Te Awamutu News | May 4, 2023

Scam alert raised

She made a call and was convinced to let the “Support Team” help her set up a program on her cell phone so she would no longer need to phone them.

The scammers had the woman download an app which gave them access to personal details.

“The only reason she realised they had scammed her is they phoned back asking for her threedigit ID for the card.”

Realising what was going on, she phoned her bank and was able to stop any transactions from occurring.

Merson said she was “happy to say” the woman had shared the

information with Neighbourhood Support and her plea was to share the experience, so others don’t get caught out. Scammers rely on good nature and coincidences and the surprise factor.

One scam email doing the rounds suggests people owe a road toll fee – and risk huge fines if they don’t follow instructions. One example shown to The News went to a 15-year-old who didn’t have a licence, let alone a car – but the scammers will be banking on success elsewhere.

“We are being targeted by the opportunist scam messages via text and email,” Merson said. “There

have been several reports and many people across the country have, unfortunately, been victims to these.”

She said text scam messages usually came from a very long number or an area code that is unusual.

“Email addresses look similar at a first glance but if you actually look at the entire address it is only using part of a company’s name. If you click on the link sent in a text or email, they do often look similar to the real websites but have an overseas abbreviation.”

Organisations most often mimicked by scammers discussing

fake bills and parcels – or seeking detail verifications - include Waka Kotahi, NZ Post, banks and Inland Revenue.

“I urge people to check in with family and friends, especially elders to make sure they are aware of these.

Do you have a scam story to share with us? Email editor@ goodlocal.nz

• For more details go to teawamutunews.nz

Stay safe…

Te Awamutu’s Community Safety Officer is warning residents to be alert to a wave of scams.

Mandy Merson says scammers are using a variety of tactics to snare people – and take their money or identity.

One Te Awamutu woman’s suspicions were aroused when, after talking to scammers posing as Amazon staff, they called back seeking the three-digit code on the back of her credit card.

A call to her bank put an end to their game – but not before they had been able to view private details.

The case is one highlighted by Merson in her April report, where she says she has seen an email trail which had started the chain of events.

“Basically, the resident had done an online Amazon order and then by coincidence she has received an email.”

murray hunt

furnishers

Scam fighter Netsafe is an independent, non-profit online safety organisation which has been helping people for more than 20 years.

Here are some of the things they say readers should watch out for:

• Contact comes “out of the blue”.

• You are told there is a problem at your end, and an offer is made to fix it.

• You are asked for passwords or to “verify” account details.

• You are invited to move outside an online trading or booking website or app (like Air BnB).

• You are offered a prize in exchange for something.

• You are asked for money by people you’ve met online.

• You are asked to provide remote access to your device by someone you have not actively sought out.

• You are pressured to make a quick decision and threatened with consequences if you don’t.

Mandy Merson

Don’t give away your details to strangers.

Grey Power

TE AWAMUTU

Grey Power, Te Awamutu

AGM 18th

The chief who really cares

Justin Butcher, father, occasional hockey player and when needed, critical care flight paramedic is eight months into the role of chief executive of Pinnacle Inc.

Pinnacle is the Te Manawa Taki-Midlands primary health network of around 85 general practices across Waikato, Lakes, Tairāwhiti and Taranaki.

There are 30 primary health organisations and Pinnacle is one of the four largest.

Butcher’s journey to chief executive took some twists and turns.

He was born at Waikato Hospital and raised in Mātangi and says he fell into healthcare by accident.

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He enrolled in a Bachelor of Management at the University of Waikato in around 2000, and near the end of his degree began volunteering with St John in Cambridge.

After graduating and one month before he was due to start in the Deloitte graduate programme in Auckland, he gave up the placement in favour of working full time in the St John education programme and training to become a paramedic.

It was the start of a varied health sector career that has included further studies, and primary care services and leadership roles - while continuing to moonlight on the frontline of emergency response.

Ten years ago, when he saw his future in the ambulance service, he was in Christchurch visiting his wife’s family when the second major earthquake hit.

Butcher ended up based at the CTV building, where 115 of the 185 people who died during the earthquake had been when it struck.

“I probably saw too much and got a bit burnt out from that experience.”

He joined Pinnacle as a project manager looking at primary options and an acute demand strategy and 10 years later was appointed CEO.

He also resumed working on the frontline, first in the ambulance then the rescue helicopter.

These days Butcher still works when needed with Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter as a

Critical Care Flight Paramedics, who are trained to provide critical care interventions and work in a helicopter environment.

“I still really enjoy it – I get a lot out of it. It fills my cup; it’s a change of pace and mindset from what I’m doing at Pinnacle,” he says.

“I see the inequities firsthand, if I go into an emergency motel unit where people are trying to raise their kids, it’s very grounding and it motivates me to sit there and say, what can we do differently, how can we change the system to help these people more?

He says the country is going through an unprecedented and ambitious reform of the health system and calls it an exciting time.

He also says it’s probably one of the most frustrating times.

“Nationally we’ve seen the

announcement that 5000 nurses have registered to work in Australia since August and there are hundreds more every month.

“To truly want to make a difference on health equity we need to look at how we grow our own workforce rather than relying just on international imports,” he says.

Added to the workforce crisis he says there is pay disparity, inequitable funding for primary and secondary care.

Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) may hold the answers, but Butcher says while the vision is clear, there is still no action plan or detailed road map to share with staff and stakeholders.

“We’re operating a bit on blind faith; we know we’re heading in the right direction but all we can ask is for people to come with us, and all will be well.”

He is passionate about leading Pinnacle on a journey to becoming a bicultural organisation, and where diversity and incusion are embracedbecause it’s the right thing to do.

“We have 93,000 Māori and 9,000 Pacific people enrolled with us across the network, so with that comes a lot of responsibility to provide services in a culturally appropriate manner. That’s hard to do if you don’t understand the culture.

“I’m not where I need to be, and there’s a long way to go – this is all a journey.”

A look back on the week at the Te Awamutu police station.

Monday - Police attended a disorder incident in Te Awamutu. A person had left prior to our arrival and was spoken to by Ōtorohanga police. There was also a selfharm/family harm incident in Te Awamutu. Police also attended a motor vehicle collision, assisted Cambridge police with a lengthy mental health incident and dealt with a missing person incident.

Tuesday - Police assisted with the Anzac Day ceremonies including traffic management and wreath laying. Lest We Forget. Police also attended a suspicious incident at a new subdivision and a disorder incident.

Wednesday - Police attended a firearms

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incident near Kawhia, a motor vehicle collision and recovered a stolen vehicle.

Thursday - Police attended a number of jobs in Cambridge including a family harm, assisted in the arrest of a male who had breached bail conditions, attended a disorder/motor vehicle collision in Kihikihi, a family harm in Pirongia where a Police Safety Order was issued and conducted a number of bail checks.

Friday - Police attended a bail check and discovered a person had breached bail, and a patrol vehicle was sent to Raglan, A male was arrested in relation to burglary. A Police Safety Order was issued in relation to a family harm incident.

Saturday - Police attended the scenes a number of burglaries and dealt with a case

where a person breached his electronically monitored bail conditions.

Sunday - Police attended an attempted self-harm incident. A police officer was assaulted at a disorder incident, and we attended a burglary in Pirongia.

Police have been receiving reports of a text scam purporting to be from NZTA stating the recipient has not paid an electronically captured toll charge.

Please be vigilant when receiving any communication stating you owe money. The best practice is to contact the agency yourself using the agency’s “contact us” function online.

Justin Butcher, during an Anzac Day shift as a critical care flight paramedic with the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Dog policy

A revised Dog Control Policy is going out to consultation in Waipā for a month. Changes in the draft include prohibiting dogs from exercising behind vehicles, tethering rules for dogs on vehicles, a change to certain neutering decisions, a limit on the number of dogs which may be taken into an exercise area – and the creation of eight exercise areas. Submissions close on June 16.

Weather report

Another month another lot of rain… that’s NIWA’s assessment of early May. It’s season outlook through to July opens with a period of tropical weather followed by “variable”, slightly warmer than usual temperatures.

Notices issued

The council’s enforcement team has been busy issuing nine littering infringements where it was obvious who the offender was and 190 parking infringement notices. Most were for “overstaying” in Cambridge and Te Awamutu’s town centres.

Donations made

Cambridge’s Cruisers Rock n Roll Club has presented $7800 to both the Cambridge Community House and Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, from the $15,600 raised from its March dancing with the stars event. Representatives of the two organisations, Gabby Byrnes and Norma Taute respectively discussed how donations would be used.

Website visits

Our story about the fire at a pie shop and gym in Ricket Rd which caused $1 million in damage topped our website visits to teawamutunews.nz in April. Tom Roa’s column on his visit to Waikato Hospital Emergency Department was second followed by the plans for Anzac Day, details on new IBO world cruiserweight champion Floyd Masson and council’s plans to fast track housing by selling land to Kāinga Ora came in fifth.

Housing need detailed

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā has an immediate shortfall of 560 houses while there are 87 families considered at risk and with severe and persistent housing needs.

The facts have been laid bare in a report from Waikato Housing Initiative chief executive, and former Waikato deputy mayor Aksel Bech.

He spoke to the Waipā District Council’s housing subcommittee this week.

The figures in his report

show the district will need another 6051 homes built in the next 20 years to keep up with demand.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Social Development’s waiting list as of December last year had 96 eligible applicants – down from 108 three months earlier –including 87 in situations that need addressing immediately.

Deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk who chairs the housing subcommittee told The News there was a growing need for more

houses.

“We’re looking at how we can enable affordable housing options,” she said.

“We’ve done a good job with housing for the elderly. Lots of councils ditched those and we didn’t, and we’ve continued to grow that portfolio.”

But the housing need was still widespread, she said.

The council was in regular touch with Crown agency Kāinga Ora – ‘Homes and Communities’ around its plans for Waipā. The agency owns land in Cambridge

North and is looking at opportunities in Te Awamutu.

In Cambridge, the council is keeping a close eye on developments, said Stolwyk.

“We’re very keen to see the urban design around that.”

Through an expression of interest process, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has received eight tenders for its land portion in Cambridge North. Peake Mews, Brian Perry Charitable Trust’s compact development in Cambridge West, is also under construction.

In Te Awamutu, the council has already signalled it is looking to sell a 3.7ha parcel of land in Cambridge Road to Kāinga Ora for affordable housing because of the dire shortage which was impacting some of the district’s most vulnerable citizens, said Stolwyk.

Waipā council has a legal obligation to promote community wellbeing and through its vision has agreed to build connected communities.

Access to shelter in warm and dry housing with security of tenure is at the heart of community wellbeing and a basic human right, she said.

part of a system change and not continue to wait for someone else to step up.

“The official data along with our lived experiences tell us that the lack of affordable housing is a significant barrier to achieving council’s vision and its focus on community wellbeing,” Bech said in his report.

Someone had to fix the affordable housing issues prevalent in Waikato. Local councils hold the key “be that someone at scale, at least to provide the leadership,” he said.

House and land packages are on the market in Te Awamutu.

Bech said Waipā had already committed to being

The Waikato Housing Initiative had been given a mandate by the Mayoral Forum to lead the conversation with councils and get Waikato councils working better together. Across the region 75,000 new homes will be needed in the next 20 years.

…but building consents fall

By Mary Anne Gill

Development activity across Waipā appears to have slowed down this year with only 30 subdivision consent and 46 land use applications in the first three months.

Deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, who chairs the council’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee puts that down to a number of businesspeople and developers across the district taking a conservative approach during the current economic environment.

“People are holding back, keeping an eye on interest rates. I keep in

contact with developers. It’s a small slowing, it’s not significant and not to be of any concern,” she told The News.

The figures were in District Growth and Regulatory Services group manager Wayne Allan’s report to the committee this week.

The number of resource consents lodged with the council this quarter was 50 down on the previous quarter’s 134 consents.

But 139 consents had been processed, all in the allowable statutory timeframe.

Land Information Memorandum

(LIM) reports were also down slightly to 223, he said.

The council issued 42 development contribution notices worth $6.08 million – 13 from building, 10 from land use and 19 from subdivision consents.

There were 368 building consents issued – worth $77.9 million - down on the 122 for $113.8 million from the same three-month period last year.

The significant building consents this quarter are:

• 1498 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu, Construction of an Ammonia Water Chilling Plant

Room Building and a MCC Building on an existing site.

• 181 Hannon Road, Cambridge, Proposed Commercial workshop and office.

• 86 Hautapu Road, Cambridge, Camex New Warehouse and Office - Stage 1 Civil and Structural.

• 68 Duke Street, Cambridge (Masonic Hotel) refurbishment and fitout of existing building to create three hotel rooms.

• Matos Segedin Drive, Cambridge, construction of office and warehouse.

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Aksel Bech

Between a rock and a kind place

If you spot a kindness rock in Taumarunui’s Manson’s Gardens, don’t throw it away.

Chances are it’s one of the many rocks Enrich Plus’ Supported Activities clients have painted for a Kindness Rock project held in conjunction with Ruapehu District Council.

To celebrate the opening of the Enrich+ premises in Hakiaha Street, the Supported Activities arts programme

Meghan Hawkes looks back on the

in Waipā from 1899

participants - have been painting and leaving messages on rocks.

At the opening of the building led on Tuesday by Cynthia Russell from Kaitupeka Marae, Taringamotu –Enrich Plus chief executive Karen Scott from Cambridge said the organisation had long links with Taumarunui, previously as Gracelands.

Previously they shared premises and then were based in The Arcade where

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window space to display artwork was limited.

“Now we have so much more room for our clients, room to spread and room to display some of the stunning art they’ve produced,” said Karen. The Supported Activities programme enables disabled people in and around Taumarunui to participate and make a positive contribution to their community.

Trains, choirs, and rabbits

A large crowd gathered at the Te Awamutu train station to farewell their popular stationmaster, Mr J T Long, who was moving on to Feilding. As the train moved out three hearty cheers were given for Mr Long and family, and the engine driver joined in with the train whistle. The Longs had been prominent in all musical matters in Te Awamutu, and their departure was keenly felt in the community.

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The parish of St John’s, Te Awamutu, imported from America a magnificent organ, produced by Cornish and Co of New Jersey. It contained 18 stops which operated upon 11 sets of reeds and was capable of producing about 20 different combinations. The St John’s choir was noted for its good singing, and they were commended for acquiring such a fine cathedral toned instrument.

At the Kihikihi Tennis Club’s opening day there was a splendid turn out. Mr Perry’s paddock, which was being used by the club, looked very animated, the two courts being fully occupied. Miss Mainwaring, the club secretary, and the committee were very busy. Afternoon tea and refreshments were enjoyed, and dancing afterwards indulged in at the Town Hall. The club had a large membership of some good players, and a prosperous season was anticipated. Prosperous also at Kihikihi were rabbits. Rabbit Day saw over 50,000 skins being

At Ōhaupō unruly conduct outraged residents. Dr Hosking, candidate for the Waikato seat in an upcoming election, was walking towards his hotel after a meeting when some young lads galloped past him saying “Good night doctor” while throwing packages of flour at him. Two of the packages hit him, one on the shoulder and one in the face.

Some flour got into his eyes, and it was thought pepper had been mixed with the flour; such was the pain, although a quick taste disproved this. It was the first time a parliamentary candidate had been insulted in the Waikato. The perpetrators were from one of the out districts.

After a football match at Pirongia a person or persons unknown carried off a leg of mutton and a pudding intended for the players from the meat safe at the hotel of Mrs Finch.

It was presumed the perpetrators had neglected to provide for their own Sunday dinner. Birds were also pilfering at Pirongia. Thrushes, blackbirds, and goldfinches were devouring strawberries as soon as they appeared and not a cherry was to be seen on the trees after the green stage of growth had passed. They then started clearing the town of gooseberries.

Janet Edhouse of Taumarunui joins Leanne Cummins from Te Awamutu in hiding a rock in Manson’s Gardens.

Council settles building claim

By Mary Anne Gill

A $6.8 million claim against Waipā District Council and several contractors over a commercial building with weathertightness defects has been settled before it got to a High Court trial.

The council’s share of the confidential settlement to Erinic Investments Ltd – a company owned by Justine and the late Sir Patrick Hogan – was $1.95 million. It paid an additional $475,000 plus GST on legal and building expert fees. None of the costs are covered by insurance.

The News has been following the case since the Hogans’ Cambridge-based company initiated proceedings in the High Court in 2020 against the council and four other defendants alleging the council was negligent in issuing building consents, inspecting the building work and issuing Code Compliance Certificates for a commercial building the company owns.

Erinic Investments was initially claiming at least $2 million in damages with additional losses such as interest and costs.

The Companies Office website still shows Sir Patrick as a 50 per cent shareholder despite his death in January.

The company directors are his wife, two daughters Erin and Nicola and grandson Liam Hunt.

The fixture was due to get underway at the High Court in Auckland last week and was set down for a four week trial but was vacated at the request of Erinic Investments’

Hay gets to the bay

By Viv Posselt

counsel Grimshaw & Co. Its website describes the firm as dispute resolution experts.

Senior associate David Powell said the firm did not have instructions to provide information to The News “or any other person in the media regarding our client’s claim.”

In a statement, the council said it disputed that it was responsible in any way for the alleged defects.

“Following a mediation between the building owner, the council and the construction parties, the parties have entered into a confidential full and final settlement agreement.

“The council has reviewed, and is continually reviewing, its consenting processes,” the statement said.

The council is facing another longstanding legal action filed at the Te Awamutu District Court five years ago.

It involves Kihikihi couple Wayne and June Atkinson and dates to 2001 when the council completed stormwater system work in the town.

The action before the High Court in Hamilton says council has been negligent, breached its statutory duty and created a nuisance in relation to a private drain on the plaintiffs’ property in Kihikihi. The Atkinsons are seeking more than $2.5 million in damages, interest and costs.

That case is set down for a five-day fixture starting May 27 next year at the High Court in Hamilton.

A motley convoy of vehicles last week drove tonnes of hay and sileage from Cambridge to Napier for distribution to cycloneravaged farmers in Hawke’s Bay.

The 600 km round trip was deemed a success by one of their organisers, Te Miro’s Denis Beech. The eight vehicles hit heavy weather and a few bumps along the way, the latter explained by two sizeable earthquakes that rocked the Hawkes Bay area during their April 26 trip.

Denis’ partner Bronwyn Cameron – who was also one of the drivers – said she wondered what was happening when she heard the ‘loud buzzing noise’ on her phone.

“It was the earthquake alert. It certainly explained the bumps I noticed as I was driving,” she said.

The convoy came about after one of Denis’s mates found he had too much cut grass for his own needs and suggested donating it to farmers hit by February’s Cyclone Gabrielle.

“It grew from there,” said Denis. Friends were quick to come on board; Noel Yearbury was among

the first. He and Denis have known each other for 63 years and agreed that it was a no-brainer to get the surplus hay to where it was needed the most.

Bronwyn, who has contacts through her job teaching agri-business, acted as a liaison with recipient organisers in Napier and a team of volunteers in Napier was on standby to help unload.

The convoy included Denis’s 1928 Essex truck, a vehicle he lovingly built a couple of years ago. They drove to the speedway grounds in Napier, which has been made available to receive donated hay and other items for local farmers. The dozen large hay bales, 18 sileage bales and some 250 smaller hay bales were well received at the other end.

Bronwyn said many

Hawke’s Bay farmers were still desperate for help.

“Some of them lost huge areas of pasture in the cyclone and floods … their land just collapsed. There are people there who are still without power, without access, who are still struggling to get stock out. It is going to take years to recover.”

She said any Waikato farmers wanting to donate feed for Hawkes Bay farmers could get information through the RDA Napier Facebook page, or on 021 133 5516.

Driving down the feed donated by a raft of locals, the convoy drivers included Cambridge’s Bronwyn Cameron, Denis Beech, Brian Scott, Noel Yearbury, David Civil, Wallace Hall and Paul Gordon, and Te Awamutu’s Don Wise.

Resting up while loading their ‘Hay to Hawkes Bay’ vehicles are Brian Scott, Noel Yearbury and Denis Beech, with BB the dog.

It’s all the rage

By Peter Carr

On Tuesday of last week, I forewent my annual warm-coated pre-dawn visit to the Cambridge cenotaph to take part in a very simple yet moving gathering at our village in Lauriston Park. It was at the more reasonable time of 8.30am and a cooked breakfast followed for all attendees.

Simple, in that the organiser, in concise terms, explained the rationale of Anzac memories and how it means different things to different people. Those who travelled and fought (or not) prior to 1950 have possibly a different memory to those who made the journeys to Korea, Vietnam, East Timor and Afghanistan. Yet their input is just as important - even if the perceived risk to New Zealand was possibly less than the two world wars. Nevertheless the (mainly) men and latterly women deserve our gratitude just as much as those of earlier conflicts.

At our village service, complete with the sweet notes of the cornet, I had the role of reciting The Ode - one of the verses of which commences with “They shall not grow old….”. In rehearsing this important and poignant poem I researched the two verses that I was asked to enunciate clearly into the microphone. In doing so I undertook some research of the original stanzas that were written in 1914 - with the author sitting on Cornish cliffs staring out onto the often-wild western ocean Atlantic waters.

The writer was Laurence Binyon and his meaningful rhyme was first published in The Times during September 1914. When the first trench warfare in France was building up but before Winston Churchill condemned many fine young New Zealand and Australian soldiers to attempt to take the impossibly steep and barren cliffs of

Gallipoli away from the resident Turks. All this to provide a side show to attract the Turks from guarding the narrow water strip of the Dardanelles as the British wished to take their fleet into the Black Sea.

Back to Binyon – he first wrote the “They shall not” verse before preceding and succeeding those lines with three other verses. And it was verses three and four that I was asked to deliver. The whole poem is well worth reading and parts of it are uttered daily at the Menin Gate in Belgium and at RSAs. Stand To is a very important time of the day for RSA members - many of whom have lost the use of their regular and owned premises as their numbers dwindle and finances become strained. Poppies made in Christchurch this year numbered 1.3 million and it was a pleasure to see the loyal and helpful services provided by the poppy sellers in Victoria Street on the Friday before Anzac Day.

Larger services - especially at main city centres - are still well supported (and rightly so). However, it is interesting to note the swelling ranks of younger people who have never felt the terror or angst of war first hand. For the first three years of my life, I spent most nights in the damp and chilly concrete bunker of the next-door neighbour listening to the bombers overhead as they transited from and back to Germany. And then later witnessed the glowing tail exhausts of the V1 and V2 rockets - but with a mind that had no comprehension of what was really happening. Except that my father was absent overseas on national naval duty until I was three years old.

DELIVERING RELIABLE POWER TO WAIPĀ

By Eric Auton

Do I sometimes wish I was driving James Bond’s Aston Martin? I mean the classic, grey model with all the gadgets designed to wipe out the… other driver … Imagine how satisfying it would be to flick open the console and pause just long enough to choose between the toggles for the rockets, or the machine guns or the thin film of oil to be layered on the road surface behind us?

“You selfish toad you are going to get what you deserve!”

Us? Yes, us: all of us because all of us have probably felt a huge desire to take revenge upon a fellow road abuser who has just behaved in what is unquestionably a highly self-centred way.

Revenge in a fit of road rage?

Why not? After all, we are all safely in our personal cocoons of our vehicles, centrally locked on our platforms secured by safety glass so we can be seen and heard, if we so wish.

Yeah, let’s let it out! Scream like a Formula 1 driver who has just won another zillion dollars. Shake your fist or just one of your fingers!

Revenge is the best medicine. (Let’s not get Shakesperean who thought aloud that revenge was a dish best served cold. Now that is pure relish).

In spite of our modern culture, there is another way - a better way. Would you like to try it?

The next time that that billionaire, celebrity around whom the whole universe revolves is at the wheel of his Jaguar and his/her behaviour causes you to wish you were in Bond’s Aston Martin, try thinking and saying aloud “I forgive you.”

Excuse me?

Whether that driver deserves forgiveness, is another question.

However, several reactions follow your action of forgiveness:

• your breathing is given a chance to modify on the way back to normal.

• you are concentrating on your actions and your attitudes.

• you close the door on a stronghold which our enemies have been waiting for us to open and that stronghold has a name: hate.

• revenge is the vinegar which rots our soul, so please God by being forgiving so He can forgive us for our bad choices.

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New walkway planned

By Mary Anne Gill

Ngāhinapōuri residents have unveiled plans for a 4.3km community driven and organised walking and cycling trail aimed at creating a sense of connection and identity for the Waipā village.

The walkway will help protect and restore the Mangahia Stream, promote wellbeing and recognise the historic Horokiokio Pā site as it descends to the Waipā River.

The group behind the project presented their vision to Waipā District Council’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee this week.

Strategy group manager Kirsty Downey told councillors the group first provided detailed

feedback to the Ahu Ake – Spatial Plan community engagement process but plans have been underway for some time.

Brian Marcroft, Mark Harrop, Daniel Finlayson and Martin Reid said the project involved establishing a grade two, 2.8km dual use walking and cycling track

from Pilot Drive to Old School Road.

Then it would morph into a 1.5km ecological trail of both boardwalk and path from Old School Road to Waipā River.

It would pass through native bush that includes original stands of kahikatea and the pā site.

The long-term focus is to restore the stream corridor with native planting.

A charitable trust is being established.

The group wants the project recognised as part of Ahu Ake and flagged to the committee it would make a submission to the council’s Long Term Plan seeking a council contribution to the walkway.

The estimated cost is $6-800,000 for a mix of boardwalk and formed

Group. It involves exploring Mangahia Peat lake, protect

walk and cycle way would be added to the Te Ara Wai journeys app which is a free self-guided tour of culturally significant sites throughout Waipā.

The route would follow a stand of trees from near the Ngāhināpouri township to Old School Rd, then to the Waipā River.

The walkway will pass though stands of kahikatea.

Viewing misinformation

By Janine Krippner

Over the years I have responded to eruptions by giving information through social media and over 200 media interviews around the world.

This has meant that I have seen a lot of what is posted and shared online, what goes viral, and what is splashed across headlines.

It is scary just how much “information” shared online is somewhere between inaccurate to total junk.

Working with many reporters I have only had a couple of instances where I feel that what I said was skewed or misrepresented. Every other reporter or journalist has worked hard to grasp a complex topic in a short amount of time, under pressure, to get out accurate information to the world. I spent 10 years in universities getting three degrees, with additional experience, to become a volcanologist. There is no reasonable way that I can expect anyone outside of my field to accurately report on volcanoes 100 per cent of the time, no matter how valiantly they try.

Then there are tabloids (especially from the US and UK in my experience) and social media users, who seem to have much less strict fact-checking ethics. I have seen the most rubbish and harmful claims go viral, while experts have a much smaller reach and are left trying to keep up.

Sadly, documentaries and tv shows can also be surprisingly inaccurate. All of this results in masses of misinformation living permanently across the internet. When you are trying to find the truth, the odds are not in your favour. Volcanoes are a generally benign topic, there aren’t a whole lot of conspiracy theories, and they usually aren’t a political rage point, yet misinformation is

Census: last call

The Government will turn up the heat on the 15 per cent of people it says have not filled out a census form next week.

budget for the census, which was not advertised in The News, could reach to $300 million

rampant and so casually thrown around as fact. This intensifies when a volcano or eruption hits the news, and even more so when there are terms like “supervolcano” in the mix.

Not that far back there was a news cycle with several set press conferences to give updates on a volcano. Now we have 24/7 global news and social media, and with that an insatiable impatience for more. The landscape has totally changed in a very short time. If there is no new information fast enough, misinformation fills the gap.

This has taught me to have a healthy scepticism for everything I read. I pay attention to who is giving the information and where it came from.

We all saw that during a crisis like a pandemic, our best knowledge can be constantly improving. I want the best information available at the time, while being open to that information evolving as we learn more. There appears to be an impatience or even intolerance to this process. When a volcano starts to wake up, we are constantly getting more data as the activity evolves. More information means better advice as time goes along, but that doesn’t mean that the earlier information was bad.

My friendly reminder to my community is to be careful what you read and share. What might seem harmless to share here might spread to a place where it truly can put others in danger. People are actively trying to take advantage of the internet in harmful ways, and you do not deserve to get caught up in it.

It will be sending letters from May 9 warning them about fines.

“This notice will explain that everyone who was in Aotearoa New Zealand overnight on March 7, 2023, is required to complete the census, and if they do not, they risk being fined $2000 under the Data and Statistics Act 2022,” a Census Media release says.

Last month Newsroom reported the

Census organisations say visits have been made to 1.8 million households since March 7.

The rate for 2023 could, though, be an improvement on 2018 when the response rate was 83.3 per cent. It was 92.2 per cent in 3013.

It was reported in 2019 that 60 people were facing prosecution for not filling out a census form.

Lilies scheme backed

Cambridge company Lilies by Blewden has won a government grant to help it go greener.

The company – established 30 years ago - has turned away from using waste oil as a fuel and the reduction in emissions will have multiple benefits.

For two decades Lilies by Blewden has used 120 litres of waste oil an hour and could consume up to two tonnes on cold nights as it kept greenhouse temperature right.

The waste oil burners have been decommissioned and a network of hot water pumps will provide heat for greenhouses – the project helped by the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) fund.

“This helps to create a more stable environment in the greenhouses, meaning no extreme temperatures throughout our wintery nights,” owner Mary Birch said.

In turn, that will help to standardise growth time, lead to a reduction in pesticide use and a better crop.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and energy and resources minister Megan Woods discussed the latest round of funding last week in Auckland. It involved partnerships

with 15 high energy users to help them reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

“So far we have co-funded 66 major industrial decarbonisation projects in total, with all set for completion by December 2027,” Woods said.

The GIDI fund is a government and business partnership aiming to reduce carbon energy-related emissions.

“Applying for the fund was a robust and demanding process that included thorough research, statistics, and analysis to prove the long term benefit of this change,” Birch said.

“This co-funding helps businesses meet an investment hurdle that is preventing or slowing down a valuable decarbonisation project from getting started.

“Not only is this good for the environment and for our lilies, this is great for our team, our neighbours, and other growers.

She said systems can be reversed in summer to cool the greenhouses, meaning a better working environment for the team and less wastage of products.

“Our neighbours will no longer have the noises and fumes associated with burning of fuels, leading to a nicer environment for all.”

Discretionary grants

Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board granted $22,202.18 from its discretionary grants fund last week. Money went to: Central Kids Rewi Street Kindergarten $2000, Grandstand Community Trust $3000, Kihikihi Police House & Temple Cottage $347.83, Kihikihi Rugby Sports Club $2200, Ko Wai Au Trust $2000, Te Awamutu Army Community Cadet Unit $954.35, Te Awamutu Brass Band $1700, Te Awamutu Music Federation $1000, Te Awamutu Rose Society $4000, Toi Aringa Trust $5000.

Noisy times

Waipā noise control officers were kept busy during the first three months of the year responding to 440 complaints. Thirty-six people were issued with written directions and 17 issued with verbal instructions to reduce excessive noise. No equipment was seized.

Dog gone

Only 127 dogs remain unregistered with Waipā District Council – which is 1.3 per cent of all dogs in the district. The council will continue pursuing owners. Meanwhile 54 dogs impounded in the quarter ended March 31; 43 were claimed by their owner, three put down and one rehomed. Seven dogs were still in the pound at the end of the quarter. Twelve of the 17 reported issues to Animal Control were reports of dog bites – 12 on other animals and five on adults – with most being relatively minor.

Royal marathon ahead

By Roy Pilott

Months after acknowledging a royal visit made almost 80 years earlier, Te Awamutu will welcome in a new king on this weekend.

From tomorrow buildings including the Te Awamutu library and Cambridge Town Hall and clock tower will be illuminated in royal purple to mark the coronation of King Charles III.

On Saturday two Tilia Cordata - European limes – said to be a favourite of the King – will be planted, one in Victoria Park, Te Awamutu at 9am and the other in Victoria Square, Cambridge at 11am. The events will be open to the public.

The ceremonies will be a combined effort from Waipā District Council and the Cambridge and Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Boards. Royalist Luke East battled to have a plaque installed in Te Awamutu to mark the 1950s visit of Queen Elizabeth.

Now he is in Melbourne preparing to celebrate the coronation at a three-course black tie event at the Kelvin Club – a private member’s club – which will be hosting the Australian Monarchist League.

“I think Charles will be a fantastic king, he’s already shown himself as an immensely empathetic, intelligent and humble monarchhis streamlining of the monarchy and embrace of all cultures and religions, as well as his wellknown passion for environmental and social causes are things which I think make him very much the monarch for the moment,” East told The News.

He said fears and criticisms about how the new king would interfere in politics and be too outspoken had been “proven utterly baseless”.

“In fact, I think what we have seen in the last few months has been a king who isn’t afraid

to make hard calls - even within his familyand who is more relevant and in touch with his public than the naysayers have given him credit for.”

East says the monarchy remains as relevant today as it did 70 years ago – “we still need sage and impartial leadership from our Head of State, we still need someone above politics to look up to and we still very much need the check and balance on politics that constitutional monarchy gives us and the stability that it

brings.”

The event will provide royal watchers with a televised marathon over the weekend ranging from entertainment to the formal coronation.

Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board chair Ange Holt said the board was board was happy to be able to support the event.

“We are hoping the local royalist community will get behind the event and come along wearing something purple and join us after for a cucumber sandwich.”

Luke East celebrated this royal moment in December when a commemorative plaque was unveiled.

Twigg makes world cup splash

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Olympic rower Emma Twigg is using her sporting star power to help rev up

A feast of football

FIFA spokesperson Emma Alsemgeest said the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the largest women’s sporting event in the world, was forecast to attract 30,000 international visitors.

Co-hosted by New Aotearoa and Australia and involving 32 international teams, it will kick off with the New Zealand Football Ferns’ first pool match against Norway at Eden Park at 7pm on July 20, and run until August 20.

The Ferns’ two other pool matches are against Philippines at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 25 at 5.30pm, and Switzerland at Dunedin Stadium on July 30 at 7pm. Waikato Stadium will host five games, including one between Argentina and Sweden.

support for this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The event, co-hosted in Aotearoa and Australia from July 20 to August 20, is expected to attract two billion global viewers.

“It’s just an exciting event that New Zealanders, I think, are going to be really proud to be hosting,” said Twigg, who lives in Cambridge with her wife Charlotte and one-year-old son Tommy.

“They don’t know quite yet, but they will by the time it’s done.”

The 36-year-old said home crowd support had made racing the world championships on home soil at Lake Karāpiro in 2010 one of the most memorable races of her life.

“I hope that these girls and New Zealanders get so involved that they have that kind of experience as well,” she said. “And I’m sure that will happen. Being at a home world cup or world champs is pretty special.”

Twigg joins a star-studded team of “Beyond Greatness Champions” – which also includes New Zealand’s first Winter Olympic gold medallist Zoi SadowskiSynnott and business leader Dame Therese Walsh – to support and promote the

World Cup.

FIFA spokesperson Emma Alsemgeest said the brand ambassadors were a group of inspirational trailblazers who represented the best

of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand across sport, entertainment, media, arts, politics and business.

“They are a team who are united by their achievements

and commitment for change, history makers who exemplify what it means to go beyond greatness,” she said.

Twigg, who was made

a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2022, finished outside the medals at three Olympic Games before winning gold in Tokyo in 2021. She is now training for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

A former football player herself, she said having the opportunity to promote the Cup and “create some kind of hype about what is going to be an amazing event anyway” was a privilege.

“I think the amazing thing about what these events do – and what we saw again with cricket and rugby – is that young people engage and see themselves out on the field and that inspires another generation.”

She is looking forward to getting to as many games as possible.

“I love live events, the atmosphere, the DJs and what you get versus watching it on TV,” she said.

“It’s entertaining, I imagine the price will be right and you’re supporting kiwis on home turf –you just don’t have that opportunity that often, at a tournament of such status.”

For information about international matches being held in Hamilton, and how to buy tickets, visit cambridgenews.nz.

• ATP Therapy

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

• Rosetown Speech Therapy

Amanda Yeates-McGrail is a NZ trained Speech Language Therapist with over 25 years of experience. She offers comprehensive speech and language

therapy in Te Awamutu. I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults with a range of speech, language, swallowing, and communication difficulties.

I have worked in a variety of settings including the education sector, hospital, for ACC providers, as well as in private practice. I am a registered member of NZ Speech Therapy Association. Specialist assessment of speech, language, swallowing and communication skills.

Ongoing Therapy sessions in Te Awamutu that are tailored to individual needs. Sessions times are agreed between us and are usually 30, 45, or 60 minutes in length.

Emma Twigg is a Beyond Greatness Champion for this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Choosing a heating system is a big decision and often requires a signi cant investment. It’s important that you do plenty of research into all of the available options so you can make an informed purchase.

Heat pumps are one of the most popular heating options for many home owners, but like all systems they have their advantages and disadvantages.

There are a number of factors behind the increasing popularity of heat pumps as a heating and cooling solution for homes and businesses.

Heat pumps are versatile and can be installed in a variety of ways. They can be integrated into existing or new ducted systems or mounted on the oor, wall or ceiling. They are very cost a ective as they use external heat and cold to e ciently regulate temperature in a building. As a result, they are 50 per cent more cost e cient than gas heaters and use less power than other electric heating and cooling systems.

Heat pumps lter your air while they operate, reducing the presence of pollen, humidity and airborne pathogens in the building. Other types of ducted heating on the other hand often spread dust and other contaminants around.

The e ciency of heat pumps means less energy is used, which means less pollution and fewer carbon emissions. Heat pumps can be an extremely energy-e cient form of space heating and cooling – provided they

More families choose Air Conditioning Group

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are sized, installed, and used properly. There are also some factors behind why many people have decided to move away from heatpumps to other systems.

Compared to many heating and cooling solutions available on the market, the initial cost of the product and installation can be much higher. Heat pumps are more about long term cost-savings.

The reason heat pumps are so e cient is because they extract external heat to heat your property.

This can be a downside in areas that are extremely cold where the heat pump might not be able to get enough heat. In this situation, an auxiliary heater or combined system may be needed to address this issue. Heat pumps operate on very similar principle to a fridge. Refrigerant ows through connected indoor and outdoor coils. In heating mode, as the liquid refrigerant ows to the outdoor coil, it passes through an expansion valve that creates rapid expansion of the liquid, causing it to become a gas.

This results in very rapid cooling of the refrigerant.

Then as it ows through the outdoor coil, it is able to absorb heat energy from the air. Before it ows through the indoor coil, it passes through a compressor where the gas is compressed, increasing both the pressure and the temperature.

As it moves through the indoor coils, the gas condenses, releasing latent heat.

OFFICE PHONE

Camron Meade

Waikato/King Country Sales Manager

027 420 1881 camron.meade@pggwrightson.co.nz

Peter Wylie

Rural & Lifestyle Sales 027 473 5855 pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

James Moore

Residential & Lifestyle Sales 022 064 8072 james.moore@pggwrightson.co.nz

OFFICE PHONE 07 8702112

Rebecca Fraser Branch Manager Residential/Lifestyle Sales 021 152 1477 rebecca.fraser@pb.co.nz

Eli Gadsby Residential Sales 0274423729 eli.gadsby@pb.co.nz

Taye Russ Sales Associate to Eli Gadsby 021 2051252 taye.russ@pb.co.nz

Kayla Crombie

Residential Sales 0212116974 kayla.crombie@pb.co.nz

Tania Ruki

Residential/Lifestyle Sales 027 441 3264 tania.ruki@pb.co.nz

Peter Martyn

Residential/Lifestyle Sales 021 186 8522 peter.martyn@pb.co.nz

Vicky Wright

Residential/Lifestyle sales 021 058 6618 vicky.wright@pb.co.nz

John Sisley

Rural /Lifestyle Sales 027 475 9808 john.sisley@pb.co.nz

Dave Peacocke

Rural/Lifestyle Sales 027 473 2382 davep@pb.co.nz

Paul Wheeler Rural/Lifestyle Sales 027 336 6158 paul.wheeler@pb.co.nz

Ian Nicholas Rural/Lifestyle Sales 021 854 452 ian.nicholas@pb.co.nz

Riane King Rural Specialist Administrator 021 171 9471 riane@pb.co.nz

Teri Tregoweth Branch Administrator 07 870 2112 teri.tregoweth@pb.co.nz

Raewyn Brock

Branch Administrator 07 870 2112 raewyn.brock@pb.co.nz

Brenda Donaldson Director/Sales 027867 9953 brenda@riserealestate.co.nz

Kylee Graham Residential/Lifestyle Sales 021 296 3315 kylee@riserealestate.co.nz

Pros and cons as property market slows

The heady days of having a residential property on the market for a week and having multi offers have definitely gone, Te Awamutu Property Brokers’ sales manager Rebecca Fraser says.

“Homes do stay on the market longer than they used to in the town.

”A good four to five weeks or so for those that are well priced and presented, and up to eight to 12 weeks or more for others.”

Rest of the changes below are fine to action

New market appraisals are showing the impact of combined bank interest rates, stricter criteria for loaning, uncertainty in where the national and global economies are going, and a natural increase of listed properties. It can be difficult for some vendors to understand the big prices of the past two years have eased right off in today’s tighter economic times, Rebecca says. However, there is a plus side in all this, the “huge influx” of first home buyers in the Te Awamutu region particularly being one.

“They are still capped at $650,000 [as per housing grants] and we are finding a good number of homes have now dropped into this price bracket,” Rebecca says.

“Hamilton remains too expensive for many to buy a first home, so they still are looking to come to Te Awamutu and its surrounds for a home they can afford.”

“We have good family homes on good sized sections priced

at around the $700,000 mark which can be negotiated down to where the capping for the grant sits, and these are selling.

“And it’s a good time for buyers, if people can afford the interest rates and are buying at lower price than expected.

“Buyers today generally don’t want a house to buy and renovate the way they used to. They want it all done, move in ready. So if a vendor has a house that needs a new paint, for example, they will need to either look at doing it – or be prepared to wait and negotiate down in price.”

She warns the new build market is close to saturation in the town, however.

“We fought the council [against a new development] recently. The section sales are developers, not end home buyers.”

Too many of these on the market could pull prices down too far, especially as investors have yet to fully return to the market despite Government incentives.

“The risk is still too high,”

Challenges ahead for rural market

The rural market is providing some challenging times across the board, as farmers settle in to the raft of new policies Wrightson agent Camron Meade says.

“If you look at drystock farms [both in the Waikato and King Country], there have been phenomenal sales in the past [few years] because of carbon farming and the Government’s policies. Many have exited their farms with an unbelievable result.

“But that market is now tapping

Building permits for the 2022/2023 year to date for Te Awamutu and Cambridge

up until the end of March 2023 and do not include April, May and June figures.

Residential

Te Awamutu: 168

Cambridge: 374

Commercial/Industrial

Te Awamutu: 18

Cambridge: 42

The total for the previous full year were:

Te Awamutu: 351 (18 industrial)

she says, citing such aspects as high building costs, uncertainty in the interest rates which aren’t matching rental yields, the 10 year Brightline test and the much stricter rules around tenancies through the Healthy Homes Act and changes to the Tenancies Act.

“Not everyone can afford the average $650-$680 a week being asked for home rentals; for a really good tenant we can sometimes get it down to $660-$630, but it’s not easy.” Her advice to buyers is, if they can, to buy an existing home rather than build – even one that needs doing up, because it’s easier to get finance.

For vendors, she says it is important to listen to what their agent is telling them about where the current market is at.

“If a good cashed up offer comes along that is less than the one you received dependent on a buyers house selling – take it. Because houses listed a few months ago that haven’t sold yet, won’t be selling for the price originally asked for.”

Cambridge Real Estate’s Sherry Herkes agrees that it’s taking longer to sell properties than it did a year or so ago, and like Rebecca, believes it’s more a case of “things getting back to normal.”

“The reasons for buying and selling haven’t changed. We have a good selection of offerings for the markets we have, ranging from the 500s for a unit or two bedroom, through to family homes. Cambridge is a destination choice. We have those who want to retire here so will downsize their home and move into retirement living, through to the high end homes.”

For all that, she says vendors need to be prepared to meet the market.

“As long as buyers are working within that four to five percent of what the vendor is asking, those kinds of offers shouldn’t be turned down,” she says. “There are those who will offer too low – but generally, most offers are within target and we are still getting the odd multi offer,” she says. “Our open

Cambridge: 558 (42 industrial)

The following number of subdivisions are actively underway, with titles yet to be issued:

Te Awamutu: 67 (7 pending, 69 approved)

Cambridge: 34 (5 pending, 38 approved)

Rural: 126 (13 pending, 113 approved).

home number are increasing, which is good.”

Like Rebecca though, she says it’s much harder to move sections.

“We are finding a lot go on [the market], sit and then come off. Builders won’t guarantee the end price and banks aren’t happy to loan on that basis, so it’s become a lot harder for new builds,” she says.

The other market proving tougher to move for both towns are the high end properties. These traditionally take longer to sell and appear to have settled back into that groove in recent months.

in which he says the market has bottomed out, is probably correct.

out, leaving some sellers with expectations that are a lot higher than the market can or will meet.

It’s no better for dairy farmers.

“Many of them are almost working for free. Even though the payouts are good, there are escalating costs in terms of investment for the future to meet growing policy changes,” he says.

“For those with smaller farms, that might need capital investment for say, a new milk shed or enviro-required effluent ponds for example, banks are going to look at that and say well, you can afford the farm –but you can’t afford the millions required to bring it up to policy

standards.”

What that means he says, is the market can’t meet the criteria which means sales in the rural area are currently flat – and some will have to adjust their views on what they think their farm will get in today’s market. Change of land use, such as required for horticulture in the way of kiwifruit and avocadoes for instance, face their own sets

of challenges.

“The fluctuating license values, which can change from one year from $800,000-odd to half that as it did this year, are still to be properly understood, along with the issues of quality of fruit. Avocado markets have dropped, which makes that one harder.”

He says he believes economist Tony Alexander’s latest report

“Therefore now is a very good time to look at either exiting out of a sticky situation or looking to buy.

“It will be a tough winter, I think with elections traditionally slowing the housing market down to nothing; the sun comes out once a new government’s policies are understood.

“The one thing is certain though that “Fear Of Missing Out” is still there and so it’s a perfect opportunity, if your property is priced and presented correctly and if interest rates remain stable to sell.”

Camron says he hope the market will turn again, “optimistically” by the end of this year.

More families choose to get back to basics

One of the biggest changes to come from three years of Covid is the realization city life doesn’t have to be the answer moving forward.

And to this end, the lifestyle market in the Waipā district still holds steady, according to Peter Tong from More RE in Cambridge.

“I’ve just sold two in the past couple of weeks and there’s no doubt there is still interest despite banks harder line [on criteria for loaning.]”

“Traditionally, lifestyle blocks will sit for a long time, some will have offers subject to a buyer’s sale or other conditions. But I’m also finding buyers are now more about putting their offers in when they can be close to unconditional – that is, they have unconditional sales on their own property and/or finance is sorted.”

The age group of people who are wanting lifestyle blocks,

particularly the ones with paddocks, tend to be those in their 30s and who still need support via finance.

These are also the ones, Peter says, who have decided a more rural and simpler lifestyle is what they are choosing for their families.

“Gardening used to be a lost art, but it’s coming back and there is a sense of self-sufficiency people are looking at and choosing as a lifestyle,” he says.

“The shed requirement for a block is always there, some may want a paddock for a pony or two or a pool. Everyone is different in what they want –apart from the need for a good sized shed,” he says.

His advice to both vendors and buyers is to “have meaningful discussions” about expectations.

“It’s a time for deals for both ends, really. There’s been some sparks in the market with buyer interest in the past few weeks,” he says.

“People are getting their ducks in a row earlier now and offers

are there to be made. “Sellers need to be sure they are listening to their agent – who has listened to the buyers and know what they are looking for - and taking advantage of those who are ready to sign.”

Growth continues: Waipā commercial market on the rise

The commercial and industrial side of Waipā district is simply on fire, NAI Harcourts Hamilton Commercial real estate agent Theo de Leeuw says.

“Particularly in Cambridge in the Hautapu area since the advent of the Waikato Expressway, growth there has been – and continues to be –fantastic.

“The industrial precinct has seen so many new businesses move in – Mainfreight has just about finished a 6000sqm warehouse, Emmersons has a new base there, Scania is setting up a new depot of sorts – there are so many new agri-businesses coming on board,” he says. He believes the close proximity and easy access to both the airport and the expressway is the primary reason for the massive growth, particularly in the past two years, that shows no signs of stopping.

“The difference is the diversity of business in the Waikato; something Auckland or Wellington for example doesn’t have.

“From dairy to horticulture,

Te Awamutu Ward, Waipa District

 The median price was $657,000 in March 2023, a -14.1% decrease yearon-year

 20 sales were made in March 2023 – a 16.6^ decrease year-on-year

 The median days to sell a property was 73 days in March 2023 – up from 33 days in March 2022.

Rural and lifestyle data:

There was 1 sale in March 2023 at $1,600,000 and 0 sales in March 2022.

[sport to foods], if one goes down, another pops up. There’s a good, strong mix of industry across the board.”

It’s not just Cambridge however. He says Te Awamutu’s industrial growth is strong as well and cites businesses like the dairy factory, Manuka Honey, and others in the Bruce Berquist area as creating new opportunities.

“Both Cambridge and Te Awamutu are growing in terms of population, yet they both still retain that village

Cambridge Ward, Waipa District

 The median price was $950,000 in March 2023, a -10.4% year-on-year

 28 sales we made in March 2023 – a 17.6% decrease year-on-year

 The median days to sell a property was 37 days in March 2023 – up from 33 days in March 2022.

Rural and lifestyle data:

There were no sales in March 2023, and two sales in March 2022 with a total sales volume of $10,475,000.

feel. You can walk to town or to the rose garden or to work.

“There are many athletic opportunities from the velodrome, the river, to equestrian facilities,” he says.

“So there is something for everyone from industry to recreation in a village feel that people love.”

Theo says it’s exciting times for the Waipā region as growth continues, particularly in the engine room of commercial and industrial areas which in turn will drive the population growth.

“It’s very fair to say that across New Zealand, there’s been an average 20% price drop in what values were seven or eight months ago [in lifestyle blocks]. “This is something that the public can see on any available algorithm.

“In saying that, if vendors are up to speed with todays’ price expectations, have listened to their agents, have presented their properties well, the market is still meeting expectations and there are sales.

“But if vendors aren’t prepared to meet that, or can’t, they are best not to be on the market at this time.

Camron Meade from PGG Wrightson says it’s the first time vendors have seen a decline in property values across the country in the real estate market for some time – and for some, it’s an “awkward’ time.

“Of course banks are looking at pricing too. It’s hard – this time last year, a property could have been worth $2million. But if you talk a 20% market value loss such as we’ve had, that’s almost quarter of a million dollars of lost equity – banks are being exposed to that and they are justifiably cautious in their lending,” Camron says.

Waipa Council statistics

 Waipā’s population grew by 1.2% over the last year, led primarily by inward migration which has propelled Waipā to more than 60,000 residents. On average New Zealand growth has been sitting at around 0.2% population growth.

 Employment in Waipā has grown by 4% and the workforce now numbers 26,800. The biggest contribution to employment growth came from construction, professional services, and health care and social assistance.

 Agriculture, manufacturing, and construction are still the biggest contributors to the local economy making up 33% of GDP which now sits at $3.3bn, an increase of 2.5% for the year to Dec 2022.

 Consumer spending sits at $814m, increasing 11.5% over the year to December 2022, well above pre-pandemic level of $681 for the year ended March 2020.

 The district has seen a diversification in land use (kiwifruit, berries, and horticulture) with goat and sheep milking also featuring in Waipa’s

agricultural landscape.

 The district has seen good growth in the manufacturing and logistic sector, with the arrival of mega store Trade Depot, Mainfreight, Tekplas, Futura Steel, Splice construction, and TOMRA foods to join existing largest companies Visy Board and APL.

 Waipa is home to more than 50% of New Zealand’s carded athletes with international cycling at the Cambridge Velodrome, world class rowing and canoe racing on Lake Karapiro, and the new venue for international events at Takapoto Estate show jumping.

 As of December 2022 the district had a GDP of $3,339m, behind neighbours Hamilton ($12,941), Waikato District ($3,619m) and ahead of MatamataPiako District ($2,366m) and South Waikato District ($1,509m). The district has more than 8,500 businesses across the two major towns and an unemployment among the lowest in the country at 2.3%.

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C A L L U S T O D A Y , F O R A R A I S E D

R E A L E S T A T E E X P E R I E N C E

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D i r e c t o r / L i c e n s e d A g e n t

George calls the tune

Matangi racing commentator George Simon enjoyed the final stages of his call on the 1200m Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton.

That’s because the Group Three feature race was won by Denby Road, the horse he and wife Maryanne bred and race.

The giant three-year-old son of Shamexpress, who stands over 17 hands high, was having his first start since finishing midfield in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) back in February and paraded in tip top

order for trainer Shelley Hale.

Simon had lost an argument with Hale and his wife as to where their charge should kick off his new campaign and after being over-ruled, he had the pleasure of witnessing rider Ryan Elliot produce a gem to burst between runners at the 200m and hold out the late challenge of Petrucci to collect career win number two and his first at stakes level.

Hale said they have held the horse in high regard since his early days and the victory justified that opinion.

“We’ve always had a pretty big opinion of him, and we know he is quick, but as he wanted to stretch out a little it was the natural thing to try and get him to the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m),” Hale said.

“He was tired after the Waikato Guineas, so we were going to put him away until he was four, but he spelled so well that I said to George and Maryanne ‘what about the Breeders’ Stakes?’ as it is our home race.

“He is just phenomenal, as when we were working him as a twoyear-old, he just did every little

thing we asked of him, and he is just a natural talent.

“I think he is something a bit special.”

Elliot was delighted with the result and taken by the way Denby Road travelled throughout the contest.

“He travelled up nicely into the race and we managed to get the gap and get through it at the right time,” he said.

“He actually came to the end of his run 50m out, so he had to find the last bit and it was a really good run from him.

“He was able to jump away well with them and he pulled me into the race. We just had to find room as he is a pretty big horse.”

Denby Road is out of the Align mare Dwandaofu, a daughter of Indomitable who is the dam of multiple Group One winner and now successful stallion Turn Me Loose, whom the Simons also bred. He becomes the ninth individual stakes winner for his sire Shamexpress who stands alongside Turn Me Loose at Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge. – NZ Racing Desk

Trainer Shelley Hale trains Denby Road for George and Maryanne Simon.

Denby Road held off a late challenge to win on Saturday.

6. Church ceremony (7)

13. Inconsequential (7)

15. Direction finder

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How to enjoy thriving fragrant plants in your garden, on your balcony or in your courtyard.

Yates Top 50 Fragrant Plants

Angie Thomas

This book brings together the top 50 fragrant plants to stimulate your senses. With information about soil needs, feeding and climate, and stunning, inspirational photos, this handy reference puts growing fragrant plants within reach of everyone, whatever your garden space and level of experience.

Yates is the number-one bestselling gardening brand in Australia and New Zealand.

Across: 1. Thumb, 4. Sleepy, 7. Ego, 8. Mantra, 9. Liable, 10. Shorttempered, 14. Night, 15. Zebra, 18. Conflagration, 23. Ignore, 24. Menace, 25. Lop, 26. Stingy, 27. Taser.

Down: 1. Teach, 2. Utter, 3. Beauty, 4. Solemn, 5. Evade, 6. Pulse, 10. Sonic, 11. Organ, 12. Rabbi, 13. Drawn, 16. Barely, 17. Prompt, 19. Ought, 20. Frown, 21. Tongs, 22. Occur.

Mexican on the menu with Jan Bilton

They are meals with real family appeal. Finger lickin’ good, fill-your-own fun south of the border style.

Flour tortillas are the bread of Mexico and are perfect for wrapping around fillings. If they tend to stick together, pop them in the microwave on high power for 20-30 seconds and they can be peeled apart. Tacos are corn tortillas that have been bent in half and fried until crisp.

Pork carnitas are popular street food in Mexico where the pork is submerged in lard and slow-cooked to juicy tenderness. However, most Kiwis don’t have a saucepan of lard on hand, so I used a slow cooker for my recipe. The cooked pork is shredded then pan-fried with some of the cooking liquid until a little crispy but still tender. It’s usually served in flour tortillas but is also great in sliders or on rice. Chipotle powder (pronounced ch-poht-lee) is now readily available in New Zealand supermarkets. It is prepared by smoking jalapeno chillies, which are then crushed to a rich, earthy, smoky powder. It is milder than many chilli powders but provides great depth to dishes. It can be added to soups, pasta sauces, mayo and casseroles as well as sprinkled on omelettes and smashed avo on toast.

MEXICAN CARNITAS

The pulled pork (before crisping) can be frozen in meal-lot servings. Divide the juice and place in ziplock bags to freeze with each serving.

2kg pork shoulder or leg, bone in

1 teaspoon each: salt, freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon dried oregano

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 onion, diced

1-2 green chillies, seeded and chopped

4 cloves garlic, crushed

3/4 cup fresh orange juice

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

Pat the pork dry. Remove the skin but leave the fat on. Combine the salt, pepper, oregano and cumin. Rub the mixture all over the pork.

Place in a slow cooker fat-side up. Top with the onion, chillies, crushed garlic and orange juice. Cook on high for 5-6 hours. The pork should be tender enough to shred. Remove from the slow cooker and cool slightly. Using 2 forks, shred the pork finely. Skim off the fat from the juices in the slow cooker and discard. You should have about two cups of juice. (After cooking, the pork can be cooled and refrigerated overnight. The fat is more easily removed.)

To serve, heat a little olive oil in a non-stick frying pan. Spread some of the shredded pork in the pan — don’t crowd. Cook on medium for 1 minute then add some of the juices. Cook until crispy on one side then turn to sear the other side until crisp. The pork should still be tender. Repeat until all the pork is cooked.

Serve in warm soft tortillas. Great top with shredded lettuce, diced avocado or guacamole, sliced tomatoes, diced chilli, grated cheese and/or salsa. Serves 6-8.

CHIPOTLE MEATBALLS

About 1 1/2 cups lightly crushed corn chips produce a 1/2 cup of finely crushed.

1kg lean minced beef

1/2 cup crushed corn chips

1 teaspoon each: ground chipotle, ground cumin, smoked paprika

1 clove garlic, crushed salt to taste

1/4 cup finely chopped coriander or parsley

1 egg, lightly beaten

2-3 tablespoons canola oil

Sauce: 2 x 410g cans tomato purée

1/2 cup water

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon chipotle powder

1-2 teaspoons sugar

1 small onion, diced

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Combine the meat, crushed corn chips, seasonings, garlic, herbs and egg. Roll into balls a little larger than a golf ball. Place in a medium-sized oiled roasting pan. Roll gently in the oil to coat. Baked uncovered for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan. Simmer for 3-4 minutes. Pour over the meatballs. Cover and bake for 45 minutes.

Great served with corn chips on the side, plus rice, shredded lettuce, diced avocado and sour cream. Serves 6-8.

Mexican carnitas

Chipotle meatballs

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