Bay Harbour: June 09, 2021

Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
refugee work noted
Alongside this major project,
Couch-Lewis has worked with
the Department of Conservation
to recover the orange-fronted
parakeet, the kākāriki, as well
as the hoiho, the yellow-eyed
penguin.
She has been a Ngāi Tahu
representative on the Te
Waihora Co-Governance Group
since 2007. She has championed
employment opportunities for
hapū in conservation and for
a joint management approach
between DOC and Ngāti Wheke
for Ripapa and Otamahua/Quail
Island.
In 2020, Couch-Lewis was
appointed as one of the newly
created “Tumu Taiao” roles
aimed at supporting better
city council decision-making
outcomes for mana whenua and
for ECan.
Former MP Ruth Dyson was
awarded the Queen’s Service
Order.
Dyson held several ministerial
roles with previous Labour
governments and was MP for
Lyttelton, Banks Peninsula and
the Port Hills, and has also
worked in the disability sector
for more than 30 years.
She was the first Minister for
Disability Issues in 1999. She
advocated for reform of the
disability support system, led
work to promote inclusivity for
disabled people in employment
and education, and provided
leadership through various
changes to ACC legislation.
Dyson also took part in
driving the legislation that
recognised sign language as an
official
language.
Suzanne
Blakely,
from
Redcliffs,
was
awarded
the
Queen’s
Service
Ruth Dyson
Medal for
her dedication
to helping refugees create a
new home in New Zealand.
She has spent 30 years
supporting refugee women as
an English as a second language
teacher. Blakely started this
ESOL role in 1990, teaching
English to Cambodian women
and children when she worked
at Mairehau Primary School.
In 1992, the programme
extended to teaching families
from Somalia.
She created a specialised ESOL
programme for refugee women
and has continued to teach
marginalised refugee parents,
especially women.
Her methods of teaching
have been incorporated into
mainstream ESOL teaching
programs for refugees
nationwide.
Blakely’s teaching has been
a combination of paid and
voluntary work, and she has
always supplemented class
resources from her own pocket
She has spent thousands
of hours not only making
resources suitable for learners
who are illiterate in their own
language, but also enabling
them to travel to attend class
and source childcare.
Her work is about more
than teaching English. Blakely
supports women in attending
health and school appointments,
and with supermarket
shopping.
She has taught many how to
drive, has helped refugees in
their search for employment,
and was a pillar of support in
the aftermath of the February
22, 2011 earthquake, and the
March 2019 terror attack.
Wednesday June 9 2021 Bay Harbour News
NEWS 5
Students seeking
shorter travel time
• By Samantha Mythen
PARENTS OF Cashmere High
School students from Cass
Bay are hoping to find a more
convenient way for their children
to get to and from school.
Currently children must catch
the route 28 bus
at 7am and travel
for over an hour,
including another bus
change, to be able to
get to school on time.
After school, it is
another hour’s journey
home.
There are about a
dozen students living
in Cass Bay who attend
Cashmere, with
this set to double next
year.
The Cass Bay
Residents’ Association has
sent a letter to Environment
Canterbury, requesting an open
dialogue around adjusting the
timetable to leave at 7.30am.
Parent Frank Costello said:
“Either the Ministry of Education
and or ECan need to work
out and provide a service that
works.”
“If ECan could sort more
Frank Costello ​
appropriately timed buses to
enable them to connect with
the Orbiter, they (my children)
would be sorted.”
Although students would still
have to take two buses to get
to school, the association said
the students would
have more time at
home and would get
to school at a more
appropriate time for
starting the day.
Originally, a school
bus was funded by
the Ministry of Education,
however this
was cancelled when
it was discovered that
the students were not
entitled to the bus
because they lived
outside of the transport
eligibility zone.
A spokesperson from ECan
said route 28 has been identified
as needing service improvements
and community engagement will
be included in this.
“Consideration could be given
to adding other options,” the
spokesperson said.
The service review is expected
to commence in the second half
of this year.
NUMBER ONE SUPPLIER
TO THE NZ JET BOATING
COMMUNITY FOR OVER
50 YEARS
• Part Boats & Hulls
• Turn Key Packages
• New Jet Units
• Custom Fabrication
• Expert Advice
SERVICING
Peter Tonkin
03 962 0505
peter.tonkin@hamiltonjet.nz
• Spare Parts Retailer
• Jet Unit Refurbishment
• Engine Tune-Ups
• Insurance Repairs
• Impellor Reconditioning
KeeP New ZealaNders
worKiNg!
BUY NZ MADE SHOES
Kids from $115 • Adults from $195
47c Garlands Road, Woolston
Phone 389 3431
www.thefootwearfactory.co.nz
winter market update
As the country moves closer to Matariki and then through
towards spring again there is intense buyer demand for
homes, helped by continuing record low mortgage rates.
Thinking of selling and want the top price for your home
through a quality marketing plan? Then call Chris today for
the latest market tips and a free property appraisal.
Chris
027 588 4440 | chris.moores@harcourts.co.nz
Grenadier Real Estate Ltd MREINZ Licensed Agent REAA 2008
100% Success rate at auctions over
the past 12 months. To find out about
the marketing process and your
selling options,
Ask Marilyn.
Marilyn Still, Bayleys Real Estate
027 229 8769 | marilyn.still@bayleys.co.nz
WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008