Te Awamutu News | March 2, 2023

Alpha to serve again

By Roy Pilott

Kihikihi’s Alpha Hotel is being primed to reopen as a community hub – more than 150 years after residents first flocked to it. A community group has been working in and outside 1 Lyon Street following a

The only payments required will be the rates.

Former National MP and Auckland city councillor Arthur Anae told The News he had wanted to put the old building to good use for some time – and it was timely that he was approached by Ngati

and the double storey extension which now exists was added 15 years later. The 1074 square metre hotel is registered by the Historic Places Trust as a Category Two building.

It stopped serving patrons in the 1980s and has spent time as a second-

repute – evidenced by the removal of a large number of mattresses during the clean-up.

Anae, who also owns the closed Oxford Hotel in Tirau, is gifting the lease of the Alpha to the Kihikihi community for as long as it is used for the community – and an education trust which he has established and

Bill Harris and Margaret Johnson standing outside the Alpha Hotel in Kihikihi.

Photo: Roy Pilott.

This newspaper is subject to NZ Media Council procedures. A complaint must first be directed in writing, within one month of publication, to the editor’s email address.

If not satisfied with the response, the complaint may be referred to the Media Council P O Box 10-879, The Terrace, Wellington 6143. Or use the online complaint form at www. mediacouncil.org.nz

Please include copies of the article and all correspondence with the publication.

Alpha to serve again

Its rimu bones are strong, and despite being shut for some time is in remarkably good condition inside. Since being closed part of the building has had a caretaker and its alarm system remain plugged in.

Harris believes cats can take some credit for keeping rats and birds at bay.

He gave The News a tour of the Alpha last week – starting with a kitchen and dining area which will be the first to be opened. It is the newest part of the Alpha and will eventually serve as a Pataka – a food bankThe old bars are still in place – one has a Te Awamutu Rowing Club oar5 above the counter - but under the present plan the Alpha has served its last alcoholic beverage.

An elegant room – but painted black – had served most recently as a gaming lounge and

Harris noted his parents had worked in there when it was a kitchen and dining area.

Upstairs the accommodation area is old and worn – and missing doors and wallpaper, but as with the ground floor, it’s solid.

The group behind the project includes representatives from surrounding communities and trusts.

The Department of Corrections has also provided labour to assist with the clean-up and to remove items.

An existing fire escape is being removed and an internal stairwell will be reshaped to enable access from near the front entrance – and the remaining chimney will also be removed.

Harris discussed the plans with members of the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board

Duck in to the theatre...

By Viv Posselt

Te Awamutu Little Theatre’s Children’s Day production on Sunday inadvertently gives a nod to one of our wettest summers on record.

‘Duck, Duck, Grey Duck’ is the seventh annual free children’s play the theatre crew has staged to mark New Zealand Children’s Day on March 5.

Five of the seven have been written by education facilitator at Te Awamutu Museum and Te Awamutu Little Theatre committee member, Kerrin Carr. He said the idea for this one had been triggered by a nephew’s school experience with the children’s chasing game, Duck, Duck, Goose.

“The play is something of a development on that … with a touch of moral messaging added in,” he said at Sunday’s rehearsal.

‘Duck, Duck, Grey Duck’ is being directed

by Te Awamutu Little Theatre president Glenda Barclay and features four local players, Phil Dalziel, Noldy Rust, and siblings James and Samson Crowhurst. Three of them – Lucky Duck, Narrator Duck and Grey Duck – face the life-saving but almost impossible task of entertaining a spoiled and increasingly bored King Duck. It’s a fun romp of around 40 minutes, replete with ridiculous lines and loads of interaction with the audience.

Glenda said it was aimed at younger children, but some of the lines and quips included will appeal to adults as well.

“It’s a great opportunity for families to enjoy a little live entertainment that’s not on a screen or a device. This is very much a community day with families in mind.”

The play is on Sunday at 9.30am, 10.30am and 11.30am at the Te Awamutu Little Theatre.

last week.

Chair Ange Holt said it would be great to see the Alpha getting a new lease on life rather than appearing as a derelict building and it was “super good” that there was no requirement to pay for it.

The update also prompted Cr Lou Brown to congratulate Harris.

Harris hopes the community hub will become a destination for education programmes and perhaps a place for people to come for a Sunday roast.

“But we won’t try to run before we can walk,” he said.

News of the work at the Alpha is spreading and Harris said there were already offers of help coming in – “people can see this will be beneficial”.

O’Regan, Colley for Le Quesnoy

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā will send two representatives to France – mayor Susan O’Regan and Cambridge Community Board chair Jo DaviesColley – to the opening of the New Zealand Museum and Visitor Centre in Le Quesnoy. The two will be the district’s delegation to the event later this year. Cambridge has had a sister city relationship with Le Quesnoy since 2000.

News/Editorial

Roy Pilott editor@goodlocal.nz

027 450 0115

Mary Anne Gill maryanne@goodlocal.nz

021 705 213

Viv Posselt viv@goodlocal.nz

027 233 7686

Advertising Manager

Janine Davy janine@goodlocal.nz

027 287 0005

Owner/Publisher

David Mackenzie david@goodlocal.nz

Office/Missed Deliveries

07 827 0005 admin@goodlocal.nz

The community board has had the responsibility of managing the relationship but does not have the delegated authority to approve overseas travel.

Waipā council granted $150,000 to support the establishment of the museum in Le Quesnoy which will open in October.

While other allies in Australia, Canada and South Africa all built their own museums and visitor centres on the Western Front post World War I, New Zealand has not.

Narrator Duck (Noldy Rust), front, with his co-players Grey Duck (Phil Dalziel), Lucky Duck (James Crowhurst), and King Duck (Samson Crowhurst).

More than 100 years since the end of the war, there is no dedicated place in Europe that tells stories of New Zealand’s participation in both world wars.

Travel costs will be covered for the mayor and Community Board chair. Any other Waipā elected members who want to attend must pay their own costs.

Staff presented the paper to council this week so they could take advantage of flight prices before they increase.

- 11am

Te Awamutu Sports Ground Carpark

For more information and our latest pricelist, please see our website at www.urbanminers.nz

Please note: We currently only accept items up to the size of a microwave oven but any size television.

Taonga gifted

A family member of a Lake

Mangakaware landowner surprised iwi and Waipā staff at the weekend when she presented a taonga her grandfather found several decades ago. The adze head was discovered near the site of an old pa. Ngāti Hikairo and Ngāti Apakura were present for the handover of a cultural impact report on the lake, near Ngāhināpouri and got a bonus with the taonga.

Museum stats

Despite the physical closure of its facility, Te Awamutu Museum staff provided education services for 1155 student visits, 18 schools, 12 different programme and 45 sessions for the six months ending December 31. Delivery of the programmes is part of the museum’s Enriched Local Curriculum contract with the Ministry of Education.

Flagpole work starts

The Anzac Green flagpole in Te Awamutu has been taken down for work to commence on removing a rotted segment. It is planned to have the work completed ahead of Anzac Day.

Business chance

Fifty $120 places in online business courses which look at sustainability are being offered free by the Waipā District Council. The courses are run by the Sustainable Business Network. The funding for 10 places in five courses comes thanks to a subsidy from Tax Management NZ and money managed by council for the Environment Ministry.

Lions chip in

The Lions Club of Te Awamutu have pledged $3000 to the Lions’ Gabrielle Relief Fund and is inviting businesses, organisations and residents to make donations too. “We do not have a target for donations made by the Te Awamutu community - but the sky is the limit as ongoing support for those affected will be needed,” Te Awamutu Lions President Brendon Hand said. The Lions fund has already contributed $30,000 for flood relief work.

Emotions high at hearing

By Mary Anne Gill

Ōhaupō landowner Neil Jennings broke down and was unable to continue with his evidence at an independent hearing last week heard to consider a retrospective application to construct vertical and horizontal kiwifruit shelters around his house.

The hearing, before commissioner Alan Withy took a day and ended with Withy making an onsite visit to the Jennings property in Parallel Road.

There he would have seen a house surrounded on three sides by shelter cloth and shelterbelts.

Withy will now consider his findings which have been made tougher by closing submissions from the applicant’s legal counsel Joan Forret, received earlier this week.

The independent commissioner is unlikely to release his findings for another week.

The applicant, Kiwifruit Investments Ltd, has built the shading to protect kiwifruit plants next to the Jennings home.

In addition, the company has established shelterbelts closer to the Jennings property than the council’s District Plan allows.

The resource consent applications were lodged retrospectively after director Parmvir Singh Bains said he had no idea consent was needed from the council. Jennings became emotional as he read

out what impact being surrounded on three sides by six-metre-high shade cloth and shelterbelts was having on his family. He said he felt like he was in prison.

He had no argument with kiwifruit being planted and only took issue with the shades and the shelterbelt which he said had ruined their quality of living.

His barrister Phil Lang read the evidence instead. Earlier Lang argued there had been no expert evidence provided by the applicant

or the council on landscape, visual and rural character effects.

“There is no expert opinion backing up assessments of whether the effects of the shelterbelt are less than minor, minor, more than minor.

“The reporting planner is not an expert in landscape, visual or rural character effects, and is therefore able to make the required assessments in the absence of supporting expert evidence, which is normally provided by the applicant

in these situations. The applicant has chosen to conduct its case entirely without expert evidence, other than the planner’s evidence,” Lang said.

Jennings employed a landscape architect who provided the only expert opinion, he said.

Joanna Soanes, a principal landscape architect at Boffa Miskell Ltd, argued Kiwifruit Investments proposal to include minimal setbacks, structure heights, large site coverage and shelterbelt planting had the potential to create moderate to high degree effects “equating to a more than minor adverse visual effect.”

She has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with Honours from Lincoln University.

After the hearing, Dr Forret provided closing submissions and said her client proposed alternative options and altered plans to mitigate Jennings’ concerns.

Council sends reinforcements

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā has sent four of its staff to help out weather stricken areas in Hawke’s Bay, Thames-Coromandel and Waikato.

They have held positions of response manager, welfare, intelligence and planning support for a combined 232 hours.

But one of the staff, planning manager Tony Quickfall, used the opportunity to announce his secondment to Hawke’s Bay last week to complain on LinkedIn about being on the receiving end of a few keyboard and media warriors who are “experts in everything”.

He said their credentials for criticising were that they could drive or live in a certain place.

Quickfall said working

in local government was sometimes “really hard work being in the glass bubble.”

“But each day those of us in local government quietly know we have in a small way, made the world a little better. And we come back the next day to do it all again,” he said.

It was not clear whether Quickfall’s comments were directed at The News which in recent times has reported several controversial planning decisions including kiwifruit shade cloths and illegal quarries or the public who criticise the council on social media.

Meanwhile Waipā District Council has adopted its Far North equivalent as part of Local Government New Zealand’s Adopt-aCommunity campaign.

The aim of the campaign is to raise as much money

as possible for the adopted communities’ mayoral relief funds.

Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan said she would be providing moral support to her counterpart Moko Tepania, a first-term mayor like her.

She met Tepania at mayors’ school and persuaded him to take a photo of Waikato’s female local body leaders which The News ran last year.

She and deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk have also bonded with the 32-year-old at rural and provincial sector meetings.

“The plans are still in development,” O’Regan said but she is encouraging residents to support the Far North council in whatever way they could. She and fellow Waipā councillors were to discuss ideas this

week.

Central Otago mayor Tim Cadogan, a member of the Local Government New Zealand council, came up with the idea.

“Local government leaders such as mayors and chairs have an incredible ability to bring communities together and rally behind a

strong cause,” he said.

“What we know from experience is that when it comes to communities getting back on their feet, it’s a marathon not a sprint. That’s especially true with a disaster at this scale.

Clutha and Waitaki councils have joined Waipā in supporting the Far North.

Celebrating Life - Your Way

We believe that each funeral service should be as unique as the life you are celebrating. When a funeral is personalised, it creates a special space for sharing precious memories, telling stories, and simply being together with friends and family.

Rosetown Funeral Home are dedicated to providing personalised and meaningful funeral services, and are happy to discuss new ideas, pre-planning and/or pre-paying for your funeral. We are here for you in your time of need, so please get in touch anytime to discuss your options.

Susan O’Regan Tony Quickfall

Commissioner Alan Withy, top centre, presides over an independent hearing at Waipā District Council last week with submitters to the left, and applicants in the foreground.

Electric vehicle servicing we are your experts

One of the benefits of owning an electric vehicle is less maintenance as it does not require engine oil or coolant, however, it is still just as important to service your electric vehicle regularly to ensure it maintains peak performance.

Nobody knows Škoda like we do, so servicing your electric or PHEV Škoda with us means that you can have peace of mind knowing your vehicle is in great hands. With trained technicians and specialized equipment, we are able to ensure that your vehicle receives the care needed to keep it on the road.

Songs of Rangiaowhia

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

As a teenager, Daphiney Owen used to cruise around the rural roads of Rangiaowhia in old cars with her friends, completely unaware of the bloody massacre that took place there.

Now, many years on, the singer is working with artists from around Aotearoa to tell the story of the small Waipā settlement, where pain is still felt by the descendants of those killed.

“I was raised here; I heard of this korero, but didn’t really know it,” said Owen, also known as Vox Dawn, who grew up in Hamilton and now lives in Palmerston North with her husband.

“It’s not until now, as I’m an adult, that I’ve really understood what actually took place.”

Rangiaowhia, lying between Cambridge and

Te Awamutu, was once a thriving community, home to Ngati Apakura and Ngati Hinetu people.

On February 21, 1864, British soldiers attacked the village. There are conflicting reports about the incident, but there is little doubt that soldiers shot Māori who attempted to surrender –and later returned to loot the village.

Ngati Apakura and Ngati Hinetu say that on February 21 terrified villagers fled, a few shot at the troops, some sheltered in prayer houses. Some in those houses were gunned down as they tried to get out of the building when it began to burn down and at least seven died inside.

Owen, who spoke to The News at this year’s Rangiaowhia commemorations on February 21, believes there

are many around Aotearoa with little knowledge of the incident – and she wants to change that.

She and her husband have set up the Oceans Before Me trust to tell indigenous stories through music and education and have already worked on a project to raise awareness of the 1970s dawn raids in Auckland.

Now, the pair are teaming up with rangatira (leaders), established artists and school children on the 1864 Rangiaowhia Massacre Project, aiming to release a 10-track album this time next year. Every song will be about Rangiaowhia.

“The idea is to educate the next generation… a lot of our nation still doesn’t quite know what took place here... so it’s just using music as a tool to get that story out,” she said. “But also, music is healing.”

Students from Te

to

haka group will feature on another.

Owen couldn’t reveal the names of other artists working on the project yet,

but said they were well known.

“I can’t wait to release these songs we’ve created,” she said.

Awamutu school Te Wharekura o Nga Purapura o Te Aroha have already contributed

one waiata, and members of a kapa

Daphiney Owen, stage name Vox Dawn, pictured at Rangiaowhia with cousin Tupou Phillips (left), is working on a new album to raise awareness of Rangiaowhia.

LET’S GET CREATIVE WAIPĀ WAIPĀ, KIA RERE TE AUAHATANGA!

The sad swaggers

By Meghan Hawkes

The meat was raw, fresh from Turnwald’s butchery in Ōhaupō, but William Brook immediately started eating it.

A swagman, he lived a nomadic life travelling miles by foot in search of work, carrying a bundle of belongings, a tin billy and a small metal cup on his back. William had come to Ōhaupō about five weeks previously in January 1904 with another man. William obtained work but his companion left the next day.

A swagger’s life was difficult. Farmers, who were once welcoming and offered work now did not. Some would supply tucker but refuse shakedowns (accommodation), others refused both. Shakedowns were sometimes warm and comfortable; others were frightful – damp, freezing, derelict, crawling with vermin. Illness from exposure to cold and rain was common. Hygiene was sporadic and swags tiring to carry. Misconceptions about swaggers led to children calling out insults or throwing stones at them. The swagger was continually anxious wondering where the next meal or bed would come from.

For William Brook his next meal was his last. Moments after eating the raw beef he started choking and within minutes was dead. He was a quiet man and a steady worker. He was thought to be a Scotsman, aged about 50. Eight shillings were found in his possession, but not much else to identify him or explain how he ended up wandering the roads.

In October of the same year a swagger known as Mad Mick came into the Ōhaupō

Hotel asking for beer. He was barely able to walk or breathe and John Teddy, hotelkeeper, refused to serve him. After half an hour he gave Mick some schnapps, then soup and organised a shakedown to be prepared for him in the horse stable.

The next morning Mick was very ill, and John Teddy telegraphed the Te Awamutu police. When Constable McPhee arrived, he found Mick in a filthy condition and asked for disinfectant before touching him. Mick was in a state of total collapse. Constable McPhee took him in a buggy to Hamilton hospital where he died. At the inquest Dr Douglas said Mick had signs of pneumonia, heart disease and alcoholic cirrhosis. Death was due to exposure and neglect, the neglect being of long standing. The jury acknowledged that John Teddy and others appeared to have done everything they could for him.

Mad Mick’s real name was Michael Barry and he had been around the Waipā area for about four years doing odd jobs and sleeping outdoors. He called at the Ōhaupō hotel about every two months. He never spoke of his family, but Constable McPhee ascertained that he was 63, from Ireland and had been in New Zealand 40 years. He had been a soldier in earlier years. He had 3s 6d in his pocket, and his other belongings were worthless. Mad Mick was buried at Hamilton East cemetery; William Brook’s death was registered at Te Awamutu but the uncertainty that dominated his life followed him to his grave, the whereabouts of which are unknown.

Marae mahi earns scholarship

A Te Awamutu nurse has won a $10,000 scholarship to help with her work at Mangatoatoa marae at Tokanui.

Te Awamutu Medical Centre practice nurse Natasha Clifton was awarded the 2022 Pinnacle Nursing Scholarship.

The scholarship was re-launched in 2022 because of the interruptions caused by Covid.

Clifton said the grant was “more for the patients and the community, that we can keep the Hauora Clinic at the marae going and address the equity issues that prevent great health outcomes”.

Pinnacle said in a statement the clinic was bringing healthcare services and education to a community where barriers of access and affordability were high, and trust in the health system historically low.

“Kihikihi has a high Māori population and the whole community has been without GP

Briefs…

Rural sports finalists

services for several years. Travel and cost barriers mean people and whānau were often unable to access the health services they needed,” the company media release announcing the scholarship said.

Clifton recalled how health navigator Rangi Paraha was working in the community, regularly taking patients back to the clinic in Te Awamutu.

“Some of them were hospital-level unwell by the time they arrived. It was time and resource intensive, and people couldn’t access the care they needed.”

She made contact with the kaitiaki of Mangatoatoa marae, Ada and Dan Te Huia, Hone Hughes, Moe Roberts and her husband Derek, to talk about setting up a maraebased clinic that would provide free holistic healthcare.

“The idea was really well received, and Derek and Moe made things happen really quickly. We got a one-off $6,666 grant from the

Tamahere’s Luk Chin and Cambridge’s Nicky Chilcott are finalists in the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards. Both are leading lights in harness racing. Chin, an anaesthesiologist, is a veteran breeder, trainer and driver and Chilcott was the first New Zealand woman to train and drive 500 winners. The awards night will be held in Palmerston North on March 10.

Lotto winners

Two Lotto players who bought tickets in

Raukawa Settlement Trust, which was provided to several local clinics and pharmacies in the area to help reduce the health equity gap for Māori, and Derek set us up with space and support on the marae.”

The Hauora Clinic opened last August at the marae, offering booked consultations a few mornings a week with a doctor and nurse Natasha.

The response from the community was immediate. After just two clinics, they were fully booked.

Rongoa Māori services, counselling, exercise sessions r hauora tinana (physical health) and smoking cessation advice from Te Whatu Ora are also available on site.

Along with reducing barriers to healthcare, Clifton says the clinic is also re-establishing community relationships and trust in health providers.

“We are in an area where people in the older generations

Waipā are each $21,038 better off following the weekend’s draw. Tickets bought at Victoria Station in Cambridge and Pak'n Save in Te Awamutu were two of 11 Division Two winners.

Festival programme

The Cambridge Autumn Festival programme is out listing events taking place from March 24 to April 2. The highlight is the Main Street Carnival and Art Market on March 26 where the footpaths will be brimming with original art, photography, jewellery, pottery, sculpture, woodwork and more.

have mamae (hurt) influenced by extensive earlier te tiriti issues. There isn’t a lot of trust. If we can get out and change their experiences and opinions of health providers and remove barriers that prevent great health outcomes for younger generations, it will make a huge difference. It’s about generational change.”

The festival finishes with a family friendly concert in the Town Hall featuring Youth Orchestra Waikato.

Website hits

Our Battling the big storm wrap on Cyclone Gabrielle’s impact on Te Awamutu was our best read online story in the last fortnight following closely by our story on the Te Ara Wai costs. The home page, news briefs and Painting a future for kōkako round out the teawamutunews.nz top five.

Fun run, walk back

The 11th annual fundraising Waipā Fun Run returns after a Covid enforced absence to Victoria Square in Cambridge on Sunday.

The charity event run by St Peter’s Catholic School and sponsored by Lugtons will see $1 from every entry fee go towards a not-for-profit counselling agency. Cambridge Lifeskills provides free counselling for children and young people aged 5-15.

The event has become a favourite among families, schools and businesses. One of the best attended Fun Runs attracted about 650 people. Part of its appeal is that it offers a range of courses for runners and walkers of all ages, including 10km and 5km walk and run options, a 2km School Challenge and a 5km Teams Challenge.

Registration will be open at Victoria Square from 3pm to 5pm on Saturday, and from 7am on Sunday. Racing is due to start at 9am and prizegiving starts at 11.30.

St Peter’s Catholic School’s Donna Warwick said the community had again surpassed itself by offering a selection of great prizes.

MARCHHURRYONLY

Natasha Clifton

The boy racer issue

By Ange Holt, Chair, Te Awamutu Community Board angela.holt@waipadc.govt.nz

A topical subject currently is the “boy racers”. For the past three years they have been visiting various places around our district, doing burnouts, vandalising property, threating people trying to get past, setting property on fire, crashing through fences, and terrifying livestock to list some of the antics being reported.

This problem was brought to the attention of the then Te Awamutu Community Board whilst on our rural tour mid-2021. We followed up further with residents and supported their pleas for help to council. Then looked at ways with council and police to best address the problem our rural residents were facing.

In December 2021 despite previously being told that this was not a council matter but a police matter Community Board put forward the following recommendation:

• Staff provide a plan and costings for the recommended improvements/deterrents where appropriate and or possible on all roads and berms/sides of road that are favoured ‘boy racer” locations without delay.

• Council move a resolution to get all known boy racer road locations added to the schedule under clause 29.3 of the Public places Bylaw

• Council staff immediately undertake the required assessment under our Significance and Engagement Policy to consider the extent of any prior public engagement in order to meet our usual LGA requirements.

Points two and three were supported by council and staff and bring us to the present

day where the road register is being updated and added (if publicly supported) to the public places bylaw.

I note on social media there has been a lot of assumptions made about how we arrived at this solution and negative comments regarding its effectiveness.

I would like to assure you that this does give police power to make a difference and it has to date in other areas that use this bylaw. It does not mean that light cars cannot use these roads or park, it does not mean police are going to impound everyone’s vehicles.

What it does do is give them some power to do something about large groups congregating. Currently unless they actually witness the illegal behaviour they can do nothing and when they do, can issue a $40 fine.

I spoke to a few boy racers and asked if they would use a place for burnouts if we could provide one.

The response was “why pay when I can go up the road and do it for free”.

Then there is the cost – as a ratepayer or tenant (whose rent is also impacted by rates) are you prepared to pay for a property, a big burnout pad, the insurance and the public liability?

Places like Palmerston North and Christchurch with car racing tracks, are not providing this option, they are using the same bylaw as we intend to.

If you would like to speak to us about this topic or any other please come along to the Ahu Ake events being held over the next few weeks. Go to teawamutunews.nz for details.

Gabrielle and Lent

By Julie Guest

In January I told of my experience in the downpour that flooded Auckland on the day the first Elton John concert was cancelled. I also wrote of the feeling of being connected to others who were with us in the experience, and of the kindness of strangers helping each other to make it safely through what was becoming a devasting flood.

I also wrote that the country was warned that more rain was on its way with admonitions to prepare. And then Cyclone Gabrielle arrived with all its devastation. We are also seeing every day in the media that the kindness of strangers and neighbour helping neighbour is making a huge difference to the well-being of individuals and whole communities. Teams of volunteers giving up holiday leave are making their way to the worst hit areas to help in whatever way they can.

Giving up is another theme I want to touch on. Last Tuesday was “Shrove Tuesday.” It marks the final feast day before the onset of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent is the period before Easter that reflects the time that the Bible tells us Jesus spent in the desert preparing for his adult ministry. During that time Jesus fasted, sought guidance from God through prayer, and learned a new level of reliance on God. As followers of Jesus, we too are invited to emulate Jesus by reflecting, praying and going without during Lent. I was a child, the going without was usually a food treat of some sort. In subsequent years people have been more imaginative, “ fasting” from screen-time or Facebook for example. Lately there has been a trend to “take up” something – offer to mow a neighbour’s lawns, or babysit, or join a neighbourhood

walking group for example.

I want to suggest that we each examine how much we consume every day. Whether or not you agree that the recent weather is a sign of climate warming, there is still much evidence to show that we each need to consume less of the planet’s resources. How can you contribute to that? What do you regularly buy that is for convenience - before that product existed you managed without it but it makes life easier, or tastier? Maybe a way to start is to ask yourself before every purchase, “Do I need this, or merely want it?”, and then buy fewer of the wanted products. Investigate ways to use less fuel, less water, fewer cleaning products. I know some people find this sort of suggestion annoying because they feel that their efforts would make little difference to the planet but a big inconvenience to them. I guess we all have to make our choices. But just as many are relying on the kindness of strangers to battle the monumental clean up after Gabrielle’s floods, so we all share this planet together and need to care for it together. Most of us want to ensure that our children and their children have a planet that is survival for their future.

It is as the Bible says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” With everyone looking out for everyone else’s interests more than their own, we have a chance to survive the effects of climate warming and perhaps even stop it worsening.

College rowers’ final frenzy

Waipā schools featured in more than 50 A and B finals as the 2023 Aon junior rowing regatta enjoyed fine weather at Karāpiro last weekend.

After a threatening weather forecast, the first day of racing dawned bright for near perfect rowing conditions and remained that way for most of the weekend.

In this regatta rowers were representing their school and not their club so donned the St Peter’s, Cambridge High and Te Awamutu College rowing colours.

The schools’ colours were seen regularly in finals.

Te Awamutu College secured places in five B-finals and celebrated wins in three.

St Peter’s had 21 boats in 20 A finals and three boats in B finals, Cambridge High celebrated reaching 24 finals – 20 A and four

B-finals.

From Te Awamutu College, in the Boys

U18 Novice Double Sculls William James and Hunter Coleman placed first and Willem Poolman and Tira O’Carroll fourth.

The Girls U18 Novice Double Sculls B final

was won by Asarwa Johnson and Casey Lee Baker and Alyssa Campbell and Sophie Dale finished sixth.

Isla Joyce, Asarwa Johnson, Casey Lee Baker, Janaiah Jacob, Carys Joyce then team up to win the B final of the Novice Coxed

Quad Sculls

The schools’ major target is the Maadi Cup at the end of the month, but the next event on the calendar is the North Island Secondary School Championship starting on March 10. Both events will be at Karāpiro.

Te Awamutu College’s Asarwa Johnson and Casey Lee Baker were first home in the B final of the Girls U18 Novice Double Sculls

Isabelle Murray and Lucy Eastwood celebrate their double sculls win for Cambridge High.

And it gets even better: you can also choose to drive away with the added confidence of Audi Future Value Guarantee - a flexible financial solution that assures lower weekly or monthly fixed repayments, and the freedom to renew, retain or return your Audi for a value that is pre-determined at the beginning of the contract. It’s simple and hassle-free.

There’s never been a better time to upgrade your Audi or reignite your love of progressive luxury with an entirely new model. The only caveat: you don’t have much time.*

Book a test drive today.

CAMBRIDGE SELLING NOW

TOWNHOUSE PLANS AVAILABLE

Ryman’s newest Waikato retirement village is currently under construction in Cambridge, and our first stage of townhouse plans are now available. 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.

Two bedroom townhouses priced from $775,000

All offer spacious open plan living with contemporary kitchens and bathrooms and your own private patio.

Have certainty about your living costs, knowing your base weekly fee is fixed for the entire time you occupy your townhouse.

Call David or Joanne on 0800 600 446 for more details or visit rymanhealthcare.co.nz

CAMBRIDGE RETIREMENT VILLAGE

23 Hugo Shaw Drive, Cambridge

COME JOIN US & HAVE SOME FUN

WE ARE SEEKING PROPOSALS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES TO OPERATE OUR KITCHEN

EMAIL

tarsa@xtra.co.nz for details

Quick crossword

Wordsearch

AXXRDYSALSIFYSPPRG

CARROTCZUCCHINIFOP

MTSPUERTYXJSQNPISA

AGPUYOESBUUPRAEBER

RHRMJESNNHEUGSPGMS

REOPBCSTLQTDEPPCAN

ORUKBROCCOLIBAEARI

WKTIALQISHERBRRPYP

TIRNLUBKVGDVEAWSPI

ONGACABBAGEGSGQICB

MQHNRXEEPEASBUXCEE

ASLLEVUZRSEGKSGULA

TTHVOYGINGERTHYMEN

OOILEYARSPINACHNRE

Sudoku

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

Across

1. Men (inf) (5)

4. Minor setback (6)

7. Duo (3)

8. Luxury fibre (6)

9. Prim (6)

10. Blood feud (8)

12. Rotate (4)

13. Hush up (6)

15. Frugally make something last (3,3)

16. Icecream holder (4)

Last week

17. Spell of low temperatures (4,4)

19. Fluid retention (6)

20. Male relative (6)

22. Type (3)

23. Method (6)

24. Tale (5)

Down

1. Sweets and chocolates (13)

2. Fuss (3)

3. Begin (5)

4. Person held captive (7)

5. Innumerable (9)

6. Regrettably (13)

11. Unlike (9)

14. Cry out (7)

18. Connections (5)

21. In favour (3)

Across: 1. Across, 4. Absent, 9. Comma, 10. Nest egg, 11. Student, 13. Magi, 14. Opportunity, 17. Spud, 18. Typical, 21. Volcano, 22. Under, 24. Rarely, 25. Seemly.

Down: 1. Accuse, 2. Rum, 3. Share, 5. Best man, 6. Energetic, 7. Toga, 8.

Institution, 12. Unpopular, 15. Oddball, 16. Blurry, 19. Plume, 20. Ever, 23. Dam.

KHCKCHICORYNMDOYYK

CAEZPARSLEYOEIIELA

VEYHARICOTABNLNSAL

LCHARDSWEDEOOLITHE

ASPARAGUS

AUBERGINE

BEAN

BEET

BROCCOLI

CABBAGE

CAPSICUM

CARROT

CELERY

CHARD

CHICORY

CHIVE CLOVE CRESS DILL GHERKIN GINGER

All puzzles © The Puzzle Company

Last week

Wordsearch

EDDDCZOWNERMFOWLOS LCOWSOHOWEVERUWAXH BRIWKHWCZARNSOSITO OOSANCJBKIWGBQNWNW WWKOOTLLOOISTPOMLG LBGDWRVORYTSZRWMKW TAZSQNUDWSFWGUYROH OROWLSHCZNOMSEIRWS WUOSLOWDBESKSNHJHC EVOWZZYUMXEWETRIAO LBWWERBQSGOEVESPIW QLUAELLLARROWCNOTL FOWWHSEMBEVOMOOWFF EWOONWQOHQLXWWWDUR CDMWOXKWGFRGIPMEEP VGOVSHOSMDACDOARZI AGLOWNBROWNTOXNZOQ NLXADROWSYMOWOXBOW

for a busy Automotive workshop.

Approx 30hrs Mon- Fri. Phone 078716710 or email CV to office@kihikihigarage.co.nz

WANTED QUALIFIED / EXPERIENCED CARPENTER

We are on the search for someone that is a hard worker, keen to learn and develop their skills in the building trade, trustworthy, able to take instructions, takes pride in their work. We are in Te Awamutu and a small firm that specialises in renovations.

Please email your CV to: LPBUILDERS@OUTLOOK.CO.NZ or phone Logan 027 218 7228

VACANCY

HOUSES WANTED

Houses

GOOD MONEY FOR LOGS

Local mill wanting to buy specialist logs from cyclone damaged trees. No pine, oak or gum thanks…example… walnut, ash, elm, paulownia, chestnut, blackwood etc and any native species. Can pick up with our hiab truck. Graham Oliver. Walton. Ph 07 888 3800

NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES

Waip-a District Council will consider an application to close the following roads to ordinary vehicular traffic on Tuesday 25 April 2023:

Between 5.30am and 7.30am:

• Alexandra Street – between Churchill Street and Mutu/Rewi Street

• Mutu Street – whole street

VACANCY

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

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

• Kitchen hand (Casual role)

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

• War Memorial Drive – first 100m from Mutu Street

Between 9.30am and 12.30pm:

• Bank Street – between Alexandra Street and Vaile Street

• Teasdale Street – between Bank Street and Vaile Street for the Te Awamutu ANZAC Day commemorations. The application will be considered under the Tenth Schedule of the Local Government Act 1974.

Arrangements will be made for access by emergency vehicles during the closure, if required.

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

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

Any objections to the proposal must be lodged with Waip-a District Council, in writing, to events@waipadc.govt.nz, before 4.00pm on Thursday 16th March 2023. Please include the nature of the objection and the grounds for it. See the Privacy Statement on the Council’s website for further information.

For more information, please contact Waip-a District Council on 0800 924 723 or email events@waipadc.govt.nz

Garry Dyet CHIEF EXECUTIVE

JUNIOR PARTS

www.gaz.co.nz

We are currently on the look out for a JUNIOR PARTS PERSON to join our Cambridge Branch

PARTS PERSON

www.gaz.co.nz

This role is full-time with Saturdays on rotation (after a period of training) and is ideal for someone who is interested in farm machinery, is enthusiastic and willing to learn and looking to gain experience that will carry them through their career. This role involves in stock control, identifying, ordering, and selling of parts to customers and technicians. School leavers with the right attitude and aptitude will be considered.

We are currently on the look out for PARTS PERSON to join our Cambridge Branch. This role is full-time with Saturdays on rotation (after a period of training) and is ideal for someone who is interested in farm machinery, is enthusiastic and willing to learn and looking to gain experience that will carry them through their career. School leavers with the right attitude and aptitude will be considered and if applicable can undertake a parts apprenticeship.

CNC LASER CUTTING ASSISTANT OPERATOR

What we are looking for

What we are looking for

Mechanically minded with ideally some exposure to/ understanding of farm machinery, or someone who is mad about machinery! Computer literate and willing to learn new systems. Experience in a customer facing role would be advantageous, but high levels of communication skills and a genuine desire to interact with people will be a good fit. Willing to learn new skills and be a critical part of a strong growing team.

Mechanically minded with ideally some exposure to/ understanding of farm machinery, or someone who is mad about machinery! Computer literate and willing to learn new systems. Experience in a customer facing role would be advantageous, but high levels of communication skills and a genuine desire to interact with people will be a good fit. Willing to learn new skills and be a critical part of a strong growing team.

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.

Contact Chris Brown for a chat on 027 488 0306 (or stop in at the branch) or email your CV to chris.brown@gaz.co.nz

Contact Chris Brown for a chat on 027 488 0306 (or stop in at the branch) or email your CV to Chris Brown@gaz.co.nz

• 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

FITTER/WELDER & GENERAL LABOUR ROLE

We are a busy enginee ring company with a well equipped workshop, working in the Mining, Quarry and Transport Industries.

• Up to 12 hour days Monday - Friday

• Reliable and punctual

• Physically fit

• Strong health and safety awareness

• Quality focus and attention to detail

• Ability to work in a team environment

• Must pass Drug & Alcohol test

• Possible transportation availability Apprenticeship opportunity exists for the right candidate

Please email your CV to: gray.constru ction@xtra.co.nz or phone 021 964 187