Te Awamutu News | June 22, 2023

Last chance to vote

By Mary Anne Gill

Four passionate Māori candidates have put their names forward to be a Waipā district councillor, but they are struggling to get constituents to the polls.

When The News went to press only 176 people – 7.43 per cent - of the 2368 on the Waipā Māori electoral roll had voted.

At last year’s local body elections, with three days to go, nearly 14 per cent of the 2417 eligible voters had voted. A late rush then took that through to nearly 23 per cent – 548 votes – 309 of which were cast for Te Awamutu lawyer Takena Stirling.

It was his resignation, prompted by his suspension from practice, which resulted in the by election.

Voting closes at noon tomorrow (Friday) and boxes are available in Te Awamutu and Cambridge - postal voting is no longer an option.

The four candidates are different enough to offer a choice for voters.

Bill Harris describes himself as a strong and informed spokesperson at the council table through his experience as one of the district’s Kanohi representatives.

Gaylene Roberts says she wants to

promote economic development initiatives that “empower” Māori entrepreneurs and create job opportunities.

Dale-Maree Morgan says Māori had little or no trust in council processes but that she as a younger candidate could connect with all whānau, from kaumatua to rangatahi.

Barney Manaia says Māori told him they felt unvalued in the past. The seat on council was an opportunity to unify a collective Māori voice that would work with other leading voices to achieve great outcomes.

The drive to get Māori wards across the line in district councils was a long one – and Waipā was one of several to make the call in 2021 amid much fanfare from The News.

Māori voices at local government level had become progressively quieter because of a lack of confidence and connection with Māori communities, The News argued.

And a largely European council agreed, voting to establish a Māori ward amid some antagonistic voices in the community.

Māori wards provide a direct way for Māori to contribute to decision-making and have representation at council. In the absence of Māori being elected as general ward representatives, the ward guarantees Māori representation.

Bill Harris

Dale-Maree Morgan

Barney Manaia

Gaylene Roberts

Trophy recalls club legend

By Jeremy Smith

Alya Mexted is Te Awamutu Rowing Club’s inaugural winner of a best coach trophy awarded

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in honour of club stalwart Clive Steenson.

Steenson was described as the “backbone” of Te Awamutu Rowing Club for more than

50 years and his long-time partner, Sue, and daughter Marsha presented the trophy at the club’s 2023 prize giving on Sunday.

Steenson died in 2021.

At the same ceremony, the club named two new life members - one, its president Ray Ormsby, the other Wayne Asplin.

Mexted, in only her second year of coaching, trained her under-18 novice crews to achieve finals at North Island Secondary Schools and Maadi Cup regattas.

In gifting the trophy, Marsha spoke of her father’s love of rowing, and of the time he spent at the club - joking that taking up rowing was the only way she and her sister Yvette could spend time with their dad when they were teenagers.

President, and now life member, Ray Ormsby first came to the club as a parent who quickly got involved.

After supporting his children as they rowed, Ormsby took up the sport himself, competing as a master including at the 2017 World Masters Games.

Joining the club in 1997, Ormsby has been president for much of that time.

“Ray quietly guides the club from the sidelines, but is always available to sort out any problems,” captain, Tony Edmondson, said.

In his acceptance speech, Ormsby dedicated his life membership to all club members, past and present, who have made the club successful.

Asplin came to the club as a parent in 2002 when his daughter started rowing.

Initially the “taxi-driver” for early morning training, he soon started helping out.

As a successful school rower himself, he put this experience into coaching - initially under Steenson’s guidance and latterly taking the lead in coaching school and masters crews.

Remembering Steenson with great fondness, Asplin spoke of his dedication to rowing and the club, and of Steenson’s understated way of coaching.

With “rowing in his blood”

Asplin thanked the club, and his

wife Kathy for her support. Edmondson said among the rowing trophies, one in particular deserved special mention.

Heni Hongara was awarded the Club Spirit trophy for looking after club athletes, coaches and supporters at major school regattas.

“All of our parents were very supportive, but it was Heni who stood out as the one who was there first in the morning, had drinks and food available throughout the day and gave her total support to all the crews,” he said.

Prize winners

First year woman rower: Alyssa Campbell. Ladies’ novice rowing cup: Isla Joyce, Asarina Johnson, Janaiah Jacob and Casey-Lee Baker. Most promising woman rower: Lolkje de Boer. Best schoolgirl rower: Asarina Johnson. Best first year oarsman: Willem Poolman. Most promising oarsman: William James. Best schoolboy rower: William James. Most improved rower: Hunter Coleman. Best club crew: Asarina Johnson and Casey-Lee Baker. Most improved master rower: Jess Adlam. Most dedicated master rower: Wendy Reynolds. Coxswain’s cup: Sophie Dale and Carys Joyce. Sportsmanship cup: Alyssa Campbell, Millie Thackray, Sophie Dale and Ella Thackray. Club spirit trophy: Heni Hongara. Clive Steenson – best coach: Alya Mexted.

Briefs…

Firmly in favour

The series of articles, “On Shaky Ground” by Janine Krippner have been so well presented and so interesting. I must write to thank her for taking the time to share her wonderful knowledge and experience. As Kiwis, we all live on shaky ground and it is necessary for us to understand what is happening beneath our feet and to respect its forces. Thank you, Janine, take care and keep up the great work.

Teresa Crowe Te Awamutu

Editor’s note: We think Janine is pretty special, too. She was in transit to the Canary Islands this week and her column will resume next week.

Cambridge Grains

Alya Mexted, the inaugural winner of a trophy for best coach, gifted by Clive Steenson’s family. Tony Edmondson

Te Awamutu Rowing Club’s new life members, Wayne Asplin and Ray Ormsby.

Photo: Tony Edmondson.

Museum plan

Waipā District Council’ s

Te Ara Wai Governance committee will gauge fresh support for the $27 million museum. While there were 29 letters of support when the project was mooted in 2017, delays since – caused by Covid and a lack of funding – means the committee must get a sense of what funding options were now available, members were told at a meeting this week.

Maunga extension

Waipā council has given a one-year extension to the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust at a cost of $305,000 to deliver ongoing management of the maunga scenic reserve. Usually, the council would go to the open market but there are no other suitable suppliers able to deliver the services.

Public excluded

Waipā Council’s Finance and Corporate committee did more of its business this week out of the public eye than in it. Reports from Waikato Regional Airport, land acquisition in Te Awamutu, disposal of a stopped road in Pirongia, a partial land purchase for roading, acquisition of land and easement in Cambridge and management services for Mighty River Domain in Karāpiro were in public excluded while the only item in public, with the exception of apologies and confirmation of minutes, was the financial report for the period ending May 31.

Drive named

Sequoia Drive will be the new name for the collector road between Te Aranui Drive and Cambridge Road in Te Awamutu. The road is in the Picquet Hill development and borders land owned by the Empson family which suggested Sequoia, from the botanical name for the Californian redwood treessequoia sempervirens. A row of Californian redwood trees originally formed an avenue along the farm boundary but were removed in the late 1980s.

Why did you clam up?

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā councillors say a government watch-dog agency failed to raise a red flag when it learned super breeding invasive gold clams were found in the Waikato River at Karāpiro

They lamented the agency’s apparent lack of urgency at a meeting this week noting it did not alert the council at a high enough level or run any advertising warning lake and Waikato River users about the risk of picking the clams up and introducing them into other waterways.

“This could be quite disastrous for us,” said deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk.

The News learned that other river territorial authorities – including Waikato Regional, Waikato district and Hamilton city councils – were also kept out of the loop.

Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan and chief executive Garry Dyet were among the region’s council bigwigs who summonsed Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity staff to a meeting in Hamilton before Fieldays.

MPI director general Ray Smith conceded his organisation had not escalated the issue to mayors and chief executives. They would be part of any ongoing activity, he said.

He suggested there were other government organisations, and even the Waipā council itself, who might have been aware of clams in the river for some time.

“They’ve probably been in the waterways more

generally for two years because of the size of the clams.”

The News understands it was not an MPI scientist who discovered the clams last month but a researcher from another government organisation.

In recent weeks, the clams have been detected in the Waipā water supply at the Pukerimu intake and Parallel Road water treatment plant and hydro dam operator Mercury confirmed it had found clams in one of its water intakes at Karāpiro

“We’re still early enough to get on top of what we’ve got,” said Smith.

But Stolwyk and O’Regan are unconvinced.

“We weren’t part of the initial communications. This could get away on us very quickly and perhaps we need to prioritise this right now,” said Stolwyk who has another reason to be frustrated.

She manages the Karāpiro Domain which attracts thousands of people to events on the lake every year.

“Every day is a potential risk,” she said.

The tiny gold clams are prolific breeders – up to 400 every day - and initial reports suggested there was no likelihood of eradicating them. The clams are hermaphroditic – having both male and female reproductive organs. They typically spawn (breed) in spring and late summer.

The MPI handpicked a regional newspaper to break the story and take photographs in the lake last month – but did not approach The News.

The News spoke to Smith at Fieldays and suggested to him the oversight was a costly communications’ error given the impact on the district’s economy. He disputed that, saying MPI had set up a website where people could report any clam sightings.

O’Regan told the Service Delivery committee she spoke to Agriculture minister Damien O’Connor at Fieldays and shared her frustration at the lack of communications from MPI at an executive level.

Continued on page 9

The (grass) root of the matter

There have been many sporting highlights for me in a 40-year career as a journalist.

Being waterside at the Sydney Olympics when Rob Waddell won his rowing gold medal, Auckland taking the Ranfurly Shield on the road and bringing it to Te Kuiti to play King Country, questioning Tiger Woods at a NZ Open press conference and sitting in the audience when netball’s Silver Ferns Dream Team was announced at New Zealand Netball’s 75th anniversary in 1999.

I’ve also covered grassroots events – the 1992 Roller Mills tournament in Taumarunui when I was editor of the Ruapehu Press. There I met the great Bryan Williams – who came into the office to order one of the photos I took of his son Gavin in action.

I’ve covered every sport – from croquet through to bowls, squash, tennis, football, netball and

rugby and interviewed dozens of youngsters for weekly secondary schools’ sports profiles. Some went on to become very famous, others did not - but I was always conscious that in many respects mine was the first media interview they had done - and in most cases would ever do - so the most important thing was to spell their name right and ensure that the clipping would be shared proudly among family members.

At that 1992 Roller Mills tournament, I chatted with the captain of Waikato Rangers. His name is spelt wrong in the tournament team photo and listing but I got it right in the paper. He went on to become an All Black centurion by which time everyone knew it was Keven, not Kevin, Mealamu.

In my long career I do not once recall being told I was not welcome

at a sporting event in a professional capacity.

So, I was astonished when The News was told we were not welcome at the Te Awamutu Rugby Sports and Recreation Club on Sunday night for the naming of the All Blacks.

Two players with Waipā connections – Cameron Roigard and Luke Jacobson – were looking likely selections so we wanted to be there.

General manager Linda Sprangers said: “the event is by invitation only and it is currently fully subscribed”.

Interestingly, Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, who has a long association with the club – her sons and daughter have all represented Te Awamutu in sport – was also not invited. Looking at photos from the event, the so-called Te Awamutu old boys’ network seemed there in abundance.

By Mary Anne Gill

This was not grassroots, as Sky TV kept saying. This was elitism at its finest, announced exclusively on the pay channel to an “invite only” crowd at the rugby club where All Blacks coach Ian Foster played more than 100 games for Te Awamutu Old Boys.

Fortunately for The News readers, we do not give up, and on Monday my colleague Jeremy Smith caught up with new All Black Cameron Roigard in Cambridge.

The two went to the same school and so they had a lot to talk about as they caught up in the Town Square.

Now that’s grassroots. • Mary Anne Gill was twice New Zealand’s sports reporter of the year and this year a finalist in the community newspaper journalist of the year.

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Clams found in the council’s water treatment plant.

Helping Frankie and friends

By Jeremy Smith

“He’s probably never been shown love. Yet, the warmth he reciprocates when someone cares is amazing.”

Examples like Frankie are largely why Sally Fraser does what she does.

She helps dogs in either one of Waipā’s two dog pounds - in Cambridge and Kihikihi - get adopted and has had 14 in four years. “One at a time obviously...”

Her adoptions have been either temporarily, or more permanent, since she fostered her first dog - a “beautiful” Border Collie - through South Waikato District Council.

Now adopting Waipā dogs, her reasoning is simple.

“So many great dogs are in our district’s pounds. All they need is a good home and some love,” says Sally, who works as the council’s Waste Minimisation officer.

Waipā District Council figures provided to The News show new homes were found for 47 dogs the district’s pounds in 2022.

More than half – 25 dogs – were rehomed via various charities. The other 22 were rehomed directly from the pounds.

As The News went to print Frankie was one of 14 dogs living in Waipā’s pounds.

Council compliance manager Karl Tutty said the 14 include all shapes, sizes and breeds of dog - including a Golden Retriever.

In Frankie’s case, council animal control staff don’t know much about his background, breed or age.

He was brought to the pound about a month ago by someone who rescued him because they knew he wasn’t well cared for and they simply couldn’t keep him.

Frankie also lived with Sally for about a week.

She said when she first met Frankie, he had a skin condition, which has now healed, and a mark around his neck - likely from a collar.

“He’s probably lived much of his life outside,” she said.

“And yet, what’s so amazing is despite the fact he’s most likely been treated in a not so nice way by people in the past, he’s still so loving and affectionate.”

She’s pleased by Frankie’s progress.

“He’s put on lots of weight, is running

around more and looks so much better.”

“He’s just beautiful,” Sally said of Frankie’s stay with her.

“But I couldn’t keep him for too long.”

With two other rescue dogs already, she feels Frankie’s ideal home would be one where he’s an only dog.

“He’s so friendly and loves attention so much that it would be wonderful if he found somewhere he could be given that one-onone.

“After staying with me though, I can say he can live with a cat - he lived with mineand he’s crate, house and toilet trained.”

Potential owners from Hastings almost adopted Frankie but ultimately took home another dog which they felt was a better fit.

“I totally support the fact they ended up taking a dog they felt was a better match. What makes a successful dog adoption after all is correctly matching the personalities of potential owners with dogs that compliment them.

“As well as things like a dog’s energy levels with a potential owner’s lifestyle,” Sally said.

The Hastings visitors were so taken with Frankie though that despite not adopting him, they paid to have him desexed and bought him a “posh” dog bed.

Another anonymous donor offered to cover Frankie’s vaccination and microchipping expenses - meaning he can now, essentially, be adopted at no cost. Frankie finding his forever home would delight Sally.

“It’s so special seeing a dog rehomed, and so joyous knowing they’ve found a family who loves them.

“There’s no excuse for Frankie - or any of the other wonderful dogs - to be here really,” she said.

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Passionate Waipā dog adopter Sally Fraser with Frankie.

Board hears rubbish concerns

By Jeremy Smith

Pirongia’s Ursula

Edgington wants Waipā District Council staff to address - then curb - what she’s labelled worsening and ongoing issues with the village’s roadside rubbish and recycling collection.

A report Edgington penned last month addressed to the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board outlined her concerns.

It was subsequently referred to the Pirongia Ward Committee and was scheduled to be discussed at the committee’s June meeting held yesterday (Wednesday) after The News

went to print.

Edgington wrote of “multiple and numerous” instances where rubbish and recycling was either not picked up on schedule, or was not being collected at all. She said such noncollections had been happening for at least the five years she has lived in Pirongia.

In a response, Waipā District Council transportation manager Bryan Hudson said the council was aware of the issues and had hired an additional resource.

Roads of particular concern her report highlighted included Penny Rd and Crozier St, “...but it

occurs elsewhere, as per the numerous complaints to the council that are recorded”.

General rubbish collections were being missed more frequently than recycling was, she said.

“Most recently, there was a whole month during which none of the scheduled collections for either of our recycling wheelie bins occurred.

“This caused numerous problems… and wheelie bins were understandably overflowing…”

Edgington’s report stated there was no provisionwithout either an associated cost or some form of inconvenience - to dispose of the additional recycling.

“And, when the trucks did finally arrive, the drivers only took what was inside the bins and none of the additional recycling left in a safe pile at the side of the road,” she stated.

Edgington said a truck on the road collecting recycling, but leaving some behind was “...bad value for money, bad for the environment and not sustainable in the longerterm.”

The additional costs of retrospectively getting uncollected rubbish and recycling into the correct facility, she said, meant either paying for an additional general landfill collection, or the cost of fuel and time in taking the

105,000 visitors at Fieldays

Fieldays’ first winter edition with international borders open since 2020 drew more than 100,000 visitors over four days.

The event, which wrapped up on Saturday at Mystery Creek was blessed with crisp winter weather and blue skies for much of the time.

“You could feel the positivity and excitement within hours of opening,” Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation said.

The successful event followed a one-off November Fieldays last year which drew 75,000 people.

Exhibitors reported they had more traffic than in November, some celebrated high sales, other reported a keen interest to buy, though not necessarily to commit immediately.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and National leader Chris Luxon also had Fieldays appointments, and announcements, in their diaries.

The 2024 Fieldays will run from June 11 to 15.

recycling to the recycling facility, “...which was not always open at convenient times…”

Edgington said those additional general landfill collection costs were roughly $19 per wheelie bin.

“When ratepayers have already paid their rates for the regular collection of recycling, the lack of service is unacceptable,” she said.

According to information she acquired in an Official Information Act request, Waipā ratepayers pay council contractors $2.5m per year.

She called for regular monitoring and penalty payments.

Hudson said an additional

staff member was employed in early May to provide a greater level of oversight. Paying compensation - or providing an alternative service - when collections were missed was “...nice in theory, but in practice it would be impossible,” he added.

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Bryan Hudson

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins with Forestry Minister Peeni Henare at the opening.

National Party leader Chris Luxon talks to Cambrilea Weedspraying’s Charlie Lea from Cambridge.

Penny inherits ‘well oiled’ RDA

By Viv Posselt

Penny Harvey had big boots to fill when she took over as president of Te Awamutu’s Riding for the Disabled.

Her predecessor Jeni Strang held the presidential reins for over two decades and helped generate the wide community support Te Awamutu RDA enjoys today.

The News met up with Penny last week at its Kihikihi Domain headquarters, on a day when volunteers were helping riders go through their regular routines and chat was around plans for the RDA’s upcoming Open Day on July 1.

“That’s a major event for us,” she said. “Besides being our main fundraiser for the year, it’s also an opportunity to boost awareness around what we’re doing.”

It was at one of those open days that Penny decided to become a volunteer.

She and her family had recently settled in Te Awamutu and while she was initially busy with a new baby, when her son went to kindy, Penny got involved with RDA.

Being a lifelong enthusiast around anything equestrian, she had long admired the organisation.

“I was born and raised around Newcastle in Australia to parents who were both horse people. My brothers and I had horses from an early age, and while they lost interest fairly quickly, I’ve always loved them. I would try and arrange it so every moment I wasn’t at school I could spend with the horses.”

Her equine connection slowed when she was at university studying radiation therapy, but a move to Canberra saw her doing endurance riding with a friend before going on to discover a love of trail riding. “That’s been my favourite … just being with the

horses in the bush.”

A move to Auckland 12 years ago led her into leasing horses and continuing her passion when she had time. It was five years ago that a family search for a lifestyle change brought them to Te Awamutu.

“Having grown up in the pony club world, I was aware of the wonderful service RDA offered, but I had no real idea until I started here. My initial interest was being around the horses but I quickly discovered how much I really appreciate the riders. I know first-hand the power of the horse-tohuman relationship. Just to see these riders, children and adults, walk away after a ride with a big grin on their face is wonderful

Lions’ lunch is on the record

When Mount Pirongia Lions hold their annual seniors’ lunch it will be more a meal.

The annual event – always on the first Monday in July – is an opportunity for the club to update records of who is in the community and how to contact them.

As this year’s series of dramatic storms have shown, communities can be cut off at short notice.

Club secretary Jill Ruthe said Lions had taken on a role of ensuring contact details were kept up to date.

“The annual seniors’ lunch is one way we give back to our community – a thank you for their support over the years. We try to reach all those who would be eligible,” she said.

every time.”

Penny said there is growing scientific evidence to support the benefits of equine therapy, especially where it intersects with people living with particular physical or emotional needs.

“Te Awamutu RDA is lucky in that it has great support from the community and a cohort of great volunteers, although there is always room for more of those. Taking over from Judi has been easy for me because she left the organisation a very well-oiled machine … I just need to be a steady pair of hands.”

The July 1 open day will feature a range of activities including pony rides.

“As a result, we are constantly updating contact lists. Relevance of this has recently come to light with the disasters that have affected communities in New Zealand. If necessary, we have a list that could be passed on to agencies in a Civil Defence emergency.

Pirongia Lions are well known in Waipā for running a monthly Sunday market in the community centre on Crozier Street – it is one of the ways the club raises funds to give back to community.

That includes providing morning tea at the dawn Anzac service, funding for school camps and equipment and supporting the Te Awamutu Competitions Society.

The club also joins with other clubs when they need extra manpower for fundraising – such as for the national secondary school road race and also for social events.

New Te Awamutu RDA president Penny Harvey with volunteer Sandy Yarndley and Yugi the pony.

How does their garden grow…

With young, green-fingered gardening enthusiasts helping to ensure its community vegetable garden increases in size and scope, something else is growing at a Te Awamutu kindergarten – community spirit. Jeremy Smith reports.

For about eight years, Central Kids Rewi Street Kindergarten kindergarten staff - in partnership with tamariki, whanau and some help from community organisations - have operated a vegetable garden and grown many different fruits.

New varieties of both are added each year.

And once staff have ensured any kai distributed has been properly prepared first,” kaiwhakāko - head teacher - Kim Redshaw says a growing surplus is regularly given back to whanau, then the wider Te Awamutu community.

“The vegetable garden work we do has shifted from perhaps being more focussed on an activity for the children, to broadening to include their whanau,” she said.

“It gives tautoko to our families - supporting them to support themselves. The feedback about how produce has been a life saver is amazing.”

The work staff have been doing alongside the kindergarten’s more than 50 tamariki aged two to five years old has caught the eye of Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board members.

Rewi Street received $2000 from the board’s discretionary fund this year, Kim said - an amount they’ll put towards fencing their more than five vegetable beds.

They would then eventually like to build an implement shed and

establish a water pump.

“For me, a big part of what our garden is about is the connection to Papatūānuku, Mother Earth,” Kim said.

“We’re also looking for a Te Awamutu carver who can give us some support in carving a waharoa significant for our area and what we’re trying to achieve.”

Though a whole team effort, Rewi Street kaiako (teacher) Michelle

Anthony plays a key role in the oversight of the vegetable garden. The range of what’s grown now is almost too numerous to name, she says, with “almost any vegetables” - kūmara, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, cabbages broccolini, silver beet beetroot, lettuce and yams. And fruit.

About 11 tomato varieties have been produced so far - roughly 100 tomato plants were grown just last

season.

“We even grew a variety of Asian gourd last year. One of our whanau made a pudding”.

Surplus tomatoes, for example, were then shared with other kindergartens and The Sharing Shed.

Kim also wants to ask Kainga Aroha Community House if staff there want produce to distribute.

“Some of the favourites among

the tamariki are the cucumbers and rīwai, Māori potatoes,” Michelle said.

Kim and Michelle agree the work is now bigger than just growing fruits and vegetables.

“Broader lessons are being instilled,” Michelle said. “I think of it as being life skill we’re sharing with tamariki from a very young age.

“I was fortunate to grow up with a father who was a passionate home gardener. He then taught my children - it’s been strong in our line for quite some time, so I see it as a gift I can now pass on to this generation.”

“Values of manākitanga - showing respect and carerangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga, guardianship and protection, are foundational here,” Kim said.

“And all three are practically on display through our work in the garden. As I see the tamariki taking great care with everything they plant - and being genuinely intentional about giving the seedlings as much love as possible - to me those are some of the best moments we observe.”

Future proofing is key too, Michelle said.

“In those discussions with tamariki, sustainability and its importance is a key learning.

“It’s important we consider how decisions we make here today impact tomorrow.”

Zahkaira Macalister-Pene, Milo Bunker, both 4, and Koda Ryan, 3, with an impressive looking marrow grown in Central Kids Rewi Street Kindergarten’s vegetable garden.

The story of Henry Moody

By Meghan Hawkes

Annie Maunder, wife of the Kihikihi Star Hotel’s proprietor, was spreading washing on the line at the rear of the hotel on a warm February evening in 1894.

An unpleasant odour caught her attention and on looking around for the cause she was horrified to discover a man’s body lying in some fern. Near his mouth was a bottle of Old Tom gin, containing only about a glass of the spirit.

The man was 38-year-old Henry Moody, a quiet and inoffensive labourer. He had last been seen a day or so previously, having slept at the hotel on Wednesday night, rising early and leaving on Thursday morning. An inquest resulted in

a verdict of death from sunstroke accelerated by habitual drunkenness.

Henry’s death drew little sympathy in the press – the Auckland Star concluding that “the fatal bottle of Old Tom adds a tragic finish to the gruesome story. It reminds one of the tales of early days on the diggings, when drunkenness was the normal condition of many of the fathers of the colony. Happily, in these days of decreasing drunkenness such painful cases as that miserable death in the Waikato are becoming rarer and rarer”.

Henry had come to New Zealand on the ship Glenlora as a 20-yearold with his 18-year-old brother Francis. They left behind parents and two sisters in England. Their father was a horticulturist and their

mother a school mistress. Francis Moody followed in his father’s footsteps, finding work in and around Auckland as a nurseryman and later came to the Te Awamutu district. He was head gardener at Major William Jackson’s property, Thorncombe estate, at Hairini, and while there he married. He later established a nursery business at Kihikihi and planned the layout and beautifying of Victoria and Albert Parks in Te Awamutu. He later judged cut flowers at society exhibitions held under trees he had planted in Victoria Park.

Henry, for unknown reasons, had been lured by alcohol down a completely different path.

Despite the Auckland Star’s observation that drunkenness was decreasing, regular headlines told a different story - ‘Addicted to drink’, ‘The drink curse’, ‘Death by drink’, ‘The curse of the province’.

New Zealand conditions made alcohol very attractive. Binge drinking was common among men, many of whom were single, living in rudimentary dwellings in isolated areas. They found warmth, company and news in pubs, and often when they came to town, they would go on an alcohol sodden ‘spree’ which could last for days. They also drank spirits, not beer, which was cumbersome to transport. Old Tom was a sweet or cordial style gin, easy to drink.

Henry was buried at Kihikihi cemetery; the troubled, unassuming

man’s connection to the notable Francis Moody was not acknowledged at all.

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Why

did you clam up?

Continued from page 3

“They’ve (MPI) learned now not to access the organisation at a lower level.”

She said Biosecurity NZ was considering whether to call for it to be classified as an “unwanted organism” while Waikato River iwi had discussed the possibility of putting a rāhui in place – essentially prohibiting human use of the lake and the river.

Smith said the critical thing was to find out how far the clam had spread and to put a management plan in place.

“We’ve got to take this sensibly and plan our way forward.”

He urged river and lake users to “give boats a good clean on the way out.”

Waipā Water Services manager Martin Mould downplayed the clams’ risk to the district water supply.

“It’s almost an irrelevance,” he told councillors.

The water taken from the Waikato River and into Waipā was treated and any risk removed by the treatment processes.

Victoria Park bowling green in Te Awamutu.

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Time to give, not take

By Eric Auton

If you consider the great movements from the developed world to parts of the world (or universe) yet to be discovered and explored by humans, then you may be able to notice two main streams of intention.

The first stream is usually backed and supported by governments and individuals who want to gain financial returns, power and influence.

Preferably, this initiative and advance should be aimed at regions which can supply a resource which is rare and in short supply.

For example, in Conrad’s novel The Heart of Darkness, the Belgian Congo was being stripped of Ivory and Black Gold - slaves. Have you seen the infamous picture of how slaves were sardined into sailing vessels?

I used to swim off a beach called ‘Tombo’ which is Portuguese for ‘the fall’.

I discovered its name came from the necessity of throwing dead slaves overboard before the smell of putrid bodies offended the good people of the port of Santos, which is Portuguese for ‘saints’…

The second stream is in such extreme

Briefs…

Waste plan adopted

Waipā District Council has adopted a sixyear Waste Minimisation and Management Plan. Six issues surfaced during consultation including support for organic waste, council funded rubbish collections, reducing recycling contamination, diverting construction and demolition waste, having the right infrastructure and getting the most out of government policy.

Cheques and balances

By Peter Nicholl

contrast.

Often on the same sailing ship as the colonists were travelling would be husbands, wives and their children intent on a mission of taking another message to people’s who were vulnerable and fragile. You know, tucked away in the Bible, it actually says that ‘the greatest love we can express is to be prepared to lay down our life for a friend’; not to find ways of taking their existences and distorting their lives for the gain of the already powerful.

What an extraordinary idea. Not to exploit but to explore in unity and compassion for those less likely to ever see a sustaining wage, never mind being “fortune-ate”. Have you ever lived in a time when there were more demonstrations and strikes than we have in so many places across the world?

It seems to me that unless we see a greater flow of the milk of human kindness, then some of those amber lights are going to turn red.

Fluoride closer

A detailed design needed to enable Cambridge’s water supply to be fluoridated has been submitted to Manatū Hauora (Ministry of Health). The council was told last year it must add fluoride to the water. The estimated costs, which would include the Karāpiro and Alpha Street plants, would be $480,000 with annual operating costs of $130,000.

Two important pieces of economic data came out last week: the gross domestic product (GDP) figure for the March quarter 2023 and the balance of payments data for the same period. GDP fell 0.1 per cent in the March quarter. This followed a fall of 0.7 per cent in the December quarter 2022. It has become an economist’s mantra that if a country’s GDP falls in two consecutive quarters, the country is in recession. Sure enough, the newspapers here and even in some countries overseas had stories of New Zealand falling into recession.

The headlines often sounded dramatic. It was usually much later in the story that it was revealed that the drop in GDP that technically pushed New Zealand into recession was 0.1 per cent. Given the lack of precision of most economic data, that figure should not be given much attention.

The March quarter also included the impact on economic activity of not just one cyclone but two. The statistics department regularly seasonally-adjusts economic data. Maybe they need to cyclone-adjust it too. The GDP figures are also always adjusted during the next quarter as further data becomes available. So we could find in the next few months that the recession didn’t actually occur.

Despite the incredibly low number and the doubts about it, stories about New Zealand being in recession were everywhere.

A day or two earlier it was reported that New Zealand had a current account deficit of $31 billion which is 8.5 per cent of GDP. This is an enormous figure. In a table of 38 countries I looked at, only Greece and the Slovak Republic had worse figures.

Australia and Ireland had surpluses and Canada, the UK and the USA had deficits of between 1 and 3 per cent.

NZ has actually had a current account deficit every year this century. But most of them have been less than 3 per cent of GDP. A figure of – 8.5% is an outlier. It is a real problem. We don’t seem to realise just how badly the external sector of our economy is performing.

The economy is flat. New Zealand’s international terms of trade are currently at a comfortable level. The exchange rate is a little lower than it has been on average over the last few years. Tourist arrivals have picked up strongly. All these things should be favourable for our current account position. If we are running such a huge deficit in these favourable circumstances, what is going to happen when the economy recovers?

But this issue got almost no attention in the media or in the current political debate. Agricultural exports are still at the heart of our balance of payments performance. Talk to most farmers and they will tell you what the problem is. Despite favourable overseas prices and exchange rate, many of them are struggling to break even. Those with high debt levels will have been hit by rising interest rates.

But all of them have been hit by enormous compliance costs. The aims of the compliance issues are valid and important. But they have costs and the impact hasn’t been thought through.

We are seeing the impacts in our dreadful current account deficit.

The project is co-funded by Waka Kotahi to help create greater transport choices across New Zealand.

Students’ call: end the strikes

What drove students at Cambridge High and Te Awamutu College to demand action from education minister Jan Tinetti and secretary of education Iona Holsted? Steph Bell-Jenkins finds out.

Cambridge High School’s head girl Bella Peacocke is stressed about how teacher strikes will impact on her chances of getting a university scholarship.

“With our strike days we’ve missed a lot of our classes... which means that if we could have maybe got excellence before, we probably won’t – we’ll get achieved or merits – because we haven’t had the support that we need,” she said.

The year 13 student, who would like to go into business or communications, says she will have missed nine school days by the end of this term.

“I’ve had some teachers in classes saying how we’re going to have to drop some of our internals because we just don’t have the time,” she said.

This would result in fewer

opportunities to get the 60 overall credits needed to pass the year, she said.

“Lots of students that are already struggling will have lost the motivation and probably won’t be able to pass.

Strikes had also disrupted school routines and events, such as the annual blood drive – a day when students aged 16 and over have a chance to donate blood. That event, well supported in other years, would probably have to be cancelled, she said.

These concerns drove Bella and other Cambridge High School student leaders – head boy Luke O’Brien, deputy head girl and boy Anna Jago and Ben Bonetti and prefects Daniel Plant and Thomas Hocking – to launch an awareness campaign last week.

They were supported by four head students from Te Awamutu College Kirk Van Marrewijk, Stella Quigley, Billy Ousten and Sarah Druce – and students from Hamilton Girls’, Hillcrest High, Waikato Diocesan, Sacred Heart, St Johns College and Hamilton Boys’ High.

“We want to be clear that we completely support and value our teachers, and agree that they deserve to be paid what they are worth,” Bella said.

“We are calling for an end to teacher strikes. We are calling for our teachers to be paid for their worth and we are calling for our right to education.”

The students also launched an online petition which had attracted more than 1100 signatures by Monday.

PPTA Te Wehengarua

acting president Chris

Abercrombie said his organisation had made it clear, when negotiations began more than a year ago, secondary teachers needed a pay increase that matched inflation, as well as improvements to staffing and other conditions.

“We have a worsening shortage of secondary teachers – any school principal will tell you how

Urupā discussion encouraged

By Mary Anne Gill

The long term capabilities of Waipā’s 10 public cemeteries may have become clearer but iwi and hapū are frustrated at the challenges they face developing their own urupā.

Engaging with Māori on the issues they face with their burial grounds has emerged as a priority for council.

In a report to the council’s Service Delivery committee this week, Reserves Planning team leader Aidan KirkbyMcLeod said while it was outside the scope of the draft plans, there would be benefit in council consulting further with iwi.

He said the council developed concept plans last year and went out to consultation. Te Awamutu, Hautapu and Paterangi cemeteries could be full within 10 years, commentary with the concept plans revealed.

Kirkby-McLeod said the council has now updated its previous calculations and now know there is slightly less overall capacity for body burials.

While there is more room at Te Awamutu, Kihikihi and Paterangi, there is even less at Hautapu, Leamington

Ōhaupō, Pirongia, Puahue and Pukerimu.

There is a possibility the council could sell or repurpose Pukeatua Cemetery depending on investigations into the land’s original gifting conditions.

Ngā Iwi Topu o Waipā members fed back saying the majority of iwi and hapū are buried in their urupā, in accordance with tikanga.

“Mana whenua face a number of challenges in relation to securing formal access to and/or developing and maintaining their urupā,” KirkbyMcLeod said.

“A number of members advocated for council support to address these challenges given that their whānau are Waipā residents who would otherwise be buried at a council cemetery.”

Forty six submissions were received and changes have been made as a result. The final report will provide direction for councillors during the upcoming Long Term Plan budget processes.

The plans have mitigated the impacts of climate change at the cemeteries through design and location of infrastructure and reduced the use of low carbon alternatives by increasing

the number and size of trees through restoration and amenity planning which in turn cuts back on mowing requirements.

The specific changes are:

• Hautapu Cemetery: amend design to accommodate two recently installed berms and confirm intention to replace the picket fence along Victoria Road with a post and rail fence

• Kihikihi Cemetery: reduce the number of internal carparks from 30 to 10 and move the toilet to be level with the car parks

• Pirongia Cemetery: clarify that once the road extension is constructed, a one-way road will be restricted to people with limited mobility, hearses and maintenance vehicles

• Puahue Cemetery: add alternative to land disposal for Puahue Cemetery in case investigations highlight disposal isn‘t possible because of the original land gifting conditions

• Pukerimu Cemetery: amendments to improve the safety of access and egress to the proposed new car park

• All cemeteries: show locations of water taps, bike racks, memorial plinths and shade trees.

increasingly difficult it is to fill vacancies,” he said.

“We cannot afford to let pay and conditions slide.

Secondary education is the gateway to life opportunities for our rangatahi – it needs to be resourced and valued adequately.”

Abercrombie said he hoped the settlement of the primary teachers’ collective agreement would enable

the Government to focus more sharply on the needs of secondary education and find a solution to the impasse.

“Our members are increasingly frustrated at the fact that the demands on teachers are skyrocketing and many teachers are on the brink of leaving, but this is not being acknowledged by the Government in its offers to us.”

Billy Ousten

Sarah Druce Kirk Van Marrewijk

Stella Quigley

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Roigard: from speedway to All Blacks

By Jeremy Smith

Waipā – and Cambridge - has its newest home grown All Black.

On Sunday, after much buzz about his chances, former St Peter‘s Cambridge 1st XV, now Hurricanes halfback, Cam Roigard was among five newcomers – and three players with Cambridge connections - in a 36-man squad named for next month’s Rugby Championship.

The series is seen as vital preparation ahead of the Rugby World Cup later this year and All Blacks coach Ian Foster returned to his former club – Te Awamutu Sports - to announce his first squad of 2023.

Foster played 100 premier games for Te Awamutu.

Former Cambridge High School student - loose forward Luke Jacobson, who made his All Blacks’ debut in 2019, and Samipeni Finau, a loose forward who played for St Peter’s, were also named.

In Cambridge, hearing their son’s name called on Sunday made Cam’s parents Dave and Lisa – who own and operate Karapiro Charters and Tours - ecstatic.

Cam was with them and a core group of family and friends to watch the announcement live.

“It was a bit nerve wracking as each name was read,” Dave said. “Being at home with everyone, then hearing my name called though was a special moment I’ll cherish forever,” Cam added.

Cam and Finau are the second and third All Blacks to come from St Peter’s Cambridge stocks. The school’s first All Black was second five-eighth Keith Lowen.

When Cam, 22, was at St Peter’s, he spent three years – 2016-2018 - in his school’s First XV, attending the National Top 4 Co-ed Cup

competition in each of those years.

He’s St Peter’s First XV’s most capped player, with 56 games.

His subsequent rise through the rugby ranks has been rapid, and Dave has a bit of an idea what, in part, that comes down to.

“Cam certainly works hard. Everywhere he goes, he makes the most of any opportunities.”

Making a “big call” after finishing school, Cam headed to Counties Manukau and represented the Steelers in the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup.

He was selected for the Hurricanes squad as a replacement player for the

2020 preseason programme, and his contract was then extended to cover the 2020 Super Rugby season.

He was offered an injury replacement contract in 2021 and signed a fulltime contract last year.

He was then selected in the All Blacks XV squad for its 2022 Northern Tour made up of two games - one against Ireland A, other The Barbarians.

Now, his 2023 speaks for itself – and as his rugby took off, Cam parked his other lovespeedway racing.

First getting behind the wheel at eight, his best result, in 2019, came in saloons

– he finished second at the New Zealand championships.

Cam said while he’s always dreamed of becoming an up All Black, his first priority to date has been to put his best foot forward as starting half back for the Hurricanes while TJ Perenara is out injured.

“TJ has set the standard at the Hurricanes for so many years, I just want to ensure that whenever I’m given the chance to step up, I give my all for the jersey.”

Lisa, a doting mum, said she’s documenting each step of Cam’s rugby –and now All Blacks - journey in a scrap book. And it’s a special one to reflect on.

Cam first started playing rugby at age four while attending Karāpiro School.

At 10, he captained the Cambridge Bowers side when he was a year younger than the rest of the team.

He also captained the Gwynne Shield side and was part of the 2012 Waikato Roller Mills team which won the title for the first time in 21 years.

“He’s certainly grown as a player on what’s been quite a fast path,” Dave said.

“It just shows that for any young kid out there growing up in New Zealand dreaming of being an All Black one day – Cam had a large poster of Dan Carter on his wall –there’s a pathway on which that can happen, with some hard work and dedication.”

Meanwhile, as much has been made of Cam’s consistency this year, he has a rather straightforward approach to achieving it. “A large part is preparation-based. If you know you’ve put in your best effort in training, then - in a way - games almost take care of themselves.”

The All Blacks kick off their 2023 Rugby Championship campaign next month against Argentina.

Childcare Provider Know your

At Central Kids Kindergartens we know children learn best through purposeful play, supported by qualified teachers in positive, warm and inviting environments where children, parents and whānau are welcomed and valued.

We have large outdoor environments that allow children endless learning opportunities to develop physically, take risks, and engage in a respectful

Back to Basics Care and Education

Our centre is located right in town, we are a small family orientated centre licensed for 40, its our choice to sit around 30-32. We have a minimum of two 6-hour days a week and are open from 7.30-5.30. We provide nutritious meals and nappies. Within our centre we have two indoor rooms, however we all share our playground providing children learning opportunities

with a variety of ages. This is loved by families with siblings sharing special moments throughout the day together.

During our days we love to get messy and have fun. We hold strong values of aroha, manaakitanga and our local curriculum. If you would like to know more about our centre please feel free to call in or phone for more information.

relationship with the natural world. With a commitment to sustainability children can develop a love of the natural environment, make sense of their world, and develop ways to take care of Papatūānuku.

Our curriculum supports learning in a safe, resource rich environment, embracing te ao Māori and the diverse cultures of our communities.

We have open door policies, nau mai haere mai.

New All Black Cam Roigard with his dad, Dave, in Cambridge on Monday.

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Across

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with Jan Bilton

Canned convenience

There are hundreds of canned foods on supermarket shelves and all offer answers to quick, easy, economical meals. Although fresh, in-season veg and fruit might taste best, the canned varieties still retain much of their nutrition. Once any veg or fruit is cooked it loses some of its vitamins or minerals.

The canning process starts with the freshly harvested produce arriving at the cannery. The veg and fruit are washed and trimmed. Vegetables are blanched to preserve their flavour and texture and to neutralise enzymes which cause spoilage. The prepared produce is placed in cans with water — or syrup or juice with fruit — then vacuum sealed and cooked. As long as the can remains sealed, the food is preserved for two years or more.

Canned foods are convenient and usually cheaper than seasonal produce. Cooked and canned dried beans deliver high quality protein plus other nutrients — excellent additions to casseroles, soups and salads.

Canned soups can provide the liquid for meat casseroles or stews; canned pears are great served with a purée of frozen raspberries; and asparagus of course is a must for (asparagus) rolls — but add some mayo, mustard and chopped mung beans for added interest.

‘SOUPER’ PERI PERI CHICKEN

Simple. Tasty.

6 large skinned and boned chicken thighs

2 tablespoons flour

salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon olive oil

420g can Whitlock & Sons Peri Peri Chicken Soup

Halve the chicken thighs. Season the flour with salt and pepper. Lightly dust over the chicken.

Heat the oil in a medium-sized, non-stick frying pan. Sauté the chicken on all sides until golden. Pour in the soup. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is tender.

Great served with corn chips and topped with sour cream and chopped coriander. Serves 4.

GUAVA FRUIT CAKE

No added sugar. My ring cake pan holds 6 cups.

410g can guavas

1 cup each: sultanas, candied peel, chopped

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons canola oil or similar

1 1/2 cups self-raising flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

Lightly grease a 20cm round ring cake pan and line the base with baking paper.

Place the guavas and syrup in a food processor or blender. Mix until smooth. Pass through a sieve. Place in a saucepan with the sultanas and peel. Simmer for 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool. Preheat the oven to 160°C.

Add the eggs and oil, together with the sifted flour and baking soda to the cold fruit mixture. Mix well. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. This cake is best eaten within 2-3 days. Alternatively freeze in single portions. It’s excellent warmed in the microwave and topped with caramel sauce.

Your next home is here

You can also frost the cake with a cream cheese icing and garnish with sprinkles and/or long thread coconut. To make the icing: Beat 100g of cream cheese until smooth. Beat in 1 cup of sifted icing sugar until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence and about 1 tablespoon of boiling water — enough to make a thick spreading consistency.

Easy as! Add a dash of chilli if you like it hot.

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 onion, diced

1 teaspoon curry powder

410g can each: creamed corn, whole kernel corn

400g can coconut cream

chicken stock or water to thin

Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan and sauté the onion, until transparent. Stir in the curry powder. Add the corn and coconut cream and enough stock or water to make a medium thick soup. Heat gently. Great served with crusty bread and a chunky vegetable salad. Serves 4.

CORN CHOWDER

Guava Fruit Cake ‘Souper’ Peri Peri Chicken

EXPERTS

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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.

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Please phone 027 282 1854

SITUATIONS VACANT

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

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

SITUATIONS VACANT

ACCOUNTANT

With 2+ years of experience working in an accountancy office

Due to exceptional growth, we need another keen, enthusiastic person to join our firm.

Option to work in in our Otorohanga or Hamilton office with flexibility to work from home.

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You will be joining an accountancy firm with a large farming client base along with many progressive businesses – aligned to our core purpose of ‘making a positive diffrence in their life’. Send your CV and covering letter with a photo of your favourite holiday destination to:

Osbornes Chartered Accountants Ltd.

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Newspaper

Deliverer

for delivery of the Te Awamutu News, your local weekly community newspaper.

Deliveries are to occur every Thursday.

Are you honest and reliable and would like to earn some money while keeping fit? Our runs are suitable for either youth (minimum age 11 years) or adults.

Delivery runs available in the following area:

• Pirongia

Please contact us on E: admin@goodlocal.nz

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