Newcomers Guide Haere mai Welcome to ki te rohe o Ashburton Hakatere District Nau mai, haere mai, welcome. Contents About Ashburton District 1 Getting started 3 Safety 4 Getting around 5 Education 6 Health services 7 Working 8 Ashburton District Council 9 Things to do 11 Thank you for joining us. Newcomer support 18 Social services 19 This is your guide to help you settle in to Ashburton District. Acknowledgements 20 The district of choice for lifestyle and opportunity. Af io Mai Ashburton About Ashburton District District Our district includes the main towns and localities of Ashburton (Hakatere), Methven (Piwakawaka), Rakaia (Ō Rakaia), Mount Somers (Te Kiekie), Hinds (Hekeao) and Mount Hutt (Opuke). • Located 80 kilometres south • Our population is forecast to of Christchurch (Ōtautahi), become more multicultural and Ashburton District is in diverse, growing by some 6,500 the central South Island residents over the next 25 years. (Te Waipounamu). • Ashburton District offers over 200 • The district is surrounded by the sports clubs and many community Pacific Ocean in the east, Southern and sports facilities. Alps in the west and the Rakaia • The iwi (Māori indigenous Ashburton and Rangitata Rivers to the north Township and south respectively. people) that hold mana whenua (customary authority) status in • The district covers around Ashburton District are Te Rūnanga 6,175 square kilometres with a o Arowhenua and Ngāi Tahu. population of more than 34,000. 1 Kia ora2 Wi l kommen Getting started Safety In Ashburton District, you will find friendly neighbours, Ashburton District is proud to be recognised as part of the Safe colleagues and services ready to help you. Communities programme. But we still recommend that you take a few steps Here are some handy tips to get you • Set up power and internet for your to keep yourself, your family and your started: home - no need to worry about belongings safe. paying for water. • Introduce yourself to your Don’t give your full name, address, neighbours. • Ensure you have rubbish and personal details or bank account recycling wheelie bins and a green information to people that you do not • Visit a few of our landmark crate for glass recycling at your know or trust, especially over the attractions; Lake Hood, Mount Hutt home if you live in an urban area. phone or via e-mail. and our high country lakes. • Explore different volunteering, Consider getting insurance – most • Take a walk around your new recreation or community groups people have car insurance, contents neighbourhood – explore our that you can join. insurance and home insurance (if they parks, walks and reserves have a property). including the Ashburton & • Explore the New Zealand Now website: Your guide to living & Tinwald domains. New Zealand is one of the least working in New Zealand corrupt countries in the world so you • Sign up for a free Ashburton www.newzealandnow.govt.nz Library card - remember to take can safely trust our government and your two forms of proof of ID and emergency services. evidence of your home address with you. NATIONAL EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER: 111 This is always a free call, and will connect you to the fire service, police and ambulance. 3 4 ¡Bienvenido! Getting around Education Public transport or permit for up to 12 months, after children under the age of seven must Pre-school Talk to staff at your early childhood which offer education from years 1 to 8 which you will need to get a be in a car seat. education centre to find out more. and others offer education from years In Ashburton, taxis can be ordered by New Zealand driver licence. The road Pre-school age children (under 1 to 6 only. Children are legally required phone. Contact Ashburton Taxis on rules are explained in the Road Code Getting a Driver Licence five years old) can be enrolled at Primary School to begin primary school by age six. 03 308 2288. There is a taxi stand which is available at the Ashburton kindergartens, playcentres and child on Burnett Street. There is currently library, online at www.nzta.govt.nz/ Information on getting a New care facilities. Between the ages of There are 19 primary schools located Intermediate School no public bus service operating in resources/roadcode or you can buy Zealand driver licence can be found on three and five, your child may be throughout Ashburton District, our district but work is underway in one at most bookshops. Everyone the New Zealand Transport Agency eligible for 20 hours per week of free ranging from large to small, town and Ashburton Intermediate School covers establishing a public transport service in the car must wear a seat belt and website www.nzta.govt.nz/licence early childhood education. rural. Some schools are full primary years 6 to 8 of primary education. connecting our towns and localities. Please contact Safer Mid Canterbury Secondary School on 03 308 1395 to learn more. There are two secondary schools in Ashburton District. Ashburton College Travelling around is a co-educational secondary school New Zealand for years 9 to 13 located in Ashburton. Mount Hutt College is a co-educational Bus companies provide services secondary school for years 9 to 13 from Ashburton and Methven to which is located in Methven. Christchurch, Timaru and Dunedin. For further information on these Tertiary Education services, contact the Methven i-SITE 03 302 8955 or visit Ara Institute of Technology has a www.methvenisite.co.nz campus in Ashburton offering a wide range of subjects with National Certificates and Diplomas. Other Before driving nearby tertiary educational institutes You must have a driver licence. You are the University of Canterbury – can use an international driver licence Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha in Christchurch and Lincoln University – Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki, in Lincoln. 5 6 Hola Health services Hospital Paramedics injury cover for all New Zealand Finding a General Practice Dental health EMERGENCIES citizens, residents and temporary (Doctors Clinic) Ashburton Hospital provides Ashburton has an attended base for visitors to New Zealand. Dental care is free for people under 18 For life threatening health secondary level emergency, general St John paramedics with Methven For regular health and medical care years of age. If you are over 18 years of emergencies free phone 111 surgical and maternity services with providing a volunteer St Johns service. This means that if you have an it is a good idea to register the whole age you will need to pay for dental care. for an ambulance. a range of inpatient, day patient, accident or injure yourself, the cost family with a general practice. The outpatient and community health ACC of visiting a doctor may be partially doctors’ is also known as a general Community Services Card services. Tertiary level care is provided covered by the government. practitioner, or GP. Most general The Accident Compensation by Christchurch or Timaru hospitals. www.acc.co.nz practices are part of a Primary Health People or families on low or moderate Corporation (ACC) provides personal incomes and who are permanent legal For non-life threatening or Organisation (PHO) which allows after hours health patients to receive cheaper doctor’s residents of New Zealand may qualify visits and reduced costs of prescription for a ‘Community Services Card’ which situations phone your local medicines. You can ask your local make doctors’ visits cheaper. (General Practice, or GP) Self Care Pharmacy Call your General Urgent Care Emergency www.workandincome.govt.nz or you can phone Healthline GP(24/7) Practice After Hours Department general practice if they are part of Grazed knee, Diarrhoea, runny a PHO. Children under the age of 14 on 0800 611 116 to speak to a light cough, see nose, hayfever, Unwell? Call your Non-urgent Feeling really Serious accidents, years can visit the doctor for free. registered nurse. healthinfo.co.nz sore throat. general practice health concerns, sick, bad cuts, chest pains or for advice. ear pain, fever. bites & sprains. stroke, call 111. Not well? 7 8 Ta l o f a Ashburton District Council The role of Ashburton District Council is to lead and represent its communities. The Council engages with its’ communities and encourages community participation in decision-making, while considering the needs of people currently living in the district and those who will live here in the future. The following lists the range of activities and services that Council oversees. Working here There are a number of different employment industries • Building consents and information • Rates in Ashburton District, from farming and agribusiness • Cemeteries • Rubbish and recycling to logistics and manufacturing. • Civil defence and emergency • Roading and footpaths management • Water services Finding a job you have certain rights, which are join Kiwisaver if you are a permanent important to know so that you are resident or a New Zealand citizen. • Dog registrations & wandering livestock • Library Most people looking for work start their treated fairly. www.kiwisaver.govt.nz www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/work- job search online using websites such • Environmental health • Museum as www.seek.co.nz and www.trademe. in-nz/employment-rights Setting up a business co.nz/jobs. There are several recruitment • Health, food, alcohol & gambling • EA Networks Centre (sports agencies that may also be helpful for Kiwisaver Establishing your own business in New facility) connecting you to available jobs. Zealand is quite a simple process, and • Parking Kiwisaver is a work-based savings there are many resources available to • Parks and open spaces support you. Check out • Planning guidance and Employment rights scheme where you, your employer and www.business. • Welcoming communities the government contribute to a savings govt.nz for a range of tools and resource consents FIND OUT MORE AT: When working in New Zealand templates to help you get started.