Nor'West News: February 09, 2023

NEWS
North Canterbury News, February 9, 2023
Te reo, community to the fore
By SHELLEY TOPP
The richness of te reo Māori,
and the strength of
communitywere key
featuresatKaiapoi’s
Waitangi Day Family
Celebration at Trousselot
Park.
Everyguestspeaker used
te reo Māori in their speech
and it was also in frequent,
casual use among people
attending the event.
The guest speakers
included the Kaiapoi­
Tuahiwi CommunityBoard
chairwoman, Jackie Watson,
WaimakaririDistrictMayor,
Dan Gordon, NgāiTūāhuriri
representative Maaka Tau,
Kaiapoi High School
representative Remihana
Emery, along with Kaiapoi
High School headgirl Jade
Wilson and Tahu Russell, a
former Kaiapoi head boy
standing in for his nephew
Josh Keating, who could not
attend the eventbecause of
illness.
Some of the guestspeakers
also spoke about the strong
communityspirit which had
enabled the event to be held
this year.
MayorGordon said he
wanted to acknowledge ‘‘the
tremendousmahi from All
Together Kaiapoi’’, who have
organised the eventsince
2011.
‘‘I know this year was
particularly hard when
funding fell through. But it
showsthe depthof
communityhere in Kaiapoi
that severalbusiness came
on boardtofinancially
support the event. We are
very grateful for your
support.’’
Confusion over chlorination of Kaiapoi water
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
The presenceofchlorineinthe Kaiapoi
north drinking water supply is causing
confusion among residents.
Residents havetaken to social media
to venttheir frustrations at the ongoing
chlorination.
The Waimakariri District Council
began chlorinatingthe Kaiapoinorth
supplylast year as aprecaution,after
routine testingshowed increasedlevels
of organic materials in the water
supply.
He said the event
reminded him that ``the
importance of manaa­kitanga,
looking after our
people’’, is what we valueas
adistrict.
The event’s long­time
presenter, Kaiapoi singer
Sharon Russell, is
recovering from pneumonia
and was unable to fulfilthat
role this year but her
daughter Gina Keating
steppedupatshort notice to
do the job.
However, Sharonwas able
to join her daughteronstage
for coupleofsongs.
Other musical performers
on the day included Gina’s
youngest son,Liam Keating
and Jaydin Shingleton, with
kapa haka performances
from Kaiapoi Borough
School,Kaiapoi High School
and Kaiapoi North School.
The Ethnic South Indian
Classical Tamil Dance
group, Sport Suzie's Betty’s
World’ Circus Show,
Christchurch Fellowship of
Song, Dance and Drama, and
hip­hopdancer Talula
Green, also featured at the
event.
In her opening speech
Jackie also madespecial
mentionofthe late Chris
Greengrass, aformer
chairwomanofboth All
Together Kaiapoi and the
KaiapoiTuahiwi Community
Board, who diedlast year
after 50 years of serviceto
the Kaiapoi community.
‘‘The Kaiapoi Tuahiwi
Community Board has
installed amemorialseat in
her honour on the riverbank
just pastthe Coastguard for
the publictoenjoy,’’ she
said.
Specialist equipment has been
orderedand is expected to arrive in
February or March,acouncil
spokespersonsaid.
The council has appliedfor chlorine
exemptions for the water supplies in
the district’s six urbanareas, including
Kaiapoi.
The firstdraftdecision, on the Cust
water supply chlorineexemption
application, was received just before
Christmas and indicated that
applicationwas likelytobedeclined.
‘‘Whilethis decision is draftonly and
does not directly apply to Kaiapoi, it
3
In the groove ... Gracia Miles, aged 8, of Christchurch, dancing to
the beat in the Grooviest Dancer competition at the Kaiapoi
Waitangi Day Family Celebrations in Trousselot Park last Monday.
PHOTO:SHELLEY TOPP
doeshighlight how challenging it is to
gainapprovalfor asupply to operate
without chlorine,’’the spokesperson
said.
‘‘Thecouncil is continuing to supply
unchlorinated water wherewehave a
high levelofconfidence,while our
exemptions are being processed.
‘‘Fornorth Kaiapoithis meansthe
council must take aprecautionary
approach and continue withtemporary
chlorination until we have ahigher
levelofconfidence.’’
Public interest journalism is funded
by New ZealandonAir.
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