Christchurch City Council supporting cultural diversity
Supporting the Safer Christchurch Interagency Group and other safety initiatives
In2008, a new campaign for international students was launched by Christchurch City Council and its six Canterbury partners. The aim of this ‘Safer Students’ campaign is for Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Christchurch City Council, NZ Police, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, University of Canterbury, Lincoln University and the Human Rights Commission to join together in welcoming the city's international student population.
In August, the Mayor launched the Report-it website, which allows students who experience racial harassment, or witnesses such incidents, to lodge complaints. These reports may be anonymous.
The Council also leads the Safer Christchurch Interagency Group which focuses on on injury prevention, road safety and crime prevention. Christchurch City Council was designated a World Health Organisation International Safe Community in 2008.
The Council has installed an integrated artwork at the Jane Steward Reserve that serves as an entrance way to the Paa Harakeke (Flax Garden). The entrance way also provides users with information on the cultural importance of harakeke and the correct way to harvest. This information provides both cultural and physical safety.
Further info: Cultural diversity
Westburn and Waimairi schools
Putting the Christchurch Road Safety Strategy into action
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- Pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and people with disabilities can safely move around our city
The Road Safety Coordinating Committee has been meeting in Christchurch for over 20 years. The committee is involved in numerous activities that make Christchurch roads safer.
One of their programmes is ensuring that children get to school more safely, and if the alternative to vehicle transport involves physical activity, more healthily also.
Events such as the 'Walk or Wheel Wednesday' competition encourages schools to think about and act on what are the best choices to make when travelling to school. During the event classes try to get as many students as they can walking or wheeling at least the last 10 minutes of their journey to school. In 2006, 31 schools participated in the event.
Two schools that have embraced safe travel to school are Waimairi and Westburn. They are the first schools in Christchurch to have their own Travel Plan. The plans aim to promote practical alternatives to car travel for journeys to and from school, to help reduce traffic congestion and chaos at the school gate, and also to address safety concerns. The schools hope the plans will encourage their children to be healthier and more active, create a more pleasant environment and improve energy efficiency.
Further info: Safe routes
Injury Prevention Co-ordinating Committee
Reducing injuries in Christchurch
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- Excellent support and prevention services are readily available
In 2005, the Injury Prevention Coordinating Committee was set up to reduce the incidence of injury in Christchurch This is a multi agency group consisting of: Accident Compensation Corporation; Canterbury District Health Board; Christchurch City Council; Falls prevention – Presbyterian Support, Fire Service, Land Transport New Zealand, Neighbourhood Support Canterbury, Police, Safe Kids Coalition, South Island Injury Prevention Coordinator, Suicide Prevention Institute New Zealand – SPINZ, Sport Canterbury and St John.
In the immediate future the group will focus on sharing information and data, collaborating on injury prevention programmes, and identifying information/programme gaps. There will be particular focus placed on suicide and self harm, falls in older adults, sporting injuries, childhood injuries, and minimising alcohol related injuries. Effort will be put into supporting neighbourhood based initiatives.
Further info: ACC injury prevention
Safer Christchurch Inter Agency Group and Partners
Family violence social marketing campaign
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- We feel safe in our homes and neighbourhoods.
- Excellent support and prevention services are readily available.
The purpose of this long term project is to change attitudes and behaviours to prevent family violence in Christchurch. The key messages of the project are:
- Family violence is preventable – attitudes and behaviours can change.
- preventing family violence is a public issue – it’s everyone’s business.
- Community action can change the nation’s culture of tolerance to family violence.
The project is being run by the Safer Christchurch Interagency Group; Canterbury Abuse Intervention Project (CAIP) and Christchurch Family Safety Team
The principles of the project are:
- Communities working together can make a difference.
- Communities are change agents.
- Family violence is not normal or acceptable.
- All sectors, organisations, groups and people have a role to play in communicating the key messages that family violence is preventable; preventing family violence is a public issue and community action can change our nation’s culture of tolerance to family violence.
Over the coming months and years the project activities will include:
- Engage with local community networks to promote key education awareness messages using the Community Action Toolkit to Prevent Family Violence.
- Promote messages in malls, libraries and at events.
- Work through local media to raise awareness.
- Develop free resources such as posters, stickers, water bottles.
- Promote messages through work places.
Further info: Safer Christchurch
The Safer Christchurch Interagency Group
Aiming for World Health Organistation Safe Community Accreditation
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- Excellent support and prevention services are readily available.
The Safer Christchurch Interagency Group is playing a role in the coordination of resources to ensure Christchurch gains World Health Organisation (WHO) Safe Community accreditation. The WHO Safe Communities model is internationally recognised as an effective, beneficial and sustainable way to improve community safety and reduce the incidence and/or severity of injuries in the community.
Co-ordination is the key, because it:
Ensures a planned approach to safety
Builds local partnerships
Ensures the best use of resources
Creates community ownership of issues.
Christchurch won the bid to host the 17th International Safe Communities Conference in 2008, with the support of the Safer Christchurch Interagency Group and Safe Communities Foundation New Zealand.
Further info: Safer Christchurch
