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e pā ana ki a matou
- Canterbury
- Chatham Islands
- Mid Canterbury
- South Canterbury
- West Coast
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- Te Pae Māhutonga
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Community and Public Health in Mid Canterbury (Ashburton)
The Mid Canterbury region covers the central South Island between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers (the Ashburton District), with Ashburton as the main township. The area is one of the fastest growing rural districts in New Zealand, and is becoming more ethnically diverse with over the half the recent population increase resulting from arriving international migrants (2006 to 2011).
Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health provides services to the more than 33,000 people of this area, and is based at the Ashburton Hospital site.
The small team in Ashburton is made up of two health promoters. These staff focus on:
- working with local Māori to ensure available health services are promoted and accessible to Māori;
- promoting health and wellbeing in Early Learning Services and schools though the Healthy Active Learning initiative and Love Kai;
- promoting healthy nutrition choices and healthy environments for physical activity in workplaces and the community;
- supporting workplaces through the WorkWell programme; and
- promoting the Smokefree message.
Christchurch-based staff support the Mid-Canterbury region to enforce the Smokefree Environments Act, and provide infectious disease and environmental health services.
- Download an information sheet on the organisational structure of Community and Public Health [206KB].
Fireworks banned at Ashburton Lakes this summer
Fire and Energency NZ media release: Monday 16th December 2024
Fire and Emergency New Zealand has imposed a temporary ban on all fireworks activity in the Ashburton Lakes Area (including Lake Clearwater and Lake Camp) from Sunday 15th December 2024 to Monday 31st March 2025.
Mid-South Canterbury District Manager Rob Hands says the ban is possible under Section 52 of the Fire and Emergency Act.
“It will prevent people from letting off fireworks in these areas as part of our ongoing efforts to reduce the risk of wildfire over summer,” Rob Hands says.
“We know people stockpile fireworks from Guy Fawkes and like to let them off over summer, but right now the weather conditions are just too hot, dry and windy,” he says.
“While some people might be tempted to celebrate holiday events with fireworks, the risk of causing a wildfire in the district is too great.
“It only takes one spark to start a wildfire. So please, leave your fireworks at home if you’re visiting Mid-South Canterbury this summer.”
All of the Mid-South Canterbury District went into a restricted fire season last week. This means anyone who wants to light an open-air fire needs a permit authorised by Fire and Emergency, which they can apply for at checkitsalright.nz.
If you’re thinking about lighting a fire – wherever you are in the country – go to www.checkitsalright.nz to see whether any restrictions are in place before lighting up.
Smart water use urged as summer starts to sizzle
Ashburton District Coumcil media release: 5th December 2024
Ashburton District people are being urged to use water wisely or face restrictions, as water consumption climbs along with the temperature.
Ashburton’s seven-day rolling average daily water use has been above 22,000 cubic metres three times in the past weeks and Council is considering bringing in water restrictions.
Mayor Neil Brown said households needed to use water sensibly.
“That means not using water excessively and using it in a smart way. If you want to water your lawn, then please do it late in the evening or set a timer to water it during the night. It’s when everyone is using water at the same time that we see pressure levels drop and problems being reported.”
Council has been monitoring consumption over all its community water supplies and household water use has been rising.
Group Manager of Infrastructure and Open Spaces Neil McCann said managing demand was important.
“We have not applied water restrictions on the Ashburton scheme for a number of years but we’re concerned right now about levels of service and complaints about low pressure.
“The time period from 5pm to 9pm is typically when demand increases significantly partly due to people watering their gardens and lawns. We also see people watering their lawns in the middle of the day, which is also not a good time as most of the water evaporates.
“We would like people to conserve water through smart use, so everyone has the water they need.”
Bike skills park makes progress
Ashburton District Coumcil media release: 4th November 2024
Plans for a new bike skills park in the Ashburton Domain are progressing, with a charitable trust formed to seek funding to build the facility.
A working group consisting of Councillors, Council staff, Sport Canterbury and Safer Mid Canterbury staff, and representatives from local service clubs has been meeting for the past 12 months to plan the project.
Spokesperson Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan said a concept plan had been drawn up and will be fine-tuned over the next two months.
“Funding the bike skills park is the next phase and our charitable trust will be seeking grants from organisations like the Lion Foundation and Lotteries.
“Once we have a final design, we’ll be working through the costs with a quantity surveyor so we can provide plenty of accurate information to those funding providers.”
The bike skills park is forecast to cost about half a million dollars, with construction not funded by ratepayers. The project will be given to a contractor once funds are secured.
Council has recently granted resource consent for the project, needed because developing the park would result in an increase in the impermeable surfaces at the domain.
Ms McMillan said the park was an important facility to teach children and newcomers the bike skills they needed when moving around town, in particular the many schoolchildren who cross the main highway and railway crossing twice a day to go to school.
One-stop shop for newcomers to the Ashburton District
Newcomers to the Ashburton District can now find all the essential information they need in an online Welcoming Guide.
Council Democracy and Engagement Group Manager Toni Durham said the guide was for people moving to the district from other parts of New Zealand or from overseas.
“Being digital, the guide can be updated regularly and it will also be available in different languages.
“Newcomers will be able to find out about health, education, driver’s licences, employment, sports, things to do and services that are available. It’s pretty much a one-stop shop for information.”
Mrs Durham said the Welcoming Guide could also point people to other helpful sites, like the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and their community directory, and the Hakatere Multicultural Council, which looks after the Newcomers Network, the Migrant Centre and Ethnic Leaders forum. The development of the guide was led by the staff involved in the Welcoming Communities programme.
Council has recently granted resource consent for the project, needed because developing the park would result in an increase in the impermeable surfaces at the domain.
Ms McMillan said the park was an important facility to teach children and newcomers the bike skills they needed when moving around town, in particular the many schoolchildren who cross the main highway and railway crossing twice a day to go to school.
- Find out more about the Welcoming Guide for Newcomers to the Ashburton District, including how to download a copy.
Waitaha Canterbury Refugee Health Service available
Pegasus Health launched its Refugee Health Service in February 2024. This is a confidential and FREE health service helping former refugees access healthcare in Christchurch and Ashburton.
General Manager Patient and Provider Services at Pegasus Health Lisa Brennan says the service has a community-based approach.
“At Pegasus we aim to reduce inequity and remove barriers by having competent and well-funded wrap-around services. The service is based on the feedback we received from the former refugee communities and those who support them in health and social services.”
The Refugee Health Service marks an important step in supporting former refugees in their journey here in Aotearoa.
Links
- Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury – formerly Canterbury District Health Board.
- Environment Canterbury (Regional Council).
- Ashburton District Council.