Ashburton Courier: September 16, 2021

NEWS
4 Ashburton Courier, September 16, 2021
Economy
healthy
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Jan grows for community
MICK.JENSEN
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Ashburton’seconomy grew 4.3 percent over the
yeartoJune2021accordingtoprovisional
estimatesfrom Infometrics. Ashburton’s GDP in
the June 2021 quarterwas 6.1 percenthigher than
June 2019, showingthe strength of underlying
growth in the economy.
The district’s annual average unemployment
ratewas3.2 percent in June2021,upfrom 2.7
percent12 months earlier. There were 729people
registered as jobseekers. TheInfometrics
Quarterly Economic Review Monitor report
shows building activityisstrong in Ashburton,
with a23.8 percentincrease in newdwelling
consents over the year to June2021.
Non­residential activity is alsostrong.
Ashburton’saverage housevaluehas risen
17.6%overthe past year, reaching$450,868 in
June.
The district's dairy payout for the2020/2021
seasonisexpectedtobearound$1,244million, up
$98million on last season.
Netherlands­born Jan De
Kleijn is green fingered
and has propagated
thousandsofnative plants
for the Rakaia community
over the last six years.
Hisplants aregrown
from seeds and cuttings
and have been used for
projects likethe Rakaia
Walkway,the Rakaia
Domain and other
beautificationprojects.
Afarmer in his former
homeland,Jan has lived in
Rakaia for 20 years and
thesedaysisacaregiver
for his wife Nonniwho
suffers from dementia.
He grows and propagates
plants in his backyardand
also grows vegetable plants
and natives that are sold to
raise funds for St Andrews
Presbyterian Church in
Rakaia.
“I’ve always enjoyed
growing plants.
“The problem for me was
that when Iarrived in New
Zealand fromHolland I
didn’t know anything about
the natives growing here,’’
Jan said.
He enrolled on aplant
propagation course, had
steadilybuild up his
knowledge and growing
experience,and wasstill
learning.
“It’s somethingIcando
and enjoy doingand it
givesmeanopportunity to
give backtomy community
and to make new
friendships.’’
Janrecycles andisgiven
Plant grower Jan De Kleijn (left) hands over anotherbatch of home­grown natives to
Rakaia Community Associationchairman Neil Pluck.
pots and answered acall
for community growers put
out afew year ago.
Rakaia Community
Association chairmanNeil
Pluck said anumber of
people like Jan generously
suppliedplants for the
benefit of the community,
but he was by far the
biggest single provider.
The donated plants
saved the community alot
of money and were used on
projects like the walkway,
which ran fromthe scout
den andalong Rakaia
Terrace West for a
distance of 3.5km, he said.
Anew section near the
scout den willbeplanted
soon and Jan has been
consulted on what plants
he has available.
He is also currently
growing grasses that will
be used to beautify the
area around anew Rakaia
dog park, where grass seed
has just been sown.
Pupils back after lockdown
Respect
ReviewedbyRowenaHart
Hereisthe storyofAretha Franklin’s life.
Aretha was amusical legend growing up at a
time in our historywhen Martin Luther King was
campaigning andshe oftensang at his meetings.
This is an exceptional movie,feel goodand totally
captivating.
Jennifer Hudson played Aretha and made a
superb job ...itwas easy to forget that wasn’t
Arethaupthere.
I especially enjoyed the scenes where they
showedhow the songs areproduced.
Thecostumes,the production designand all the
actors were remarkable.
Forest Whitaker played Aretha’s dominating Dad
...incredible.
But to cut the strings she left her Dad and fell in
love with areal baddie and that messed her up
forthe whole of her life. So sad.
At theend of the movie we see liveclips of Aretha
singing “My Country” atObama’s inauguration
and Jennifer Hudson singing “Amazing Grace” at
Aretha’sfuneral, oneof hermostloved songs.
bookings ph 307 1230
www.regentcinema.co.nz
2380035
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Rakaia School pupils enjoy lunch outside on
the first day back at school after lockdown.
Rakaia School principalMark
Ellis is proud of the way pupils,
staffand parentsgot through
therecent lockdown at home.
Online educationand
communication channels were
fluid after the experiences of
last year andthe school
community had stepped up to
themark, he said.
‘‘Staff andstudents are happy
to be back at school and in the
classroomagain, but we got
through the challengesover the
last few weeks.’’
Mr Ellis said Google
Classroomhad worked wellfor
those in Years 3­8 and regular
morning Zoom meetings had
been held for juniors.
Some 50 deviceshad been
loaned out andnow returned,
whichhad helped pupils to
learnonline.
Therehad been regularstaff
meetingsonline and teacher
aides had beenincluded in
discussions and updates.
‘‘Lockdownfor Rakaia School
was all about ‘connection’ and
‘community’,’’ Mr Ellis said.
Rakaia School has165 pupils
andruns its day around a‘play,
eat, learn’ schedule, which
international studies have
shown improve children’s
ability to payattention in
classrooms.
Roading job
Ashburton District Council is afteranew
roading manager and someonewho is able
tomanage the budget for New Zealand's
thirdlargest roading network.
The senior management role is
advertised as having ‘‘serious influence and
scope’’ and theright candidate will be
someone with civil construction
qualifications, roadingexperience, and
leadershipskills.
The roleoverseesall aspects that sits
under council’s roading umbrella and
includes ensuring all programmed,
operational and special project work for
roading activities meetagreedservice
levels, budgets and timeframes.
The strategy side of the role will include
providing policy andtechnical direction.
Applications close on September19.