Ag-11 June, 2020
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Thursday, June 11, 2020 Since Sept 27, 1879 Retail $2.20 Home delivered from $1.40 THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY Mid Canterbury is for business! MidCanOpenforBiz.nz open Calls for better funding FULL STORY P16 Celebrating Matariki P2 Guardian plans major changes The Ashburton Guardian, which began family for five generations since Rob- tions printed each week, the proposed publishing over 140 years ago, is set to ert Bell purchased a financial interest restructure will see the newspaper able become a community newspaper. in the newspaper in the year 1900. to increase its pages, enabling editorial Owner and publisher, Bruce Bell an- Bell says the proposal to reduce staff to further focus on local stories, nounced a restructure of the business the number of issues will secure the profiles and opinions while also pro- to staff yesterday, proposing to publish Guardian into the future. viding more space and scope for local the Mid Canterbury-based publication “The media has been under severe advertisers. Backing three days a week as opposed to its pressure in recent years, including Yesterday, Bell sought feedback from current six-day-a-week news cycle. the Ashburton Guardian, and the pro- staff and now from the wider Mid Can- One of the last remaining independ- posed model will stimulate the eco- terbury community and if his proposal NZ-grown ent and privately owned daily newspa- nomic viability of the newspaper,” he moves forward, a restructured Ash- pers in New Zealand, the Ashburton said. burton Guardian will be implemented P8 Guardian has been owned by the Bell While reducing the number of edi- within two months. Local news for local people Mid Canterbury’s only locally-owned daily newspaper Gluyas Motor Group 79 Kermode Street | (03) 307 5800 Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe! Chris Hart Vehicle Sales Manager Mob 027 439 0887 Ray McLaren Vehicle Sales Mob 027 602 3311 Adam Banks Vehicle Sales Mob 027 312 0028 *T’s & C’s apply www.gluyasford.nz News 2 Ashburton Guardian Thursday, June 11, 2020 www.guardianonline.co.nz Matariki celebrations forge ahead BY HEATHER MACKENZIE Left– Hakatere Marae co-ordi- [email protected] nator Lara Reihana Hakatere Marae is once again hold- PHOTO HEATHER MACKENZIE ing Matariki (Maori New Year) cele- 100620-HM-0003 brations this weekend. “All cultures are welcome. This is post lockdown get together cele- a day for whanau to come together brating Matariki, and our tikanga and enjoy a shared togetherness,” (customs and traditional values).” said marae co-ordinator Lara Rei- Music and dance has always hana. been a strong part of Maori culture The move to Level 1 could not and, keeping with that tradition, lo- have come at a better time for or- cal band Pacific Tribal have offered ganisers. Under Level 2 the marae their services free of charge. Rei- was faced with restricting num- hana is also hoping the kapa haka bers, but now more people can group will give a performance and come on Saturday, Reihana said. showcase what they have learnt “We will be following the rules, during the day, as long as they are but being in Level 1 has certainly not too nervous, she said. taken the pressure off.” Matariki is the Maori name for Festivities begin at 10am with a the Pleaides star cluster, it rises af- free kapa haka wananga, organised ter the first crescent moon in June by the Te Huka Tai Trust. and marks the start of the growing Event leader, Whaea Tihi Puana- season and disappears the follow- ki, and her team from Christchurch ing year in April/May, signalling it will be teaching waiata, haka, poi is time to preserve crops for winter. and rakau, with short and long Reihana said if the Matariki stars sticks. Beginners and experienced rise bright and clear it will be good performers are all invited to go growing year and if they are dull, it along and learn. means work harder as it is not go- The kapa haka wananga will ing to be a good year for crops. wrap up at 4pm. After that the mar- said people are also welcome to herself, will be there to decorate. If means to Maori culture, will be led If you are wanting to attend the ae will host their own Matariki cel- bring their own food if they would biscuit decorating is not your thing, by marae members, with Kauma- kapa haka wananga and Matariki ebrations lasting until 7pm. prefer. there are stars to write a message or tua Club members also present to celebrations it would be helpful A powhiri at 4.30pm will wel- Stars will be heavily represent- memory on and hang in the wish- fill in any gaps. for the organisers if you register come everybody to the marae, fol- ed in the evening activities. Star- ing tree. “There will be a lot going on, but through the Eventbrite link on the lowed by a sausage sizzle. Reihana shaped biscuits, baked by Reihana Talks about Matariki and what it then that is what we want. A casual Hakatere Marae Facebook page. Army reserves looking for more members BY JAIME PITT-MACKAY “We’ve basically got 10 people which is all paid for by the de- “If you are the kind of person your weekends, with the bonus [email protected] on the books in Mid/South Can- fence force and you can do med- that likes to get out into the bush of being paid to take part instead With dwindling numbers nearly terbury and in a catchment of ical courses, radio courses, any- and get walking around the hills, it of having to pay for activities dropping to single figures, mem- 100,000 people that’s really bad,” thing the army offers, it just comes is perfect.” like hunting, with food, clothing, bers of Mid/South Canterbury’s he said. down to what time you can get off Auty said around 10 years ago equipment and a place to sleep all army reserves are urging people “We have two guys lined up in your employer.” the group’s membership was provided away at training exercis- to look at taking up a role with the the recruitment process which is While most of their time is spent up around 35 people, but had es. organisation. going to dramatically increase our focusing on training, in times of dropped off over the years with- “I’ve been doing this for 15 years The army reserves are a paid numbers.” need they can be deployed, help- out more people joining to replace and I think I’ll be doing it for an- part of the New Zealand Defence Being part of the reserves in- ing out in times of emergency them. other five years before I’m too Force, expected to train and be de- volves completing basic training, such as during the Christchurch “There were half-a-dozen mates old,” he said. ployed if required on top of their and then spending approximately earthquakes or the Port Hills fires. who all joined and they networked “I’ve made some great friends existing employment or study. 20 days a year undergoing military “Some of the older guys have and brought in their mates but over the years and there are guys For Private Charlie Auty, being training in a wide range of areas. been overseas on deployments to they started dropping off, they at all over the country I did my basic an army reservist for the past 15 “On Wednesdays there are night the Solomons for four months and least stuck around for six or seven training with 15 years ago that I years has been a great opportuni- parades, which are four hours I’ve been to Timor,” he said. years,” he said. still catch up with when I get the ty, but he is devastated that their long or day parades on Saturdays, “There are plenty of other good “Now it’s just us old buggers chance.” numbers have continued to dwin- which are eight-hour-long cours- opportunities as well, a lot of the staying around but we need a bit More information about joining dle in the past 10 years to a point es,” he said. guys have got their class two li- of young blood coming through.” the army reserves can be found on where there are only 10 members “In a couple of weeks I’m going cences and there are plenty of Auty said being part of the re- www.defencecareers.mil.nz/de- in the Mid/South Canterbury area. on a four-wheel driving course, shooting courses. serves is a fantastic way to spend fence-careers/careers/reserves/ WE ARE NOW OPEN UNTIL 5:30PM WEEKDAYS SATURDAY’S HOURS 8AM-2PM Drop in on your way home for fresh treats for your family Carmen and Glenn 123 Main South Road, Ashburton| Phone 03 308 5774 News www.guardianonline.co.nz Thursday, June 11, 2020 Ashburton Guardian 3 One injured in West St crash One person was taken to hospital with moderate injuries following a crash on West Street on Wednesday morning. The crash, which occurred at around 8.50am, involved three vehicles. St John spokesman Gerard Campbell said they sent one ambulance to the crash, which took one patient to Ashburton Hospital with moderate injuries. PHOTO JAIME PITT-MACKAY 100620-JPM-0009 Calls to scrap teacher registration fees Writing competition BY SUE NEWMAN “The council had a role to play in en- they can usually on-charge the fee to [email protected] suring professional standards through clients.