Selwyn Times: November 24, 2021

Selwyn Times Wednesday November 24 2021
6
NEWS
Charges laid
over alleged
pensioner attack
• By Susan Sandys
FOUR YOUTHS from
Christchurch have been charged
in relation to an alleged assault
on a Prebbleton pensioner in
January.
The teenagers have been
charged with unlawfully
taking a motor vehicle and
theft, while two of them are
also facing aggravated robbery
charges in connection with the
alleged assault on Birchs Rd.
They are being dealt with in
the Youth Court.
The victim, aged in his 70s,
heard a noise on his property
about 9.20pm and went outside
to find his shed being broken
into. A youth was holding a petrol
can. Three other youths ran
from the shed and the elderly
man was allegedly punched in
the eye.
Selwyn youth aid officer
Senior Constable Bruce Ward
said it had been good to see the
case result in charges following
good work from officers at the
Christchurch youth crime unit.
It had been a serious incident
and one which was rare for the
district.
“We don’t come across this
sort of offending very often at
all, especially in Selwyn,” Ward
said.
• By Susan Sandys
MORE THAN 1000 farmers
and supporters from throughout
Selwyn converged on
Christchurch on Sunday as the
nationwide Groundswell Mother
of All Protests got under way.
Hundreds of tractors, utes and
trucks formed a rolling convoy,
coming in from as far away as
Sheffield, via State Highway 73,
and as far away as Leeston, via
Rolleston, to Memorial Ave.
Sheffield farmer Derek Bull,
who co-organised the lobby
group’s first protest at Darfield
in July, said this time around
it was a “spectacular” show
of dissatisfaction with the
Government, with more people
than expected turning up. The
message had not been muddled
by inappropriate signs, or
factions hijacking it, as had been
reported from some other parts
of the country.
This meant that farmers’ message
came across loud and clear,
with signs on vehicles giving
a clear visual display against a
noisy backdrop of tooting of
horns and cheers from supporters.
Top of many of protestors’
minds was Three Waters,
while other issues included the
national policy on freshwater,
significant natural areas, the
national policy on indigenous
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
‘Spectacular’ show of protest
MESSAGE: Groundswell NZ Christchurch co-ordinator Arron Stark met up with protestors
at Rolleston before taking their rolling convoy into the city. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
biodiversity, shortages of
seasonal rural workers, climate
change policy, the Crown
Pastoral Land Reform Bill and
the clean car package.
“I’m all for good regulations,
not pointless ones, that’s just job
creation and administration,”
Bull said.
He expected more protests in
the future, as farmers were not
going to give up.
Save money on your water rates, help your
garden and help keep water flowing without
restrictions this summer.
Top tips for using your water sense:
· Use a watering can or hand-held hose instead of a sprinkler
· Avoid unnecessary water use during peak demand times
to help maintain water pressure for everyone
Don’t irrigate between 6–9am or 4–9pm daily
Check weather conditions before watering
Don’t water during the middle of the day or in hot
conditions – a cooler overcast day is best
Irrigate wisely
12AM
10PM
2AM
9PM
8PM
4AM
6PM
when to
water
6AM
4PM
8AM
9AM
2PM
selwyn.govt.nz
12PM
10AM
Think smart with your
water use and save money.