Manawatu Guardian

Musical classics to delight children

- Rachel Keedwell Opinion From Rachel’s desk Rachel Keedwell is chairwoman of Horizons Regional Council.

The Michelle Robinson Dance Theatre presents The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Peter and the Wolf.

The two traditiona­l children’s musical classics have been choreograp­hed as a

dance double bill for children of all ages. The soloists will be Jade Anderson, Sara Wilson and Aimee Hagger.

There will also be a dance showcase of classical ballet, tap, contempora­ry and jazz.

The show will be at the Globe Theatre on June 19 and 20, 2pm. Tickets from the venue, adults $17, children (under 17) $10.

Macular Degenerati­on New Zealand is hosting a free awareness seminar in Palmerston North on Saturday, June 26.

Ophthalmol­ogist Dr John Ah-Chan will share the latest informatio­n on treatments and the management of this eye disease.

Informatio­n packs will be available.

Macular degenerati­on is the leading cause of blindness in New Zealand, with one in seven people over 50 years of age having some evidence of this disease, and the incidence increasing with age.

Many people dismiss the early warning signs of macular degenerati­on, accepting vision loss as a normal part of ageing.

Macular degenerati­on affects the central vision, resulting in the inability to drive, read, watch TV, undertake many hobbies, and recognise faces.

Macular Degenerati­on New Zealand is a charitable trust that aims to reduce the incidence and impact of macular degenerati­on. The trust’s vision is that no one should be blind due to treatable macular degenerati­on.

The 90-minute seminar starts at 10am at the Globe Theatre.

To register, phone 0800 MACULA (622 852), email info@mdnz. org.nz or go online to mdnz.org.nz/publicsemi­nar-sign-up.

What do you value when you think of freshwater? From having a shower, refilling your water bottle and watering your garden, to taking a refreshing dip at your local swim spot, walking by the river or purchasing fresh vegetables — everyone in Aotearoa has some kind of relationsh­ip to freshwater, whether that be recreation­al, spiritual, commercial or industrial.

Horizons Regional Council is seeking to understand how the community and tangata whenua value freshwater to help guide the future protection of this important resource.

Your feedback will help inform Horizons’ implementa­tion of central government’s National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, which came into effect last September.

The policy statement is part of a wider package called Essential Freshwater that aims to stop further degradatio­n of New Zealand’s freshwater resources and to restore waterways and ecosystems to a healthy state within a generation.

These reforms also provide regional councils with direction on how to manage freshwater and an opportunit­y for us — alongside our communitie­s — to set a regional direction.

To give effect to this new policy framework, Horizons will need to rewrite its own regional policy plans by 2024. This first round of community engagement will help us gain an understand­ing of what is most important to you in relation to freshwater now and for future generation­s. Alongside this engagement, we are also ensuring a decision-making partnershi­p model with tangata whenua.

Horizons has an active role in managing freshwater within our region.

In addition to regulatory work where we oversee and monitor the use of freshwater, we have also secured central government funding for Jobs for Nature projects that progresses water quality interventi­ons for Lake Horowhenua, increases our planting and fencing work to protect waterways, and fixes barriers to native fish passage.

While we are seeing improvemen­ts in some areas we know things such as a warmer climate and the pressures on land use and developmen­t will continue to play a part in the future of both the quantity and quality of freshwater.

Freshwater is one of our most precious resources. It enables our communitie­s to thrive socially, culturally, economical­ly and environmen­tally.

Kei te ora te wai, kei te ora te whenua, kei te ora te tangata — if the water is healthy, the land and the people are nourished.

We have provided an online platform at haveyoursa­y.horizons.nz as a way to gather your thoughts.

We know things such as a warmer climate and the pressures on land use and developmen­t will continue to play a part in the future of both the quantity and quality of freshwater.

Rachel Keedwell

You can also find more informatio­n about all things freshwater on our website, horizons. govt.nz. Alternativ­ely, residents can email info@ ourfreshwa­terfuture.nz or send a letter to Freepost 217922, Private Bag 11025, Manawatu¯ Mail Centre, Palmerston North 4414.

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