His red car, named Mabel after Mabel Howard, New Zealand’s first female cabinet minister, is parked nearby blasting Pharrell’s “Happy”. It’s 7.30am in the morning but the Labour candidate for Christchurch Central is bright and cheerful, ready for an hour’s worth of sign waving. He gets a mixed response from… Read More »On the campaign trail with Chch central's Tony Milne
The preservation of the Sydenham Heritage Church site faces new delays after asbestos was found in the site rubble. The heritage stone church, which was built in 1878, was demolished without proper consent two days after the February 2011 earthquake. The demolition rubble has remained on the site on the… Read More »Asbestos find delays church site clean-up
by Georgia Weaver, reporting for the Christchurch Mail St John has installed 20 new top-of-the-line defibrillators in its Christchurch ambulances and rapid response vehicles. The $23,000 machines were paid for with $400,000 of donations raised through the service’s supporters’ scheme and appeal weeks. Service improvement manager Curt Ward, who is also… Read More »Donations fund new paramedic kit for ambulances
Georgia Weaver, reporting for The Press When most teenage girls are thinking about the school ball and exams, Jacquie Ruth’s sole focus is the swimming pool. The 17-year-old Rangi Ruru pupil, who has an eye on the 2020 Paralympics, yearns for the “physical freedom” the water provides. “I can swim… Read More »Finding freedom in the pool
By Michael Cropp and Georgia Weaver for The Press Christchurch’s only 24-hour sexual violence support service may have to shut its doors because of a $23,000 shortfall. The Survivors of Sexual Violence Trust (SSVT), which operates crisis service SafeCare, fields daily referrals from police and has 16 clients in its… Read More »Sex abuse crisis service set to close
By Georgia Weaver for The Press A police-monitored party register aimed at university students is being pitched to high-school pupils for the ball season. The Goodone.org.nz website was set up by the Riccarton West Neighbourhood Policing Team in February and has had 50 incident-free parties registered so far. Sergeant Steve… Read More »Party register pitched for high-school ball after-parties
