North Canterbury News: November 16, 2023

8 The
NEWS
North Canterbury News, November 16, 2023
YES to Danceversity project
By JOHN COSGROVE
A national excellence award beckons
for Rangiora High School year 13
student Elizabeth de Lima.
On December 4, Elizabeth (17) will
attend the Lion Foundation Young
Enterprise Scheme (YES) national
finals in Wellington to receive her
award.
This is the second year in arow the
school has won an YES award.
YES allows students to set up and run
areal business, creating products or
services and bringing them to market.
Rangiora High School (RHS) business
studies teacher Alice Kavet saidthe
scheme at the school involved seven
groups this year.
While the rest of the YES students
followed the traditional path of the
program, looking for ways to
manufacture and sell products,
Elizabeth took adifferent approach.
‘‘The class is about finding aneed and
solving it, so Iwanted to find out how I
could combine my two passions–
theatre and caring for others ­asa
business,’’ Elizabeth says.
An active participant in many
theatrical productions in Rangiora,
Elizabeth formed acompany called
Danceversity.
‘‘I wanted to bring alove of dance and
music to our special needs students,’’
she says.
Inspired by the school’s Lighthouse
special needs program, head teacher
Simone Mullan says Elizabeth sought a
way to fill the need for authentic
connections with the community
through young people with disabilities.
‘‘We are very excited she is receiving
the award. She has been part of our
group for three years now and has
Buddingentrepreneur ... Rangiora High School year 13 student Elizabeth de
Lima with her mentor Simone Mullan, the head of the school's Lighthouse
program.
PHOTO: JOHN COSGROVE
started makingreal connections with
the students.’’
Elizabeth worked in her spare time to
gain the confidence and support of
children in the Lighthouse program
who often don’t accept changethat well.
‘‘It wasn’t easy, some danced quickly,
while others took their time to join in.’’
Working on asolo project made it
harder for Elizabeth as she didn’t have
anyone else to help ease the workload.
YES projects are usually run by groups
of students.
Mrs Mullan says it was apleasure
seeing the students at the school’s
annual Showcase presentation.
‘‘This was the first time the children
had ever performed in front of people.
‘‘Elizabeth did all the work and it was
amazing to see what real inclusion in a
local community looks like.’’
When told of her award, Elizabeth
thought it was just anotification that
she was in the running for it.
‘‘We went to the regional finals
where all the local YES projects
presented their final reports and were
judged. They told me there Ihad
already made it through to the grand
final, and Iwould receive the award. I
was shaking as Iwas so emotional
about it.’’ Elizabeth will join ARA’s
National Academy of Singing and
Dramatic Art next year and plans to do
ateaching degree in special needs
education.
Replacing Skew
Bridge discussed
Replacing the Skew Bridge in west Kaiapoi
remains apriority, says Waimakariri Mayor Dan
Gordon.
Mr Gordon says the council has been lobbying
Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency for
funding to assist with the estimated $11 million
replacement cost.
‘‘I would like to bring it forward, but without the
subsidy it will place 100 percent of the cost on the
council.’’
He was responding to comments from ratepayer
Bruce Bellis, in adeputation to acouncil meeting
on Tuesday, November 7.
Mr Bellis called on the council to take urgent
action to replace the bridge.
‘‘It is adangerous bridge, it is avery narrow
bridge, and it is very old and parts of it are
crumbling away.’’
It urgently needed replacing, he said.
‘‘It is not uncommon to see parts of rear view
mirrors (of trucks) lying on the bridge.’’
Mr Bellis presented a2019 report, Skew Bridge
Point of Entry,which he believed the council had
received from Waka Kotahi. He received the report
as part of an Official Information Act request to the
council.
But the council’s transportand roading manager,
Joanne McBride, said the report was prepared by
council staff and submitted to the agency as part of
its funding application.
It has been estimated to cost $11 million to
replace the bridge, with the council seeking a51%
funding share from Waka Kotahi to ease the burden
on ratepayers.
‘‘The council has been advocating to Waka Kotahi
to replace Skew Bridge for years and has
committed to funding the council share of the
project,’’ Ms McBridge said.
There is no funding commitment from Waka
Kotahi, which requires the project to go through a
business case process. When last assessed it did not
meet the the funding criteria.
Public interest journalism funded through New
Zealand on Air.
NOW OPEN
JOINING
OPENING SOON
We are thrilled to announce that our third restaurant
has now opened at Ravenswood Central.
12 Bob Robertson Drive,
Ravenswood