Te Awamutu News | December 8, 2022

Thanks a million!

Waipā cycle and walkways, which the government’s transport agency Waka Kotahi would not fund, will get money from the climate emergency relief fund.

Projects in Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi formed part of the council’s $11 million Urban Mobility programme but stalled when Waka Kotahi’s 51 per cent contribution did not eventuate.

Transport Minister Michael Wood announced on Sunday 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 could get underway mid next year.

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

The popular Te Awa River Ride and Hamilton Road cycleways will be extended into the Cambridge business district and broken cycle links in Cambridge west fixed.

Deputy mayor and Urban Mobility Group chair Liz Stolwyk said the money would offer safer ways to get to school, town, parks and home again without relying on a car.

“We accept not everyone wants to be on a bike, but plenty of people in Waipā do and that number is growing,” Stolwyk said.

“We also know most people want fewer cars on our 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.”

FIELDAYS

Mary Anne Gill reports on the big summer event.

Kihikihi School pupils, from left, Hana Tuhua-Tamaiva, Te Oriwa Heke, Ryan Bull and Wiremu Kapa celebrate with principal Sunny West and deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, community board chair Ange Holt and, right, mayor Susan O’Regan.

Top award for kindy

By Viv Posselt

Kihikihi Kindergarten has become the first under the regional Central Kids banner to attain a Green-Gold status in the Enviroschools programme.

That means it leads 49 kindergartens and seven early learning centres across a wide area of the central North Island, bordered by the Coromandel, Taumarunui and Rotorua.

Kihikihi Kindergarten attained its Enviroschools Bronze status in 2018, Silver in 2020.

Enviroschools is run by the Toimata Foundation in partnership with Te Mauri Tau. They work to the five guiding principles underpinning the nationwide programme – to empower students in active school participation, teach sustainability, honour Māori perspectives and indigenous knowledge, respect diversity, and build sustainable communities.

The kindergarten themed much of its Enviroschools message in the shape of a cicada. ‘Kihikihi’ is the Māori word for cicada, and many of their messages around sustainability – now and into the future – are penned within sketched cicadas.

Head teacher Naomi Peterson said that was a symbolic reference to emerging ideas not yet come to fruition.

The kindergarten has also established links with its community, including businesses and the Māori Women’s Welfare League.

Naomi, who spent three years as a Central Kids manager in Hamilton before returning to Kihikihi Kindergarten as head teacher in August said that in 2018 the centre formed an association with the Para Kore Marae. Paul Murray, programme training specialist with Para Kore, calls in regularly to do waste audits and work with the children on strategies around repurposing and recycling.

Another unusual element at Kihikihi Kindergarten was the publication of a book in August, written by children’s author Sharon Holt around the topic of waste reduction. Entitled “Taihoa, e hoa!”, the book was the 30th and final in Holt’s Te Reo Singalong series of books – she had been invited to do the book by her friend and then head teacher at Kihikihi Kindergarten, Sue McCandlish. Holt went on to write the book in association with Paul Murray from Para Kore.

A longer version of this story will appear at teawamutunews.nz

Lorraine solves the rose riddle

Te Awamutu’s champion rose now has a name.

The News reported last week that the 58th annual rose show had an overall winner – but owner Lorraine Flynn didn’t know its name.

She has been looking after it since moving into her Pakura Street home 36 years ago. The News made it even more confusing by referring to it as Pokuru St.

“I have done some investigative journalism myself with regards to the name of the rose and have now solved the mystery,” Lorraine declared in the wake of our story.

“Via facebook and messenger I was able to contact the previous owner’s daughter, who has been a hairdresser in Te Awamutu for many years and now lives and works in Cambridge.

“I explained how the rose in her family home garden had won the Champion of Champions and wondered if her or her sister could remember the name of it. Kay replied that she remembered a red one being called Uncle Walter and a purple one being Blue Moon. I had told her where the rose was planted in the garden but at first she could not be sure if it was the Uncle Walter red rose. I asked her if there was a family member called Uncle Walter who her mother might have planted the rose for.

“Kay came back and said her father’s name was Walter and the more she thought about it the more she was sure that was the right one. Kay had looked on google and sent me some photos of the Uncle Walter rose and sure enough the description and picture fitted what I had entered perfectly.

“So I deemed that the puzzle pieces had fallen into place and Uncle Walter is the name of the rose.”

South Pacific Roses reports Uncle Walter is “an old favourite that is always very popular. Deep red blooms with lovely form that grow on a strong healthy plant. A wonderful rose picked for the vase. Nice fragrance.”

Judges at the Te Awamutu rose show certainly agreed in awarding Lorraine, who has celebrated first placings in previous rose shows, her first champion title.

Holding Kihikihi Kindergarten’s new Green-Gold Enviroschools certificate are Remy Morrow, Olive Morrow and Hunter Hastie-Jones.

Lorraine Flynn – champion rose grower, and now, investigative journalist.

Drivers

recruited 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 says. Having new drivers learning the duties and routes resulted in some missed collections, but the service would improve, she said.

Better paths

Footpath renewal works completed by the Waipā District Council in October included cobblestones which were laid outside the Hazlemere Crescent shops in Te Awamutu. A new footpath is planned in Collinson Street, Pirongia, early next year.

Name approved

The Waipā Service Delivery committee has approved six new road names including Mangahia Lane, part of the Reid Road development near Ngāhinapōuri. Mangahia Lane is near a stream of the same name.

Bus numbers up

Patronage for 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.

Council says yes

Three applicants to the District Promotions Fund have been granted funding. Waipā District Council allocated a total of $14,000 from the fund, including $8000 for the Takapoto Classic, a week-long international show jumping event in February, $1000 to the Mountain Bike NZ National Cross-Country Series Race 3 at Pirongia next February and $5000 to help fund a two-day tournament in April as part of Cambridge Football’s 75th Jubilee celebration.

The great parade

Jim Goddin JP Funeral Director

Bathgate, pictured in the air near the end of the parade. Roy Pilott was on hand to catch some

see the 30-plus floats on parade – see more photos at teawamutunews.nz

CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE LAUNCHING IN JANUARY

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST NOW

By registering today you will join our no-obligation database to be amongst the first to hear about townhouse plans and our January village launch event.

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.

Of bridges …and crossings

Two footbridges in Te Awamutu at Shanel Place and Memorial Park are now in use.

The old Shanel footbridge will be removed once water and sewer pipes have been rerouted to the new bridge.

Finding a contractor to do this pipe work has been difficult, Waipā Roading manager Bryan Hudson told the Service Delivery committee this week.

A second bridge nearest the netball courts in Memorial Park is ready to go in but staff need to wait for ground conditions to improve.

“The heavy crane needs dry hard ground to avoid getting stuck and to ensure the work can be done safely,” said Hudson.

The work should be done early next year.

Meanwhile, Ōhaupō village’s central signalised pedestrian crossing is a step closer with design now complete and the job about to go out on tender.

Construction start is flexible to attract the best tenders, Hudson says.

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.

Te Awamutu Funeral Services warmly invite you and your family/whanau to remember loved ones at our community remembrance service.

This service is for anyone in the community to re ect on their recent loss. We encourage you to bring photos or other momentos to place with candles and owers. Refreshments will be served following the service.

Martin Mould

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 Creutzfeldt-Jakob 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,

On the beat

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

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.

with Constable Ryan Fleming

Help our hampers

The year is fast approaching its end. As Christmas starts to wind up and you might be feeling the strain of a difficult year, just remember it’s okay to feel tired.

No one started this year on a full tank. Next week is the busiest week for Operation Christmas Hampers as we move all our stock from our place of storage to Zion Church, then begin the madness that is organising and delivering. We still need donations in the form of staple goods such as rice, pasta and canned foods to help make meals to help families through the festive period. If you have some goods to donate, please feel free to drop it off at the Police Station, the Commsafe office, Kainga Aroha or from Wednesday, Zion Church. After the rush of the big week, my

tank always feels a little more full.

A salient point I have made over and over again about the pitfalls of social media is when people get it wrong.

This week a post was made in one of the Grapevine type Facebook pages which attracted many bullying and downright vitriolic comments. The original poster got the situation wrong and this bought out so many horrible comments from people who have nothing better to do.

I applauded the swift actions of the moderators in removing the post fairly quickly. This time of year is stressful on everyone. Please be kind.

has been the go-to source for landscapers, trade partners, gardeners and DIYers in the area since 2019. Landscape Supply Co is a family-run business that cares about

ATP Therapy

ATP owner operator Karen Gloyn is a registered nurse who finds the concept of reducing inflammation swelling and pain and accelerating healing without the use of medication or sharp objects is compelling. After extensive research she founded ATP Therapy which is the abbreviated name for adenosine triphosphate present in all forms of life which restores cell energy during treatment.

its

Stella & Co is a vibrant store filled with a range of gorgeous, on-trend women’s footwear, accessories and gifts. Owner Debra Bird has fresh stock arriving throughout the seasons that

you will fall in love with. The stock includes comfortable footwear as well as highend shoes she sources through her regular visits to the Auckland Shoe Fair Exhibition.

Full Flow Engineering

Full Flow Valve Services Ltd is a family owned business operated by Craig and Angela FitzGerald. They stock quality engineering and safety equipment with a large selection of high quality hand tools, perfect for both commercial and personal use, power tools, welding supplies, workwear, personal protective equipment and hydraulic hoses. The company can also provide relief mechanical assistance cover for clients when staff are sick or on leave.

Murray Hunt Furnishers

Fresh stock has arrived in all three Murray Hunt stores –the little one at 220 Alexandra Street and the bigger Beds R Us showroom at 45 Arawata Street and of course at 63 Maniapoto St, Otorohanga. Included in that is some

beautiful stock for Christmas. Anyone who spends $100 in any of the Murray Hunt stores in Te Awamutu and Otorohanga until Christmas will go in the draw to win a gift basket valued at over $500

community. Owners and operators Matt and Ammie Hardie have 20 years’ experience which gives them a true appreciation for their clients and customers.

Landscape Supply Co

Brodie Hewlett, left, with mother Bev Cooper

Stella Shoes

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 12 and 13. More pictures teawamutunews.nz

also developing a bolus suitable for smaller cattle and sheep.

George Reeves

Fieldays in the sun

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.

Ōhaupō farmer Andrew Reymer heads into Fieldays.

Ōhaupō-Ngāhinapōuri Lions, from left, Rob Mourits, Steve Canton, Ross Karl, Murray Steele and Ken Arnold have been at Fieldays for 45 years.

A popular stand inside the pavilion was Environmental Protection Authority’s Sharing Shed ‘Cutz & Kōrero’ with Jason Muir, hairdresser and performance artist. Here he cuts Fieldays ambassador Te Radar’s hair and talks about the environment.

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.

A wide angle view of Fieldays 2022 from the top of the hill looking across towards the pavilion and the Tīeke Golf Estate (formerly Lochiel course).

Te Awamutu Lions celebrated the 40th anniversary of their food caravan at Fieldays, an event they’ve been going to for nearly half a century. From left, front row: Murray Hislop, Russell Johnson, Craig Holz, Doug Carson, John Hansen, Brendon Hand; back row: Tristan Brown, Allen Rounthwaite, Chris Johnstone.

Looking ahead

By Christine Bryant, Lay Minister, St John’s

Anticipation is a word which often comes to my mind at this time of the year - the expectation around upcoming events.

In a negative context, such as a medical procedure, it may be more a feeling of dread - an unpleasant experience which you want to put behind you as soon as possible. Or it may be a challenge which you are not too eager to face. I think this is how many students view the exam season. But, if they have worked steadily throughout the year, they are entitled to anticipate their results hopefully, knowing that their hard work will pay off.

As we move from November into December, we look forward to a sunny summer which includes Christmas, New Year and holidays - a complete break from daily routine. In the shops, retailers look forward to ringing cash registers as people buy gifts for family and friends. Not unreasonably, many hope buyers will spend up large to enable them to get through financially quieter times of the year.

For Christians, the focus is on the coming of Jesus. November 27 was the first Sunday in Advent, the beginning of the church year. It is a time to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the birth of this extraordinary child who grew up to become the saviour of all. Anticipation for Christians is based on God’s promises to us.

When our children were young, we used to read our Advent Calendar day by day with the stories of how God promised this saviour for hundreds of years. Every bedtime story brought us closer to Christmas Eve. The anticipation built day by day. Children, especially, can hardly contain

themselves as they count sleeps until the day they can open presents.

Likewise, parents and grandparents have shopped, anticipating the joy a carefully chosen gift will bring.

We all know Christmas can be a challenging time for those who have lost a loved one or those who don’t have the means to buy gifts. However, Christmas is about the joy of Jesus’ birth - and joy costs nothing.

In our community the churches offer many opportunities to gather and experience the joy of Christmas. All are welcome at any of the churches’ celebrations to share in the joy.

Joy, the sense of happiness and well-being, is at the heart of Jesus’ message. In John 15, Jesus tells his disciples about God’s love and commands us to love one another. In verse 11: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”

This year, after two really tough years, my hope is that everyone can anticipate the Christmas season with joy.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him - Rom.15:13.

Letters to the Editor

• Letters should not exceed 200 words

• They should be opinion based on facts or current events

• All letters to be emailed to editor@goodlocal.nz

• No noms-de-plume

• Letters will be published with names

• Please include full name, address and contact details for our records only

• Letters may be edited, abridged, or rejected at the editor’s discretion

• The editor’s decision on publication is final.

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.

Booster planned

Waipā staff have completed the preliminary design of a water booster pump station at Taylors’ Hill reservoir to improve fire flow and service to Te Awamutu. Construction will begin in 2023-24 at the same time as pipe renewal/ reconfiguration from Taylors’ Hill to Racecourse Road.

Roading priorities

Waipā’s road maintenance priorities over the next three months include rehabilitating a short length of Allen Road, south of Kihikihi, repairs to bank erosion on Gillard Road near Ngāhinapōuri, repairs to a suspected tomo on Waikoha Road west of Ngāhinapōuri, permanent pavement repairs to footpaths damaged in recent wet winter storms and another 70km of chip sealing.

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.

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

SEYMOUR, Jeffrey John

– Passed away at home on Saturday, 12th November 2022. Aged 65 years. Much loved by his friends, Church family and those who knew him. The service for Jeffrey has been held. All communications to the Seymour Family, c/-3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434.

WALDRON Barbara Elizabeth (nee Tarr) 4.12.1931-5.12-2022 – Aged 91. Much loved wife for sixty-six years to the late John. Cherished mother and mother-in-law to Julie and Andrew Guest, Paul and the late Rae, and Rachel and David. Grandma to Duane and Dana, Richard and Claire, Rebecca and Ed, Tony and Leizel, Tamsin, and Tessa. Great grandma to Dane, Aurora, Haiden, and Harrison and Tilly, and Henry. Sister and sister-in-law to Malcom and Merylin Tarr, W. Australia. Barbara’s funeral will be held at St John’s Anglican Church Arawata St, Te Awamutu on Saturday 10 December at 2pm. In lieu of flowers Barbara asked for donations to the Parish of St John Te Awamutu and these may be left at the service or via on-line banking. All communications please to the Waldron family, P O Box 137, Te Awamutu 3840.

Te Awamutu Funeral Services, FDANZ.