North Canterbury News: July 10, 2025

NEWS 4 The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>July</strong> <strong>10</strong>, <strong>2025</strong> Rural hospitals play avital role -Mayors ByDAVID HILL, Local Democracy Reporter The future of two <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> Hospitals was pushed squarely in the spotlight at arural health meeting in Hanmer Springs on Monday. AssociateHealth Minister and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey visited <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> as part of his ongoing rural health roadshow, including Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora Health NZ officials, health workers, and residents. Kaikōura MP Stuart Smith, local mayors Marie Black (Hurunui), Craig Mackle (Kaikōura) and Dan Gordon (Waimakariri) and several councillors were also in the audience. Mr Gordon said the Oxfordand IS YOUR LOGFIRE COMPLIANT? Come in and talk to us about replacing your non-compliant firewith aclean, burning,ultralow emission model (ULEB) We specialise in arranging full installation, including council consent. Call us for afree, no-obligation quote 360 Flaxton Road, Rangiora | Phone 03 313 5563 www.kingsmowersheating.co.nz Waikari hospitals played avaluable role in providing respite and end of life care, but the facilities were under­utilised and the buildings badly needed maintenance. ‘‘We would like to have some indication ontheir future. If they were more broadlyopen we would find they would be better utilised.’’ Health NZ Waitaha <strong>Canterbury</strong> rural health services hospital and specialist services general manager Berni Marra said she looked forward to ‘‘getting back round the table’’ with the mayors to discuss the future of the rural hospitals. Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Networkchief executive Grant Davidson, who chaired the meeting, said New Zealand had made progress with the adoption of arural health strategy supported by all parties in Parliament. But rural health outcomes continue to trail behind urban communities, with twice as preventable deaths and 60 percent moresuicides. MrsBlack said there needed to be moresupport for support workers caring for elderly in their own homes. Health NZ <strong>Canterbury</strong> West Coast group manager integration Greg Hamilton said Health NZ is working with healthcare providers to review how they can better serve clients across the South Island. ‘‘Rather than just coming in and doing the dishes or doing the cleaning, the focus is now on re­enabling people to achieve the best life they can.’’ He said the priority is supporting peopletostay in their own homes. Mr Doocey said Mrs Black had raised concerns about alack of ‘‘wellbeing funding’’ alongside more specialist mental health services, which had led to morefunding to support rural communities, including arecent boost to Rural health ... Associate Health Minister and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey (centre), and Kaikōura MP Stuart Smith (right) discuss rural health issues with <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> mayors Craig Mackle (Kaikōura, left), Dan Gordon (Waimakariri) and Marie Black (Hurunui) at the Hanmer Springs Golf Club on Monday, <strong>July</strong> 7. PHOTO: DAVID HILL rural support trusts. Support foryoung people including accessing mental health services, support forLGBT+ youth, driver licenses, finding work, cyberbullying and alack of access to ultra­fast broadband in rural areas were also raised as wellbeing issues. Other concerns included access to training for health workers in rural practises, support for migrants, and a lack of awareness of what services are available in rural areas. Mr Doocey said addressing ‘‘unmet need’’ was not just about more funding, but also education on ‘‘what is available’’. LDR is local body journalism cofunded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Areyou standing for your localcouncil in the localgovernment electionsinOctober <strong>2025</strong>? Inform your localcommunity, youare thecandidate to votefor by advertisinginthe <strong>North</strong><strong>Canterbury</strong><strong>News</strong> Phonetoday 3148 335 or 3132840 Email info@ncnews.co.nz In Rangiora every Tuesday afternoon, from1:00-5:00pm at Koller&Hassall Chartered Accountants at 267 High Street. Papprills Lawyers, establishedinRangiorain1894, hasmerged with Mortlock McCormack Law. We remain committed to <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong>and welcome bothexistingand newclients. For an appointment, phone:03377 2900 14 Ashley Street, Rangiora

A$56.4m boost for water storage,irrigation By DAVID HILL, Local Democracy Reporter A$56.4m Government investmentinwater storage and irrigation will provideamajor boost for <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> farmers, says Hurunui Mayor Marie Black. Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson visited the region last week to announce three <strong>Canterbury</strong> water storage and irrigation projects will receive loans from the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund. Mr Patterson made the announcement at the Taggart family’s woolshed at Cust on Thursday, <strong>July</strong> 3, and was joined by Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey, Kaikōura MP Stuart Smith and WaimakaririMayor Dan Gordon. Mrs Black was unable to attend the announcement, but later said the investment is good news for the region. The Balmoral water storage facility run by the Amuri Irrigation Company (AIC) will receive $20m, Waimakariri Irrigation Ltd (WIL) will receive $15.6m, and the Opuha Dam and irrigation scheme in South <strong>Canterbury</strong> $20.8m. ‘‘Amuri Irrigation Company has been progressive in its vision for storage on the north side of the Hurunui River to build resilience for its shareholders,’’ Mrs Black said. ‘‘This announcementisasignificant step in achieving this goal.’’ AIC chairperson David Croft said his company plans to build apond to store up to <strong>10</strong> million cubic metresofwater and can be used in the winter and shoulder seasons, using existing resource consents. ‘‘It is quite clear the rural sector is leading the New Zealand economy, and this investment can help our economic recovery. ‘‘And we will end up with agreatasset for the whole of <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong>.’’ The company has 132 shareholders ADVERTISEMENT Boosting Energy After60 Local collaboration targetscellular energydeclineaffectingthousands of Kiwis. A<strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong>health company, Koru Nutrition, haspartnered with a Cambridge University neuroscientistto tackle aproblem affectingnearlyevery New Zealanderover60: themysterious afternoon energy crashthatnoamount of sleep seems to fix. Thecollaborationcentres on acompound calledNMN,found naturallyinvegetables like edamameand broccoli, whichscientists saycouldhelprestore cellularenergylevels that plummetwith ageing. “By60, your cellularbatteries –what scientists callNAD+ –are downtohalf charge,” explains Zera Mariyam(MPhil), theCambridge neuroscientistadvising Koru Nutrition. “By70, you’re runningonjust 35%.It’sliketryingtopower your entire houseonaphone charger.” Fordecades,decliningenergywas considered an inevitable part of ageing. But research datingback to NobelPrize winner Arthur Kornberg in 1948 showed that cells can convert certain compoundsintoNAD+, the molecule that powerscellularrepairand energy production. Thechallenge?GettingenoughNMN to make adifference. From food alone you’d need to eat more than 23 kilogramsof broccoli each day. Fortunatley, recentadvances have made it Financial boost ... Amuri Irrigation Ltd chairpersonDavid Croft(left), Opuha Water Ltd chief executive Bjorn Triplow, Waimakariri Irrigation Ltd board chairpersonHugh Martyn, WIL chief executive Brent Walton, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson, Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith, Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey and Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon, at an announcement on loans to help water storage and irrigation last week. PHOTO: DAVID HILL, covering 28,000ha across three water schemes, including 60 percent dairy farming, and the rest amix of dairy support,sheep and beef, and cropping. Mr Gordon said WIL's proposed 8.2 million cubic metre water storage facility at Wrights Road, near Oxford, has been in the pipeline for nearly 20 years. ‘‘WIL is not just an irrigation scheme. It is alifeline for our region, irrigating an impressive 23,000ha and supporting around 170 shareholders. ‘‘It is one of the largest schemes in the South Island,and itscommitmentto environmental stewardship and sustainablewater management is commendable.’’ Mr Gordon said WIL’s biodiversity projects had uncovered rare species like possibletodeliver meaningful amountsof NMN in supplementform–sparking what someresearchersare callingarevolutionin healthyageingscience. Koru Nutrition’snew product, Koru Revitacell, delivers500mgofNMN daily alongside11other cellularsupporting ingredients, aformulationdeveloped through theirinternationalcollaboration. “We’re seeing excitingdevelopments in longevity scienceglobally,”saysZera.“This formulationbringsthatresearchdirectlyto <strong>Canterbury</strong>communities.” Earlyusers of NMNreportfeeling sharper, recovering faster from activities, the <strong>Canterbury</strong>mudfish and tadpole shrimp, which shows investment in irrigation can have positive environmental outcomes. WIL chief executive Brent Walton said his company’s shareholders included a mix of lifestyle blocks, and sheep, cropping and dairy farmers. He said the $15.6m loan was the boost needed to kickstartthe project. ‘‘The key thing is it benefits alltypes of farmers, and it is aboutthe future of the district and the benefits we will bring to future generations.’’ Mr Walton said water storage could enhance rivers and groundwater and be used for other uses beyond irrigation. Work on the new facility will begin next year and is expected to be completed for andmaintaining steadierenergythroughout theday -althoughresearcherscautionthat studies arestill in early stages. Theproductlaunchcomes as New Zealand’spopulationagesrapidly, with one in four Kiwisexpected to be over65 by 2051. Many in this demographicreport energy declineastheir primary health concern. “It’sexcitingtobeworking at the forefront of healthyageingscience,”says Managing Director AndreLinton. Koru Revitacellisnow availablein<strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong>pharmacies. NEWS The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>July</strong> <strong>10</strong>, <strong>2025</strong> Revitacell Available now in <strong>North</strong><strong>Canterbury</strong> Pharmacies 5 the 2028/29 season. Enterprise <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> chief executive Heather Warwick said the investment will unlock land for irrigation, boosting productivity and creatingjobs. ‘‘Water is agamechanger for our farmers. ‘‘They say water is gold in farming,’’ she said. Mr Patterson said the announcement was ‘‘a momentous day for <strong>Canterbury</strong>’’. ‘‘It strengthens water resilience and unlocks new economic opportunities. ‘‘Accesstoreliable manageable water is agamechanger to our primary sector.’’ LDR is local body journalismco­funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. www.korunutrition.co.nz Always read the label and take as directed. Ifsymptoms persist contact your healthcare professional. Koru Nutrition, Christchurch