Te Awamutu News | November 3, 2022

Many happy returns Church seals deals for Waipā Iwi

By Benjamin Wilson

Waipā Iwi and the Anglican Church are about to make history for the second time in a week.

The church will transfer the land deed for 61 Rangiaowhia Road to Ngāti Apakura and Ngāti Hinetū during a ceremony on Saturday.

They purchased the historically significant whenua from a private seller in March, with the intention of giving it to the mana whenua when they were in a position to purchase it for themselves.

furnishers murray hunt

In April the whenua was blessed by the church during a service that acknowledged their support for the hapu.

“The support that we offer must be real, it must be down to earth, it must be total. This opportunity for land return represents something of that support today and forever,” said Archbishop Philip Richardson.

The upcoming transition of ownership comes just a week after they returned a taonga to Ngāti Maniapoto in honour of Te Pūtake o te Riri, He Rā Maumahara – a

Commemoration of the New Zealand Land Wars.

Last Saturday the Church returned a chiefly kaitaka (cloak) that belonged to the Ngāti Maniapoto chieftain Rewi Maniapoto to his iwi during a service at Ōrākau.

“It was a great privilege for the Anglican Church to be asked by Ngāti Maniapoto to find and negotiate the return of the unique kaitaka of Rewi Maniapoto,” said bishop David Moxon.

Rewi was a leader of the Kīngitanga movement, and played

a critical role in defending Ōrākau Paewai during the Waikato Wars of 1864.

Moxon said his kaitaka was lost in a linen cupboard in England for 140 years.

“Because the family who owned it were Anglican, Maniapoto approached the Anglican Church to talk to them about getting it back,” he said.

Rewi gifted his kaitaka to a pākehā neighbour, Thomas Grice, as an offer of reconciliation and renewed partnership in 1878.

But Grice returned to England

and Rewi’s cloak was lost to history until it was rediscovered by a descendant in 2019.

“We then arranged a slow and confidential process to secure it,” said Moxon.

He said that Rewi was a supporter of the first missions in the Waipā area in the mid-1800s, and that the church’s help to return his kaitaka “was a way of respecting that partnership.”

“It was an act for both parties to meet again under new circumstances.”

Rewi Maniapoto’s kaitaka was returned to Ngāti Maniapoto on Saturday.

Photo: Waikato Tainui

Fluoride – there’s no mystery here

The News ran an article in September headlined Fluoride call still a mystery.

By Penelope Roberts

I’m not sure why The News is still finding the Fluoride “call” a mystery. Perhaps they’re not listening to and reporting facts and overwhelming scientific evidence.

This issue is not just one of numbers and the council having to spend money on putting a naturally occurring mineral in our drinking water. It is an issue of health, wellbeing and kaitiakitanga of the future generations of New Zealanders.

My reply is from a professional perspective, with 30 years’ experience in science, dental surgery and education. The News likes to use numbers so I will start with a few.

Dental disease, dental decay and oral health infections are the number one reason children in all areas of New Zealand are admitted to Hospital. These are also the most common chronic diseases in our country not just for children but for all New Zealanders. These diseases are all preventable. Each hospital visit for one of our children costs approximately $3500.

The News has reported it will cost Waipa $480,000 initial costs and $130,000 annually, to maintain a fluoridated water supply. Much, if not all of this cost can be applied for through

the financial assistance package of $11.3 million, which is also quoted in the article.

A simple calculation suggests we would cover the costs of approximately 137 children with the equivalent of the initial set up costs and a further 37 children each year after that. This offsets the cost of a small number of the children who have decayed teeth in Te Awamutu, and Cambridge.

This is simple preventative medicine, not the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff medicine. These are only the monetary costs for treating these very sick young New Zealanders, usually under general anaesthetic, in our already overcrowded and overworked hospital systems.

The overall detriment to their general health, wellbeing, social and mental health and that of their families is unquantifiable.

Once these children, who are suffering with significant pain and disease have had some or all of their baby teeth removed they have difficulty eating, and therefore their diet and nutrition is compromised.

They have difficulty socially, speech development can be impaired and the eruption of adult teeth is compromised, leading to crowding and malfunction of the dentition.

Think of the baby teeth like trainer wheels one uses riding a bike, they are needed to learn all the above, and to guide the adult teeth into the correct position for optimal health and wellbeing.

As a result many hundreds New

Zealanders are growing up with significant oral health compromises. This has severe lifelong unquantifiable health consequences. Water fluoridation has, for over 60 years, been added in tiny amounts to some of New Zealanders water, creating huge oral health benefits.

There is an overwhelming body of scientific evidence showing the direct oral health benefits to all people drinking fluoridated water. Most recently (2009) showing a decrease in oral disease of 40 per cent in children and approximately 20-30 per cent in adults.

I would like anyone who is still feeling that this ‘call’ is a mystery to compare this huge body of evidence to absolutely no statistically significant evidence of the detrimental effects touted by a small number of yellow banner wavers at our roundabout.

• Dr Roberts is a Fencourt based dental surgeon, with experience in community, hospital, private and public dentistry in New Zealand and overseas.

On the beat Party time: so plan properly

Recently I have been speaking to safety around alcohol. With the hot weather now upon us and coming to the end of the year I thought I should follow up with advice around managing alcohol with teenagers.

rules can be somewhat confusing and if not managed can lead to police callouts. Police encourage parents and party hosts to be aware of their responsibilities when supplying alcohol to young people/minors/ persons who are under the purchase age.

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 has specific offences in relation to supplying alcohol to those under the purchase age. There are provisions for parents or guardians to supply alcohol to their child, or where express consent has been given, they may allow another person to supply alcohol to their child in a responsible manner.

If you are organising an after-ball event, be aware of legal obligations, specifically what constitutes ‘responsible manner’. Party hosts must meet responsibilities akin to those of

Ryan Fleming

Duty Managers of licenced premises. These responsibilities include:

• active supervision of young people/ minors/persons under the purchase age and alcohol

• provision of food

• choice of low or non-alcoholic drinks to be made available

• the nature event (including the size)

• provision of safe transport options home

• the period over which the alcohol is supplied

• the strength and volume of alcohol

• the age of the minor

• any other relevant matters.

If you are hosting an after-ball event ensure you have spoken to the parents of the young people/minors/persons under the purchase age to whom you are supplying alcohol, and that they have given their express permission. Both host and parents of attendees need to understand host responsibilities.

Ensure there is plenty of food, water as well as non-alcoholic drinks and everyone can get home safely.

Most importantly actively supervise your party to ensure young people/minors/ persons under the purchase age have a safe and positive experience.

If the event is anticipated to be large, consider hiring accredited security for the event.

Lastly, do not allow the invite to be public on social media. I’ll say that again. Do not let the event go public on social media. In the dark ages when I was a teenager there was no social media yet it seems there were gatecrashers at every event. I shudder to think how many more of these types of incidents are as a result of a party going viral on social media.

Contact your local police if you have any questions.

Briefs…

Prizegiving time

Te Awamutu College will hold its end of year senior prizegiving, which students have been rehearsing for throughout the week, tomorrow.

Vector reunion

Vector Company whānau will be in Te Awamutu over three days from November 11 to commemorate the infantry unit which served in Vietnam for six months from 1967 to 1968. The gathering is expected to attract 120 people and coincides with Armistice Day, November 11.

CAB’s birthday

The Te Awamutu Citizens Advice Bureau will be celebrating its official 40th anniversary next month. The organisation started operating in the 1970s but only became an official member of Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand in November 1982. The anniversary will be marked with a luncheon the Te Awamutu Returned and Services Association on December 8.

Protest meeting

A meeting held by the Don’t Burn Waipā movement has rallied against Te Awamutu’s proposed waste to energy plant. The Tuesday meeting was held at the Te Awamutu Library and encouraged participants to “discuss the proposal and get organised as a community to campaign against it.”

Plan in the running

Waipā’s first spatial plan is up for a major award less than half-way through its development. Ahu Ake –Waipā Community Spatial Plan has been named a finalist in the Asia Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards in the Community Impact category. The award entry is based on the GIS modelling work and StoryMaps which were created as part of the first stage of the project to understand what the future of the district could look like.

The story about Storey

By Mary Anne Gill

Pamela Storey is under no illusion she’s got a tough road ahead of her as Waikato Regional Council chair.

“I understand fully how big this role is,” she told The News this week.

It was the American’s name council chief executive Chris McLay pulled from a hat when there was a deadlock between her and Waipā-King Country’s Stu Kneebone last week.

And the same thing happened minutes later when two newcomers –Bruce Clarkson and Mich’eal Downard – faced up for the deputy’s role. Clarkson, an environmental scientist and professor at Waikato University, won the draw. Storey, 54, was at the centre of controversy in the last council when an independent investigation found evidence of bullying against her by fellow Waikato constituency member Fred Lichtwark.

Lichtwark is gone –replaced by Noel Smith who was in the camp wanting Kneebone as chair.

She will need to call on all her extensive governance experience to ensure the next three years is not dominated by petty politics and infighting.

“We have got very skilled people around that table. The key here is to identify where people see their ability to add the best value.”

Two workshops will be held before committee positions are confirmed on November 17.

Storey and husband Ian have owned and operated a dairy farm in Te Hoe, north Waikato since 2001, merging three farms into one operation with 480 cows.

The couple met in Seattle on a blind date. She had graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and had worked at a nuclear

power plant and was then at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state.

Moving from there to the Waikato, where her husband was the fourth generation dairy farmer on the land, was a big upheaval for her but one she says she has never regretted.

The couple have two children – Kayla, 23, who has just graduated from Lincoln University and works for the Alliance Group, and Brenna, 20, who is studying at Ara Institute of Canterbury.

The girls were very young in March 2005 when Storey lost all her hair within three weeks. Role modelling what she says was a “courageous choice” to her daughters was important.

“Alopecia is a challenging thing for anybody who has experienced it. While I’m bald and proud now, that was a process for me to get there.

“For me I needed to come to grips that this was me, that this is how I am as a human being and learning that sense of acceptance.

“Really, we should all be able to do that for ourselves and we should all be accepting of how anybody presents to us, how anybody embodies their presentation.”

Some hair has returned in the years since, but it has all been gone since 2015.

“So, I think we’re done and dusted up there,” she says pointing to her head and adding the importance of sunscreen on the dome and “real good powder to take down the shine.”

Other people with alopecia choose a variety of wigs. “That’s how they present themselves and good on them. We should all be able to adopt and accept whatever is right for us as individuals.”

Storey’s work in New Zealand has been in energy, renewable generation, energy efficiency and environmental organisations.

Governance roles started with the Huntly Energy Efficiency Trust, the Orini School board of trustees and latterly as Rabobank Upper North Island Client Council chair and Dairy Women’s Network chair.

She was first elected to the regional council three years ago and chaired the powerful Strategy and Policy committee.

The troubled time on council had her seriously considering whether to stand again but when she did, her strong community relationships saw her comfortably re-elected.

“When people asked me if I was willing to put my hand up again, I said yes.”

She points to her 20 years’ governance experience as proof the chair role is well within her capabilities.

Chairing the ‘all of council’ Strategy committee showed

returning councillors what sort of chair she was.

“We had really challenging discussions that came through there.”

Back to the problems ahead though and Storey is confident the councillors can put those to one side.

“We make better decisions when they are informed by a collection of experiences and views and one of the things that I feel I’ve enjoyed and benefitted from in my life are a variety of experiences.

“That’s about being willing to put your hand up even when you might be a little scared about your ability to do something. It’s about taking on a challenge and backing yourself and making sure you’ve got people around you like my fabulous husband, Ian.”

The key, she says, is respectful and robust debate. Time will tell.

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Family celebration: Pamela and Ian Storey with daughters Kayla and Brenna at Kayla’s recent graduation from Lincoln University.

Photo: Supplied

Bald and proud: Pamela Storey, on her north Waikato dairy farm, first had alopecia (hair loss) in 2005 and now accepts her hair is never growing back. Photo: Stephen Barker.

Sale complete for Hedley

By Roy Pilott

Hedley Edwards jokingly refers to it as a weapon.

It’s the Case IH tractor he sold for Giltrap Agrizone Cambridge in August last year to Jeff Weake.

But a couple of months later Edwards was in Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, rather than at work - he had been critically injured when a tree fell on the ute he was driving on Raynes Rd Rukuhia.

The crash left him paralysed, and doctors were prepared to give bad news even if he survived.

He did – and defied a series of odds to be back at his old work this week when Weake came to collect the keys for his “weapon”.

Staff gathered to catch up with their former workmate, and dad of three, who enjoyed some humorous banter in between posing for pictures.

And he takes a philosophical view on life.

“They say that if the ute hit that tree 1000 times I should have died 1000 times. Every day is a day I shouldn’t have – so why be down?”

Edwards said the prognosis for him was consistently bad after he

was taken to hospital in an induced coma.

“I wasn’t going to wake up, then if I did I would have brain damage, then I wouldn’t be able to breath unassisted – then I would have no movement from the

chest down.”

He’s managed to beat the odds on all four of those counts – “but they don’t know how much more recovery I will make”.

He said the first 18 months are significant in terms

of recovery and involves intensive work.

There has been some community help too. More than $50,000 was raised in a month before Christmas last year via a social media appeal. His partner,

Samantha Solomon, said at the time she agreed to the appeal “once I got my head around the future and everything we would end up needing”.

Edwards was delighted to see the “weapon” when he

made his second return visit to his former workplace this week.

The Case IH Maxxum Active Drive 8 was custom ordered with a black paint finish, one of the reasons it took time to arrive in the showroom.

Jeff Weake was pleased too - and that’s no surprise. Climb up three rungs on the ladder to get into the cab and the expression on top of the world comes to mind. It’s not quite the cockpit of a large aircraft, but you get the idea.

Sales manager John Earnshaw outlined the specs - 150hp Tier 5, 6 cylinder engine with 25hp boost, new active drive transmission with double clutch technology, 50km/h with front suspension, front linkage and PTO (power take-off), deluxe cab and operator’s seat and the latest automated farming systems technology.

Ahead of driving it back to his Whatawhata farm, Weake indicated that with the bridge to bridge water ski race, from Hamilton Taupiri return coming up this weekend, he would have it out to tow a boat.

Oh, and he plans to take Hedley out to Raglan for some fishing.

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Hedley Edwards and Jeff Weake, who had the keys to his new big black tractor.

Enrolment scheme tweaked

By Benjamin Wilson

Te Awamutu College’s new enrolment zone has taken feedback into consideration.

The scheme was finalised by the Ministry of Education on August 25, after its draft was amended to take into account feedback presented, including at a meeting in July.

“The things that were highlighted to the ministry by us and the parents were taken on board. You’re never going to please anyone but I think we got as close to that as we could,” said Te Awamutu College Board of Trustees chairperson, Craig Yarndley

Parents from rural communities were the most concerned and feared the scheme would separate students from their friends and networks.

At the meeting a Ngutunui resident said the proposed scheme would destroy the feel of their community, and a Te Pahu resident said they felt like the scheme would cut their community in half.

“Pretty much all of the points raised have been taken into consideration and have been built into the scheme,” said Yarndley.

Ministry of Education deputy secretary Jocelyn Mikaere said the plan was amended to include the entire Korakonui School zone, further areas in Ngutunui including the noexit Potts and Robertson Roads, the whole Te Pahu school transport entitlement zone, and additional areas north of Ngāhinapōuri School.

Te Awamutu College was flagged for the enrolment scheme because it had reached 96 per cent of its student capacity - enrolment schemes are flagged when a school passes 85 per cent of its student capacity.

The college has 1342 students, not far short of its maximum limit, 1400.

The school’s enrolment scheme will be effective from January 31. After that date any out of zone students will be subject to a priority list.

Priority will be given to siblings of current students, then siblings of former students, children of former students, and children of school staff. All other students share the last priority.

How the new college enrolment zone shapes up.

Celebrating the return

By Julie Guest

Last Friday at Ōrākau, I was privileged to be present for a significant event in our local history.

In 2016 the government set October 28 as Te Pūtake o te Riri, a national day of commemoration of the New Zealand land wars. Here in the Waipa we can claim some pride in this by association because it was a group of students from Ōtorohanga College - Leah Bell, Waimarama Anderson, and Tai Jones - who, with the support of their teacher, Linda Campbell, initiated a petition that lead to this commemoration day being set aside.

As students, Leah, Waimarama and Tai were angered that the history and ongoing consequences of the land wars were not taught in New Zealand schools, nor were fallen warriors nationally remembered. Their petition to this effect was presented to parliament in 2016. As we know, their dream has become reality. October 28 has been set aside and from 2023 the history will be taught. Last Friday they were present to see their hope enacted.

But this particular commemoration had added significance. Ōrākau is the site of the fortified pā that was still under construction by the great warrior and Ariki, Rewi Maniapoto, when the Crown besieged it in March 1864. As a statesman he engaged in battle to defend the land only after other means had failed.

The story of this battle will forever recall the tactical skill and courage of Rewi and his people, despite being hugely outnumbered. Following defeat in the battle, Rewi continued to seek ways to live peaceably with pākehā, offering forgiveness and reconciliation. To show his commitment to this , he offered his kaitaka or chiefly cloak to his pakeha neighbour, Thomas Grice.

This was a magnificent garment, crafted in finely woven harakeke

(flax fibre) with a tāniko (embroidered ornamental border) the result of thousands of hours of skilled labour.

Unfortunately, this taonga was eventually taken to England when the Grice family returned, its significance lost until it was uncovered in an attic in 2019. Since then considerable effort and negotiation have gone into obtaining the kaitaka in order to return it to the Maniapoto people. That was what was so moving on Friday. The return had been negotiated and funded by the Anglican Church because the kaitaka was in Anglican family hands, and the exhibition at home was funded by the local Bryant Trust board.

As we followed the kaitaka being carried onto the temporarily constructed marae; the karanga rang out, the wero laid and accepted, then the full throated welcoming roar of the haka powhiri engulfed us. It is hard to describe the range of emotions at that moment. Humbled, and yet proud to be part of the church, which having at times been so wrong, is now working to be actively involved in reconciliation. But the overwhelming emotion was of hope. The welcome, the graciousness, the goodwill present was palpable.

The many young people learning history, tradition and pride in who they are and where they belong, offered a striking counterpoint to nightly images of youngsters in ram raids or other trouble. On plaques in Old St John’s church, written in English and Māori, Jesus’ words are quoted, “ I say unto you, Love your enemy. Ko taku kupu tenei ki a koutou, Arohaina to hoa riri”. On Friday I was privileged to see Jesus’ words lived out.

AGE

Why I like select committees

By Peter Carr

The mid-term federal elections taking place in the USA during November bring to mind the use – or perhaps misuse - of bicameral parliaments. That is where there are two houses, often described as upper and lower, or perhaps as Senate and House. They are clearly prevalent in the US with all the members of both houses elected (but not all at the same time) and with different longevity of term.

Our nearest bicameral neighbour is Australia –using the term Senate for the upper chamber. Canada too has one and the UK has existed under such a system for centuries although Prime Minister Tony Blair took the axe to the House of Lords greatly pruning it in quantity and perhaps, by default, also improving the quality.

New Zealand struggled with a bicameral system for just under 100 years with mixed success and equally mixed appointment systems. Initially commencing with 10 members – all appointed technically by the Governor (later Governor General) but on the advice of the Prime Minister of the day.

By the end of the 1940’s it was clear that it was, as a group, ineffective - rarely challenging the parliamentary acts that emerged from the lower house.

Indeed, it appears that a prime qualification was getting on with the Prime Minister of the day and possessing a rubber stamp. Māori were represented from an early stage – the last one being that fine East Coast leader Sir Apirana Ngata who was appointed in 1950 but ill-health prohibited him taking up the role.

That was sad, as I am sure he would have improved both the membership and the debate. In 1950 the ruling National Party stacked the Council

with a group whose sole intent was to vote it out of office.

It begs the question as to the efficacy of such an organisation should it be considered for reawakening in this country.

Are we better served by a robust and well-balanced select committee structure who tackle proposed new and amended legislation after the First Reading?

I am embroiled in several appearances before such a committee on behalf of residents of retirement villages and must admit that I have been treated courteously, professionally and with absolutely no hindrance on any point that I desire to implant in the minds of the committee members.

Generally, the questions asked have been well put, clear and indicating a grasp of the subject. I believe that these people provide a balancing viewpoint and depth of subject interest far better than would the existence of an Upper House.

Which brings us back to whatever is going to emerge in the land of Uncle Sam. The spectre or ghost of the most recently departed President looms large over the proceedings. Members of both chambers are tackling the behaviour at the Capitol on January 6, 2020.

And they are clearly of a mind as to who orchestrated it. Yet approximately half the American voting population will align themselves with Sergeant Schultz whose key phrase was ‘I see nothing, nothing’.

What is about to emerge in the USA over the next couple of weeks will be interesting. Whoever assumes the power supremacy in that country, the whole world must suffer the consequences.

Weed fund announced

More money is being ploughed into eradicating a weed which is described as one of the worst in the word.

A new project to deal with Alligator Weed has received funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures).

The project will look at the on-farm impacts, especially its toxicity, and the costs of alligator weed.

SFF Futures has committed $270,000 over three years to the $405,000 project in partnership with AgResearch and Waikato Regional Council, along with a network of agriculture industry and local

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government co-investors.

Alligator Weed is described by the council as a low-growing non-woody perennial invasive pest plant that is easily spread but very costly to control.

It is originally from Brazil, and is thought to have arrived accidently in New Zealand in the early 1900s.

It was discovered in a Waitara lagoon in Taranaki in August.

The fast growing plant is at home in both sea and fresh water, where it forms floating mats, which can block waterways, aggravate flooding and obstruct access.

School greets response

Karāpiro School principal Tina-Maree Thatcher believes Waka Kotahi has listened to concerns spelled out in a 1000plus word letter.

In June she told the agency the school, on the intersection of State Highway 1 and Karāpiro Rd, was looking to mitigate the risks for road users “and we cannot wait any longer for our serious concerns to be addressed”.

State Highway 1 was regarded as being so dangerous a bus stop was been moved from the highway to school grounds. The letter presented solution ideas.

In response, David Speirs, Waka Kotahi’s Waikato Bay of Plenty regional relationships director has listed a series of safety measures which are being carried out.

That included a temporary speed limit reduction. Flexible median barriers will be installed next year, he wrote.

He said planning for a new roundabout at Piarere was also well advanced and considerable maintenance work, including adding rumble strips and signs would start soon.

Thatcher said the response had been shared with the community and “as you can imagine, our staff, students and their families are incredibly relieved to know that our concerns have been heard”.

She said the initial letter sent in June had gone “far and wide” and came before recent tragedies on the road.

“I have been fighting this battle for the seven years I have been here at Karāpiro School.”

New council sworn in

By Mary Anne Gill

The next three years will bring economic challenges and once in a lifetime legislative reform which by its very nature will bring uncertainty, debate and trials, says Waipā’s first female mayor Susan O’Regan.

Speaking at her swearing in ceremony at Lake Karāpiro on Monday, O’Regan said a strength of common purpose would allow the council to navigate through those years with “integrity, wisdom and unity.”

That purpose is to serve the communities and its people.

“Our common goals and inspirations will keep us strong and we will make decisions that lead to increased prosperity and fulfilment for all who live here,” she told councillors, community board members, staff and whanau who had gathered for the

historic occasion.

Council iwi liaison Shane Te Ruki, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā opened the proceedings held at Karāpiro for the first time with a whakatau.

Two new councillors – Takena Stirling and Mike Montgomerie – and seven others made their declarations after O’Regan.

Cambridge representatives Mike Pettit and Phillip Coles were absent and will take their oath later.

Waipā is a rich district with such potential and opportunity, said O’Regan, due to the district’s past leaders.

“Today I am deeply humbled and honoured to be the first woman to be sworn into the mayoral office with my only regret being, I wish my parents were alive to see it.”

The swearing in of Stirling as the district’s first Māori ward councillor signalled

meaningful and authentic relationships with mana whenua iwi, she said.

The whakatau was followed by a karakia, the oaths and then the inaugural meeting.

Liz Stolwyk was confirmed as deputy mayor. Bruce Thomas and Lou Brown were appointed to the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board which will be chaired again by Ange Holt, who defeated new board member John Wood.

Coles and Montgomerie will be the Cambridge Community Board councillor representatives with Jo Davies-Colley elected chair.

The first ordinary council meeting will be held on November 15 in Te Awamutu.

The first formal community board meetings will be held in December.

Photos: Mary Anne Gill More photos cambridgenews.nz

Waipā district councillors and staff at the swearing in at Lake Karāpiro.

New councillor Mike Montgomerie was right at home in front of his maunga Maungatautari, and so was a male sparrow.

Mayor Susan O’Regan welcomes Takena Stirling to the council meeting. Waipā District Council iwi relations advisor Shane Te Ruki leads the acknowledgement of a new council.

Bruce Thomas makes his way up to make his declaration as a councillor.

Libraries go wireless

New technology which makes taking books out easier for library members is about to be introduced in Waipā.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to identify and track tags attached to objects. They have been inserted into books at both Te Awamutu and Cambridge libraries.

Users will be able to do their own issuing and renewing with their library cards or mobile phones.

Waipā District Council say the system will make visits faster for library members.

The wireless radio system and a tag inside the books provides for better inventory management and security, faster processing and reduced handling.

This system also promises to reduce the number of stolen items - which costs the libraries more than $10,000 a year.

Users will have access to two kiosks in the Te Awamutu and Cambridge libraries to do their own issuing and renewing. Books can also be renewed and issued from mobile phones via the Waipā District libraries app.

Holt back in chair

By Benjamin Wilson

Ange Holt has been re-elected chair of the Te Awamutu Community Board. She won the race from new board member John Wood.

Wood was confirmed as a board member after final votes counted pushed him 41 ahead of Norris Hall, who had led on the night counting started.

Holt was backed by Kane Titchener, Jill Taylor and Sally Whitaker.

Whitaker and Wood are both new board members. The replaced Gary Derbyshire, who retired mid-term, and Richard Hurrell, who did not seek re-election.

Wood, a 72-yearold semi-retired plumber was backed for the job by the two district councillors appointed to the board. His nomination by Pirongia-

Kakepuku Ward councillor Bruce Thomas was seconded by Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Ward councillor Lou Brown.

The vote reflected a similar division by numbers on some issues during the last term.

Wood says he arrives as a new board member who is familiar with local government procedures thanks to his background with community groups and his connections to local councillors.

He chaired the Pirongia Community Association for 11 years, is a trustee of CommSafe and is on the executive committee of the Returned and Services Association.

“For me, that makes my job a little easier…

Finger pointing bad

Staff have borne the brunt of social media trolls after Te Awamutu’s KFC outlet closed this week – devoid of chicken – for a refit.

Police were called to a KFC kerfuffle when a customer arrived to collect an online order to find the outlet had no chicken.

A police spokesperson said the customer “lot the plot”.

So, too, did online observers who suggested new jobs for staff… “that boy that mops the already mopped floors can run across and grab some bloody chicken”.

The store is across the road from a supermarket.

A KFC spokesperson said the KFC store had closed for refurbishment and that despite its failure to provide chicken to the outraged customer, there was no chicken shortage.

And it wasn’t just the staff who bore the brunt . A social media websites which says it will not accept hate speech or bullying did allow one post to go up suggesting customers of the store were fat and lazy.

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it is just an opportunity to put some of my skills back into the community,” he said.

Wood believes his networking helped him to secure his 41-vote lead over Hall.

“Considering that he is better known in town than I am, I just think the little bit of networking I have around me managed to sway the votes in the right direction.”

He joins the community board with no specific agenda apart from making sure “what the community wants is pushed forward to council.”

He believes the board should to develop a better working relationship with the council.

“I think we have just got to work as a team,” he said. “If we get a good rapport with the council and the council staff, that will make a big difference.”

Putting Twigg in the picture

Inspiration can come at the most unusual time.

Jessica Lawry was feeding her baby at 3.30am one day last year when she decided it would be a good idea to do a picture book about Olympic Gold medal winner Emma Twigg and aim it at young people.

Five days earlier Twigg had won the single sculls at Tokyo - not bad for someone who announced her retirement from rowing five years earlier, having competed at three Olympics and won the world single sculls championship in 2014.

Lawry’s plan wasn’t so outrageous – she and Twigg had attended Waikato University together and had kept in touch.

The idea was pitched as a way to encourage another generation of young people to succeed – and Twigg agreed.

The result was a picture book - Emma Twigg’s Inspirational Journey to Olympic Gold - which tracks Twigg’s journey.

Lawry who wrote and illustrated the book said and it was a measure of the fact Twigg is humble that her biggest concerns were that the illustrations showing her rowing were technically correct, rather than how she was

drawn.

Lawry, a mum of three living in Kaipaki, is fine at drawing, but says she is no rower.

Twigg and Lawry will be teaming up for a second time next Thursday afternoon for book signings, this time in Paper Plus, Cambridge.

The book has already been given the thumbs up by Lawry’s pupils – she teaches twice a week at Te Kowhai School.

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Booked out: Allyson Stock, library assistant, with Te Awamutu library supervisor Sheree Gross with the kiosk.

Ange Holt

John Wood

Waipā cows are screen gems

By Mary Anne Gill

When award-winning documentary film director Costa Botes asked Andrew Johnstone if he could film him and his cows in Cambridge, Johnstone readily agreed thinking nothing more about it.

Two years on, as he looks at himself on the big screen, it feels like an out of body experience.

“It is like watching a stranger,” he says the day after the Cambridge premiere of When the Cows Come Home featuring his life story.

It is beautifully shot in Fencourt and features Tilly and Maggie, the older cows Johnstone has to keep his younger cows in check.

The movie delves into Johnstone’s past – the tragic death of his sister, his time at a Catholic boarding school in Auckland, his various career choices and the depression which became such a big part of his life.

Until he rediscovered cows at his parents’ farm.

“Learning about cows has been one of the most fascinating and fulfilling things I’ve ever done in my whole life,” said Johnstone after the film’s showing at Tivoli Cinema last week.

“We have completely underestimated them. We think they are only food and nothing else. There’s a hell of a lot going on in a cow’s mind. They have a rich emotional life.”

Farmers train cows to do very complex tasks, he says.

His parents were leasing out their farm and wanted Johnstone to come back home.

“When I moved here the first cow I met was Tilly.” He decided to keep her and he brought in Maggie, a frightened and random

cow who became close to Tilly. They don’t groom each other but they are friends. They graze together and they’re always looking out for each other.

At the premiere Botes told guests - who included Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, Johnstone’s family and people who talked about Johnstone’s past in the movie – that

filming the documentary opened his eyes about cows.

“I thought cows were just numburgers.”

Botes is one of New Zealand’s most unheralded directors. Born in Turkey, to Greek parents in 1958, he grew up in New Zealand. His career took off when he collaborated with Peter Jackson to make the hoax movie Forgotten Silver.

Since then, he has made several stunning documentaries including The Last Dogs of Winter, shot in Canada and featuring eskimo dogs, the rarest breed of dog on the planet.

Four years ago, his documentary on Angie Meiklejohn, who spent time at the Centrepoint commune, won huge praise.

The world premiere of When the Cows came Home was held in Auckland on July 31 as part of Whānau Mārama (the NZ International Film Festival).

The movie starts slowly and 10 minutes into the 104-minute long film, it is tempting to look towards the exit.

But if you do, you will miss the whole point of the movie and you come to realise what an astute and masterful storyteller and cinematographer Botes is.

For him to recognise in Johnstone that there was more to him than just cows, is a special trait.

The News came in for a special mention. After we highlighted Johnstone’s efforts a year ago to pick up Sprite bottles and other litter along Fencourt Road, much of the rubbish disappeared, for a while.

It is coming back again and if the movie featuring the beautiful Fencourt countryside does nothing else, it would be nice to see the litter disappear again.

When the Cows Come Home opens at Tivoli Cinema in Cambridge today (Thursday).

Mates: Documentary maker Costa Botes, left, and Andrew Johnstone at the Cambridge premiere of When the Cows Come Home. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Memorial regatta a fitting tribute

By Benjamin Wilson

The inaugural Clive Steenson Memorial Regatta was “a fitting tribute to one of Te Awamutu’s finest.”

Six hundred and twenty athletes competed in the Te Awamutu Rowing Club hosted regatta at Lake Karāpiro on Saturday.

The regatta was held in memory of Clive Steenson, who died in May last year.

He coached the Te Awamutu club for 40 years, and helped it become the best in New Zealand in 1981, when the club won the

Centennial Oar.

Visiting clubs came from as far as Auckland, Whangarei, and Clifton.

Joining the Te Awamutu club in Waipā the competitors came from Cambridge Rowing Club, Cambridge High School, St Peter’s School, and Waikato Rowing Club.

After the safety briefing, a 30-second round of applause was held for Clive in recognition of his contributions to the club.

Clive’s widow Sue, and daughters Yvette and Marsha were there to show their support.

“Yvette sent us a message to thank us and

said how much the family appreciated the gesture towards him,” said Te Awamutu Rowing Club secretary Ann Edmondson.

The races were spaced out in five-minute intervals and continued from 8am to 3:30pm.

“It went brilliantly, the weather was not great, but it was better than it was forecast to be, and everything went very smoothly,” said Ann.

Ann said all of the Te Awamutu athletes enjoyed the racing experience and are looking forward to competing again in a few weeks’ time.

The stand-out performances were Chenae Swinerd and Piri Craig, who came second in the Women’s Masters Double, Lolkje Deboer, who was second in the Women’s’ Single, and Isla Joyce, Asarina Johnson, Janaiah Jacob and Casey Baker, who scored first in the Novice Girls’ Quad.

“The athletes enjoyed the opportunity to race after two disrupted seasons, and there were some very competitive races. It looks like Te Awamutu’s club regatta has re-established itself as the premium way to ease rowers into the new regatta season,” Ann said.

Rowers came from all over the North Island for the memorial event.

Photo: Arthur Uden.

We are a local Charitable Trust and that makes us quite different from most retirement villages.

simply, we don’t have shareholders. We are a community-owned organisation, providing a wide range of retirement living and care options, and the added benefit of shared capital gain for our apartments, cottages and villas. Come and see the Cambridge Resthaven difference for yourself.

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Sizzle time

Our first family barbecue was essentially a large cast-iron bowl with little legs that had to be fitted before use. It packed into a suitcase that we often took to the beach. There we collected driftwood for the fire and sizzled sausages in the salt-laden air. They were delicious.

We’ve had several barbecues since then. The pièce de résistance was a large gas ‘outdoor kitchen’ that did us proud for 16 years. We became bbq maestros — roast lamb, sugared salmon, Korean chick with a kick, chickpea burgers and coconut fish were just some of the interesting results. Using this barbecue certainly honed the family’s culinary skills. We now have a much smaller model, easily accommodated on our much smaller deck. It’s a great drawcard for family and friends to show off their cooking skills or, sometimes, their shortcomings. All great fun.

There are some unusual barbecue buffs. A kookaburra at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo was found to be 40 per cent bigger than average and couldn’t even fly. The cause? The obese kookaburra was suffering calorie overload — enjoying too many leftovers from the local sausage sizzles and had to be put on a diet. Beware!

BEER CHICKEN WITH APRICOT GLAZE

Adjust the cooking times according to the make of your barbecue. Covered barbecue cooking takes less time than an open grill. It’s best to apply sticky glazes to your meat towards the end of cooking to prevent burning.

6-8 skinned and boned chicken thighs

1 x 330ml can lager

1-2 tablespoons canola oil

Glaze: 1/2 cup apricot jam

1/4 cup cider vinegar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon each: wholegrain mustard, honey

2-4 drops Tabasco sauce or to taste

Discard any fat from the chicken and place in a shallow pan. Pour the beer over the chicken. Cover and marinate for at least 4 hours in the fridge. Drain and pat dry. Brush all over with oil.

Meanwhile, bring the ingredients for the glaze to a simmer in a small saucepan. Stir well.

Preheat the barbecue.

Place the chicken on the grill rack and cook on medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Brush with the glaze and turn the thighs over. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes. Brush more glaze over the chicken, barbecue for another 2-3 minutes or until cooked. Serves 4-6.

GARLIC BUTTER VEG SKEWERS

To help prevent burning, soak wooden skewers in warm water for 15 minutes prior to use.

1 large courgette

1 each: red, orange, green capsicums

8 button mushrooms Garlic Butter: 50g butter, softened

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon each: chopped parsley chives.

Discard the ends of the courgette. Cut into 1cm rounds.

Remove the cores, ribs and seeds of the capsicums. Cut into 3cm (approximately) squares.

Remove the stems from the mushrooms.

Neatly thread the vegetables alternately onto four skewers. Combine the garlic butter ingredients. Brush lightly over the kebabs.

Cook on a preheated barbecue for about 3 minutes per side. Brush with any remaining garlic butter and serve. Serves 4.

SMOKED MANUKA STEAK & ORANGE SAUCE

Rubs are often better than wet marinades as they don’t burn as much. I used F Whitlock & Sons Smokey Manuka Style Rub.

It’s available from most supermarkets.

Sauce: 2 large oranges

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 tablespoon honey

Steak: 2 thick sirloin steaks

3-4 teaspoons smoky manuka rub

To make the sauce, julienne the rind of one orange. Squeeze out the orange juice. Peel the second orange and cut the flesh into small cubes.

Place the juice in a small saucepan with the orange rind, wine and honey. Simmer until slightly reduced. Add the orange cubes.

Snip the fat edges of the steaks to prevent curling during cooking. Pat the manuka rub on both sides of the steaks.

Stand for at least 10 minutes before cooking.

Preheat the barbecue. Grill the steaks for about 3 minutes each side for medium-rare. Rest for a few minutes before slicing on an angle. Serve with the warmed sauce. Serves 2.

Garlic butter veg skewers

Smoked manuka steak & orange sauce

STOREY Delysse Diane (nee Valk) 23.8.19419.10.2022. Please join us to celebrate Delysse’s life at the Rangiaowhaia Memorial Hall, Rangiaowhia Road, Te Awamutu on Saturday 19th November at 11am. By request please dress comfortably colourful. Te Awamutu Funeral Services, FDANZ.

Vacancy Caregiver (Casual and Part Time)

VACANCY

In the heart of Te Awamutu, Freeman Court makes independent living affordable and a little easier for older people. We have one vacant position to start as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccination required.

In the heart of Te Awamutu, Freeman Court makes independent living affordable and a little easier for older people. We have two vacant positions to start as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccination required.

• Caregiver (part time) - 20 Hrs

Caregiver- casual position. Rostered shifts covering 24 hours and seven days a week

For more information, please feel free to contact Tricia Ball (residential manager) at tricia.ball@habitat.org.nz or call 07 871 5260.

• Casual Caregiver For more information, please feel free to contact Tricia Ball (residential manager) at tricia.ball@habitat.org.nz or call 07 871 5260.

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