Brilliant sunshine and a lively crowd made Connect Day 2021 a day to enjoy.

Connect Day is a joint project between the Oak Development Trust and Canterbury University, to promote relationships and help residents meet their neighbours. Here is a gallery of pics from the afternoon. (Click on an image to see a larger version.)

Demolition has begun of the old Riccarton Community Centre in Clarence St.

The centre was part of the headquarters of the former Riccarton Borough Council, which was originally formed in 1913,one of the last borough councils to be established in Christchurch.

Residents of the western end of Elizabeth Street have now been blocked permanently from driving into Wainui Street.

The permanent closure yesterday is part of work being carried out to build the South Express Cycleway, that will link Templeton to Christchurch. The only access to the western end of Elizabeth Street from now on will be from Centennial Avenue.

This street closure is one of a number of traffic changes that will have a significant impact on the surrounding area.

In a surprise move, Mike Mora has been re-elected as chairman of the Waipuna/Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board.

Up to only a week or so ago, it was anticipated that Mr Mora would hand over the chairmanship to deputy chairman Andrei Moore. This was a move signalled by Mr Mora at the first meeting of the board following last year’s local body elections, when a resolution to that effect was passed.

 However, events were turned on their head at the board’s meeting last evening. When nominations were called for the position of chaiman, Mr Mora was the only name put forward. And member Helen Broughton was nominated and chosen for the position of deputy chairman, with Andrei Moore not standing.