Campion College’s music department will benefit from a $7308 New Zealand Community Trust grant that will lead to “high-calibre” musical performances.
It will be spent on new musical equipment, allowing them to provide a rich musical education where students can grow in confidence and showcase their talents at school events.
Deputy principal Karyn Sadler said because the college was often geographically disadvantaged, many in the community missed out on opportunities due to Cyclone Gabrielle.
“We want to give our rangatahi equal chances no matter the challenges they face ... Many families are still struggling financially and can’t afford the costs of music lessons and equipment,” Sadler said.
“This generous support from NZCT [New Zealand Community Trust] will enable our students to deliver high-calibre musical productions to the community, showcasing not only their talents, but also their resilience.”
“We look forward to seeing our students using new instruments that everyone has had the opportunity to learn and to perform on stage at our prizegiving and community gatherings.”
Year 7 student Caden McGoverne thinks the new instruments will encourage more people to pick up an instrument and play.
Cillian McGuinness, Year 8, was looking forward to the new equipment.
“We’ll have way better-quality sound for recording our tracks,” Cillian said.
Ben Hodges, NZCT general manager of grants, marketing and communications, said they were proud the funds raised through responsible gaming partnerships with Bar 59 and Bollywood Stars had enabled Campion College to offer even more opportunities for students to discover the rewards of learning a musical instrument.
Rotokautuku Bridge lifted again
Further repair work was carried out on the Rotokautuku (Waiapu) Bridge on State Highway 35 near Ruatōria on Wednesday, with two more “bridge lifts”.
Work has been under way since October to make improvements and involved raising the bridge a few millimetres at a time.
“While the bridge remains structurally sound, repairs to the bearings and cross bracing are needed to restore the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle,” an NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi bulletin says.
The agency says further bridge lifts and details will be communicated in the new year.
“We appreciate the work we are doing is having a direct impact on people’s day-to-day lives and can be frustrating,” it says.
“But the people out there on the worksites are local, your friends and whānau, and we want to make sure they make it home safe each night. “
The Rotokautuku (Waiapu) Bridge site was where a road worker was allegedly threatened with a firearm last week.
Police and NZTA at the time said they were investigating the incident.
Gisborne’s fire behaviour ‘generally pretty good’
Public behaviour with open fires has been “generally pretty good so far” in the first week since Tairāwhiti rules tightened.
Fire and Emergency NZ upscaled fire restrictions to a ‘Prohibited Fire Season’, or total ban, in Gisborne city and Poverty Bay Basin area last Saturday.
The basin includes the likes of Muriwai, Patutahi and Ngatapa.
Fire and Emergency simultaneously set a Restricted Fire Season.
That means a permit is required for any fire in the open across the rest of the region.
“We have had a few little beach fires at places like Makorori, Wainui and at the mouth of the Waipaoa River,” said Fire and Emergency community risk manager Trudi Hicklin.
“Those beach fires have tied up our firefighters' time when they’ve been called to put them out, and that shouldn’t have happened,” Hicklin said.
“But overall the public has responded well and responsibly to the restrictions and total ban and we’re reasonably satisfied... Generally, they’ve been pretty good so far.”
She said Fire and Emergency was impressed with the number of “Coasties” who were applying for fire permits.
The Restricted Fire Season, where permits will be needed, covers the East Coast north of Pouawa.
“There’s been an amazing response to it from Coast people.”
The public are advised to visit the checkitsalright website for more information.