New Storywalk Coming To Rangiora

Wednesday, 19 February 2025, 9:32 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

Walking and storytelling is set to become a permanent attraction in a Rangiora reserve.

Rangiora-Ashley Community Board chairperson Jim Gerard said it was easy decision for the board to support the establishment of a permanent storywalk in the Northbrook Reserve in Rangiora, after a successful trial in June 2022.

‘‘We did it a couple of years ago and it was greeted by the public with plenty of enthusiasm, and one of our current councillors dressed as a bird at our launch,’’ Mr Gerard said after last week’s board meeting.

At a cost of $6500, Mr Gerard said it was an inexpensive way to engage the public in the district’s reserves.

Waimakariri District Council staff plan to have the new storywalk ready to be launched in time for Parks Week, from March 3 to 10.

Approval has already be received to feature the story ‘‘Five Wee Pūteketeke’’, a bilingual story about the crested grebe, a native bird known to visit Northbrook Reserve wetlands.

It will comprise 10 storyboards consisting of timber posts with ACM (aluminum composite material) steel panels, which will allow the story boards to be easily slotted in to change the story over time.

A temporary storywalk was launched at Northbrook Reserve in Rangiora on Matariki Day in June 2022 and remained onsite for two months.

It featured the story ‘‘The Little Kiwi’s Matariki’’ by Nikki Slade Robinson.

Councillor Jason Goldsworthy, who was a first term board member at the time, dressed as Puke the Pukeko for the launch.

A second temporary storywalk was erected in Te Korotuaheka / Honda Forest in Kaiapoi from September 21 to October 23, featuring the story ‘‘There’s a Tui in Our Teapot’’.

The storywalks are a collaborative project between the council’s greenspace team and Waimakariri Libraries, with staff planning to roll them out in other parts of the district.

Storywalks are an international initiative aimed at promoting fun, learning and connecting with nature.

They have been created in other parts of New Zealand, including the Gore, Hastings, and Napier.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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