North Canterbury News: August 12, 2021

Groundswell plan further action
By ROBYN BRISTOW
Groundswell is planningfurther action if it
doesn’t get aGovernmentresponseby
August16toits protestover unworkable
regulations.
It has been six weeks since
Groundswell’s Howl of aProtest galvanized
around60,000 peoplethroughoutthe
country to roll into town in their tractors,
trucks, utes and on foottosupport
Groundswell’s concernsaround two key
piecesoflegislation—freshwater and
indigenous biodiversity/significant natural
areas (SNAs).
In recent days it has added Three
WatersReforms to its dossier because of
increasingconcerns among councils..
Spokesperson Bryce McKenzie says
many councils have expressedconcerns
about the lackofinformationand
meaningfulconsultation,and the hastein
which the Government are pushing the
reforms through.
“This is shaping up as ahighly divisive
issue in localgovernment, with some
councilsstrongly in support and many
othersopposedorexpressing
reservations”, says Mr McKenzie.
“Farmers are not the onlyones being
subject to aone size fitsall, we know best,
attitude from the government.”
Groundswell pledges to continueits
campaign until muchneeded changes to
unworkableregulations happens.
The organisation,which has its roots in
Southland,isnow well established on the
West Coast,and has beenjoinedbythe
North Canterbury­basedRural Advocacy
Network throughanalliancewith
Groundswell.
It has published an Open Letter to the
‘‘People of New Zealand’’reiterating its
concerns.
‘Groundswell NZ’s is not callingfor a
halt in progressaddressing our
environmental issues. We believeall New
High Street display. .. Atractor convoy rolling through Rangiora’s central business district
during Groundswell’s nationwide Howl of aProtest in July.
PHOTO: SHELLEY TOPP
Zealanders needtojoin in the journey of
environmental custodianship.
‘‘Leaders of Groundswell NZ are at the
forefrontofthe environmental effortin
New Zealand, clear evidence that we are
welland trulyonboard.
‘‘Weare not opposed to all regulation as
claimed by some Government ministers.
‘‘All humanactivities, including
farming, havenegativeimpactsonthe
environment and regulationsare part and
parcel of every day life.
‘‘Our oppositionisto unworkable
regulations –particularly those that are
impractical, costprohibitive, penalise
environmentally progressive landowners
or have detrimentaloutcomesfor the
environment.Hence our objection to the
two key piecesoflegislation; freshwater
and indigenousbiodiversity/SNAs,’’ it says
in the openletter.
Groundswell saysits alternative
solutions received scantcoverageinthe
media, and it would continuetohighlight
them.
‘‘We support acatchment approachto
freshwater whereregional councils have
the autonomytowork with their
communities in prioritising efforts to
thosecatchments most in needofaction.
‘‘Indigenous biodiversity policies must
not continue to penalise conservation
minded landowners and devalue their
properties.
‘‘We seekanapproach that turnsnatural
areasonprivate landinto an asset,
supports those proactive in conservation
and empowers everyone to takebetter
care of our environment.
‘‘Enough is enough.’’
NEWS
North Canterbury News, August 12, 2021
Sudima
hotel still
on track
7
Kaikoura’sSudimaHotel is on track
to open by the end of nextyear.
While the Covid­19 pandemic has
caused disruption, aSudimaHotels
spokesperson says constructionis
continuing on the $35 million
complex, ahead of the targeted
openingdate in springorsummer
next year,tocoincide with
Kaikoura’s traditionalbusy season.
‘‘Workisongoing, bothonsite and
offsite, and will scale up or down
depending on the stageofthe
project and what’s needed at the
time for delivery to the targeted
openingdate,’’ the spokesperson
says.
‘‘While the pandemic has changed
the tourism landscape,especially
for regional operations and
timelineplans from those pre­
Covid, construction is progressing
well with the opening planned for
later in 2022 to align withthe busier
summer season.’’
The spokesperson saysthere will
be plenty of opportunities for locals
to applyfor employment at the new
hotel.
The state­of­the art hotel is
expected to provide jobs for about
60 staff, who will be employed
locally.‘‘Recruitmentprocesses are
undertaken at various stages of the
project and will ramp up closer to
the targetedopeningdate.’’
The 120­room, 4.5 star­rated
waterfront hotel is set to be agamechangerfor
Kaikoura, bringing
touriststothe area.
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