Better roads - The Oborne Family.
“I certainly feel the quality of the roading has deteriorated over the years I’ve lived here. And there’s not enough preventative maintenance done, so when we get some bad weather, the road gets badly damaged.”
Living on the family farm, 15 minutes from Akaroa, the Obornes - Bill, Charlotte and their daughters Jodie, Penny and Molly - reckon they have the best of both worlds.
They are surrounded by stunning Banks Peninsula scenery on their sheep and cattle farm, but Akaroa’s just down the road, and they make the trip in to Christchurch at least once a week.
Community is hugely important to them, and with all three children at Akaroa school, they’re very much connected with what’s going on in the area.
“We’ve got a great farming community out here,” says Charlotte. “But we’ve also got the town, the school and connections through the girls’ sports teams. It’s a great mix.”
When you live remotely, your road is your lifeline. With school drop-offs and pick-ups, and the day to day business of running a farm, the Obornes are up and down the road multiple times a day.
They’re also noticing an increasing number of tourists coming up to see the lighthouse at the end of their road.
“Roading is a big issue for us,” says Bill. “I certainly feel the quality of the roading has deteriorated over the years I’ve lived here. And there’s not enough preventative maintenance done, so when we get some bad weather, the road gets badly damaged.”