North Canterbury News: January 27, 2022

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NEWS 4 The North Canterbury News, January 27, 2022 Rescue time ... The group at work capturing the trapped tuna/eels for relocation. Slipperyrescue fromabasin By ROBYN BRISTOW Wrestling eels and chasing whitebait is all in adays work for Makarini Rupene. Environment Canterbury’s northern Pou Matai Ko (cultural land management advisor), led the recent relocation of about 20 tuna/eels, and some whitebait trapped in aKaiapoi subdivision retention basin after heavy rain. The rescue of the longfin and shortfin eels, some of which are believed to up to 40 yearsold, came after some were found dead in the basin at anew housing development, after creeks overflowed and spilled in to it during the heavy rain. Mr Rupene says the remainder would have also died as the retention pond dried up, requiring him and ECan volunteers to intervene. The group used large, specialised nets to sweep the basin, capturing any stranded ka ika (fish). They were transferred to buckets, carried to the edge of the Kaiapoi River, and set free. It was slippery work at times, with some of the eels jumping out of the net or bucket, requiring abit of wrestling to get them back in. Four of the six whitebait species in Aotearoa New Zealand are classified as either threatened or at risk. The longfin eel is also at risk. Mr Rupene says moving them back to their proper habitat was anobrainer, as they would not have stood achance if the had been left in the retention basin. ‘‘It was important for us to step in and relocate them. It was because of human activity that they ended up there, so we have aresponsibility to help them out,’’ he says. ‘‘Saving these taonga means we continue to support and protect them, sustaining mahinga kai and biodiversity values into the future for our children, and their children too.’’ PHOTO: SUPPLIED Mr Rupene says land development and land use change of old swamps, streams or wetlands, can be problematic for aquatic life. ‘‘The waterways can end up being diverted or pushed back under springhead streams, disrupting the flow and connectivity of the species, ‘‘ Mr Rupene says.. ‘‘It’s crucial that developers understand what's underground, which springs are about and which waterways have been there. ‘‘That can include putting up fish screens or changing the way the land is developed, perhaps including constructed wetlands.’’ He warns that until preventive action is taken at sites such as in Kaiapoi, the problem may keep happening. Developers can get information or advice by contacting the region’s Pou Matai Ko (cultural land management advisor). Call 0800324636. Ashley celebrant published author By SHELLEY TOPP Ashley wedding and civil union celebrant Jeneane Hobby is now also apublished author. She had her first book, The Field of Turrets,published by Mardibooks in London late last year and it is available as an ebook at www. amazon.com/FieldTurretsshort. Jeneane says she was approached by the publishing company to write 12 love stories for the book. ‘‘The stories are literary fiction not Mills and Boontype fiction,’’ she says. The book, which has acover design by Christchurch photographer and graphic designer, Maurice Lye is written with a seasonal focus. ‘‘The weather and seasonal changes are the common thread for each story,’’ Jeneane says. The first story is set in February and there is astory for every month of the year.’’ The publishers contacted Jeneane after she took part in awriting retreat with English writer Claire Steele in 2018. ‘‘I contributed ashort story to her Magical Journeys collection Morocco, published by Mardibooks in 2019,’’ Jeneane says. ‘‘On the strength of this effort Iwas invited to produce a complete collection of my own.’’ Back to School Safety It’s back to school time! Help keep each other safe byfollowing some simple tips: • Children and young people get distracted and may forget to look for traffic – be alert • Stop if aschool patrol sign is extended –nomatter which side it’s on • Children often don’t accurately judge the speed and distance of cars – slow down • Either way it’s 20k –this is the legal speed when passing a stationery school bus in any direction • Avoid chaos at the school gate by parking further away • Help your children learn tobesafe bybeing asafe road user yourself. Thank youfor slowing down to keep our tamariki safe. Find out more -waimakariri.govt.nz
MP wants barriers broken down By ADAM BURNS Local Democracy Reporter Waimakariri MP Matt Dooceyis imploring North Cantabrianstoengage withanational suicide prevention initiative so people arebetter equippedto talkitout. LifeKeepersisaninternationally proven, communityledprogramme, funded by theMinistryofHealth,melds an ‘‘evidencebasedapproach’’ withlocal knowledge, andMrDoocey believes the stigma of notreaching outneedstobe discarded. An all day LifeKeepers training course is scheduledtobeheld in Rangioraon February 1, however the country’sshift intothe redsettingofthe Traffic Light Systemmeans theeventwillgoahead withlimited numbers. Mr Doocey servesasthe National Party’s mentalhealth spokespersonand was approached by Canterbury healthcare consultancyPegasusHealth aroundthe initiative, oneofseveral nationalprogrammes establishedto tackleNew Zealand's steep suicide numbers. ‘‘Part of my workinparliament is to breakdownthe barriers,’’ he said. Mr Doocey is amember of acrossparty mentalhealth group alongsideLabour MP LouisaWall, the Green Party’s Chloe Swarbrickand ACT MP Brookevan Velden. Thegroup commissioned theZero SuicideAotearoareport,releasedin2020, which arguedfor to ‘‘a comprehensive, multisectoralapproach that involved centralgovernment agencies, local communities and whānau’’. ‘‘Whatthat meansissuicide prevention fordairy farmers is goingtobealot differentthanwhatthe approach is about suicide prevention foryoungpeople,’’ Mr Doocey said. ‘‘Whatweneedfor peoplewho are working on the ground is to equip Under discussion ... Community Wellbeing Trust Manager Deirdre Ryan (left), Pegasus Health suicide prevention coordinator Elle Cradwick, local police officer Don Munro and Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey, discuss the features of the LifeKeepers programme. PHOTO:ADAM BURNS themselves with theskills and then translate them into those local communities.’’ PegasusHealth suicide prevention coordinator Elle Cradwick saidthe training, whichshe describedasone of the best initiatives in thecountry,would offer practical toolstohaveimportant conversations. ‘‘Thetraining is certainly designedfor everydaypeople,weavingineveryday experiences,’’ shesaid. Mr Dooceysaidhewas determined to help break down ‘‘some of the stigma’’. ‘‘My assumptionisalot of peoplemay seetraininglike this andthink ‘I’m not sure if Iwant to be involved in that’.’’ Another mentalhealth initiativeMates in Construction,which targeted mental healthinthe buildingindustry,was scheduledtohostaneventearlierthis weekinChristchurch,but it was postponed duetothe change in settings. Mr Doocey saidthe constructionsector had thehighest suiciderateofany industry in thecountry. Canterbury policeofficer Don Munro saiditwas notawidelydiscussedsubject among agriculturalbased districts,such as theWaimakariri. ‘‘It’sanissuewithall agegroups.It’s becausewedon’ttalk aboutit, or discuss it with therunofthemill,staunchfarmer becausethey don't wanttobeseenas being weak, or to be seen to haveanissue. ‘‘There is astigmaattachedto traditional KiwiNew Zealanders,you have to getinthereand havethose conversationsand acknowledgeit’sOKto be notOK.’’ Fundraiser to become annual By SHELLEY TOPP Ahigh tea fundraiser held for the Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) charity at the historicWest Eyreton Hall is set to become an annualevent. The Casual and CountryStyleHigh tea was organisedbyWest Eyreton greyhound loversAmanda Scott Richards and her son, Enzo,who fundraised for two yearstopurchase his adopted greyhound, Zinzan. GAP marketing team leader, Emelia Lake, saidthe event held last year had beenamazing and exceeded all expectations. ‘‘Wewere really pleased with how it went. Big, big thankstoAmanda and Enzofor all the work they did putting it together. ‘‘Itwas very special to us and so heartwarmingtosee the effort they put in to help us.’’ Emelia also wanted to thank Swannanoaartist Ros Beck who donated one of her greyhound paintingsfor silent auction to the highest bidder during the fundraiser. ‘‘Wehad agreat responsetothe auctionand the buyer, aTimaru greyhound lover, is very excited to have purchased it. He owns agreyhound called Obie, which looks just likethe one in Ros’s painting so he saidhehad to have it.’’ Nash, athreeyearold greyhound who is in foster care in Rangiora and is up for adoption, wasaspecial guest at thefundraiser but remained outside the hall at all times. Anyoneinterested in adopting Nash can check him out on the GAP website and contact the GAP South Islandrehomingteam leader Rachel Fosteron027 2044179. NEWS The North Canterbury News, January 27, 2022 2310682 The Widest Music Variety HOUSE WASHING Experts! AFTER Services Include: 0800101216 washrite.co.nz BEFORE • House washing • Roof Washing • Moss and Mould Removal • Driveway &Concrete Cleaning • Deck &Fence Cleaning • Gutter Cleaning • Spider proofing FreeQuotes 5 Friday 6pm & replayed at 12pm Sunday Tune in nowtolisten on 104.9 for North Canterbury 103.7 for Hanmer Springs andKaikoura Due to an exceptional numberofspring sales, we nowhaveincredible demand forall ruralproperty. Please callmefor aconfidential discussionifyou areconsideringselling. PeterCrean Ruraland Lifestyle Sales M 027 434 4002 pcrean@pggwrightson.co.nz www.pggwre.co.nz PGG WrightsonReal EstateLimited, licensed under the REAA2008 Helping grow the country
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North Canterbury News: January 27, 2022

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