Nor'West News: December 21, 2023

6 The
OPINION
North Canterbury News, December 21, 2023
‘Twas the day before Christmas
‘Twas the day before Christmas, the house was astir
Thehours were racing, each one ablur
Nan, Poppa, and Auntie Jo in our bedrooms, ever so snug,
andmysiblingsand me squeezed inlike bugs in arug.
Mumhad the ham and lamb out todefrost
while Dad mowed the lawns,nomatter the cost.
The radio hummed with afestive song
as Snoopypursued the Red Baron along.
Uncle Bob from Auckland would come ­new girlfriend, Kate, at
his side
We raised our eyebrows ­our incredulity we could not hide.
Mumhad plenty of tasks still tocomplete
when cellphones erupted, disrupting the peace.
Dad's, Mum's, Nan's, Poppa's,Aunt Jo's in sync
Acacophony of rings to make you blink.
The chaos ensued, sister Em screamed withfright,
Poppa's glasses dropped, aprecarious sight.
Nan, in afit that put her almostonthe floor
All eyes on Mum, as Dad came through the door.
And we realised with dread the radio had stopped.
Dad spoke with afrown, the news not so great:
‘‘ landslide, ahurdle, our plans in astate.
The transmission line's gone, power's in doubt,
No telling how long we must do without.’’
The silence grew thick, we considered the mayhem
No ham or pudding, no reruns of Frozen for sister Em?
Dad pulled himself together and said to usall:
“No worries, don’t stress, we follow the plan, is all.”
“The plan?” said Poppa and looked at Nan.
“Yes,” said mum with asigh, relief in her voice,
we’ve had the plan, awise, prudent choice
since October’s wild wind. We foresaw these blues
And paid heed to Facebook, Council’s news
They said: be ready, take astand
Prepare with foresight and have aplan.”
Dad went into the garage for his emergency bag.
From it he pulled alist, with copies —itwasn’t adrag.
‘‘We’ve candles aplenty to bring Christmas cheer
and the gas bottle is full in the barbecue.”
‘‘Our rotisserie extension from Father’s Day will come to good use.
That’s for the lamb, we’ve the Weber for ham,
and the weather is good for salad.”
‘‘But dad,” wailed mum, filled with concern.
‘‘How to warn Bob, and his latest, for their return?
‘‘Remember, my dear,” said my father so clear,
‘‘the car has abattery, use the aux, do not fear.
‘‘We can also listen in the car to Compass FM, and their latest
bulletin.”
‘‘We will miss the carols,” said my Nan so soft.
‘‘Nah,’’ said my brother Mike, holding his ukelele aloft.
‘‘I’ll strum the chords,’’ he proclaimed with cheer.
‘‘We’ll sing along, Christmas still near.’’
‘‘Thank you, Hurunui Council, said mum, ‘‘for your tales so wise.
For Christmas is saved, along with our sighs.’’
By the Hurunui District Council Christmas Elf
* Please ensure you have a plan for any eventuality over the
Christmas break. If the power is on, you can follow our page, and we
will update you, again and again.
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The year thatwas in NC
By ROBYN BRISTOW
Wild weather,achange of
Government, huge achievements,
some lows, Covid, and testing
times for Local Government have
dominated 2023.
It rained alot, blew agale at
times, was very hot, and chillingly
cold, and the firewood pile is now
down to nothing.
It’s difficult to remember a
time when we had to have fires
burning throughtoDecember.
We have nothing left to burn
that will fit in the firebox —and
Iassure you he has tried.
Floods came, and went quickly
—but were nothing compared to
what those up north in Hawkes
Bay experienced.
Cyclone Gabrielle will be
etched in Hawke's Bay's history
as one of the region's darkest
times. Adversity, however,often
brings out the bestinpeople, and
the North CanterburyNews was
able to tell some heart warming
stories as people reached out to
those who suffered in the floods,
sending goods, stock feed, fencing
materials and manpower to help
those in dire straits.
Many gave in return to all those
who reached out when the
RANGIORA OCEANWATCH
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Times 11:11pm
Set 3:08am
Rise 6:35pm
Gentle E
strengthening
Good
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Times
Set 3:41am
Rise 7:47pm
Moderate S
Canterburyearthquakes caused
widespread damage in 2010­2011.
Agale in October left atrail of
destruction.
It came the same time as Covid
hit our household. Ipaced the
lounge, he lay snoring in bed with
Covid, as the wind sent objects
flying and trees crashing to the
ground taking power lines and
buildings with them.
Aneighbour rang about the
loss of power, before the cell
towers conked out, while he
watched abunny being bowled
along in the gale force nor’
wester.
The power was eventually
restored about three days later —
other North Cantabrians waited a
little longer. But being staunch
rural communities, used to
adversity, and reaching out to
each other, we all remained well
fed and watered.
Then it was election time — it
could not come soon enough as I
had fears the TV wasn’t going to
remain in one piece for much
longer if politicians continued to
be the focus of news bulletins and
talk shows.
Achange of Government
resulted, featuring for the first
time in MMP history, aline up of
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Gentle Sbecoming
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Times
1:02am
1:30pm
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strengthening
three parties, co­habiting
together to govern New Zealand.
It could be an interesting three
years.
The only certainty is whatever
is changed, legislated or
promulgated, it will not please
everyone.
Local Government meanwhile
wove its way through amountain
of new legislation, and some
fierce criticism.
There has been some
outstanding performances by
both young, and the not so young,
during the year, from award
winning sporting achievements,
to volunteers making ahuge
difference.
Hungry tummies have been
filled by the great work of many,
and many organisations have
taken care of vulnerable folk, the
elderly and those unable to find
their way through the maze of red
tape to get help.
The North Canterbury News
has endeavoured to feature a
cross­section of grassroots,
community news over the year,
and looks forward to continuing,
alongside its communities, to
deliver its extensive coverage
from the Waimakariri River to
Kaikoura, in the New Year.
Reflections on 2023 in Hurunui
Christmas time gives us achance
to reflect on the year, and closer to
home, appreciateall that’s good
about living in the Hurunui
District.
As acouncil, throughout 2023,
we focused on remaining true to
our values, our role of providing
core services for our community
and visitors to enjoy.
Our council has an open­door
policy to ensure astrong
connection across all aspects of
council business, and Iknow the
team will continue to maintain the
same level of service and support
for the incoming year.
Iamgrateful to all who have
helped out this year, from
assisting our field staff to taking
part in the many council
consultation and feedback
requests.
Your input is important so we
can better understand the shared
responsibilityofproviding
services that are achievable and
affordable.
Marie Black
Early in 2024 we will be
delivering apublic consultation
document on our draft Long Term
Plan (LTP), aproposal your
elected members have developed
on your behalf, so collectively we
can work towards our common
goals so we can live, work and play
in the Hurunui District.
It is areally important process
for us, and you, to understand how
the district will prosper and grow
throughout the next 10 years.
During this festive season, we
will remember that Christmas
holds avariety of different
meanings,and Itrust you will have
achance to spend time with family
and friends.
Be aware of safety on the roads,
take care under the summer sun,
and around our waterways,
especially with the young ones,
and if you are out into the
wildernessbemindful of the
natural environment.
On behalf of the Hurunui
District Council, Iwish you all the
best for the festive season and
trust that the New Year of 2024
brings you good health and
happiness.
Swell
Pegasus Bay
Tide Chart
3
2
NE 0.5 m E0.5 m E0.6 m E 0.8 m E1.1 m E 0.8 m E0.7 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
1
0
Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows
Waimakariri 12:09am 2.4 6:21am 0.5 1:05am 2.4 7:21am 0.6 2:04am 2.4 8:21am 0.6 3:02am 2.4 9:19am 0.6 3:58am 2.4 10:15am 0.6 4:52am 2.4 11:08am 0.6 5:42am 2.4 11:59am 0.6
Mouth
12:37pm 2.4 6:55pm 0.5 1:34pm 2.4 7:49pm 0.5 2:31pm 2.3 8:43pm 0.5 3:26pm 2.3 9:37pm 0.5 4:20pm 2.3 10:31pm 0.5 5:11pm 2.3 11:24pm 0.5 6:01pm 2.2
Amberley 12:09am 2.4 6:21am 0.5 1:05am 2.4 7:21am 0.6 2:04am 2.4 8:21am 0.6 3:02am 2.4 9:19am 0.6 3:58am 2.4 10:15am 0.6 4:52am 2.4 11:08am 0.6 5:42am 2.4 11:59am 0.6
Beach
12:37pm 2.4 6:55pm 0.5 1:34pm 2.4 7:49pm 0.5 2:31pm 2.3 8:43pm 0.5 3:26pm 2.3 9:37pm 0.5 4:20pm 2.3 10:31pm 0.5 5:11pm 2.3 11:24pm 0.5 6:01pm 2.2
12:18am 2.4 6:30am 0.5 1:14am 2.4 7:30am 0.6 2:13am 2.4 8:30am 0.6 3:11am 2.4 9:28am 0.6 4:07am 2.4 10:24am 0.6 5:01am 2.4 11:17am 0.6 5:51am 2.4
Motunau 12:46pm 2.4 7:04pm 0.5 1:43pm 2.4 7:58pm 0.5 2:40pm 2.3 8:52pm 0.5 3:35pm 2.3 9:46pm 0.5 4:29pm 2.3 10:40pm 0.5 5:20pm 2.3 11:33pm 0.5 6:10pm 2.212:08pm 0.6
12:20am 2.4 6:32am 0.5 1:16am 2.4 7:32am 0.6 2:15am 2.4 8:32am 0.6 3:13am 2.4 9:30am 0.6 4:09am 2.4 10:26am 0.6 5:03am 2.4 11:19am 0.6 5:53am 2.4
Gore Bay 12:48pm 2.4 7:06pm 0.5 1:45pm 2.4 8:00pm 0.5 2:42pm 2.3 8:54pm 0.5 3:37pm 2.3 9:48pm 0.5 4:31pm 2.3 10:42pm 0.5 5:22pm 2.3 11:35pm 0.5 6:12pm 2.212:10pm 0.6
12:15am 1.6 6:27am 0.2 1:11am 1.6 7:27am 0.2 2:08am 1.6 8:27am 0.2 3:04am 1.7 9:25am 0.2 4:00am 1.7 10:21am 0.3 4:55am 1.7 11:14am 0.3 5:46am 1.7
Kaikoura 12:47pm 1.7 7:01pm 0.2 1:44pm 1.6 7:55pm 0.2 2:40pm 1.6 8:48pm 0.2 3:34pm 1.6 9:41pm 0.3 4:27pm 1.5 10:33pm 0.3 5:19pm 1.5 11:26pm 0.3 6:10pm 1.512:06pm 0.3
*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