Halswell Domain

Halswell Domain
View from the Model Engineers' site in the Halswell Domain

Sunday, April 25, 2021

Help out the Christchurch Blanket Bank

This year, the Halswell Community Project have offered to help out the New Brighton Project’s Blanket Bank. So far we have taken two carloads of bedding - including clean blankets, sheets and duvets and VERY clean pillows over to Brighton.

Blanket Bank Logo
The Blanket Bank provides bedding and blankets to Christchurch people in need of warm bedding at no cost. 

“With winter on its way, it’s time for us to stock up for our busiest time of the year. We rely on donations of warm bedding e.g. blankets (both woollen and acrylic), duvets, sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers” says Sarah Mackay, the volunteer who runs the Bank. "Blankets are almost marching out the door at the moment".

If you would like to donate, please drop any warm, clean and good quality (something you would use yourself) bedding that you have to the Halswell Community Hub (381 Halswell Rd – parking off Sparks Rd) during office hours. 

If you are unable to donate a blanket but would like to help, then you could make a donation on their Give a Little Page.

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Community Resilience



Halswell has been through a few emergencies together, during which we have each supported our community in various ways. All of us take part in responding to an emergency – some of our groups and organisations may have more formal responsibilities and arrangements, while others fully rely on the goodwill and dedication of a few staff and volunteers to do what needs doing at the time. The more we understand each other’s roles, capabilities, and limitations, the more we connect and plan together, the better we will get through together as a community. 

A few of us have started the process of developing a Community Response Plan. This is not about recreating the formal responses of Civil Defence or formulating a fixed plan of what to do if... but it is about how we as a community respond. 

Over the next few months we will be organising workshops and discussions around this topic and looking at how we can connect people and map the resources our community has. If you would like to be part of this please do contact Kate on halswell.comm@gmail.com. 

DID YOU KNOW:

  • Schools are no longer Civil Defence posts in an emergency? 
  • The safest place in an emergency is often Home.
  • The Council Website is the best source of information in an emergency.
  • Getting to know your neighbours is a great way to start your neighbourhood response. When you know your neighbours you're more likely to have more support in an emergency., like a storm or an earthquake.
  • Neighbours’ Day Aotearoa is held every March, to encourage neighbours to get to know each other. 
  • You can join or form a Neighbourhood Support Group so you and your neighbours can share skills and resources to help you get through in an emergency.


Neighbours Day Aotearoa

The Neighbour's Day Aotearoa website has a lot of resources to help you organise your Neighbour's Day event.

Neighbourhood Support New Zealand

Join a Neighbourhood Support Group on the Neighbourhood Support website or call 0800 463 444.

HalswelL Connections - April 2021

 


At our April meeting our speakers were Emma Pavey (CCC Community Development Advisor) and Sam Holland (CCC Community Recreation Advisor)


Emma and Sam gave some background on who they were, how they arrived in their roles and some of the projects they worked on. Sam and Emma work closely together and their roles do overlap.


Emma started as a funding advisor before moving on to become a Community Recreation Advisor followed by a governance manager. All these roles linked strongly into and gave a valuable background to the role of Community Development Advisor.

Initially Emma worked in the Hoon Hay area where she initiated projects like the Hoon Hay Fiesta as a tool to bring people together and increase capacity. Emma also worked with a group of teenagers around the need for lights on the park for basketball. 

This process involved working with the local people/ group, upskilling them and helping them to navigate the channels at council for the desired outcome. Civic participation helps empower people and give them a voice to make a difference for their community.

Emma explained that community led development (rather than council led) leads to a more connected community.


Sam is originally from Christchurch and studies at Lincoln Uni. She has had lots of roles including a summer assistant supporting events across the city such as Hello Hornby.

As the recreational advisor she supports local groups with events and activities such as the Celebrate Halswell Event, Childrens’ Day and possible future events.  She is also involved in the Huritini Student Council encouraging local children to take part in activities they are passionate about. For example the group have been looking at signage around Westlake Park  to protect the birds and wildlife. She is also involved in the Give Gear Get Great program.


Some of the things Emma and Sam are working on at present include:

  • Halswell Heritage Trail - maps around the community with information about the history and heritage of the area that brings stories together. The plan is to develop an app to go with this.

  • Long Term Plan Submissions close on the 18th April - there are drop in information sessions associated with this.

  • Community Service Awards

  • Walking Festival

  • Representation review which closes on the 16th May. Halswell is currently the largest ward so may see boundary changes. For example - Westmorland and Wigram are likely to be separated off and placed in adjacent wards rather than Halswell.

  • Development contributions. Developers currently pay a contribution towards development and infrastructure and this process is open for submissions, for example $1000 per section could be going towards local development and infrastructure 

  • Climate change strategy - submissions close on 25th April


Mike raised the issue of the Nottingham stream levels. It would appear that the stream, like the Westlake Lakes is groundwater fed and therefore affected by the low rain levels over a long period rather than the development around the area.


Christchurch City Council has started a project to develop a Three Waters Strategy to ensure long-term sustainability of the natural resources communities rely on for their daily needs. We may be able to get them to a future Connections meeting to discuss this in more detail.


Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre.

Pam and Lisa shared what is happening at the Library currently. 

A new What’s On booklet has been released and is available from the library

Digital Futures courses for 65 plus are going well

Tuesday afternoons are Tech drop in help sessions and residents can book a librarian for 1 on 1 help 

Groups use the library facilities for informal meetings such as:

  • Knitting Group -Thursday and Saturday afternoon 1 - 3pm

  • Scrabble group - Wednesday 1 - 3pm


HIPPY

HIPPY (Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters) is currently reaching out to find families with children aged 3 - 5 for their program which encourages parents to be first teachers and aid the transition to school. The program improves skills and relationships and feedback shows that children from the program are often ahead of their peers when they start school.


Halswell Community Project

Lynne asked that any notices or articles for the next newsletter be emailed through to her at halswell.newsletter@gmail.com.

Kate and Keri have been busy at the Hub. The Community Board recommended that the Council gift the building to HCP to run and the final decision will be made by council in May.

A new batch of welcome bags has been put together and are ready to be distributed. Kate will drop some off at the Library to give out.

Next Market is 23rd May

School Holidays at the Hub - Sock Puppet craft mornings 10 - 12 on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd April

In addition to the sharing shack, book shack and collecting wine bottle tops, the Hub is now a collection point for good quality blankets and bedding which will be sent over to the New Brighton blanket bank. They have also started collecting bread tags which can be recycled to fund wheelchairs in South Africa.


Halswell Hall

Judith noted that she had taken delivery of the spring bulbs from the fundraiser. They had a good response and raised $421 which will go towards installing an AED on the front porch of the hall.

The Hall is looking for several people to help with the running of the facility - funding coordinator, fundraiser, communications officer, IT person, Social media.

Lots of little jobs need doing around the place and lots of fundraising happening

The new stage will be installed at the end of July and Judith is looking into getting the Elms trimmed due to Health and Safety concerns.


Halswell Residents Association

Ross outlined the proposed changes to SH 75, Halswell Road between Dunbars road and Curletts road. More information can be found here: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/sh75-halswell-road-improvements/

An open Night to be held on Thursday 15th April at Rowley School. 3.30 - 6pm

It was discussed that Halswell NEEDS better bus services into town. Currently it is far faster to travel by car than take the bus due to the congestion. Hopefully this proposal will ease that congestion and make safer access to Hillmorton High School with traffic lights at the end of Tankerville Road.


Halswell Lions

Peter said the Lions have had a busy month. They supported Hillmorton High school during their camp by taking the school lunches out to the students and staff on camp over the 2 week period. He noted that the lions are heavily involved with HHS.

The Lions district have lots of youth activities and the Halswell Lions are hoping to increase the number they get involved in. For example they have been working with an Oaklands School student on the Peace poster competition and would like to see more young people getting involved in these opportunities.

The last Lions meeting had the Justice of the Peace as speakers which was very well attended and received. 

Next Meeting - speaker is CEO of Age Concern

Halswell Lions currently has 19 members and has club elections at the end of April.

Peter discussed the new facebook page and said Lions were pleased with how it was going. Engagement is already up which is encouraging.


Meeting Closed 1.30pm


Next Meeting: Tuesday 18th May Hillmorton High School - details to be 

confirmed but meeting at the school in the new Middle School Learning Block


Upcoming Meetings 2021:


Date

Speaker

Venue

May 18th

Hillmorton High School 

Hillmorton High School

June 15th

Zahra Hussaini - communities supporting Migrant and refugee families

Halswell Hub

July 20th

Tracey McClelland MP

Halswell Hub

August 17th



September 21st



October 19th



November 16th