Te Awamutu News | July 27, 2023

Pokie report disputed

By Mary Anne Gill

The country’s fourth largest gambling operator has taken issue with a Waipā District Council report which suggested community funding from pokie machines was going from the poor to the rich.

Grassroots Trust, which operates 70 per cent of the gambling machines in the district, is opposing a suggestion to reduce machine numbers via a sinking lid policy.

Currently under the council’s existing Gambling Policy the numbers of pokie machines are limited to 232. If a new venue wants machines, it must wait for an existing venue to relinquish its licence.

Staff, who prepared a social impact assessment of gambling as part of a report, recommended the status quo when the revised policy went to last month’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee.

But pressure from elected members and community groups around problem gambling and how much of the profits were being distributed within the district resulted in the council’s decision to go out for informal consultation instead.

Cambridge Community Board supports a sinking lid policy while the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi board has yet to make a decision.

Grassroots executive chairman

murray hunt

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Martin Bradley said his trust took its grants process seriously with the area where the funds are raised, and community need at the top of the list.

The gaming sector is legally required to return a minimum of 40 per cent of the funds raised from gaming machines to the community via grants.

The report considered by councillors last month did not look at the percentage granted from profits, but the percentage granted from the total amount gambled, ultimately leading to a view in some quarters that the trust was well shy of the 40 per cent grant rate.

The report said about 10 per cent of the $10.71 million put into Waipā machines in the 12 months to March 31 was returned to the district in the form of community grants.

Bradley said for the period January 1 to June 30, Grassroots Trust returned $1.335 million – or 45.47% - to the community, with a further $638,508 to national organisations in Waipā.

And a claim in the council report that groups benefitting most from the funding were from less highly deprived areas was untrue, he said.

“The trust is a large funder of essential services such as rescue helicopters, St. John Ambulance, surf lifesaving, and Hospice; services every New

Zealander have, or may need to, access one day, regardless of their demographic,” Bradley said in a response to The News.

The trust also provided funding to schools, early childhood centres, local charities and sporting organisations, he said.

Trusts like Grassroots were world-leading in terms of minimising harm from gambling, he argued. The trust provided all its venue staff with unlimited training and education on identifying signs of problem gambling.

It had also committed to installing facial recognition across all venues to identify selfexcluded gamblers.

Forty one people had excluded themselves from Waipā gaming venues as of February this year.

“Considered against a population of approximately 53,600 residents, the Waipā district’s problem gambling rate is very low,” said Bradley.

“There is no proven correlation between the number of gaming machines and problem gambling. The number of gaming machines in Waipā has stayed mostly static over the past five years with a growth in

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revenue, while problem gambling numbers have not increased.”

Any move to reduce the number of machines would accelerate the migration to online gambling, he said.

“(That’s) an environment that is accessible 24 hours a day, usually via mobile, has no restriction on bet sizes, is not monitored for problem gambling, and only benefits offshore providers,” said Bradley.

There are 72 gaming machines in Cambridge, 36 in Leamington, 106 in Te Awamutu and a further 18 in Kihikihi.

Class four gaming societies like Grassroots – the largest in the North Island and fourth largest in New Zealand – are regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs. The industry pays a levy of over $20 million to the government each year, and $3-4 million on prevention and minimisation measures. Grassroots Trust Group operates 1369 gaming machines across 92 venues nationwide.

Feedback on the council’s Gambling Policy opens next Monday on its website and must be provided by Friday August 25.

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Braydon’s winning text message

By Jeremy Smith

Te Awamutu’s Braydon Brown has creatively shared an important message with his peers - don’t get sucked in.

And he’s won national recognition for his efforts.

The 11-year-old Year 7 Te Awamutu Intermediate School student was named one of four runners up among five finalists in the inaugural Don’t Get Sucked In poster challenge. The winning entry came from Wellington.

Run by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand in partnership with the Life Education Trust throughout term two, the challenge was designed to highlight the harms of vaping to school students. There were about 280 nationwide entrants aged 11 to 18.

When the winners were announced at the end of the first week back at school, Braydon’s was the only Te Awamutu entry named amongst the top five - and as a runner up, he was awarded $100 worth of art supplies and a $50 Prezzy Card.

Entrants were asked to choose one of several key messages to communicate via their poster - including among others don’t get sucked in, safer than smokes?, don’t gamble with your lungs and vaping harms your lungs and the planet.

Braydon chose don’t get sucked in, his poster depicting a group chat text

conversation amongst friends discussing whether or not to take up an offer to vape.

The chat features replies such as “...nah dude, not cool…”

Braydon told The News he entered the poster challenge because the message of steering clear of vaping was an important one to share.

“For me, it’s about the importance of the type of friends - and influences - we surround ourselves with. And, of course, many people communicate via text these days, so I felt it was relatable.

“Being named a runner up was a complete surprise though,” he smiled.

He said he was “elated” when he found out.

Dad Mel and mum Renee agreed they were proud of Braydon after his roughly monthlong effort to create his entry.

“There’s lots of peer pressure out there these days, but it was fantastic that the point of the design - and the challenge itself - was to be an example of peer support,” Renee said.

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation

New Zealand āpiha takawaenga Māori, or Māori community liaison, Sharon Pihema said Braydon’s poster impressed the judges because it was what Braydon intended it to be - relatable.

The foundation facilitates several workshops - also known as Don’t Get Sucked In - in schools around New Zealand each term.

They encourage teenagers and young people not to pick up vaping or smoking by challenging them to do the research and think critically about the decision.

The five finalist’s posters will now be used as resources during those workshops, Sharon said.

While compiling this list - I don’t attend every job personally - I was disappointed to see an incident where a rifle was taken from a vehicle.

I cannot stress this enough. Motor vehicles are an unacceptable place to store firearms. A firearm may not be stored in a vehicle unattended for longer than 60 minutes, allowing for a break in a journey.

If the vehicle is going to be unattended, or the licence holder cannot meet the above conditions for leaving the items in the vehicle, firearms and ammunition must be removed to a more secure location, or under the licence holder’s possession and control.

The exception to this is if the vehicle is a mobile home, campervan, or caravan unit with secure storage.

Here’s how last week panned out for Te Awamutu police:

Monday - Shoplifter reported at The Warehouse. A male drove off from his house after making threats to self-harm. A female breached a Protection Order, police attended a violent family harm involving a male selfharming. This incident caused a school to go

into lockdown. Police also attended a motor vehicle collision. A male was reported to be engaging in a road rage incident that stemmed from a neighbours at war issue. A male was arrested for an assault at a family harm event, two cars were interfered with and police attended and further family harm event.

Tuesday - A motor vehicle was unlawfully taken from Pak’n Save, a person was reported missing, an assault was reported involving students, police attended a family harm matter, a mental health incident, a shoplifting, an alcohol fuelled family harm incident, and a burglary where a motor vehicle was taken. Te Awamutu police assisted in a lengthy firearms incident in Te Kuiti.

Wednesday - Tagging was reported at several locations, a vehicle was taken on Ōhaupō Road and a male on bail for taking cars breached his curfew. Police served a Protection Order and attended a family harm matter. Police also executed a search warrant at an address in relation to a burglary at a commercial premises. Items were located from several burglaries. It was very satisfying ringing the victims to ask them to come and

collect their property. Police also located a cannabis growing operation at the scene. A 56-year-old man appeared in court on charges of burglary and cannabis cultivation.

Thursday - A male was trespassed after being seen trying door handles at a commercial premises, a vehicle was taken from an address Te Awamutu, shoplifting was reported at a commercial premises. Two drivers were found to have excess breath alcohol.

Friday - Police attended a breach of the peace, two family harm matters, served a Protection Order, attended a burglary and investigated a missing person report.

Saturday - Police attended a driving complaint, a disorder at a residential address, a male was arrested at a violent family harm incident where he allegedly attacked his family with an axe and two vehicles were interfered with. A rifle was taken from one of these vehicles. Police also attended a burglary.

Sunday - Police attended four family harm events and recovered a stolen vehicle and dealt with wilful damage.

Braydon Brown with his Don’t Get Sucked In poster.

Briefs…

Residents’ views

Sources have told The News the latest Waipā District Council annual residents’ survey contains more scathing criticism than last year. A quarter of those surveyed then were satisfied with the council’s performance, down from 40 per cent the previous year. The survey is not expected to be released until next month.

Clams clear

DNA tests show that the country’s newest pest - the freshwater gold clam - has not spread into waterways outside a stretch of Waikato River where it was initially found.

Biosecurity New Zealand said, since its discovery near Lake Karāpiro earlier this year, regional and district councils, as well as iwi, had been working together to monitor the mollusc and discuss preventing its spread. The clams can clog up waterways, irrigation pipes and stock water troughs as well as negatively affect native freshwater species’ habitats.

Help available

A company owned by several Waikato and Bay of Plenty local authorities, including Waipā, is expanding its services to include communications support. Co-Lab, based in Cambridge, helps councils be more effective and efficient by collaborating. Waipā has struggled with filling communication positions recently but despite this says it has no plans to access the resource.

Scott selected

Oparau rider James Scott has been selected for the threeman New Zealand team to compete in the 2023 Motocross of Nations at Ernee – regarded as the Olympics of Motocross –in France in October. He joins experienced internationals Cody Cooper (Papamoa) and Hamish Harwood (West Auckland).

Award held

Te Awamutu’s Museum, Education and Research Centre has retained its Gold Qualmark award, an annual measure of quality for New Zealand tourism businesses.

Confusing signs – for some

By Mary Anne Gill and Jeremy Smith

A hang over from the borough council era is challenging emergency services, confusing motorists and even putting taxi drivers wrong.

Waipā has a number of roads which start in one place and reappear in another and have both rapid and old style numbering systems.

And Cambridge’s fire chief has echoed readers’ concerns about the ongoing confusion around some street and road names.

Dennis Hunt said having two Cambridge Roads either side of the Waikato River was confusing for emergency services, though recent mobile phone technology had made it easier.

In Te Awamutu deputy fire chief Karl Tutty confirmed fire communications were very good at confirming cross-streets, intersections and landmarks if firefighters did not have a street or rapid number.

“If there is doubt there is the ‘long road’ policy that sends resources from both ends until the location is confirmed. And obviously our local knowledge can play a part.

“We were worried when agencies moved to calling state highways by their local names that there would be some confusion, for example Ōhaupō Road north and south of Ōhaupō, but we haven’t really seen any issue there.

“We also have some very similar names McKay and MacKay, Bank Street and Bank Road, Factory Road and Pokuru Factory Road, Alexander and Alexandra but again I can’t recall any confusion.”

The issue of public confusion over the road names was raised in The News by letter writer Deborah Christiansen calling for a section of Cambridge Road in Cambridge to be renamed Hamilton Road.

Cambridge Road starts in Hamilton at the intersection of Naylor Street and Wairere Drive, then weaves through Hillcrest and out to Tamahere along the Waikato Expressway until the

western off ramp to Cambridge. It resumes on the outskirts of Cambridge, and again in Leamington heading off to Te Awamutu.

Yvonne Lomey said with all the development happening between the Velodrome and Cambridge, now was the right time to rename the road.

Hunt said the “only grace for us now is they (emergency operators) fire us a cross reference when they can so we might get Cambridge Road/Kaipaki Road and we know which way we are going”.

Taxi driver Rickstar Tipene said some numbers appeared on both Cambridge roads. “Confusion comes with taxis when people call and ask for a taxi, they give the address and don’t give further details. It’s not until the addresses are over 1913 that we can be clear of which road it is.”

Waipā District Growth and Regulatory Services group manager Wayne Allan said the council could only act to change the name of the road if there was public/resident support.

MP wants express issues ironed out

By Mary Anne Gill

Ongoing issues for users of the Waikato Expressway, including the fire brigade, need ironing out so the next part of the design is fit for purpose, Taupō MP Louise Upston says.

She was responding to comments from Cambridge Fire Chief Dennis Hunt who said access to the Expressway has become a nightmare for the volunteer fire fighters.

He told The News he and his predecessor the late Don Gerrand had spoken

to New Zealand Transport Authority (Waka Kotahi) representatives about the merits of having a northern off ramp at the end of Tirau Road near the golf course.

Having that ramp would make a huge difference for the brigade when there are call outs on the Expressway, he said.

Knowing which part of the Expressway they were being called to was often an issue.

“We don’t know whether to go up the Expressway to the north or south when we get an emergency call.”

Upston said if the council and Waka Kotahi were working together, they would understand the issues Cambridge users were facing and not repeat the same mistakes.

“I do think there has been a history of Waka Kotahi not paying attention to people who deal with this road on a daily basis.”

Waka Kotahi’s Infrastructure Delivery regional manager Jo Wilton said a northern on ramp was never part of the Expressway plans.

“There would be relatively

low traffic movements on these suggested ramps and motorists wanting to travel in these directions have other options. The Victoria Road interchange provides both northbound and southbound connections to the Cambridge township, some five minutes from this point,” she said.

Upston and National Party leader Christopher Luxon are hosting a public meeting in the Cambridge Town Hall next Monday. The Expressway, population growth, a third bridge and transport woes are

expected

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The point in Te Awamutu where Cambridge Road starts at the intersection of Arawata Street and Ōhaupō roads.

Photo: Jeremy Smith

to be raised by the community who feel left out o the consultation.

Louise Upston

Concern over park plan

By Ange Holt, Chair, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board

The Te Awamutu War Memorial Park Concept Plan is still high on the Community Board’s agenda.

Any updates from staff are followed with keen interest and comments from the community are carefully considered.

We have been approached by individuals and groups who are expressing ongoing concern about the plans for the War Memorial Park.

I would like to reassure you that the planned works at this time includes the creation of a heritage maintenance plan, a vegetation plan and upgrading the current playground.

Further funding will need to be made available before any of the more major changes, such as the creation of a wetland and the central board walk occur.

We had been asked by some members of the community to confirm who owned the land in the park.

At our May meeting we received a report to clarify council ownership of the various titles and what the land use was.

Waipā District Council own the land and all parcels are deemed “recreation reserve”. This means that under the Reserves Act 1977 this land can be used for any sort of recreational purpose.

However, there is a clause in the Act that states: “where scenic, historic, archaeological, biological, geological, or other scientific features or indigenous flora or fauna or wildlife are present on the reserve, those features or that flora or fauna or wildlife shall be managed and protected to the extent compatible with the principal or primary purpose of the reserve”.

We felt that this clause supported the fact

that the historic features in the park are to be managed and protected, not removed.

As we are not legal experts we asked if this clause and its implications could be clarified for us.

To date we have not received confirmation. I have tried to seek advice from outside council but without funding to pay this is proving difficult. If anyone knows a lawyer with expertise in the Reserves Act, please do contact me.

Earlier in the year, community board became aware that changes to the pond included the removal of the stone bridge and all the rockery and paths above the pond. Based on community feedback and the original submissions that were received by council this is not a supported change. The pond does need some love and attention, to ensure the water quality is good before it heads down to the stream. There are some very good and economical ideas coming forward that deserve to be investigated before most of the pond is removed.

Along with the excessive cost, there are also a number of other changes that community are not keen on.

There are by far more people commenting to us that they do not want the major changes made to the park, than anyone supporting it.

With this in mind community board will next month vote to request a review of the Te Awamutu Park Concept Plan.

Life across the ditch

By Peter Carr

A sojourn in New South Wales last week permitted me to catch up with matters concerning skin. Not the natural dermis that needs washing frequently, but skin as inherited from one’s forefathers (and mothers).

A very crude canvass of Sydney train passengers revealed, on several occasions, that by far the majority of the travellers were of Asian originality. Quietly getting on with their own business, many moving around as whole families and generally playing their part as good citizens. They were also very much to the fore in retail trades, sometimes struggling to be understood by mono-lingual customers. They were clearly enmeshing themselves into the fabric of Australian society.

Clearly Australia has experienced – and benefits from – a multi-cultural society while their trans-Tasman counterpart hides behind a slow moving, government driven, bureaucracy.

Possibly it’s to preserve roles for those already existing in New Zealand. That is all very good providing those who are being protected actually do want to do a day’s work and not rely on the largesse and protection of government-sourced handouts.

All that said there is the ‘other’ skin colour in Australia which has had an ugly side for many years. That of the indigenous people who either relate as Aboriginal or Torres Strait people. They were not recognised by the Australian government census until 1967 – they were not accepted as even existing. Pretty damning and frankly appalling.

Yet over here is New Zealand Māori have been recognised with differing success since around 1840 and have had Māori seats in

parliament for well over a century.

Interestingly there is a large difference as to how indigenous people are confirmed in their identity on the two sides of the Tasman Sea.

Possibly some of them are somewhat spurious with different ‘goodies’ payable to, or gained by, those who lay claim to tribal or historic blood lines. It is what it is, but comparisons are somewhat foggy. The common bond between the two relates very much to alleged ownership of land. And history – with Aboriginal history stretching back many thousands of years further than that of Māori.

But back across the ditch there is trouble brewing. On the matter of The Voice, where a very serious attempt by the Australian federal government is being made to consider having an appointed indigenous committee to advise the sitting parliament on matters germane to their background and expectations.

There is a huge rift appearing with newspapers full of views of both the yes and no proponents with a noticeable female support of the latter.

A respected newspaper with a national readership devoid of state interference produced a two page spread last week quoting eminent national leaders including several retired judges taking up opposing sides on the discussion. And it’s a free-for-all bonanza for academics who will comment on anything provided there is a buck in it for them for their research portfolios. Watch this space. Perhaps the Lucky Country ain’t so well blessed after all.

By Jeremy Smith

Te Awamutu’s Colin Munro has been honoured after reaching an “incredibly special” milestone.

He was awarded a Gold Star for 25 years in the fire service at the Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Palmer St fire station on Saturday and also received an honorary life membership to the brigade.

More than 100 people - Colin’s friends, family and brigade colleagues, United Fire Brigades’ Association, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Auckland provincial fire brigades Gold Star association representatives and Waipā mayor Susan O’Reganwere present.

Colin’s quarter of a century’s service includes a decade with Papakura Volunteer Fire Brigade between 1980 and 1990, and 15 years with the Te Awamutu brigade, where he rejoined the fire service in 2008.

“It’s very special to be a part of our brigade, but our roles aren’t possible without family support,” he told The News.

“In my case, I honour my incredible wife, Paulene.”

Colin shifted to Te Awamutu to work in the agricultural sector in 2007 and several of his clients in his new Waikato territory were firefighters in their respective communities.

“I’d always end up talking fire service with those guys,” Colin said.

So, when he heard Te Awamutu always wanted more volunteers, Colin offered his services.

“I was 18 when I joined the Papakura brigade - those first 10 years seemed to take a long time.

“The last 15 though have flown by. I suppose, as they say, the older we get the faster the years roll on.

“I enjoy working in a supportive team and having the opportunity to save lives and property.”

Colin is the third of four generations of his family who have been volunteer firefighters.

The first was his grandfather the Maramarua Fire Brigade’s deputy chief fire officer, while a second cousin was the second.

Colin and a cousin are the third generation, and his

nephew - the fourth - is a firefighter in Hamilton.

“Many people volunteer in different things. For me, that time’s been committed to the fire service.

“I grew up in a community-orientated family. My mother received a community services award in Papakura, and my father supported her in that. In a way, community service has been modelled all my life.”

Colin is now a station officer, and with the Te Awamutu brigade’s roughly 36 current volunteers divided into three crews, he is responsible for overseeing one of them.

These days, as “one of the busiest” Waikato brigades, Te Awamutu volunteers average about 400 call outs every year.

Colin is still working as an agricultural sector technical sales advisor covering a territory from Hamilton to Taumarunui and Reporoa to Ōpōtiki so work is a mix of travel and working from home.

He is in Te Awamutu up to two days a week and attends attends about half of those calls today.

Though it requires a balance between work and the brigade, Colin wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You get used to it. When I’m in town, I try to attend most calls. I find a great deal of satisfaction in helping others and we have an amazing team. Our employers who allow us to attend calls during work hours are so supportive.

“I sometimes get asked how we deal with the difficult parts of volunteering. All I can say is you don’t get used to it but, in a way, you become conditioned.

“Brigade camaraderie and support is key. We debrief on site if practical, then again on returning to the station. And we have a fantastic support network within Fire and Emergency.”

Colin says the number of medically-related callouts has greatly increased in recent times after the fire service – alongside St John - began attending cardiac arrest calls.

His desire to outwork the “calling” to look after Te Awamutu has never wavered.

“I’m not going anywhere, I’ll be around a few more years yet.”

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.

For further information, updates on survey dates and timings for your area visit: waipanetworks.co.nz/aerialsurvey

Missing the basics?

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

When is Science not Science?

Reacently there have been references to a new science curriculum for Years 1-10. Three main areas of focus have been mooted: sustainability, Climate Change and infectious diseases.

So far, I have seen no mention of the three traditional branches of science: biology, chemistry and physics – the three which have for centuries underpinned our learning about the universe.

Can you, in fact, imagine science without the Periodic Table, litmus tests or chemical reactions? Or without gravity, magnetism and forces? Of course not. So, why do we now consider it appropriate to deprive future students of the opportunity to learn these basic concepts, these building blocks, on which we base knowledge about life and our planet?

Sustainability, Climate Change and infectious diseases are important in today’s world, but they are subsets of the much broader concepts encompassed by biology, chemistry and physics.

The “consultation” about the new Science curriculum is still to take place – at least, it is to be hoped that there will be a rigorous debate of the issues.

However, it sits within much broader considerations - such as what is wisdom? What is the purpose of education? Should learning be reduced to a “need to know” basis?

Science, from a Christian perspective, originates from the Bible – not a belief that the Bible is a book of fact/science/history. It manifestly is not.

Writers in Biblical times did not approach factual material as we do now when we

have sophisticated tools of research to make it possible to test and prove hypotheses.

Rather, one of the main ideas which courses through the Bible is from Psalm 111:10 : The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and they who live by this grow in understanding.

What is the fear of the Lord? It is not the sense of being scared or afraid, but being in awe of all that God has created around us and within us.

It is contained also within the words of Psalm 8: When I see the works of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him? ... You have made him ruler over the works of your hands, …. All the flocks and herds and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air and the fish of the sea … Surely it is the business of education to enable growth in understanding.

There is no doubt a benefit to establishing a vegetable garden at pre-school, so children learn a little about how sunlight and water foster growth.

However, at some point this beginning must morph into a serious study of photosynthesis, of why leaching nitrates into the soil is harmful, of why apples fall from trees.

I am not persuaded that focusing on three narrow aspects will engage our students from Years 1-10.

They are unlikely to become the new generation of researchers and engineers if they are not encouraged to enter the exciting world which is revealed in biology, chemistry and physics.

Youngsters try steampunk

By Viv Posselt

Pirongia-based steampunk aficionado Paula McWha brightened the lives of a group of youngsters by holding a steampunk workshop for them during the school holidays.

The workshop, which drew about 12 youngsters aged 9-13, covered off the fun side of making costumes to fit the steampunk mould. Most of them are homeschooled friends from Te Awamutu, Pirongia, Ngutunui and Ōtorohanga.

Paula was assisted by her colleagues in the local Lords and Ladies of Steampunk/Time Travelling Trio group.

Steampunk is a genre of fantasyinspired fashion that borrows its style from the industrial innovations of the Victorian era. Those who love it incorporate nuts, bolts and cogs, wires, clocks, and a host of other weird and wonderful accessories into lavish costumes of the era.

Paula has been knee-deep in the trend for seven years. She trips around the region regularly with her colourfully dressed fellow steampunkers, often under names such as The Golden Pins or The Time Travelling Trio. Some of the youngsters at the recent workshop joined them recently at a King’s Birthday Weekend outing to Hamilton’s Frankton railway station.

The July workshop was the second Paula has hosted. The first

was in April and was organised after a pair of youngsters, Amy and Ruby Webb, spotted steampunk at the Paeroa Highland Games and decided to investigate further. Word spread among the group of friends and school-mates and it’s been all go ever since. Not only have they been swept up in the workshops, but they can often be seen wandering around their village in steampunk gear just for fun.

Paula said the group made the most of the four-hour workshop.

“I get a great buzz from seeing what they come up with. Many of them look to their grandparents for ideas – suddenly that old stuff isn’t junk anymore.”

Ruby, 12, adopted the steampunk name of Lady Elizabeth Ferguson for her outing. “My persona is more into travelling around the world … I was hanging things off my belt that tied into that.”

Younger sister Amy, 10, adopted an ‘engineering’ persona and called herself Lady Alice Smith. She looked through her electrician dad’s workshop for unusual pieces to include.

“I like that there is a bit of a story around the outfits. It’s fun,” she said.

Their mum Ruth Webb said she enjoyed the creativity steampunk generated and the fact there were so many different things the youngsters could learn from it. “As they work out their outfits and talk about what

they are representing, they are inadvertently learning about the era it represents.”

ages

SING, DANCE, ACT PERFORM ON STAGE

The workshop crew and those steering them will be over in Cambridge next month to join an

August 13 steampunk event being held in conjunction with Interlock at the Cambridge Town Hall.

Some of the young steampunk workshop attendees are, back from left, Sophie D, Taylor McCown, Addison Brears and Hannah Court. Front from left are Chloe D, Amy Webb, Ruby Webb and Poppy McFarlane.

2024 ENROLMENTS

Meghan Hawkes takes us back to Waipā in 1890 to review the news of the day.

Due to continued growth, Te Awamutu Intermediate implemented an Enrolment Zone from the beginning of the 2020 school year.

SCHOOL CARETAKER/GARDENER

We have a vacancy for a school Caretaker/Gardener, 35 hours/week.

The Board invites applications from parents who wish to enrol their children at Te Awamutu Intermediate in Year 7 for 2024. If the number of out-of-zone applications exceeds the number of places available, students will be selected by ballot.

Please email office@teawamutuint.school.nz for an application pack. Applications close February 21st

Closing date for out-of-zone applications is Friday 25th August 2023

Ballot, if required – Tuesday 29th August 2023

Applicants notified – Thursday 31st August 2023

Online enrolment forms for all students and details of our school zone will be available on our school website from Monday 24th July www.teawamutuint.school.nz

An Information Evening will be held for all prospective parents and students on Thursday 10th August 2023 at 6pm.

Parents of students who live within the school zone are strongly encouraged to apply by the above closing date to assist the school to plan appropriately for next year.

It just wasn’t cricket…

Te Awamutu town improvements met with approval. The pathway between Te Awamutu and the railway station had been considerably widened. Formerly only one person could, with comfort, walk on it, on account of its narrowness. The path had also been covered with sand. The footways in various parts of the town district had also been gravelled. A somewhat dangerous quagmire on the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi road, near Mr Mandeno’s farm, had been fascined. Enterprising townsmen Messrs Walton, Graham and Coulthard, of the Te Awamutu Roller Mill, had built a large store for grain near the mill. The interior of this store was well filled with sacks of wheat from floor to roof. Mr W Thompson had erected a neat little store for his seed and manure business near the Te Awamutu Library. Although the building was small, it was well built by Mr Mandeno, whose

ability as a tradesman was well known. These marks of progress showed that residents had not lost faith in the future of the place.

An unusual cricket match of ladies versus gentlemen took place at Alexandra where the gentlemen had to play with sticks, bowl with the left hand, and use only one hand in fielding. The ladies played in the usual manner and with proper bats. Despite the odds given to the ladies, the gentlemen were victorious, winning by five wickets and three runs. The ladies, however, were not disheartened at their defeat, and challenged the victors to another match the following week.

The new Town Board at Kihikihi, headed by an able and go-ahead chairman, was determined to utterly eradicate gorse, calling it a horrible and dangerous shrub. The clerk was instructed to prepare a list of owners on whose properties gorse and

briars were growing, with a view to prompt action being taken to compel them to clear their allotments. Mr Grace’s garden and orchard at Kihikihi, on the other hand, were seen as a ‘living poem of beauty.’ The trees were in full bloom, and the grounds, laid out with much taste, were under the care of a skilful gardener who tended the trees and shrubs, many of the latter being rare and beautiful. The site of the garden was one of the most commanding at Kihikihi and attracted much attention.

A fancy dress, skating and dance carnival at Ōhaupō’s public hall did not quite meet expectations. Only about half a dozen people dressed up and among them was only one woman. Miss Windsor was dressed as Nancy Lee*, a character which suited her very well, in fact, more than one gentleman was heard to remark that she looked quite bewitching. Among the men the one who attracted most attention was Mr Mackenzie who appeared as a Broken Down Irish Gentleman. After roller skating had been indulged in for some time dancing commenced and was kept up until about 4am, the music being supplied by the Te Awamutu band.

*Nancy Lee was a song about a devoted sailor’s wife.

Lighten up – it’s time for Bridge

By Viv Posselt

One of the biggest bridge events in the country and one likely to attract over 30 teams of six players each, comes to Waipā early next month.

The Cambridge Sixes will be held at Karāpiro’s Sir Don Rowlands Centre on August 5.

The Sixes has its roots in the Cambridge Bridge Club. It was started in 2013 with a view to growing the game in an environment where junior, intermediate and open players could mingle with ease. It is the biggest bridge event in the country after the New Zealand Bridge’s national congress.

Teams also compete for the ‘bestdressed’ award - last year, the theme

was ‘movies’ – this year, it is ‘sport’. Cambridge Bridge Club life members and those involved at the start of the Sixes, Clare Coles and Michael Neels, said the ‘dress-up’ element added a light-hearted side for teams that might ordinarily regard anything to do with bridge as deeply serious stuff.

Michael, a lifelong player, is the man who had the initial idea for the Sixes. It has since been adopted by a couple of other New Zealand clubs. He conceded it could be a ‘sobering game’ and said novice and junior players are often nervous about playing in tournaments, particularly where more senior players might be in attendance.

“The Sixes was designed in such a way as to bring a little fun into the game. Those taking part play at their

own level but are around players of different levels in a much less intimidating environment – that was the idea behind the Sixes.”

Clare said the Cambridge club had a sound reputation for being an innovative and solid club. “We have around 180 members and our numbers have remained steady, even through Covid.”

The pandemic had been a circuitbreaker for many clubs, Michael said, but by setting up an online option for players, Cambridge had come through it relatively unscathed.

Each team in the event has six players – one pair each of open, intermediate and junior players. It will be under the joint control of Murray Wiggins and wife Caroline Wiggins.

A rising Waikato town - view of Alexandra Street in Te Awamutu.

Watching the kākāpō

By Roy Pilott

Every step they take… DoC’s kākāpō “policeman” Petrus Hedman will be watching them.

The newest arrivals at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, four kākāpō from the deep south, will be monitored in their new environment.

Hedman will be doing the job for the next six weeks.

The kakapo are being monitored by radiotelemetry – they each have a unique channel and backpack transmitter – and a GPS datalogger that will monitor where they travel.

It’s hoped the maunga will eventually become a breeding ground for the endangered native parrot – but first 10 males will be acclimatised.

The birds were released on Wednesday last week with no small degree of fanfare. They were flown north after being picked up from Whenua Hou – Codfish Island - as part of an arrangement which involved an iwi to iwi transfer from Ngāi Tahu to Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Raukawa, Ngāti Hauā and Waikato.

The release followed a pōwhiri and signing of a memorandum of understanding at nearby Pohara marae.

Maungatautari’s Biodiversity team leader Janelle Ward told the gathering at Maungatautari “we can bring species back from the brink of extinction”.

She said the arrival of kākāpō had been 20 years in the making. It was the 15th species to be released into the sanctuary – and it would not be the last.

The handover of the birds – before a

gathering of about 100 people – saw two strong speeches from local body politicians.

Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, who told of her own family’s love of the Maungatautari project, called on the government to show more support for it.

Waipā District Council had helped fund the project for many years – but it needed more funding certainty from the Government and she lamented the fact that many people would not get the opportunity to enjoy the Maungatautari experience.

“No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced,” she said, quoting environmentalist David Attenborough.

Waikato Regional Council deputy chair and environmental professor Bruce Clarkson reminded the gathering that the Maungatautari project had also been about saving native flora.

“We’ve achieved massive improvements in habitat quality,” he said.

He listed the tree daisy – kohurangi, which possums had eaten on Maungatautari almost to extinction, the perfumed toropapa and the native clematis, puawhananga, which was showing signs of health in the maunga.

“You have achieved a high quality environment like it was 1000 years ago,” he told Maungatautari staff.

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It could be three or four years before female kākāpō are introduced to the sanctuary. Nationally their numbers have risen from 51 to 250 since 1995. If you don’t see them, you may hear them. Males boom in the breeding season can be heard up to a few kilometres away.

“We don’t yet know if the kakapo here at Maungatautari will start booming this summer or not but it is possible,” Ward said.

Wing and a prayer answered - Daryl Eason with one kākāpō released on Maungatautari.

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1. What is the most interesting part of your work/business day?

No two days are ever the same, and my day can change by the minute. I’m fascinated by the funeral industry, which is diverse, intriguing, and highly ful lling. I approach my role with dignity, sincerity and understanding. The families and loved ones of those they have lost always come rst; nothing is too much to ask.

2. What made you choose your current career?

I had previously worked in sales and factory roles, but always wanted to help people and their families. My journey started as a paramedic with Hato Hone St John, and then I found my calling as a funeral director. Both roles have been extremely ful lling for me.

3. How long have you been in business and what drives your success?

I acquired Grinter Funeral Services in 2016 and renamed the business Grinter’s Funeral Home. I then acquired Rosetown Family Funerals the following year. Both businesses are the only privately-owned/locally-owned funeral homes in Waipā, and we’ve served the communities of Waipā and Waikato for 33 years. We have a dedicated team of four and are driven to ease the stress of the funeral process for families, allowing them to focus on being together when they need each other most. Ensuring their loved ones get the send-o they deserve is why we come to work every day.

Jim Goddin

1. What is the most interesting part of your work/business day?

Working with talented sta who love newspapers.

Creating quality newspapers that are relevant to our communities and work for our advertisers.

2. What did you do before you became self-employed?

Worked in newspapers, private and publicly owned.

Worked in the UK in the digital/online space.

Jim Goddin, Funeral Director

4. What is the most challenging thing about your work?

Funerals for babies are hard. Losing a baby and needing to plan a funeral and burial is one of the most traumatic things any parent will ever have to go through, so we generally waive funeral costs for babies and do everything we can to support the family.

5. What other interests do you have?

Supporting the Waipā communities is very important to me. I try to be generous with my time and resources and gift countless hours every year to organisations I’m passionate about, including Hato Hone St John Cambridge, Cambridge Business Chamber, and as a Justice of the Peace. I also hold several governance roles, including Chair of Hato Hone St John, Cambridge Business Chamber, Funeral Director’s Association of New Zealand, and the Royal Federation of Justice of the Peace.

Last role was General Manager Waikato and Bay of Plenty region (two daily newspapers and ten community newspapers.

3. What inspired you to become selfemployed?

It gave me the freedom to make good decisions for sta and the business. It also allowed me to choose and make the best decisions for our sta . Accepting people as they are – people don’t have to t a box.

4. Did you have mentors throughout your career and how did they in uence your decision?

I had informal mentors through working for and with some excellent people.

I had great managers who were prepared to spend the time with me, share their learnings, and give me career opportunities.

5. Where did you study and what degrees do you hold?

I completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Business at the University of Auckland. I studied later in life and believe it was helpful but not essential. To be successful in work you need to enjoy learning new skills, can apply them to what you are doing, try new things, and of course get on with people you work with.

6. What drives you to succeed?

Providing for and spending time with my family, mountain biking, and skiing (when there is some snow!).

Celebrating Life - Your Way

We believe that each funeral service should be as unique as the life you are celebrating.

When a funeral is personalised, it creates a special space for sharing precious memories, telling stories, and simply being together with friends and family. Rosetown Funeral Home are dedicated to providing personalised and meaningful funeral services.

aspects of our

the people living here. We pride ourselves on keeping Cambridge and Te Awamutu locals connected with what’s going on in our neighbourhoods – whether it’s big news or small, if it’s important to the community then it’s important to us.

wide.

Jim Goddin, Funeral Director, Rosetown Funeral Home

Rosetown Funeral Home proudly serves the people of Te Awamutu, Ōtorohanga and the surrounding areas.

two days are ever the same for Te Awamutu-based businessman,

DAVID MACKENZIE

KIM JOHNSON Specialising in criminal and family law

Did you grow up in Te Awamutu?

Yes. I went to primary school at Puahue School, then attended Te Awamutu Intermediate School, Te Awamutu College and Hamilton Girls’ High School. I studied a Bachelor of Law, and Business Management at Waikato University.

What did you do before you became self-employed?

I spent over decade practising law in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. I specialised in Family and Criminal defence law and was involved in a vast range of work in those elds.

I represented clients in the Family, District, High Courts and Court of Appeal. I conducted a number of Jury Trials where I represented people who had committed really serious o ences. I became self-employed about a year ago.

What’s the most interesting, or challenging, part of your work?

A focus of my work is my role as lawyer for child. This role is a role for specially appointed lawyers where I represent children in court. This role is very interesting as I get to meet a vast range of children and advocate their views and what is in their best interests and welfare. That’s also a very challenging role.

What’s the most interesting part of your workday?

No two days are ever the same.

Every case is di erent and so you are applying the law in di erent ways to achieve the best outcome for your client.

What interests and hobbies do you have?

I’m a solo mum of two kids, aged three and four, so they take up most of my time – in the best way.

We live close to our family farm, so they love spending time there.

KELLY BAIR

Bailey Ingham Ltd Chartered Accountants

What advice would you give to a person considering opening up a new business?

Anyone starting a new business needs a genuine passion for their work. Passion is what allows you to push through when (if) times get tough. I would also suggest formulating a business plan with the assistance of your accountant to assist with due diligence both of the intended business and industry.

Sufficient working capital to get the business started and an ability to manage cashflow are fundamental. Sound communication and integration with your advisors (Accountant, Lawyer and Bank Manager) will be critical for making informed decisions and keeping the business moving forward.

Where did you study and what degrees/qualifications do you hold?

University of Waikato Bachelor of Management Studies Majoring in Accounting with First Class Honours. Chartered Accountant and Certificate of Public Practice (Institute Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand) What drives you to succeed? The success of clients and building financial security for their families. On a personal note role modelling a sound work ethic for our kids is also important to me.

What other interest/hobbies do you have?

Fitness, netball, outdoors and supporting our three children in their numerous sporting activities.

When did you know that this was the career you wanted?

I’ve always had a passion for numbers, which led to a work experience opportunity at Bailey Ingham when I was fourteen...the rest is history.

Since 1978 Bailey Ingham has been a one stop shop for all your

Since 1978 Bailey Ingham has been a one stop shop for all your financial needs.

Experts in providing farmers and businesses quality professional advice in all aspects of accounting and taxation planning

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Supporters of local community events

Contact

Experts in providing farmers and businesses quality professional advice in all aspects of accounting and taxation planning

SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

- including GST, FBT, Individual/Employer PAYE,

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Bailey Ingham Ltd

- Trust administration and advice

- Business administration including Companies

Office requirements

- Windups including company liquidations

Supporters of local community events

Chartered Accountants opened a branch in Te Awamutu seven and a half years ago to make things easy for their local clients and their locally based team of accountants.

The firm has its roots in Otorohanga, with branches in both Te Awamutu and Taumarunui offering a vast array of financial services.

The firm has a highly diverse client base, with well-established relationships in the rural, commercial, and business sectors.

CarolynPerrett

Contact the team for a FREE NO OBLIGATION INTERVIEW to discuss your financial 41 Bank St Te Awamutu 3800 Ph 07 870 1888 Email: ta@baileyingham.co.nz

Bailey Ingham has been providing quality service to its clients for the last 40 years and has a great team of accountants and support staff.

From the very first meeting, the Bailey Ingham team work to establish a clear understanding of your current financial position and future goals.

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Kidsare Write all

The Rollercoaster

Firstname: Makayla

Lastname: Huggard Class: 7 Age: 12

My heart was beating as fast as a cheetah racing around the eld. The rollercoaster came to a stop at the top. 3, 2, 1 … we dropped and then crept back up again. We screamed our lungs out. Finally our ride was over. It had been

awesome. Well, I thought so, not so much my family. They didn’t say it, but I could tell; my sister was puking in the toilet, my mum was crying, and my dad was frozen and pale as a ghost. Oh well, at least I had fun.

The Hamburger

Firstname: Lachie

Lastname: van Boven Class: 7 Age: 12

That burger sat there asking to be eaten, and I couldn’t eat it - it was my brother’s. Covered in stringy mozzarella, the cheese sank down o the crispy, brown beef

That Was Summer

Firstname: Tristan

Lastname: Ericksen

Class: 5 Age: 12

Remember how thrilled Ava was when she saw that the cookies and beer were gone?

Remember quickly scanning the huge pile of presents under the tree to read the nametags?

Remember how agonising it was having to wait for Auntie, Uncle and Nana to arrive?

Remember tearing at the paper and shouting with excitement when we saw the Laser Tag set?

Fishing With Dad

Firstname: Mason

Lastname: Bryant

Class: 4 Age: 12

“I reckon this is a good spot, Mate.” Dad drops the anchor, and I stare at the boats on Kawhia Harbour.

patty and onto the plate. Now was my chance. “It fell into my mouth,” I said to my brother. The burger had not disappointed.

What is a Million?

Firstname: Finn

Lastname: Morgan Class: 17 Age: 12

A million are the seagulls gathered outside the takeaway shop staring impatiently at my hot chips.

The litres of water in Lake Arapuni. The times I’ve catapulted o my board while attempting new tricks.

The piles of autumn leaves waiting for the wind to blow.

The times I’ve knowingly annoyed my older sister by leaving her bedroom door open.

The number of times I’m called to the living room to pass Mum the remote.

The times Mum suggests that I ‘slow down and enjoy’ my salmon sushi.

A million is the times I’ve heard Dad ask, “Finn… have you had a shower?”

That was summer.

Remember when Mum took us to Lake Rotoma?

Remember nagging her to take us for a swim?

Remember sprinting towards the lake and diving in?

Remember how icy-cold the water was?

Remember Mum ignoring our pleas to go back to the bach because she was enjoying her book?

That was summer.

The Fair

Firstname: Chloe

Lastname: Jacobsen Class: 7 Age: 13

Finally I’ve arrived at my rst ever fair. I thought nothing would stop me from having an outstanding time, but then came the rides! That drained all the joy and excitement out of my body, and in its place crept anxiousness - it was written all over my

face. I climbed aboard a rollercoaster that looked the slowest, with my mum and older brother. The cart started to move slowly, like I’d hoped, but then the ride went into rapid speed. Out of all three of us, I was the only one dying. The ride felt like it would never end. Then the cart came to a sudden stop. My head was spinning like a sh out of water. How do people enjoy this? I wondered.

Grabbing the bait board, I begin chopping up the smelly squid, trying not to breathe in too deeply. We drop our lines and patiently wait. “Five buck bet… who gets the biggest snapper?”

“You’re ON,” I reply.

Our peace and quiet is shattered

when two jet skiers zoom past our boat. “Blimmin hooligans… gonna scare the sh away!” Our dingy rocks vigorously over the wake. I push my feet onto the deck and hold on tight. “Mate, you alright? Lean over, eh… don’t you spew in my boat!”

This is a monthly page giving student’s from primary and intermediate schools the opportunity to have their writing published in their local community newspaper.

From Addams to mermaids

By Jeremy Smith

Te Awamutu College students will be to the fore –and looking to make a splash – in an upcoming inaugural National Youth Theatre performance in Hamilton.

After nearly two decades holding Aucklandbased programmes, the organisation is preparing to venture into the Waikato for the first time - and seven college students who have been honing their acting chops under the college’s head drama teacher, Morag Carter, have signed up to participate.

They are students Emily Brown, James Crowhurst, Lily Dixon, Faith Still, Millie Thackray, Martha Newland and Denzel Stevens, and all of them, bar one, were involved in the school’s production of The Addams Family: School Edition earlier this year.

Open to students aged seven to 18, the eight-week National Youth Theatre programme – the first workshop of which is scheduled for early next month - sees participants given acting, singing and dancing training, before culminating in an on-stage performance.

Participants aren’t pre-cast

in roles before workshops begin, rather, casting takes place throughout the course of the programme.

The Little Mermaid has been chosen as the show, and will hit the stage in early October at Hamilton’s Clarence St Theatre.

Morag described news of the show being The Little Mermaid as a “full circle” moment.

“I was part of the orchestra for Hamilton Operatic’s Hans Christian Anderson at Clarence St in 1996. That show featured a Little

Mermaid ballet. “How cool will it be to be able to see some of my students perform on the same stage.”

Ironically too, The Little Mermaid was the show which had been set to run at the college in 2020. But it

was cancelled due to Covid.

“In that sense”, Morag said, “it’s almost like these students get a second chance to be in the show which didn’t happen for them then.

“Sometimes there’s a silver lining somewhere along the way.”

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Morag was also delighted to see so many college students wanting to be involved in the Hamilton programme.

“Some of them hadn’t done a production before the school show, now they’re really keen for more opportunities.

“Working with the National Youth Theatre has come at exactly the right time. It’s the obvious next step.”

She added the parental support for the seven students’ aspirations was fantastic.

Meanwhile, Morag said an increasing number of theatre companies based in main centres like Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin were investigating holding Waikato programmes.

Auckland’s Massive Theatre Company and Red Leap Theatre were two examples, she said.

“That’s really cool for our students. In branching out, those companies will undoubtedly discover new up and coming acting talent and it’s fantastic that opportunity is becoming more readily available.

“It’s also great to see so many of them taking the leap,” she said.

Across 1. Fitness exercise (3,2)

4. Examine again (6)

8. Obvious (7)

9. Root vegetable (5)

10. Additional (5)

11. Coach (7)

12. Feel remorse (6)

14. Much derided hairstyle (6)

17. Help develop or grow (7)

Last week

19. Informal language (5)

21. Flooded (5)

22. Variety of whisky (7)

23. Edict (6)

24. Unhappy: down in the __ (5)

Down

1. Underground (12)

2. Cooked bread (5)

3. Pacify (7)

4. Spin (6)

5. A pleasing view (5)

6. Everlasting (7)

7. Spies (6,6) 13. Rubbish (7) 15. Rickety (7) 16. Weak (6) 18. Theatre attendant (5)

20. Book of photographs (5)

Across: 1. Pants, 4. Shanty, 7. Tap, 8. Gazebo, 9. Oblong, 10. Constellation, 14. Recur, 15. Cuffs, 18. Spending money, 23. Kimono, 24. Old boy, 25. War, 26. Spleen, 27. Eerie.

Down: 1. Piano, 2. Needs, 3. Stoned, 4. Spoils, 5. Allot, 6. Tango, 10. Cards, 11. Niche, 12. In fun, 13. Nasty, 16. Disown, 17. Ignore, 19. Primp, 20. Noose, 21. Order, 22. Evoke.

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Four of Te Awamutu College’s seven students who are set to take part in National Youth Theatre’s inaugural performance in Hamilton - from left, Lily Dixon, James Crowhurst, Emily Brown and Martha Newland.

Nothing fawlty about Cleese

By Jeremy Smith

There’s at least one similarity between this Cleese and his British actor namesake.

Like John, the Waipā gelding –part owned by Te Awamutu racing syndicate JSP – is clearly bringing joy to those watching him.

And the John Bell-trained fiveyear-old has his owners – some from Waipā, others elsewhere in New Zealand - excited about what’s ahead after Cleese notched his fifth win, heading the field at the Seeka Kiwifruit Cup held at Cambridge Jockey Club’s synthetic track at the end of June.

JSP is made up of Te Awamutu’s John and Shirley Maxted and manager Patsy Vermunt.

They have a five percent stake in Cleese, and the trio is still riding high following the cup.

Wet weather saw the race – planned to run at Taurangashifted to Cambridge.

Cleese achieved his first win in New Plymouth in 2021 and had won twice before at Cambridge.

Though as yet unsure of where and when Cleese’s next race will be, it’s becoming clear he thrives on a synthetic surface, John said.

The Seeka Kiwifruit Cup win also establishes a 100 percent win rate aboard Cleese for jockey Warren Kennedy.

At the cup, Kennedy - who emigrated to New Zealand from South Africa a little over a year ago - rode Cleese for the second time. His only other previous ride

aboard Cleese also resulted in a win, Kennedy’s first in New Zealand, at Te Rapa.

“It was so exciting,” Shirley said of the cup win.

“As Cleese came into the straight, I was jumping and down and crying tears of joy at the same time.”

“You get involved in racing for the love and joy of it,” John added.

“Part of what makes Cleese exciting to watch is that he’ll always try his best.

“Warren is an absolute gentleman. Before coming to New Zealand, he’d already proved himself a very capable jockey in South Africa. Now, he’s proving himself to be very capable out here as well.”

Matthew flies the flag

Sired by Sweet Orange, Patsy said Cleese is one of just four horses in the country from that blood line.

Two, she said, are in Cambridge, one is in the far north, the other in the South Island.

“Cleese is very special,” she said, also praising Kennedy’s professionalism.

“Warren has a great work ethic and the way he approaches every race is fantastic,” she said.

All three of Cleese’s Waipā contingent were also full of praise for everyone else involved with him, saying ownership is collaborative and “complete teamwork”.

“We have a fantastic team and love being involved,” John said.

By Jeremy Smith

As he lined up to compete at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Te Awamutu’s Matthew Smith had the words of coach Shelley Blair running through his mind.

“Every time you swim, give your all and aim to be the best you can be.”

Her advice, having coached Matthew as part of Special Olympics Te Awamutu swim team since 2010, clearly worked.

Matthew returned from Berlin this month with a medal, and set personal best times in every event he swam in, despite being hampered with a cold.

The Special Olympics World Summer Games draws about 7000 athletes from 190 countries.

Matthew, who has RussellSilver syndrome, a genetic growth disorder, was one of four New Zealand swimmers selected in the 40-strong Kiwi squad for Germany.

The 29-year-old competed in the 25m and 50m back stroke and 4x25m freestyle relay. He won a bronze medal in the relay and was fourth and seventh in his respective backstroke events.

He was also selected as a flag bearer for the New Zealand team at the closing ceremony and named a Special Olympics New Zealand athlete leader.

“The whole family was very proud of him,” mum Shirley told The News as she and Matthew sat poolside at the aquatic centre.

“I’d hoped to come back with any colour medal,” Matthew said.

“I wasn’t nervous, it was lots of fun. I’d absolutely love to go again.”

He already has his eyes on Christchurch’s 2025 Special Olympics National Summer Games.

Matthew learnt to swim at school in Ōtorohanga.

“It took him a while to get used to it,” Shirley said. “Eventually though, you couldn’t get him out of the pool. You still can’t.”

Matthew Smith at Livingstone Aquatic Centre with the bronze medal he won at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Te Awamutu’s JSP racing syndicate, from left, John Maxted, syndicate manager Patsy Vermunt and Shirley Maxted with the SEEKA Kiwifruit Cup.

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• Window and Door Repairs

Window and Door Repairs

Simon Whale 022 469 2423 waipaali@gmail.com www.waipaaluminium.co.nz

Simon Whale 022 469 2423 waipaali@gmail.com www.waipaaluminium.co.nz

Simon Whale 022 469 2423 waipaali@gmail.com www.waipaaluminium.co.nz

Simon Whale 022 469 2423 waipaali@gmail.com www.waipaaluminium.co.nz

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