Rannerdale Veterans’ Care has been supporting Canterbury Veterans since 1921

Rannerdale Veterans’ Care has been supporting Canterbury Veterans since 1921, when it was established to care for the men who returned from the WWI battlefields with permanent physical disabilities.  

Over a quarter of Canterbury’s men aged between the ages of 20-30 did not return from the battlefields. New Zealand had the highest casualty and death rates per capita of any other country involved in World WarI.

It has been one hundred years since the start of WWI and Rannerdale is still providing care and support of Veterans both in the community and at Rannerdale Veterans’ Care in Riccarton. In honour of Canterbury’s WWI Veterans and those that supported them, Rannerdale Veterans’ Care is holding a fundraiser Regimental Dinner at the Air Force Museum on Saturday 28 February 2015. This will be a premier Christchurch commemoration event. Funds raised will go towards the Rannerdale World War One Commemorative Centre - a support centre for modern Veterans, and a WWI educational resource for the community.

The Defence Force is supporting the Regimental Dinner with the Chief of Defence and Chiefs of Army and Navy attending, along with Minister of Parliament and the Mayor of Christchurch. The New Zealand Army Band will support the ceremonies and provide music for the evening.

Rannerdale’s very special guest for the evening is Corporal Willie Apiata VC,  New Zealand’s only living Victoria Cross recipient.

The fundraising evening is a fantastic opportunity for Cantabrians to experience a formal military Regimental Dinner in commemoration of WWI Veterans and their families. The evening will begin with an honour guard being presented to the Chief of Defence followed by beating the retreat and presenting the Regiments and Queens colours, all with the magnificent backdrop of the Air Force Museum.

Please support this wonderful organisation and purchase a table for your company and/or valued clients.  Tables are $2500 for 10 guests, or individual tickets can also be purchased at$250 per person. Contact Ingrid Thomas at Rannerdale ingrid@rannerdale.co.nz

petert@cecc.org.nz

www.cecc.org.nz

The United Kingdom Model

I recently returned from a week in the United Kingdom looking at infrastructure and urban development and the applications that may apply to the Christchurch rebuild. It was interesting to see how the United Kingdom is positioning itself with regards to infrastructure provision and the underlying messages around jobs and economic growth. Certainly jobs and economic growth are centre stage, whereas with infrastructural development there is a desire to not build new but to improve what already exists e.g. three lane motorways being turned into four lanes by using a shoulder of the motorway as a fourth lane (this is commonly known as “sweating the asset”).

There is increasing emphasis in the United Kingdom on the quality of life in the context of infrastructural development. There is a lot of talk of a “sense of place” and a “sense of amenity”. There is much more longer term planning going on over there compared to New Zealand. The Government plays a significant role in underwriting the risk gap and there is an overwhelming emphasis on privatisation (privatisation is not up for debate and is all about recycling assets and capital in the long term interests of the community). There are lessons here for Christchurch.

There is strong centralisation of funding and a lot of commonality with regard to infrastructural development across political parties. There is certainly more interplay of private players into public sector activity and infrastructure is overtly used as a catalyst for good community outcomes.

The affordable housing model is well advanced in the United Kingdom and the use of “not for profit housing associations” to underpin social housing is pervasive and effective. It was also very clear that in the United Kingdom they are not hung up about where private investment comes from e.g. there is massive investment from the Middle East and Asia which is regarded as normal.

There is a lot of hard work going on to sort out the relationship of the primary city of London and the rest of the county. There is quite an aggressive positioning with regard to just “doing stuff”. Skill shortages in London are real and are growing and it was remarkable to learn that London with a current population of 8 million is looking to be a city of 10 million by 2030. 

There are many lessons for us to learn particularly around: the focus on growth and employment, strong collaborative leadership, a good interface between private and public sectors, a close alignment between Local and Central Government, good integrated planning, funding and delivery of transport in urban development, strong ambitions, and a mature approach to foreign capital. 

petert@cecc.org.nz

www.cecc.org.nz

Opportunity for Christchurch to have world class public bike share system

The Bike Share system is a world class option that will connect key sites within the CBD, and offer a way for people to move easily between businesses, attractions and back again. The first thirty minutes of every ride will be free, and, once registered, use of the bikes is as easy as logging in with your cellphone number. Helmets and combination locks will also be
provided with every bike.

In order to seed a two-year pilot, a crowdfunding campaign on PledgeMe is being launched to raise the money needed for technical costs, visit www.chchbikeshare.co.nz

The project has already received commitment from private partners for the operating costs – however, $45,000 is still needed to enable equipment leasing and installation costs.

“The great thing about the crowdfunding campaign is that every cent raised goes towards the bikes on the street. If the community really get behind the campaign, we can add more bikes and more stations to the pilot.” Project Manager Robert Henderson said today.

He also said public bike share systems operated in some of the most vibrant cities in the world, where they played an integral part of a city’s public transport mix. Christchurch City Councillor Paul Lonsdale agrees, saying that "the bike share stations are an internationally proven way to reduce inner city traffic by getting people traveling to meetings across the city out of their cars and onto a bike. It’s also fantastic way to introduce exercise into your day."

People who support the crowdfunding project have the option to gain advanced exclusive memberships to the Bike Share system which will give them extended riding time and other benefits. There is also the chance to win Spark mobile phones and other prizes through contributing to the campaign.

Christchurch businesses also have the opportunity to back the project and get their staff easily moving about the CBD. There are corporate pledge options which give employees extended memberships to the system and offer benefits to local businesses.

A leading city central retailer, Dan Joines, has also strongly supported the concept saying that “a bike share is innovative and reflective of the new Christchurch - we think it is a fabulous idea for the CBD.”

Supporters of the campaign will also be asked to suggest where in the CBD they would like to see Bike Share stations.

The PledgeMe campaign will run for four weeks. If it does not reach its target the project will not proceed.

The Bike Share project has gratefully received support from Spark, MoreFM, Nextbike NZ, Ontrack Cycle Gear, Treadlie Magazine, Pepe’s Mexican Grill, and LexaFilms. For more information visit: www.chchbikeshare.co.nz

petert@cecc.org.nz

www.cecc.org.nz

Get involved with the Christchurch - West Melton Zone Committee

We need your knowledge, passion, experience, and ability to work collaboratively to help deliver benefits from Christchurch’s water resource to your community

The Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) is an innovative and bold new way of managing our fresh water.

The strategy affects every person in Canterbury, because it sets goals for freshwater management for now and the future.

It will help to ensure safe drinking water supplies, sustainable farming practices and clean rivers and streams, as well as enhancing recreational opportunities and protecting environment and cultural values.

Each zone committee has developed a set of water management recommendations to deliver the community's aspirations for water management - for a copy of the Christchurch West Melton Zone Implementation Programme summary click here.

The Christchurch - West Melton Zone Committee is calling for expressions of interest for new community members to enable new perspectives to be represented. 

Applicants need to show they have experience in working collaboratively and engaging with communities.

They also need to be competent in dealing with technical and often complex issues, must be able to attend the meetings, and live in (or have a significant relationship with) the zone.

The committee meets monthly for a public meeting which usually lasts several hours. There are also other workshops and field-trips that members are expected to attend. Click here to learn more.

petert@cecc.org.nz

www.cecc.org.nz

The Castle. The Queen. And the Electric Vehicle.

If, like me, you think a great deal about the future of Christchurch beyond the rebuild, you'll be interested in EVolocity, a programme developed to spur innovation and skills development in the electric transport sector, and with lots of engagement already right here in Canterbury.

Sixteen Canterbury high school teams have participated in the EVolocity programme this year, as have CPIT, University of Canterbury, several local engineering firms including BVT and Powell Fenwick and a number of private electric vehicle enthusiasts like Air New Zealand engineer Simon Wilkinson who has built a 300 horsepower electric Falcon ute which he will race against a combustion XR8.

The programme culminates on November 29 & 30, and features three world record holding celebrities from the US and their unique vehicles.

On Saturday, November 29, you are invited to an exclusive function at an equally exclusive venue – Chapman Hall Castle in Tai Tapu. There, you will have an opportunity to meet the US celebrities including the fastest woman on a motorbike in the world (the queen of electric motorsport) and the owner of the quickest electric drag bike in the world – the bike goes from 0-100 in 1 second! These vehicles will be at the castle and available for viewing. They are both part of the Killacycle Racing Team.

A tour of the castle is offered at 3pm, with canapés and cocktails along with brief presentations from the international celebrities starting at 4pm. A fund raising auction will also be held, with opportunities to bid on electric bicycles, electric scooters and electric cars, as well as such exotic options as being honorary pit crew for the Killacycle Racing Team at Bonneville. Tickets to the event are $150.

On November 30, a full day of electric motorsport is taking place at Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna, including performances from the US vehicles, combustion versus electric shootouts (think Ferrari 360 versus the Tesla Roadster Electric), NZ’s first Tesla S, electric motor bike and electric go kart competitions and of course the high school competitions. Kids under 18 are free – in keeping with EVolocity’s aim of exposing electric vehicle technology and opportunities to youth. 

Why do I feel it is important to support EVolocity?

• Because it's an exciting new vehicle (excuse the pun) for getting kids interested in science, technology and engineering;
• Because it has already created important bridges between high schools, tertiaries and the corporate sector right here in Canterbury;
• Because it plays to Canterbury's strengths in engineering, ICT and niche manufacturing;
• Because there are economic, environmental and social benefits. Economic in terms of innovation and export opportunities. Environmental in terms of improved air quality and reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels. And social in terms of skills development as well as ultimately, reduced health care costs brought about through exposure to vehicle emissions.
  

Please visit www.evolocity.co.nz to learn more about the Chapman Castle function on November 29 and the Ruapuna event on November 30. And remember, this is a tangible and practical way to invest in our city’s future wellbeing. 

petert@cecc.org.nz

www.cecc.org.nz

The recovery continues to gather pace

As we get further in to the rebuild the numbers are becoming more definite. There is $100 million being spent weekly, every week, on the rebuild at present. That shows in every aspect of the city’s economy.

There is no doubt now that we are looking at, at least $40 billion total cost. Maybe more in repairs when cost escalation and betterment are taken into account. $20 billion of that is attributed to housing, $10 billion to commercial rebuilds, $7 billion to civil construction and $3 billion to infrastructure.

When everything is averaged out it looks as if we are about 25% into the rebuild. Horizontal infrastructure repairs are leading the way with probably 60 % of repairs completed. Housing is advancing rapidly with around 30% of repairs completed and commercial rebuild is now well under way with approximately 15% over all now completed.  The  major projects in our central city are advancing and it was a real pleasure to attend the opening on the Hagley Cricket Oval, the first of the Key Projects to be completed.

I am really impressed with what I see in terms of plans for private sector development in the central city.

We are going somewhere really exciting and I have no doubt that we are on track to realise the dream of being the most liveable city in Australasia. Go to www.futurechristchurch.co.nz  for a preview of some of the major central city builds.

petert@cecc.oeg.nz

www.cecc.org.nz

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Volunteers urgently required!

Background

·         ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand in February and March 2015.

·         Fourteen countries will compete, engaging one fifth of the world’s population.

o   Over 1 Million people will attend the games

o    1 Billion people will watch on TV

o   Over 400 players, support staff and officials

o   Up to 3,500 accredited media and broadcast rights holders

·         Christchurch hosts the opening game, opening ceremony, two other match games and two warm up games

Christchurch volunteers urgently needed 7 – 23 February 2015 (approximate) Apply Now! 

Benefits

1.    Once in a lifetime opportunity

2.    New friendships

3.    Memories

4.    Work experience

5.    Playing an integral part in delivering sporting history across Australia and New Zealand

6.    Showcasing our city and country to the rest of the world

7.    A Cricket World Cup branded uniform to wear and keep

What CWC 2015 is looking for in a volunteer?

·         17 years or over at time of application – there is no upper age limit

·         25 years or over for fleet/transportation roles

·         Meet CWC 2015 Values - Excellence, Integrity, Teamwork, Inclusion, Adaptability

·         Positive and 'team focused' attitude

·         Strong communication skills

·         Approachable, personable and friendly

·         Willingness to go the extra mile and commit to rostered shifts

·         An outstanding ambassador for Christchurch and CWC 2015

·         Have accommodation and the ability to get to/from venues

The Volunteer Commitment

1.    Length of involvement and timing is role dependent as volunteer roles are varied

2.    Expected to do 6 - 10 shifts which may include:

a.    Match days February 14^th, 21^st  and 23^rd  2015

b.    Warm up games the week prior to match games

3.    Shifts may include:

a.    Week days, weekends and public holidays between 7.30am – 10pm (note: start and stop times are approximate and will be confirmed when schedules are released in December)

b.    Early starts and late finishes during the Tournament.

4.    Attend an interview next week

a.    Monday 20^th 5-8pm and Tuesday 21^st, Wednesday 22^nd October 2014 between 4 – 8pm at the Canterbury Horticultural Centre

5.    Complete training commitment in early 2015 and attend uniform and accreditation collection.

a.    Time/dates will be confirmed closer to the time

6.    Agree to security check, Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy;

Apply Immediately! 

Register online:  www.cricketworldcup.com/volunteers

Positions available at www.icc-cricket.com/cricket-world-cup/volunteers/position-description 

Phone 0508 722 015 9am-7pm Monday – Friday

Email volunteers@cricketworldcup.com

Volunteer Roles

Note: some of these roles are full, or close to full.  Please ensure you note your preferences when applying in case your first choice is not available.

•          Accreditation  Centre Assistant

The Accreditation team is responsible for the production of all accreditation passes, as well as various customer service and 'trouble-shooting' functions.

•          Commercial and Sponsor Servicing Assistant

The Sponsor Servicing Assistant is responsible for assisting ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 sponsors with their activations at match venues. This can include assisting with operational tasks such as the set-up of equipment, general administrative tasks or providing a point of contact for queries or issues.

•          Media and Broadcast Operations Assistants

There are a variety of roles with the Media and Broadcast Operations team, and each role plays an integral part in delivering effective operational facilities (such as the Venue Media Centre, Media Tribune, Media Conference Room and Broadcast Commentary Rooms/Positions) in addition to broadcast and media services.

•          Spectator Services Team Leader and Assistants

There are a wide variety of tasks which Spectator and Fan Services volunteers will assist with throughout the Tournament such as providing information to fans and the general public, way finding, welcoming, usher services and queue management. The team requires volunteers who enjoy interacting with people, are comfortable working in large crowds and have a 'can do' attitude.

•          Transport

•          Fleet Centre Assistant

•          Fleet Centre Supervisor

•          Airport Load Zone Assistant

•          Fleet Driver

•          Venue and Load Zone Assistant

The Transport Team is responsible for the delivery of fleet services across all match venues - from team buses to car services.

•          Workforce Assistant

Workforce Assistants provide support to the workforce and volunteers working at the Tournament both prior to and during the Tournament. They will be responsible for supporting a range of Workforce activities including assisting with volunteer interviews, training and uniform distribution in the lead up to the Tournament as well as supporting operations on match days.

  petert@cecc.org.nz

www.cecc.org.nz