Te Awamutu News | February 16, 2023

Battling the storm

Waipā felt enough of Cyclone Gabrielle’s force to leave it without power in many places –and a huge mess to clean up.

A National State of Emergency was declared on Tuesday –just the third ever. Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty called it an “unprecedented weather event”.

Te Awamutu escaped much of the damage felt around neighbouring communities.

Police Sergeant Rob Pearce said there was not a lot to report from Te Awamutu – unlike Cambridge, Ōtorohanga and Te Kuiti where there were trees down, slips and flooding.

The Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade reported cyclone incidents in the early hours of Tuesday which led to a tree toppling onto powerlines at Te Rahu Rd between Coulter and Woodstock roads.

Powerlines also fell onto a truck in Seafund Rd, Wharepuhunga –there were no injuries.

In Parawera a social media plea was posted by farmers who were out of power and in desperate need of a generator for milking.

Throughout the Waikato fire and emergency logged 362 calls in the 24 hours to 1pm Tuesday.

Waipā District Council’s Facebook page kept residents up

to date – and won praise. Murray Rumbles said the

council had assisted Fonterra tanker drivers through the night as he reported fallen trees.

Rose Main paid tribute to contractors for “your hard work to ensure our communities are kept as safe as possible…”

Waipā Networks staff also worked through Monday night and Tuesday morning to restore power - but the company noted the wind speeds were making it unsafe for teams to repair damage.

On the road the storm took a toll at Kihikihi and in Te Awamutu on State Highway 3 where emergency services dealt with a vehicle crash and fallen tree.

Waipā District Council reported flooding on rural roads including Whittaker Road, Fillery Road, a road off Te Pahu Road and Wright Road.

Other streets impacted included: Shakespeare Street, Shelley Street, Wordsworth Street, Arnold Street

and Burns Street in Leamington, Victoria Road in Cambridge, Raynes Road in Rukuhia, Mangahoe Street, Chamberlain Road in Te Awamutu, Kaipaki Road and Jary Road in Ōhaupō, Maungatautari Rd, Tuhikaramea Road, Ngāhināpouri, Waipapa Road in Wharepapa South, Cambridge Road at Roto-o-Rangi, Arapuni Road and in Pukeatua, Owairaka Valley Road, Maunga Road, Rotongata Road and Waipapa Road.

And in the midst of the damage there was still humour.

The Cambridge central business district lost power and the Waipā District Council announced “Cross your legs Cambridge - no power means no pumps in our public toilets so we will be closing them until further notice.”

In response Greg Campbell noted: So Covid we spread our legs, cyclones we cross them? Just trying to keep up with the rules.

$1,000

$5,999

Whittaker Road was one of many road hit by flooding.

Photo: Waipā District Council.

How the Metservice saw Gabrielle early on Tuesday morning.

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Painting a future for kōkako

The story of kōkako at Pirongia maunga is being brought to life with two murals at the envirocentre in Pirongia Village.

Waipā artist Reasha Pye secured funding from Waipā Creative Communities for the murals. One features a kōkako, feeding on Pirongia and the other a night scene featuring pekapeka, ruru and patupaiarehe, the fairy people connected with the maunga.

To complete the murals, - being painted for the Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society - key people were invited to share their stories relating to kōkako and to add finishing touches.

Gerry Kessels, a Te Pahu ecologist and society committee member was part of the team that caught the last kōkako in the 1990s to stop them dying out.

“We knew these birds were going to die in the mid-1990s, so a few Wildlife Service people with the blessing of the DoC managers decided to catch these kōkako and bring them down to Kapiti, a safe haven… was a joint effort between DoC staff and local people.”

Birds were taken to Ōtorohanga Kiwi House then flown to Kapiti Island.

Kessels has been an ecologist for 30 years.

“People say it must be so much fun being an ecologist, but the line of work I do is more like the TV programme MASH. I am up to my arms in the blood of the earth with incoming choppers just trying to fix stuff all the time. We don’t really have time to think about the bigger picture too much. We’re just trying to resolve issues as they come to the fore and avert complete catastrophe. And that’s what it’s been like for 30 years.”

He didn’t expect to see kōkako back Pirongia “so, it was a very emotional day when we first released the birds back here

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after 20 years, and to have them now living and breeding here.”

The Pirongia Restoration Society was formed in 2002.

“For these kōkako to come back onto the mountain there had to be a vision amongst the community that something could be done about it,” chairman Kevin Christie said.

“And the goal right from the start was to get kōkako back on the maunga. We’ve done that but it would never have happened without people like Gerry, who had the wisdom to take them away and shelter them from predators, and like Sally Uerata. She was a founding member too and our iwi representative.

North Island kōkako numbers were down to 330 breeding pairs by 1999 and it is likely

On the beat with Senior Constable DEB

THURGOOD

Crime solving – a joint effort

I hope that everyone has managed to stay safe and well during the cyclone. This week I have another good news story to share, as it’s also a chance to say thank you to our community.

Late last year a calf feeder was stolen from a farm in Roto-o-Rangi. The burglary was reported to police and images of a vehicle suspected of being involved were also shared on social media.

This prompted a number of calls to police. As is always the case, much of the information added to or corroborated our enquiries.

As a direct result, approximately one month later police were able to execute a search warrant at a property in Te Mawhai, Tokanui.

The calf feeder was recovered, along with

scaffolding and trailers that had been stolen in other burglaries in Hamilton.

It was a great outcome that we could not have achieved without the support from the public. Effective policing is a joint effort between officers and the local communitythis was a great example.

In the case above, Facebook helped bring about a great result.

Social Media can often equally have a negative effect, however. I have previously advised against using Facebook as your go-to for reporting crime – police (111 or 105) should be your first phone call for sure.

I have also previously raised the perils of community Facebook page posts gone awry.

A situation highlighted to me this week has brought the latter back into focus.

With any social media there is the potential

the South Island kōkako is already extinct. Today that number is over 2000 pairs. The Society released 54 kōkako between 2017 and 2022, 14 of them with Pirongia genes.

“Kōkako are what we like to call an umbrella species,” Dave Bryden, who has been involved with the project from the Wildlife Permit Application stage in 2016.

“There are certain species in the forest which serve to improve the health of the forest. Kōkako can eat large fruits and therefore can spread the seeds of plant species that smaller birds cannot.”

If predator control is sufficient for kōkako to increase, the protection is being provided for all native species in the same ecosystem, he said.

for misinformation to be taken as truth, for situations to be inflamed and community unrest ignited.

In some cases, people or organisations are even ‘named and shamed’ in online posts. This is a worrying path to go down.

The information and identities posted may turn out to be incorrect. Such posts can cause personal distress to the people targeted and potentially constitute online bullying. In extreme cases, naming and shaming could open you up to civil legal action.

I urge people not to name and shame others online and for Facebook group administrators be aware of this issue. Instead, if you have a concern, approach the appropriate agencies to address the issue instead, - for example police or your council.

Supporters gathered to view one of the new murals.

Te Ara Wai cost revealed

By Mary Anne Gill

Ratepayers could pay all up more than $27 million for Waipā’s Te Ara Wai Museum in Te Awamutu, and the bulk would be spent over the next two years.

A revised budget was due for release to the recently reformed Te Ara Wai Government committee on Monday, but Cyclone Gabrielle’s presence thwarted the discussion.

When the council first approved the project in 2017 the budget was $7.2 million. Three years later it was up to $16.6 million.

Designing and building the museum now at what was a hardware warehouse in Arawata Street will cost ratepayers $20.48 million.

It could be less – at least $7 million of asset sales may be allocated to the project.

The council has already spent $2.05 million buying the former Bunnings building and expects to get $1.7 million from Three Waters Better Off funding, $1 million from Trust

Waikato and other grants yet to be secured.

Additional costs already included in the $27.48 million are $5.15 million for exhibition planning, design, development and installation, packing and moving the museum collection $432,400 and marketing of $1.32 million for both Te Ara Wai and Te Ara Wai Journeys.

The committee, which sources say will be chaired by Finance chair Andrew Brown, was to consider other opportunities around the site, an update on the Te Awamutu Museum closure and go into public excluded to discuss a project implementation report.

The museum closed in October last year after a seismic assessment deemed it an earthquake risk.

Customer and Community Services group manager Sally Sheedy said in a report to the committee that the project had been on hold for 30 months following unsuccessful funding applications to central government during Covid.

When Australian-owned Bunnings closed

in 2021, the council bought the hardware giant’s building because of its location within Te Awamutu’s historical footprintnext to the Ōtāwhao Mission Station site and Mangaohoi Stream, and within the shadow of Kaipaka Pā and neighbouring Old St John’s Church.

Originally plans for Te Ara Wai – which will house New Zealand’s Waipā’s unique collection of taonga, stories that connect to significant locations in the district, a research centre, a hub for school and education programmes – were centred around a site next to Te Awamutu Library.

In 2019, Trust Waikato announced it would inject $1 million into the project and while that commitment continued through Covid and while the project was on hold, Sheedy says the council may not be able to defer it any longer.

Earlier this year Waipā was one of three councils to get Government’s Better Off funding for community projects.

The council will allocate $1.7 million from

Quake repair has $3 million starting price

An empty building in Te Awamutu may cost $3 million to bring up to earthquake standard.

Council staff were evacuated from the Roche Street building in October and last month moved into a leased building in Te Awamutu’s Rickit Road.

A seismic study had determined the building, which also housed the Te

Awamutu Museum, was at 20 per cent of New Building Standard and vulnerable in an earthquake.

Specialists have now confirmed the building could cost around $3 million to fix – but say that estimate is based on a lower level of detail than final drawings and specifications would demand. At some point, a more detailed cost estimate would

be needed.

Waipā District Council chief executive Garry Dyet said the estimate was “detailed enough for now” given council will not be rushing to fix the building. A review has been launched to see what office space might be needed to house staff in the future.

“Local government is in a state of flux with potentially major changes on the horizon. The impact of water and local government reform, and the ability for people to much more effectively work from home or hot desk will fundamentally change how much office space we’ll even need,” Dyet said.

“We won’t be rushing into fixing the building until we determine what space is needed and that will take some time to work through. In the meantime, this broad estimate gives us a handle on what we’re looking at so we can factor the cost of fixing it into our modelling.”

Council had anticipated a significant drop in the value of the building and reflected that as an impairment in the 2021/22 annual report. No money has been budgeted for repair costs.

the $5.24 million it received towards Te Ara Wai.

The reformed committee was also to consider a plan for the site and how it would interact with Te Awamutu.

Among those would be an opportunity to enhance the town centre entry and establishing a civic spine connecting the reserve through to the main street.

The project has the support of mana whenua as an avenue to safely share their stories of the New Zealand Land Wars.

“Any further delay of the Te Ara Wai would cause frustration with our mana whenua partners,” said Sheedy.

“Any further delay will also compromise gaining some of the stories held by kaumatua who are of an older demographic and may have health or physical capacity challenges preventing them from sharing these stories, which are then lost.”

There was no indication when the Te Ara Wai committee will meet but it is expected to meet regularly while the project proceeds.

Mayor responds to kiwifruit complaints

Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan has rejected suggestions a blind eye is being turned to kiwifruit orchardists who have ignored district bylaws.

An editorial in last week’s edition of The News suggested the council appeared content to deal with retrospective applications and it was time for the mayor and council to make a stand over the issue.

One neighbour of a new orchard says a hearing later this month could leave him surrounded on three sides by kiwifruit under 10 metre high covers if the decision goes against him.

Today O’Regan, in a column, says in the last year council staff have responded to multiple concerns from immediate neighbours of two kiwifruit growers and have made more than 20 site visits and insisted on changes.

She says councillors “absolutely do” expect staff to respond to legitimate concerns as soon as staff are aware of them.

But she adds that “it’s hard to have sympathy for those who have not done the ground work or worse, have chosen to be ignorant or ill-informed”.

• Read her comments today on Page 9.

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The building hosting Te Awamutu’s museum was closed last year.

Waipā’s Mr Polo remembered

By Viv Posselt

New Zealand’s polo playing community lost one of its finest sons when Cambridge-born John ‘Jack’ Watson died last month.

For the past 34 years, he filled vital management roles with the New Zealand Polo Association (NZPA) and was its patron. His reputation as an awardwinning polo player with an unmatched recall of the game’s history won him plaudits both nationally and

internationally.

In acknowledging his passing, the association noted John’s ‘knowledge and ability, and said he would be greatly missed by all polo players and supporters in New Zealand and throughout the global polo community.

John was also every inch a Waipā man. Most of his 81 years were lived here. Cambridge was where he married Robin and where they raised seven children, and where polo and other things equestrian

were enjoyed alongside a demanding farming schedule. During those years, John and Robin led busy Maungatautari lives, immersing themselves in school affairs, calf clubs, concerts, school trips, garden parties and a host of other district activities.

From 1999 to 2001, the couple was in Belgium where John managed the Belgium Polo Club. Soon after coming home, they moved to a block at Pukeatua.

John was born in

Cambridge, the second child of Jack and Valmai Watson, who farmed on Luck at Last Rd in Maungatautari, where John and his siblings grew up. John became a renowned horseman, riding to and from school and becoming a founding member of the Cambridge Pony Club.

He remembered his preschooler self, waiting for the wagons with his mother and their draught horse Prince at the trough halfway up Griffin’s Hill, which is where rowing at Karapiro starts today. That was before the dam was built, and Prince was needed to help haul the wagons up from the track which ran beside the river.

He attended what was Maungatautari No 1 Primary School, but his passion was for the land and he became an excellent stockman. He would ride with his father to the saleyards during school holidays. Aged around 12, he found himself helping drove cattle across the high-level bridge with a smaller than usual crew. He was tasked with holding the animals at the trough by the end of the bridge, but the unruly mob poured off the bridge and scattered through a then relatively

John Watson as many in Cambridge would remember him. undeveloped Leamington.

John’s interest in polo was piqued at age 15 after a chance meeting with top player Kenny Browne, father of the current NZPA president Alan Browne. John worked hard to ensure his natural left-handedness did not compromise his ability to play well, and stories tell of him carrying the stick of a broken polo mallet with him when moving stock, swinging his arm over the saddle to swing backwards and forwards, over and under, to turn the action into

second nature. His efforts paid off, and John went on to play at the highest level. He won the coveted Savile Cup, one of the oldest sports trophies in New Zealand, in 1965, 1970, 1971, and 1973. He won the Wilson Cup in 1981 and was in the NZ team to tour Queensland in 1964. He became the ‘Mr Polo’ of his era, a man recognised as one of the sport’s greatest ambassadors, and a devoted family man with more than a few equestrians among the family left behind.

Planning for the passed

By Mary Anne Gill

Concept plans for Waipā’s 10 cemeteries have been unveiled revealing nearly two thirds of residents prefer a body burial rather than cremation.

They also show Te Awamutu, Hautapu and Paterangi cemeteries could be full within five to 10 years.

The plans were presented to the Cambridge Community Board at its first meeting of the year last night (Wednesday) –after The News went to press.

They will go to the council’s Service Delivery committee and Te Awamutu Community Board next week for comment before going out to the public.

It is the first time the council has engaged with the community and mana whenua on long-term plans for each cemetery, Xyst senior consultant Anna McElrea says in her report.

“Historically Waipā cemeteries have been created without local mana whenua involvement or consideration.”

Three cemeteries – Hautapu (4.69ha), Leamington (2.85ha) and Te Awamutu (4.78ha) – account for 90 per cent of the district’s interments.

The other council cemeteries are in Kihikihi (2.44ha), Ōhaupō (3.15ha), Paterangi (0.36ha), Pirongia (3.21ha), Puahue (0.71ha), Pukeatua (1.06ha) and Pukerimu (2.24ha).

The cemeteries offer four types of interment options: headstone burial, lawn ash interment, memorial gardens/ gardens of remembrance and natural burials.

Only Leamington offers natural burials which returns the body to the earth as quickly as possible. The body cannot be embalmed and is buried within the active soil layer, no deeper than 800m.

To use the available cemeteries space, the report says future options could include:

• Natural burials at other cemeteries.

• Increasing ash interments within lawn grave plots.

• Walls of remembrance or niche walls where ashes are placed within the wall and covered with a plaque. These can range in size and style but are a very efficient use of space and should be supported with landscaping and seating.

• Lawn areas with mass ash interments and names on a concrete beam on the edge of a lawn area.

• Ash interments within pre-prepared soil pods (or other similar eco ash interment) and placed in designated native restoration area.

• Memorial walls where names are placed on the wall (ashes interred or scattered elsewhere in cemetery or remain with family).

• Should legislation change other alternatives such as renewable interments and disposal options for water cremation or ashes from alkaline hydrolysis.

• The council had pre-concept consultations with mana whenua, funeral directors and the Returned Services Association (RSA) plus undertook a public survey over four weeks last year.

• The draft concept plans were then prepared and will be the ones that go out for consultation. They should be finalised by June.

There is no more space for burials at St John’s Te Awamutu Anglican Cemetery.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Leamington Cemetery has the only natural burial section.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill

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Capital Gains Tax: yes/no?

As I did some background reading before writing a column on the subject of capital gains taxes (CGT) I came across two pieces of information that surprised me.

First, the way the political debate on capital gains taxes have gone in New Zealand in the past gave me the impression that capital gains taxes were relatively uncommon in other countries and we would be joining a small and somewhat disreputable group of countries if it introduced one.

But when I looked up which countries have some form of capital gains taxes I found that this view could scarcely have been further from the reality. There are at least 130 countries in the world that have a capital gains tax and only around 30 countries were listed that did not.

About half of these were small, island states such as the Cayman Islands, Jersey and Macau, many of which were off-shore capital markets. The USA, the bastion of free enterprise, has had a capital gains tax for over 100 years, Britain for nearly 60 years and Australia for nearly 40.

Second, I thought the ‘expert’s views on the wisdom and fairness of capital gains taxes were divided and that in terms of economics and the theory of taxation it was a contentious issue. But New Zealand has had at least five ‘expert’ reviews of our tax system in the last 40 years and all of them have concluded that a tax system where income from working is taxed but income from capital gains isn’t is inherently unfair.

The reasons New Zealand does not have some form

By Peter Nicholl

of capital gains tax are therefore entirely political. The anti-CGT campaigns have always been very vociferous whenever a political party have raised the issue and have gained a wide degree of public support. Why they get this high level of public support given the inherent unfairness of a tax system that does not tax capital gains is a bit of a mystery.

New Zealand politicians who have advocated a CGT have backed down in the face of these campaigns and the public support they have gained.

But we will have to make the move sooner or later and join the majority of the world in taxing capital gains as well as income from work because of demographics. Our population is aging and living longer and the proportion of income tax being spent on healthcare and pensions is rising and will continue to rise rapidly.

Our current income tax model won’t be able to cope. Some form of CGT will become inevitable.

Given that, the sooner a form of CGT is introduced the better for our health, social welfare and education systems or they will continue to be under funding pressure. Who is going to be the political party or individual politician who accepts the inevitability of a CGT first and actually introduces it? We should congratulate whomever has the nerve to do that rather than criticise them.

Red Light, part two

You may have had a chance to read an article about an incident when I was threatened by a street boy in São Paulo, Brazil.

I finished by asking a questionhad we noticed that there were no traffic lights in Te Awamutu? A bit of a strange connection, I suppose but let me take you a bit further.

I am sure that there are traffic regulations about how drivers must use a roundabout - the vast majority of drivers respect a red light.

So what I am saying is that there are fundamental differences between driving up to a set of traffic lights and approaching a roundabout.

Traffic lights are law. Roundabouts demand that we consider and include the humanity involved as well as knowing when to give way for our sake and the sake of others.

Traffic lights demand an obedience to a technical instrument for our safety and the safety of others. Roundabouts allow us to see the people involved in that intersection of various lives as well as our own.

God’s first relationship with His creation is a fascinating precursor.

Do you see what I am saying?

By Eric Auton

The Old Testament is witness to so many Commands and Laws which said: you will not do any of these. In so many words, God showed us a series of Red Lights for our own safety.

We chose to compound the first crash in the Garden of Eden by a whole series of selfish rebellions by not giving way.

In his time, Our Father in Heaven gave away His most prized possession that we could avoid further sinful incidents at the intersections of our lives with other people.

That is why my heart and mind loves our Father for giving us another chance provided we recognise our road rage, and come to His son with honest regret.

In my view, we still need the red lights in our lives and so we should be grateful for God’s roundabouts. For God so loved us that he gave up his son so that we may go round again.

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No ‘blind eye’ on kiwifruit

The News has reported in recent weeks on the growth of kiwifruit orchards in Waipā – and how their arrival has in some cases defied bylaws and left neighbours crying foul. In response to our editorial calling on the district council to look into the issue, mayor Susan O’Regan provides The News readers with this response.

There’s been discussion recently about the emergence of kiwifruit orchards in our district. Some people are concerned they are changing the feel of Waipā, in particular impacting the views of some rural neighbours. I can’t comment about

specific properties while regulatory or legal processes are underway. That would be irresponsible and unfair. But I can make some broad comment. Kiwifruit operations in Waipā are only being undertaken in rural zones. That is what rural zones

are for... to protect our valuable rural land for productive use, largely for farming and horticulture. Kiwifruit growing is allowed in rural zones as of right. Growers don’t need a resource consent to grow kiwifruit or a resource consent to erect kiwifruit shelters. Shade cloths and supporting poles don’t require a resource consent, unless they exceed site coverage rules or are too close to boundaries.

Nor is council turning a blind eye to activities being undertaken without the required resource consents, as has been suggested.

In the last year, council staff have responded to multiple concerns from immediate neighbours of two kiwifruit growers, making more than 20 site visits and insisting on changes.

Councillors absolutely do expect staff to respond to legitimate concerns as soon as staff are aware of them.

Councils simply do

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not have the enforcement resources or extensive enforcement powers some people assume we do. If staff find something of concern, they must follow proper legal processes. That is exactly what council has been doing. It is also important to stress that just because kiwifruit growing is allowed in our rural zones, it is not a freefor-all. Individuals absolutely have a responsibility to be clear on what our rules are. The onus on abiding by District Plan rules rests squarely with the individuals undertaking the activity.

As a farmer myself who seeks to follow the rules and do what’s right, it’s hard to have sympathy for those who have not done the ground work or worse, have chosen to be ignorant or ill-informed.

Similarly, those people who choose to live in rural zones must surely be aware that rural activities are highly likely to occur nearby, possibly right next door. And now, here in Waipā, that includes kiwifruit growing. It could just as easily be dairy farming, pig farming or any number of rural activities.

Change is not easy and not always welcomed. Waipā was once covered by wheat fields and there was much angst when that activity was gradually replaced by dairying.

Farming methods – and farms - are constantly changing. Crops, including trees, are harvested. Rural buildings and infrastructure appear, including screening such as shade or hail cloth. Farming machinery may operate at all hours, and on weekends. Views change,

not just in rural areas but in suburban settings. As our district changes, all of us, including council, will need to adapt. Waipā is a dynamic and growing district, making an important contribution to the regional and national economy.

If, as part of a wider debate about land use, we find parts of our District Plan are no longer fit-for-purpose, that is something we should look at and is a discussion we should all welcome.

Susan O’Regan

‘…just because kiwifruit growing is allowed in our rural zones, it is not a free-for-all’

Tractors on a health trek

More than a dozen tractors are leaving the farm and heading out on Waikato roads for a two-week trek supporting a children’s mental health programme. It is the second time the Feelings for Life Tractor Trek has been to the Waikato, and it was also previously run successfully last year between New Plymouth and Napier. The trek, which is strongly supported by Rotary clubs from around the region, is the brainchild of ex-farmer Phil Aish, and following its success in 2022 it is hoped that the rural heartland of New Zealand will get in behind and support it.

“Approximately 50 per cent of mental health conditions start before a person turns 12 years old and one in four New Zealand children will experience a mental health issue before the age of 18,” – Cat Levine.

Phil’s daughter, Cat Levine, is a mental wellbeing educator who has developed a programme called Think and Be Me, tackling the issue of mental health with children through the use of teacher training, education, awareness, resources and presentations.

Cat is visiting primary schools in Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Putaruru, Te Kuiti, Otorohanga, Waitomo, Matamata and Hinuera giving free presentations to the students through to February 25.

As part of these school visits, Cat teaches the children how to manage and regulate their feelings. The sessions are followed by a fun, interactive hands-on chance for the children to get up close and personal with the tractors participating in the trek.

The trek, which sees the tractors travelling on rural roads as well as visiting schools, is raising funds to help Cat produce free mental health resources and training to schools in the Waikato, in order to help children build positive mental health, for life.

“Approximately 50 per cent of mental health conditions start before a person turns 12 years old and one in four New Zealand children will experience a mental health issue before the age of 18,” Cat says.

Cat has just released a free new video series that are childfriendly and engaging and designed to improve the mental

wellbeing outcomes of children, which has been received well. The Think and Be Me programme, funded by Feelings for Life, helps young people to understand, improve, maintain and grow their mental health and wellbeing through awareness and education, she says.

Rotary District Governor Kevin Forgeson says the Trek is a wonderful idea, which Rotarians were very pleased to support “Rotary is all about giving back to our communities and what

better way to do that than help young people develop life skills that will be beneficial for generations to come? We are very proud to be able to support Cat in this programme.”

The trek is at Roto-o-Rangi School near Cambridge today (Thursday), Te Kuiti tomorrow and next week at Ōtorohanga South, Waitomo Caves, Matamata and Hinuera schools, finishing with a community event in Matamata on February 25.

FOR ALL YOUR CONCRETE REQUIREMENTS

On the road again: The trek was launched in Cambridge this week, from left: John Bishop (Cambridge Rotary president), Kevin Forgeson (District 9930 District Governor), Cat Levine, Taupo MP Louise Upston, Deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, Phil Aish (Tractor Trek co-ordinator), David Hulme (Rotary Assistant governor), Daryl Gibbs (Cambridge Middle School principal).

Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Awards Dinner: An evening not to be missed

With a theme combining royalty and the dairy industry, the 2023 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards dinner promises to be an evening not to be missed.

One of the highlights of the dairy industry calendar, the winners will be announced at an Awards Dinner at Claudelands Event Centre on Wednesday 1st March, with categories for Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year, and Dairy Trainee of the Year.

The three winners of each category will then go on to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards national final, with national winners announced in Hamilton on Saturday 13th May.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards attracts

farmers from across the country, working in all levels of the dairy industry.

The three categories give entrants the chance to challenge themselves, earn a regional or national title and to share in substantial regional and national prize pools.

Waikato Regional Managers Reuben and Deb Connolly say the regional awards dinners are always a night of

celebration, and not just for the winners. “The regional dinners not only focus on the regional winners and those in other categories, but provide another opportunity to meet, network and socialise with like-minded people who live and breathe the dairy industry.”

“It’s also an opportunity for the volunteers and sponsors to be acknowledged. They provide invaluable support in so many ways to the entrants and the Awards in general. Plus, it’s a chance for everyone to relax and have some fun!”

New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards General Manager Robin Congdon says entering one of the categories remains

one of the best ways people can raise their profile and reputation, as well as learn more about the industry to progress their career.

“The overwhelmingly positive feedback we receive from entrants is how much they learnt during the process and how glad they are they entered,” he says.

“Entrants tell us that they really had to sit down and look at their business and how they were doing things on the farm and why.”

“Entering the Awards really is a learning journey – about the industry, about your business and about you as a farmer,” says Robin.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda, LIC, Meridian, Ravensdown and Trelleborg, along with industry partners DairyNZ, MediaWorks and Rural Training Solutions NZ.

To purchase tickets for the Waikato Dairy Industry Awards Dinner and for more information on the New Zealand Dairy Awards visit www.dairyindustryawards. co.nz.

Entering the Awards really is a learning journey – about the industry, about your business and about you as a farmer.

WAIKATO DAIRY AWARDS 2023

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Fonterra responsible dairying award nominations open until March 31st

While New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards regional finalists are being named during 11 award dinners being held around the country next month, nominations to a national award that acknowledges dairy farmers who demonstrate innovation and passion in their approach to sustainable dairying remain open until March 31st.

The Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award recognises dairy farmers who are respected by their farming peers and their community for their attitude and role in sustainable dairying. Entry for this award is by nomination only via dairyindustryawards. co.nz.

The 2023 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award farmer could come from any of New Zealand’s milk suppliers and any farmer or farming partnership who demonstrates a high calibre of performance and leadership in the areas of responsible and sustainable care of people, animals, ecosystems and

communities are eligible to enter.

Robin Congdon, New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards General Manager, says that is important to showcase the good work farmers are doing within the industry as it does not always get the exposure it deserves. “We have excellent, experienced dairy farmers creating and working on wonderful projects that have a positive effect on the environment.”

“This is a chance for people to nominate their neighbour, their employer or someone in their community, or to nominate themselves.”

“This Award gives us the opportunity to recognise farmers that have progressed to ownership, demonstrate leadership in their farming practices and are a role model for our younger farmers coming through” he says.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra,

Honda, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and Trelleborg, along with industry partners DairyNZ, MediaWorks and Rural Training Solutions NZ.

Tickets are now on sale for the muchanticipated regional award dinners being held around New Zealand in March, including Waikato which is being held on Wednesday 1st March at Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton.

“We know these award dinners are an important part of the rural community’s calendar on many levels, and we’re looking forward to celebrating success, best practice and discovering who our national finalists are,” says NZDIA General Manager Robin Congdon.

Regional winners progress through to the national finals in Auckland on May 13th 2023. Visit www. dairyindustryawards. co.nz for more information and to buy tickets.

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Famers ‘passion and skill’ net Dairying Award win

The winners of the 2022 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award are extremely passionate and excited about the New Zealand dairy industry and were humbled to receive the award.

Craigmore Agri Relationship

Partner Caroline Aymes says receiving the award at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards National Gala dinner was a great recognition of the awesome work their farming leaders and teams are doing every day and shows that they are on the right track.

“It is a reflection on the passion and skill of the farmers in our team as well as the Craigmore farming group,” she says. “Our goal is to help create solutions that will continue to set us up for a positive future.”

Craigmore Farming Services is comprised of 22 dairy farms and one sheep and beef property from Culverden

down to Middlemarch with a high-empowerment management model where there is a high level of trust with their people.

“We understand that every farm has its own personality and system it can run, made up of its topography, climate, infrastructure, soils and so on,” explains Caroline. “Each individual also has their own personality, interests and system they like to run, and where the two crossover is the sweet-spot for performance.”

Supported by a performance committee who provide coaching and support, each farming leader identifies their passions and interests which are then used in controlled on-farm trials for new initiatives and technologies.

“Our size allows us to wear

this risk and our aim is to share our learnings from each trial, helping to create solutions for New Zealand agriculture,” says Caroline. Current trials include off-crop winter grazing with deferred pasture, round bales and self-feeding stacks, Halter cow management system, SmaxTec in rumen animal health monitoring bolus, biological stimulants for soil health, stream health assessments, biodiversity planting, people 360 review process, soil carbon monitoring and community planting projects.

To capture all the data in the trials and initiatives, Craigmore are developing a Social License to Farm programme, which focuses on seven pillars; Green House Gas Emissions, Water, Soil,

Biodiversity, Animals, People & Community, Business.

“Under each pillar we have long-term goals and key objectives we are working towards, and each of these trials is helping us work towards achieving these long term targets,” explains Caroline.

Responsible Dairying for Craigmore means helping to create solutions for the future of the New Zealand dairy industry through highly engaged and talented teams who have the space and support to meet their own personal, career and life goals.

“It means having thriving and stable communities, healthy ecosystems, and positive environmental outcomes with happy and healthy cows in financially-viable and sustainable businesses that create a return for our investors and shareholders,” says Caroline.

“The Awards programme does an exceptional job of recognising and developing our future leaders and we would also like to recognise the great work the other two finalists are doing. We are proud to be supporters of the Canterbury region and now winners of this award.”

More information on the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award can be found at dairyindustryawards.co.nz

Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award winners - Craigmore Farming Services represented by Stuart Taylor and Caroline Amyes

Fieldays shows rural support

Inflation hits rates

The Waikato Regional Council has kept its latest rate increase under the inflation rate but couldn’t meet the target set in its 10year plan.

really came through in the discussions we had.

“Economic conditions have changed dramatically and at pace. This is impacting everything from borrowing and procurement to insurance premiums and labour market costs, with these external pressures alone driving an increase of $7.53 million compared to our Long Term Plan forecasts.”

Councillors were presented with a number of options to achieve budget savings, including delaying its

EcoRetrofit sustainable homes scheme, and work associated with the rollout of freshwater farm plans pending national direction. Consideration was also given to whether hardship-related rates remission agreed by the previous council in response to COVID-19, and a Warm Homes Clean Air scheme for Tokoroa – for which uptake had slowed in recent years –should continue. Councillors agreed to continue with both, but reduced the amounts funded.

Chief Executive Chris McLay

said the council was facing a double digit increase.

“In the last year or so, the world has changed on us with costs rising for councils just as they have in the supermarket and at the petrol pump.”

A business case was also put forward for the regional expansion of Total Mobility – a subsidised door to door transport service for people with disabilities. Councillors discussed delaying the $324,000 funding injection for a year, but it was passed in a majority vote of 7-6.

The $4500 raised was handed over by Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation, right, to Rural Support Trust chair Neil Bateup.

The National Fieldays Society has gifted $4500 to the Rural Support Trust.

The money was raised during Fieldays this year from a tractor racing event.

MARTIN

Fieldays’ annual tractor pull competition was modified and visitors had the opportunity to get behind the wheels of one of two identical tractors.

“Mental health is a big area of concern in rural communities and people often don’t know where or who to turn when things get tough,” society chief executive Peter Nation said. “The work that the Rural Support Trust does is vital.” Rural Support Trust is a not-for-profit network of regional trusts that provide free and confidential assistance to rural people.

Fieldays organisers also provided the Rural Support Trust a site in the Hauora Taiwhenua Health and Wellbeing Hub, giving visitors the opportunity to stop by and chat with the trust’s coordinators.

For the majority of ratepayers it will mean an increase in rates this year of between $50 and $95. But the remaining five per cent of ratepayers could see higher increases based on their property value and whether they pay targeted rates.

Chair Pamela Storey said the council faced a lot of tough choices in setting the budget, with higher costs, a tight labour market, and central government reforms driving cost pressures.

“Costs are going up across the board. Households feel it. Businesses feel it. These pressures on our communities were at the absolute forefront of councillors’ minds when setting this budget and that

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This month we focus on steak HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR BEEF?

If you’re a steak lover, then you probably know the answer to this question. If you aren’t, here are some tips on what kind of steak to buy and how to have it cooked.

There are various cuts of steak. Popular selections include porterhouse, T-bone, let mignon, New York strip, ribeye and sirloin.

Porterhouse and T-bone steaks are similar. Each comes from the short loin area and has a tenderloin on one side and a strip loin on the other. The steaks are tender, but can be expensive. Filet mignons and New York strips also come from the short loin area. Filet mignons are sometimes cut from the porterhouse and are very tender and low in fat. New York strips resemble porterhouse steaks without the tenderloin and bone. Both steaks are moderately priced. Ribeyes come from the rib area and are also moderately priced. Sirloins come in various cuts from the sirloin area. Top sirloins are the most tender. Sirloins, in general, cost less than other cuts of steak. Once you select a cut of steak, you decide now how you would like it cooked. Choices include well done, medium well, medium, medium rare and rare. Well done steaks are cooked through completely and contain no pink in the centre. Medium well done steaks have a warm, slightly pink centre.

Medium steaks have a warm pink centre. Medium rare steaks have a cool, pink centre. Rare steaks are cooked slightly and have a cool, red centre.

The cut and cook of steak is a matter of personal taste.

Be prepared to pick and choose until you nd the right steak for you.

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Today we continue our new feature, Tales from the Passed – and author Meghan Hawkes adds another, A Snip in Time, where she looks at news snippets from over a century ago. The two features will run on alternate weeks.

George’s last ride

By Meghan Hawkes

A riderless horse cantering through the dark on a late Sunday night in December 1893 startled Thomas Moisey.

Thomas, Richard Meredith and Charles Kite were farmhands employed at Roto-o-Rangi station and the horse, which was also missing its saddle, belonged to their workmate George McQuay.

The men had left Kihikihi for the station at a brisk trot about 11pm. George’s horse was rather wild, and although he was able to manage it, he dismounted and started walking while leading a dog on a rope. The others rode on. Around 10 minutes later George’s horse appeared without him.

The men began looking for him, striking matches in the dark. They searched the road and drain for over an hour but failed to find George or the saddle. It then occurred to them that George was probably up to one of his old tricks of playing ‘The Wolf’, a game he was fanatic about. When out riding he would throw himself off his horse, pull off the saddle, and hide, to make his mates think that he had had an accident. Putting his sudden disappearance down to this, the men rode home to the station.

The next day Thomas Barker, a settler at Ōrākau found George’s body in the Manga hoe drain. Thomas rode into Kihikihi and reported the matter to Constable Lowther, who proceeded to the spot. It was evident George’s horse had fallen in the drain with him. The saddle, with broken girth, was found in the water alongside him.

George, 33, had a wife, Mary, and two children living in Onehunga. He had a history of disturbing the peace, fighting, evictions, assaulting his wife, and beating his brother which led to him in

wandering in the Waitākere Range for eight weeks until he was arrested.

In March1893 he assaulted his wife again, and his conduct was censured by a judge who called George’s behaviour cowardly. He was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.

At end of the prison term he returned home and gave Mary two pounds, saying he was going to Waikato for work. She did not see him again for six months, during which time she was kept by the Charitable Aid Board. In October George reappeared again and asked Mary to live with him. She refused and a case of desertion was brought against him.

Mary, who suffered from rheumatism, was noted as an industrious and clean woman, who tried to keep herself and her children respectably. Found guilty, George was ordered to contribute to the support of his family.

There was some hesitation in sending him to prison as this would deprive him means of making a living. George then appears to have gone to Kihikihi.

At the inquest a verdict of accidental death caused by his horse falling on him was returned. George was buried at Kihikihi cemetery.

A collection was organised for Mary McQuay, who had been left entirely destitute by the man who played the wolf once too often.

Te Awamutu was emerging as the business depot of a prosperous and populous locality. Already there were two hotels, two blacksmiths, a boot and shoemaker, and for the necessaries of life there was a bakery and butchery. Over eight thousand acres had been ploughed and laid down with English grasses. There were more than four thousand horned cattle. Sheep though were not as numerous as settlers found the pasturage too rich for Longwools, the most profitable breeds. Grain crops were looking superb and the area was a treat to view with its snug homesteads and green undulating fields. The place was also adorned with one of the handsomest churches in the district.

Alexandra (Pirongia) too was increasing in size. A new schoolhouse was nearly completed as was Mr Asmus’s hotel, a large substantial building featuring a fine billiard room upstairs, and six bedrooms. Messers Sage and Dillon had begun brick making, turning out their bricks from the first kiln. They were a good sample and well burnt. They were taken away from the kiln while still warm - the demand was so great for them. Mr Sage had made some two hundred thousand bricks in Auckland many years previously and was thoroughly experienced in their manufacture. A Constabulary ball held at Alexandra saw a good muster of the fair sex, who seemed to enjoy themselves amazingly. Around one hundred sat down to supper, doing ample justice to the good things provided by Mr Finch the caterer. Dancing was kept up with great spirit until daylight. The want of suitable school accommodation at Kihikihi did not deter Mrs Schofield, a teacher whose abilities and method of ‘making the young idea to shoot’ was admirably displayed in the efficiency of her pupils. Unfortunately the building used as a school room was unsuitable in winter and had to be closed, resulting in the resignation of the splendid Mrs Schofield whose useful accomplishments had wonderfully improved and adorned the minds of the youth of the district under her tuition. Ohaupo had the distinction of being the first settlement in the Waikato in which a school house was built. School houses in the area were erected by the settlers with assistance from the Central Board of Education. Ohaupo also had a lady teacher; in almost all other cases the situation was occupied by males. Despite the progress, there was a great want of teachers’ houses, without which respectable married teachers could not be induced to undertake the duties. Numbers of children who should attend school, did not, many of them working at flax mills around the district.

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with Jan Bilton

Think tomatoes

‘In this world of uncertainty and woe, one thing remains unchanged: Fresh, canned, puréed, dried, salted, sliced, and served with sugar and cream, or pressed into juice, the tomato is reliable, friendly, and delicious. We would be nothing without it.’ Laurie Colwin (American author)

And she is right. Tomatoes are extremely versatile. They’re also a great source of vitamin C and a good source of fibre, and the vitamins A and B. Plus, when tomatoes are cooked, lycopene — an antioxidant found in tomatoes — has shown promise in fighting prostate cancer.

One of my favourite summer recipes is a Caprese salad — fresh ripe-but-firm tomatoes, fresh mozzarella (sliced) and basil leaves — the colours of the Italian flag. I also add a dash of dried oregano and freshly ground black pepper. The salad’s origin dates to post World War 1 Italy and was developed by a patriotic partisan. The first printed mention of the Caprese salad was on a menu at the Hotel Quisisana on the island of Capri – hence its name.

TOMATO SALAD WITH FETA

A quick, delicious lunchtime salad. Use different coloured tomatoes if possible. Ensure the baby salad leaves are rinsed and crisp.

Dressing: 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

Salad: 1 cup baby salad leaves

70g feta cheese, crumbled

4-5 ripe tomatoes, sliced

2 tablespoons blueberries, optional

2-3 basil leaves, sliced freshly ground black pepper to taste

Whisk the ingredients for the dressing until smooth. Place aside.

Place the salad leaves in a large shallow bowl or on a dinner plate. Crumble half the cheese on top. Arrange the sliced tomatoes over the cheese. Top with more crumble cheese. Garnish with the blueberries and sliced basil. Season. Drizzle with the dressing just before serving. Serves 2.

LAMB WITH CHERRY TOMATOES & OLIVES

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 large lamb leg steaks, trimmed freshly ground black pepper to taste

400g can diced tomatoes

1 large red onion, cut into 8 wedges

1 teaspoon each: dried basil, oregano, thyme

250g pack cherry tomatoes

8 pitted black olives

Preheat the oven to 190°C.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Season the lamb steaks with pepper. Pan-fry until lightly browned on both sides. Place in a shallow casserole. Add the canned tomatoes, onion and herbs. Top with the cherry tomatoes and olives. Cover and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for 30 minutes or until the lamb is tender. Can be garnished with chopped spring onion or fresh herbs. Serves 4.

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TOMATO & RED ONION CHUTNEY

I did not peel the tomatoes but you could, if preferred. Great served on grilled cheese toast, grills and cold cuts.

1kg ripe tomatoes, chopped

3 medium red onions, thinly sliced

8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

4cm piece root ginger, peeled and grated

1 3/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cups red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon each: salt, chilli flakes

Place all the ingredients in a large heavy saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer on medium heat for 30 minutes, until the tomatoes are mushy.

Increase the heat and boil for another 30 minutes or until a jam-like consistency is reached. Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture sticking to the base. Pour into hot sterilised jars and seal. Makes 4 cups.

Tomato salad with feta

Lamb with cherry tomatoes and olives

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12 Months Maternity Cover: Part time (20-25 hours per week)

Customtone Kitchens is a well-established Kitchen and Interior Joinery Manufacturer based in Otorohanga. We supply award winning bespoke kitchens and interior joinery to the greater Waikato, Auckland and Bay of Plenty.

We are looking for a friendly and capable office administrator to join our hard-working team. You will have great attention to detail and be able to follow established procedures while using your initiative. You will be literate in MS Office and able to learn new computer systems quickly. We use XERO and WorkFlowMax. This is a diverse role and everyday is different. A great sense of humour, flexibility and initiative will allow you to flourish in this role.

Please email your CV and cover letter to info@customtone.co.nz

Applications close 26th of February 2023.

HOME ASSISTANT wanted –Looking for a home assistant between 55-67 years old. Available 3 or 4 days-nights for independent man at Pukekura area, Cambridge from 1st March. Good salary offered. Ph 07 200 5071 between 6pm-8pm.

CNC LASER CUTTING ASSISTANT OPERATOR

We are o ering an excellent opportunity for an organised and enthusiastic person to join our Laser Cutting Department.

You will need to have the following skills and attributes:

• Be able to work e ectively within a fast-paced team environment to achieve scheduled production targets.

• Be computer literate.

• Be safety orientated.

• Be physically t as heavy lifting may be required.

• Be able to pass a drug and alcohol test, as we do pre-employment as well as random testing.

• Previous CNC Laser or pro le cutting experience is an added advantage although not essential as training will be provided. We’re looking for a positive, “can-do” attitude in someone who will enjoy the challenges of this important role. If you think this is you, please submit your application to;

Technical Coordinator

k.lane@giltrapag.co.nz

Giltrap Engineering

PO Box 83

Otorohanga, 3900 Phone: 07 873 4199

CI Munro caravan, only one devoted owner

Newspaper Deliverer Wanted

for delivery of the Te Awamutu News, your local weekly community newspaper. Deliveries are to occur every Thursday. Are you honest and reliable and would like to earn some money while keeping fit? Our runs are suitable for either youth (minimum age 11 years) or adults. Delivery runs available in the following areas:

• Turere Lane/Bridgeman Road

• Goodfellow Street/Laurie Street

• Kihikihi

Please contact us on E: admin@goodlocal.nz

Provide your name, phone number, and the area you are located.