Ready, set, go... every 10 minutes on Route 7!

April 29, 2025

Ready, set, go… every 10 minutes on Route 7!

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Ready, set, go… every 10 minutes on Route 7! | Environment Canterbury

Date: 28 Apr 2025

Route change part of wider improvements

The change to Route 7 is part of a larger collaborative project to improve public transport that includes additional infrastructure delivered by our partners Christchurch City Council and NZTA. This includes 10 bus stop upgrades, a new bus parking space and continuous bus priority lanes on Halswell Road between Dunbars Road and Moorhouse Avenue.

Customers travelling back and forth from Halswell may experience some delays travelling down Halswell Road as a result of these upgrades.

“We want to thank customers for their patience as our partners work to deliver these upgrades. We’re excited to have these additional elements on offer once the project is complete in October 2026,” Public Transport acting general manager Sonia Pollard said.

“We recognise the frequency change is part of what customers have been asking for on this route – we will continue to bid for funding so other changes can also become a reality,” she added.

NZTA is currently funding 51 per cent of the net cost of the frequency increase on a trial basis until June 2027, the rest is funded through rates and fares.

“We expect running a better service will be popular and well used, and that this will strengthen our case for further and more permanent investment,” Sonia said.

Environment Canterbury © 2025
Retrieved: 6:37pm, Tue 29 Apr 2025
ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2025/ready-set-go-every-10-minutes-on-route-7/

April 29, 2025

Extending manaaki to our community

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16 Mar, 2022

A 40-foot container full of desks and chairs has been shipped over to schools in Tonga following January’s volcanic eruption.

Several schools in Tonga were devasted by the tsunami that followed the eruption with equipment and furniture being lost or destroyed.

AUT Office for Pacific Advancement and South Campus, with a contribution from the AUT Brand and Marketing team responded to a request for assistance by leaders of the Tongan community by donating over 150 desks and chairs, as well as sponsoring the shipping container used in its transportation.

Assistant Vice-Chancellor Walter Fraser says while AUT’s small contribution is symbolic of us responding to our place in the world there is still much work to be done to fully understand that we are inextricably linked to the futures of Pacific communities both here in Tamaki Makaurau, Aotearoa and in our region of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa.

“We are privileged to have many Tongan staff, students and alumni who are a part of our own AUT family. Responding to the impact of the tsunami in Tonga is us extending manaakitanga to our own kin or kāinga.”

The New Zealand Tongan community set up a relief response collection point at Mt Smart (Rarotonga) stadium.

From 25 to 27 February, the donated furniture from AUT was loaded into the container at the response site ready to be shipped to Tonga.

Find out more

April 29, 2025

A talk on fashion and sustainability

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07 Mar, 2022

Nancy Johnson-Hunt and Emily Miller-Sharma.

The fashion industry can’t talk about a future that’s free from fast fashion without first addressing the fact that many people simply can’t afford to spend their hard-earned money on designer clothing.

This was one of the standout points from a panel discussion at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki on the future of the New Zealand fashion industry, says AUT doctoral candidate Nancy Johnson-Hunt, who chaired the panel.

The event on February 26 featured fashion designer Emily Miller-Sharma (Ruby), with input from Kate Sylvester, speaking on the importance of transparency, moving away from fast fashion and new design approaches for a sustainable future in NZ fashion.

“One of the main points that really stood out was how we can approach sustainability by addressing more critical conversations about accessibility, size and price inclusivity when it comes to fast fashion,” Johnson-Hunt says.

“While it is a sensitive topic, we can’t talk about moving away from fast fashion and the implications that has without addressing that not everyone is privileged enough to afford designer or more long-term pieces.”

The Mary Quant: Fashion Revolutionary exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki was the impetus for the panel discussion, with key fashion designers speaking to the future of NZ fashion and the climate.

The Auckland University of Technology has a partnership with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and is a sponsor of the Mary Quant exhibition – which closes on March 13.

Before returning to the Popular Culture Research Centre to pursue her doctorate, Johnson-Hunt had worked as an advertising strategist and in the NZ fashion industry for designers such as Juliette Hogan and Wixii.

Johnson-Hunt’s doctoral thesis explores the representations of contestants’ ethnic and racial identities on popular reality television dating shows.

“I want it to be known that whether we’re talking about race, gender, culture or class, Popular culture remains an important intersection where academic insights take place, and for that I’m grateful to be working with some of the best academic and diverse minds in the Popular Culture Research Centre.”

Useful links

April 29, 2025

Govt’s austerity Budget to cause real harm in communities

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The Government’s Budget looks set to usher in a new age of austerity. This morning, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis said new spending would be limited to $1.4 billion, cut back from the original intended $2.4 billion, which itself was already $100 million below what Treasury said was needed to keep the lights on.

“New Zealanders looking around at the state of global politics and asking how things got so bad have their answer in the kind of slash and burn economics Nicola Willis has promised the country today,” says Green Party co-leader and spokesperson for Finance Chlöe Swarbrick.

“The Government has decided its job isn’t done growing poverty, climate changing emissions and homelessness. They’ve announced they’re going to go harder shredding the services we all rely on, meaning life is set to get harder and more expensive for regular people.

“This is the austerity play book: defund public services to failure, watch them fail, then privatise; take the so-called ‘cost’ off the Government’s books and watch those costs rise for regular people.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. We can reduce the cost of living and climate changing emissions while increasing our quality of life – if we have a Government that cares to actually do these things.

“It’s not inevitable that people’s lives get worse, as the Government seems intent on telling everyone. In a few weeks’ time, the Greens will release our plan for the future entirely within our reach: a Government budget that supports the wellbeing of people and planet, instead of exploiting and exhausting both,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

April 29, 2025

Hossack Wetland restoration for treasured Kakī

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Just 169 of these wild adult birds remained and they could only be found in New Zealand. Kakī are regarded by Māori as a taonga species – a living treasure.

However, invasive weeds and pest willow spreading through the wetland has been threatening the environment.

Farm owners, Diane and Martin Cochrane, and their nephew Simon Bloomberg had always intended on restoring the wetland to its former glory but put it off as it was an expensive undertaking.

With $10,000 of Action Plan funding allocated by the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Water Zone Committee, they were able to begin work earlier this year.

Getting rid of invasive species

The first stage of the project was preparing the boundary, which involved getting rid of all the invasive tree species, such as willows, that spread easily. Then, it was a matter of spraying the sides and refencing to allow for future expansion of the wetland. In Spring, they will start planting native vegetation.

After planting, predator trapping will also be an important stage of the project. Growing native vegetation would attract more birds and insects which will lead to more predators trying to kill those birds.

Martin Cochrane said the biggest challenge would be the maintenance involved in growing the native plants as they could be quite vulnerable for those first three to five years.

“It will be a family project, anything we can do to improve the environment, and to make it a better home for wading birds is worth it,” Martin Cochrane said.

However, improving the biodiversity for birdlife is just one benefit to restoring the wetland.

Improving water quality and biodiversity

Diane’s family, the Elliots, had farmed the property since the 1899 Waikākahi farm ballot and bought the neighbouring Hossack Wetland in the early 2000s.

Martin Cochrane said there had been a lot of wetland loss, particularly in Canterbury, and they were pleased it hadn’t been developed into farmland.

“The fact that this wetland is still here, providing a natural filter for water going into the Waihao River, is definitely worth protecting,” Martin Cochrane said.

Restoring the wetland meant improving habitat for native fauna, slowing water down during a flood and forming part of a biodiversity corridor along the Waihao River.

The family also hoped the project would encourage other landowners to show interest in how they could contribute to improving water quality and biodiversity.

They planned to protect the wetland with a QEⅡ covenant to ensure its survival for future generations. Incorporating public access to the wetland would also be part of the restoration project.

Vital role of wetlands

Acting as a natural ‘filter’ for water, wetlands play an important role in water quality, absorbing nutrients and trapping sediment that would otherwise make its way into our freshwater.

By slowing the water flow from land and releasing it slowly in dry periods, they also play a vital role during periods of high or low rainfall.

While historically many of the country’s natural wetlands have been drained, some have simply been concealed by weeds, unable to realise their environmental potential.

Funding for projects

This project is supported through the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee’s Action Plan budget allocation for 2024.

Each of the region’s water zone committees has an action plan which outlines how they will work with the community to help improve the environment and meet Canterbury Water Management Strategy objectives.

April 29, 2025

Single Data Return (SDR)

Source:

Last updated 28 April 2025
Last updated 28 April 2025

This page contains resources for preparing, uploading and submitting your Single Data Return (SDR) and Indicative Enrolment Collection (IND) in DXP Ngā Kete.
This page contains resources for preparing, uploading and submitting your Single Data Return (SDR) and Indicative Enrolment Collection (IND) in DXP Ngā Kete.

For more information about the SDR, see About the Single Data Return.
Resources for completing SDR and IND data submissions
Data Specification for the Single Data Return: * Includes data codes, descriptions, field specifications and validation rules, Source of Funding (SoF) codes and a detailed log of all changes between years or document versions (Appendix B).

Validation rules for the SDR and IND: Lists the error and warning validation rules that apply to the SDR and IND.

Additional Data for the August 2025 SDR:  Final-year Fees Free and other data specified in the documents here are required for the first time in the August 2025 SDR. They will be integrated into a new version (v1.1) of the data specifications in early May 2025 just after the April SDR submission.  

Reference data for SDR Data Specifications: Lists values for specific fields referred to in the Data Specifications. Reference data is aligned to the Stats NZ definitions (where possible).

Delivery classification and funding category codes: Lists codes you must assign to each course.

Process and guidance for the SDR: An overview of the requirement to submit data and the Single Data Return (SDR) process.

Generic enrolment form 2025: * Updated to include the learner IRD number and other changes.

* Before 2025 data specifications were contained in the SDR Manual and published on the Ministry of Education (MoE) website. See the MoE website for previous versions of the SDR Manual and generic enrolment forms.
SDR and IND upload files
This table provides SDR file names and examples of the .CSV upload files.

For a guide to CSV files, see Guide to CSV files v0.2 (PDF 409 KB).

It’s not alright to light in your backyard in Christchurch

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From small brazier fires to residents burning rubbish in their backyards, smoke and ash can affect air quality and have a significant effect on neighbouring properties. It can make it harder for people to breathe, especially those with respiratory conditions.

Backyard burning is a significant issue

Since January 2024, we’ve received nearly 450 complaints of outdoor burning in Christchurch, with more than 150 of those repeat offenders.

Lauren Hamilton, our Team Leader for Urban Compliance, said we take illegal outdoor burning seriously, and are actively responding to reports.

“While some people may not realise it’s against the rules, others are knowingly burning and impacting their neighbours,” Hamilton said.

“The high number of reports we’ve received this year, including repeat offenders, shows that illegal burning remains a significant issue. We’re listening to the community’s concerns and will take enforcement action where necessary.”

Find out more about the rules around outdoor burning.

Alternatives to outdoor burning

There are numerous ways to dispose of rubbish, whether it be green or household. If your rubbish doesn’t fit in your kerbside collection bins, visit a transfer station near you. Kitchen scraps can be composted and used in your garden – great for the plants!

If you’ve tidied the garden and have a pile of green waste, consider mulching it and spreading in your garden. Sticks and leaves can be combined with lawn clippings for a nutrient-rich addition to your soil.

April 29, 2025

Have you checked your bore lately?

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Date: 16 Apr 2025

Making sure your bore is in good working order and protected from contaminants is crucial to protecting your family and those living on your property from sickness.

Winter is coming, and that means wetter soils, deeper drainage, and a higher chance of surface water flooding — all of which can carry risk to your drinking water supply.

A study published in April 2025, from the Department of Public Health at University of Otago, and the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre at University of Canterbury, found that people using private water supplies in rural areas are more than twice as likely to get a Campylobacter infection compared to urban residents who have access to treated public water.

While often transmitted through contaminated food, campylobacteriosis can also be found in private water supplies, particularly in areas with a higher density of dairy farming.

“Waterborne disease outbreaks can occur due to various factors, such as heavy rainfall or spring runoff, improper disposal of manure, sewage, or wastewater, and issues with septic tanks, cesspools, sewers, or landfills,” the study said.

Look after your bore and keep your drinking water safe

There are some important steps to look after your bore:

1. Keep it tidy: Make sure your bore is fenced off from stock (at least 5 metres), is located well away from areas where fertiliser, pesticides or chemicals are used, and is as far away as practical from potential sources of contamination such as compost, rubbish, septic tanks, offal holes, and effluent disposal areas, as contaminants infiltrate into groundwater through the soil/land surface.

Consider checking the historical use of the land to understand possible groundwater contamination risks in the Listed Land Use Register.

2. Keep it sealed: To prevent stormwater and contaminants entering the water supply, the top of the borehead should be elevated and securely sealed.

The bore casing should extend at least 0.5m above the ground and ideally be surrounded by a concrete apron. Don’t forget a backflow preventer to stop contaminants siphoning back into your well.

3. Know your flow: Flooding situation? Heavy rain or snow? Power cut for an extended amount of time? Make sure you boil your water and don’t forget to let others on your water supply know to do the same.

Head to our drinking water page for more information and or download this handy printout on keeping your bore water safe (PDF file, 146.5KB).

For a secure borehead, follow these steps:

1. Borehead cap

Install a secure cap and seal between the casing and any hoses or cables going down the bore.

2. Borehead casing

Ensure the borehead casing is elevated at least half a meter above the ground surface.

3. Concrete apron

Seal between the borehead casing and the surrounding ground with a concrete apron. If you’re drilling a new bore, install a bentonite seal around the casing.

4. Backflow preventer

Install a backflow preventer to stop contaminants siphoning back into your bore.

5. Area around bore

Keep the area around the borehead clear of animals, pesticides, fertilisers, compost and rubbish.

6. Sample point

Have your groundwater supply tested if you suspect a problem with the water quality.

Who is responsible for my private drinking water?

If you have your own private water source, the responsibility for maintenance and testing of drinking water rests with you.

If you own or operate a water supply that’s being used as drinking water by people outside of your own home (for example workers’ dwellings), you’re deemed to be a drinking water supplier and will have responsibilities under the Water Services Act 2021 to ensure safe drinking water to those people who rely on your supply.

Taumata Arowai can help you determine if you’re a water supplier, what that means, and key timeframes for registering your supply under the Water Services Act.

A test is best

It’s a good idea to carry our regular analysis on your water supply, whether it’s bore or rainwater collection.

Nitrate is just one risk factor in people’s water supplies. Pathogens such as E. coli can also enter water sources (particularly if there’s been heavy rain or you’ve had flooding through your property).

Copper and lead plumbing in older dwellings can affect the quality and taste of your water. In some areas, the groundwater has naturally high levels of manganese or arsenic, which can also pose a health risk.

The best way to check water quality is to collect a water sample and have this tested by an independently accredited IANZ laboratory, which you can find on the Taumata Arowai website.

Water treatment steps

If you’re concerned about the quality of your water supply, or if testing shows that the water does not meet drinking water standards, you may need to consider treating the water. Water treatment requires specialist advice specific to an individual supply, so it’s best to get this done to determine the best treatment option for the site.

ESR (Institute of Environmental Science and Research) has produced a comprehensive guide to household water supplies, which can be viewed or downloaded from the ESR webpage.

Need more information?  Visit Te Mana Ora/Community & Public Health, Taumata Arowai or visit your local council’s website. 

April 29, 2025

Ban on engineered stone essential to protect workers

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The Green Party has renewed its call for the Government to ban the use, supply, and manufacture of engineered stone products, as the CTU launches a petition for the implementation of a full ban.

“Let’s put people before profits and protect our workers by banning this dangerous product,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety, Teanau Tuiono.

“Workers are the backbone of our economy, and their safety must be protected from dangerous practices including the use of engineered stone, the dust from which can lead to fatal lung disease.

“Australia banned this product following extensive consultation and analysis, revealing incontrovertible scientific evidence of the dangers posed by silica dust exposure to workers. What’s stopping our country emulating this ban?

“Instead of looking for excuses to reduce workplace protections and safeguards, the Government must prioritise workers’ rights that have been fought for over generations

“Aotearoa has serious mahi to do regarding workplace safety, as far more people are injured or killed on the job here than in countries like the UK or Australia.

“Banning engineered stone is a good place to start,” says Teanau Tuiono.

April 29, 2025

Greens continue to call for Pacific Visa Waiver

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The Green Party recognises the extension of visa allowances for our Pacific whānau as a step in the right direction but continues to call for a Pacific Visa Waiver.

“The Greens continue to call for our Pacific neighbours to be granted Visa Waiver status as a necessary step to strengthen and honour our relationships in the region,” says Green Party spokesperson for Pacific Peoples Teanau Tuiono.

“While an extended visa period will lessen the financial and administrative burden for our Pacific whānau, we continue asking them to pay more money and face more delays to visit families compared to other countries.

“This is a missed opportunity to deliver what our Pacific whānau deserve.

“Earlier this year, the Green Party launched our petition to allow Pacific whānau visa-free access to Aotearoa. This would see people from all Pacific Island nations – those in the Pacific Islands Forum and those not – travel to Aotearoa without needing to jump through the hoops of bureaucracy to get a visa.

“Aotearoa is part of the family of Pacific nations. We must remove unfair barriers to entry for our Pacific whānau,” said Teanau Tuiono.