North Canterbury News: December 14, 2023

6 The
OPINION
North Canterbury News, December 14, 2023
Around the electorate with
STUART SMITH MP FOR KAIKOURA
Nationaldelivering to
get NZ back on track
The last few years have been incredibly
tough for many New Zealanderswith
patience wearing thin waiting on afinal
election result, and then, acoalition
agreement.
But, that time has been well spent on
an ambitious plan for our first 100 days
in Office, and starting to improve New
Zealanders lives.
While it is ambitious to deliver 49
actions in 100 days, we have had to hit
the ground running and repealingThree
Waters, stopping work on Auckland
Light Rail, and withdrawingtaxpayer
funding from Lets Get Wellington
Movingare our top priorities.
Because we believe that healthcare
should be based on need, not race, we
will introduce legislation to disestablish
the Māori Health Authority.
We have already started work to
unravel Labour’s Polytechnic megamerger
blunder, Te Pūkenga, which has
been adisaster for New Zealand's
vocational sector.
Educational performance will be
lifted by ensuring primary and
intermediate schools acrossthe board,
from the start of 2024, are consistently
teaching an hour each day of maths,
reading and writing, and banning mobile
phoneuse in class —something that
should never have been allowed in the
first place.
All of the above, and more, is in our
100­dayplan, but it is the explosion in
crime that is the most concerning.
We all have the right to feel safe on our
streets and in our homes, yet many
communities across New Zealand live in
an environment of fear and intimidation
becauseofgang activities.
This is not acceptable. We are going to
crack downonthose gangs by banning
their insignia from being worn in public
and ensuring that gang membership is
an aggravating factor during sentencing.
Relief will come to our farming
community, who, in recent years, have
been made to feel they werepublic
enemy number one.
We recognise and value our farmers
for what they are: that is, stewards of
their land, striving to protect the land
for future generations.
It is an enormous responsibility and
one they do not take lightly.
New Zealand has some of the best
farmers in the world, whose farming
practicesare among the most efficient
and innovative in the world, and
developed here in New Zealand, by
farmers.
Ihave been humbled by the support
shown by our rural communities for the
new government, and, even more so, by
their senseofrelief.
For all that, there are detractorsout
therewho are finding the changes
difficult to accept.
Thesechanges we are making were
campaigned on and should be no
surprisetoanyone.
Our 100­day plan shows we intend to
move quickly to get New Zealand back
on track.
New Zealanders put their trust in
National, Act and NZ First for amore
prosperous future and we will not let
them down.
Reducing the burden
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
Reducingthe regulatory burden on
ratepayers is in the sights of
Environment Canterbury’s
chairperson.
The burden of constantreform has
seen the councilmake submissions on
22 pieces of legislation over thelast two
years, he said.
The new coalition government has
announced sweepingchanges
includingthe repeal of the Resource
ManagementAct (RMA) reforms, and
changes to the National Policy
Statements (NPS) on Freshwater and
Indigenous Biodiversity.
Chair Peter Scott said there were
aspects of the Natural and Built
Environments Act which would provide
good outcomes, but the legislation was
complex.
‘‘There was general agreement the
old RMA was no longer fit for purpose,
so the question is what will they
replace it with.
‘‘I imagine it is relatively easy to
repeal legislation,but replacing it will
take time.
‘‘Rather than preparing areport and
presentingittocentral Government for
no particular reason, Iwould rather get
on with the things which improve
outcomes for our region.’’
Mr Scott said Environment
Canterbury had a‘‘robust’’ planning
framework in place before the NPS on
Freshwater was introduced.
‘‘When you look at our Land and
Water Regional Plan, it is really strong,
probably the strongest in the country
and in some cases it is maybe too
strong.
‘‘The frustratingthingiswhen they
developed the freshwater policy
statement, they chucked in (water)
allocation at the last minute.’’
While there was plenty of talk about
‘‘over allocation’’ of water for
irrigation in Canterbury, Mr Scott said
it was ‘‘paper allocation’’.
A farmer might be granted aconsent
for irrigation at 20 litres per second,
but would only have the irrigators
operating at certain times of theyear.
‘‘If you want to say to that farmer ‘we
need to reduce it to 10 litres per
second’ it is not going to work as the
farmer will have infrastructure for 20
litres per second.’’
The council was anticipating a
tsunami of consents between 2027 and
2032 as existing legislation meant the
length of time consents could be issued
for had been reduced to five years and
was set to be reduced again.
Environment Canterbury issued
three times as many consents as any
other regional council due to having 70
percent of the country’s freshwater
allocation and because of its
geographical size, Mr Scott said.
He believed 85% of consents could be
given for longer periods.
‘‘Before anyone was thinking
seriously about allocation, our
consents were agenerational thing,
being issued for 30 or 35 years,’’ Mr
Scott said.
‘‘But when it is only for four or five
years it makes it difficult for abusiness
to go to the bank for aloan.’’
To simplify the process, the council
worked with irrigation companies to
grant ‘‘global consents’’, instead of
issuing individual consents, and
auditing aselection of farms every
second year.
Public interest journalism funded
through New Zealand on Air.
Wind event in Waimakariri District averycostly blow
ByDAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
The election day storm event proved to
be acostly one for the Waimakariri
District Council.
The council incurred $245,000 in
emergency response costs in the
immediate aftermath of the Saturday,
October 14, ‘‘extreme wind event’’,
roading and transport manager Joanne
McBride said.
She said the costs included $195,000 to
clear debris and get roads open again,
while $50,000 was spent by the
greenspace team clearing parks and
reserves.
‘‘The extreme wind event resulted in
significant tree fall along with road
restrictions or closures,’’ Ms McBride
said.
‘‘There were also significant areas
where power lines were brought down
with the trees.’’
Deputy Mayor Neville Atkinson said it
was anecessary expenditure to keep the
district working.
‘‘It is very obvious these events are
coming more and more.
‘‘We don’t when the next event will be
and we don’t whether trees are going to
stand up. But the reality is we’ve got to
get the roads cleared so farmers can keep
operating and businesses can keep
running, so it has got to be done and it has
got to be done quickly.’’
The council has spent more then $10
million of unplanned expenditure
responding to weather and flood events
over the last three years. The increase in
storm events resulting from climate
change led to the council establishing a
specialist infrastructure resilience team
so it can better respond to future events.
This
Week
Sun
Fishing
Guide
Moon
Wind
Swell
Pegasus Bay
Tide Chart
3
2
Good
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20
Rise 5:43am
Rise 5:43am
Rise 5:44am
Rise 5:44am
Rise 5:44am
Rise 5:44am
Rise 5:45am
Set 9:03pm
Set 9:04pm
Set 9:05pm
Set 9:06pm
Set 9:06pm
Set 9:07pm
Set 9:07pm
Best
Times
1:54am
2:25pm
Rise 6:05am
Set 10:42pm
Moderate Sbecoming
fresh E
Ok
Best
Times
2:56am
3:28pm
Rise 7:12am
Set11:34pm
Moderate S
strengthening
Ok
Best
Times
3:58am
4:28pm
Moderate SWturning
S
Ok
RANGIORA OCEANWATCH
Best
Times
Gentle Sbecoming
moderate SE
Set12:48am
Rise11:07am
Moderate SWturning
SE
Set 1:13am
Rise12:24pm
Gentle SE becoming
moderate E
Set 1:36am
Rise 1:38pm
Gentle SE
strengthening
E0.7 mturning
SE 0.9 m E 1.2 m E0.8 m
SE E0.7 m E 0.7 m NE 0.9 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
4:57am
5:25pm
Rise 8:28am Set12:16am
Rise 9:47am
Ok
Best
Times
5:51am
6:17pm
Ok
Best
Times
6:42am
7:06pm
Good
Best
Times
7:30am
7:54pm
1
0
Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows
Waimakariri 6:21am 2.4 12:03am 0.6 7:12am 2.5 12:54am 0.5 8:04am 2.5 1:45am 0.5 8:57am 2.5 2:37am 0.5 9:51am 2.5 3:30am 0.5 10:46am 2.5 4:25am 0.5 11:41am 2.5 5:22am 0.5
Mouth
6:40pm 2.3 12:41pm 0.6 7:34pm 2.3 1:31pm 0.5 8:29pm 2.3 2:22pm 0.5 9:25pm 2.4 3:14pm 0.5 10:19pm 2.4 4:08pm 0.5 11:14pm 2.4 5:04pm 0.5
5:59pm 0.5
Amberley 6:21am 2.4 12:03am 0.6 7:12am 2.5 12:54am 0.5 8:04am 2.5 1:45am 0.5 8:57am 2.5 2:37am 0.5 9:51am 2.5 3:30am 0.5 10:46am 2.5 4:25am 0.5 11:41am 2.5 5:22am 0.5
Beach
6:40pm 2.3 12:41pm 0.6 7:34pm 2.3 1:31pm 0.5 8:29pm 2.3 2:22pm 0.5 9:25pm 2.4 3:14pm 0.5 10:19pm 2.4 4:08pm 0.5 11:14pm 2.4 5:04pm 0.5
5:59pm 0.5
6:30am 2.4 12:12am 0.6 7:21am 2.5 1:03am 0.5 8:13am 2.5 1:54am 0.5 9:06am 2.5 2:46am 0.5 10:00am 2.5 3:39am 0.5 10:55am 2.5 4:34am 0.5 11:50am 2.5 5:31am 0.5
Motunau 6:49pm 2.3 12:50pm 0.6 7:43pm 2.3 1:40pm 0.5 8:38pm 2.3 2:31pm 0.5 9:34pm 2.4 3:23pm 0.5 10:28pm 2.4 4:17pm 0.5 11:23pm 2.4 5:13pm 0.5
6:08pm 0.5
6:32am 2.4 12:14am 0.6 7:23am 2.5 1:05am 0.5 8:15am 2.5 1:56am 0.5 9:08am 2.5 2:48am 0.5 10:02am 2.5 3:41am 0.5 10:57am 2.5 4:36am 0.5 11:52am 2.5 5:33am 0.5
Gore Bay 6:51pm 2.3 12:52pm 0.6 7:45pm 2.3 1:42pm 0.5 8:40pm 2.3 2:33pm 0.5 9:36pm 2.4 3:25pm 0.5 10:30pm 2.4 4:19pm 0.5 11:25pm 2.4 5:15pm 0.5
6:10pm 0.5
6:25am 1.7 12:03am 0.3 7:15am 1.7 12:54am 0.3 8:07am 1.8 1:46am 0.2 9:01am 1.8 2:40am 0.2 9:56am 1.8 3:34am 0.2 10:53am 1.7 4:30am 0.2 11:50am 1.7 5:28am 0.2
Kaikoura 6:48pm 1.5 12:44pm 0.3 7:41pm 1.5 1:36pm 0.2 8:35pm 1.6 2:29pm 0.2 9:29pm 1.6 3:24pm 0.2 10:24pm 1.6 4:19pm 0.2 11:19pm 1.6 5:13pm 0.2
6:08pm 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