North Canterbury News: August 17, 2023
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NEWS<br />
2 The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>August</strong> <strong>17</strong>, <strong>2023</strong><br />
Asky high starlit adventure<br />
By ROBYN BRISTOW<br />
Thededicated,<br />
local team are<br />
here to help<br />
Managing Editor<br />
Robyn Bristow<br />
027 312 1581<br />
robyn.bristow@ncnews.co.nz<br />
Sales Manager<br />
DaynaBurton<br />
027 312 0089<br />
dayna.burton@ncnews.co.nz<br />
Reporters<br />
ShelleyTopp<br />
027 404 6137<br />
JohnCosgrove<br />
021 195 0284<br />
Advertising<br />
Amanda Keys<br />
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amanda.keys@ncnews.co.nz<br />
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022 024 3092<br />
jillian.dickie@ncnews.co.nz<br />
Graphic Design<br />
Heather Hood<br />
heather.hood@ncnews.co.nz<br />
Get in touch<br />
Phone: 03313 2840 or 03 314 8335<br />
14 AshleyStreet, Rangiora<br />
www.starnews.co.nz<br />
Editorial: info@ncnews.co.nz<br />
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Distribution: deliveries@alliedpress.co.nz<br />
2577925<br />
Star gazing is taking on awholenew<br />
meaningfor Brent and Kara Proffitt.<br />
The couple has begun Manuka Skies,<br />
abusiness venture nearHanmer<br />
Springs, which theyhope to make a<br />
living from, while funding an<br />
Observatory for private and<br />
community use.<br />
They have acquired arare 1980’s<br />
scope and a3.5 metre dome, which<br />
they hope to locate on the ridgeline of<br />
Mt Rodney.<br />
The consenting process is under way<br />
and Karaishopeful building might<br />
start this summer.<br />
Meanwhilethey are running two<br />
hour tours,sevendays aweek, offering<br />
an interactive experience.<br />
‘‘We take you on atrip aroundthe<br />
cosmos using lasers, binoculars and a<br />
range of quality telescopes.<br />
‘‘We alsohave astrophotography<br />
equipmentfor deepsky imaging,’’ says<br />
Kara.<br />
Their dream began in Waiau,where<br />
they ran the WaiauMotorCamp, and<br />
startedupthe <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> Astro<br />
Group in 2021.<br />
Kara says she was looking for like<br />
minded peopletoshare her passion to<br />
set up alittle observatoryso‘‘people<br />
could do little thingswith different<br />
telescopes and start learning from<br />
each other’’.<br />
‘‘Our group has grown over the last<br />
few years to district wide, and once we<br />
sold the camp, we set about findinga<br />
privatesite to use.<br />
‘‘We found it in Hanmer Springs,’’<br />
says Kara.<br />
The bigger picture forBrentand<br />
Kara involves cabins, and walking<br />
tracks on their25hectare block of<br />
manuka and kanuka.<br />
‘‘We arefully off gridand spring fed,<br />
so sustainability is alarge partofthe<br />
bigger plan.’’<br />
Hence the nameManukaSkies, and<br />
‘‘Designed by Nature, Guided by<br />
Stars’’, is theircatch phrase.<br />
Meanwhiletheirdream is beginning<br />
to evolve.<br />
‘‘Our vision to bring the wonders of<br />
the universe closer to humanity is<br />
becoming areality,aswetake delivery<br />
Cosmos journey ... James O’Dea captured last Friday night’s sky above Hanmer Springs.<br />
The galactic centre is arched above, while alaser points to the proposed home of adome<br />
to serve as an observatory for private and community use.<br />
of the all importantdome,carefully<br />
transported from Methven and now<br />
gracing the slopes awaiting its forever<br />
home,’’ Kara says.<br />
Monthly community nights start<br />
laterthis month, after Brent andKara<br />
spent afew monthsbuilding astar<br />
platform from whichtoshow offthe<br />
night sky.<br />
Formore information go to<br />
manukaskies.co.nz, of Facebook<br />
@manukaskies.<br />
Rangiora Borough School’s150th Jubilee<br />
Rangiora Borough School willcelebrate<br />
its rich history in early October.<br />
The schooliscelebratingits 150th<br />
Jubilee on October 13 and 14,with a<br />
number of activities including ahigh tea,<br />
school showcased activities, aformal<br />
dinner, and adisplay from students<br />
showing items andarticles fromthe past.<br />
Each class has beenallocatedadecade<br />
from the past150 years, to investigate and<br />
will display what they have found for<br />
visitors to enjoy.<br />
The organisers are asking former pupils,<br />
and anyoneelse associatedwiththe<br />
school's history, to shareuniform items,<br />
schoolwork, stories, and other interesting<br />
artefacts with the students so theycan put<br />
together atimeline of how the school, and<br />
Rangiora, has changed over the years.<br />
Once the information hasbeen put<br />
together,it’s plannedtopublishthe history<br />
in abook which willbeavailable to order.<br />
The organisers are on the lookoutfor<br />
information, stories or photosfrom years<br />
goneby, alongwith any other memorabilia<br />
people are prepared to share during the<br />
celebration.<br />
If anyone wants to know more about the<br />
up coming celebration, or would like to<br />
helpwith the celebrations, or attend on<br />
Friday, October 13 or Saturday, October<br />
14, check theschool’s website, or email<br />
150@rangiora.school.nz.<br />
Conditions apply.See your Metro Firesstockist or visit metrofires.co.nz for fulldetails.<br />
Offer extended to<br />
31 st <strong>August</strong><br />
2595932<br />
360 Flaxton Road, Rangiora<br />
Ph 03 313 5563 www.kingsmowersheating.co.nz
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