Te Awamutu News | June 8, 2023

Four! It’s our birthday

Where did the time go?

It was four years ago this week that the first Te Awamutu News hit the streets with a Fieldays themed front page lead.

A week later we gave an indication of things to come as we looked ahead to local body elections and reported three Waipā based residents were standing for mayor – in Waipā, Waikato and Otorohanga districts.

Our local body coverage lifted the benchmark for journalism in the Waipā district as we introduced ourselves to councillors – some of whom we suspect had never been quizzed by journalists.

Our four years have been eventful – we found some groups reluctant to speak to us for fear of offending another media outlet, then we had a battle on our hands just to get to the printer when the government began determining which publications should continue during Covid lockdown.

While our rivals went into enforced hibernation, we temporarily merged our Cambridge and Te Awamutu publications in April 2020 and didn’t miss a beat. That ensured that while government agencies struggled to accept everyone in the country did not live in digital world, our readers continued to get their news in print.

We also declined to hide our light under a bushel. On our first birthday, and in response to reader feedback, we changed the promotion line in our masthead from “Your Local Independent Paper” to “It’s a real newspaper”.

We plan to keep it that way by continuing to produce exclusive Waipā content – and as readers will have seen with the arrival of Jeremy Smith last month, we are adding reporters to our staff.

Thanks for having us - and remember, if it’s news, check our details on page 2 and get in touch.

King’s Birthday Honours Kane at your service

By Jeremy Smith

Kainga aroha means a home of love.

Te Awamutu’s Kane Rangitonga certainly felt that love while chatting with The News having been awarded a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) for services to social work and the community in the King’s Birthday Honours list announced on Monday.

His was the only name on the list with a Waipā address.

He’s been Kainga Aroha Community House manager for about a decade - and a somewhat shocked Kane is quick to make a point.

“I’m honoured, but it’s never been about me. We’re a team - a family. Nothing’s achievable without the amazing people here.

“I’m over the moon for everyone. They consistently care for, and aim to build up, a resilient, empowered community through coordinated social services.”

Kainga Aroha has about nine staff and up to 30 volunteers.

It offers financial help and support, counselling, family support services, family violence advocacy, and facilitates supervised contact. The team also runs an annual kids’ camp.

Kane’s familyand loving home life - make his work possible, he says.

He and wife Michelle have seven children and 19 grandchildren.

“I can’t do this without them. I can’t come to work

as one type of person, then go home as another. My family grounds

Born in Kopaki, south of Benneydale of Ngāti Rereahu descent, Kane grew up in Taumarunui - spending much of his childhood on his marae, Hia Kaitupeka. Kane credits that upbringing with instilling in him the principle of manaakitanga, showing care

Another key early step on the path he now walks was shifting to Wellington in the 1970s. Though a culture shock at the time, he still draws on lessons that season developed in him.

Attending Wainuiomata College, Kane captained the school’s 1st XV rugby team and was He recalls one of his teachers - Moana Jackson - as pivotal. “Moana mentored me from Year 11 to Year 13. He was my rugby coach, my Māori teacher and

Now, Kainga Aroha is the culmination of everything life has taught him, Kane says. Simply put, he’s ultimately passionate

A significant figure in sparking that aspiration was another mentor - Logan Bannister - who first encouraged him to consider social work.

“I was a solo parent for many years –and social work sounded exactly like what I’d been doing in that sphere.

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Letters…

No thanks, boyo

Having driven around Wales for many years where the road signs are in Welsh as well as English, I find it very irresponsible that New Zealand is thinking about Māori names on our road signs. We all know that a few seconds of inattention can have a devastating effect and can cause lasting pain and anguish. Tourism is one of our major industries, and expecting our visitors to understand Māori is a bridge too far. A number of them have trouble even reading English signs. Our drivers here have a lot to learn on road courtesy, and being stuck behind a carload of dithering tourists trying to decipher road signs can lead to road rage and accidents.

Terry Downey Cambridge

What’s the answer?

I’m still waiting to know why Cambridge west growth cells were allowed to go ahead, at great cost to ratepayers - and who thought it was a good idea and why. An unnecessary development has profoundly changed the dynamic and character of Cambridge. A quaint, beautiful village like town has now been rudely transformed and destroyed by our inept council into their vision, not the people’s. No public consultation has occurred, asking whether the people want this. Council’s lack of ‘honesty’ and ‘transparency’ is both plaguing and costing its ratepayers and residents. The forced growth is plaguing Cambridge with problems that are going to cost big money… not to fix, but merely come up with a manageable solution to the need for another bridge, a greater amount of waste, greater environmental impacts, less parking, greater demand on infrastructure and services and greater demand on education and health sectors.

Bernie Fynn Te Awamutu

Kane at your service

“I realised I could help other families walking that same path.”

Gaining a Bachelor of Social Sciences, Kane worked at what’s now Oranga Tamariki - for 10 years, before taking on his current role.

“Kainga Aroha is similar to organisations which supported me throughout my years as a solo parent. I’m privileged to be here.”

Outside work, Kane has a longstanding association with Te Awamutu Sports, and in particular, rugby league.

His “good mate”, Touch New Zealand CEO Joe Sprangers, helped Kane see he had experiences and skills to bring to the table as Kainga Aroha’s manager.

“He could see something bigger than myself was possible – in part, Joe made me aware that by being part of the team here, I’d be involved in impacting hundreds in our community.”

A former premier reserve coach and chairman of Te Awamutu Sports Firehawks Rugby League Club, Kane now gets a thrill watching his mokopuna - his granddaughtersplaying the game.

Looking ahead, he says Kainga Aroha will remain focussed on the “big picture”, strengthening the foundation first laid when it opened in Kihikihi in

On the beatwith Constable Ryan Fleming Our week in review

Here’s a snapshot of what police were doing over the last week

Monday - Police attended a theft of a motor vehicle, three family harms, a noninjury vehicle collision, two sudden deaths, served a trespass notice, attended a selfharm incident, recovered a stolen motor vehicle and issued a trespass notice to a female from two premises for shoplifting.

Tuesday - Attended an attempted theft of a motor vehicle, received a report of an online scam using a local address, arrested a male and female for large scale shoplifting, attended a disorder incident at a fast-food outlet and attended a non-injury crash. We also attended a number of suspicious incidents on Bond Road including a vehicle being broken into. A reminder- do not leave valuables in a vehicle.

Wednesday - Police attended a family harm incident where an assault was

reported. The male fled the scene before police arrived. A vehicle stolen from an address in Te Awamutu was later recovered after a fleeing driver incident.

Four youths were arrested and referred to youth aid. A male was trespassed for shoplifting.

Thursday - Enquiries to locate a male following Wednesday’s assault resulted in an arrest. Police also attended a non-injury motor vehicle collision and dealt with a youth involved in shoplifting.

Police attended another shoplifting incident and enquiries are ongoing. A male was processed for diving with excess breath alcohol and we dealt with two mental health incidents.

Friday - Police attended a suspicious incident at Arapuni. A breach of a restraining order was reported and is being investigated. We also dealt with a

1987.

“Most importantly, it’s about fostering strong community relationships so people feel they can come to us. Many actually do, before going anywhere else. Our door is always open, we don’t judge anyone.

“Te Awamutu is a wonderful community. When needed, others are only too happy to help - that’s a real strength.”

Letters to the Editor

• Letters should not exceed 200 words

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• No noms-de-plume

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

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

• The editor’s decision on publication is final.

family harm matter, a mental health incident and disorder at a supermarket where a person was arrested at the scene. A second person has been identified and is facing a raft of charges. A heavily intoxicated male was located by police on State Highway 3. Police also stopped a vehicle that appeared to be scoping out properties.

Saturday - A female was processed for driving with excess breath alcohol. She was almost three times over the legal limit. We also followed up an incident where a male took a raffle jug being used in a fundraiser. Police also attended four family harm incidents.

Sunday - Police attended two family harm incidents, a mental health incident and wrote an infringement notice for driver not wearing a seatbelt.

Man charged

A man who allegedly brandished a screwdriver during a fight outside Countdown Te Awamutu before ramming another vehicle with his car has turned himself into police. An altercation between the man and another person, at about 6.30pm on Friday, was witnessed by members of the public. Police have charged the man with fighting in a public place, possession of an offensive weapon, assault with a blunt instrument and reckless driving.

Annual plan update

Ratepayers will pay Waipā District Council $83.8 million in rates for the financial year starting July 1. Cambridge ward will pay $3.65 million in targeted rates which funds community boards, grants, libraries, swimming pools, museums etc, Kakepuku $295,790, Maungatautari $493,560, Pirongia $658,887 and Te Awamutu $2.1 million. The average rate increase is six per cent which puts it 0.3 per cent under a consultation trigger. The recent revaluation saw the value of large rural properties dip which will see their rates bills decrease.

Help please

Waipā District Council has asked for help from New Zealand kiwifruit growers as it reviews its District Plan rules to cope with the expansion of orchards onto pastureland. The council wants growers to tell them what challenges they face moving into Waipā including shelterbelt planting, boundary setbacks and shade cloth structures.

Website statistics

Te Awamutu College principal Tony Membery’s response to bullying issues and how it played out on social media was the best-read article on the Te Awamutu News website in May. Second was our home page followed by the police response to the college bullying allegations, our We Say about dealing with the bullying and the scam alert warning rounded out the top five.

Pokies policy poser

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā gamblers put $10.71 million into pokie machines in the 12 months ended March 31 this year.

But if history is anything to go by, only about 10 per cent of that money will return to Waipā in the form of community grants.

And there is evidence the money raised comes predominantly from the poor and goes to the rich, a report presented to Waipā District Council’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee this week says.

After intense debate, the committee agreed to go out to the community for its views on the council’s gambling policy which regulates the district’s class four gambling and TAB venues. The review is carried out every three years.

Waipā limits the number of gaming ‘pokie’ machines to 232 at 15 venues and in sites where the primary activity is not gambling. It allows existing venues to transfer their machines to a new venue, but they cannot be next to a school or licensed early childhood centre.

Class four gambling - pokies in pubs, clubs and TABs (excluding casinos) - are classified under the

Pokies make more money per machine than the average person in the district earns in a year –Problem Gambling Foundation policy advisor Kay Kristensen

Gambling Act as ‘high-risk, highturnover’.

Council staff prepared a Social Impact Assessment of Gambling in the district as part of the review and presented it to a workshop last month.

That assessment found only a tenth of the pokie money came back to the community, class four gambling was on the increase, about 22 per cent of those people experienced gambling harm and the grants system acted as a “socially regressive tax”.

Funds are raised predominantly from individuals living in more highly deprived areas and distributed to groups living in less highly deprived areas, or from the poor to the rich, the assessment found.

The top five Waipā organisations to get a share of $481,028 in community grants this year from class four gambling profits in the district are the Puahue Hall Association ($108,380), Te Awamutu Youth Development Trust ($78,706), Cambridge Jockey Club ($40,000), Waikato Water Polo

Club ($27,460) and Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust ($25,000).

At the workshop, Problem Gambling Foundation policy advisor Kay Kristensen, who lives in Cambridge, said the council had an important role in protecting its community.

Pokies make more money per machine than the average person in the district earns in a year, she said.

“With that comes associated harm,” she said.

About 16 per cent of people gambling on pokies present for counselling and the foundation had 48 people who had “self-excluded” themselves from Waipā venues, three in the last year and six in total.

“It’s a measure they have done to keep themselves safe. It’s not an easy decision for anyone to make,” said Kristensen.

“We’re concerned at the harm coming from pokies,” she said.

A recent survey showed nearly half of all gambling is done at class four venues.

The foundation called for a sinking cap – no relocations or club mergers –because there was evidence it reduced problem gambling expenditure by 13 per cent.

Just over half of the country’s 65 councils have the policy, she said.

Jarrod True from the Gaming Machine Association of New Zealand said there was no new evidence or data to justify a policy change by the council and only three new people had self-excluded themselves.

“Changing the policy would be costly and time consuming. Retaining the current policy will not result in any significant growth. There are currently no venues in very high deprivation

Where the money goes

For every $10 put into a pokie machine in Waipā, $9 is paid out in winnings. Here is where the other $1 goes.

areas,” he told the workshop.

In addition to grants made to Waipā organisations, other grants went to regional or national organisations which the district benefited from. He gave the example of grants made to St John for new ambulances.

The Department of Internal Affairs, which also presented at the workshop, confirmed that saying some of the $25 million handed out annually across New Zealand would also benefit Waipā.

“The closure of physical venues does result in an increase in online gambling,” said True.

That was obvious during Covid when online gambling went through the roof, he said.

The foundation suggested most of the 25-30 per cent increase in online gambling went to My Lotto.

Mayor Susan O’Regan said it was a moral conundrum for councillors.

“I’m very acutely aware of the damage and harm by pokies,” she said.

“(But) we benefit hugely from the funding and are able to make some great things happen with that funding.”

Staff had recommended the status quo. Councillor Clare St Pierre said she was aware consultation with Māori and the two community boards had not taken place.

“It’s pretty important to me that they have the opportunity to comment.”

Committee chair and deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk said the gambling policy was a difficult matter to think through.

“There is no doubt immense benefit but there is harm too.”

Strategy group manager Kirsty Downey will lead the informal consultation with the community and report back to the committee.

If changes to the existing policy are recommended following the informal consultation, a special consultative process will have to be done under Gambling Act provisions.

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The bank got it right

By Peter Nicholl

If there are any readers who read my fortnightly columns regularly, they will know I frequently write about the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and I am usually very critical of their actions or inaction.

This column is about the Reserve Bank’s decision regarding the Official Cash Rate on May 24. I think this time they got both their decision and their projections right.

What did the Reserve Bank say and do? First, they raised the cash rate by 25 basis points to 5.5%. That had been widely expected, though there were some who thought they would raise the cash rate by 50 points. Second, they said that was probably going to be as high as the cash rate goes. That had not been expected.

The release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for the year to June 2023 on July 19 will be a key moment. If the CPI continues to ease down from its March level of 6.8%, the Reserve Bank will leave the cash rate at 5.5%. If the CPI reductions stall or reverse, the Reserve Bank is very likely to press the cash rate brake again. Prior to the Reserve Bank’s recent statement, many commentators had predicted the cash rate would peak at 6% and many still have that view even after the Reserve Bank saying 5.5% will be the cash rate’s peak.

Third, the Reserve Bank said people should not expect the cash rate to start coming down quickly as it was likely to stay at the 5.5% level for ‘the foreseeable future’. That too had been expected. Based on the Reserve Bank’s projections, their foreseeable future is to the middle of next year. Their projections have the cash rate beginning to come down in late 2024 as the inflation rate

Listen and learn

By Christine Bryant, Lay Minister, St John’s Anglican Church

moved back towards the top of their target level of 1-3%.

There are a few optimistic commentators who think the Reserve Bank will start cutting the cash rate earlier than that.

I doubt it. The Reserve Bank will move the cash rate down cautiously as the last thing they want to do is to move it too soon and have to go into reverse if inflation proves to be sticky or starts to rise again.

While employment is still above its maximum sustainable level, the Reserve Bank says there are signs that labour shortages are easing. A high level of immigration has been a major contributor to this.

Businesses are now reporting that a lack of demand rather than labour shortages is the main constraint on their activity.

There was considerable media comment after the 2023 Budget that fiscal policy and monetary policy were pulling the economy in opposite directions – one foot on the accelerator and one on the brake.

But Governor Adrian Orr in a press conference denied that government spending was hindering the Reserve Bank’s efforts to cool inflation. He described fiscal policy as ‘more of a friend than a foe’.

The Reserve Bank does accept that the 2023 Budget will add to demand over the next year but fiscal policy is projected to dampen demand in subsequent years.

Of course, subsequent years will be the other side of the forthcoming election, so these projections are not much more than guesses.

A couple of weeks ago a group from St John’s Church had the privilege of being welcomed onto Parawera Marae. We were included as manuhiri with members of Te Pāriha o Rangiaowhia, the Māori parish based at St Paul’s Church, Rangiaowhia.

After a church service during which Rev Cruz Karaiti-Fox moved seamlessly between Te Reo and English, we shared kai with the people of Parawera.

The rest of the afternoon was spent on a mini-hikoi, retracing the steps of King Tawhiao from Parawera to Maungakawa.

King Tawhiao established Te Kauhanganui (Kingitanga Parliament) there in 1890 because, after the land confiscations, there was little trust in the Pākehā parliament in Wellington.

At each stop on the hikoi, Matua Hoani described the site and how it would have looked in the 1880s, explained what had happened and why.

A very patient guide, he answered all our questions thoughtfully. We all learnt quite a lot more about the rich, but troubled history of this part of the Waipā.

The timing of this experience, one week before the Festival of Pentecost, was especially fortunate.

The story of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, is told in Acts 2. It is a story of the value of unity forged from diversity.

Fifty days after Easter, the disciples of Jesus were together, when a powerful wind and tongues of fire came and rested on each one of them. Suddenly they found themselves speaking in languages they did not know to people who had come to Jerusalem from every part of the known

world. Everyone listening was amazed to hear the same message about Jesus in their own language. All could understand what was being said.

The lesson for Christians is that the power of the Holy Spirit as seen at Pentecost is available to all believers. However, in this story there is still an important message around the power of communication. It’s about breaking down barriers and finding ways to understand and connect with one another, no matter our background, language or culture.

In a world marked by increasing focus on the individual, where communication is dominated by social media, measured in 30-second Tik Tok videos or 140 Twitter characters, it is more important than ever to work towards shared understanding. Is this easy? By no means – at times it requires some effort to achieve this.

We need to realise that understanding is a two-way street, requiring both speaking and listening. Instead of talking past each other on email, Facebook or Instagram, we should take time to engage at a deeper level.

Whether we are debating the challenges of our times: climate change, social justice or faith, let us speak, not to have the last word but to share ideas; let us listen, not to refute an entrenched position but to learn. Let us

Te Pahu students convey success

By Jeremy Smith

A team of Te Pahu school students has engineered some top results on the national stage at this year’s EPro8 Challenge.

At the grand finals of the annual inter-school science and engineering competition Year 5 and 6 Te Pahu students Ava Sawyer, Mila Young, Hunter Robson and Evander Almao placed eighth overall in their competition category.

Designed to promote problem solving, the challenge attracts more than 25,000 students nationwide as it runs its course.

There are three other age ranges - Year 7-8, Year 9-10 and Year 11-13.

The event culminated in the Rotorua-based national finals at the end of May.

Te Pahu students were set the task of designing a conveyor belt that transported, washed, dried, counted and then packed apples, making them ready to be delivered.

Adults were not allowed to help throughout the challenge, and the assignment had to be finished within a predetermined time frame.

Te Pahu School principal Meegan Dunn was brimming with pride when speaking with The News about the results.

“As a school, our vision is to demonstrate that attitude determines altitude - inspiring our students to give their very best in all they do,” she said.

“And I think these four are amazing examples of working towards a goal, while at the same time expanding their minds and taking on a challenge.”

The EPro8 Challenge starts with an event teachers run in their own school.

Then, the top teams from each internal event qualify for the inter-school heats.

The event covered four zones - Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Waikato/Bay of Plenty – and each heat featured 12 teams.

Top teams then qualified for Rotorua’s national final, held at Mokoia Intermediate School.

Situated on the northern side of Mt Pirongia, Te Pahu School has just over 100 students on its roll.

“The national result is a huge achievement for our little school because even the journey to get to the finals was amazing,” Megan said.

“Ava, Mila, Hunter and Evander worked so well together throughout. We absolutely have to congratulate our budding young scientists and engineers.”

Te Pahu School’s EPro8 Challenge team - from left Ava Sawyer, Evander Almao, Mila Young and Hunter Robson.

Queue for road rage

Police are being updated about road rage incidents which has seen workers on a Waka Kotahi project being abused and threatened.

The abuse has been aimed at Fletcher Construction staff and subcontractors carrying out work on the Waikato Expressway between Horotiu and Taupiri.

Motorists have spat on workers, approached and verbally abused them.

Following incidents there Fletcher Construction has been speaking with police.

Late last month driver took their vehicles into work areas to avoid queuing, Jo Wilton, Waka Kotahi Regional Manager for Infrastructure Delivery said.

There had been a recent escalation in abusive behaviour towards roadworkers.

“These actions are putting road workers at risk and that is simply unacceptable,” says Ms Wilton.

“At times there are 20 or more people working on this project site – and most of them live local.

“They are your neighbours, your community, your people.”

The stretch of road has caused problems for the roading agency since it opened in 2013 and it has been carrying out ingoing remedial work there for months.

Conserving our reo

The Māori language is one of our three national languages.

More, Aotearoa/New Zealand is its place of birth, where it has been nurtured since human beings first came into this space. It is where its very survival is dependent on the citizens of Aotearoa/New Zealand recognising it as a birth-right of their’s as New Zealanders and taking a responsibility for it.

Just as ardent conservationists have worked tirelessly for the preservation of native species of flora and fauna, and challenged others to support their efforts, so too should we accord that same consideration to the Māori language. Other immigrants and descendants of immigrants also have the right to preserve their languages. But their languages come from elsewhere.

Should the Māori language die here, it is dead to the world.

In 1972 I was a part of a group of people who petitioned Parliament that the Māori language be taught in schools in a bid to assist in the survival of the Māori language. Research from the New Zealand Council for Educational Research under the leadership of Dr Richard Benton – a self-confessed ‘Pākehā’ with no Māori whakapapa - revealed the

SHOES WITH A

By Tom Roa, Tikanga Advisor, Waikato University

plight of the language and the expectation that within a few generations there would be no native speakers of the language, it would effectively be dead.

In seeking signatures for that petition we met with the full gamut of responses from actual physical violence through to an encouragement for us as petitioners, with offers to help with the petition and more.

The actual papers of the petition are kept in the archives of The National Library in Wellington. Signatories were asked to indicate whether they had Māori whakapapa. Many who have visited those archives have commented on their surprise at the thousands of signatories who had no Māori whakapapa.

More than 50 years later I am not surprised at the negative response from a number of quarters to the announcement of a public consultation of the intention to dispay bilingual Māori-English signage on our roads.

I am privileged to be one of the members of Transport NZ’s ‘Pae Whakamāori’, the group of Māori language experts invited to translate the signage.

Bilingual signage features in other countries like Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Canada where there is a clear and strong

ON SHAKY GROUND

commitment to the survival of local languages.

Having consulted with a number of those other countries, Transport NZ/ Waka Kotahi and Te Mātawai have considered very carefully the safety of road users. The logic of the negative feedback is very difficult to fathom in the light of this international research which shows there is no evidence of bilingual signage confusing or causing a risk to the safety of the road user.

Perhaps it might be considered too costly? To me that would be the only thing that might make sense, as of course there is a cost to be met.

Or perhaps it is because in the guise of following an apparent logical reasoning, the negativity is not because of the bilingualism of the signage but because it is Māori? If so, surely that should be challenged. It is not unusual for one to carry a negative bias without recognising that it is a bias and that it is negative.

This too should be challenged. And from those challenges one should own his/her bias, recognising it for what it is; and if it is negative, to address the negativity of it and its integrity.

Tsunamis in New Zealand

In December 2018 he stood on the beach in the Sunda Straight, photographing Anak Krakatau, between Java and Sumatra, in the distance. Everything on the horizon had oddly gone dark and the orange glow of the erupting volcano was no longer visible. An “odd incoming wave” larger than the rest rushed onshore towards him. This was enough to trigger a feeling that something was wrong. He ran.

This quick thinking saved Øystein’s life and I still shudder thinking of my conversation with him after the event. While he was watching from 47 km away, the cone of the famous volcano had collapsed into the sea, triggering a tsunami. That first small wave was the beginning of the tsunami sequence. Over 430 people died along the shorelines around the straight that night. We are fortunate to have tsunami warning systems in place, but they work for events triggered much further away. When you are at the beach, your warning signs include any long or strong earthquakes, the water going out more than usual (but not always),

or the water looking really rough, also described as the water looking like it is boiling. It is rarely the big, tall wave we see in movies, and within this series of waves the first may not be the biggest. This isn’t just like the gentle tide coming in, it is powerful. You can’t stand up in it. Once it travels inland it can pick up all sorts of objects, making them dangerous, and throw objects and people into buildings or other immovable things. It can also drag objects back out to sea.

Tsunamis can be triggered by processes including earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, meteorite impacts, and sometimes atmospheric events. How far away a tsunami begins is important for what kind of warning we get, if we get one. In the case of an earthquake close to our shores, the earthquake is the warning. Do not wait for an official alert.

Since the 1840s at least 70 tsunamis have reached New Zealand, some began as far away as Alaska. I am working on updating our records for the most recent events, including

By Janine Krippner

the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption tsunami. Most historical tsunamis have been pretty small here, but every small tsunami is a chance to solidify in our minds what we will do when a larger one hits.

When I am at the beach I always look for where I could go if a long, strong earthquake happened, or if a tsunami alert was sent out. It’s important to note that the beach you are at might not have a tsunami siren. What routes lead to higher ground? How would you get there? Keep in mind that traffic might leave you and your car stuck, so a bike or on foot will likely be your best options. At some beaches you will see signs that include information like evacuation zones, always check these out.

Quick actions can save you, your family, and those around you. Often as humans in a crisis we look to those around us before acting. Know the signs, know where to go, and be the person who takes decisive action.

Quarries – where they are in Waipā

The News reported last week on an application to establish a large quarry on the eastern outskirts of Cambridge.

The application from RS Sand Ltd is expected to meet with opposition from groups and individuals concerned at the impact it will have on the district – it will see up to 400 truck movements a day through the town.

Waipā already has 23 consented quarries operating within the district.

The News asked the Waipā District Council for the list and whether it could provide details of how long the consents were for each of the quarries.

The council provided the list

but said substantial time would be needed to review all of the consents to provide their duration.

The quarry consents are:

Cambridge

59 Parallel Road, RD 3 (Sandwashing) - establish portable washing plant existing quarry.

Norwegian Road, RD 3 (Brown stone) - to operate a metal quarry.

3831 Cambridge Road - sand washing/screening and extend quarry.

75 Parallel Road, RD 3 - quarry extension.

253 Whitehall Road - quarry extensions - Winstone Aggregates Ltd.

720 Taotaoroa Road - Store indoor and outdoor stockpiles of bulk

materials, deposit and/or recontour cleanfill materials, and establish and operate a bitumen plan - Taotaoroa

Quarry

1/72 Aspin Road, RD 4 (Sand & Pumice) - Expansion to quarry.

Cambridge Road, RD 3 (Sand)Extension to sand quarry - Valley Sand Supplies

1716 Cambridge Road, RD 3 (Sand) - Extract up to 14025m2 from existing sand quarry - St Peters School.

928 Kaipaki Road, RD 3 (Sand)

- Establishment and operation of a mineral extraction activity (sand quarry).

Hamilton Airport

284 Airport Road, RD 2 (Sand)Sand pit/quarry.

86 Airport Road, RD 2 (Sand) –quarry. Ōhaupō

984 Kakaramea Road, RD 2 (Sand) quarry.

452 Old School Road, RD 2. (Sand) - Expansion of existing sand quarry operation and an overburden filling operation

62 Cochrane Road, RD 2 (Sand)Expand sand quarry (Stage 7) New Lot 2 DP 457699 (SP/0111/12).

Kakaramea Road, RD 2Undertake mineral extraction activity, concurrent earthworks & clean fill activities.

1/1 Hams Road, RD 3 (Sand)Establish and operate a sand quarry and associated cleanfilling activity.

Pukeatua

2505 Arapuni Road, RD 1 (Sand / River gravels) - Undertake quarry activities (sand and gravel extraction) and to import clean-fill to site.

Te Awamutu

1653 Arapuni Road, RD 2 (Rock) – quarry.

531 Parklands Road, RD 1Operate a quarry

530 Pirongia Road (Sand)Establish and operate a mineral extraction and cleanfill activity.

Te Pahu Wright Road, RD 5 - Undertake a mineral extraction activity in the Rural Zone.

199 Fillery Road, RD 5 (Lime)Re-establish and operate existing lime quarry in the Rural Zone.

This quarry at 3831 Cambridge Road is owned by Shaw’s Property Holdings Ltd and operated by Revital. Its consent expires on December 31, 2035. The quarry can be seen from across the Waikato River on the Te Awa River Ride between the Gaslight Theatre and the Velodrome. This photo was taken from the St Peter’s residential subdivision.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

TE AWAMUTU Spotlight on

It’s concert time…

Musician Jonathan Dunlop will present an unusual concert in Te Awamutu on Sunday – one that centres on his doctoral study topic of ‘Expressive Pedalling Techniques in Late Classical and Early Romantic Piano Performance’.

Jonathan is already familiar to Te Awamutu audiences, having spent the past few years doing competitions classes. He is now studying under Katherine Austin at the Waikato University Conservatorium of Music.

Gill Johnstone –Celebrant

Could I be the celebrant for you?

I’m forever the optimist and my cup is always half full… actually, it’s nearly always overflowing. If you’re looking for someone positive, who loves and enjoys life, will work with you to develop a ceremony that reflects your personalities, tell your story, and will truly make this a day to remember for all the right reasons, then we should talk.

Masons Garden Centre

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Whether it be trees for stock shelters on farms, succulents and grasses for the modern garden, citrus trees and vegetables for the family to enjoy, or flowering plants and trees for your visual sensory pleasure: we have something for everyone! Together we will make it great.

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If you do know Murray Hunt Furnishers and have visited us before, you’ll always find something new as we constantly seek the latest and best products to include in our range.

MASONS GARDEN CENTRE & GIFTSHOP

We pride ourselves on providing people with experienced advice, quality and affordable plants, garden products and gifts that will suit everyone’s needs.

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He plays a variety of historic keyboards, including harpsichord, clavichord, organ and fortepiano, and has performed on the harpsichord in ensembles in Auckland and Waikato. He is also an alumna of the New Zealand Opera School, and most recently joined the Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio team as a Performance Fellow. Sunday’s concert, at St John’s Anglican Church, will focus on the different musical sounds offered through the use of special expressive pedalling techniques.

Ukuleles cap music month

Ukulele players from around the region gathered in Te Awamutu late last month to enjoy a jam session marking the final days of New Zealand Music Month.

The event was organised by Waipā District Council outreach librarian Dee Atkinson

Here at Masons Garden Centre and Giftshop we pride ourselves on providing people with experienced advice, quality and affordable plants, garden products and Gifts that will suit everyone’s needs.

We aim to fulfil your dreams and supply you with a comprehensive range of quality and value for money products, suitable for all your requirements that will meet all your expectations and more. It is our mission to provide professional and friendly service that exceeds customer expectations.

Accompanying throughout the jam session was Hamilton’s ‘Possum’ Allen, who plays regularly with different groups throughout the region. His adapted washboard has multiple additions, including bells, wooden spoons and whistles.

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and held outside the Te Awamutu Library in Selwyn Park. Participating groups were the Kihikihi Ukulele Club, the Cambridge-based Riverside Ukes and their offshoot foursome ‘Raw Talent’, and the Morrinsville Ukes.

• See more pics at cambridgenews.nz

Raw Talent – an offshoot of Cambridge’s Riverside Ukes – are, from left, Tony Hill, Chris Follett, Hilary WilsonHill and John Worth.

Peter Nicholl, left, is a regular columnist with Cambridge News and Te Awamutu News. He is also a member of Riverside Ukes, and is seen here playing with fellow Riversider, Archie Griffin.

PHOTO: Brodie Hewlett, left, with mother Bev Cooper

PHOTO: Myra Fitzgerald, left, and Nicky Mason, at the popular Masons Giftware and Garden Centre.

Gardens fee: neighbours fume

By Mary Anne Gill

Some Waipā and Waikato district residents have reacted angrily to news they will be paying $20 to visit the enclosed and themed areas of Hamilton Gardens from next month.

Hamilton City Council made the decision last week to cover the costs of maintaining the world-renowned gardens, arguably Waikato’s biggest tourism attraction.

City residents will continue to be able to go into the gardens for free through use of a Hamilton Card.

Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan told The News her council funded or part-funded facilities which non-residents, including those from Hamilton, used too.

She listed boat ramps, the Velodrome and swimming pools.

“However, I think this is probably the case for all councils so we’re not alone in that.”

Former Novotel Tainui and Ibis Tainui general manager Dick Breukink, who lives in Cambridge but has spent most of his working life in Hamilton, said he always promote the gardens.

“I have invited numerous groups to visit the Hamilton Gardens and they loved it. Not because it was free, but because it is beautiful.”

Now, because he lives in Waipā, he must pay.

“If it would be a reasonable rate, it would be fine, but take a family of four for $80, that doesn’t fit in the cost of living environment. Totally get it that you have to cover costs, but a fee of $5 to $8 per person, would have been far more affordable,” he told Hamilton

deputy mayor Angela O’Leary in a social media post.

Mark de Graaf, in the same forum, asked about those who lives just outside the Hamilton boundary in places like Matangi and Tamahere, which is part of the Waikato district.

“They are considerably closer to the gardens than those living in Rototuna and contribute directly to the Hillcrest economy.”

Other neighbouring out of towners said the gardens would now be off their outing lists.

O’Leary told them Hamilton council would contact Waipā and Waikato councils to see if they would contribute to the gardens to give their residents access.

“It will be up to your councillors whether they think there is value for their constituents,” she said.

O’Regan said her council had not heard from its Hamilton counterparts yet.

“Nor would we expect them to. Individual councils decide for themselves how they wish to fund assets and Hamilton has done that –that’s their job,” she said.

Confidence levels drop

By Mary Anne Gill

A quarter of the 360 respondents to a Waikato business sentiment survey, which showed a material drop in confidence across the region, came from Waipā.

Roads, health and housing were the clear infrastructure priorities, Waikato Regional Economic Development Agency (Te Waka) chief executive Fiona Carrick told Waipā District Council’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee this week.

Health, inflation/cost of living, crime, education and

skill shortages were the top five priorities overall.

Te Waka is a business-led and governed organisation established to drive economic growth in the region. Ten territorial authorities plus Waikato Regional Council fund the organisation.

Waipā’s portion is $50,000 per year. It costs the region $2 for each person to fund Te Waka whereas nationally most similar organisations work on $19 a head.

Carrick, who lives in Waipā and is a Home of Cycling Charitable Trust (Velodrome) trustee, has been

AERIAL DRONE SURVEY

We’ll be carrying out an aerial drone survey of our network power lines over the next few months.

From April until August 2023 we will be surveying power lines across the Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Kāwhia areas.

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chief executive since July last year.

Te Waka is focussed on long-term industry growth and efficiently generates value for the region, she told the committee.

The survey of 360 businesses showed 46 per cent of Waikato businesses were seeking to grow moderately while 33 per cent intended to stay the same.

Nine per cent were seeking to expand significantly, up on the six per cent on a similar survey six months ago.

New Zealand’s free trade agreement with the United

Kingdom, which came into force at the end of last month, had “instantly” reduced costs for Waipā and ongoing engagement would help improve the district’s economic performance, she said.

Waikato is expected to have the largest population growth of all New Zealand regions in the next seven years while it saw the second-highest net internal migration in the year to June 2022.

Its economy grew by five per cent last year.

Waikato’s proximity to

both major ports – Auckland and Tauranga – gave it supply chain resilience.

Carrick said the areas of growth and opportunity for Waikato came in logistics and distribution, agriculture, food and energy and advanced manufacturing and technology.

“Our role is to improve the economic performance of the region,” she said.

Committee chair Liz Stolwyk said the work Te Waka was doing was going “unnoticed and undervalued”.

“You’ve brought a lot of

people together. Connecting us all together is not always easy,” she said.

Waipā residents will have to pay to see Te Parapara at the gardens. Photo: Hamilton & Waikato Tourism

Fiona Carrick

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THE FIVE CROWNS OF OKRITH, BOOK #3

The Rogue Crown

by AK Mulford

The action moves west in the third instalment of A.K. Mulford’s swashbuckling, swoonworthy epic fantasy series, the Five Crowns of Okrith, as young fae warrior Bri investigates the murder of her queen while protecting the beautiful princess she just might be falling for…

Determined to unmask the truth behind her queen’s murder, Briata Catullus sets out to defeat the witch hunters and keep her princess from their clutches. But when she arrives at the Western Court, things are even worse than she feared among the fae. She is greeted by secret plots and scheming courtiers, an inconvenient prophecy and a princess who does not wish to be saved by any one, much less Bri. However, as the threat of the witch hunters grows, the two find they must work together if they want to survive. But Bri is determined to forge her own path and not allow for distraction – even if that distraction happens to be a princess.

Bri has a duty to the crown, a duty to the Western Court, and a duty to her destiny to fulfil…but what about the duty to her heart?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A.K. MULFORD is a bestselling fantasy author and former wildlife biologist who swapped rehabilitating monkeys for writing novels.

She/they are inspired to create diverse stories that transport readers to new realms, making them fall in love with fantasy for the first time or all over again. She now lives in New Zealand with her husband and two young human primates, creating loveable fantasy characters and making ridiculous TikToks (@akmulfordauthor).

CountryLife

Today in Paterangi…

By Jeremy Smith

Twice a week, it’s lights, camera, action for Paterangi farm manager Andrew Macky - and thousands seeking a glimpse of New Zealand farm life are there watching him.

Last Friday - as he would normally upload the second of two weekly videos, or vlogs, to his YouTube channel -The Once A Day FarmerThe News was there.

Three years after starting it, about 23,500 people subscribe.

Andrew regularly getting 13,000 viewers and estimates 80 percent are watching from overseas.

When Andrew told his wife, Holly, he wanted to film vlogs, “...go for it,” was her response.

“I wanted to share what I’m doing, interact with people and promote positive dairying.”

Committing to such a schedule requires a “staggering” amount of work from the 2022 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year.

“It’s crazy it’s been that long - it’s very challenging, yet rewarding. Who knows how long I’ll do it, but I do enjoy it.”

Editing a typical video takes up to three hours.

“It takes a little longer to get through other jobs on the list on video days.”

Viewers tune in for a modern-day glimpse at Macky family life – but the family’s Paterangi history is also a compelling story.

The Macky family’s been in Paterangi for 150 years.

Andrew’s great-grandfather bought the farm in 1912. Subsequent generations have farmed it.

“Back then, they wanted to be here so the kids, including my grandfather, were closer to the then Ngaroto train station.

“It’s not there anymore, but as the story goes, the would ride their horses there, leave them in the paddock, catch the train to school for the week then return on Fridays.”

It’s Andrew’s fifth season managing the farm for his father William.

“I love getting to work with him, and being outside with animals is fantastic.”

Though he’s had other jobs around New Zealand, and the world, home has always been calling.

After gaining his Farm Management Diploma from Lincoln University,

he went shepherding for three years.

He’s been an agricultural contractor both here in New Zealand and in the American Midwest, and worked on a dairy farm in Scotland.

He and Holly relish raising their

three children - Willie, 4, Frankie, 2, and nine-month-old Tayla where Andrew spent his childhood.

“It’s a wonderful place to watch them grow up.”

Next season, Andrew and William will milk nearly 300 cows once a day on roughly 93 effective hectares.

“The once a day system works well - and makes a lot of sensein our case. It gives us a good mix between family life and farm work.” Stewarding the environment well is a key on-farm passion too.

After winning the Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year title last year, Andrew became a DairyNZ dairy environment leader - and part of a nationwide network of environmentally conscious farmers.

“One of my biggest goals is to consistently take intentional steps towards a sustainable environmental future.

“One day - if one of the kids wanted to farm here - I’d want them to take over an already well cared for, sustainable environment.”

Soon, Andrew will establish native plants on roughly 1.2 hectares of the farm.

“The environment is incredibly important. As a dairy environment leader, I would encourage others to join.

“As we’re each environmentally active within our own farming communities, we will all collectively be doing our bit to help.”

Future generations are, in fact, already watching Andrew it seems. “Young kids message me saying watching my vlogs makes them want to farm.

“Kiwis are the world’s best dairy farmers - hopefully the videos showcase that for everyone to see.”

Paterangi farmer Andrew Macky says hello, once again, to his nearly 24,000 YouTube subscribers in another video last Friday.

Diversification – more than

By Heather Carston

Raw milk, cheese, lavender, kiwifruit, truffles, and tea alongside cows, beef and sheep – the diversification of Waipā farms is emerging as a necessary strategy for farmers.

The region, which is a good part of the 1.3 million hectares of Waikato’s agricultural land, is known to have a significantly higher proportion of quality soil than most other areas of New Zealand, providing a springboard in the past for financially lucrative side hustles.

These are turning into main money makers as traditional dairy, and sheep and beef farming operations financially flatline because of increasing regulatory costs, often running into the millions of dollars, begin to bite at its sustainability.

Waikato Regional councillor Stu Kneebone says the council has been aware for some time of the need to focus on diversification and what that could mean within the environmental regulatory framework.

“People looking at diversification need

to demonstrate what contaminant production will be – for example, a dairy farmer might decide to turn 20 acres into a sheep milking operation – which has a lot less potential environmental contamination than if a sheep farm was reverted to dairy. What you create as a new part of operations has

to be less than what it was,” he says.

“The council has developed a strategic direction designed to enable growth and productivity actively, while having a desired minimal bureaucracy involvement.”

He admits that’s easier said than done.

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“We do need to make sure the regulatory framework gives investment confidence.”

“At the same time, it’s not a bad idea to encourage farmers, who, for example, might be looking at a cowshed that needs replacing, come to us with the view of “do I spend a million dollars on this, or are their other [land use] options?” and we can show them what’s being done or developed that may create other options for them,” he says. This coupled with the changing dynamics of the global agricultural sector, and growing concerns about environmental long term health, have prompted farmers to explore new avenues for diversification, while at the same time, keeping an eye on potentially problematic regulatory Land Use changes.

PGG Wrightson North Island manager Camron Meade said in a recent article many farmers were 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 said.

“For those with smaller farms, that might need capital investment for say, a new milk shed or envirorequired 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.”

Environmental sustainability is the driving force behind diversification efforts.

Concerns about water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient runoff have prompted the change. For instance, some dairy farmers have diversified into growing crops for silage, hay, or organic produce. By incorporating these crops into their farming systems, they reduce their reliance on imported animal feed, and minimise their environmental footprint. Another area of diversification gaining momentum in Waikato is the production of value-added dairy products. Rather than solely focusing on raw milk production, farmers are venturing into the processing and manufacturing of

dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, butter, and ice cream. This move allows them to capture a greater share of the value chain, thereby increasing profitability. Moreover, it enables farmers to capitalise on the growing demand for high-quality, locally produced dairy products. Farmers are also exploring opportunities to grow fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops alongside their dairy operations. This diversification offers the potential for better land and nutrient management practices while contributing to regional food security,

Barbara Kuriger

Stu Kneebone

reducing the region’s reliance on imported produce, especially as urban growth in South Auckland’s lower reaches continues to creep into traditional cropgrowing areas. Kiwifruit for example, traditionally a Bay of Plenty product is now finding a strong foothold in the Te Awamutu, Pirongia and Ōhaupō areas.

As long as farmers can show the environmental impact through contaminants is not greater than it was before, Stu Kneebone says there should be no issues when it comes to Land Use Changes regulations, although he admits the permissions framework being worked on in Plan Change 1 (PC1) is still to be fully formalised as it makes its way through court.

The adoption of innovative technologies has also played a crucial role in facilitating diversification on farms. From precision agriculture, robotic milking systems, and advanced data analytics to improve operational efficiency and get around the complexities of a flagging labour market, these technologies help make informed decisions,

optimise resource allocation, and identify niche markets for diversified products.

King Country-Taranaki MP and dairy farmer

Barbara Kuriger says she understands the need for diversification and thinks it’s a good idea.

“Farmers these days spend 25 per cent to 30 per cent of their time filling out required paperwork.

“What we need to do is work

similar to a successful model I’ve seen in Southland; where [a local group administer] their catchment area, look at what is being farmed or grown working alongside the basic things we do need to do such as [legislating for] fresh water and environmental impacts while sorting out the land use to best fit their situations.

“There’s too many

A must for survival

“Everyone is exploring it,”

Federated Farmers Waikato president Keith Holmes said when asked about farm diversification.

“The rank-and-file farmers are desperate for cashflow.

Even with a good milk solids payout, it’s not enough and it’s the number one reason why everyone is looking into it.”

He says the reality is the ‘bread and butter’ of farming just isn’t paying its way.

“It’s really concerning – we would not need the Rural Trust Support if farmers had enough put away; some are starving.”

He believes bureaucrats have a lot to answer for.

“They’ve imposed draconian legislation and regulations – and the Waikato Regional Council has to administer those. They are pushing farmers to the limit – and that’s why we see members looking at milking sheep or deer for example.”

complications – we should be looking at what is complementary and what is contradictory, and working towards best outcomes. Unfortunately, these regulations are a one-sizefits-all – and that doesn’t work,” she says. “People need to be able to sit around a table in their own catchment areas and decide what works for them.”

“PC1 [Plan Change 1] is a big thing; it’s been in the embryonic stages for the past 14 or 15 years and it’s a very prescriptive way of managing land use. To be quite honest, we are all shitting ourselves.”

What PC1 will mean in terms of that, he says, is people will be told they can’t grow lavender here, or tea there for example, and that they have to destock/reduce their livestock numbers, reduce fertiliser and agri-chemical use along with all the other regulations and changes that are quite simply, costing farms their actual sustainability.

“People need to remember agriculture provides 85% of our exports – what’s the alternative if that falls over? How are we going to fund schools, hospitals, roads? It’s economic suicide.”

Camron Meade

Keith Holmes

FENCING

Nurturing nature

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Stephen Risi is encouraging other farmers to get involved in community planting projects after partnering with A waipa school to improve a stream on his farm.

“They’re well worth it,” he said.

“Get hold of Trees for Survival if you have a place you want to plant and work with your local schools or Fonterra. It doesn’t have to be so expensive; they’re often looking for places to plant these trees.”

Risi and his wife Raewyn have been working with Cambridge High School to restore a 1km stretch of stream flowing through their 180-hectare dairy farm, which lies near the foot of Maungatautari, since last year.

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The school had been growing native seedlings, donated by the Trees for Survival trust, in its nursery and needed somewhere to plant them.

The Risi’s 340-cow farm was perfect – close to town and easily accessible.

Risi donated his time to prepare the stream site, spending a day on his digger reshaping the banks to create a much gentler gradient down to the water and allow more capacity in the channel.

“It used to be a straight bank straight to the stream and every time it flooded a bit more would fall into the stream,” he said.

“Now, when it does flood, the plants actually lie down and form a barrier between the water and the earth so that actually stops the water eroding the earth.”

The stream flows into Lake Karapiro, which will be a little cleaner with the new plants sieving out pollutants and reducing soil erosion.

“Everybody who lives downstream will benefit, everybody who uses the lake will

benefit,” Risi said.

“There’ll be more wildlife, more native birds here, then you’ll get a few more eels in the creek, freshwater crayfish, that sort of stuff.”

Cambridge High students completed the first planting phase last year, sinking about 800 native trees and shrubs into the soil.

“Those trees are now waist-height and doing really well. We probably had about 95 per cent survive.”

Another 900 plants have just been added in phase two.

For the four classes of year 9 students involved this year, it was a chance to get some fresh air and sunshine, squelch in the mud, and have the science around riparian planting really sink in and take root – all while doing something positive for their community.

Neve Woodhams had never planted a tree before – now she’s a dab hand at it.

The 13-year-old teamed up with her classmate Shavaun McCarthy to plant dozens of native trees and shrubs including flaxes, cabbage trees and manuka along the stream banks.

The pair said they would definitely consider volunteering for community tree planting projects in future.

Cambridge High School science teacher Karen Hughes said the stream was home to a diverse ecosystem.

“Last year we had students going through rotations looking at the invertebrates in the water and they were amazed at how many different things were living in the stream, even though it’s only 20cm deep,” she said. Risi, whose daughter Sophie is in year 10 at Cambridge High, has enjoyed being involved in a project that had helped grow the students’ knowledge.

Joel Watson gets a hand with planting from farmer Stephen Risi.

Facts at Fieldays

By Stu Kneebone, Waipa Reegional Councillor

Waikato Regional Council will be at Fieldays again this year in the Mystery Creek Pavilion. We are sited on the same two adjoining sites -PE 36 and PE 38 - that we have had in previous years.

Helping farmers understand the likely requirements of the pending Freshwater Farm Plan regulations is one of our focus areas, and I would encourage all farmers to call by and take the opportunity to get up to speed. Plan Change 1 (Waikato/ Waipa catchments) will likely be operative in approximately 12 months. The Ministry for the Environment) has chosen Waikato and Southland as the two regions where the National Freshwater Farm Plan regulations will “turn on” first, which at this stage means no later than December 31, 2025. This means most of the region’s farms will be required to operate under a certified Freshwater Farm Plan, impacting approximately 9200 farms in the Waikato.

These regulations will “turn on” later this year, hopefully with a staged roll out across the Waikato. Its important to understand where your farm operation fits into this staged implementation, as these plans are mandatory.

Nitrates in water. If you have a groundwater supply for your property, we will have staff from GNS on our site providing testing for nitrate levels in bore water. You can either bring a sample with you or take a free testing kit home.

Winter is of course the ideal time for planting trees, so if you are after some ideas and/ or advice about riparian or erosion control planting projects, there will be plenty of information and fact sheets to take

home. Our catchment management staff will be on site to talk though any plans you might have and can provide any advice or help you might need. We are also able provide assistance in a range of different ways depending on the project and where in the catchment it is. This is also about showcasing to our urban cousins the good stuff farmers are doing to improve the environment.

We will have plant and animal pest staff on site, with a focus feature on Kauri Dieback. We have a really cool virtual reality experience that demonstrates the work that goes on to protect this iconic species.

New weed incursions are becoming increasingly challenging for all of us, and it’s never been more important to ensure you are able to correctly identify problem weeds when you see them. As in previous years, we’ll have identification guides, and information on how to go about controlling the various weed and animal pests present in the region.

A range of factsheets, booklets and handouts will also be available on all this stuff, and free to take away.

And remember that there is a free bus service to the Fieldays for those with a pre-purchased ticket.

The buses will run every half hour from Cambridge (Cambridge BMX Club, corner of Milton and Lamb Street) and Te Awamutu (i Site, Gorst Avenue).

The buses will operate every 30 minutes between 7am and 11am to Fieldays and between 1pm and 5.30pm to come home. For details visit www.busit.co.nz

Time to plant

Arohena School students Maggie Taylor (left) and Quinn Te Brake were pictured enjoying planting trees in the rain recently. After spending a year learning about protecting the environment, school students and whanau put their knowledge into practice, planting 1000 native plants at nearby Huirimu farm.

Feds say no to fert tax

Federated Farmers Dairy Industry Chairperson Wayne Langford says the organisation will not support “another tax on farmers”.

He was responding to reports that the Government is considering a fertiliser tax on farmers of around $150 a tonne of urea as a way to reduce agricultural emissions.

“Feds are still committed to working towards a cost-effective and practical solution for farmers that will reduce emissions – but a fertiliser tax isn’t the answer,” Langford said.

In a statement on the Federated Farmers website, he said the opposition was supported by other sector groups including DairyNZ and Beef and Lamb NZ. Farmers use about 400,000 tonnes of fertiliser every year.

“As soon as we caught wind that a fertiliser

tax could be an option under consideration we met urgently as a sector, agreed to nip it in the bud right away, and wrote a joint letter to both Ministers [Damian] O’Connor and [James] Shaw to leave them in no doubt as to what our position is.

“Judging by Minister O’Connor’s public comments since, I think it’s fair to say he’s heard that message loud and clear – but James Shaw is still saying it’s an option on the table. That’s why we are calling on the Government to publicly rule it out.

“Farmers are already facing huge on-farm inflation with all of our biggest expenses like interest, wages, fuel, feed, and fertiliser going up in price. I know there’s a lot of stress and pressure out there and another cost would just add to that.”

In vogue veg with Jan Bilton

Versatile cauliflowers have become firmly established as the darlings of the vegetable lovers’ society. In recent times they’ve been: ‘riced’, cut into veggie steaks, roasted whole, mashed, stir-fried and ‘souped’ up. “The advantage of the cauliflower is that if all else fails, you can always cover it with melted cheese and eat it.” William E. Simon, American businessman and philanthropist.

Caulis are an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin K and folate. They also contain fibre, B vitamins, plus several other vitamins and minerals and only five carbs per 100grams. Cauli is a member of the brassica family that is thought to inhibit some cancers.

However, as with cabbages, caulis aren’t popular when reheated. The brassica flavour tends to dominate the dish. Carrots are native to Afghanistan and early varieties were purple. It wasn’t until the 17th century that the orange carrot was developed in the Netherlands. Choose medium-sized, smooth-skinned, brightly coloured carrots. Large, thick carrots tend to be tough and have less flavour.

The kumara is a tuber, the thick rounded part of a rhizome (underground stem) that stores the plant’s food. No wonder they’re so good for us. They’re packed with more vitamins C and E (antioxidants) than potatoes, pasta and rice and are a very good source of fibre and potassium.

CAULI & PASTA CHEESE

Orecchiette resemble little ears.

2 cups orecchiette or small spiral pasta

1 small cauliflower, cut into 3cm florets

250g sour cream

1/2 cup milk

1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard

2 cups grated tasty cheddar cheese

2 medium tomatoes, sliced

4-6 rashers streaky bacon

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the pasta and boil for 5 minutes. Add the cauli florets and boil for about 8 minutes, until the cauli and pasta are al dente. Drain well. Add the sour cream, milk, mustard and 2/3 of the cheese. Stir over low heat until the cheese begins to melt. Tip into a

baking dish. Top with the sliced tomatoes and sprinkle with the remaining cheese

Meanwhile, preheat the grill. Twist each slice of the bacon and place on a small oven rack. Grill until crispy. Place on top of the pasta mixture and grill until golden and bubbling. Serves 6.

CARROT & FETA FRITTERS

I used goat’s feta.

300g carrots, peeled and shredded

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

4 spring onions, finely chopped

200g feta cheese, crumbled

1/2 bunch coriander leaves and stalks, chopped

1 large egg

2 tablespoons self-raising flour

1/4 cup olive oil

Topping: sliced avocado, microgreens, lemon wedges

Combine the carrots, coriander, spring onions, feta, chopped coriander, egg and flour in a bowl.

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a non-stick frying pan on medium heat. Take a 1/4 cup of the carrot mixture to form a fritter. Cook about 3-4 at one time.

Cook 2-3 minutes each side until golden. Keep warm in a 100°C oven. Repeat with the remaining mixture. Top with avocado, microgreens and lemon wedges. Great

served with crusty bread if preferred. Serves 4 as a light meal.

LOADED KUMARA

olive oil

2 large purple-skinned kumara, halved lengthwise

1 small onion, diced

1 small red capsicum, diced

1 teaspoon each: ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano

390g can black beans in chilli sauce

Toppings: 1 avocado, stoned, peeled and mashed (or guacamole)

1/2 cup each: sour cream, grated tasty cheddar cheese

1/4 cup chopped coriander leaves

Lightly brush the kumara with oil. Wrap each one loosely in baking paper. Microwave on high power for 8-10 minutes, until the kumara are tender when tested with a skewer. Remove and cool a little.

Meanwhile, heat a tablespoon of oil in a frying pan. Sauté the onion until softened. Add the red capsicum and sauté until softened. Add the seasonings and chilli beans and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Lay the kumara halves — skin-side down — on a plate. Cut a cross in the flesh and squeeze the kumara to loosen the flesh. Spoon the bean mixture over the kumara then garnish with the toppings. Serves 4.

here

ESTABLISHED LOCATION

With easy access to main road and situated among established homes, this section has a title plan in place and work in progress to be fenced from original home and services sorted for title expected in June 2023. Private road frontage with mature planting and concrete drive. Geotech report is done with a building platform suitable for a single storey 170 m2 or a two storey with a 160 m2 ground floor. Example house plans to fit!

Call Vayle or Tania today to view your future land investment.

Let us be your first choice in real estate because we put you first

Cauli and pasta cheese

Carrot and feta fritters

Te Kura o Ngā Purapura o Te Aroha

Kaiāwhina/ Associate Teacher Part-time (30 hours per week) Te Awamutu:

He tūranga e wātea ana ki te Wharekura o Ngā Purapura o Te Aroha. E kimi ana mātou i tētehi

Kaiāwhina mō te kura, e mōhio ana ki ngā mahi whakaako tamariki. Me ū te kaitono ki te reo māori me ōna tikanga. Me matua mōhio hoki te kaitono ki ngā mahi whakahaere i te akomanga, me ngākaunui hoki ki ngā mahi whakaako tamariki. E whakapono ana mātou, he taonga te tamaiti, ko rātou hoki te pūtake o tā mātou kaupapa.

Ka kati tēnei tono hei te 09 o Hune, 2023

Tukua tō Tātai Oranga (CV) ki te Tumuaki: tari@npota.school.nz

Tukua mai mā te poutāpeta rānei ki:

Attention:

Te Wharekura o Ngā Purapura o Te Aroha. Enquiries 021 225 7577

Permanent Relief Milker

Required for every second weekend and school holidays for all of the season. Extra milkings available also. 700 cows, 66 bale rotary must be experienced as will be left in shed during some milkings. Drive in position as no accommodation available.

10 mins for Cambridge 15 from Te Awamutu. Also require assistant for calf rearing from July to September. Can be the same person.

Please phone

027 282 1854

Gamble pays off

Pouako - Kura Takawaenga (Tau 7-8)

“He Taonga te Tamaiti”

He tangata mōhio ki te manaaki i te mauri me te wairua o te tangata? He tangata e ngākaunui ana ki ngā tamariki? He pūkenga pouako rawe āu? Kei taumata kē tō arero tūpuna me ngā kōrero tuku iho?

Tēnā, tono mai!

E rapu ana mātou i tētehi pouako e kaingākau ana ki ngā mahi whakaako tamariki. Me mōhio hoki te tangata ki ēnei kaupapa:

• Behavior Management (PB4L)

• Differentiated teaching and learning

• Te Marautanga o Aotearoa

• Mahi tahi, hei painga mō te katoa o ngā tamariki o te kura mai i te tau 0-13

We are seeking a kaiako to support the wellbeing of our tamariki. Our aspirations are to uplift, inspire and nurture our young leaders within the context of our Poutikanga and kaupapa matua, he taonga te tamaiti.

Our kura is located within the takiwā of Ngāti Apakura, Raukawa ki Wharepuhunga. If you are interested in being part of a dynamic team who focus on the mauri of our tamariki and strive for excellence.

Tukua tō Tātai Oranga (CV) ki te Tumuaki: tari@npota.school.nz

Tukua mai mā te poutāpeta rānei ki: attention: Te Wharekura o Ngā Purapura o te Aroha.

Enquiries 021 225 7577

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TE AWAMUTU OPEN HOMES

By Joshua Smith

Cambridge trainer Lauren Brennan didn’t know what to expect from her promising hurdler English Gambler at Hastings on Monday, but she needn’t have worried.

The eight-year-old gelding had been pulled up last start at Trentham after tiring in the heavy track conditions, and Brennan hoped it hadn’t taken too much out of the son of Casino Prince.

While he didn’t open up his customary lead in the Farwell Gayle Richardson Hurdle (2500m), English Gambler still dispatched of his rivals to earn a 3-1/4 length victory.

“It was very good to see him back in winning form,” Brennan said. “While he didn’t take a dominant lead like he usually does, I think the trip to Wellington last week and the bottomless track down there might have taken its toll on him.

“We didn’t know whether he would backup or not, but he seems to have gone alright.

“Aaron Kuru (jockey) took care of him (last start) and pulled him up, which was good. In hindsight, we should have scratched him before we left home, but you don’t know these things (track conditions) until you get down there.”

The Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m), a race English Gambler finished runner-up in last year, looms as the next obvious target in a fortnight and Brennan will be on weather watch in the lead-up.

“At this stage he will head to the Waikato Hurdles. We will have to keep an eye on this weather, the Waikato weather is going to have to improve immensely,” she said.

“Hopefully it starts drying out a little bit, otherwise we could go back to Hawke’s Bay at the beginning of July (for the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle, 3100m).”

English Gambler is part-owned by Australian syndicator Roll The Dice Racing, and Brennan is hoping to cross the Tasman with her charge within the next year.

“There are only a couple of races he could possibly go over for (this season). We could either do that or start him off in their early season next year because they start a good couple of months before us,” she said.

Meanwhile, the wet weather hasn’t been helpful to stablemate Nancho Girl who finished runner-up in The Callsign Mav Maiden (1400m) at Hastings following a torrid time with her racing schedule.

“I was expecting her to win, but there were three race meetings abandoned on her – Wanganui, Hawera, and Hastings,” Brennan said.

“She travelled to two of those three, and six weeks between runs she probably needed the run in the end. Michael McNab (jockey) thinks she will be hard to beat when she lines-up next.

“I am still happy with her run considering the mess up in schedule for her.” – SENZ Racing

BMX riders star in Europe

North Harbour’s Rico Bearman has been making headlines for New Zealand as a Waipā-dominated New Zealand contingent of nine competes in Europe.

The US-based professional claimed successive wins in the men’s under-23 in the opening double round of the 2023 UCI BMX World Cup in Turkey.

The teenager has moved to the top of the Under-23 world rankings with his two wins.

“I am super-happy with how it has started. We race again in three weeks in Holland and this has given me some good confidence to take into the next World Cup,” he said.

With eyes already on next year’s Paris Olympics, the World Cup becomes more important, particularly for kiwi riders with the opening double round of next year’s calendar set for Rotorua next April.

Rotorua’s Megan Williams enjoyed a strong day, making it through to the semifinals of the women’s under-23 competition where she was pipped for a spot in the final by just 0.3s.

Cambridge riders Leila Walker and Baylee Luttrell made it to the quarterfinals.

Contact listing agent prior-visiting as Open Homes times can change.

All four New Zealand under-23 male riders qualified through to the first round of elimination races where Cambridge’s Jack Greenough was edged out. His brother Bennett won his race with Bearman and

another Cambridge rider, Rico d’Anvers also progressing.

Only Bearman made it through to the semifinals, with both Bennett Greenough and d’Anvers finishing fifth in their respective quarterfinals, both just 0.3s off a spot in the semis.

North Harbour’s Michael Bias qualified well in the men’s elite competition but was edged out in the first round by 0.08s in getting through to the quarterfinals, while Te Awamutu’s Cole McOnie missed out on the elimination rounds.

English Gambler on his way to winning at Hastings on Monday.

Photo: Peter Rubery

Leila Walker, in black, made it through to the women’s Under-23 quarter finals I Turkey.

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