In June, a wealth of community led, whānau-friendly events were held in Linwood-Central-Heathcote to celebrate Matariki.

These included Bromley, Richmond, Mt Pleasant, Heathcote, Phillipstown and the Inner City East with a range of activities, art and kai that brought communities together to welcome in the Māori New Year.

Christchurch City Council Libraries were also hosting Matariki inspired events in June for the public to enjoy.

One example was ‘Matariki in the Zone’ held by Avebury House, Richmond Community Garden and Avon Otakaro Network.  It was a huge success feeding over 500 people hangi, soup, boil up, fried bread, mulled non wine, and hot chocolate.

Avebury House, champion trees and the paddling pool were lit up with support from Linwood-Central-Heathcote and Papanui-Innes Community Boards and there were masses of kids activities - kite making, lantern making, flax weaving, wood carving, a marshmallow pit, seed bombs plus performing artists Lisa Tui and the Pirates. Ka pai everyone!

On July 3 we had a full house of 250 attendees for the popular event ‘Winter Blast!’ that brings local seniors together for a wonderful afternoon of interactive entertainment, afternoon tea and information for being active.

This year was no exception. Te Puna Oranga Kaumatua Daniel Mataki and Chairperson Sally Buck gave everyone a warm welcome with talented performers Stu the Piper, Lance Kiwi for a sing along, Soul Star Tribe Belly Dancers, and African Drumming with Manganui Stewart and friends. Friends of Edmonds served the afternoon tea provided by Woolston Club and spot prizes were generously provided by Woolston Club, Deluxe Cinemas and Portstone Garden Centre.

For the last two years we have also asked people to bring an item of non-perishable food or a cold coin to go towards the local foodbank. Nearly $400 was raised and there were lots of food items that were gladly received by the Linwood Ave Community Corner Trust to distribute.

These events are made possible with funding from the Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board and input and support from local community groups and organisations.

The Bromley Hoops were held during the 1st week of the July school holidays and attracted 12 teams ranging in age from Year 7 – 13. This was the first time the event had taken place in Bromley and it was hailed as a success by all participants and is looking to be a great event to be held annually.

Basketball is an attractive sport for community, as there are very few barriers for participants. Despite the cold winter wind whole family units came to support their young ones taking part. Extra activities for participants and spectators was a best lay-up challenge for the younger members and a dunk and half-court shot competition for older age group. Having only one hoop on the park, the Bromley Community Centre were able to access a mobile hoop, that could be used for warm ups and casual play for non-playing members.

This event produced some of Bromley’s best hooping talent and gave opportunities for ethnic communities such as the two Filipino teams taking part, teams featuring Pacific youth and a fantastic team from the local Te Pa o Rakaihautu kura.

The Big Chill, made possible with funding from the Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board plus generous support from sponsors Mai FM and Hellers and local groups and organisations, was hot! 

Everyone had such a great time, enjoying all the fun activities with friends and whanau from noon to 3pm at Linwood Park today.

Big thanks to our wonderful volunteers from Strengthening Linwood Youth Trust - AJ, Gemma and Vai plus Shreya from 2019 Lyfe crew.

Hellers’ kindly provided hundreds of sausages for the Mai team to sizzle with games and music on the side, Tamper Black provided low cost hot drinks while the Linwood Library had the smoothie bike cranking.

Playcentre were incredibly busy face painting, Fun HQ provided a fantastic array of inflatables for all ages as did Pedalmania with Clive’s incredible crazy bikes.

The Electoral Commission found the event very useful for increasing voting awareness, Jeff created special one off stories, Cool Stuff and the Kids Fest team interacted and entertained the crowds at large.

Flip Out provided masses of tumbling fun, MASH were busy rocket making and flying, and Skate Skool were going all out on the skate park with free skate hire, tricks and tips; all happening alongside a home game for Linwood Keas. 

Big thanks to Hana from Bromley Community Centre/Linwood League for her support from start to finish; the Parks team for having the venue in tip top condition, and the Kids Fest/marketing team and Mai FM for the fantastic job they did promoting this free feature Kids Fest event.

 

The old wharf/jetty at Catherine Street has been given a new lease on life by our Park Ranger team, including new boards, pressure washing and replacing mesh safety netting.

A new ‘tool library’ has opened in Christchurch’s city centre to give residents access to handy tools for home use.

The Tool Lendery, at 178 Cashel Street, has been set up by Gap Filler and will be open every Wednesday from 4 to 6pm and every Saturday from 1 to 3pm.

Read more on Newsline.

Work is ramping up on the Heathcote Valley pipeline, the fourth and final stage of a project to end the routine discharge of treated wastewater into Lyttelton Harbour.

From the start of July our contractors Fulton Hogan will be opening up sections of Port Hills road to lay the pipeline, opening up the road in 200 metre sections, laying the pipeline, then closing up the road and moving on.

It's expected to take around 3 months to lay this section of pipeline up Port Hills road from the top of Mauger Drive to the Bridle Path. Traffic management will be in place and the team will be sharing updates as the project progresses. Further information is available on our website.

The Heathcote Valley Pipeline involves installing 4.5 kilometres of underground pipeline from the Heathcote end of the road tunnel along Port Hills Road, Mauger Drive and the Scruttons Road paddocks to the Alport Place pump station in Woolston.

Have you ever wanted to organise a neighbourhood gathering?  Do you want to get to know the people who live close to you? Perhaps you've always wanted to put on a potluck for the whole street. From 8 July 2019 you can apply for funding for your local gathering.

Read more or apply for funding here.

A $49,855 Enliven Places Projects Fund grant for a pop-up theatre has been approved by the Christchurch City Council’s Innovation and Sustainable Development Committee.

The Little Andromeda theatre project plans to host a full six-week programme of mixed performing arts in an indoor space in the central city, opening in October.

It will offer at least 40 performances, attracting about 5000 visitors to the city centre at weekends and on weekdays.

Read more on Newsline.

Spring is around the corner and now is the perfect time to get new plants in the ground while it's cool and damp, as well as tidy up our beautiful parks and reserves.

If you'd like to get active, meet new people and help look after our  environment, then our Parks team want to hear from you.

There's various community planting and cleanup events coming up in Ferrymead Park and Mahoe-nui over the next few months.

Anyone can volunteer, so if you'd like to get involved, please register your interest here.

Parks volunteers play an important part in supporting both a healthy environment and a diverse habitat for our native wildlife.

Think you can make a positive difference in your community? Keen to have a say in Christchurch’s future? Then now’s the time to get your nomination in for the position of either Mayor, Christchurch City Councillor or Community Board member.

Nominations for October’s local body elections now open and in the Council elections 54 positions are up for grabs.

Read more on Newsline.