Nor'West News: February 04, 2021

NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday February 4 2021 5
Importing delays a concern
• From page 1
Said Morris: “[Demand] is
improving every week – about
10 per cent a week, even with no
advertising. We didn’t know what
to expect.
“It was busy because of Christmas,
but January was actually
busier with more people knowing
where we are.”
In spite of the holiday season
ending, Morris was feeling
optimistic for the year ahead.
“I’m an optimist and always
look on the bright side. I wouldn’t
have opened [the business] otherwise.”
The same can be said at Black
Sheep on Papanui Rd – the
country’s leading retailer of
electric scooters, e-bikes, and
hoverboards.
Owner Luke Ambrose said
there was a “big demand” for
products all year, but December
proved to be different.
He was relieved the business
did not suffer too greatly last year,
however, delays in importing
products overseas were the main
concern currently.
“December was quite busy, last
year was a lot busier than 2019,”
he said.
“People seem to be spending
their money on bikes because
they can’t go anywhere [overseas].
PROMISING: Retailers in Papanui, including Garden City
Produce, experienced a spike in sales during December
last year compared to data from the previous year.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
It’s made people realise they want
to get out a bit more.”
The report said, popular items
on the shopping list included
apparel, home and recreational
goods, personal items, groceries,
and alcohol.
However, fuel and automotive
spending decreased by five per
cent – a trend in recent years
following a push for residents to
use alternative transport.
Spending on clothing and
personal items saw the greatest
growth in December, with
domestic visitor spend up 20
per cent compared to the same
period in 2019.
“Across the city, retail spending
was robust in December 2020 as
consumers prepared for Christmas,”
the ChristchurchNZ report
said.
“With December being the
first month of the summer and
holiday season, the impact of
closed borders on the visitor
economy has become more
apparent and will continue to do
so as the season progresses.”
Camera cradles to help
track coastline change
THE PUBLIC will be able to
help track how New Brighton’s
coastline is changing over time.
Camera cradles have been
installed at New Brighton Pier
to encourage people to take part
in the CoastSnap community
science project.
CoastSnap relies on the
public taking photos at the same
locations at different times and
sending them to the city council.
This will help determine
how coastlines are changing
over time due to human activity
and natural processes such as
storms, rising sea levels and
day-to-day changes in the beach
structure.
Cradles have also been set up
at Taylors Mistake to track how
its coastline is changing.
Said city council head of
planning and strategic transport
David Griffiths: “We have set
up camera cradles at Taylors
Mistake and on the New
Brighton Pier in the hope that
visitors to those locations will
take part in the project by
taking a photo and sharing it on
the CoastSnap app, via Twitter
or Instagram, or by emailing
coastsnapchch@ccc.govt.nz
“Using a specialised technique
known as photogrammetry,
CoastSnap turns your photos
into valuable coastal data that
is used by coastal scientists to
understand and forecast how
coastlines might change in the
coming decades.
“The beach and dunes at New
Brighton and Taylors Mistake
are dynamic, natural systems
that are constantly changing.
CoastSnap will help us to better
understand how the beaches
respond to changes in wave conditions,
weather and extreme
storm events.
“Every photo that is taken will
add to a community database
that will be used by scientists and
planners to map shoreline changes.
That information will help
us to improve how we manage
treasured coastal environments,
so please get snapping.
“There’s a sign at each camera
cradle site explaining what you
need to do so it is an easy project
for people to get involved in.’’
The CoastSnap app can be
downloaded from the app store
or Google Play.
CoastSnap is a joint project
involving the city council,
Environment Canterbury and
Canterbury University.
Have your say
Safe cycleway coming
to your area
We’re making it safer for everyone to get around the
Harewood, Bishopdale, Papanui and Airport area.
Have your say on the Wheels to Wings – Papanui ki
Waiwhetū cycleway.
Come and talk to us:
• Tuesday 9 February, 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Ōrauwhata: Bishopdale Community Centre,
13 Bishopdale Court
• Tuesday 16 February, 4.30pm - 6.30pm
Charles Upham Room, Papanui RSA,
55 Bellvue Avenue
ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay