North Canterbury News: November 17, 2022

Vineyard’scharity
runapopular affair
By ROBYN BRISTOW
The Pegasus Bay Vine run earlynext year
will take seriousrunnersona21km
journey through vineyards, and into the
picturesquehillsofthe Waipara region,
with sweeping views of the Pegasus Bay
coastline.
The longest course has beenlengthened
to ahalf marathon, helping thoseheading
off to the Coast­to­Coast and otherdistance
racestoget in some serious training.
However, the emphasisofthe VineRun
remains firmly on afriendly, fun,family
eventwith two shorter courses —6kms and
10kmsrun/walks —cateringfor all.
People are encouraged to bring apicnic
lunchtothe January 29, 2023,event, and
enjoyitinthe lawns of Pegasus Bay
Winery after the run, where there will be
entertainment, andlive music, and some
food options.
Over $100,000has beenraised for the
New Zealand Brain Research Institute
(NZBRI)since the event began in 2018. It
was hobbledinJanuary this year by Covid­
19 protocols, but its hoped for agood turn
out next January.
OrganiserMike Donaldson says the
longer coursewill appeal to abroader
rangeofrunners,and while the course,
whichtakesinacoupleofneighbours
properties, is quitechallenging, but will
also provide somepretty beautifulscenery
out to sea and over the Waipara Valley.
The wineryisownedbyMike’sparents
Ivan and Christine.Ivan has been a
member of the NZBRI board since 2006
and established Friendsofthe NZBRI to
raisefundsfor neurological research.The
Enjoying the run ... Entrants in the 2021
Vine Run having plenty of fun and laughs.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Institute focusesonunderstanding more
aboutneurological disorders such as
Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Multiple
Sclerosis. He has hadadistinguished
career as aneurologist and was nameda
Companionofthe New ZealandOrderof
Meritfor his servicestoneurology in 2013.
He is also awine writerand wine judge.
All proceeds fromentryfees go to the
institute.Itis$70 per adult ($40for under
18) for the 6km run/walk; $80 ($45),for the
10km run/walk, and $99 for the half
marathon which is only open to adult
entries (18, and over).You can register as
an individual or agroup at vinerun.co.nz
or the Vine Run Facebookpage.
NEWS
North Canterbury News, November 17, 2022
31
Roading quandary
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
How to fund rural roads and make them
resilient is an ongoing challenge for the
Hurunui District Council.
The council maintains one of the
largest roading networks per capita in
the country with 1460km of local roads,
excluding State Highways 1and 7, with a
relatively small ratepayer base.
The population is around 13,000,
meaning there is 120 metres of road per
person.
Hurunui District Council chief
executive Hamish Dobbie says the roads
were designed for an earlier time and
are not equipped to cope with today’s
heavier vehicles and more frequent rain
events.
Roading is funded 52 percent from
Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport
Agency’s One Network Fund (ONF), but
when there is afunding shortfall
ratepayers are left to pick up the full
cost.
The funding is largely for
maintenance, though the council can
apply for emergency funding after
severe weather events.
‘‘Hurunui roads have been rated lowly
in the ONF and historically we have had
low maintenance costs due to being adry
weather district,’’ Mr Dobbie says.
‘‘But with more frequent weather
events, our resilience is being impacted.
Our network is not designed for those
events, so it needs capital works rather
than maintenance.’’
Mayor Marie Black says larger
vehicles, such as stock trucks and milk
tankers, provide economic value to the
country, but the council does not always
get the funding support it needs.
‘‘We are stuck in the bind of not being
able to meet the needs and expectations
of our community.’’
While the push is to low emission
vehicles, Mr Dobbie says those options
do not work as well in rural areas due to
the distance, the nature of the rural
sector and vehicle design.
‘‘Small vehicles are designed for
urban roads, so rural communities are
pushed more to SUVs and four­wheel
drives.’’
Incentives for moving to electric
vehicles were introduced under the
previous National government and
Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey says it is
time rethink how roading is funded.
‘‘As we move to Net Zero (emissions)
by 2050, we’ve got to make sure we
maintain our roading network.
‘‘The whole thing needs to be looked
at, including the settings around small
councils with alow ratepayer base and
high kilometres to fund.’’
Aspokesperson for Transport Minister
Michael Wood says the government has
increased investment in low emission
transport choices, including walking and
cycling, public transport and electric
vehicles, as well as infrastructure.
Atotal of $1.2 billion is forecast to be
invested in Canterbury in the 2021–24
National Land Transport Programme
(NLTP).
AWaka Kotahi spokesperson said the
agency is developing aClimate Change
Adaptation Plan in the wake of climate
change and increased severe weather
events.
It hopes to release the plan by the end
of the year, before developing aseparate
implementation plan.
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