Cambridge News | December 8, 2022

Ride on: money for Waipā

By Mary Anne Gill

A project which drew ridicule in Cambridge has been backed by the Government to the tune of more than $10 million.

Waka Kotahi declined to back the scheme to get more people on their feet and bikes – but money has been made available from the climate emergency relief fund.

Projects in Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi form part of the council’s $11 million Urban Mobility programme which stalled when a 51 per cent contribution from Waka Kotahi - the government’s land transport agency - did not eventuate.

There was condemnation when the streets for people section of the plan, involving brightly coloured bollards and polka dots painted on intersections, was trialled in Cambridge.

Despite that, the work has resulted in more cycle use, particularly among youngsters heading to school.

Transportation manager Bryan Hudson told the Service Delivery committee this week that Waka Kotahi was using Waipā’s “flagship projects” as a good example for other councils of how to roll out cycling and walking initiatives.

“We accept not everyone wants to be on a bike, but plenty of people in Waipā

do and that number is growing,” deputy mayor and Urban Mobility Group chair Liz Stolwyk said

The money will offer safer ways to get to school, town, parks and home again without relying on a car.

On Sunday Transport Minister Michael Wood announced a range of projects selected to get a slice of $350 million as part of the Transport Choices package.

The projects, funded from the climate emergency

response fund - established in this year’s Budget – focus on low- and no-emissions transport to reduce the need for cars.

Waipā’s share could be up to $10.4 million, the council said in a media release and work could get underway mid next year.

Under the plans, the popular Te Awa River Ride and Hamilton Road cycleways would be extended into the Cambridge business district

and broken cycle links in Cambridge west fixed.

In Duke St, council is considering a wooden boardwalk to provide enough space for a two-way cycleway while maintaining two-way traffic.

The funding in Kihikihi would connect the town centre with the domain and eventually extend to schools in Te Awamutu.

Stolwyk said most people want fewer cars on roads and safe pathways for

mobility scooters, e-scooters and walkers.

“This is win-win for everyone and I’m absolutely thrilled.

“In the meantime, the work to reduce our reliance on cars, reduce emissions and provide more transport choices in Waipā – including an improved bus service across the district – won’t stop.

“There’s more work to do but wow, this is a great way to end the year.”

Celebration time, from left: Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley and her three children Lansley, 7, Nina, 11, and Sylvie, 9 with deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, mayor Susan O’Regan, Margaret Drew and in the pram Adie Williams, 19 months.

Natasha Waters Karen Whitaker

Cycle parking

Paging through The News this week

I noted a random photo of two bicycles parked next to Joe’s Garage with the accusatory caption, “Giving cyclists a bad name”. Your paper also went on to incorrectly state that the bikes were parked on shrubs rather than near them... which is clearly the case from the photo. I’m disappointed that your reporter did not think to ask the cyclists why they parked this way. Had they done so, they probably would have learned how these racks would actually damage their very expensive bicycles if they used them.

I won’t complain about Joe’s Garage or any other business that actually tries to accommodate people who choose to walk or cycle to their establishment. I would even go further to note the bike fixit station on site. That might have been a more positive photo opportunity? While the parking isn’t perfect, Joe’s are not anti-cycling like The News seems to be.

I would also note that your reporter who took this picture surely passed dozens of motor vehicles parked on public berms, footpaths, and cycleways on their way to Joe’s Garage, yet missed the opportunity to wag his or her finger at these miscreants.

Most drivers in Cambridge are courteous and careful. Sadly, there are still too many agitated and misinformed people driving around Cambridge with an unreasonable sense of anger towards their neighbours who choose to get around by bike. You may not realise it but you are guilty

of fomenting this entitled and dangerous attitude with past stories and photos like this. For the safety of your friends and neighbours, I’m asking you to do better. (Abridged).

Rick Bosacker Cambridge

Editor’s note: Two wrongs do not make a right. The parking of the bike had nothing to do with fomenting attitudes - it simply highlighted inconsiderate parking. For clarity, here is another shot from the scene showing how the bikes were left. Mary Anne Gill, who took the photo and is a cyclist, presented it because she was disappointed with the behaviour of fellow cyclists.

- that is to say, not physically ingested by a human.

Less car washing, water blasting and gardening, let’s say 70 per cent of the 200 litres ends up being processed as waste water. This raises two obvious points.

Various council bodies buy fluoride to fluoridate drinking water supplies, despite full knowledge that the vast majority will never reach its human target.

Unlike the pharmaceutical grade fluoride used in toothpaste, (used in “pea” sized amounts, not to be swallowed, and under adult supervision), the fluoride councils buy to add inefficiently to drinking water is a toxic industrial by-product. It’s so toxic the manufacturers can not legally bury it, burn it, or most importantly, flush it down the drain.

But unless Cambridge’s planned $110 million waste water system can remove fluoride, that’s exactly what the council will do.

Shaun Robinson Cambridge

Drivers recruited

Fluoride issue

According to Water NZ, a body of almost 3000 relevant decision makers, the average Kiwi utilises over 200 litres of water a day. If we each drink two litres a day, then approximately 99 per cent of all water used ends up as waste water of some description

Publicity generated when there was a shortage of drivers to pick up glass recycling resulted in the recruitment of new drivers, Waipā Waste Minimisation officer Sally Fraser said. Having new drivers learning the duties and routes means there have been some missed collections, but this will improve.

What a great turn out we had to the Christmas parade on Sunday, not only in crowd numbers but also the fantastic number of floats - such hard work that went into them all. I hope I didn’t deafen too many people with my siren.

I have a couple of things to cover off this week. Firstly, we have had a few complaints recently where youths have been caught out and blackmailed after supplying intimate photos online.

In each case they were contacted by and began messaging with a random person on Snapchat.

After a short time, both exchanged intimate nude photos. Our victims were then sent screenshots of the conversation with their photos and blackmailed for cash. A threat was made to release the photos to the victim’s family and friends.

In one case, the threat was then carried out, with the scammer locating the victim’s Instagram account and friends list, sending

the photos to all (including family members and work colleagues). This obviously caused the victim significant distress and embarrassment.

Such scenarios can be a bit of a lose, lose situation. In most cases, the perpetrators are invisible internationally based offenders, who are being opportunistic limiting police ability to hold them to account and remove photos.

If you were to pay the money the demands would simply continue for more and more cash. So what do you do? The best way to avoid this scenario is not to send intimate photos anywhere. Once a photo leaves your device, you lose all control over what happens to it and who sees it. Even if the photo is sent to a trusted partner, they could lose their phone somehow and again, your photo is out of their hands. Revenge porn where photos are distributed after a relationship breakup is another consideration. Parents, please ensure your

teenagers are aware of cyber safety and know what to watch out for.

Keep friends lists on social media private. This week marks the end of term four for many schools and the start of summer holidays. As a community, let’s be aware that more tamariki will be out and about on the streets, riding and skating. Young children can be unpredictable, especially around roads. Please also make sure your children are adequately supervised over the school holidays. We typically see a rise in youth offending and associated calls for police service - often parents/caregivers are unaware of what their children have been doing until we contact them.

At an age when fitting in is important to youth, many will do things in a group that they would never do otherwise. Please have the conversations at home to support your youth in making good decisions these holidays.

Hall St sealing

Relief is finally near for Hall Street residents in Cambridge who have complained for years about their ‘third world’ street which they say resembles a cross country course. Design is underway to seal the road edge after residents said the designated ‘heritage’ street was a victim of incomplete roading and poor maintenance by Waipā council.

Grinch in town

Vandals smashed lights around the base of Cambridge’s public Christmas tree on Sunday, only hours after a successful parade. Community board chair Jo Davies-Colley said the board would replace them at a cost of about $400. “Hopefully it doesn’t happen again. We want the town looking festive,” she said.

Caught in the act

Waipā District Council has joined a long list of organisations caught out by complexities of the 2003 Holidays Act. An independent audit, initiated by council, has identified problems in how the Act was applied. It means some council staff have been underpaid, or potentially overpaid, a portion of their holiday pay. Council has made provision for $317,000 in its Annual Report in anticipation of having to repay money.

Glitches galore

We have to fess up, several mistakes slipped through our usually reliable checking system last week. We sent you to pages to read stories that weren’t there, said Gaye Bezzant played goal and not golf and had mayor Susan O’Regan sitting next to Bruce Wright when it was Fonterra chair Peter McBride. The previous week we reported Cambridge’s new wastewater treatment plant would cost $28 million. The estimate is actually $110 million.

The great parade

Cambridge’s Christmas parade was back after a year’s absence and what a stunning day it was. Thirty four organisations and hundreds of people took part in the parade itself watched by 2000 bystanders lining the main street. Some of our Olympians and Paralympians joined mayor Susan O’Regan and Cambridge Community Board members in the parade led by our own police community liaison officer Deb Thurgood who came in on her day off to guide everyone around the streets. Right behind her was Cambridge & Districts Pipe Band, fresh from their earlier appearance at the Te Awamutu Christmas Parade. There were tractor breakdowns, juggling clowns and smiling faces. The New World Cambridge best float went to Miriam Ellis of Cycle Coffee Company for her Santa Claus themed workshop. Roto-o-Rangi School won the schools’ prize while Waipā District Council’s library and parks team won the Jumble Around community prize. Check out Mary Anne Gill’s photos today with more online cambridgenews.nz

More barriers for highway

By Mary Anne Gill

The 2.4 kilometres of flexible median barriers installed on SH1 south of Cambridge from Fergusson Gully Road have already saved lives, according to Waka Kotahi.

And the Government land transport agency says the installation of several more kilometres on the highway between the end of Waikato Expressway at Cambridge and Piarere will prevent other head-on crashes by physically separating opposing traffic.

The barriers have been hit more than 40 times since December 2020. Within months there will be another 7.7kms of flexible median barriers between Fergusson Gully Rd to near the SH1/SH29 intersection at Piarere.

They form part of Waka Kotahi’s

safety proposals in advance of long-term plans to extend the fourlane expressway further south.

Feedback on Waka Kotahi’s suggestions close tomorrow (Friday). Engagement included an information day in the Cambridge Town Hall last month attended by 186 people.

While there was general support from the community for both the safety improvements and longterm highway extension plans, most wanted to see everything happen sooner, said Regional Relationships director David Speirs.

“Safety was the main concern, but some also voiced frustration at congestion.”

Other concerns were about localised access to property. All supported the temporary reduction in speed limit from 100km/hr to 80km/hr at Karāpiro Road.

Wide painted median strips will also go in to provide more space between opposing traffic until the barriers go in.

“Local people know their roads and we want to record community feedback on the draft plans.”

The News revealed two weeks ago drunk and drugged drivers caused just over a quarter of the fatal and serious crashes in the past five years on the 16kms.

“Flexible median barriers save lives,” said Speirs.

They are a proven solution to preventing head-on crashes.

“If someone loses control or

drifts across the centreline, the result isn’t a deadly crash; instead, the steel cables flex, absorb the impact, slow your vehicle and keep it upright.”

Meanwhile proof in the form of anecdotal evidence from Waka Kotahi shows motorists are loving the new expressway.

They are using it instead of SH1B road which Cambridge and Matangi motorists used to prefer.

While survey data is light, it does suggest the number of vehicles using that route has plunged.

Where almost 3800 vehicles were counted on the road on an average

day in 2021, a six day survey at the end of July recorded a daily count of a little under 1250.

At the same time, the number of vehicles travelling between Cambridge at Piarere jumped by more than 10 per cent – or an extra 2260 vehicles every day, and the newly christened SH1C, through Hillcrest and Hamilton East, also appears to have lost vehicles to the new expressway route – though data to support that was not available.

Have your travel habits changed since Waikato Expressway opened? Let us know editor@goodlocal.nz

The Waikato Expressway looking south towards Hautapu, showing median barriers at work.

Since becoming SH1C with the extension of the Waikato Expressway, this section of the road to and from Hillcrest and Hamilton East, has seen a drop in traffic numbers.

River slips

Further slips have occurred from the Cambridge Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Waikato River banks beneath the rapid infiltration beds. Waipā District Council and Waikato Regional Council are monitoring the slips and planning remedial planting once a safety plan is in place.

Cambridge’s new $110 million wastewater treatment plant will be one of the most advanced operations in the country when it opens in four years. In the meanwhile, it is operating on a short-term consent.

Route extended

Construction on the Cambridge Road urbanisation extension to just past Kelly Road in Cambridge will begin early next year. The transport corridor will extend walking, cycling and mobility options and add further bus stops, lighting and another signal pedestrian crossing.

Footpath renewals

Princes, Vogel, Taylor and Fort streets in Cambridge had footpath renewal works completed in October while 500m of new path was completed in Milton Street.

Water fluoridation getting closer

By Mary Anne Gill

Manatu Hauora (Ministry of Health) has told a further 27 councils in New Zealand they will have to add fluoride to their community water supply, but Waipā is not included in stage two.

The latest direction comes as Waipā Water Services manager told the Service Delivery committee the council has submitted its application to fund adding fluoride to Cambridge’s

water supply.

Te Awamutu’s water supply was not part of the original edict from outgoing Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield in July.

Mould said the ministry has said there will be no further requests to councils until after 2024.

Waipā’s water has never been fluoridated – nor debated by council in several years – but the passing of the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Act last year

transferred the authority from district councils to the Ministry of Health and its public health officials.

Bloomfield’s last task before he retired was to use his powers and directed 14 local authorities, including Waipā, to get started.

The estimated costs for Cambridge, which would include the Karāpiro and Alpha Street plants, would be $480,000 with annual operating costs of $130,000. Some funding was made

available to support local authorities with the capital costs associated with introducing community water fluoridation.

The estimated time for implementation after receiving a directive to fluoridate water, is nine months.

Adding fluoride to water supplies is a measure to help prevent tooth decay –and it makes a “significant difference”, according to the Ministry of Health.

Ten years on, it’s back to Te Hiwi

By Mary Anne Gill

A road in Maungatautari named after a former mayor has been renamed Te Hiwi Drive following a decade long community campaign.

It was a test for Waipā’s new Naming Policy and required Governance manager Jo Gread’s intervention at the district council’s Service Delivery committee this week when it was thought the proposal would have to go out for consultation.

The road is a 1.3km accessway within Waipuke Park on the edge of Karāpiro.

It is not a formal public road and so there was no legal requirement for consultation, but Customer and Community Services group manager Sally Sheedy said staff felt it was prudent to do so given it was the first name change since the policy change last year.

Council bought the land, on which the road is on, in March 2001. The farm had previously been known as Te Hiwi which means the ridge of a hill.

Ten years ago, council adopted the name Waipuke

(loosely translated as flooded area) for the reserve around the road after it was gifted by Ngāti Korokī Kahukura.

But instead of calling the road Te Hiwi, favoured by several residents because of the land’s history, then mayor Alan Livingston said it was appropriate to name it after former mayor John Hewitt, who had recently died.

It was an acknowledgement of his involvement in the property’s strategic purchase, Livingston said.

Seven years later, a petition presented to council asking for the road to be renamed was turned down.

Councillor Roger Gordon said the debate seemed to have been going for some time and that there appeared no obvious dispute about the renaming.

He asked staff whether consultation was necessary given Hewitt’s family supported the name change provided he could be acknowledged somewhere else, preferably in Te Miro.

Livingston, who hails from Te Pahu, has a road named after him in St Kilda, Cambridge while the first Waipā mayor, Bruce Berquist has a road in Te

Awamutu, where he was from.

Current mayor Susan O’Regan agreed with Gordon. She asked whether the council’s Significant Engagement Policy – which requires community consultation – had been triggered with the name change proposal. “This matter had dragged on for a very long time,” she said.

Councillor Marcus Gower said he understood the naming policy had to be tested “but this is not the right road to do it.”

Fellow councillor Lou Brown agreed saying council had already done the hard work and it was appropriate for the committee to endorse the change.

Maungatautari resident Ruth Strawbridge, who has advocated for the name change for years, was at the committee meeting and told The News she was pleased common sense had prevailed and the name would be replaced.

Council staff will reassure the Hewitt family that the name would be used in a more appropriate location and noted community support for Te Hiwi Drive.

Martin Mould

Cambridge Home WINS coveted national title

Justin and Paulette Bell are getting into the habit of winning awards for the homes they construct but the latest one they built for themselves has delivered icing on the cake for them.

The couple, who founded JA Bell Building in 2000, have picked up the National Category Award for the Builders Own Home at the 2022 Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition.

“We were so blown away to win the award. It’s such a tough category and we were up against some incredible homes throughout the country,” Paulette said.

But that’s not all; they were also named top six in the country for the Craftmanship Award at the National Awards held in Auckland on November 26. On top of that they won four awards at the Waikato Regional awards in September – Gold Award for their home and the Category Winner for Builders’ Own Home, along with the Interior Design award and the prestigious Craftsmanship Award for the Waikato region.

“We’re thrilled with this recognition, for us, our staff, our suppliers and sub-contractors

who make this all possible,” Justin says.

This is now their second win for the Waikato Craftsmanship Award which shows the attention to detail that the company puts to their builds for the homes they are crafting for their clients. It is often said a builder’s toughest client is his or her own family and to pack something so special into a small site in Norfolk Downs was quite challenging.

Judges said the four-bedroom, solar-powered property was designed and crafted to take full advantage of its site and build footprint. With 234sqm of house on a 580sq m site, it delivers luxury and architectural style without compromise.

The footprint is distributed over two stylish pavilions linked by an entry and walk-through office.

Bespoke steel sliding doors section off these spaces and add to the industrial-style vibe that defines the home.

“The level of craftsmanship is evident everywhere – in the recycled matai and soaring black ceilings, velvet booth-seating tucked under the stairs, and in the media room and library that reside in the loft,” judges said.

“An attic with a 3m stud can be found above the double garage. Smart design is also a hallmark of the house.”

The home was inspired by the couple’s overseas travels to New York, San Francisco and Melbourne. Attractive New York-style recycled clay brick and western red cedar anchor the house to the land.

“This can be seen through the industrial, loft-style apartment design,” the judges said.

But it is not just inside that is a head turner. Outside sits a 20sqm

heated entertaining area with a swimming pool and cedar hot tub. Justin carefully selects dedicated sub-contractors and suppliers to ensure they consistently provide high quality finishes and service while maintaining a competitive price. Their experience is broad, including new high-quality homes, alterations and extensions to existing homes. Whether you want to renovate an existing home or build an entirely new home they will do everything they can to make your building experience a positive one. The couple chose local retailers to help with styling their home’ - Sunday Society, HUS, Green with Envy, Odell Home and Social Light.

BESPOKE SPACES

REGISTERED MASTER BUILDERS DESCRIPTION

This impressive four-bedroom family home has been designed and crafted to take full advantage of its site and build footprint. With 234sqm of house on a 580sqm site, it delivers luxury and architectural style without compromise.

Twin pavilions are connected by a walk-through office and front entry, which can be closed off by bespoke steel sliding doors. Its clever, but the smart design and top-notch skills on display in this modern-industrial home do not stop there. The convivial dining area, featuring a recycled matai ceiling and velvet booth seating, is neatly tucked under the stairs. By contrast, the kitchen and living area reside under a lofty 6m ceiling. There is even more of this clever use of space: you will find a media room and library upstairs in the loft with views to the Eastern ranges, and a detailed attic with a 3m stud over the double garage. Outside, there is a 20sqm covered heated entertaining area, swimming pool, cedar hot tub, vegetable gardens and fruit trees. Western red cedar and New York-style recycled clay brick give the exterior a sense of permanence and place, while solar panels and high-quality insulation ensure efficient and sustainable energy savings.

For more on the awards www.houseoftheyear.co.nz

From left, back row: Kevin Honiss, Nicola Honiss, Jesse Mulligan, Luke Gilbert, Chad Newport, Priscilla Newport. Front row: Paul Honiss, Rebecca Honiss, Paulette Bell, Justin Bell, Tracey Gilbert.

Hands up for Christmas

By Mary Anne Gill

Lincoln Hill points proudly to his handprint on the wooden Christmas tree he and the other junior students at Cambridge East Primary School recently completed.

The 5-year-old is looking forward to seeing his tree in one of the town’s businesses on Victoria Street in what organisers are saying is a true community collaboration.

School assistant principal Kate Findlay managed to get 120 handprints on the juniors’ tree and it is fair to say wherever it ends up, it will attract plenty of attention.

The project is the Cambridge Community Board’s Christmas Tree project. Board member Alana MacKay was on hand to receive the school’s two wooden trees last week and said she was thrilled to see how well schools and community groups had responded to the challenge.

The project was inspired by a Taupo initiative and will complement the other town decorations by adding a pop of colour and festive spirit at ground level.

Businesses will become guardians of the trees. Shirley Haycock from Ray White will display a wooden tree made by the Cambridge East senior students and said it was a good opportunity to support the community.

Artists and supporters included youngsters from St Peter’s, St Peter’s Catholic, Leamington, Cambridge

Middle and Cambridge East schools; Christ New Creation International Church, Cambridge Cubs, Resthaven, Cambridge-Le Quesnoy

Friendship Association and Cambridge and Bihoro Sister Cities.

• More photos cambridgenews.nz

Bus numbers on the up

Regional bus services from Cambridge and Te Awamutu into and back from Hamilton are now ahead of pre Covid levels. Easing of Covid restrictions and half price fares are responsible, Waipā Roading manager Bryan Hudson says. Total Mobility data, for those with mobility issues or disabled, is not available but usage there is also expected to be up on pre-2020 levels.

Curbing our crime rate

By Kelly Bouzaid, Chief executive, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce

You would have to live off the grid to not have seen the escalation of crime around the country and sadly, Cambridge is not immune.

Our township is lathered in graffiti, vandalism costing the ratepayers over $1000 a week and the retail sector weathering an increase in shoplifting, burglaries and ram raids.

Three people have now been charged in relation to the killing of Auckland diary worker Janak Patel. Wider family members who reside in Cambridge and run their own businesses are very saddened and feeling vulnerable. They fear for their livelihood and have voiced their frustration.

In response to this tragic event, the government announced an extension to the retail crime prevention fund to partner with other businesses and councils to prevent similar occurrences.

Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate is a strong advocate in this space and making headway, seeing the prime minister in Hamilton recently to offer $1 million matched funding in addition to the fog cannon assistance being made available for retailers.

We understand it’s not all up to councils, but council does have a role to play in keeping our community safe.

We also believe there is merit in collaborating with Hamilton City Council as they develop a tool box to combat graffiti

and vandalism - after all we share offenders.

The Cambridge Business Chamber has also engaged in an attempt to curb crime through proactive strategies in collaboration with like-minded organisations that include Waipa District Council, police and Cambridge Safer Communities.

Last week we invited the mayor Susan O’Regan and deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk to meet with some of the retailers impacted and hear their voice and look for solutions in support.

Mayor O’Regan and deputy mayor Stolwyk have reiterated their personal commitment and have asked for funding issues be reconsidered by council urgently.

The key piece in this refresh is the installation of number plate recognition cameras that will ring fence our district and activate notifications directly to police of stolen cars and vehicles of interest.

It takes a connected community to keep our town safe and with summer holidays nearly upon us we should all be extra diligent.

We know too, that teenagers can sometimes make poor decisions and that theft, shoplifting, vandalism and general offending increases during the school holidays.

Let’s make sure our kids are safe and accounted for.

CHAMBER COMMENT

Lincoln Hill, Billy McIntyre, Georgie Hurst and Imogen Nicholl with the wooden Christmas tree they and the junior students at Cambridge East Primary School made for the main street. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Memorial Park exciting new home for Cambridge Lions Trash n Treasure Market

Cambridge Lions have decided to continue to use Memorial Park as the venue for their Trash n Treasure market on the second Sunday of each month.

After starting with a few stalls in 1998, the market has grown hugely in popularity over the ensuing 24 years. While holding the market in the Cambridge main streets and shopping area (CBD) had been fine before Covid arrived, quite a few markets had to be cancelled during the Covid restrictions and it was impossible to use the CBD while vaccine pass checking was a necessity. This led Cambridge Lions to look at alternative venues where they could operate while still observing the pandemic regulations. After evaluating several possible locations, Hautapu Sports Club advised that they had taken over the lease of Memorial Park and would be keen for Lions to give it a try. Lions decided this fully fenced area seemed the best option and to relocate the market there for a trial period through to December 2022. The market got going again in March 2022 and has built up very well.

Now that Covid restrictions are behind us, a decision had to be made on whether to keep using Memorial Park.

For Cambridge Lions there are many attractive features. High on this list is very positive feedback from the Cambridge public who enjoy the freedom of movement not available on the cramped town streets, and the family friendly atmosphere where children can safely have fun while adults browse among the stalls. Health and safety, so important these days, is enhanced as Lions can ensure that within the park the public are safe from vehicle movements, something not possible in town. Also attractive to the Lions is that organisation of the market is reduced and can be spread amongst more

people, easing the heavy load previously carried by just a few volunteer Lions.

Money generated at the new venue is at or better than in town, money which of course is all put back into helping our community. The only downside is the lack of shelter on wet days, but these are few and even in town many stall holders chose not to come when the weather closed in, and the limited verandahs in town did not provide much shelter to the public. The many benefits at Memorial Park outweighed this aspect.

Cambridge Lions and Hautapu Sports have worked very well together, and met to look at the possibilities. They now have an agreement that the market will continue at Memorial Park for the

foreseeable

The extra space at Memorial Park allows for more entertainment and Lions have already had interest from clubs and groups wanting to do displays and performances. It is important to Cambridge Lions that, in the current economic times, they are able to offer Cambridge people free entry to a low cost family friendly event. The Lions really appreciate the way Cambridge people have supported the market and are keen to use the new venue to provide them with an even better family friendly outing.

future, which is great for the Lions and helps with Hautapu Sports aim to get more community use of Memorial Park.

CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE LAUNCHING IN JANUARY

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST NOW

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Located on Cambridge Road, just 5 minutes drive from the centre of Cambridge, our village will offer you the opportunity to live independently alongside a supportive community in one of our 185 two or threebedroom townhouses. Once completed, the village will also offer the extra support of 60 serviced apartments, and 80 resthome, hospital and specialist dementia care rooms, all within the same village community.

You’ll love the security of a Ryman village, the feeling of camaraderie, and the endless activities and events available. Plus our amenities mean there’s always something to do or someone to meet. It’s a lifestyle you can thrive in, and for those local to the area, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy our village within your local village.

Artist impressions may differ from final designs.

Scan the QR code or phone David to register your interest today.

By Mary Anne Gill

Workshops in Cambridge have established the town’s reliance on private vehicles is likely to grow unless other transport options are made available.

The engagement, part of the Cambridge Connections Business Case preparation, agreed on the problems and benefit statements for the town’s transport network needed before making any investment decisions.

Transportation planner Rachel Algar told Waipā’s Service Delivery committee this week a business case was essential because the whole Waipā district would pay for an additional river crossing in Cambridge.

The first identified problem was a car dependent transport system exacerbated by growth, results in congestion and poor transport choices.

Problem two is an over-reliance on key connections to perform a number of functions which results in conflicts, reduced amenity and poor system resilience.

The Victoria (High Level) Bridge is an example of a key transport connection which can disrupt the network if it is out of action, she said.

Other connection problems include conflicts between people and traffic in the central

business district and the fact Leamington residents’ only access to Waikato Expressway going north is through Cambridge town.

Council allocated $300,000 for the Cambridge Connections project and work moved up a gear after the adoption of the Waipā Transport Strategy in May. That strategy confirmed the need for a third bridge in Cambridge once the high-level Victoria Bridge can no longer carry vehicles.

The Cambridge Connections Stakeholder Group includes councillors and Cambridge Community Board members, iwi representatives and representation from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, the heavy freight industry and regional transport planning experts.

A business case will be ready by June 30 next year.

Meanwhile contractors working on the Victoria Street bridge repair and repainting project have set up a secure yard and site buildings on the Cambridge side of the bridge.

Initial works started late last month and included scaffolding of the land span and preparation and painting of this part of the bridge structure, Roading manager Bryan Hudson told the committee.

The bridge will be scaffolded and repainted in sections starting at the Cambridge town

side. At the same time, maintenance work will also be carried out.

Scaffold design reviews for the more critical work over the arch are underway.

No traffic impacts are expected in the short term, Hudson said.

The project should be completed late next year.

Most of the work will be carried out from 7am-6pm on weekdays and on occasion, overnight.

The cost of the project has increased by $1.2 million from the $2.6 million budgeted in council’s 2021-2031 Long Term Plan. It will be funded from reserves/external funding.

Transfer centre opening delayed

Cambridge’s transfer station will not reopen until February, says EnviroWaste spokesperson Georgie Hills.

Residents were told earlier this year to expect it to open before Christmas.

“We have been progressing the safety upgrade on site. New steel gates and guard rails have been installed, which provide edge protection and will act as a safety barrier when people drop off general waste,” she said.

The final piece of work will involve upgrading the site’s weighbridge with new technology to ensure people get charged the correct amount for their loads.

“When that’s in place we’ll be able to reopen the facility to the public.”

River ride opens

A

Remember

Ones

Cambridge Connections business plan consultant Chris Ballantye from Inviste Ltd speaks at a public workshop in Cambridge last week. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

The last section of the Te Awa River Ride from to Riverglade Drive in Tamahere to Howell Avenue in Hillcrest will open tomorrow - 13 years after the ride was started. The 65km ride from Karāpiro to Ngāruawāhia passes through Hamilton, Tamahere and Cambridge.

How not to make policy

By Peter Nicholl

Once again, a New Zealand Government Agency has given us a good example of how policy should not be made. This time it is Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency.

They are developing a plan that will reduce speed limits on more than 500 kilometres of state highways in 440 locations.

It is part of their Road to Zero strategy that has an initial target of reducing the number of people dying or being seriously injured on our roads by 40 percent by 2030.

Waka Kotahi say that New Zealand has a much higher road death rate than comparable countries.

One of the comparisons they have used is Sweden where speed limits were reduced and the number of road deaths subsequently declined. But Sweden has about 20 times more expressways per capita than New Zealand.

If one is going to use an international comparison for making policy changes, all relevant factors need to be taken into account.

But this isn’t the biggest mistake in the policy analysis that has been done for this proposal.

Waka Kotahi has told Parliament that it has no plans to do a cost-benefit analysis of the speed limit changes.

I said in an earlier column about productivity that one likely explanation for New Zealand having one of the worst performances for productivity growth over the last 20 years is that enormous costs have been imposed on most businesses over this period in the name of compliance, health and safety and anti- money laundering.

Low productivity means low living standards – the two go together.

I think every major policy proposal should

be required to have a cost-benefit analysis done. This is particularly the case for a proposal like this one from Waka Kotahi.

The costs that it will impose on the transport industry, and through them on everybody, are clear and likely to be high.

It would mean each truck would do fewer deliveries a day.

To maintain the same level of deliveries would require more trucks and drivers. This add to costs – and emissions.

The level of emissions is another major policy target.

But because it is not part of the Road to Zero strategy that Waka Kotahi is focusing on, they have ignored the impact and will pass that problem to somebody else.

I would also like to see the Productivity Commission taking a more active role. They should examine the likely impacts on New Zealand’s productivity of a proposal like this before the proposal is implemented.

The issue of poorly-designed policies and regulations adding substantially to business costs has become a national problem. The impact of all proposed regulations on costs has to become an integral part of the policymaking process.

Most of the things that have contributed to our poor performance have been selfimposed and have happened because the analysis of many policy proposals focuses solely on the benefits to the immediate target of the proposal and ignores their costs and side-effects. But these costs are real and the country is paying them.

Who can you turn to..?

By Murray Smith, Senior Leader, Bridges Church

I was asked to visit a young man in hospital. Days before, he’d been seriously injured in a weekend sporting accident. I went to the spinal unit where doctors had offered a devastating outlook. Being paralysed from the shoulders down, little promise of improvement existed.

My heart melted for him - a new dad. His wee baby had been tenderly placed in a ‘sling’ just above his face - so he was able to ‘nuzzle’ his little one and speak words of love. There were lots of tears. A family plunged into a free-fall of agonising despair…

Although he’d given permission for my visit, it was understandable that my presence was received cautiously. After all, he was contemplating living with terrible loss, grieving over dreams snatched away, with plans that his life held, being obliterated in a moment.

Coming into that setting as a person of ‘faith’ I wanted to offer something meaningful that might make a difference… looking for words carrying hope.

Being perceived as God’s ‘representative,’ I felt the young man’s ambivalence initially. In that moment, he held God in low regard. Unequivocally vocalising his confusion and bitterness towards God, he reasoned that had He been able to prevent ‘this’… why did He not? By inference, He must have allowed it. Reasonable challenges, which deserved more than glib platitudes in response. Attempting to bring comfort risked appearing trite.

I sat beside him, praying, feeling indescribable compassion… listening more than talking, with tear-filled eyes… aware somehow that what I was feeling was a microscopic expression of God’s heart for this young man’s life… I sensed how much

God felt his pain and his family’s.

I’m troubled with bad events happening in life, bringing suffering that is attributed to God.

Earthquakes, natural disasters and the like, are called “Acts Of God”… as if He was the indifferent architect of every dreaded circumstance life throws our way. Failing to acknowledge Him in the good, we’re quick to attribute Him with evil.

From our limited perspective we charge God with dropping the ball. Jonathan Swift’s observation is relevant - “God made man in His image and man has returned the favour”.

In other words, our inclination is to reduce God to ‘our image’, that like us, He shares our finite capacity and understanding. The fact is, He is transcendent - vast and unfathomable in His greatness. His love and His power are incomprehensible. He is not the author of sickness, disease or every calamity that rocks life on this planet.

I’ve stood with people experiencing unspeakable loss. Invariably I’ve noticed those who ‘run to God’ find strength and perspective. Others ‘running from God’ in their pain and disappointment, struggle to ever heal.

Our lives matter greatly to God. One writer marvelling about God’s loving care, penned words worth pondering.

“Every single moment You are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that You cherish me constantly in Your every thought! I couldn’t even begin to count Your thoughts towards me any more than I could count the sand of the sea.” Psalm139 :17-18

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Cambridge girl from beginning to end

where she knitted for orphans, and where she and Gordon immersed themselves in the model aircraft and boat world.

The couple raised their family here – Wendy, Ross, David, Shelley and Lynda. Daughter Lynda Ley captured their mother’s essence when speaking at requiem mass held at St Peter’s Catholic Church on November 28.

“There was always food on the table, clothes on our backs and love in our hearts. She was the most caring, kind, selfless and generous person we have ever known. She also had the biggest heart for all things four-legged and furry with the biggest attitudes,” she smiled.

Judy was born Judith Ellen Fitness at the then Whitiora maternity home in Hamilton Rd, arriving on May 30, 1944. She spent her first eight years on a small farm on Roto-oRangi Rd before her parents Ian and Vera, plus older sister Margaret, moved into town and established an egg farm behind their Vogel St home. That was in 1952.

Model Aircraft Association in 1976 and 1977 while Gordon was president. She also became secretary to the Sport Aviation Association of New Zealand, a body she and Gordon set up in the early 1980s and ran for several years, and was secretary for the Cambridge Amalgamated Radio Modellers club they established with Gordon as president.

Son Dave, a sixth generation Cambridge man, said they were a perfect team and were popular in radio-controlled model circles.

“Gordon was the modeller and expert, Judy did the paperwork and books and laid on hundreds of afternoon teas for fellow modellers,” he said. “They also set up GRH Hobbies, a specialist radio control model boat business they ran from home.”

In the late 1980s Judy worked in the Cambridge High School canteen, later taking on a job in the secretary’s office at Goodwood School.

Market time for Tamahere

By Grace Odlum

With Christmas just around the corner, the annual Christmas Festival at St Stephen’s Church in Tamahere has begun.

And one of the highlights, a Twilight Market will run from 4pm to 8pm on Saturday.

The festival was started 36 years ago by the late Christine and Rex Pickering, and has been carried on by various volunteers including Val Nixon, Bev Ballinger and Gail Blackwell.

By Viv Posselt

Judy Homewood, who died in Waikato Hospital on November 23, was a Cambridge woman through and through.

Her life played out in full here. She was fifth generation Cambridge; it was here she was born and educated, where she met and married Gordon Homewood, where she created hundreds of magnificent cakes and teddy bears,

Judy attended the then St Peter’s Convent School and Cambridge District High School, going on to take up a secretarial position at Cambridge’s Waikato Motors in the 1960s. While there, she met Gordon Homewood, an employee at the nearby Aitken Motors. The couple married on April 11, 1966, and went on to build a home behind the family’s Vogel St house, on land gifted as a wedding present from Ian and Vera. Both Gordon and Judy lived there for the rest of their lives.

Judy ran several sideline home-based businesses while raising the family. She fashioned custom-made teddy bears in the 1970s, then started cake decorating in the 1980s. It was a skill that won her acclaim for baking and icing hundreds of birthday, wedding and Christmas cakes over the decades.

Judy became secretary for the New Zealand

After Gordon’s death in 2005, Judy occupied herself with knitting, crochet and other handcrafts. She soon found herself among the Knitters and Natters group who support Operation Cover Up’s initiative knitting blankets and clothing for orphans in eastern Europe. Before long, she was on their committee and running their Facebook page.

A woman of strong faith, Judy was a longtime member of the Catholic Women’s League, an active participant in the Prayer Chain organisation, and a regular donor to charities.

“She never made a fuss and just got on with things,” said Dave, who followed the family interest in aviation, joining the Air Force and later establishing a worldwide online network connecting aviators around the world.

“She loved her landscaped garden, was an avid reader and quiz show viewer … and her fruitcakes were legendary.”

Every Thursday throughout the year about 30 people gather as a craft group to make an assortment of items including wheat bags and knitted objects. All are sold during the festival and proceeds go to the charities Kids First Whanau Centre, True Colours and the Hamilton Combined Christian Food Bank.

“We are all retired women whose mothers taught us things, and we bring those skills together and learn new things,” Ballinger said.

They prefer to upcycle and recycle, and include donated Christmas decorations in their crafts.

St Stephen’s Church also welcomes different schools who sing Christmas carols in the church is led by vicar Sue Burns.

“I personally love seeing the kids sing”, said Nixon.

Judy Homewood was a fifth-generation Cambridge resident.

Friends and supporters of Gaye Bezzant celebrated as her bronze plaque was unveiled in Cambridge’s Duke Street last week. Gaye was thrilled with the position she is in outside Flooring Xtra and sandwiched between two men who had a close association with her late husband Max.

Harness racing driver Charlie Hunter was a great friend while on the other side is polo’s Jim Watson who Max coached at rugby.

Bezzant, who has lived in the Cambridge area her whole life, was an international softball representative from 1955-1965, including a stint as vice-captain in the 1964-65 season.

She has represented Waikato in softball, netball, basketball and golf and was a well-respected coach across a number of codes. At 85, she continues to play golf today and is the first person to be inducted into the Sports Walk of Fame since 2018.

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Photo: Mary Anne Gill

By Viv Posselt

After 48 years spent passing on his not inconsiderable skills, Cambridge artist Wayne Sinclair is stepping down from teaching.

He’s freeing himself up, he said, giving himself more time to experiment and paint outdoors. He’s been doing a lot of that lately, getting up at daybreak to catch the changing light in some of the quiet spaces around here.

“I like painting in the early hours of the morning. I want to do more of it… go bush with my paints,” he said last month. “Something had to go, it was the teaching. I’ve always found it inspiring. It’s lovely to see what the students come up with, to watch their enthusiasm and passion. I’ll be sad to leave it behind … teaching has been extremely good for me.”

It’s also been good for the hundreds who have passed through his hands.

Wayne said it was possible to teach almost anyone the technique of reproducing a scene, but not all had what it took to become a creative artist.

“They can learn skills needed to duplicate a scene, that is simply a process, but it’s not always possible to make a good artist out of a student.

Painters record, artists create … there is a difference, but I can honestly say there is no-one I have totally given up on.”

Wayne is self-taught and has gone on to win multiple awards. After leaving school he worked for eight years as a display artist in a Blenheim department store. It was ‘marvellous training’ for an artist, he reckoned, given the need to dabble in many different aspects of art, but being a career creative artist wasn’t on his radar at that stage.

In his mid-20s, he spotted paints in a shop window and thought it might be nice to try and paint pictures once he retired. Then he was given some cast-off

paints, just four colours, and he was away. The passion grew and he has painted ever since.

He works mostly in oils and acrylics while his style is determined by the subject. If it’s rustic, he’ll whip out the palette knife and apply slices of colour. If it’s all about the light – something he particularly loves – he will let it sweep over the canvas, allowing the subject to emerge without taking over.

“I never really know what will emerge. There are several Wayne Sinclairs in my head, I never know which one will determine what I paint,”

The Duke St gallery space he has shared with artist wife Robyn Barclay for 25 years will remain open. Wayne has used it as a studio for all that time, as far removed as possible from the image of the quintessential loner artist.

“I’m no hermit, I love talking to people and I’m lucky to be able to do that while I’m painting.”

MORTGAGE MATTERS

Why use a Mortgage Broker?

By Gavin Lynch – Yes Mortgages

In the present loan market, most lenders are changing their criteria in regards to what, how much and to whom they lend. is makes it even more important to use a mortgage broker so you know you are getting the right mortgage and right lender to suit your needs.

I believe every client has a unique borrowing scenario and time needs to be taken with the client to understand and analyse this, so a correct lending plan and structure can be put in place to achieve goals.

In this column, I want to explain brie y the role of the mortgage broker and what I can o er.

e key role of the mortgage broker is to make the whole loan process easier for you, the client. is is possible because:

I can look at all the lending options.

I deal with more than 25 di erent lenders and work to nd the best lender to suit your unique situation.

• I can do all the ‘leg work’ with the lenders.

• is saves you time and avoids pitfalls in getting a loan approved.

• I can negotiate rates, fees, and legal contributions with certain lenders to obtain the best deal for the client.

• I can meet at a convenient time and place for the client.

• is can be in the home or workplace and after hours if need be.

• I can advise on the best loan structure to suit the client’s need.

And best of all using a broker is a free service in most cases. Now that has to be worth thinking about!

If your looking for a mortgage, please give me a call on 823 4531 or 021 783 266 and I can help you though the whole process.

Wayne Sinclair will stay at his easel despite giving up teaching.

Power play by Tesla

By Mary Anne Gill

Global automotive and energy company Tesla has approached Waipā District Council looking for space to install a Super Charger electric vehicle site in Cambridge.

The United States-based company has indicated a preference for a 12-park site in Alpha Street, outside St Peter’s Catholic Church.

Tesla would fund all capital and operating expenses in return for the land and a 15-year term with five yearly renewals.

The proposal was discussed by the Cambridge Community Board last night after this edition of The News went to press.

But councillor Mike Montgomerie pre-empted the discussion at the Service Delivery committee meeting on Tuesday when he asked Transportation manager Bryan Hudson for more information.

“Tesla has been asking council and I believe private landowners for the last 12 months,” Hudson said.

The council suggested three of its own sites in Alpha, James and Fort streets.

Hudson said Tesla charging equipment tended to be bigger than other private charging electric vehicle companies, so they needed more space than the ones currently set up in Cambridge.

Council has just renewed a fiveyear agreement with Charge Net NZ Limited to provide two direct current chargers, occupying four public parking spaces: two in Queen Street, Cambridge and two on Scout Lane in Te Awamutu.

Another charger was installed,

occupying two parking spaces, at the Perry Aquatic Centre carpark as part of Waipā Networks’ sponsorship of that project.

These are fast chargers, taking about 30-40 minutes to fully charge most vehicles.

Last year council entered a fiveyear trial agreement with Hikotron to provide four alternating current chargers, occupying eight public parking spaces: four in Anzac Street and four in the Mahoe Street carpark in Te Awamutu.

“More and more of these types of facilities are in demand,” said Hudson.

The council would have to issue Tesla with a licence to occupy if the proposal went ahead.

The initial conversation with the community needed to start with the community board. The council had already asked the Chamber of Commerce for feedback too, he said.

Councils across the region had been approached by various providers wanting to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure in public spaces.

By 2035, 30 per cent of the vehicles in New Zealand will be electric, said

Hudson.

“It’s important we touch base with the community and get the best accord we can.”

Tesla wants a 15-year commitment from the council with a five-year renewal period.

A large charging hub in Cambridge could attract electric vehicle users to Cambridge from the Waikato Expressway which could have some financial benefits to local businesses.

In her report to the community board, Transportation safety officer Julie Taylor said this would be contrary to the council’s Transport Strategy aim of reducing the number of private vehicles coming into the town centre.

“Therefore, a hub of this size may not be appropriate in public space.”

Tesla has manufacturing facilities in the US, Germany and China and has operations across Asia Pacific and Europe. Its headquarters are in Austin, Texas.

Shareholders include controversial billionaire Elon Musk, who recently sold billions of dollars of shares to fund his purchase of Twitter, and fellow billionaire, Oracle’s Lawrence Ellison.

CJD blood ban will be lifted

Blood donors who have been turned away in New Zealand if they were in parts of Europe between 1980 and 1996 are to be made welcome again.

People who lived for more than six months in the United Kingdom, France or the Republic of Ireland in those years were made ineligible to donate blood because at that time there was an epidemic of the human variant of CreutzfeldtJakob Disease (vCJD), also known as ‘’mad cow disease’’.

The NZ Blood Service website says people in that category are permanently deferred from donating blood and plasma in New Zealand but “that said, we’re currently in the process of reviewing our vCJD deferral following recent developments overseas to ensure that it remains relevant”.

Australia and the United States did away with the eligibility criteria this year and the site says it plans follow suit – “however, a number of steps need to be undertaken before the criteria can be changed”.

Visitors to the Blood Service site at the Hauora Taiwhenua Health and Wellbeing Hub at Fieldays were given an update – and told the door will be reopened next year.

Dr. Maia Ackerman

Alex Marsh

Dr. Barbara Cater

Jacqui Jowsey

Cyril Mateum, left, and Steve Dalgety were sharing the good news.

How the site could look when charging stations are in place.

Land bought for sport

Waipā District Council has bought 6.6ha of land for millions of dollars in Cambridge to be used for sport and recreation.

It comes on the back of an acknowledgement that the town’s winter sport players are bearing the brunt of a shortage of sports parks across the district.

The 6.6ha at 397 Grasslands Drive is adjacent to the giant 3Ms development and has been purchased from Frank and Colleen Ritchie and John Coltman.

The council said the price of the land was commercially sensitive and would not be disclosed. However according to Waikato Regional Council records, the land at that address is 10.3761 hectares and has a value of $5.17 million.

The News went back to the council with several questions including how they would “hide” the price in the annual accounts and how the land purchase would be funded.

A spokesperson said the price would not be disclosed “at the moment”.

“It will not be ‘hidden’. It will be included as a land purchase addition in the Property Plant and Equipment note to the financial statements as required by Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.”

The council will have to borrow the money to pay for the land although long-term it will be funded by development contributions.

It is earmarked for an active recreation area to include a new cricket pitch and oval and two rugby grounds and alongside a new destination playground.

Some of the land will also be used for

roads and stormwater drainage needed to support the urban area known as the C2 growth cell. That cell, now under construction on Cambridge Road, will eventually hold 2500 houses. When complete it will include different types of housing, the Ryman Retirement Village, a new primary school and neighbourhood shops.

A Waipā-wide review in 2020 identifying a shortage of sport parks, largely in Cambridge, said rugby and football were hardest hit.

Group manager growth and regulatory services Wayne Allan said the existing structure plan for the area called for sports fields in the housing development. A structure plan is created before any land is developed to determine how an area will look and where everything will go.

“Green space is hugely important and that is recognised in all of our long-term planning,” Allan said.

“Specifically, this land has been tagged for sports fields because council’s community services team has identified a shortage of sports fields in Cambridge, particularly for winter codes. But the area purchased will also allow for roads, swales and other infrastructure needed to support new housing.”

Allan said securing land was the first step in the process - full development of the sports fields would be at least three years away. Funding to pay for the development will be budgeted as part of council’s next 10-Year Plan.

Bowls success

The tournament, played over two weekends, was for teams of seven from each club, playing fours, pairs and singles.

The winning combination will represent Waikato at the national club championships in Wellington in March.

Central beat Pirongia in the final after a semi-final win over a Hinuera combination with a history of success in the competition.

US glory for BMX riders

Cambridge riders have excelled at the BMX Grand Nationals in the US.

Lily Greenough won the 15-16 years Mixed Open and was second in the 15-16 Expert Girls class while Luke Brooke-Smith celebrated wins in the 13-14 Open and 14 years Expert Boys “It was so good to race with lots of new people and a great way to finish the year of racing,” Lily said.

Cambridge was also represented by Hazel Gardner, Tim Ferguson and Luey Cottam at an event which drew more than 3500 racers from 49 US states and 18 countries to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Grands is a Thanksgiving tradition for thousands of American BMX riders competing in the season finale of their national series.

Professional BMX racers from all over the world, North America’s fastest amateur riders and international riders competed throughout the four days of racing.

It was the 25th year of an event expected to bring in $15 million to Tulsa.

The riders will now enjoy the summer racing on the New Zealand circuit, training at the Cambridge track and looking towards more international races in 2023.

Cambridge’s Central club has won Bowls Waikato premier women’s interclub tournament.

Central’s winning team – from left, Lisa Mundell, Jenny Hobson, Janette Mann, Bronwyn McGowan, Raewyn Bovey, Glenys Carter and Alison Winter.

Fieldays springs back

Is this the magic pellet?

A $15.6 million project being developed at Waikato University promises to slash methane emissions on farms.

Waikato company Ruminant BioTech plans to develop a commercially viable bolus in the next three years.

Chief executive George Reeves said the bolus has the potential to provide dairy, sheep, and beef farmers with a “set and forget” methane reduction solution.

The Government announced last week it would put $7.8 million into the programme,

called Calm - Cut Agricultural Livestock Methane. The company’s investors say they will match that.

The company aims to complete work on the bolus so that it can be on sale in 2025 and last for six months, delivering a 70 percent reduction in ruminant animals’ methane emissions.

Biotech Ruminants, which moved its operations to Waikato University five months ago, says it already has a bolus which provide three months cover – it is now working to

double that.

Reeves, who lives in Matangi, said the company, which has staff based throughout Waikato, has achieved a significant breakthrough.

It is a potential game-changer as farmers face the challenge of reducing methane emissions to a target of 10 per cent below 2017 levels by 2030.

The methane inhibiter in the bolus is seaweed based.

Seaweed is known to help reduce methane emission from ruminants and it was

reported last year that researchers who put a small amount of seaweed into the feed of cattle over five months found they produced 82 per cent less methane.

Reeves said with the project at research and development level, he could not predict the cost of the bolus, but said he had no doubt it would be cost effective.

He said preliminary trials achieved 90 per cent methane emissions reduction over 80 days.

“While these initial results

were extremely positive, our goal is to develop a bolus that achieves 70 per cent methane mitigation over six months.

“New Zealand has a unique greenhouse gas emissions profile. Almost 50% of our total GHG comes from agriculture and three quarters of this comes from methane produced by ruminant animals.

He said the government funding would enable the company to accelerate the development of our current bolus for large cattle, while

The summer Fieldays arrived last week at Mystery Creek with the rain – but the weather fined up for the rest of the expo. Mary Anne Gill was there with camera. Her report and pictures on pages 24 and 25. See more photos at cambridgenews.nz

also developing a bolus suitable for smaller cattle and sheep.

George Reeves

By Mary Anne Gill

Fieldays wrapped up on Saturday after four days with mixed reviews about the event being held at the end of spring and into summer, traditionally a busy time on most New Zealand farms.

Some of the 1000 exhibitors – down from the usual 1100 - reported sluggish sales and want to see the mid-winter time for the event brought back. Others were buoyant saying anything post Covid that attracts patrons is good for business.

About 75,000 people attended the eventa big drop on the 132,776 last year, which generated $675 million in sales revenue.

Lions’ clubs from Te Awamutu and ŌhaupōNgāhinapōuri said their sales were well down on previous years and money destined for community projects would take a hit.

June, when the event is normally held, is a good time of year for an agricultural show because it is quieter on most farms Mary Anne Gill was there and captured the sights of Fieldays 2022 at Mystery Creek in the Waipā district.

Hauora Taiwhenua Health and Wellbeing Hub featured Waikato Hospital’s Critical Care nurse Deb Trail.

Proof that you might leave Fieldays but Fieldays never leaves you, former chief executive Barry Quayle now volunteers and was on one of the information stands.

artist.

workers at Fieldays were the Jani King

Pictured taking a break after cleaning the toilets were, from left, Rhiannon Kereopa, Rea Heurea, team leader Josie Vei and Filipe Taufa.

On the run GG is a new gee gees fan

The New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry has gained a new fan following the visit by Governor General Cindy Kiro to two of the country’s leading stud farms last week.

An invitation was extended by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association earlier this year as part of the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Association chief executive Justine Sclater said they had wanted to engage with Dame Cindy, offering the opportunity to introduce her to the industry and the animals that the late queen had been so passionate about.

“We really wanted to showcase who we are and what we do,” Sclater said. “We were lucky enough to have the late queen as our patron for 30 years and we felt it was important to show why she had such an affinity with thoroughbreds and the breeding industry.

“Organising the event was a massive undertaking though well worth it and I have had some really good feedback. We wanted to keep it a small event giving Dame Cindy the opportunity to get up close to the horses and really get a sense of why Queen Elizabeth II loved them so much.

“Dame Cindy is an inspiring woman with a great aura about her and I felt by the end of the day she had a real grasp of what we are about and why our industry is so important.”

The governor-general and her husband Dr Richard Davies were first hosted at Waikato Stud where they met champion sire Savabeel and barnmate Super Seth.

The tour then moved to Cambridge Stud where the guests were shown around the Heritage Centre, which

included a viewing of the footage from the late queen’s visit to Cambridge Stud in 1990.

Dame Cindy said she realised the importance of the visit and left with an appreciation of the industry and those who contribute to it.

“It was really an honour of her (Queen Elizabeth II) great love and passion of the equine industry that I wanted to come and pay respect to the industry.

“I’ve come to understand the importance of the legacy of the ongoing breeding programme and how important it is to get horses of that calibre into New Zealand so we can remain competitive,

particularly in the Australian market but also worldwide.”

Sclater was impressed with Dame Cindy’s enthusiasm and understanding during the visit and said it highlighted the importance of showcasing the industry and giving people the opportunity to engage with the horses that make it so special.

“It just shows what we are capable of when we expose our industry to people who have had no prior experience with it,” she said. “It was wonderful to see how captivated Dame Cindy was and how she really understood the importance of our industry.” -NZTBA

Cambridge’s Liam Geldenhuys, 8, pictured in action during last weekend’s Hamilton Weetbix Kids Tryathlon event which caters for youngsters aged six to 15. The initial event in 1992 drew 500 entrants –it is now the biggest triathlon series of its age group in the world.

Council says yes

Three applicants to the District Promotions Fund have been granted funding. Waipā District Council allocated a total of $14000 from the fund, including $8000 for the Takapoto Classic, a week-long international show jumping event in February.

A sub-committee of council also allocated $1000 to the Mountain Bike NZ National Cross-Country Series Race 3. The two-day event, to be held in February, is the final round of the 2023 National Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships and will be held at the Pirongia Mountain Bike Park.

The Cambridge Football Youth Invitational Tournament gets $5000 to help fund a two-day tournament in April as part of Cambridge Football’s 75th Jubilee celebration.

The District Promotion Fund received 42 applications in the 2022/2023 funding round, seeking more than $350,000. Of the 42 applications overall, 39 were granted varying levels of support.

Downsizing?

During the last few years, I have become something of a downsizing specialist I have dealt successfully with many clients moving to & from retirement villages, gaining a solid understanding of what’s involved

WHAT STAYS AND WHAT GOES?

Stuff most of us have too much, and when you’re downsizing, the chances are everything you have accumulated over the years is just not going to fit

You’ve probably got a few favourite pieces of furniture and it’s a good idea to measure up the new house, or at least have a good look at the plans, to work out what is going to go where

You might have to be a bit ruthless. Family and friends may benefit, and there are plenty of ways to give your stuff a new start like the Cambridge Lions Shed

Perhaps you could have a garage sale to help with the moving costs Give it some thought, and remember if it’s been in the attic for a year or more you probably don’t need it Watch this space

Governor General Cindy Kiro is introduced to French thoroughbred stallion Almanzor at Cambridge Stud.

Leamington

Cambridge Golf Club (Incorporated) 30 Duke Street Cambridge Waikato, has made application to the Waipa District Licensing Committee for the renewal and variation to increase the licenced area of a club licence in respect of the premises at 112 Tirau Road Cambridge known as Cambridge Golf Club.

The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is sporting club. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is sold under the licence are: Monday-Thursday 11.00am-10.00pm, Friday-Saturday 11.00am12.00 midnight, Sunday-public holidays 10.00am -12.00 midnight.

The application may be inspected during ordinary office hours at the office of the Waipa District Licensing Committee, 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu or 23 Wilson Street, Cambridge.

Any person who is entitled to object and who wishes to object to the issue of the licence may, not later than 15 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at: Waipa District Council, Private Bag 2402, Te Awamutu 3840.

No objection to the issue of a renewal licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

This is the first publication of this notice.

Section 101, Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

PUBLIC NOTICE

Of an application for On Licence

Alpha Street Food Co Limited, 47 Alpha Street, Cambridge has made application to the Waipa District Licensing Committee for the renewal of a on-licence in respect of the premises at 47 Alpha Street, Cambridge known as Alpha Street Kitchen & Bar.

The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is restaurant and bar. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is sold under the licence are: Monday to Sunday 7am1am.

The application may be inspected during ordinary office hours at the office of the Waipa District Licensing Committee, 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu or 23 Wilson Street, Cambridge.

Any person who is entitled to object and who wishes to object to the issue of the licence may, not later than 15 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at: Waipa District Council, Private Bag 2402, Te Awamutu 3840.

No objection to the issue of a renewal licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

This is the second publication of this notice. This notice was first published on December 1, 2022

Section 101, Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

PUBLIC NOTICE

Of an application for On Licence

Good Union Limited, 98 Victoria Street, Cambridge has made application to the Waipa District Licensing Committee for the renewal of a on-licence in respect of the premises at 98 Victoria Street, Cambridge known as Good Union.

The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is tavern. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is sold under the licence are: Sunday to Thursday 9am to 10.30pm, Friday and Saturday 9am to 12 midnight.

The application may be inspected during ordinary office hours at the office of the Waipa District Licensing Committee, 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu or 23 Wilson Street, Cambridge.

Any person who is entitled to object and who wishes to object to the issue of the licence may, not later than 15 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at: Waipa District Council, Private Bag 2402, Te Awamutu 3840.

No objection to the issue of a renewal licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

This is the second publication of this notice. This notice was first published on December 1, 2022.

50/50 SHAREMILKERS, looking for new opportunity, 25 years’ experience, 600 cross cows, high BW-PW, extensive farm equipment, ready to start 2023 season. Email cow.freaks@xtra.co.nz for our CV and references or call Brock Fiske 027 2279870

HOUSEHOLD items, garden tools, lighting, electrical, clothes, farm gates. Saturday 10 December. 9.00am. 3796 Cambridge Rd, RD3, Cambridge.

GARAGE SALE of electrical goods, household items and tools. Cash only. At 2 Victoria St. opposite Le Quesnoy Place. Please park on main road at base of access road. Saturday 10th December. 9-12am.

PUBLIC NOTICES

LAND I NFORMATION NEW ZEALAND

Notice of Weed Spraying in Lake Karapiro

Property owners and users of Lake Karapiro, including for recreation, are advised that the herbicide diquat (Reglone) in gel form will be applied via boat to the following sites at Lake Karapiro:

• Horahora Domain

• Lake Karapiro/Mighty River Domain

• Navigation Safety Zones 1 through to 12 The work is scheduled to begin from Monday 5 December 2022 and may continue intermittently to Friday 16 December 2022, as weather, weed and water conditions permit. Treatment will not take place during weekends or on public holidays.

As a precautionary measure only, Land Information New Zealand advises users not to take water from Lake Karapiro to consume or for irrigation purposes from the vicinity of the treatment area until 24 hours after treatment has been completed.

Notices will be placed at www.linz.govt.nz 24 hours prior to the planned spray dates. Warning signs will be placed at authorised public boat ramps prior to and during treatment and will be removed 24 hours after treatment. Changeable weather conditions may result in delays to weed spraying. Please scan the QR code below to access the most up-todate information.

The Hazard classi cation for diquat is 6.1C, 6.3A, 6.9A, 8.1A, 9.1A and 9.3C.

Weed control in Lake Karapiro is supported by the Waikato Regional Council, Waipa District Council, Mercury and Land Information New Zealand.

A copy of the Spray Plan can be obtained from Bo a Miskell Ltd during o ce hours on 0800 638 943, by writing to PO Box 110, Christchurch 8140, or emailing biosecurity@bo amiskell.co.nz.

sizes to vary within the rate

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Invoicing and Payments: For advertisers on a regular schedule invoices will be sent at the end of the month and payment is due by the 20th of the following month, otherwise payment is required by end of day Tuesday in advance of publishing. Accounts in arrears +60 days may be subject to a $95 + GST late payment fee per month. Advertiser is responsible for all debt collection fees. Cancellation deadline is one week prior to publication. By confirming and placing advertising in Good Local Media Ltd publications you are agreeing to our terms and conditions of trade.

Limitation of Liability: Good Local Media Limited (including its employees, contractors, officers, or agents) shall not be liable for a failure or breach arising from anything beyond their reasonable control e.g. an act of God, fire, earthquake, strike, explosion, or electrical supply failure, unavoidable accident or machine breakdown; and shall not be liable in tort, contract, or otherwise for loss of any kind (whether indirect loss, loss of profits, or consequential loss) to the Advertiser or any other person.

BROWN, Gavin William Charles – Suddenly on Tuesday 29 November at Waikato hospital aged 62, much loved son of Noelene and the late Peter Brown. Brother and brother-in law of Christine and Scott Nissan (Cambridge), Denise Cogswell (Reefton), Bronwyn and Michael Thornton (Morrisville). Respected uncle of Jordan Brown, Abbey Cresswell, Loren Smith, Tayla Nissan, Logan Cogswell, Ben and Ronan Thornton. Great uncle of Blake and Rhys Loye, Bowie and Marlow Cresswell, Drew Cogswell. The service has been held at Te Aroha.

Rest in Peace Gav.

GREEN, Eric Dennis – died peacefully on Wednesday 30th November. Dearly loved father to Durrelle, Hayden, Jacob, and Anna, and muchloved grandad. A service will be held at 11am Friday 9th December at Katikati Saint Peters Anglican Church. All welcome.

KIRK, Liana Nicole –

Passed away at home on Wednesday, 30th November 2022. Aged 21 years. Dearly loved daughter of Melissa, Dale and partner Keryn. Cherished sister to Jacqueline and Mitchell. Loved granddaughter of Danny & Rowena and the late George & Christine. The service for Liana has been held. All communications to Grinter's Funeral Home, c/3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge, 3434.

ROWE, Lorna May, (nee Hann) – Peacefully passed away at Te Awa Life Care on Friday, 2nd December 2022, aged 89 years. Dearly loved wife of the late Alan (Ike). Much loved mother and mother-inlaw to Phillip & Joan, Colin & Lynette, Graeme & Myrna, Neil & Ria. and Lynda. Loved grandma to 15 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren. A service to celebrate the life of Lorna life has been held. All communications to the Rowe Family, c/- 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434

GARLAND, Leo Wayne 28.11.1946-1.11.2022

MORRIS, Larry Dixon –

Sadly but peacefully passed away at Waikato Hospital on Friday, 2nd December 2022. Aged 75 years. Much loved husband of Shirley for 28 years. Loved and respected dad of Leah & Raoul, step dad to Ramon & Corvette, Shannan & Aribel. Adored Poppa of Rylan and Reuben. Step grandad to Levi and Carter. A graveside service for Larry will be held at the Pukerimu Cemetery, Kaipaki Road, Cambridge on Monday, the 12th of December 2022 at 1:00pm. All communications to the Morris Family, c/- 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434

Melba, Barbara, June and families wish to express our love and appreciation to all who have supported us in the recent sad loss of our beloved brother Leo. Many thanks to the staff and friends Leo made at Metlifecare Moxon Cambridge for the caring and respectful support given to Leo and our family; to our many extended whanau for their manaakitanga, awhi and guidance; to those who were able to join Leo and our whanau at Melba and Joe's and to Maree and Sally for their help and support. Many thanks for all the lovely flowers, baking, kohas, messages and phone calls received; to Leo's Whangamata family and friends; to those who shared on the livestream; to Kay Gregory, Jim Goddin and his team at Grinters Funeral Home; and to all our family and friends who joined us at The Henley Hotel to celebrate and farewell our special brother, Leo, and a life well lived. He tangata pono - A true gentleman.

Leo will be remembered for his quiet, unassuming ways. Continue to share the memories and the love Leo has left in your lives, laugh, smile - he will be smiling with you.

Please accept this as a personal acknowledgement of our deepest gratitude.

NOVEMBER 24th - 30th

• Visit our website www.theregent.nz

MISTER ORGAN | M |

Following reports of fraudulent car clamping in Auckland, journalist and filmmaker David Farrier opens an investigation that pushes him to the limits of his sanity in this true cat-and-mouse story of psychological warfare.“This is a dark, compelling, bleakly hilarious and - at times - disturbing film.”

Thu 6.30pm, Fri 6.00pm, Sat 5.25pm & 8.00pm, Sun 2.55pm & 5.45pm, Wed 6.30pm

THE MENU| R16 | Comedy/Horror

Tongue-in-cheek horror about a young couple who travel to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant whose chef has created a lavish, shocking menu.

Thu & Fri 6.15pm, Sat 3.20pm, 5.30pm, 7.50pm, Sun 3.00pm & 5.30pm, Tue: 5.45pm, Wed 10.10am

SERIOUSLY RED | M |

A rowdy and rambunctions musical comedy about Red’s life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. After misreading her work party’s dress code, Red tumbles outta bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey that includes romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator.

Thu 6.15pm, Fri 6.30pm, Sat 12.45pm & 7.50pm, Sun 12.45pm & 3.20pm, Tue 5.35pm, Wed 10.00am & 5.35pm

EMILY | M |

The biographical drama of Emily Brontë, charting her journey of rebellion and womanhood Sat 7.40pm, Wed 5.45pm

SHE SAID | M |

Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, the New York Times reporters who broke the bombshell Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Fri 5.55pm, Sat 2.45pm, Sun 5.20pm, Tue 5.30pm, Wed 10.10am

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER | M |

The people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mourn the death of King T'Challa.

Thu 6.00pm, Fri 5.25pm, Sat 12.20pm, 3.45pm, 6.55pm, Sun 12.30pm, 3.45pm, Wed 5.25pm

BLACK ADAM | M |

Thu 6.00pm, Sat 12.20pm & 5.15pm, Sun 12.20pm & 5.00pm

WHEN THE COWS COME HOME | E | Locally made film

Waipa-made and NZ Film Commission funded film When the Cows Come Home had sell out sessions at the NZ International Film Festival. Director Costa Botes (Forgotten Silver, Angie) explores the philosophies of this Waikato musician turned farmer, who saved the two bovine beauties from slaughter so that they could become "forever cows". Sat 5.20pm

MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS | PG | Sat 3.00pm, Sun 1.00pm, Wed 10.20am

DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS | PG | Last Weeks Sat 2.55pm, Sun 3.10pm

LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE | PG | Last Sessions Sat & Sun 12.50pm

BEST BIRTHDAY EVER | G | Last Session Sat: 1.00 PM

COMING SOON Strange World

*Avatar: The Way of Water presales are available for purchase