Nor'West News: December 21, 2023

24 The
NEWS
North Canterbury News, December 21, 2023
Enjoy the journey of growing up
Abig part of growing up is about enjoying
the journey of becoming who you want to
be, Culverden Constable Damian
Schuurman says.
ConstableSchuurmanwas guest
speaker at Hurunui District Council’s
Secondary School Achievers Fund
awards ceremony recently in Scargill.
He said the next few years will have
challenges and great times, andthe key
to reaching goals was being around good
people.
Looking back on his youth and early
career days, he said he had ups and
downs and is very grateful for the people
who showed beliefand helped shape
him.
‘‘Surround yourself with good people,
as they will be ahuge part of the success
of getting to where you want to go.’’
Their plans may change, career paths
may shift, and that did not matter. ‘‘Work
hard at everything you decide to do.’’
Nine school leavers in the Hurunui
District received ascholarship as they
embark on tertiary education in 2024.
The scholarships received are a
portion of an $11,500 scholarship —a
joint venture with the Hurunui District
Council (of $10,000), and the council’s law
firm Buddle Findlay ($1500).
The fund assists students with with
accommodation costs, scholarship travel
expenses, purchases of text books and
electronic equipment.
To date, 145 students have benefited
from the fund which began in2000. This
year 21 applications were received.
Hurunui Mayor Marie Black presented
the awards and encouraged the students
NORTH CANTERBURYSPORT
Bowling tournament
Top lawn bowlers from across New Zealand willcompete inthe Summerset
Nationals single and pairs tournament in Canterbury from January 2toJanuary 9.
Around 800 players are expected to take part.
Three North Canterbury clubs —Kaiapoi, Rangiora and Woodend —will be
hosting singles and pairs games.
Kaiapoi Working Mens Club will host men’s singles games on January 2, and mens
pairsonJanuary 6and 7.
Rangiorawill host men’s singles on January 2and 3, and women’s singles and
men’spairs on January 6onJanuary 7.
Woodend hosts women’s pairs on January 2, Men’s singles on January 3, and mens
pairs on January 7.
Bowls New Zealand says the very high quality of the greens and hospitality Bowls
Canterbury host clubs consistently deliver to players competing in an event has
attracted top bowlers from around the country.
‘‘We are thrilled that so many players have committed to being apart of the
tournament in 2024,’’ it says.
Waimakariri Gorge Golf
Summer Golf: Stableford 18 Holes: KBush 37, IBeets 37, WMehrtens 37, LAnderson
35, BFaulkner 35, LScott 34, SMacdonald 34.
Nearest to Pin for 2–No. 4–MRobertson; Nearest to Pin for 2–No. 11 –J
Pottinger; Longest Putt –No. 8.
Studentcelebration ... Guest speaker Constable Damian Schuurman of the Culverden
Police (left), Mateo Bonny, Matt Horn, William Knight, Award presenterMayor Marie
Black, Jessica Shearer, Bob Morgan, Regan Clark and Jed Dwyer. Absent: Ilona
McLachlan and Briana Hodgen.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
to enjoy and discover the joy of learning,
the thrill of mastering new skills and the
satisfaction of using them to make a
difference. She said the range of options
the students were exploring was
exceptional —rural medicine, law and
commerce, agricultural business,
environmental geology, marine science,
photography, lawand arts, broadcasting
and communications, law and commerce
and engineering.
Mrs Black, Crs Vanessa McPherson
and Karen Armstrong, Buddle Findlay
representative Anna Wishart, Youth
Council member William Munsey,
Munsey, and three independent
membersAnne Costello from Hawarden,
Geoff Shier and Gwyn Williams from
Amberley, were on the selection panel.
Successful recipients were Bob
Morgan from Hanmer Springs (Amuri
Area School), Briana Hodgen, Hawarden
(Rangi Ruru Girls’ School), Ilona
McLachlan from Broomfield
(Christchurch Girls’ High School), Jed
Dwyer, Culverden (Amuri Area School),
Jessica Shearer,Waiau (Christchurch
Girls’ High School), Mateo Bonny,
Waipara, (RangioraHigh School), Regan
Clark, Hanmer Springs (Amuri Area
School), and William Knight, Waipara
(Christchurch Boys’ High School).
Overseas visitors returning
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
Overseas visitors are flocking back to
Hanmer Springs.
While international visitor numbers are
not expected to return to pre­Covid levels
for another 12 months, Hurunui Tourism
product development manager Graeme
Abbot says the town is booming as it gears
up for the summer holiday rush.
‘‘We are seeing our old friends from
Australia back and the cruise business is
keeping us busy. We are seeing some
American business, which we expect will
grow with the new airlines coming into
Christchurch. It is certainly alot stronger
than it was.’’
Visitors were starting to return from
China, but Mr Abbot did not expect to see
as many visitors from the Asian market as
four years ago.
While September and October were
‘‘reasonably quiet’’, Hanmer Springs
Thermal Pools &Spa experienced nine
percent growth in November compared to
Clarence River
Bridge under
the spotlight
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
The fate of areplacement bridge over the
Waiau Toa /Clarence River will not be
known until next year.
Environment Canterburyisinthe
process of appointing ahearing
commissioner to decide the fate of a
proposed bridge to replace the Glen Alton
bridge, which was destroyed in the 2016
earthquake.
Ajoint hearing, with the Kaikōura
District Council, is expected to be held in
April.
Environment Canterburyhas completed
alimited notification, with just five parties
invited to make submissions on the
Kaikōura District Council’s resource
consent application.
Just two submissions were received,
including one from an affected private
landowner in support, and one from Te
Rūnanga oKaikōura, which was opposed
on cultural grounds.
The Rūnanga has expressing aview that
access to the proposed $13.5 million bridge
should be on the southernside of the river.
The lack of abridge has created
frustration for property owners in the
Clarence Valley, who relied on the Glen
Alton bridge.
For now access is via Waipapa Road,
WharekiriStream and apaper road, which
has been enhanced since the earthquakes.
But the WharekiriStream is prone to
flooding in heavy rain and can be
impassable for up to 10 days.
last year.
December had also started strongly and
accommodation bookings in the town were
‘‘very strong’’.
Staff recruitment has been achallenge
over the last three years, but the pools
were fully staffed and operating at the full
summer hours.
‘‘We are always abit scared to say we are
fully staffed, in case someone leaves,’’ Mr
Abbot said.
‘‘We have people from all around the
world on our staff, which is lovely because
it adds something to the environment.’’
Mr Abbot said Hanmer Springs had a
growing list of attractions, including the
alpine scenery.
Two new hydro slides, known as ‘‘Violet
Vortex’’ and ‘‘Waiau Winder’’, were added
to the hot pools this year and were proving
popular. New walking and cycling tracks
have been added, and the town has anew
disc golf course to add to the mini golf and
full sized golf course.
The Hanmer Springs Animal Park was
also popular with visitors, Mr Abbot said.
PROUDLY SUPPORTING LOCALSPORT
RANGIORA