North Canterbury News: March 07, 2024

4 The
NEWS
North Canterbury News, March 7, 2024
Flyridehearing soon
By DAVIDHILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
The fate of the proposedflyride inHanmer
Springs could be known soon.
The Environment Court is due to hold a
hearing in Hanmer Springs over five days,
starting on Monday, March18.
The hearing was first held in February
last year and was adjourned until
November, when it was postponed due to
illness.
Aconsent was granted to the Hanmer
Springs Thermal Pools and Spa by a
Hurunui District Council appointed
commissioner nearly two years ago.
The resource consent application was to
install and operate agravity­based
recreation activity at Conical Hill Reserve.
If successful, it would be the latest
adrenaline venture for the Canterbury
tourist town.
But it was appealed to the Environment
Court by The Friends of Conical Hill
Incorporated. Two new $3.2 million water
slides opened in October at Hanmer
Springs pools. During the consent process,
submitters opposed to the flyride said it
would have avisual impact on the
recreation character,biodiversity and
horse trails of the area.
Concerns were also raised about
parking, traffic congestion, noise, along
with the risk of fire, and devaluation of
properties.
Supportersbelieved the venture would
bring value and benefits to the Hanmer
Springs community and the wider district,
and promote the villageasafun, healthy
and interactive place to visit.
Visitors ... German students enjoyed some sightseeing in Canterbury last month with
former Rangiora New Life School principal Brian Seatter.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED BY RANGIORA NEW LIFE SCHOOL
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By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
North Canterbury school principals are
welcoming back international students
withopen arms.
Demand is strong from overseas schools
and students wanting to come to New
Zealand, says Simon Green, an advocate
for principals and boards of trustees
throughout Otago and Canterbury.
He predicts schools could be back to
pre­Covid levels next year.
Primary schools are entering the
international student market, with
Swannanoa and Te Matauru (Rangiora)
Schools among those taking overseas
students.
Mr Green says having international
students provides cultural learning
opportunities, as well as being afinancial
windfall for schools.
‘‘It allows schools to provide those extra
things which can enrich the curriculum
and help fund infrastructure and
property.’’
Mr Green works as aleadership adviser
withEvaluation Associates, supporting
principals and boards.
He is also the Rangiora High School
board of trustees presiding member.
Rangiora High School principal Bruce
Kearney says he is pleased to see
international students back at the school.
‘‘We are still down on our pre­Covid
numbers, but the market has bounced
back quite abit.’’
Kaiapoi High School suspended its
international programme after Covid hit,
before employing anew international
director around six months ago.
‘‘We wanted to take some time to build
some pastoral and administrative
practices before hitting the ground
running this year,’’ principal Jason Reid
says.
But the demand has far exceeded
expectations,prompting the school to
increaseits staffing levels.
Students from Japan and Brazil are
studying at the school this year, while
connections are being made with schools
in China.
Two groups of overseas principals and
teachers have also visited the school last
week.
An external provider has sponsored a
Chinese teacher to offer Mandarin lessons
for students and the wider community,
while agroup of 16 Kaiapoi students will
visit China on acultural exchange.
Rangiora New Life School hosted a
group of 20 German students last week led
by former principal Brian Seatter.
Principal Stephen Walters says it is the
fifth visit from Germany, but the first in
four years due to Covid.
‘‘We’ve bounced back really well. We’ve
got afew students for afull year, but
mainly they’re coming for short stays.
‘‘Last year we had more than 30
international students,but never more
than half adozen at atime and we are
seeing that trend continue.’’
The school was able to retain its
international director during Covid,
which made it easier to relaunch its
international programme.
Strong relationships have been
established with Japan, China and
Europe, with the international director
visiting Thailand this year.
Mr Walters said international
exchanges are an opportunity for his
students to learn about different cultures,
as well as the financial benefits to the
school and the wider community.
Pre­Covid, international education was
considered New Zealand’s fourth largest
export earner.
LDR is local body journalismco­funded
by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Amber Haustein
Administration
Mark Glanville
FDNZ cert, Reg. FD (FDANZ)
Lacation Manager,
Funeral Director
Christine Staines
Funeral Director