Nor'West News: February 09, 2023

Black spots remain
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
Faster broadband is being distributed to
more rural North Canterbury
communities, but black spots remain.
ARural Connectivity Group (RCG)
spokesperson said the group had been
contracted to build 56 cell sites across
Canterbury, with 42 cell sites now live
and another 14 planned for this year.
She said 12 rural North Canterbury
communities have been connected as
part of phase two of the government’s
Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI2).
But gaps remained at Oxford, Glentui
and Clarkville.
Afurther five Hurunui communities,
Marble Point, Molesworth Station,
Poplars Station in the Lewis Pass,
Poplars Ridge and Port Robinson, were
expected to be connected with cell sites
this year as part of an RBI2 expansion
programme, if the funding can secured
from Crown Infrastructure Partners.
Seven cell sites have been connected
in Hurunui communities over the last
three years including Domett, Inland
Road, Lyford, Lyford South, Mt Grey,
Pyramid Valley and Teviotdale.
In Kaikōura new cell sites were
providing coverage to Mangamaunu
Beach and the highway as well as the
rural area west of the township.
New connections at Okuku, The Pines
Beach and Eyrewell were live last year
in the Waimakariri district.
‘‘This is asignificant investment under
the government’s RBI2 and Mobile Black
Spot Fund programme in Canterbury
providing 4G wireless broadband and 4G
voice, data and text services from Spark,
Vodafone and 2degrees,’’ the RCG
spokesperson said.
‘‘These cell sites will provide
connectivity to around 4280 rural
households and businesses, improve
connectivity on the roads and
connectivity at popular visitor
destinations.’’
Amuri.Net was connecting ultrafast
fibre broadband to residents in the
Ohoka /Mandeville area under an
initiative announced last year by Digital
Economy and Communications Minister
David Clark, during avisit to the district.
In December the government
announced it was on track to see 99.8
percent of New Zealanders receiving
improved broadband speeds by the end
of this year.
In the Lifting Connectivity in Aotearoa
report, the government stated its long
term goal was for every rural and remote
New Zealander to be connected to high
speed broadband by 2032.
More than $2.5 billion has been
invested in improving digital
connectivity to date from government
and private sector contributions.
Federated Farmers
telecommunications spokesperson
Richard McIntyre said the report was
‘‘ambitious, but admirable’’.
‘‘The report lifts the discussion from
having to justify whether something
should be done to one of ‘let’s get on and
do it’.
‘‘While it’s going to take alot more
investment on top of the money already
announced, we applaud the
commitments made to longer term rural
connectivity solutions.’’
ASpark spokesperson said the
company was continuing to work closely
with the RCG on the planned projects.
‘‘Spark upgraded one of the two
Kaikōura sites prior to Christmas with
5G technology and we will be continuing
with 5G expansions on the existing
Spark sites in the area over the coming
months.’’
Public interest journalism is funded
by New Zealand on Air.
Lack of regulations
By DAVID HILL
Alack of regulation makes it difficult for
councils to manage their weed spraying
programmes, Environment Canterbury
(ECan) science director Dr Tim Davie
says.
Responding to concerns raised by
Kaiapoi resident Michael Bate, Dr Davie
said the Parliamentary Commissioner
for the Environment and Environment
Protection Authority (EPA) lacked the
necessary clout to offer guidance to
councils.
Mr Bate tabled two Radio New Zealand
articles from last year, at aWaimakariri
Zone Committee meeting last week
about the lack of mechanisms to govern
chemical use.
‘‘The EPA, as it stands, is meant to
have oversight around chemical use, but
there’s very little legislative
requirements and there’s no
requirement to report it,’’ Dr Davie said.
‘‘If the EPA had amandate and was
properly funded we would have
standards to respond to.’’
Parliamentary Commissioner for the
Environment Simon Upton presented a
report to Parliament last year raising
concerns about the regulations around
chemical use.
The report identified consequences
such as lakes overloaded with zinc, too
much antibiotics in wastewater and
harm to bees from insecticide­dipped
seeds.
It recommended expanding the EPA’s
powers to require more data to be
collected from chemical importers,
manufacturers and sellers.
But more funding was needed.
Dr Davie said it was important for the
PCE to highlight those issues.
‘‘But he can’t enforce it and the
government hasn’t responded.
ECan managed 59 river rating and
drainage districts.
Weed management was essential to
keep communities safe from flood risks
and to protect biodiversity.
Water ways were vulnerable to
infestations of exotic pest plant species
which choked braided rivers and
restricted natural functions.
Dr Davie said spraying was ‘‘the nasty
compromise’’ to manage weeds and the
spread of gorse around riverbeds.
Glyphosate was widely used in New
Zealand and other countries as a
general­purpose herbicide and was
considered safe by the EPA.
‘‘In an ideal world we would rather not
spray,’’ Dr Davie said.
‘‘Glyphosate is aspray which is
reasonably short lived. It is a
compromise and it is areally difficult
thing to manage.’’
The Waimakariri District Council is
preparing areport on spraying practices
and chemicals used in the district.
Waimakariri Zone Committee
chairperson Michael Blackwell and
deputy chairperson Arapata Reuben
both stepped down at last week’s
meeting.
Carolyne Latham was elected
chairperson, with Erin Harvie elected
deputy chairperson.
Former Rangiora High School student
Ruby Gill­Clifford was appointed as a
youth rep to the zone committee.
Ruby served three years on ECan’s
Youth Rōpū and was deputy
chairperson last year.
She is studying for ascience degree at
Canterbury University.
Public interest journalism is funded
by New Zealand on Air.
STAFF NEEDED
•Duty Managers •Floor staff FOH
•Baristas
Full time positions available
Hours and days available: 7am to 4.30pm,
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As with all hospitality work. Weekend hours and public
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Free staff accommodation (shared) is provided
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Send CV to:
atnumbereightcafe@gmail.com
8Hall St, Cheviot
Ph 027 204 7668 -Ask for Jo
2554975
WE NEED YOU!
Deliverers required
forthe North
Canterbury
News
Tofind out more,
contact:
MarkKelly
South Island Distribution Manager
P: 029 983 2293
E: mark.kelly@mainlanddistribution.co.nz
Entertainment
APPEARING live at
Balcairn Hall, 7.30pm
Friday 10th February. Back
Of The Beyond, Craig
Denham (Alpaca Social
Club), expect a night of
lush musical richness
tinged with humour and not
taking oneself too seriously!
Tickets (cash) $30
from Sally Mac’s, Amberley,
Sefton Garage and
Stan’s 7 Day Pharmacy,
Rangiora, or online
www.balcairnhall.com.
Educational
TUITION available. Primary
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Each student onanindividually
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Kip McGrath Rangiora has
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37
Rangiora High School
Kaiāwhina/Teacher Aide
Rangiora High School is proud to be a caring,
community-based environment inspiring life-long
learning. Students are at the centre of our work.
We are seeking to appoint aKaiāwhina to undertake
learning support work.
•Fixed Term, part-time (25 hours per week)
(Terms 1&2)
Relevant experience and/or qualifications are an
advantage.
Please visit the Join Us /Employment page of our
website to make an application
www.rangiorahigh.school.nz
Applications close 9am on 13 February2023.
2554281
Rangiora High School
Netball Co-ordinator
This is afixed term position commencing asap and
ends 10 November 2023. Term 1will be10hrs/
week, T2-3 8hrs/wk and T4 –4hrs/wk.
For more information, please visit the Join Us /
Employment page of our website.
www.rangiorahigh.school.nz
Applications close 9am on 20 February2023
2554280
SEAMSTRESS VACANCY.
Part time. Experienced
seamstress /sewing
machinist required for
established Kaiapoi-based
business. Hours and rates
2535289
by arrangement.
Email your CV to
ghinacarr@gmail.com,
or text your details to
021 0866 8117.
Trade Drive Thru Team Members
Needed!
Do you love all things DIY?
Are you able to offer some working knowledge or
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Is your customer service second to none?
Our business is growing! We are seeking motivated team
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This is a fast paced, fun environment that relies on
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The role is Fixed Term and will include weekend days.
Aforklift licensewould be useful but is not critical.
The ideal candidate will require:
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• Tobefitfor oftendemanding physical work as heavy
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Work local. Save yourself all those hours in the car each
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McAlpines have an active drug &alcohol policy, apreemployment
drug test and medical will be required.
Applicants must be aNew Zealand resident or hold avalid
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Please send your application and CV to:
Trade Drive Thru Team Member,
McAlpine’sMitre 10 MEGA,Private Bag 1003,
Rangiora 7440
or email: applications@mcalpines.co.nz
2547332
JOBS, jobs, jobs, work
locally, factory roles available.
No experience
needed. Sawmill work,
machine operation and
more. Phone Daphne on 03
313 6180, pop in to 1/6
Cone Street, Rangiora.
Check our website
www.superiorpersonnel.co.nz
Public Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE OF
APPLICATION FOR
OFF-LICENCE
SECTION 101, SALE
AND SUPPLYOF
ALCOHOL ACT 2012
HM Liquor Ltd, 16
Southbrook Road, Rangiora
has made application to the
District Licensing Committee
at Rangiora for the renewal
of an Off Licence in respect
of the premises situated
at 16 Southbrook Road,
Southbrook, Rangiora
known as Liquorland
Southbrook.
The general nature of the
business conducted (or to
be conducted) under the
licence is Bottlestore.
The days on which and the
hours during which alcohol
is (or is intended to be)
sold under the licence are
Monday - Sunday 7am to
10pm.
The application may be
inspected during ordinary
office hours at the office
of the Waimakariri District
Licensing Committee at 215
High Street, Rangiora.
Any person who is entitled
to object and who wishes
to object to the issue of the
licence may, not later than
15 working days after the
date of the publication of this
notice, file anoticeinwriting
of the objection with the
Secretary of the Waimakariri
District Licensing
Committee at Private Bag
1005, Rangiora or email to
records@wmk.govt.nz.
No objection to the renewal
of alicence may be made
in relation to amatter other
than a matter specified in
section 131 of the Sale and
Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
This is the first publication of
this notice.
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