This Sunday is the 1st of August. Since my early childhood that has meant one thing: the Swiss National Day. We were normally on holidays in Switzerland in early August and enjoyed the celebration. We decorated the house and a small cart with flags and bells, dressed in appropriate festive clothes and then made our…

At our meeting on Wednesday evening we heard about different ways of approaching housing development. Greer O’Donnell spoke about the spectrum of housing available. In New Zealand housing is often occupier-owned, market rental or government-provided social housing. The average family often finds it difficult to find affordable, long-term housing. That’s why new housing models such…

At the end of last month the Greater Christchurch Partnership released its Mass Rapid Transit interim report. It is an investigation for faster public transport from Rangiora and Rolleston to the City Centre. Three options were detailed:1. Heavy rail along the current railway corridors to Riccarton and from there through a trench to the city…

To ensure the future financial sustainability or alternatively look at specific projects, the Parish has decided to sell the land currently occupied by the tennis courts. We have also wanted to look at other alternatives for the use of the land to support those objectives and use our resources for the mission of the Church.…

In the face of societal changes and political forces we often feel quite powerless. At least we live in a democracy and every three years we can vote to change the form of local or national government. Of course, our own individual vote hardly ever makes any difference. Indeed, as a somewhat independent thinker, I…