
Iwas reassuredtohearhewas keeping
theprojectontrack. Thisisawin for our
community and there are so many people
to acknowledge.
Sandi McLean wastireless in her
efforts to collect signaturesfor our
community petition, which we presented
to the board at my public meeting on the
issue. We got the commitment thatnight
that we would get our seven­day family
health centre. ResidentPaula Thackwell
wasastrong voicefrom the beginningin
raising this as an issue of importancefor
ourcommunity.
Last week,Iwent back to school,
judgingthe St Patrick’sKaiapoi student
speeches ahead of the Rotary speech
competition. It was alot of fun and I
thoroughly enjoyedgetting to know the
studentsand staff.Iamgrateful to St Pat’s
forthe opportunity to be involved.
Waimakariri
Focus from Dan Gordon, Mayor
Avery merry mayoral
Christmas message
As we enterthe holiday season, Iwish to
extend to youall bestwishesfor aMerry
Christmas andahealthy,safeand happy
NewYear.
It is amagical time of year as our
community comes alive withtwinkling
lightsand decorations, Santa parades,
carol singing, and thespreading of
goodwill.
School prize­givings have been
enjoyabletoattend.
Itry to get alongtoasmanyofour school
celebrations as Ican.Itismarvellous to
see ouryoung peoplebeingrecognisedfor
their achievements.
The Christmas TreeFestival this year
will be heldinthe RangioraTownHall
from December 5, and adds something
special each year to thefestive season.
The Christmas Wonderland at Oxford’s
GP Hall from December16isalsowell
worth alook.
Weare very lucky to have organisations
that organise festive activities each year
for ourcommunity.
Thankstoall thosewho go to such an
LOST AND FOUND
The following property has been reported
to the police as being lost in North
Canterbury:
Ablack squareleather wallet, a
cellphone in aclear plastic cover with
jewels, aNissan key and Harrodsteddy
bear keyring,ablacksilk material purse, a
efforttomakeChristmas extraspecial.
Whenyou arelookingtocross some
itemsoff yourChristmas shopping list, I
hope that you will choosetosupportlocal
businesses and services.
Please also keep an eye out forpeople
on their own this Christmas.
Thank you to our emergency services,
medical teams andall other staff working
and keeping us safe over the coming
holiday period.
We allknow it has beenan
extraordinary year unlike anywehave
experienced before.
Despitethis, or perhapsbecauseofit, it
is importantthatweall make timeto
reflect on whatChristmas is about in our
own individual way.
Forme, Christmas is about spending
timewith my family and enjoying seeing so
manypeople in thecommunity connect
and sharejoy.
Iespecially enjoyChristmas carols.
On behalfofthe Waimakariri District
Council,Iwish you and yourfamily a
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
brown wallet,asilver engraved bracelet,
and ablack leatherfolding wallet with zip.
The following property is waitingtobe
claimed:Ared backpack with shoes,
clothes, schoolbooks and notes (found in
Pegasus), and anavy blue Le Queen
backpack(foundinKaiapoi).
Waimakariri district shows ongoing resilience after Covid-19
The Waimakariri district
continues to fare better than
expectedfollowing the impact of
Covid­19.
The September Infometrics
Quarterly EconomicMonitor for
Waimakariri was releasedlast
week.While containingafew
expected declines, it is a
positive report.
This followsOctober’s North
Canterbury Business Opinion
Survey which showed ahigher
levelofbusiness confidence
thanatany other timeinthe
pastthree years. More thana
third of surveyed businesses
reported growth.
EnterpriseNorth Canterbury
business support manager Miles
Dalton sayswhile Covid­19 has
had an impact, the report is
‘‘reassuringly dull’’.
‘‘Thingsaren’t as flash as they
would havebeen without Covid­
19. However,weare in amuch
better place thanexpected,and
doing comparatively betterthan
most,”hesays.
One of the key statistics is
consumer spending in the
district, whichisup9.1 percent
for the September quarter
compared to the sametime last
year.
For the yeartoSeptember,
consumer spending is up 3.3%,
meaning retailers areahead for
the yeardespite the lockdown.
House prices are also rising,
with values appreciating by 5.9%
in the past year. However,
residential and commercial
building consents areboth down
significantly (­17.1% and ­41.2%
respectively).
The numberofjobseekers has
risen by 344 from last year, but
the unemployment rate in
Waimakariri sits at 3.1% —the
sameasSeptember 2019.
Tourismspendingin
Waimakariri isalso slightly
downonlast year–another
expected outcome –but the 4.4%
decline is minimal compared to
­13% for Canterbury and ­16.5%
for New Zealand as awhole.
The district’s growth in gross
domestic product, although
down slightly, was also higher
than both Canterburyand New
Zealand.
Waimakariri’s dairy sectoris
dubbed‘‘a source of strength
through the recession’’ in the
report, withdairyfarmers
expected to reap $199 million
this season, down onlyslightly
from $209m lastyear.
McALPINES MITRE 10 MEGA RANGIORA -OCEAN WATCH
This
Week
Sun
Fishing
Guide
Moon
Wind
Swell
Pegasus Bay
Tide Chart
3
2
1
Good
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Dec 3 Dec 4 Dec 5 Dec 6 Dec 7 Dec 8 Dec 9
Rise 5:43am
Set 8:53pm
Best
Times
3:05am
3:31pm
Set 7:31am
Rise11:32pm
Moderate Sbecoming
fresh SW
Good
Rise 5:43am
Set 8:54pm
Best
Times
3:58am
4:25pm
Fresh SW turning
SE
Good
Rise 5:43am
Set 8:55pm
Best
Times
4:51am
5:18pm
Set 8:25am Rise 12:19am
Set 9:27am
Moderate Wturning
SE
Good
Rise 5:43am
Set 8:56pm
Best
Times
Rise 1:00am
Set 10:35am
Moderate Sbecoming
fresh SE
Rise 5:43am
Set 8:57pm
Rise 1:34am
Set 11:44am
Moderate SE
becoming fresh S
Rise 5:43am
Set 8:58pm
Rise 2:04am
Set 12:56pm
Moderate SW turning
S
Rise 5:42am
Set 8:59pm
Rise 2:32am
Set 2:08pm
Moderate SW
becoming fresh S
S1.0 mturning
E0.8 mturning
SE 0.5 mturning
SE 0.8 mturning SE 0.7 mturning
E
SW
SW 0.8 m
NE 1.1 m
NE 1.1 m
SW
SW
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
5:44am
6:10pm
Good
Best
Times
6:35am
7:01pm
Good
Best
Times
7:25am
7:50pm
Good
Best
Times
8:14am
8:39pm
0
Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows
Waimakariri 7:40am 2.3 1:26am 0.7 8:24am 2.3 2:09am 0.6 9:09am 2.3 2:52am 0.6 9:56am 2.3 3:38am 0.6 10:44am 2.3 4:26am 0.6 11:34am 2.3 5:17am 0.6 12:02am 2.2 6:11am 0.6
Mouth
8:00pm 2.1 1:55pm 0.7 8:47pm 2.1 2:39pm 0.7 9:35pm 2.1 3:25pm 0.7 10:23pm 2.1 4:13pm 0.6 11:12pm 2.2 5:02pm 0.6
5:53pm 0.6 12:26pm 2.4 6:45pm 0.5
Amberley 7:40am 2.3 1:26am 0.7 8:24am 2.3 2:09am 0.6 9:09am 2.3 2:52am 0.6 9:56am 2.3 3:38am 0.6 10:44am 2.3 4:26am 0.6 11:34am 2.3 5:17am 0.6 12:02am 2.2 6:11am 0.6
Beach
8:00pm 2.1 1:55pm 0.7 8:47pm 2.1 2:39pm 0.7 9:35pm 2.1 3:25pm 0.7 10:23pm 2.1 4:13pm 0.6 11:12pm 2.2 5:02pm 0.6
5:53pm 0.6 12:26pm 2.4 6:45pm 0.5
7:49am 2.3 1:35am 0.7 8:33am 2.3 2:18am 0.6 9:18am 2.3 3:01am 0.6 10:05am 2.3 3:47am 0.6 10:53am 2.3 4:35am 0.6 11:43am 2.3 5:26am 0.6 12:11am 2.2 6:20am 0.6
Motunau 8:09pm 2.1 2:04pm 0.7 8:56pm 2.1 2:48pm 0.7 9:44pm 2.1 3:34pm 0.7 10:32pm 2.1 4:22pm 0.6 11:21pm 2.2 5:11pm 0.6
6:02pm 0.6 12:35pm 2.4 6:54pm 0.5
7:51am 2.3 1:37am 0.7 8:35am 2.3 2:20am 0.6 9:20am 2.3 3:03am 0.6 10:07am 2.3 3:49am 0.6 10:55am 2.3 4:37am 0.6 11:45am 2.3 5:28am 0.6 12:13am 2.2 6:22am 0.6
Gore Bay 8:11pm 2.1 2:06pm 0.7 8:58pm 2.1 2:50pm 0.7 9:46pm 2.1 3:36pm 0.7 10:34pm 2.1 4:24pm 0.6 11:23pm 2.2 5:13pm 0.6
6:04pm 0.6 12:37pm 2.4 6:56pm 0.5
7:46am 1.7 1:31am 0.5 8:29am 1.8 2:14am 0.5 9:14am 1.8 2:58am 0.5 10:00am 1.8 3:44am 0.5 10:49am 1.8 4:32am 0.5 11:40am 1.8 5:22am 0.5 12:07am 1.7 6:15am 0.4
Kaikoura 8:10pm 1.6 2:03pm 0.5 8:56pm 1.6 2:48pm 0.5 9:42pm 1.6 3:34pm 0.5 10:29pm 1.6 4:22pm 0.5 11:17pm 1.7 5:10pm 0.5
5:59pm 0.5 12:33pm 1.8 6:49pm 0.4
*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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