North Canterbury News: December 21, 2023
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6 The<br />
OPINION<br />
<strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>December</strong> <strong>21</strong>, <strong>2023</strong><br />
‘Twas the day before Christmas<br />
‘Twas the day before Christmas, the house was astir<br />
Thehours were racing, each one ablur<br />
Nan, Poppa, and Auntie Jo in our bedrooms, ever so snug,<br />
andmysiblingsand me squeezed inlike bugs in arug.<br />
Mumhad the ham and lamb out todefrost<br />
while Dad mowed the lawns,nomatter the cost.<br />
The radio hummed with afestive song<br />
as Snoopypursued the Red Baron along.<br />
Uncle Bob from Auckland would come new girlfriend, Kate, at<br />
his side<br />
We raised our eyebrows our incredulity we could not hide.<br />
Mumhad plenty of tasks still tocomplete<br />
when cellphones erupted, disrupting the peace.<br />
Dad's, Mum's, Nan's, Poppa's,Aunt Jo's in sync<br />
Acacophony of rings to make you blink.<br />
The chaos ensued, sister Em screamed withfright,<br />
Poppa's glasses dropped, aprecarious sight.<br />
Nan, in afit that put her almostonthe floor<br />
All eyes on Mum, as Dad came through the door.<br />
And we realised with dread the radio had stopped.<br />
Dad spoke with afrown, the news not so great:<br />
‘‘ landslide, ahurdle, our plans in astate.<br />
The transmission line's gone, power's in doubt,<br />
No telling how long we must do without.’’<br />
The silence grew thick, we considered the mayhem<br />
No ham or pudding, no reruns of Frozen for sister Em?<br />
Dad pulled himself together and said to usall:<br />
“No worries, don’t stress, we follow the plan, is all.”<br />
“The plan?” said Poppa and looked at Nan.<br />
“Yes,” said mum with asigh, relief in her voice,<br />
we’ve had the plan, awise, prudent choice<br />
since October’s wild wind. We foresaw these blues<br />
And paid heed to Facebook, Council’s news<br />
They said: be ready, take astand<br />
Prepare with foresight and have aplan.”<br />
Dad went into the garage for his emergency bag.<br />
From it he pulled alist, with copies —itwasn’t adrag.<br />
‘‘We’ve candles aplenty to bring Christmas cheer<br />
and the gas bottle is full in the barbecue.”<br />
‘‘Our rotisserie extension from Father’s Day will come to good use.<br />
That’s for the lamb, we’ve the Weber for ham,<br />
and the weather is good for salad.”<br />
‘‘But dad,” wailed mum, filled with concern.<br />
‘‘How to warn Bob, and his latest, for their return?<br />
‘‘Remember, my dear,” said my father so clear,<br />
‘‘the car has abattery, use the aux, do not fear.<br />
‘‘We can also listen in the car to Compass FM, and their latest<br />
bulletin.”<br />
‘‘We will miss the carols,” said my Nan so soft.<br />
‘‘Nah,’’ said my brother Mike, holding his ukelele aloft.<br />
‘‘I’ll strum the chords,’’ he proclaimed with cheer.<br />
‘‘We’ll sing along, Christmas still near.’’<br />
‘‘Thank you, Hurunui Council, said mum, ‘‘for your tales so wise.<br />
For Christmas is saved, along with our sighs.’’<br />
By the Hurunui District Council Christmas Elf<br />
* Please ensure you have a plan for any eventuality over the<br />
Christmas break. If the power is on, you can follow our page, and we<br />
will update you, again and again.<br />
This<br />
Week<br />
Sun<br />
Fishing<br />
Guide<br />
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Wind<br />
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Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday<br />
Dec <strong>21</strong> Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27<br />
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Best<br />
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Gentle SEbecoming<br />
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Rise 5:20pm<br />
Moderate SE turning<br />
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The year thatwas in NC<br />
By ROBYN BRISTOW<br />
Wild weather,achange of<br />
Government, huge achievements,<br />
some lows, Covid, and testing<br />
times for Local Government have<br />
dominated <strong>2023</strong>.<br />
It rained alot, blew agale at<br />
times, was very hot, and chillingly<br />
cold, and the firewood pile is now<br />
down to nothing.<br />
It’s difficult to remember a<br />
time when we had to have fires<br />
burning throughto<strong>December</strong>.<br />
We have nothing left to burn<br />
that will fit in the firebox —and<br />
Iassure you he has tried.<br />
Floods came, and went quickly<br />
—but were nothing compared to<br />
what those up north in Hawkes<br />
Bay experienced.<br />
Cyclone Gabrielle will be<br />
etched in Hawke's Bay's history<br />
as one of the region's darkest<br />
times. Adversity, however,often<br />
brings out the bestinpeople, and<br />
the <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong><strong>News</strong> was<br />
able to tell some heart warming<br />
stories as people reached out to<br />
those who suffered in the floods,<br />
sending goods, stock feed, fencing<br />
materials and manpower to help<br />
those in dire straits.<br />
Many gave in return to all those<br />
who reached out when the<br />
RANGIORA OCEANWATCH<br />
Best 10:44am<br />
Times 11:11pm<br />
Set 3:08am<br />
Rise 6:35pm<br />
Gentle E<br />
strengthening<br />
Good<br />
Best 11:38am<br />
Times<br />
Set 3:41am<br />
Rise 7:47pm<br />
Moderate S<br />
<strong>Canterbury</strong>earthquakes caused<br />
widespread damage in 20102011.<br />
Agale in October left atrail of<br />
destruction.<br />
It came the same time as Covid<br />
hit our household. Ipaced the<br />
lounge, he lay snoring in bed with<br />
Covid, as the wind sent objects<br />
flying and trees crashing to the<br />
ground taking power lines and<br />
buildings with them.<br />
Aneighbour rang about the<br />
loss of power, before the cell<br />
towers conked out, while he<br />
watched abunny being bowled<br />
along in the gale force nor’<br />
wester.<br />
The power was eventually<br />
restored about three days later —<br />
other <strong>North</strong> Cantabrians waited a<br />
little longer. But being staunch<br />
rural communities, used to<br />
adversity, and reaching out to<br />
each other, we all remained well<br />
fed and watered.<br />
Then it was election time — it<br />
could not come soon enough as I<br />
had fears the TV wasn’t going to<br />
remain in one piece for much<br />
longer if politicians continued to<br />
be the focus of news bulletins and<br />
talk shows.<br />
Achange of Government<br />
resulted, featuring for the first<br />
time in MMP history, aline up of<br />
Best 12:05am<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Times 12:33pm<br />
Set 4:<strong>21</strong>am<br />
Rise 8:53pm<br />
Gentle Sbecoming<br />
moderate SE<br />
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Times<br />
1:02am<br />
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Set 5:10am<br />
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Gentle SE<br />
strengthening<br />
three parties, cohabiting<br />
together to govern New Zealand.<br />
It could be an interesting three<br />
years.<br />
The only certainty is whatever<br />
is changed, legislated or<br />
promulgated, it will not please<br />
everyone.<br />
Local Government meanwhile<br />
wove its way through amountain<br />
of new legislation, and some<br />
fierce criticism.<br />
There has been some<br />
outstanding performances by<br />
both young, and the not so young,<br />
during the year, from award<br />
winning sporting achievements,<br />
to volunteers making ahuge<br />
difference.<br />
Hungry tummies have been<br />
filled by the great work of many,<br />
and many organisations have<br />
taken care of vulnerable folk, the<br />
elderly and those unable to find<br />
their way through the maze of red<br />
tape to get help.<br />
The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong><br />
has endeavoured to feature a<br />
crosssection of grassroots,<br />
community news over the year,<br />
and looks forward to continuing,<br />
alongside its communities, to<br />
deliver its extensive coverage<br />
from the Waimakariri River to<br />
Kaikoura, in the New Year.<br />
Reflections on <strong>2023</strong> in Hurunui<br />
Christmas time gives us achance<br />
to reflect on the year, and closer to<br />
home, appreciateall that’s good<br />
about living in the Hurunui<br />
District.<br />
As acouncil, throughout <strong>2023</strong>,<br />
we focused on remaining true to<br />
our values, our role of providing<br />
core services for our community<br />
and visitors to enjoy.<br />
Our council has an opendoor<br />
policy to ensure astrong<br />
connection across all aspects of<br />
council business, and Iknow the<br />
team will continue to maintain the<br />
same level of service and support<br />
for the incoming year.<br />
Iamgrateful to all who have<br />
helped out this year, from<br />
assisting our field staff to taking<br />
part in the many council<br />
consultation and feedback<br />
requests.<br />
Your input is important so we<br />
can better understand the shared<br />
responsibilityofproviding<br />
services that are achievable and<br />
affordable.<br />
Marie Black<br />
Early in 2024 we will be<br />
delivering apublic consultation<br />
document on our draft Long Term<br />
Plan (LTP), aproposal your<br />
elected members have developed<br />
on your behalf, so collectively we<br />
can work towards our common<br />
goals so we can live, work and play<br />
in the Hurunui District.<br />
It is areally important process<br />
for us, and you, to understand how<br />
the district will prosper and grow<br />
throughout the next 10 years.<br />
During this festive season, we<br />
will remember that Christmas<br />
holds avariety of different<br />
meanings,and Itrust you will have<br />
achance to spend time with family<br />
and friends.<br />
Be aware of safety on the roads,<br />
take care under the summer sun,<br />
and around our waterways,<br />
especially with the young ones,<br />
and if you are out into the<br />
wildernessbemindful of the<br />
natural environment.<br />
On behalf of the Hurunui<br />
District Council, Iwish you all the<br />
best for the festive season and<br />
trust that the New Year of 2024<br />
brings you good health and<br />
happiness.<br />
Swell<br />
Pegasus Bay<br />
Tide Chart<br />
3<br />
2<br />
NE 0.5 m E0.5 m E0.6 m E 0.8 m E1.1 m E 0.8 m E0.7 m<br />
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<br />
1<br />
0<br />
Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows Highs Lows<br />
Waimakariri 12:09am 2.4 6:<strong>21</strong>am 0.5 1:05am 2.4 7:<strong>21</strong>am 0.6 2:04am 2.4 8:<strong>21</strong>am 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<br />
Mouth<br />
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<br />
Amberley 12:09am 2.4 6:<strong>21</strong>am 0.5 1:05am 2.4 7:<strong>21</strong>am 0.6 2:04am 2.4 8:<strong>21</strong>am 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<br />
Beach<br />
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<br />
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<br />
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.<strong>21</strong>2:08pm 0.6<br />
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<br />
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.<strong>21</strong>2:10pm 0.6<br />
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:<strong>21</strong>am 0.3 4:55am 1.7 11:14am 0.3 5:46am 1.7<br />
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<br />
*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.<br />
RANGIORA