Western News: January 15, 2026

FOR LOCAL ADVERTISING 

Alana Powell 

Ph: 027 535 6583 

alana@alliedmedia.co.nz 

Pupils take the lead in park project 


Alana Powell 

Ph: 027 535 6583 

alana@alliedmedia.co.nz 

School pupils have stepped into 

the role of landscape architects, 

designing and constructing a 

new outdoor play space, thanks 

to an innovative collaboration. 

Te Kōmanawa Rowley School 


pupils spent the past five 

Annabel Judd 

months undertaking a full 

Ph: 021 457 469 

co-design process for a play 

annabel.judd@alliedmedia.co.nz 

structure in Hoon Hay Park, 

as part of the Place Cadets 

programme by Gather Landscape 

Architecture and the city 

council. 

The project saw the pupils 

mapping their neighbourhood, 


learning about the park’s wetland 

history, conducting a site 

Jenny Wright 

visit, developing a brief, making 

Ph: 021 220 3484 

jenny@alliedmedia.co.nz 

scale models, building fullsize 

cardboard prototypes, and 

helping construct the final play 

structure. 

Place Cadets programme lead 

Wendy Hoddinott said the project 

gave the pupils practical 

experience in planning, modelmaking 

and construction, 

alongside design professionals. 

“The resulting landscape 

The Star, January 23, 2025 

design reflects the children’s 

ideas gathered through handson 

exploration, model-making 

and dialogue,” she said. 

“Ten-year-olds from the 

school collaborated with 

designers to articulate their 

aspirations for play, challenge 

and The a Star, meaningful January 23, relationship 

2025 

with their environment.” 

The pupils learned how to 

think like a landscape architect, 

create prototypes and 

work with the city council to 

get the structure approved for 

construction. 

Hoon Hay Park was once part 

of a wetland ecosystem, with 

design inspiration drawing on 

the regenerative strength of 

the kahikatea tree – once an 

integral part of the original 

environment. 

“The structure references 

the weaving form of the tree’s 

root system, creating spaces 

for climbing, movement, and 

cosy hideaway spaces,” said 

Hoddinott. 

“The new play feature 

integrates with the existing 

playground to form a continuous 

loop of climbing, balancing 

and jumping elements with an 

obstacle-style play experience.” 

The pupils presented their 

plans to the Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote 

Community Board, which 

approved the designs. The new 

play space was completed late 

last year. 

The city council is exploring 

the potential for another phase 

this year that focuses on native 

planting, logs to step and 

balance on, and painting the 

paving. 

Te Kōmanawa Rowley School pupils 

helped to design and construct starnews.co.nz a 

new play structure in Hoon Hay 

Park, thanks to the Place Cadets 

programme. 

PHOTOS: PETRA MINGNEAU/CCC 

starnews.co.nz 





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The Star, January 15, 2026 


Music, art, sport and politics: 

Christchurch has a busy year 

ahead in music, art, sport and 

politics. Dylan Smits looks at 

what you should keep on your 

radar in 2026 

January 

• The 10-day World Buskers 

Festival returns from January 

23 to February 1. 

• Global superstar Ed Sheeran 

is coming to Christchurch for 

the first time in 11 years for 

his Loop Tour after the release 

of his album Play. Sheeran 

will play two shows at Apollo 

Projects Stadium on January 24 

and 25. 

February 

• Kiwi pop icon Lorde is 

bringing her Ultrasound World 

Tour to the city with one show 

on February 13 at Wolfbrook 

Arena. It follows the release of 

her fourth album Virgin last 

June. 

• Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub 

will host domestic and international 

track stars on February 

21. The 2026 International 

Track Meet is New Zealand's 

biggest one-day international 

track and field event and offers 

opportunities for athletes to 

earn prize money, and gain 

world ranking points. 

• The city will again host Australasia’s 

largest music festival, 

Electric Avenue, from February 

27-28. About 45,000 attendees 

Australasia’s largest music festival, Electric Avenue, will be held in Hagley Park on February 27-28. Split Enz will headline 

the festival on their 50th anniversary. Inset – One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha is set to open in April. 

are expected on each of the two 

days. 

Iconic Kiwi band Split Enz 

is headlining the festival, 

reforming for their 50th 

anniversary. Other top artists 

include Australian DJ Dom 

Dolla and popstar Kesha. Last 

year’s festival brought $10.5m 

in visitor spending to the city. 

Tickets are sold out. 

• The city council will 

consider funding decisions for 

major heritage buildings like 

the Christ Church Cathedral, 

Canterbury Museum and 

the Provincial Chambers on 

Durham St North, as part of the 

Annual Plan process. 

City councillors will debate 

and adopt the draft 2026/27 

Annual Plan (budget) before it 

goes out for public consultation. 

Christ Church Cathedral 

Reinstatement Ltd is seeking 

$40-45m from the city 

council, Government and 

private donors to restart 

construction. Canterbury 

Museum wants $21m from 

ratepayers to partially cover 

the redevelopment’s $86.6m 

budget blowout, while the 

stalled Provincial Chambers 

restoration could cost an 

estimated $200m – but the city 

council is considering a private 

partnership to help cover the 

cost. 

City councillors will decide 

which services and facilities to 

fund while working towards the 

Government’s 4% rates increase 

cap. Without further savings, 

rates are projected to rise by 

9.2% in the next Annual Plan. 

The final city council budget 

is typically confirmed in late 

June. 

March 

• The New Zealand 

Squash Open, the nation’s 

premier professional squash 

tournament, will return to the 

Isaac Theatre Royal from March 

3-8 after last year’s successful 

event. It features top men’s and 

women’s international players 

and Kiwi stars competing in a 

unique setting. The 2025 open 

was the first held in the South 

Island or in a theatre. 

April 

• The city will have a worldclass 

covered stadium with the 

opening of the $683m One New 

Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha in 

April. 

The roofed 30,000-seat 

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starnews.co.nz The Star, January 15, 2026 

What’s on in the city in 2026 

complex will host its first big 

event over Anzac weekend with 

the Super Rugby Pacific Super 

Round. Tickets are available 

and selling fast. 

• Christchurch will host the 

first-ever South Island round 

of the Repco Supercars Championship, 

New Zealand and 

Australia’s premier touring car 

race category. From April 17-19 

motorsport enthusiasts will 

gather at Euromargue Motorsport 

Park in Templeton for the 

championship. It is expected 

to bring significant economic 

benefits. 

May 

• New Zealand’s largest 

art exhibition event, the 

Christchurch Art Show, returns 

from May 1-3 at Te Pae. About 

10,000 attendees are expected, 

providing opportunities for 

artists to display and sell their 

work. 

• One New Zealand Stadium 

will host its first music 

concert on May 16, Once in a 

Lifetime, headlined by Six60 

and Synthony. The artists 

will collaborate throughout 

the show, culminating in a 

performance of Six60’s top hits. 

June 

• Rugby League will debut at 

One New Zealand Stadium with 

the Warriors v North Queensland 

Cowboys on June 21. 

• The city council will adopt 

the final 2026/27 Annual Plan at 

The Repco Supercars Championship will be held in Christchurch for the first time 

in April. 

the end of the month. This may 

include a decision on the future 

of ratepayer-owned fibre broadband 

company Enable. 

With the Government’s rates 

cap putting pressure on budgets, 

Mayor Phil Mauger and 

some right-leaning city councillors 

support investigating the 

sale of Enable. The debate will 

be contentious. Some sale proceeds 

could be used to reduce 

debt and form a protected 

investment fund. Although the 

proposal has not been formally 

introduced yet, it could form 

part of the Annual Plan process. 

July 

• The All Blacks will play 

France in their first home test 

of the season at One New Zealand 

Stadium on July 4, marking 

the first major test in Christchurch 

since the 2011 earthquake 

and kicking off the inaugural 

Nations Championship. Tickets 

go on sale in March. 

August 

• New Zealand’s largest 

sustainable lifestyle show, 

the Go Green Expo, returns to 

Christchurch from August 8-9 at 

Wolfbrook Arena. 

September 

• The national Short Course 

Swimming Championships 

comes back to Christchurch for 

the first time since 2010 with 

the new pool facilities open at 

Parakiore Recreation and Sport 

Centre. 

The event from September 27 

to October 1 is expected to draw 

top swimmers from across the 

country. 

October 

• The 2026 General Election 

is likely to be held between 

September and November. 

Five Christchurch-based 

electorates are up for grabs, 

while two incumbent Labour 

MPs – Megan Woods and 

Duncan Webb – are not 

standing for re-election. 

In Woods’ traditionally safe 

red seat of Wigram, boundary 

redrawing could make it a 

battleground. 

Labour has selected tech 

consultant Dominik Yanzick 

as its candidate to replace 

Woods, while National has 

again selected accountant Tracy 

Summerfield. 

In Webb’s seat, Christchurch 

Central, neither major party 

has selected a candidate 

yet. 

National MP Hamish 

Campbell will stand again in 

Ilam with no Labour candidate 

confirmed yet. In Christchurch 

East, incumbent Labour MP 

Reuben Davidson will stand 

for re-election with no National 

candidate confirmed. 

It is a rematch in Banks 

Peninsula with Labour’s Tracey 

McLellan trying to take back 

Funding for the mothballed Christ 

Church cathedral will be considered as 

part of the Annual Plan process. 

the seat she lost to incumbent 

Vanessa Weenink in 2023. 

November 

• The annual Royal A&P Show 

of New Zealand, formerly the 

Christchurch A&P Show, is set 

to be held on November 12-14. 

After previous financial woes, 

the 2025 show was generally 

considered successful but no 

financial figures for the event 

have been revealed yet. 

December 

• The Ōmōkihi South Library 

and Customer Service Hub 

is scheduled to open at 66 

Colombo St in Beckenham, 

serving the southern suburbs. 

The $32m rebuild project 

started mid-last year and 

replaces the former South 

Library which was demolished 

due to earthquake damage. 

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Professor makes 

history with global 

astronomy medal 

A Canterbury University 

mathematics professor has 

become the first person based 

outside the United Kingdom 

to receive a prestigious 

international medal for 

research into the history of 

astronomy. 

Professor Clemency Montelle, 

head of UC’s school of mathematics 

and statistics has been 

awarded the Agnes Mary Clerke 

Medal for historical research 

in astronomy or geophysics by 

the UK’s Royal Astronomical 

Society. The medal is presented 

every three years. 

The 2026 award recognises 

Montelle’s research into the 

history of astronomy, particularly 

her work on Indian 

mathematical astronomy and 

other pre-modern astronomical 

traditions, and the connections 

between them. 

Her scholarship draws on 

a rare combination of skills, 

including advanced mathematics, 

ancient languages and 

cultural history, and has helped 

challenge long-standing biases 

in how astronomical knowledge 

has been studied and 

understood. 

Much of Montelle’s work 

involves tracking down rare 

manuscripts in libraries and 

archives around the world 

and translating their technical 

content. 

Her research has uncovered 

sophisticated mathematical 

ideas developed centuries earlier 

than previously recognised, 

including through the analysis 

of Sanskrit astronomical tables. 

Originally from the United 

States, Montelle completed her 

PhD at Brown University and 

reads Ancient Greek, Latin, Sanskrit 

and Classical Arabic. She 

has also helped bring historical 

research into the digital age, 

developing software to analyse 

ancient numerical data and creating 

tools that allow complex 

scripts and mathematical notation 

to be displayed accurately 

online. 

Montelle said the Royal Astronomical 

Society award is a 

significant recognition. 

“I am delighted and honoured 

to receive the Agnes Mary 

Clerke Medal. 

“It is especially meaningful 

to be recognised for work 

exploring the deep historical 

roots of astronomical 

knowledge across cultures, 

and for the collaborative work, 

mentorship and communitybuilding 

that make this 

scholarship possible,” she said. 

Professor Clemency Montelle has been awarded the Agnes Mary Clerke Medal 

(right) for her research into the history of astronomy, particularly her work on Indian 

mathematical astronomy and other pre-modern astronomical traditions. 

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Open Day 

Summerset Prebbleton is a growing village with a vibrant community. Our village centre is underway, 

and once complete, will feature fantastic indoor and outdoor facilities for residents to enjoy. 

A range of two-bedroom villas are available with flexible pricing starting from $665,000*. 

“We’ve met a lovely group of people around our age that are just like us, active and get out and 

do things. We’ve made more friends now than we’ve ever done in our whole life. It was the best 

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The Way 

We Were 

It was a valiant push that 

paid off. 

Malvern Scout group 

members pushed Sam Sword 

on a toilet from Cathedral 

Square to New Brighton 

to raise funds to get to 

the Australian National 

Jamboree. 

The Scouts needed to raise 

$2000 for each of the nine 

members to attend the 

three-week jamboree in 

Ballarat in January 1992. 

Scout leader Philip Duval 

told The Press the Scouts’ 

departure capped off months 

of fundraising, including 

garage sales, auctions, and 

a 16,300-ticket raffle for 

SCOUTS 

a car, donated by Garry 

Donnithorne Toyota. 

The seven boys and two 

girls were the only ones 

from Canterbury going to the 

jamboree, which drew 14,000 

participants. 

The Scouting movement 

started in New Zealand 

in 1908, the same year 

Lord Robert Baden-Powell 

launched it in the UK. It aims 

to empower young people 

through adventure and 

challenge to be ready for life, 

starting with Kea, then Cubs, 

Scouts, Venturers and Rovers. 

About 13,000 young people 

are members of Scouts 

Aotearoa. 

Hoon Hay Cubs promoting a free shoe shine at Hillmorton Shopping Centre in 1988 to attract members. From left, Dwayne 

Key, Timothy Brawn, Jonathon Gilliver, Kelly Day and Anaur Gray. 

Mairehau Scouts Matthew Mills, 

Matthew Charlies and Michael Smith in 

a tug-of-war in 1982; Scouts planting 

trees above Evans Pass Road in 1966; 

Lyttelton Sea Scouts Owen Austin and 

Adam St John checking life jackets at 

the National Scout Regatta in 1986. 

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Big opening week for father 

and son’s new supermarket 

The co-owners of a new supermarket in 

Christchurch say shoppers have been 

turning out in their droves since the store 

opened last week. 

Ethan Vickery and his father, Shane, 

opened Kai Co last Wednesday at the 

Northwood Supa Centa, in the former Noel 

Leeming building, to provide an alternative 

to the Woolworths and Foodstuffs supermarket 

duopoly. 

He said during the first three days of 

the store being open, sales nearly doubled 

their expectations. 

Ethan and his father were drawing on 

their experience and contacts as former 

butchers, focusing on local markets and 

suppliers to ensure they were stocking 

fresh meat and produce at competitive 

prices. 

“I think it's something that is cheaper to 

be sourced locally,” Ethan said. 

“There's no benefit being a big corporate 

and buying in bulk when it’s fresh food... 

and you do have flexibility as well to get 

specials. The suppliers can ring us directly 

and be like ‘we need to clear this stuff’. and 

you can take it.” 

He said the store was looking to widen its 

selection as suppliers warmed to the new 

business. 

“No one really took us too seriously cause 

there’s nothing really like us that's been 

done before,” Ethan said. 

“When we were talking to suppliers originally, 

they kind of thought we were sort of 

like a clearance place. 

“But now they've seen what we are and 

they’ve come in – they think it’s a nice store 

– they've all been approaching us.” 

He said the store had taken a backto-basics 

approach to keep the focus on 

quality food at an affordable price. 

Shane and Ethan Vickery opened Kai Co to give 

shoppers an alternative to the Woolworths and 

Foodstuffs supermarket duopoly. 

Other attempts to break the duopoly 

had made the mistake of trying to compete 

against the chains at their own game, 

Ethan said. 

“I think they’ve all tried to be too upmarket. 

They haven’t been cheap, they haven’t 

been solving a problem. The problem is the 

cost of living. All those places have been on 

the higher end. People just need good quality 

food at a good price.” 

Shane had done some analysis and “price 

comparisons” before opening and believes 

the new store will be competitive. 

“I’ve been doing price comparisons for 

the last 48 hours and I know we’re cheaper 

than most of the supermarkets on a lot of 

items, but it’s only going to get better,” he 

told the NZ Herald. 

He said procuring certain stock has been 

difficult at this time of year but there are 

plans to establish new business relationships 

with suppliers. 

“You approach them and they don’t 

take it too seriously, but then when they 

see what we’re doing, they’re starting to 

realise, oh, this is actually something that 

could be quite big.” - RNZ 

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CONTINUING EDUCATION 

Discover the joy of learning with Risingholme 

Risingholme’s brand new 2026 

programme is live and ready for 

enrolments. With over 300+ courses and 

workshops offered annually, there is no 

shortage of things to learn. 

This year’s programme is packed with 

familiar favourites as well as a suite 

of brand new courses and workshops 

across a range of topics including: 

Computer and Digital Skills - learn 

basic tech literacy and get the most 

out of your devices with courses like 

Getting to Know your Computer and 

Getting to Know your iPhone. For those 

looking to make sense of spreadsheets, 

Risingholme is offering Excel 

Spreadsheets courses for beginners and 

for advanced users throughout the year. 

In the health and wellbeing space, 

the new courses emphasize gentle 

movement and adaptability. Try Tai Chi 

Yang Style, Chiball Exercise, or Easy 

Stretching and Chair Yoga to find the 

type of movement that not only feels 

good but does good for your mind and 

body. Risingholme is also one of the few 

organizations offering a course in the 

Ronnie Gardiner Method. This multisensory 

exercise uses rhythm, music, 

verbalisation and movement to work 

the brain making it an excellent exercise 

for healthy aging as well as for those 

living with neurological conditions or 

during recovery from events like stroke. 

If you’re a foodie or want to get 

the most out of seasonal ingredients, 

come experience a Dehydration 

Demonstration and Testing and learn 

handy tips about this long-standing 

food preservation method. For those 

just beginning their cooking journey, 

Cooking for Beginners is where you will 

learn the basics of making tasty and 

nutritious food. 

If you have limited time or want to 

try adult and community education 

without committing to a full course, 

consider enrolling in short 1-2 day 

workshops which can give you a taste 

of what learning at Risingholme is like, 

and leave you with skills that can last a 

lifetime. Term 1 offers lots of workshops 

across sewing and fabric arts, including 

Pattern making and a Fabric Painting – 

Vintage Bottles and Jars Workshop. 

Risingholme’s courses are for the 

curious beginners, and for those with 

some experience looking to extend 

their skills and further explore their 

interests. Visit www.risingholme.org. 

nz to view the full programme and 

enrol to discover the joy of learning 

something new. 

Term 1 Night Classes at Papanui 

Thinking of a New 

Years Resolution? Trying 

something new is 

always a great place to 

start and Papanui High 

School has a wide range 

of choices. If you are 

looking to keep fit and 

active we have Yoga, 

Pilates, Tai Chi, Strengh- 

2Balance and Zumba to 

choose from. Creativity 

is well catered for with 

Basket Weaving, Guitar, 

Ukulele, Photography, Stone Carving 

and Art. Or if you want to get creative 

in the kitchen, we have Indian, Spanish 

With an election approaching, bringing 

social and political questions into 

focus, gain an understanding of politics 

in Term 1. To vote with confidence join 

Civics 101 - Quentin Findlay (Mon 16 

Feb, 5 weeks, 6.30–8pm) who introduces 

central and local government and interest 

groups in a clear, grounded way. 

In Politics Made Plain - Michael Couch 

(Tue 3 Mar, 5 weeks, 12.30–2.30pm) 

explains how electorates and Parliament 

work including MMP. 

Stimulating courses, “Our Changing 

Oceans” and “Understanding the 

Treaty” will expand your horizons. Or, 

indulge yourself with Cooking, Screenwriting 

or Zentangling. 

A Tale of Two Heists by Dr Rosie 

and South American Cuisines on 

offer. For the practical creative 

we have Woodwork, Sewing, Candle 

Making, Willow Obelisks and 

Upholstery. 

New on offer this term are Philosophy, 

Spanish Conversation, 

Brand Building and Digital Marketing 

for Small Businesses and 

Understanding Autism (ASD). 

Term 1 courses begin the 

week of 9 February. For a 

complete list of courses and 

to enroll, visit our website, 

https://www.papanui.school.nz/comedu/categories 

phone 03 3520701 or 

email ace@papanui.school.nz. 

Broaden Your Horizons in 2026 at CWEA 

Ibbotson (Tue 10 Feb, 12.30–2pm, $12) 

examines recent high profile thefts 

from the Louvre. Learn what these 

reveal about how societies value art, 

how museums construct meaning and 

respond to changing expectations. 

In Power Foods for the Brain 

- Katarina Tawiri (Sat 21 Feb, 

9.30am–12.30pm, $28) focuses on brain 

health and ageing well through diet. 

She demonstrates low fat, plant based 

recipes backed by research. Students 

receive handouts of economical recipes, 

using nutrient dense key foods and 

supplements. 

For more details or to enrol, visit 

www.cwea.org.nz or drop in to 59 

Gloucester Street. 

What will you delve into now? 

Courses, events & workshops: arts, science, 

history, writing, cooking and more 

Affordable prices, central city location 

Secondhand bookshop 10am-3pm 

Roopu kaimahi matauranga o waitaha 

Canterbury Workers’ Educational 

Association 

CWEA, 59 Gloucester St, Chch. www.cwea.org.nz 03 366 0285



Make 2026 your year to read and understand the Bible! 

The Bible is the world’s best selling 

book, and also holds the record for 

being translated into more languages 

than any other book. This means that 

almost any person on earth can have 

access to the Bible and read or hear the 

words which have changed the course 

of history so often. No other book is 

so widely quoted or so widely studied. 

More books are written about the 

Bible than any other book. The Bible 

has endured thousands of years of copying 

by hand, yet it appears to have 

remained almost unchanged. It has 

been burned, banned and outlawed 

many times. For example, in 1408 England 

passed the following law: “that no 

one henceforth on his own authority 

translate any text of Holy Scripture into 

English or other language . . . and that 

no book of this kind be read.” Those who 

did translate it into English (such as William 

Tyndale) were killed. Others were 

burnt at the stake for saying the Lord’s 

prayer in English. Only a few years ago, 

it was a criminal offence in many communist 

countries to have a Bible in your 

possession. Even when it was possible 

to own a Bible in days gone by, it might 

have been the only book owned by a 

family, and was read and treasured, 

memorised and discussed. But in today’s 

busy world, with so many books and so 

much information, it is much less well 

known. The Bible is a book of amazing 

diversity - a mixture of enchanting 

history, beautiful poetry, remarkable 

prophecies, great wisdom, simple proverbs 

and difficult teaching. At its core 

is one key message: ‘God wants you to 

turn to Him!!’ The Old Testament tells of 

events from the creation of man. It gives 

God’s word as it related particularly to 

the people of Israel. In contrast, the New 

Testament records God working with 

people through his son, Jesus Christ. 

In the New Testament it becomes clear 

that God’s promises are to all people, 

not just to Israelites. How is the Bible 

still around after so many years, with so 

much controversy around it? Many have 

even risked their lives for it. So what is 

it all about? But more importantly how 

does it relate to US? If you have always 

wanted to know more about this amazing 

book, this is your opportunity. You 

are invited to come along this year to 

some Bible reading groups that are 

relaxed, informative and friendly, to 

bring any questions that you might have 

and to take time to read, discuss, and 

learn together. 

Make 2026 your year to read and 

understand the Bible! 

This is an entirely free event (you 

won’t ever be asked for money), and is 

run by volunteers from the Christadelphian 

community. No pressure is ever 

applied as we believe in freely providing 

everyone with the tools to begin 

reading the Bible for themselves and 

so discover a real treasure. The classes 

are specifically designed for people who 

don’t have any level of Bible knowledge, 

and free Bibles are available if you need 

them. 

If you would like to find out more 

but are unable to attend these groups, 

we welcome you to view some online 

seminars at www.onlinebibleseminars.com 

on Exploring the Bible and 

Bible Study Made Easy.




Discover the joy of music at the Christchurch School of Music 

For 70 years, the Christchurch School of 

Music (CSM) has been at the heart of Canterbury’s 

musical life—nurturing talent, 

inspiring creativity, and building a warm, 

family-friendly community where music 

truly comes alive. 

Whether you’re taking your very first 

musical steps or looking to refine your 

performance skills, CSM offers something 

for everyone. From toddlers to retirees, 

absolute beginners to advanced performers, 

the school’s doors are open to all who 

want to experience the joy of music. 

A place for the whole family 

Saturday mornings at CSM are alive 

with energy. Young children from 2-8 

sing, dance and play their way through 

“Take Off with Music” classes experiencing 

the elements of music in a playful 

engaging way or begin their instrumental 

journey with Suzuki strings from 

age 4½. Six-year-olds can start with the 

recorder—an ideal foundation for future 

musical learning. 

Older children, teens, and adults can 

have lessons across a wide range of 

instruments including voice. Whether you 

dream of playing violin, swinging in a big 

band, or performing with an orchestra, 

there’s a pathway waiting for you. 

The lifelong value of music 

Music enriches life at every stage— 

boosting development in young children, 

enhancing focus and creativity in teens, 

and offering adults a powerful outlet for 

expression, stress relief, and community 

connection. Older adults benefit too, 

with music supporting memory, cognitive 

health, and emotional wellbeing. 

Learning an instrument or singing in a 

group strengthens confidence, brings joy, 

and keeps minds active. At CSM, people 

of all ages discover that it is never too 

early—or too late—to experience the 

transformative power of music. 

Join an ensemble and find your sound 

CSM is home to one of the most diverse 

ensemble programmes in the region. 

With: 

• Four orchestras 

• Two concert bands 

• A Big Band, jazz combo and rock bands 

• Wind ensembles, flute choirs and 

recorder ensembles 

• A children’s choir 

• A percussion ensemble 

…there’s a place for every skill level 

and musical interest. These groups provide 

an encouraging environment to 

grow, collaborate, and perform—whether 

you’re stepping on stage for the first time 

or polishing your technique for the next 

big concert. 

Start your musical journey today 

If you’ve ever thought about learning 

an instrument, singing in a choir, or joining 

an ensemble, now is the perfect time. 

Come along to the Try an Instrument Day 

on Saturday 24 January in the Avonhead 

School Hall between 10am and 1pm 

Visit www.csm.org.nz or find the 

Christchurch School of Music on Facebook 

to learn more, explore programmes, 

and get involved. 

Try an Instrument! 

Try out the instruments with some help from 

our friendly CSM tutors. A relaxed, fun, way to 

find the instrument that best suits you. 

SATURDAY 

24 JANUARY 

10.00am - 1.00pm 

ENTRY BY KOHA 

AVONHEAD 

SCHOOL HALL 

55 Avonhead Rd 

Bountiful 

berries 

Don’t get fooled into wanting the 

biggest of strawberries, writes Nigel 

Slater, the small ones are often the 

most flavoursome 

I cannot grow anywhere near enough 

strawberries to last the entire summer. 

Those that aren’t eaten straight from the 

punnet will end their days wrapped in soft 

white blankets of cream, yoghurt or kefir. 

I like them with ricotta or, as I ate them 

this week, with a sweet, milky ice cream 

of ricotta and lemon zest. 

STRAWBERRIES WITH 

LEMON RICOTTA ICE CREAM 

Serves 4. Ready in 2-4 hours 

Ricotta ice cream, milky and softly 

spoken, is best with strawberries that 

have been marinated with something 

sharp, like orange juice or passionfruit. 

The tartness of the dressing lifts the 

flavour of even the shyest of berries. 

Ingredients 

For the ricotta ice cream: 

125g caster sugar 

125ml water 

2 Tbsp lemon juice 

500g ricotta 

For the strawberries: 

4 passionfruit 

a little black pepper 

juice of a small orange 

400g ripe strawberries 

Method 

• Make the ice cream: Put the sugar 

and water into a saucepan and place 

over the heat until the sugar has dissolved. 

This may well be before the 

water has boiled. Remove from the heat 

and allow to cool, then chill thoroughly. 

• Whisk in the lemon juice and ricotta, 

then pour into an ice-cream machine 

and churn until almost frozen. Transfer 

to a freezer box and store in the deep 

freeze until needed. 

• To serve: Cut the passionfruit in half 

and put the seeds and juice into a small 

bowl. 

• Grind in a little black pepper. Stir 

in the orange juice. Remove the hulls 

from the berries, slice the fruits thickly, 

then stir them into the passionfruit and 

orange. 

• Cover the bowl and set aside in a cool 

place (not the fridge) for half an hour or 

so, then eat with the ricotta and lemon 

ice-cream. 

 

STRAWBERRY SORBET 

Serves 6. Ready in 2-4 hours 

The syrup needs to be completely cool 

before you start to churn the sorbet. 

I make the syrup the day before and 

chill in the fridge or cool it quickly over 

ice cubes. The best flavour will come 

from using berries that are scarlet right 

through, rather than those that are 

white inside. 

Ingredients 

150g caster sugar 

120ml water 

350g ripe strawberries 

juice of half a lemon 

Method 

• Put the sugar and water in a 

saucepan and bring to the boil. Remove 

from the heat as soon as the sugar has 

dissolved and leave to cool. 

• Hull the berries, then whiz them in 

a food processor until smooth. Add the 

lemon juice, then stir into the chilled 

syrup. 

• Pour the mixture into an ice-cream 

churn and mix until almost frozen or, if 

you are proceeding by hand, tip into a 

chilled freezer box and place in the deep 

freeze for about 2 hours until partially 

frozen, stir the edges into the softer 

middle and return to the freezer for a 

further hour. 

• Repeat the stirring of the edges 

into the middle until the sorbet is fully 

frozen. 

Handy tips 

• A fruity red wine, such as beaujolais, 

makes a very pleasing marinade for 

sliced berries. Let them sit together 

in the fridge for about an hour before 

eating. 

• To enhance a lacklustre or 

flavourless berry, slice the fruits in half, 

then marinate them for at least an hour 

with a healthy sprinkling of caster sugar 

and the juice of an orange.


Celebrating 

50 

Richmond 

Discount 

Furniture YEARS 

The Best 

Little 

Furniture 

Shop in 

Town 

Honey 

6 Drawer Chest 

(900w x 420 x 1070) 

$499 

Honey 3 Drawer 

Bedside 

(420w x 390 x 650H) 

$199 

Therapedic Medicoil 

(Backcare) Base & 

Mattress Sets 

Single $499 

Double $599 

Queen $699 

King Single $599 

WAS $1699 

NOW ONLY $999 

Sleepyhead King 

Base & Mattress Set 

Y 

99 

2 Drawer 

Entertainment Unit 

1100 x 400 x 480 

ONLY 

$399 

ONLY 

$429 

Also available 

in white 

Pine Entertainment 

Unit 

4 Shelf/2 Drawer 

(1600 x 480H x 400) 

Pine 

Bookcase 

Small 900H 

ONLY $329 

1 Drawer White 

Side Table 

$169 

each 

OUT OF STOCK 

3 Piece 

Dining Suite 

(750x750) 

ONLY $499 

1 Drawer 

Side Table 

(400 x 350 x 620H) 

$129 each 

1 Drawer 

Bedside 

(520 x 410 x 

430W) 

$140 

Sleepyhead 

Queen Drawer 

Base 

ONLY $600 

with 

mattress 

$999 

Bar Stools 

$150 each 

Tallboy 

4 Drawer 

600 x 400 x 900. 

ONLY $299 

ONLY 

$239 

Shelving Units 

3 Shelf 

(800 x 855) 

ONLY $199 

4 Shelf 

(800 x 1230) 

ONLY $239 

Towerboy 

1170H x 400 x 480 

$399 

Pine Coffee Table 

(1200 x 600 x 500H) 

$399 

7 Drawer 

Scotch Chest 

1140 x 800 x 410 

ONLY $399 each 

ONLY $299 

Towerboy 6 Drawer 

1260 x 460 x 410. With metal 

runners. Also available in Black. 

7 Drawer 

TV/DVD Chest 

760 x 1140 x 410. 

(Gap 150) 

ONLY 

$399 

Jumbo 4 Drawer Chest 

1140 x 800 x 400. NZ made. 

Metal runners. 

ONLY $599 each 

Lowboy 

6 Drawer 

1130 x 410 x 820. 

ONLY 

$379 each 

Bedside Cabinet 

With metal runners. 

Small 

510H x 460W x 410 D 

$175 each 

Large 

690H x 460W x 410 D 

$239 each 

233 STANMORE ROAD • PHONE 03 389 0536 • OPEN MON-FRI 10AM–4PM SAT 10am–1PM 

WE ACCEPT EFTPOS, VISA AND MASTERCARD... PARKING AT REAR



CROSSWORD 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

9 10 

11 12 

13 14 15 16 17 

18 19 20 

433 

SUDOKU 

Every row, column and box should 

contain the digits 1 to 9. 

WordBuilder 

WORDBUILDER 

E G R 

I D B 

6 

333 333 

I D B 

many words of three or more letters, 

How 

including 

many 

plurals, 

words 

can you 

of 

make 

three 

from 

or 

the 

more 

six 

letters, using each letter only once? No foreign 

How words or beginning with a capital are 

from many 

allowed. 

the words 

There's 

six letters, of three 

at least one 

using or more 

six-letter 

each letters, 

word. 

only 

including once? plurals, can you make from the six 

TODAY 

letters, Good using 19 each Very letter Good only 24 once? Excellent No 30 foreign 

No words beginning with a capital are 

words Solution or words 332: ace, beginning aced, acre, with acred, a adze, capital arc, are 

allowed. allowed. arced, are, There's cad, There’s cadre, at least car, at card, one least care, six-letter one cared, six-letter 

cedar, word. 

word. craze, CRAZED, cred, czar, dace, dare, daze, dear, 

ear, era, race, raced, TODAY rad, raze, razed, read, red. 

Good 19 Very Good 24 Excellent 30 

Solution 332: ace, aced, acre, acred, adze, arc, 

arced, are, cad, cadre, car, card, care, cared, cedar, 

craze, CRAZED, cred, czar, dace, dare, daze, dear, 

ear, era, race, raced, rad, raze, razed, read, red. 

letters, including plurals, can you make 

21 22 23 24 

25 26 

27 28 

Across 

1. Momentum (7) 

5. Substance also known as marsh 

gas (7) 

9. Scour (5) 

10. Infamous (9) 

11. Anyone or everyone (3,6) 

12. Musical instrument (5) 

13. Poisonous (5) 

15. Disentangle, get free (9) 

18. Minor point, distraction (4,5) 

19. Unspoken (5) 

21. Incendiarism (5) 

23. Amenable, open to reason (9) 

25. A life of luxury and indulgence 

(5,4) 

26. Requirements (5) 

27. Boundless (7) 

28. Chance your arm (colloq) (3,2,2) 

Decoder 

Down 

1. Immediate (7) 

2. Puzzled (9) 

3. Forbidden (5) 

4. Foolish (9) 

5. School subject (5) 

6. Anarchist (9) 

7. Amidst (5) 

8. Nature, character (7) 

14. Customers (9) 

16. Forthright, emphatic (9) 

17. Building designer (9) 

18. Wrap (a baby) (7) 

20. Act of betrayal against the state 

(7) 

22. Not gas or liquid (5) 

23. Traces (5) 

24. Unit of imperial currency (5) 

Crossword 

Across: 1. Impetus, 5. Methane, 9. Scrub, 10. Notorious, 11. All comers, 

12. Organ, 13. Toxic, 15. Extricate, 18. Side issue, 19. Tacit, 21. Arson, 23. 

Receptive, 25. Dolce vita, 26. Needs, 27. Endless, 28. Try it on. 

Down: 1. Instant, 2. Perplexed, 3. Taboo, 4. Senseless, 5. Maths, 6. 

Terrorist, 7. Among, 8. Essence, 14. Clientele, 16. Trenchant, 17. Architect, 

18. Swaddle, 20. Treason, 22. Solid, 23. Reins, 24. Penny. 

WordBuilder 

Bed, beg, berg, bid, bide, bier, big, bird, bred, bride, BRIDGE, brig, deb, 

die, dig, dire, dirge, dreg, drib, erg, gibe, gibed, giber, gird, grid, ire, rebid, 

red, rib, ride, ridge, rig. 

DECODER 

Each number represents a different letter of the alphabet. Write the 

given letters into all squares with matching numbers. Now work out 

which letters are represented by the other numbers. 

All puzzles copyright 

T H E P U Z Z L E C O M P A N Y 

www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz 

Sudoku

Western News: January 15, 2026

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