North Canterbury News: May 02, 2024

4 North
NEWS
Canterbury News, May 2, 2024
Ahandoffriendship
By SHELLEY TOPP
Visitor attraction ..
Wakatu Quay design
ByDAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
An artist’s impression of Kaikōura’s Wakatu Quay.
IMAGE: SUPPLIED BY KAIKŌURA DISTRICT COUNCIL
Interested in opening aseafood
restaurant on Kaikōura’s waterfront?
The Kaikōura District Council is
working on the detailed design for the
redevelopment of Wakatu Quay and
hopes to begin work soon on its first
building,which is intended for
hospitality.
Kaikōura Marine Development
Programme project manager Chris
Sturgeon said the council is keen to hear
from developers interested in
constructing the first building.
‘‘We want to seek interest as we come to
the completion of detaileddesign.’’
The council is already seeking
expressions of interest for atenant to
operateinthe first building, which will
be council owned and is intended for
hospitality.
Detailed design is on track to be
completed by the end of May and the
council plans to issue ashortlist of
registrations of interest in early June.
‘‘The development will revamp the
area once occupied by old commercial
fishing buildings that suffered damage in
the 2016 earthquake,’’ Mr Sturgeon said.
The council receiveda$10.18 million
grant in 2019 from the Provincial Growth
Fund, which is administered by Kānoa ­
Regional Economic Development and
Investment Unit.
There has been significant public input
into the design of the project, with the
council taking the lead.
Architectural practice Warren and
Mahoney has been working with the
council on the design.
Mr Sturgeon said concept images show
how the site can be developed over time.
Amixed use development is being with
aseafood theme, and amix of hospitality,
local artists, fishing and tourism
businesses.
It is hoped the first building will up and
running for the summer of 2025/26.
LDR is local body journalism cofunded
by RNZ and NZ On Air.
When Gaye Edwards moved to
Rangiora seven years ago, after her
husband died, she didn’t know asoul.
Today she wouldn’t want to live
anywhere else.
‘‘Rangiora is avery pretty place. I
love the green spaces andthe amazing
cycleways.
‘‘I am very happy here. Idon’t regret
my move from Clutha at all,’’ she says.
Abig part of her reason for feeling
the way she does is due to her
connection with the Rangiora
Combined Friendship Club for retired
people.
Gaye is president of the club now,
and says the first time she attended a
meeting she made friends straight
away.
‘‘Everyone is so friendly and
welcoming. If you are looking to find
friendship or want to get to know
people this is agreat club to join,’’ she
says.
‘‘Our secretary Norman West does a
great job looking after all our members
because he knows them all.’’
The club, which was formerly a
Probus club had to rebrand along with
every other New Zealand Probus clubs
after the Australian­based Probus
South Pacific Ltd of Sydney
trademarked the Probus name in 2016.
The reason Gaye chose to join the
Rangiora Combined Friendship Club
initially was because of its size. Around
60 to 70 members meet on the first
Wednesday of every month from 10am
until12noon at the Rangiora RSA Club
in Victoria Street.
‘‘We have two people on the door
welcomingpeople, andwealways have
aguest speaker,’’ Gaye says.
There is also amini speaker which
will be one of the club members talking
Making friends ... Gaye Edwards,
president of the Rangiora Combined
Friendship Club.
PHOTO: SHELLEY TOPP
about what is happening in their lives.
One person spoke about scams, and
was able to pass on information about
how to avoid them.
‘‘He was great,’’ Gaye says.
There is often asales table at the
Wednesday meetings too, where club
members share excess produce grown
in their gardens.
The club also has awalking group,
with members embarking on adifferent
route every Monday and then calling in
at acafe for coffee afterwards.
‘‘It is such anice group for older
people,’’ Gaye says. ‘‘We try to look
after one another and if someone needs
transport to ameeting we can help with
that.’’
The club also welcomes visitors who
can decide if they want to join the club.
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