North Canterbury News: September 28, 2023

OPINION
6 The North Canterbury News, September 28, 2023
This
Week
Sun
Fishing
Guide
Moon
Wind
Swell
Pegasus Bay
Tide Chart
3
2
1
Focus on
Waimakariri
with Mayor Dan Gordon
Weather amixed bag
It was definitelyamixedbag of weather
for the region lastweek.
Daylight saving is upon us and we
have experienced those lovelyspring
days.
But the cold snap at the end of last
week was atimely reminderthat we are
not clearofthe winteryblasts just yet.
The wet weather turned to ice with
the frost on Monday morning, and once
again we had to drive to the conditions.
Remember if you are unsure, reduce
your speed, allowgreater following
distances on frosty and wet days, and
prepare for any delays.
While the sun is once again shining,
maybe don’t pack away the winter
woollies and extra blanket on the bed
just yet.
Ihad the pleasure of attending the
Rangiora FireBrigades Honours
Evening this month.
Ialways enjoy attending these events
at all our local brigades.
When Iwas lookingthroughthe list of
honours recipientsfor the night, I
counted there was more than 200 years
of combinedservice among them.
That is atremendousnumber of hours
given by volunteers in order to protect
our communities,and Iknow that we
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Sep 28 Sep 29 Sep 30 Oct 1 Oct 2 Oct 3 Oct 4
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Set 7:32pm
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Best 12:10pm
Good
Times
Set 6:40am
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Gentle Sbecoming
moderate SE
Best 12:36am
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Times 1:01pm
Set 7:03am
Rise 7:14pm
Gentle SW becoming
moderate S
are all verygrateful for the work that
they do.
I’d like to acknowledge another
fantastic event in our district, which is
completely pulled together by
volunteers.
The Annual Rangiora Rotary Book
Fair, on at the RangioraShowgrounds
today,Friday and Saturday.
It is agreat opportunity to go along
and grab abargainand support all the
work that Rotary does in our district.
If you are alsolooking for some fun
and inexpensive experiencesfor the
kids these holidays don’t look past what
we have on offer right here.
We have agreatrange of parks and
reserves which make for aperfect spot
to picnic and throwaballaround.
We have excellent cycle paths linking
our towns which are greatfor family
bike rides.
The Kaiapoi and Rangiora Aquatic
Centresoffer heaps of fun for the whole
family and are agreat way to burn off
some of thatenergy.
Don’t forgettocheck out your local
WaimakaririLibrary as well.
There are agreat rangeofinteractive
activities for the kidsaswell as books,
movies, gamesand so much more.
Squid display in Kaikōura
Haveyou everseen agiant squid?
The Kaikōura Museum willbehosting
the Te Papaexhibition Colossal Squid Ngu
Tipua untilNovember 14.
The colossal squidissorarely seen, with
justeightadultcolossalsquid scientifically
reported.
Te Papa's headofnatural history, Phil
Edgar, says the colossal squid is one of the
mosticonic specimens at Te Papa.
‘‘Inlearning about thisweird and
mysteriouscreature, we hopevisitors will
haveagreaterappreciation for life in the
deepsea, muchofwhich remains
undiscovered.’’
Te Papa’s curator of invertebrates, Dr
Rodrigo Salvador,saysthe colossal squid
has createdplenty of interestamong the
scientific community and the general
public.
‘‘TePapa’scolossal squidhas been a
major sourceofinformation for scientists
and the museum’s most popular exhibit
since its debut.
‘‘They live in the deep Antarctic waters
and despite being one of the largest
Giant squid ... The Kaikōura Museum is
hosting the Te Papa exhibition Colossal
Squid Ngu Tipua.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
invertebrate speciesinexistence,they are
very rarely captured.’’
The display will feature an interactive
tabledisplayingdifferent objects,
including the lensfrom an eye of acolossal
squid, part of atentacle, and atiny squid.
Ok
Best
Times
1:27am
1:52pm
Set 7:26am
Rise 8:33pm
Moderate SW
Ok
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Times
Set 7:49am
Rise 9:52pm
Moderate SW turning
S
Set 8:14am
Rise 11:09pm
Moderate SWturning
S
Moderate SW turning
SE
Gentle SE
strengthening
E0.8 mincreasing
E1.1 mturning
E1.4 m E1.0 m
to 1.4 m
SE 1.3 m
SE SE 1.1 m SE 1.0 m
3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9 3 6 9 NOON 3 6 9
2:17am
2:42pm
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Site inspection ... Labour Party Waimakariri candidate Dan Rosewarne (left) and
Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon joined with Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods for atour
of the Bellgrove sub­division with Bellgrove Rangiora project manager and director Paul
McGowan (centre), Blair Forgie, of NgāiTahu Property, Mike Greer Homes North Canterbury
director Mike Flutey and BG Contracting owner Stephen Rattray.
PHOTO:DAVID HILL
Best
Times
New Rga subdivision
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
Families could be moving into
Rangiora’s newest sub­division in
March.
Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordonand
Housing Minister Dr MeganWoods
checked on the progress of the
Bellgrove sub­divisionineast Rangiora
on Tuesday.
Mike Greer Homes NorthCanterbury
director Mike Flutey told those
gathered he expected to be breaking
dirt on 15 show homes in the next six
weeks.
‘‘We are hoping to havethe roofand
windows on the first homes by
Christmas and we should see the first
residentsmoving in by March or April.’’
The sub­division was fast­tracked
under the government’s Covid
legislation, before receiving $5.7
million from Kainga Ora’s
Infrastructure Acceleration Fund in
October lastyear.
The 98 hectare site is expected to
deliver 1300new homes, witharound
half expected to be soldfor lessthan the
government’s $750,000affordable
housing cap.
Mr Gordon said the new sub­division
was badly needed,with Waimakariri’s
population expected to grow from
70,000to100,000 by 2050.
‘‘We have all been impressed to see
the progressand the quality of the work.
‘‘It is great to hear that sections will
be available to build on this side of
Christmas.’’
Dr Woods and Mr Gordonsaw some of
the infrastructure, including a
stormwaterretention pondand
upgrades to Kippenberger Avenue, up
close during the visit.
‘‘New Zealand simplydoes not have
RANGIORA OCEAN WATCH
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3:34pm
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enoughhousingfor it to be affordable
and available to everyone who needs a
home,’’ Dr Woods said.
‘‘Programmeslike the Infrastructure
Acceleration Fund are deliberately
targeted to grow affordablehousing
supplyand see landget the critical
infrastructure thatwill lay the
foundationsfor development.’’
Bellgrove Rangiora project manager
and director Paul McGowansaid the
stormwaterhad been built to withstand
aone­in­200 year flood event.
He said 65 percent of the sections had
been pre­sold, mostly to building firms.
The infrastructure was completed by
Rangiora­based contractors, with
DormerConstruction completing the
earthworksand drainage, and BG
Contractingthe roadingand services.
BG Contracting owner Stephen
Rattray said 50 peoplewere employed
on the sitebetween the two companies.
‘‘I live here and it is agreatstory to
hear withRangiora gettingahead again
and with some scale.’’
Mr Flutey said enquiries for house
and land packages had returned to pre­
Covid levels,which was unusually high
in the lead up to ageneral election.
He expected houses to sell from
$589,000,for two bedroom units on a
small section,uptohomesofwell over
$1 million.
‘‘We have the ability to sell wellover
50% of the homes for under the $750,000
price cap, but that dependsonwhat the
buyer wants.’’
Mr Flutey said the homes were
designed with floor levels of 400mm to
500mm of freeboardabove the flood
level.‘‘In aone­in­200 year flood event
there should be no floodingthrough the
houses.’’
Public interest journalism funded
through New ZealandonAir.
0
Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows
Waimakariri 3:50am 2.4 10:04am 0.3 4:45am 2.5 11:01am 0.3 5:40am 2.5 11:57am 0.3 6:36am 2.6 12:23am 0.2 7:31am 2.5 1:16am 0.3 8:26am 2.5 2:09am 0.3 9:21am 2.4 3:02am 0.4
Mouth
4:21pm 2.5 10:36pm 0.3 5:14pm 2.6 11:30pm 0.3 6:07pm 2.6
7:01pm 2.5 12:51pm 0.3 7:56pm 2.4 1:45pm 0.3 8:52pm 2.3 2:39pm 0.4 9:48pm 2.3 3:33pm 0.5
Amberley 3:50am 2.4 10:04am 0.3 4:45am 2.5 11:01am 0.3 5:40am 2.5 11:57am 0.3 6:36am 2.6 12:23am 0.2 7:31am 2.5 1:16am 0.3 8:26am 2.5 2:09am 0.3 9:21am 2.4 3:02am 0.4
Beach
4:21pm 2.5 10:36pm 0.3 5:14pm 2.6 11:30pm 0.3 6:07pm 2.6
7:01pm 2.5 12:51pm 0.3 7:56pm 2.4 1:45pm 0.3 8:52pm 2.3 2:39pm 0.4 9:48pm 2.3 3:33pm 0.5
3:59am 2.4 10:13am 0.3 4:54am 2.5 11:10am 0.3 5:49am 2.5
6:45am 2.6 12:32am 0.2 7:40am 2.5 1:25am 0.3 8:35am 2.5 2:18am 0.3 9:30am 2.4 3:11am 0.4
Motunau 4:30pm 2.5 10:45pm 0.3 5:23pm 2.6 11:39pm 0.3 6:16pm 2.6 12:06pm 0.3 7:10pm 2.5 1:00pm 0.3 8:05pm 2.4 1:54pm 0.3 9:01pm 2.3 2:48pm 0.4 9:57pm 2.3 3:42pm 0.5
4:01am 2.4 10:15am 0.3 4:56am 2.5 11:12am 0.3 5:51am 2.5
6:47am 2.6 12:34am 0.2 7:42am 2.5 1:27am 0.3 8:37am 2.5 2:20am 0.3 9:32am 2.4 3:13am 0.4
Gore Bay 4:32pm 2.5 10:47pm 0.3 5:25pm 2.6 11:41pm 0.3 6:18pm 2.6 12:08pm 0.3 7:12pm 2.5 1:02pm 0.3 8:07pm 2.4 1:56pm 0.3 9:03pm 2.3 2:50pm 0.4 9:59pm 2.3 3:44pm 0.5
3:52am 1.6 10:05am 0.1 4:48am 1.7 11:02am 0.1 5:45am 1.8 11:59am 0.1 6:41am 1.8 12:29am 0.1 7:37am 1.8 1:24am 0.1 8:32am 1.8 2:18am 0.1 9:28am 1.7 3:13am 0.2
Kaikoura 4:26pm 1.8 10:41pm 0.1 5:21pm 1.8 11:35pm 0.1 6:16pm 1.8
7:11pm 1.8 12:56pm 0.1 8:07pm 1.7 1:52pm 0.1 9:03pm 1.7 2:50pm 0.1 10:00pm 1.6 3:47pm 0.2
*Not for navigational purposes. Wind and swell are based on apoint off Gore Bay. Maori Fishing Guide by Bill Hohepa. www.ofu.co.nz www.tidespy.com Graphic supplied by OceanFun Publishing Ltd.
RANGIORA