Since Sept 27 1879 Friday, May 21, 2021 $2.20 All set for Sky Tower INSIDE P2 FRIDAY We had so much outrage from Methven. Yet on paper it appears they’re the ones who will get the most benefit FULL STORY P3 Your leading Mid Canterbury real estate Ph 03 307 7900 Teamwork gets results to subscribe! team with over 200 years of sale experience. Ashburton 217 West Street | P 03 307 9176 | E [email protected] Talk to the best team in real estate. pb.co.nz ‘ Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 2 NEWS Ashburton Guardian Friday, May 21, 2021 SKY TOWER CHALLENGE Ready to make Ashburton proud In the past, he’s run a couple of “I’ve put in the work and now By Malcolm Hopwood half marathons and been a com- I’m ready to make Ashburton petitive cyclist on tours around proud,” she said. the South Island. Twenty slogs up and down the Fifty-one flights of stairs and 1103 “I’m dedicated to doing it. I’m Somerset stairs are more than the steps await Ashburton firefight- as fit as I’ve ever been and confi- equivalent of the Sky Tower. ers, John and Amy Ferguson, to- dent I’ll finish it,” he said. “We’ll be hot and stuffed. morrow. “I’m not going to give up. I’ll “With the heat factor in our hel- The father and daughter team pace myself to get there.” mets and carrying 25kgs of gear, are among several from Mid Can- Amy, 29, said climbing the Sky we’ll be exhausted when we fin- terbury who are contesting the Tower stairs “looked like a far out ish,” Amy said. Firefighter kyS Tower Stair Chal- challenge to do”. About 500 firefighters from lenge in Auckland. Since becoming a volunteer around New Zealand are compet- The cause of raising funds for firefighter, she’s been looking to ing. leukaemia and blood cancer is tick the box with an event like this. They’ll leave from the base of close to John’s heart. “I know that, while I’ll be in the Sky Tower every 20 seconds “It’s part of my motivation,” he pain and discomfort for 20 min- with John starting at 10am and said. utes, there are people facing pain Amy at 12.50pm. “I know what family members for much longer while they go While there are awards, John have gone through or are expe- through cancer treatment,” she and Amy aren’t there to break re- riencing through other forms of said. cords. cancer in the last few years. Amy’s profession at the EA Net- “We’re competing to complete “We have a close family. I’m do- works Centre’s gym keeps her fit the challenge,” they said. ing it for them.” and she’s done the hard yards up In the evening there’s a dinner He said that everyone who par- and down the Somerset House where prizes are announced and ticipates in the challenge is raising stairs. they have the chance to relax and funds for the two causes. She’s also competed in the meet other competitors. John, 57, has been running up Coast to Coast, completed a half Both John and Amy are yet to the Somerset House stairs on marathon at Challenge Wana- commit to another Sky Tower Wednesday nights in full gear and ka, run the tracks around Mount challenge. has followed Amy around the Mid Somers and climbed the stairs at “Ask us on Monday after the John and Amy Ferguson are ready, willing, and able to complete the Firefight- Canterbury hills. St Martins on the Port Hills. event.” er Sky Tower Stair Challenge tomorrow. PHOTO SUPPLIED Budget 2021 ‘a big swing to the left’ By Adam Burns creased by between $32 and $55 ri-owned homes and expanding from July. per week by April 2022. support services. Government begins work on a [email protected] Benefits rise in two stages: $20 $350m is ringfenced from the Social Unemployment Insurance a week on July 1 this year and the $3.8b Housing Acceleration Fund scheme that could provide those Rural leaders say the agricultural rest on April 1, 2022. for housing for Maori. who lose their jobs with about 80 sector is the primary reason the Student allowance and student per cent of their income. Government can afford the fiscal loan for living costs go up by $25 Health package announced yesterday. a week on April 1, 2022. A $200m increase over four Education Federated Farmers’ Mid Can- Sole parent support rises $36 years for Pharmac to pay for $1.7 billion over four years on terbury president David Clark to $434 a week. Supported living medicines and other health school and early childhood ed- described yesterday’s 2021 payment for a sole parent rises treatments. ucation and $470m on tertiary Budget announced by Finance $36 to $485, for a couple with $2.7 billion extra over four education. Minister Grant Robertson as “a children it goes up $42 to $320, years for district health boards. $52.8 million for a one-off big swing to the left”. and a couple without children $486m for scrapping all 20 Dis- funding package for property Clark said the social-laden will be entitled to $305 a week. trict Health Boards and replacing upgrades and maintenance at budget had only been made pos- The payment for a single person them with a new Health NZ body state-integrated schools sible by its strong agricultural Finance Minister Grant Robertson 18 and over will rise to $359 a – including $98.1m to establish sector. week. the Maori Health Authority. Climate change “That is the key message out of “A lot of the emergency Cov- Jobseeker support goes up $55 $126.8m towards Hauora Mao- $300 million to the Green In- this,” he said. id spending is now permanent for a couple with children (to ri programmes run by the Maori vestment Finance Ltd for invest- He added that it was increas- spending,” Clark said. $283) and couples without chil- Health Authority. ment in low-emissions technolo- ing New Zealand’s dependency “I don’t think there is any as- dren ($268). For a single person $16m for Pacific health provid- gies. on “welfare rather than growing pirational vision for where New 25 and over the increase is $48 to ers to implement the Ola Manuia our productive sector to increase Zealand is heading in this.” $315. Action Plan. Scott Base employment opportunities for Here are the key Budget an- $100.3m to improve air and Budget provides money to all”. nouncements as reported by Ra- Housing for Maori road ambulance services. safeguard the future of Scott This year’s Budget has deliv- dio New Zealand $380m to be spent over four base, with $306m investment ered benefit rises, money for years on about 1000 new homes Employment and Training including for replacing the wind- Maori housing and an increase Benefit rises for Maori, including papakainga The Training Incentive Allow- farm, and operating costs of $38 in Pharmac’s budget. Main benefit rates will be in- housing, and repairs to 700 Mao- ance extended to more courses million. We are open Our three regular pharmacists are 7 days here to help you and look with professional and forward to seeing discreet advice. you. CONTACT US OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 03 308 6733 Monday to Friday 8.30am – 6pm Countdown Complex, Saturday 9am – 1pm East St, Ashburton Sunday 10am – 1pm Friday, May 21, 2021 Ashburton Guardian NEWS 3 Residents’ input ‘key’ to keep Ashburton slogan costs down By Adam Burns [email protected] A Mid Canterbury tourism expert says soliciting ideas from resi- dents will be pivotal in ensuring slogan costs don’t blow out. Western Ward councillor Rodger Letham was the only member who backed council’s original recommendation of a district-wide roll-out of water meters. ChChNZ’s Mid Canterbury mar- PHOTO ADAM BURNS keting manager Bruce Moffatt proposes a process similar which renders community engagement as a logical approach for the Ash- burton District Council as it con- siders the need for a new catch- phrase for the town. Water meters to be Council moved to organise a workshop a fortnight ago around Ashburton’s branding, including discussions around replacing the Whatever it Takes slogan and logo following days of national media coverage. ‘trialled’ in Methven It is understood the workshop will likely occur next month. ters throughout the district over site against four who supported Impending decisions around By Adam Burns Moffatt said an approach simi- a three-year period – one of three Allenton. the Three Waters’ reforms was lar to the council-led mural com- [email protected] options outlined in Long-Term Tinwald was also mooted as a highlighted by Eastern Ward petition in the CBD earlier this plan proposals. possible location. councillor Stuart Wilson as to month made sense. Hundreds of water meters are More than 180 submitters to Ashburton Ward councillor An- why a phased approach was “It’s about bringing people to- set to be installed in Methven the LTP believed water meters gus McKay said council should needed. gether,” he said. despite significant opposition were not necessary with most avoid “pouring petrol on the fire” “If we’re not going to decide “The right way to do it these around the need from residents. opponents to the proposal com- in expressing his support for Al- until the next Long-Term Plan, days is like what the Ashburton A last-minute option to install ing from Methven residents.