Ashburton Courier: September 24, 2020

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Farm visit showcases wetland
New Zealand Landcare Trust
have led the charge and got
people talking about the
benefits of wetlandsasfarm
assets.
It’s part of athree year
project looking towork with
farmers and the wider
community to provide advice
on managing wetlands, to share
knowledge and show the
benefits natural, or constructed
wetlands, offer.
As part of theproject staff
from the trust, with speakers
from Environment Canterbury
(ECan), hosted afieldday this
week at two MidCanterbury
demonstration sites; the
property of Ian and Sue
Thornton, at Ealing, and the
property of Angus andGemma
McKenzie, at Lowcliffe.
Theday was attended by 60
people, including farmers,
members of industry
organisations, Ashburton
Water Zone Committee
members and Ashburton
District mayor, Neil Brown.
New Zealand Landcare
Trust’s Jo Buckner andJanet
Gregory were there as well
ECan’s Jason Butt, awetland
plant specialist,and councillor
Ian MacKenzie.
Mr MacKenzie is chair of the
project.
Wetlands andtheir habitats
are at most threat of
disappearing especially with
farming systems and we want to
help farmers and landowners
realise they are an asset rather
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, September 24, 2020
27
Coming up at the AshburtonTrust Event Centre
The Shows Must Go On
Environment Canterbury’s wetland plant specialist Jason Butt speaks in the wetland area of Ealing
Dairies, owned by Ian and Sue Thornton.
than aliability, Mr MacKenzie
said.
He said theproject team had
been swamped by landowner
interest, requeststoview and
help develop their wetlands.
Ms Buckner saidnoone size
fitsall,it’s differentfor
everyone with stages to go
through beginning aproject.
Mr Butt said actions for
wetland development included
understanding the site, its
water retention, bird life, its
biggest weeds and other threats
such as wildlife or rodents.
Despiteboth wetland farms
being in the Ashburton district,
the Thornton and McKenzie
properties were examples of
being very different.
TheThornton’s have aQEII
covenant on their braided river
wetland which sits alongside
the Rangitata River.
They have gained agreat
deal of knowledge since
starting they startedrestoring
thesitewithweed control,
ecosystemsand hydrology to
mahinga kai,predatorscontrol
and native plantings.
The McKenzie’s wetland is a
living example of the
CanterburyPlains dongas/dry
gullies, with an eroded
headland and ahapua/rivermouth
lagoonbutting up
against beach gravels.
While fenced off many years
ago, the wetlandshows the
coastal squeeze on wetlands
along the Canterbury Bight.
The wetland management
plan helps the couple address
challenges around willow
control, native planting and
protecting coastal habitat.
Yippee ...Level 1–And the shows will go on!
Rock NPop 2020 –Solid Gold
Twilight
tennis
Mid Canterbury Tennis is
seekingentries in its popular
Twilight competitionheldon
Wednesday evenings from
OctoberthroughtoMarch.
The social competition is
ideal for familygroups, friends
and businessassociates.
Run in twogrades,the
competitionisalso suitable for
introducing newtennis players
or re­introducing players who
haven’t picked up aracquetfor
awhile.
You can enterasateam oran
individualand organisersare
happy to place individualsinto
asuitableteam.
Entriesclose on October4
and the first games aretobe
played on October 14.
Furtherdetails on the Mid
CanterburyTennis website.
HOCKEY DRAW
Draw September 25 to 27 September
Friday 25 SeptemberJust Hockey SSL Div
1Boys Nga Puna Wai 27.20 pm St Bede's
College 2nd XI vAshburton College 1st XI
(Umpires supplied)
Small Sticks
Saturday 26 September Fun Sticks 11.00
am Draws made on the day (Coaches)
Sunday 27 September 1st Grade Men
4.00 pm Allenton vTinwald Orange (Tinwald
Black, Hampstead Lowcliffe) 5.25 pm
Wakanui v Hampstead/Wakanui (Allenton,
Tinwald Orange) 6.50 pm Tinwald Black v
Hampstead Lowcliffe (Wakanui, Hampstead/
Wakanui)
Tuesday 29th September, 7:30pm
Tickets from $79.90
With astellar NZ cast, where some have returned
from performing on the great stages of the Westend
and Broadway, The Show’s Must Go On is a
glittering concert of musical theatre showstoppers.
This blockbusting two-hour show features favourite
songs from the world’s greatest musicals in concert
including The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, The Sound of Music, Mamma Mia, The Lion
King, Wicked, Dear Evan Hansen, The Book of Mormon ,The Greatest Showman and more,
along of course with New Zealand’s favourite musical Les Misérables.
The amazing pleasure to your ears will only be matched with the feast for your eyes, with
spectacular backdrops coupled with exquisite lighting that portrays the emotion and beauty
of each piece.
The Abba Show
Red Carpet event
Friday 9th and 10th October 7-30pm
Tickets from $27 (fees apply)
Featuring songs from legendarysong writers likeElton John, Billy
Joel,The Beatles,Queen, Pink,Totoand Cold Play,and performed
by acastof70performers,RocknPop is atributetothe talent
within our community, in supportofour performing arts venue.
Under the direction of Producer and Musical Director, Jo Castelow,
DirectorRoger Farr and Choreographer Jessie Thompson, RocknPop will be the perfect night
out listening to sound dripping harmonyinafull stage production that will shakeoffthe post
lockdown blues.
Funds raised will go towardsanupgrade of the technical infrastructure, that will benefit the
communityinthe future.
Hopetoun Brown –Arts On Tour
Sunday 6th December 8pm
Adults $71.15, Child 12 &under $31.85 &
Groups of 10+ $66.15
Direct from Australia, the world’s premier live ABBA
tribute is back by popular demand after asell-out
mega NZ concert tour in 2018!
Far from being ‘just another cover band” The ABBA
Show is afull scale concert production featuring
more than 2hours of fun, energetic musical performances with alive backing band, replica
costumes, theatrical lighting and effects and all the dancing an ABBA fan can handle.
The ABBA Show gives fans of all ages achance to re-live the ABBA concert experience,
celebrate the music of ABBA and dance the night away!
Thursday 22nd October 7-30pm
These three multi instrumentalists travel with aboot
load of exotic instruments. Bass, clarinets, tubas and
trombones are swapped for trumpets, saxophones and
an assortment of keyboard instruments.
If you are looking for ajazz journey that starts in New
Orleans and ends at your back door, this is your night.
Book at our ticket office
Open Hat
03 307 2010 211A Wills Street, Ashburton 7700
admin@ateventcentre.co.nz
2309566