Latest news with #MDRS
Otago Daily Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Council unlocks land for up to 17,000 homes in Canterbury
Land for up to 17,000 homes in the Waimakariri district will be unlocked - but there is no room for an 850-home development at Ohoka. Waimakariri District Council adopted its revised District Plan on Tuesday, opening up land for housing in Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend and Oxford. Mayor Dan Gordon said the new plan will provide land for between 14,000 and 17,000 new houses over the next 30 years, allowing the population to grow from 74,000 to around 100,000. ''This is a momentous day and probably one of the biggest decisions this council will make.'' Councillor Tim Fulton hailed it as a ''once in a generation'' decision. New housing developments in Rangiora include a new west Rangiora sub-division, development around Rangiora Airfield, and the expanding Bellgrove sub-division to the east. In Kaiapoi, land has been opened up to the south near Hellers and the Beach Grove sub-division is expanding. At Woodend, there will be a new development at Gressons Road, while Oxford has a new residential development in the town and a new large lot residential development on Ashley Gorge Road. But the commissioners recommended a proposed development by Carter Group at Ohoka be declined. It is the second time independent commissioners have rejected the development, after a private plan change was declined in November 2023. The proposed Ohoka housing development is still subject to an Environment Court appeal and was included for consideration in the Government's Fast-track Approvals Act. The west Rangiora and Gressons Road, Woodend developments were also included in the Fast-track Approvals Act for consideration. Work on the new District Plan began in 2016 and it was first notified in September 2021. But it has not been helped by changing Government legislation. The new medium density residential housing standards (MDRS), announced in November 2021, forced the council to do a separate consultation process to consider a variation to the District Plan. It allows for three units and up to three storeys, subject to conditions, and has been applied to Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend, Pegasus and Ravenswood, meaning there is potential for up to 80,000 new houses. ''We could have stopped this process because change was coming, but we needed to create a plan for our district now, regardless of what might change in the future,'' Mr Gordon said. ''This plan brings us as up to date as we can be.'' The council's development planning manager Matt Bacon said how many new houses are built will depend on housing density. ''We need to make some assumptions around housing density. Technically it would give us capacity for 80,000 properties. ''But practically we know that is not going to happen.'' There are new categories to comply with national planning standards, with rural residential being replaced by large lot residential (4ha) and rural lifestyle (1ha). New business zones include town centres, neighbourhood centres, local centres and industrial zones. The council plans to notify the new District Plan on July 14 and there will be a 30-day appeal period for submitters. The District Plan received strong support from councillors, with just councillor Paul Williams abstaining. He was one of several councillors to raise concerns about the inclusion of the MDRS rules. Drop-in sessions are planned to update residents on the new plan. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
1News
24-06-2025
- Business
- 1News
'Momentous': Canterbury council unlocks land for up to 17,000 homes
Land for up to 17,000 homes in the Waimakariri district will be unlocked — but there is no room for an 850-home development at Ohoka. Waimakariri District Council adopted its revised District Plan on Tuesday, opening up land for housing in Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend and Oxford. Mayor Dan Gordon said the new plan will provide land for between 14,000 and 17,000 new houses over the next 30 years, allowing the population to grow from 74,000 to around 100,000. "This is a momentous day and probably one of the biggest decisions this council will make." Councillor Tim Fulton hailed it as a "once-in-a-generation" decision. ADVERTISEMENT New housing developments in Rangiora include a new west Rangiora sub-division, development around Rangiora Airfield, and the expanding Bellgrove sub-division to the east. In Kaiapoi, land has been opened up to the south near Hellers and the Beach Grove sub-division is expanding. At Woodend, there will be a new development at Gressons Rd, while Oxford has a new residential development in the town and a new large lot residential development on Ashley Gorge Rd. But the commissioners recommended a proposed development by Carter Group at Ohoka be declined. It is the second time independent commissioners have rejected the development, after a private plan change was declined in November 2023. The Waimakariri District Plan allows for more housing growth. (Source: David Hill / North Canterbury News) The proposed Ohoka housing development is still subject to an Environment Court appeal and was included for consideration in the Government's Fast-track Approvals Act. ADVERTISEMENT The west Rangiora and Gressons Rd, Woodend developments were also included in the Fast-track Approvals Act for consideration. Work on the new District Plan began in 2016 and it was first notified in September 2021. But it has not been helped by changing Government legislation. The new medium density residential housing standards (MDRS), announced in November 2021, forced the council to do a separate consultation process to consider a variation to the District Plan. It allows for three units and up to three storeys, subject to conditions, and has been applied to Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend, Pegasus and Ravenswood, meaning there is potential for up to 80,000 new houses. "We could have stopped this process because change was coming, but we needed to create a plan for our district now, regardless of what might change in the future," Gordon said. "This plan brings us as up to date as we can be." ADVERTISEMENT The council's development planning manager Matt Bacon said how many new houses are built will depend on housing density. "We need to make some assumptions around housing density. Technically it would give us capacity for 80,000 properties. "But practically we know that is not going to happen." There are new categories to comply with national planning standards, with rural residential being replaced by large lot residential (4 hectares) and rural lifestyle (1 hectares). New business zones include town centres, neighbourhood centres, local centres and industrial zones. The council plans to notify the new District Plan on July 14 and there will be a 30-day appeal period for submitters. The District Plan received strong support from councillors, with just councillor Paul Williams abstaining. ADVERTISEMENT He was one of several councillors to raise concerns about the inclusion of the MDRS rules. Drop-in sessions are planned to update residents on the new plan. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Canterbury council unlocks land for up to 17,000 homes
Land for up to 17,000 homes in the Waimakariri district will be unlocked - but there is no room for an 850-home development at Ohoka. Waimakariri District Council adopted its revised District Plan on Tuesday, opening up land for housing in Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend and Oxford. Mayor Dan Gordon said the new plan will provide land for between 14,000 and 17,000 new houses over the next 30 years, allowing the population to grow from 74,000 to around 100,000. ''This is a momentous day and probably one of the biggest decisions this council will make.'' Councillor Tim Fulton hailed it as a ''once in a generation'' decision. New housing developments in Rangiora include a new west Rangiora sub-division, development around Rangiora Airfield, and the expanding Bellgrove sub-division to the east. In Kaiapoi, land has been opened up to the south near Hellers and the Beach Grove sub-division is expanding. At Woodend, there will be a new development at Gressons Road, while Oxford has a new residential development in the town and a new large lot residential development on Ashley Gorge Road. But the commissioners recommended a proposed development by Carter Group at Ohoka be declined. It is the second time independent commissioners have rejected the development, after a private plan change was declined in November 2023. The proposed Ohoka housing development is still subject to an Environment Court appeal and was included for consideration in the Government's Fast-track Approvals Act. The west Rangiora and Gressons Road, Woodend developments were also included in the Fast-track Approvals Act for consideration. Work on the new District Plan began in 2016 and it was first notified in September 2021. But it has not been helped by changing Government legislation. The new medium density residential housing standards (MDRS), announced in November 2021, forced the council to do a separate consultation process to consider a variation to the District Plan. It allows for three units and up to three storeys, subject to conditions, and has been applied to Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend, Pegasus and Ravenswood, meaning there is potential for up to 80,000 new houses. ''We could have stopped this process because change was coming, but we needed to create a plan for our district now, regardless of what might change in the future,'' Mr Gordon said. ''This plan brings us as up to date as we can be.'' The council's development planning manager Matt Bacon said how many new houses are built will depend on housing density. ''We need to make some assumptions around housing density. Technically it would give us capacity for 80,000 properties. ''But practically we know that is not going to happen.'' There are new categories to comply with national planning standards, with rural residential being replaced by large lot residential (4ha) and rural lifestyle (1ha). New business zones include town centres, neighbourhood centres, local centres and industrial zones. The council plans to notify the new District Plan on July 14 and there will be a 30-day appeal period for submitters. The District Plan received strong support from councillors, with just councillor Paul Williams abstaining. He was one of several councillors to raise concerns about the inclusion of the MDRS rules. Drop-in sessions are planned to update residents on the new plan. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Against all odds: Students from Karnataka residential schools secure top ranks in SSLC exams
MYSURU: In a remarkable testament to resilience and opportunity, the 2025 SSLC results from Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS) residential schools underscore the transformative power of education for underprivileged students. Children from marginalised backgrounds-offspring of watchmen, midday meal cooks, and daily wage labourers-have not only excelled, but claimed top ranks across the state. The SSLC exam results were released earlier in May. Pruthvisha Govinda Gollarahalli, a student at Morarji Desai Residential School (MDRS) in Makanur, Haveri, clinched the state's first rank, scoring a perfect 625/625. His father, Govinda, a bike showroom watchman, and mother, Mamata, a midday meal cook, beamed with pride. "We anticipated strong results, but the top rank was beyond our dreams," Govinda said. Pruthvisha, who studied 12 hours daily, aspires to become an IAS officer. "My teachers and school made this possible," he said, crediting them for their unwavering support. Savitri Roni, a MDRS student from Halabhavi, Belagavi, scored 624/625. Her father, Lakshmana, an attendant at a private physiotherapy college, and her homemaker mother, Kamalavva, supported her despite financial hardship. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo "My parents' encouragement, coupled with digital skills training, sports, and 5-6 hours of daily reading, kept me focused," Savitri said, thanking her principal and teachers. Bhoomika Suresh Okkaliga, from Kittur Rani Channamma Residential Sainik School in Uttara Kannada, also scored 624/625. Raised by daily wage labourers, she plans to pursue science in higher studies. "We supported the education of all our children as it is key for empowerment ," said her father, Suresha, despite their economic struggles. This year, 34,984 students from 788 KREIS schools appeared for the SSLC exams, achieving 91% pass rate. Notably, 34% earned distinctions, 56% secured first-class results, and 247 students shared the top 10 state ranks. Over 19% scored between 90% and 100%, a feat KREIS attributes to meticulous academic strategies. According to KREIS officials, success stems from rigorous planning, including timely syllabus completion, periodic assessments, and tailored remedial measures for slower learners. Micro-plans at the school level analyse student performance by subject and chapter, while macro-plans involve expert-led online orientations and teacher workshops. A dedicated Master Resource Persons team curates study materials and past papers, ensuring comprehensive preparation. Mobile-free campuses, co-curricular activities, and an Academic Excellence Committee further bolster holistic development, they explained. Many have qualified for JEE In the PUC level, 132 students qualified in the JEE Mains exam 2025, while 3 students qualified in the JEE Advanced exam 2025. 517 students qualified in NEET UG, out of which 329 students are expected to get seats in various medical and other colleges. A total of 4,213 students secured ranking in the K-CET exam 2025. As per the cut-off rank for various categories for engineering admissions under govt quota, 2,688 students are expected to get admission in good engineering colleges.
The Spinoff
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Spinoff
The government is fed up with councils taking the piss on housing
An artist's impression of councils' piss-taking apparatus, and Chris Bishop (; design The Spinoff) They've built aqueducts for the piss. A state-of-the-art municipal pipe network purely for transporting the piss. Chris Bishop started his speech at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday paying tribute to an unlikely list of allies. Labour's Phil Twyford deserved 'great credit' for pushing through the pro-housing National Policy Statement on Urban Development in mid-2020. Wellington City councillor and Green Party candidate Rebecca Matthews had the commitment and tenacity to push for a district plan that 'actually supports and enables growth' over the despairing cries of independent commissioners who spent several thousand words arguing a train is not a train . But when it came time to talk about local government at large, the mood soured. It was 'inarguable, and sometimes uncomfortable' that councils had been one of the largest barriers to housing growth in New Zealand, Bishop said. To say they'd dragged their feet on following government instructions to zone for more apartments and townhouses was 'an understatement'. The minister didn't state it outright, but a sophisticated analysis of his speech by The Spinoff has revealed a clear message: councils have been absolutely taking the piss on housing. The NPS-UD, which called for local governments to allow apartments around rapid transit, was passed in 2020. Its successor, the MDRS, which ordered them to zone for up to three townhouses on almost every residential section, was passed in 2021. Several councils have spent large chunks of the years since drilling boreholes to access reservoirs of the piss. Building aqueducts for the piss. Constructing municipal pipe networks entirely for transporting the piss. Image: Getty Images/Tina Tiller The most elaborate systems have been developed in our two largest cities. Auckland, when faced with instructions to upzone places with good access to the city centre and rapid transit, spent months creating a bespoke, legally adventurous system to prevent any development near the villas with good access to the city centre and rapid transit . Its efforts to enshrine 'special character' areas in amber were so clearly contrary to the spirit of the law that one Labour MP who helped write the MDRS spluttered incredulously over the phone when talking about them, repeating 'it's just something they've made up', and 'I don't know where they've dreamed it up'. After spending all its time checking the 'architectural integrity' of renovated villas rather than looking at actual barriers to development such as flood risk, Auckland Council complained it had been forced to upzone flood-prone areas and asked for an extension on implementing the law. Bishop, presumably after giving a sigh like a tomb door swinging open, granted its request . Even these efforts fall short of the creative piss extraction and transportation technology on display in Christchurch, where in 2022 the council pioneered a novel approach to democracy and political authority by simply voting not to follow the law . It followed that with an attempt to introduce new development restrictions on all residential sites to ensure access to the city's special sunlight. Christchurch residents have proved resistant to other regionally specific lawmaking, such as my proposal to tax Aucklanders at a reduced rate to offset the city's high cost of living. Through all of this, council planners have continued to deny developments for myriad creative reasons , including insulting the memory of trains that didn't exist, compromising motorway drivers' connection to a small hill, or sullying the heritage value of a Mobil station and a carpark. Even several councillors spoken to by The Spinoff conceded their colleagues have been too focused on harvesting water, bodily waste, salt and electrolytes. 'Yes we have taken the piss,' said Christchurch councillor Andreij Moore. His council hadn't acted strategically. '[We] tried to object to intensification everywhere we possibly could and delay as many years as we could.' Auckland councillor Shane Henderson was initially reluctant to make the same admission, but folded after being furnished with some specific examples. 'OK look, they have been taking the piss in some ways, but it's getting better. Attempting to put heritage protections on a gravel pit on K Rd is definitely taking the piss,' he said. He quickly remembered another example. 'OK I'll also contend that putting special character protections on a vast majority of several city-area suburbs is also taking the piss.' Henderson was then reminded about the complicated system his council developed to assess those 'character' areas. 'Yep, taking the piss, I agree,' he said. It's clear that Bishop has had it up to here with all this. 'Yes,' he replied In response to a direct, on the record, yes or no question from The Spinoff on whether councils have been taking the piss on housing. In recent months, he's rejected Christchurch council's proposed special sunlight housing exemption, and asked Auckland Council to please for the love of God finally upzone around the City Rail Link that it and the government have just spent nearly $6 billion on. The Spinoff responded with the thumbs up emoji In his speech on Wednesday, he revealed another new tool in the piss-taking prevention toolbox. If the government deems that councils have been negatively impacting 'economic growth, development capacity, or employment', it will be allowed to override their district plans. It's an extreme measure, and one Bishop said would only be in place until larger Resource Management Act reforms are passed. But if councils are offended, they could stand to look out the window at the vast apparatus they built for extracting, processing and distributing the piss across town centres and suburbs. Now they've been ordered to tear down that industrial-scale operation they've spent years constructing, perhaps we can finally build some houses instead.
