North Canterbury News: March 11, 2021

NEWS
2 The North Canterbury News, March 11, 2021
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Artisan’sbuns on top again
By ROBYN BRISTOW
Acourier mess­up almost foiled
Artisan by Rangiora Bakery’s
winning entry in the Great New
Zealand Hot Cross Bun
competition reaching its
destination.
But bakerystaffer Tania
Browncame to the rescue,
offering to deliver the buns to
Dunedinfor judging on her way
to Invercargill.
She arrived with 30 minutes to
spare, gavethe box akiss, and
continued on her journey.
The bakerythen heard
nothing, and thoughtthe worst.
OperationsmanagerMarcus
Braunsaid they weresurprised
when acrew turneduplate last
week withthe president of the
Baking Industry Association of
New Zealand, Kevin Gilbert, to
announce the bakery had won.
Marcus says Tania’s effort in
delivering the entry earnedher
asmallaward in recognition of
her efforts, which allowedthe
bakery to take outthe prize for
the second year in arow.
Marcus, who developed the
recipe, says it is amatterof
gettingthe right balance of
spices, dried fruits macerated in
orange juice, and zest.
Breadbaker ShaneHancox
honedthe recipe, and did alot
of test baking before suggesting
the addition of some of the
bakery’s secret glazetothe fruit,
whichgave the bun an edge.
Staffthen gavethem the taste
test,which ledtomore refining,
until, after threeweeks,the
buns werecompetition­ready.
Marcus says the winhas given
the production staffof130 ashot
in the arm,asafter last year’s
win, the country went into
lockdown soon after, meaning
the bakery was unabletoreap
the rewards.
People had beentravelling
from Timaruand Ashburton and
buying astashofbuns, taking
them home and divvying them
up, says Marcus. But lockdown
put the brakes on sales.
This year, the bakery can
hardly keep up with demand.On
the first day, 600 packetsofsix
were baked andsold.
Production was stepped up for
the weekend.
‘‘We havebeen inundated
with messagesand texts from
people wanting to know how to
get hold of some buns,’’Marcus
says.
Chance for asay on plans
By ROBYN BRISTOW
Environment Canterbury’s draft longterm
plan 2021 to 2031 has been released
for community feedback.
It contains two options for
consultation, both proposing anotable
increase in activity and the funding
required to deliver it.
Option one proposes work costing
$246.54 million —about $46m more than
this year financial year. It would mean
an average increase of $136 per rateable
property.
It includes provision to accelerate key
projects, including public transport and
the Government’s essential freshwater
package.
ECan says $143m of the amount would
be funded by rates, with the rest made
up of government grants and user­pays
charges.
Option two represents work costing
$240.19m —about $40m more than this
year —for an average increase of $110
per rateable property.
Compared to the first option, some
projects will be delayed, scaled back or
not proposed to be funded. Of that,
$135m would be rate­funded, with the
rest made up of government grants and
user­pays charges.
Chairwoman Jenny Hughey said at an
ECan council meeting that the proposals
to increase activity and accelerate
environmental outcomes across the
region is to address issues such as
climate change, natural hazards, water
quality and biodiversity.
No decision will be made on the final
Championbuns ... Shane Hancox, left, headbread baker at
Artisan by Rangiora Bakery,holdsafreshly bakedbatch of hot
crossbuns alongsideoperations manager Marcus Braun, who
is holding the trophy.
Mayors
concerned
From Page 1
While her council has yet to discuss
ECan’s proposed rates rise, Hurunui
Mayor Marie Blacksays she agreeswith
Mr Gordon’s comments.
‘‘We need to be mindful of the impact
on the mum and dad ratepayerswho
bear the bruntofthese decisions.
‘‘It certainly begs the question of why
you would have such asignificant
increase when we are coming out of
austerity, withthe overall impact of
Covid still unknown.’’
Kaikoura Mayor Craig Mackle said he
would like asimilar ratesrise to get
through the projectshis district needs,
but he realises there would not be the
support.Now is not the time to burden
ratepayers, he says.
As all three districtcouncils collect
ECan’s rates as part of theirrates
demand,there is aconcern the rates rise
will reflect on them.
‘‘We are not lookingforward to those
big rate numbers coming up on our rates
bill, so it’s up to the community to have
their say, which is their right,’’Mrs Black
said.
The Waimakariri District Council is
proposing arates rise this year of 3.95%,
while Hurunui is proposing 8.49%.
The Kaikoura District Council has only
just begunwork on its Long Term Plan.
ECan’s draft Long Term Plan is
availableonlinefor submissions by
visitinghaveyoursay.ecan.govt.nz.
Fun day abig hit with Amuri residents
From Page 1
Horseriders turnedout in
forcefor aday of competing
afterthe cancellation of the
Amurishow and other blows,
including the lossofthe
Horseofthe Year Show.
Sheepalso featured, along
Long­Term Plan until after the council
has received and reviewed submissions
from the community, including hearing
in­person from those who want to speak
in support of their submission.
The percentage increase in rates that
is attached to each of the proposed
options (24.5% for Option 1and 18% for
Option 2) refers to the percentage
increase in the total amount paid to the
council in rates.
Not every ratepayer will see this on
their bill, ECan says.
To help illustrate what different
ratepayers will pay, ECan has anew tool,
ratescalculator.ecan.govt.nz, where
people can enter their address and see
what each option will do to the dollar to
be paid.
The existing rates ‘‘bubble’’ tool will
give the breakdown of income —that is,
how much are rates, grants and userpays
—for each portfolio, programme
and project proposed. This can be found
at rates.ecan.govt.nz.
For more information on the draft
Long­Term Plan and to make a
submission, members of the community
should go to haveyoursay.ecan.govt.nz/
ltp, where the consultation documents
can be found and where there is access
to the two rates tools.
An online submission form is available
on the page.
Public consultation on the plan runs
from March 8toApril 11.
Hearings are scheduled for April 27,
April 28 and May 4.
It will be adopted on June 17, and
become effective from July 1.
with anew shepherd’scontest
aimedatshowcasingand
recognising the important
contributionshepherds make
on North Canterbury farms.
Steerand calf riding, and
barrel racing,were well
supported.
Woodchopping and
shearing went aheadas
planned on the Saturday, with
careful managementofthe
numbers gathered.
Show president Don
McLean was justifiably proud
of what had been salvaged
from the show. He saysthe
Amuricommunity is well
usedtolooking after itself,
and it was not going to let a
little bit of Covid get in the
way of agreat time.
Likethe annual show, it
provided agreat opportunity
to catch up withfriends and
neighbours.
Pictures, page44