Cambridge News | August 3, 2023

‘Momentum’ in Waipā

Leading economist Brad Olsen has told Waipā residents to prepare for fewer infrastructural projects in the short term across the district because of huge increases in the costs of building roads, bridges and footpaths.

Talking to councillors at a workshop before the Strategic Planning and Policy committee meeting this week, the Infometrics expert said his company was increasingly telling councils to have a greater level of priority.

“That means a difficult and important conversation with your communities.”

Do the top five (projects) and the

six to 10 would have to wait.

“It means saying no to some stuff,” he said.

But elsewhere in the presentation, Olsen was generally positive about the outlook for the district in his fifth annual State of the Nation address for Waipā.

Spending is up and “there are now clear economic indicators, more people, they’re excited, they’re energised.”

While the district had a lot of economic activity coming through – thanks to the investment in industrial and commercial areas in places like the airport – increasingly other districts were being seen as

attractive.

South Waikato was one district providing competition.

“Waipā did avoid the much larger hit that the national economy did during Covid. There is a lot of momentum behind the Waipā economy.”

He said that included strong levels of employment growth, particularly among Māori which was up eight per cent. Total growth of 3.1 per cent was double the national average.

The district has the 14th best economic outcome among all 63 territorial authorities but those ahead of Waipā – like Waimate in the South Island - were coming from a

lower base, said Olsen.

Employment in the primary industries, construction, manufacturing, retail and science and technology leads the way.

Having those technical services in fifth position was good news for Waipā because it is a group that increasingly works from home and chooses to live in this district, he said.

Accommodation, food services, education and health were growing.

House prices in the district had not declined as much as other districts and importantly were now above 2021 but lower sales levels

Continued on page 2

Butch heads race merger

River ride success

Waipā aircraft head for PNG

A fire alarm interrupted Waipā councillors’ questions to economist Brad Olsen following his State of the Nation speech this week, but it provided time for an interview with senior writer Mary Anne Gill.

Brad Olsen kicked into the Waipā District Council carpark during a fire alarm this week.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

MARKET Cambridge Lions

Students press for stories

Wintec School of Media Arts students are spending time in Waipā as part of their studies. The students’ regular class with tutor Roy Pilott - who edits both the Cambridge News and Te Awamutu News – are being held in Waipā each Thursday.

Pilott is assigning students stories to follow up – and they may appear in either or both of the Good Local Media publications and on line.

in Waipā

Last week a group was door knocking to follow up our story on a reader’s call to review street names in Waipā – Cambridge Road in particular, because in some cases they were disjointed and in others change from being a street to a road.

The journalism course at Wintec has other links to Good Local Media – present and past reporters Jeremy Smith and Benjamin Wilson both graduated from there.

Continued from page 1

came from increased borrowing pressure from banks.

Olsen told The News “continued levels of growth” had marked his tenure as the council’s economic advisor.

“Waipā was already in a strong position for the pandemic with the primary sector a big part of that and so to was high level of construction and investment over the area.”

The unlocking of Waikato Expressway added to that.

‘Waipā’s one of the strongest economies we’ve got. It’s come into its own right now, it’s seen as a destination, a place people want to move to, it’s got great lifestyle opportunities and affordability.”

A lot of the things people don’t want, stays in the metros, he said.

He was not surprised at the number of retirement villages either built or under construction saying it represented a lifestyle change for people, but he warned the way population growth was happening, there would not be as many younger people to care for them.

“It’s going to be difficult to resource the population to the same degree, that means we think about the investments now into the technology.”

Olsen is not old enough to have teenagers preparing for a future but if he did, he would be pointing them towards the professional services such as IT and technology.

“The primary sector still has a lot of opportunity, that is our bread and butter a lot of the time. Thinking about how to diversify.

“We know climate change is coming we know there are adjustments happening over time but is there diversification for the Waipā district into horticulture, or into some of the agritech or advance manufacturing. There are opportunities there,” said Olsen.

I’m starting this column with good news.

Last weekend the team received a complaint of vehicles doing burnouts in the Swayne Road area. As a result of evidence provided by the public, investigations led to the impoundment of three vehicles involved. Their drivers were identified and are being held to account for their actions. Burnouts and similar activity cause disruption and disturbance in our community. Not only do they cause noise and air pollution, they damage the roads and put safety at risk. The Land Transport Act 1998 makes it an offence to operate a vehicle in a way causing a sustained loss of traction (wheel spinning).

As always, the more information we can get on offending the better. If you see a vehicle doing burnouts, note the registration, vehicle description and what it is doing. CCTV/a video recording is great evidence too. For police to take action, you must be willing to make a formal statement to police with the potential of giving evidence in court if an offender pleads not guilty. Remember,

without a witness, such offending can’t be proven in court.

Next, I’m continuing my trend of highlighting our different work groups. Did you know that we have a team of staff at Cambridge dedicated to ensuring the safety of commercial vehicles travelling our roads? The Commercial Vehicle Safety Team members are dedicated to policing commercial vehicles (trucks and buses). Key considerations are fatigue, manner of driving, weights, load security, dangerous goods and driver licensing. In addition, they attend serious and fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles and assist the Serious Crash Unit.

With commercial vehicles being heavy vehicles, the impact of an insecure or overweight load can be significant for vehicle handling and mechanics. This can also cause damage to the roading network. When responding to a truck driving complaint recently, Commercial Vehicle Safety Team staff found the front

axle loading of the truck involved was 3 tonne overweight. This had bearing on safety and wear on the truck. Commercial drivers are bound by driving hour regulations to manage driver fatigue. This is monitored through legally required logbook entries. In one recent case, the driver of a truck seen weaving on the road, was found to be fatigued and at the limit of his allowable hours. He was forbidden until an appropriate break was had.

Just with small motor vehicles, driver speed, restraints and distractions (for example cellphones) remain key concerns. Due to their weight, the impact of poor decision making resulting in a crash has far greater consequences for road users when a commercial vehicle is involved. While most trucking companies are compliant with regulations, some continue to breach them for their own gain. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Team is dedicated to identifying and taking action against such offenders.

‘n’ Treasure”

Some of the Wintec students who are learning the ropes in Waipā – back from left, Benji Allen, Oliver Healey, Lachlan Douglas and Tori Post, front Sarah Morcom, Ethan Bennett, Ollie Newport and Ronella Felizardo.

Chambers to gather

Prime Minster Chris Hipkins and National leader Christopher Luxon will attend breakfast events in Hamilton when the Waikato Chamber hosts the national Chambers of Commerce conference next month.

Quickfall leaves

District Plan and Growth manager Tony Quickfall is leaving Waipā District Council after four years for a position at the Ōtorohanga District Council. Quickfall was involved in Civil Defence emergency management deployments during Cyclone Gabrielle early this year. The council is also advertising for an Economic Development advisor to replace Steve Tritt who left in April.

Future planning

Waipā District Council wants up to 45 people to be part of a gathering of residents, staff and experts to share knowledge, collaborate and generate ideas on complex issues. The initiative is part of Ahu Ake – Waipā Community Spatial Plan – which is a blueprint for the district’s future. Participants will attend online and face-to-face workshops in September and October.

New livestream

Waipā council has installed two new livestream cameras in its Te Awamutu chambers complete with new microphones for coun-cillors. The upgrades, costing about $116,000, will also eventually enable viewers to watch Cambridge Community Board meetings live.

Cambridge online

It was all about Monty in cambridgenews.nz online stats last month. While the home page led the way with 17 per cent of page views, Monty, the therapy horse, followed in second, fifth and sixth places making his story the best read on our website. The online version of our newspaper was third while Hautapu winning the Waikato rugby championship came in fourth.

Racing, together, this time…

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā’s two racing clubs in Te Awamutu and Cambridge have joined forces with the big city Waikato club in Hamilton to become one multimillion dollar super entity called Waikato Thoroughbred Racing.

The mega club’s first meeting was held yesterday (Wednesday) in Cambridge on the synthetic surface which chief executive Butch Castles says is one of many reasons the new organisation has good reason to look forward with optimism.

Cambridge Jockey, Waipā and Waikato Racing clubs merged into one on Tuesday (August 1), the same day every racehorse in the country celebrated their birthdays. Now it’s the new club’s birthday too and the start of a fresh financial year.

Its first test as a club was trials on Tuesday at Te Rapa where Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker had more than 70 horses trialling for upcoming spring campaigns.

The three clubs owned hundreds of hectares of prime Waikato land with the turnover on their balance sheets in the millions of dollars every year.

But they each brought something special into the mix including 25 full time staff and training facilities arguably the leading ones in Australasia.

Waipā in Te Awamutu, founded in 1915, enjoyed many years of racing before becoming solely a training and trialling venue three years ago. It has a 1650m grass track with a 300m straight and is home to more than 200 horses who use the swimming pool, grass and sand tracks.

Cambridge Jockey Club started as a low-key picnic racing club in 1944 and is now Australasia’s

biggest and the country’s leading training venue. Its synthetic track - opened in 2021 - was the first in New Zealand and partially funded as part of the Covid recovery initiatives.

Now the club hosts more than 300 horses who use an equine swimming pool and train on the synthetic and grass surfaces and a steeplechase track. There are 15 race and 20 trial meetings a year.

Waikato Racing Club at Te Rapa in Hamilton came into existence in 1924, runs 20 meetings a year and is the flagship course for the region. Up to 100 horses train there and its steeplechase

course provides spectacular viewing.

Chunks of the course have been developed in recent years into retirement villages and commercial activities. A plan change under consideration by Hamilton City Council will unlock 6ha for further housing.

Its last meeting as Waikato Racing Club at Te Rapa was the Taumarunui Racing Club’s event on Saturday with the feature Gold Cup won by Enchanted Elle and ridden by up and coming Cambridge apprentice jockey Jessica Allen.

Andy Cruickshank who was the Cambridge chief executive now becomes chief operating officer and while still based in the town, will be working out of Te Awamutu and Hamilton on a regular basis.

But don’t expect to see any new logo or changes to livery immediately.

“To start with it’s about making sure we are operational from the backroom stuff. Making sure all the financial stuff is under control,” said Castles.

“There’s great benefit in pooling resources.

“It’s a change, a leap of faith by all our members to do this.”

It had been talked about for a long, long time but the catalyst came when Counties and Auckland racing clubs became Auckland Thoroughbred Racing in August 2021.

If they could do it, so could Waikato.

“For it to finally come about (here) is great. The biggest positive is we will be able to make the decisions into the future for the betterment of racing in the region,” said Castles.

Decisions like where there might be a greenfields’ racing surface and whether other clubs like Matamata and Te Aroha might want to join in.

“These three clubs were a natural fit.

“We need to bed this in and make sure Waikato Thoroughbred Racing Club is something other clubs might want to join,” said Castles.

Cambridge Jockey Club president Bruce Harvey with chief executive Andy Cruickshank pictured last month with the 2023 Melbourne Cup.

Cambridge apprentice jockey Jess Allen, who won the Gold Cup on Enchanted Elle at the Taumarunui Racing club’s meeting on the Te Rapa course on Saturday, is pictured in June aboard Kai on the Cambridge Jockey Club’s synthetic track.

Toby's making his mark

By Mary Anne Gill

When someone from the crowd yelled out “he’s our future” and “let him speak”, Toby Whytock was quick to grab the microphone and put National Party leader Christopher Luxon on the spot at a public meeting in the Cambridge Town Hall on Monday night.

“Where do you stand on cogovernance and I’ve read through your policies and while it’s great that you plan to build more houses, are you planning to build these on good productive food producing land or around more city centres?”

The 13-year-old St Paul’s Collegiate student from Puahue, midway between Cambridge and Te Awamutu, got a resounding reception from the 500 people present at the public meeting.

“All of you, do not give up on our young people because there I think we have a future member of parliament in Taupō,” Luxon said turning to the incumbent Louise Upston and telling her 2045 might be a good time for her to stand down in favour of Toby.

“We do not support cogovernance in public services,” he told the Year Nine student.

Housing development would come in two ways – by building cities up and intensifying them, creating transport hubs and having dense areas with apartment blocks and “great places for young people to want to live.”

“We are going to need some greenfields development because roading and road networks enable and empower a whole bunch of housing development to happen. If we do SH29 from Tauranga to Hamilton and Southern Links –that’s about 18,000 houses when we put that roading system in. It opens up new areas and builds up new suburbs,” he said.

The top five percent of the country’s fertile, really important soils for growers, would be protected, he said.

The meeting started with Upston who said she had a highlight for the crowd from earlier in the day revealing that at the launch of the National Transport for the Future policy, the Cambridge to Piarere

extension was top of the list.

“Having had that road cancelled, it is now back on the list. Not only is it back on the list but we will start it in the next one to three years.”

Then to add to their delight, she said “back in page 28, in the longer term projects for investigation, is the third bridge for Cambridge.”

It was the perfect way to kick off the meeting.

Luxon said he was shocked to see so many people.

He acknowledged Upston, an “outstanding MP who knows the community so well.”

She advocated strongly for the Cambridge roading projects in the plan, he said.

Luxon went on to spell out his

vision for New Zealand before taking questions from the floor.

They varied from a Cambridge High School science teacher asking if National would get serious about science in the curriculum, to challenges in the courts, delays in Resource Management Act consenting, mental health, vaccination mandates, gun measures, climate change, freedom of speech, lockdowns and road charges.

“I appreciate there will be answers I’ve given that some of you will say ‘no, I disagree with that strongly’ and I think in New Zealand we can actually find a way to disagree without being disagreeable, as my grandmother used to say.

“We want to maintain our civility.

“We have a great country, we can get it sorted, we can get it turned around and we can get it back on track,” said Luxon who mingled with the crowd before speaking to The News about the infrastructure announcements made earlier in the day.

“We want a four lane highway from Tauranga through Hamilton on the way to Auckland and up to Whangārei.”

The first two projects would be Cambridge to Piarere and Whangārei to Marsden Point – both in the first term.

SH29 Tauranga through to Hamilton would be next as would ways to navigate the Kaimai Ranges.

The $24 billion would be less than the $30 billion on Auckland light rail and provide a comprehensive transport plan, he said.

Southern Links – the $600 million transport network linking SH3 from Kahikatea Drive in Hamilton through to SH1 in Tamahere –would be back on, he said.

“That will create commercial, residential and industrial opportunities.”

Luxon would not be drawn on what role Upston would have in a National government. “She’s a critical part of our team and our focus is on winning the election.”

• See cambridgenews.nz for more photos and a video from the meeting.

DOUBT A PARABLE by

Cambridge Repertory Society steps back to the 1960s in their next show, opening on August 5th. Doubt: A Parable, by John Patrick Shanley is set to be a not to miss production - with the cast all delving into the depths of their character for strength, conviction, imagery and nuance. Have you ever held a position in an argument past the point of comfort? This is one of the questions Shanley asks in his preface of Doubt. With passionate con ict, Doubt is an investigation of truth and consequence, suspicion and tolerance.

A priest at odds with rumours, perceptions, and a changing church in this recipient of the Tony Award for Best Play and Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (and 5 Oscar nominations for the movie starring Meryl Streep, Philip

Tickets: $30 GASLIGHT.NZ Paperplus Cambridge

Amy Adams and Viola Davis).

In this brilliant and powerful drama, Sister Aloysius, a Catholic school principal, takes matters into her own hands when she suspects the young Father Flynn of improper relations with one of the male students. Doubt surrounds the characters as we progress through the show, and it is the viewer who decides for themself if the priest is innocent, or guilty.

Starring Glen Mathews, Janine Swainson, Dallas Dams and Patricia Wichman. Directed by Tracey Barlow

Venue: Gaslight Theatre

-

Seymour-Hoffman,

Cambridge Repertory Society Presents

Janine Swainson

John Patrick Shanley

National Party leader Christopher Luxon with St Paul’s Collegiate Year Nine students, Toby Whytock, left, and Troy Poole, right at the public meeting in Cambridge Town Hall this week.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

We apologise for the inconvenience! Don’t forget you can access e-resources and databases 24/7 via our website

Riding off

By Mary Anne Gill

More than 1300 people participated in the inaugural Te Awa River Night Ride on Saturday.

Te Awa River Ride Charitable Trust trail manager Sarah Ulmer said she and the trust were “chuffed” with the numbers and the community support.

“Now we have finished the construction phase of the 65km path, we are focussed on creating outstanding user experiences along the full length of Te Awa and events like the Light Night is one example of this.”

There were loads of positives taken from the event and even more ideas.

“We would love to run this every year,” she said.

Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley, who helped out on the craft stand, said the organisers did an “absolutely amazing job transforming the river trail into a magical and unique journey.”

It was “awesome” to see so many members of the community come and be able to experience such a great event right on their doorstep.

“The whole night was a total success and I know my kids and I can’t wait for the next one.”

• Check out more photos and a video cambridgenews.nz

COMMUNITY ENERGY PROJECTS

At Waipā Networks, we believe in supporting our customers to be energy-efficient and helping them to reduce electricity costs. We’ve launched two essential initiatives for this winter – Energy Assessments and Winter Warmer Packs.

Energy Assessments

In collaboration with Ecobulb, a Christchurch-based company dedicated to “saving enough electricity to power New Zealand for a year”, our Energy Assessment Programme provides personalised energy-saving actions to our valued Waipā Networks customers. The programme includes helping you find the lowest-cost electricity retail plan and providing Ecobulb LED lightbulbs and energy-efficient showerheads to make your home warmer and more energy efficient. Discover how to save on energy costs by registering yourself or someone else for an Energy Assessment: https://bit.ly/43CGOMC.

Winter Warmer Packs

We’ve worked with local businesses to put together Winter Warmer Packs are full of items designed to provide some extra warmth this winter for those who need it. Nominate yourself, someone in your community or a family to receive one of our limited packs: https://bit.ly/3Y4CRPC. Thanks to our Winter Warmer Pack Partners, Isparx Electrical, FreshChoice Leamington, Lime Group, Ingham Motors Te Awamutu, Fairview Motors Cambridge, Fonterra, Bays Print Management and The Warehouse Te Awamutu.

Let’s work together to save energy and stay warm this winter!

talk2us@waipanetworks.co.nz

0800 800 769

waipanetworks.co.nz

First stop: Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley, second left, at the craft stand with from left James Davies-Colley, James Macdiarmid, Emily Cameron, Molly Macdiarmid and Lily Cameron.

Photos: Mary Anne Gill.

below

in the family: Andrew, Jacob, 7, Ethan, 5, Amelia, 9, (all Cambridge East School) and Sarah Brown at the Velodrome end of the Te Awa River Ride Light Night.

Cycleway barista: Miriam Ellis and her Cycle Coffee Company cart at the end of the night ride underneath the Velodrome, was doing a roaring trade in hot chocolates and chocolate fish.

Kiwifruit rules under review

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā District Council is looking to make changes to its District Plan to accommodate a burgeoning kiwifruit industry while at the same time residents are taking council to the Environment Court over the council’s decision to let a Parallel Road kiwifruit operation proceed.

Councillors were briefed about the kiwifruit plan changes at a secret workshop held after the council meeting on June 30. Details of the briefing were revealed on page 154 of the Strategic Planning and Policy committee agenda this week, but the earlier workshop was not publicly notified.

Earlier this year Nick and Vanessa Jennings filed papers in the Environment Court at Auckland against the council, saying its decision to allow a kiwifruit orchard to proceed next to their property in Ōhaupō produced a “poor resource management outcome.”

They argue it was a flawed independent commissioner’s decision to grant retrospective applications to build kiwifruit shelter structures and boundary setback planning.

Jennings this week told The News despite recent mediation talks between the kiwifruit operator, the council and him, the court case was still going ahead. He said the action has cost him $120,000.

At the closed door workshop, planners told councillors they were proposing changes to shelter belt rules – changing the wording around height - and reducing yard setbacks for crop protection structures.

The structures would be exempt from building coverage calculations and standards and be either green or black in colour to minimise visual effects.

In the days leading up to the workshop, a council planner contacted the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated for help saying the council was aware of kiwifruit expansion in the district.

In a newsletter to its members, the kiwifruit growers’ organisation said the council was reviewing its District Plan rules “to best reflect this shift in the utilisation of rural land”.

“More specifically, they are looking at the shelterbelt planting rule; rural zone boundary setback and building coverage rules as applied to shade cloth structures, and colour standards for shade cloth structures,” the newsletter said.

The council wanted to understand the perspectives of kiwifruit growers and the difficulties they encountered with the Waipā District Plan, said Wayne Allan, Waipā District Growth and Regulatory Services group manager.

He said staff wanted an insight

from the kiwifruit growers’ group on the shift from pastoral to horticultural land.

No other interested parties appear to have been approached.

“None of them have come to me or my lawyer,” said Nick Jennings. But Allan said it would have been inappropriate to consult with any party involved in an appeal before the courts.

The News asked Allan why the June workshop was held in secret.

“There are ongoing legal processes (with council as a party) which touch on issues of crop protection structures. It was not appropriate to hold this workshop in public,” he said.

“Nor is it unusual for workshops around potential changes to district plans to be held in a publicly excluded setting, given proposed changes to district plans can

Consents up

The number of land use and subdivision consents lodged with Waipā District Council in the three months ended June 30 was up by one on the previous quarter. Land Information Memorandums (LIMs) were also up, from 223 to 237.

Building down

Building consents fell by 81 to 471 in the Waipā district in the quarter ended June 30. The value of the work was $88.84 million compared to $209.83 million in the same three month period last year.

Careers expo

impact on property values.”

The kiwifruit changes were among 10 he tabled at the Strategic committee this week.

The others include solar power, quarry buffers, hazardous substances, events at the Cambridge Town Hall, animal nuisance provisions, light spill/ glare and noise.

“Whilst the scope does include a number of items, these are predominantly ‘minor’ in nature and unlikely to create contention and delays,” he said in the report.

The cost to make the changes is $28,000. A further workshop with elected members is planned in mid-September and the plan change is expected to be notified in November/December.

Then all stakeholders are able to contribute to the proposals via a formal process.

St Peter’s School and Cambridge High School have teamed up to run a careers expo at the Cambridge Town Hall today (August 3). The event will showcase about 40 exhibitors.

Bridge work

The repainting of the 116-year-old Victoria Street Bridge in Cambridge has reached the halfway point. The project, which also includes carrying out minor maintenance, is expected to be complete by early to mid-2024.

Parking infringements

Drivers continue to test the council’s patience by overstaying their time parking in Cambridge and Te Awamutu’s central business districts. Waipā parking officers issued 187 parking infringement notices during the three months ended June 30, well up on last year. Five littering infringements were also issued.

Waipā is becoming a popular destination for kiwifruit growers.

Hand over for new aircraft Like father, like son

By Jeremy Smith

The second of two aircraft purpose built in Waipā specifically to bolster the Papua New Guinea Defence Force will be in nation’s skies before the end of the month.

The latest aircraft completed at Hamilton Airport-based NZSkydive – a PAC 750XL utility aircraft overseen to a large degree by staff from both Cambridge and Te Awamutu – passed a return test flight with “flying colours” last Friday, before being handed over to representatives of its new owners, the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).

It is one of just 30 fixed wing aircraft manufacturers and NZSkydive staff who worked on the aircraft watched as it was gifted as part of a strategic partnership between the Australian Defence Force and their Papua New Guinea counterparts.

The initiative includes joint training and capacity building activities, aviation safety and maintenance.

The two PAC 750XL were purchased by the Commonwealth of Australia and gifted to

Papua New Guinea –they’re also the first two aircraft completed at NZSkydive since it began manufacturing on the former Pacific Aerospace site last March.

The PAC 750XL was first designed on the current NZSkydive site in Hamilton 20 years ago –and more than 120 have been built since.

Once in Papua New Guinea, the newest PAC 750XL will carry personnel, freight, undertake supply and personnel drops and be part of a pilot and maintenance training fleet, enabling the PNGDF to increase its operational capabilities.

Canberra-based PNGDF Attaché, or advisor, to Australia, Colonel Siale Diro, and PNGDF defence adviser Tony Aseavu accepted the newest PAC 750XL from the Commonwealth of Australia, represented by Australia’s PNG Sovereign Air Capability programme director, group Captain Stephen Fielder, at a ceremony last Friday.

Waikato District councillors Crystal Beavis and Mike Keir, Waipā District Pironga-Kakepuku Ward councillor Bruce

Thomas and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Employers and Manufacturers Association representatives were also present.

NZSkydive owners Dee Bond and Neil Young also watched on.

NZSkydive CEO Stephen Burrows said the company was proud to be part of last Friday’s handover.

The first of the two aircraft was gifted in March – with each build project representing roughly 12,000

man hours – about 24 weeks, he said.

“The two aircraft represent the start of a new era for the Papua New Guinea Defence Force,” Burrows said.

Returning from the aircraft’s test flight, Colonel Diro said it was a “fantastic day”.

About 80 percent of Papua New Guinea’s population, he said, live in rural areas with remote airstrips.

“We’re required to be

able to access those in our population who live in those remote areas.”

Able to take off in 220m even when fully loaded, and land in just 166m, the Pac 750XL can also uplift more than its own weight.

“It’s capabilities and versatility like that which make it perfect for Papua New Guinea,” Colonel Diro said.

“NZSkydive is right up there with the best in the world. I’m amazed by the quality of work done here.”

Motorcycle Training Day

Many of the nearly 50 people employed by NZSkydive worked on the newest PAC750XL.

Key among them was Cambridge’s Lucas Cronin. He is now the production supervisor and most of his 14 years of industry experience has been in avionics, essentially an aircraft’s instrumentation.

Lucas’ father worked in the industry for more than four decades, and sparked his son’s initial interest.

The PAC 750XL’s main electrical loom alone takes three weeks to complete, Lucas said.

“It’s pretty special to reflect on how a raw material rolls in the back door and – ultimately - flies out the front. It’s a great industry.”

More than 700 aircraft have been manufactured on the NZSkydive site over a 70 years period and 400 still fly today.

It is planned to continue building five new aircraft on site annually.

Pictured with the new PAC 750XL is from left, Canberra-based Papua New Guinea Defence Force Attaché, or advisor, to Australia, Colonel Siale Diro, flight lieutenant James Brennan, Group Captain Stephen Fielder, representing the Commonwealth of Australia, NZSkydive chief Stephen Burrows, PNG Defence Force air capability officer lieutenant colonel Douglas Vavar and PNG Defence Force defence adviser Colonel Tony Aseavu.

Lucas Cronin is NZSkydive’s production supervisor.

A disconnected debate

The 2023 election campaign is well and truly underway and the various parties have been revealing their policy platforms.

What has struck me as both interesting and concerning is the huge disconnect between two of the most important policy areas. The first debate centres on the areas that are suffering because of past underfunding by successive governments. Health, roading and the universities are three such areas already identified and others will probably appear during the campaign.

Most political parties seem to accept that these shortfalls are real and are serious. Their main area of disagreement is whose fault it is.

The second debate centres on taxation. Given the large shortfalls in government expenditure identified in the first debate, I would have expected the second debate to focus on how these shortfalls should be funded. But most of the taxation debate has been either been about reducing certain taxes or ruling out the imposition of others. Most households know what would happen to their financial position if they spent more but earned less. The same simple arithmetic applies to governments.

By Peter Nicholl

Two taxation areas that have got a lot of early attention in the campaign are a capital gains tax and exempting certain items, like basic food, from GST. Internationally, New Zealand is in a minority on both of these tax issues. I said in an earlier column that New Zealand is one of only about 30 countries in the world that doesn’t have some form of capital gains tax and most of the other countries that don’t are very small.

I said it was inevitable that New Zealand would have to follow suit and the only question was when. Recent surveys have shown that a majority of New Zealanders support the idea of some form of capital gains tax.

Despite that, the two main parties have ruled a capital gains tax out for this election. I don’t understand their logic either on economic or political grounds. Delaying the inevitable seldom makes for good policy.

With regard to GST on food, most other OECD countries also either exempt food, apply a zero-rate or apply reduced rates. The New Zealand GST system is certainly simpler than that in most other countries and that does have cost and efficiency

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

benefits. The critics of a GST exemption for food also argue that there are more efficient ways to support low-income households. This is also correct.

The simple and most efficient way of giving such support would be giving direct cash handouts to those families.

But giving support in this way may not be as widely accepted publicly as removing GST on basic foods. That’s probably why most other OECD countries have taken GST off food despite the efficiency arguments.

The recent New Zealand surveys show that an even bigger majority of the New Zealand public support taking GST off food than they do the capital gains tax.

The one thing that can be said about the New Zealand tax system is that while it has no capital gains tax and imposes GST on basic foods, it is one of the most regressive tax systems amongst the OECD countries. That should be a major part of the debate on taxation during the current election campaign – but it doesn’t look like it will be.

Briefs…

Job done

The first turnaround bay, part of safety improvements on State Highway 1 between Cambridge and Piarere, has been completed. The work at the intersection of Hydro Road, was finished ahead of schedule.

Company fined

A Te Kuiti dairy company has been fined $32,500 over its failure to notify National Animal Identification and Tracing that it was moving 910 cattle onto its farm, the Ministry for Primary Industries has announced. Rangitoto Dairies Ltd, which operates a dairy and beef farm business at Te Kuiti, had pleaded guilty to a representative charge.

Doggy poo

The appointment of a new contractor is expected to see the number of complaints to the council lessen about full dog poo bins not being emptied regularly. Cambridge and Leamington seemed to be the areas most affected.

Waipā winner

A project by Waipā based Lee Turner Architecture was one of three from Waikato recognised at the regional architectural design awards ceremony in Tauranga. Soaring Box House, in Whatawhata, won the Cambridge based company the Regional Resene Colour in Design Award.

Upcoming lectures:

Dr Fahima Saeid –Looking backward and moving forward

Friday 11 August 2023 (10 for 10.30 – 12.00)

The Woolshed, Te Awa Lifecare 1866 Cambridge Road Cambridge. Register online at www.u3acambridge.org.nz or Ring Carole on 021 401 951

Price: Members free (Membership $30 per annum, nancial year starts 1st April).

Improving dialogue

By Crystal Beavis, Waikato District councillor, Tamahere-Woodlands Ward

Trees down, roads closed, electricity outages, slips and flooding – we’ve experienced it all in parts of the Waikato District this year because of Cyclone Gabrielle and other wild weather events.

Just a month ago, torrential rain and flooding closed SH26 near Eureka and forced homeowners to evacuate, or be ready to do so.

These unexpected weather events are likely to become more commonplace because of climate change.

Recovery can take longer than anticipated from a widespread event. Parts of the Tamahere-Woodlands Ward were without electricity for two days after Cyclone Gabrielle because outages across the district stretched restoration efforts far beyond normal. In the north of the district, some houses in Port Waikato are still red-stickered.

Waikato District Council’s vision that we work together to build liveable, thriving, and connected communities is a vision that needs to encompass good times and bad.

As a community we need to plan for those unexpected events so that we know how we can pull together to help our neighbours and ourselves get through emergencies.

Council staff provide the core civil defence emergency management team for the district – and they train for the roles they take on. They also form part of the emergency management group for the wider Waikato region. However, localised emergency preparation and procedures can be considerably assisted by community groups and local volunteers with local knowledge.

Where do you direct people to go if they need to evacuate their homes? Who can supply food and bedding if it’s required?

Who might need access to special care provisions?

When a disaster strikes, some communities may need to look after themselves for a while if emergency services can’t get through or if other communities must take priority. A ‘Community Response Plan’ can help to reduce the risk to people and property in your community.

The council would like to support communities who are willing to develop local ‘Community Response Plans’ to identify the potential hazards to prepare for, and the local resources and people who might be available in an emergency.

Templates for developing a local Community Response Plan have been distributed to hall and community committees in the Tamahere-Woodlands Ward to start the conversation. Not all communities may be ready to take this step, but if you would like to be involved, please get in touch with your local community committee.

Rural industry provides the backbone of our economy, and the census tells us that 60 per cent of our district population is ‘remote/rural’ compared with 14.4 per cent of the national population.

With that in mind, the council is in the early stages of establishing a rural economic advisory panel to strengthen the rural voice on council matters. The panel will include representatives of the farming and rural business communities, as well as rural services and support organisations such as Rural Women NZ. An inaugural meeting has been held to establish terms of reference for the panel.

By Murray Smith, Bridges Church

During my high school years, I shared classes with an awkward fellow student who struggled socially. Often called a derisive nickname, he was never celebrated. I felt bad for him as he had many likeable traits. He was actually a really decent guy, exceptionally clever with maths - and I wasn’t. He showed me patience and often helped me.

Years later I learned he’d long departed New Zealand and become a highly respected physicist in America. Then somewhat more recently, I heard that as a professor in rocket science, he worked for NASA.

That news delighted me… he’d actually done remarkable things with his life. As a youth who had been under-rated, a victim of superficial judgments and an outcast from the ‘in set,’ he showed everyone what he carried as a fine human being and exceptionally gifted man. How important it is to see good in others, recognising their potential - never judging negatively or imposing foregone conclusions that are potentially completely inaccurate.

I’ve enjoyed a popular television programme called the Antiques Roadshow. It’s aired for decades across Britain, travelling to other nations bringing together specialists to appraise antique and fine art items. I remember seeing a young woman present a family heirloom bequeathed by her grandmother - a brooch with a very large glistening blue stone in the middle surrounded by clear ‘gemstones’ set around the outside.

Countless jewellers had told the young woman that her grandmother’s old handme-down brooch was worthless. The lady went as far as to say that at times jewellers had been rudely dismissive, alleging the clear

stones weren’t diamonds. Others said they were real - but were poor quality. So, what exactly was the truth? She decided to give it another try. With little expectation, due to previous opinions that her accessory was nothing more than a piece of costume jewellery and that the big stone in the middle was in fact, stained glass, she presented her brooch to Antiques Roadshow expert John Benjamin.

“I’ve never seen a sapphire of this size ever,” John Benjamin said, “this is a real first for me!” He identified the sapphire’s age, plus its origin from Ceylon, stating emphatically that it was of the highest quality possible - as were the surrounding diamonds! Its value was in the range of $80,000 to $100,000.

The stunned granddaughter had bought into believing her brooch was worthless.

Back to my ‘rejected’ school mate. He also suffered worthless opinions of others, enduring negative, superficial judgements. Sadly, our flawed lens predisposes us to assess others (and even ourselves), as inadequate, as failures, hopeless, unpromising, worthless…

Fortunately, there’s one truly infallible expert who sees the inherent worth of people - God himself. He knows, loves and thoroughly understands every individual. Amazingly, He deems our worth and potential as inestimable, seeing things we fail to see.

That’s proven by Jesus considering His death on a cross, a sacrifice worth making - atoning for the sinful shortcomings of imperfect humanity… to make our full redemption possible.

Youngsters get the full Monty

By Jeremy Smith

He’s done it again.

In rising effortlessly to the occasion of his latest challenge last week – this time all seven floors of it – Monty, Cambridge Riding for the Disabled’s (RDA) therapy pony, completed what’s thought to be a New Zealand first.

It certainly was a first for Waikato Hospital when the 19-year-old Shetland pony, with handler Raewyn Risi and Cambridge RDA coach Sam Ogden in tow, took the service elevator to pay children in Waikato Hospital’s Waikids ward a visit last Wednesday.

As a therapy horse, Monty is increasingly undertaking community visits to places like rest homes as part of what’s been coined his

outreach programme.

This visit though was a little further afield, and the seven-floor trip slightly higher than the one floors worth of practice The News reported on Monty getting in the lift at St Andrew’s Retirement Village’s Moxon Centre last month.

That had been his very first trip in an elevator, with the potential for the hospital trip in mind.

And, Sam said, “as he always does”, Monty adjusted well – after washing his feet with an anti-bacterial solution, and Sam and Raewyn donning masks, the trio said hello to about 20 patients across three floors in the roughly 90 minutes they were in the ward. Because he gave up so much of his time, there were a few occasions throughout the visit when Monty took a moment to answer

the call of nature, including in the elevator itself.

Sam called the visit a great success.

“Monty certainly made lots of friends. The children absolutely loved him, and it was exciting for parents too. The staff got such a buzz.”

With a lot to coordinate before the visit, Sam thanked Waikato Hospital staff for working together to help make Monty’s visit a reality.

“It was nice we could jointly facilitate something so different which was really special to be a part of.

“There are, obviously, a lot of things which have to be considered when bringing Monty into an unknown environment like that. But he’s such a good little boy anyway, and really did carry himself well.”

Sam said, Cambridge RDA will investigate finding sponsorship for Monty’s future visits.

Staff facilitate them in their own time, and with their own resources, she said.

The hospital visit had shown that with Monty fast developing a profile in the Cambridge community – and now the wider Waikato – the sky is the limit.

Monty’s diary is filling fast with more requests for other visits, he still finds time for some rest and relaxation. A game of pool, Sam said, is one of his favourites.

And on returning home last Wednesday to Cambridge RDA – where Monty has lived since 2016 and is becoming a popular face – staff made sure he was greeted with a “good feed, some pampering and a lot of attention”.

Cambridge Riding for the Disabled coach Sam Ogden, right, introduces Lesieli Kakala to Monty.

Monty’s handler Raewyn Risi leads him through Waikato Hospital’s Waikids ward while Te Awamutu’s Thomas Searancke, at left in the stroller, watches on.

Photos: Newshub

Bledisloe brothers

Cambridge’s newest All Black, former St Peter’s School student Cam Roigard (left) was all smiles ahead of making his test debut last Saturday.

Before All Black 1210 ran onto the ground in the 60th minute at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to help retain the Bledisloe Cup with a 38-7 win over the Wallabies, he caught up with Cambridge counterpart and teammate, former Cambridge High School student Luke Jacobson.  The pair was pictured at last Friday’s captain’s run at Melbourne’s Xavier College.

Roigard’s parents Dave and Lisa Roigard own and operate Karapiro Charters and Tours and were there to see their son’s “incredibly emotional” debut.

“I turned to Lisa and said, ‘you’re now the mother of an All Black’,” Dave told The News.

“It’s so special - Cam did incredibly well.”

The All Blacks face Australia again on Saturday in Dunedin.

• Read more at www.cambridgenews.nz

Affordable home move

Waipā District councillors are backing a move to use “inclusionary zoning”.

Inclusionary zoning compels developers to make a proportion of houses in residential developments ‘affordable’ - the most common measure being when a household spends less than 30 per cent of its income on housing.

The council’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee this week accepted a staff recommendation that affordable housing provisions be proposed for inclusion in Waipā’s District Plan.

“No-one thinks inclusionary zoning will be a panacea, or on its own will solve affordable housing issues in Waipā,” mayor Susan O’Regan said. “But there is a serious problem out there around housing affordability and we need to do something. This is one pathway we can pursue and we should do it.”

The chief executive of cross-sectoral group Waikato Housing Initiative, Aksel Bech, applauded the move.

The initiative wanted everyone in the region wellhoused, living in sustainable, flourishing and connected communities, he said, but that was a “big ask” given housing costs.

"Waipā District Council also aims to connect communities. But the reality is that with a median house price in Waipā for the first quarter of this year sitting at close $827,000, prices are unaffordable for low to moderate income earners. Many families or couples are struggling to rent, let alone save for a deposit,” Bech said.

Briefs…

Sports beaten

Hautapu Sports’ Colts finished their season as runners-up in the Waikato Colts competition after losing the grand final to Hamilton Marist last weekend. Marist took the Elliot Shield 32-12 following a strong second-half performance after Hautapu had led in the first half at Marist Park.

Cycling champs

Cambridge will host the pre-Olympic National Track Cycling Championships next March. The championships will be held at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome in Cambridge from March 2 to 7.

Johnson takes the lead

Nick Johnson will become chief executive of the Cambridgebased New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association in October. Johnson, a New Zealander, has been based in the United Kingdom for the past 10 years.

WELDING & SUPPLIES

CAMBRIDGE VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE CALLS OVER THE LAST WEEK

SUNDAY:

Building alarm and evacuation, Swayne Road

FRIDAY:

Tractor Fire, Bruntwood Road

THURSDAY:

Building alarm and evacuation, Cambridge Road

Transformer on power pole alight, Scotsman Valley Road

WEDNESDAY:

2 car MVC, Cambridge Road

Truck v Bike MVC, Cook Street

Building alarm and evacuation, Cambridge Road

LIST WITH THE TOP TEAM, AS VOTED BY CAMBRIDGE!

Arc, Mig & Tig Welding

ARC

Welders

• Nuts & bolts

• Bearings & seals

• Brass bushes

• Trojan trailer parts

• Welding rods

Welding Rods

• Grinding discs

• Taps

• Drills

• Total oil

• Brass fittings

Let it flow

Well done Don Good (Not such a magic roundabout, The News July 27) for articulating what so many know, apart from those who should at Waka Kotahi.

The wonderful Waikato Expressway with its continuous stream of traffic works, much to every motorist‘s delight, so why dam it at Piarere with a roundabout? Let it continue to flow with a flyover is the obvious answer as many experts have suggested. Now is the time for politicians wanting our electoral vote to publicly state their support or opposition to the flyover and its beholden on all of us to ask them this question.

As Don Good alludes to, it‘s politics that has got us a roundabout so let us now vote to keep the Expressway flowing with a flyover.

Pete Moore

Cambridge

Piarere poser

I am astonished to read (Not such a magic roundabout) that the New Zealand Transport Agency claim that a single lane flyover to merge west bound traffic from SH29 onto SH1 would cost an extra $20 million.

In fact, I cannot believe that a fly over would in itself cost that amount of money. If I was [Waikato Chamber of Commerce chief] Don Good I would ask the agency to provide detailed costings that could then be verified by independent engineers.

(Abridged)

Murray Reid

Cambridge

Harsh cut

It’s very disappointing to see all the beautiful mature trees on the corner of

Shakespeare and Thompson Street cut down in order to make way for pensioner housing. The Waipā District Council signs states ‚some of the trees‘ will be removed. Either this sign held incorrect information or the arborists were unable to count. Cambridge is known and loved for its trees. Yet again, lack of common-sense and cheap basic urban planning seems to have taken precedent over future thinking and environmental proofing.

Hannah Brinck

Cambridge

Waipā District Council responds: The sign is correct. Not all of the trees will be cut down as only those directly on the building site area need to be removed. Two large trees at the complex are being retained. More trees giving better site coverage will be planted once the new pensioner housing units are built.

On the roads

In response to Deborah Christiansen‘s question, I agree the name of Cambridge Rd should be changed. I see this as part of good housekeeping and as far as road signs it is not the only one. Thornton Road is in three pieces, Moore Street effectively two streets, on Victoria Road at Hautapu you turn off Victoria road to stay on Victoria Road and there is more. I had asked the then Mayor and council representatives (at one of their rural tours prior to the development in the area) about the naming of Cambridge Road and was given a firm “non” as it would cost too much - an estimate of $20,000 plus, a cost that would now be greater with the development being done.

Not only road signs, but without housekeeping, Cambridge is looking like the kids have pulled the toys out and not put them away. Wilson Street with empty plant boxes looking like they have been dumped, Victoria Street (CBD) no longer has the look

of cute country town it was known as. To add to the naming confusion the motorway is - part of the original Cambridge roadWaikato Expressway - Thermal Explorer Highway - State Highway 1. Yes, changing road signs and more is needed.

Chris Phillips

Te Miro

Road closure

Why can’t we the motoring public be better informed about the dam closure at Karapiro, it is frustrating to the point of cursing to drive all the way out there only to discover that the dam is closed, is it in the too hard basket to place signs closer to Leamington and out on the highway? This seems to be another instance of no one giving a Damn.

Colin Parkinson Cambridge

The Mercury Energy Team responds: We’re aware that having to close the dam road might mean longer travel times for some drivers and we thank the public for their patience. The dam road is kept open and available for the community and other road users to cross the river as much as possible, but we need to close it from time to time to safely maintain our equipment . At these times we will update Time Saver Traffic and install signage at the intersection of Maungatautari Road and Lamb Street, at the intersection Maungatautari Road and Redoubt Road just outside Leamington and on Hydro Road in Karāpiro Village. When possible, we also advise of closures in the Cambridge News.

Unhealthy prices

I went to my GP yesterday. I don‘t go often so perhaps this is old news, but while the Government has removed prescription fees at pharmacies now entirely, I was expected to pay for them at my GP. I had a

$50 consultation charge but also $25 on top of that for my prescription. Presumably this was for the time it took my doctor to type out the prescription and send it through to the pharmacy. I then went to the pharmacy to wait and couldn‘t help but laugh at the advert they were playing about how prescriptions are now free. I will probably have to change doctors because $75 to see a doctor is not affordable. I certainly hope there are other doctors in Cambridge with more reasonable rates.

Gina Whyte Cambridge

Thankyou

HeartSafe Cambridge would like to thank

The Cambridge News for supporting us over the last year by publishing the full list of 24 by 7 AED locations in and around Cambridge. This information has helped the public become familiar with the location of these lifesaving devices.

Henry Strong Chairman, HeartSafe Cambridge

Letters to the Editor

• Letters should not exceed 250 words

• They should be opinion based on facts or current events

• All letters to be emailed to editor@ goodlocal.nz

• No noms-de-plume

• Letters will be published with names

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

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

• The editor’s decision on publication is final.

Know your principal

At Cambridge East School we believe in putting the learner at the centre of everything we do. We encourage our learners to strive for the school motto of “Always My Best” by stepping outside of their comfort zone and trying new things as opportunities arise. We offer a range of options as part of our Enrich and Discover Programme, and strongly support the Learning Through Play ethos, along with Inquiry Learning.

We understand that every child is unique, and by offering three distinctive teaching centres we can provide the learning environment best suited to meet the needs of your child, setting them up for success as citizens of tomorrow.

We take great pride in the cultural work we are doing to learn about our local area and its history, and making Cambridge East School a culturally inclusive environment for all of our learners.

Hamish Fenemor joined our school as Principal in 2014 and is passionate about teaching and learning.

If you would like to learn more about what we do at Cambridge East School, please get in touch!

Phone: 07 827 7651 office@cambridgeeast.school.nz | www.cambridgeeast.school.nz

Goodwood School’s vision is to empower caring, connected and curious lifelong explorers who will make a difference. This vision can be seen in action every day within the school’s park-like grounds just three kilometres to the north of Cambridge.

Goodwood students or ‘explorers’ play an active role in leading their learning and making a difference in their school and community. Many of the facilities that set the school apart including the extensive bike track and scooter facilitators were designed as part of authentic learning tasks.

David Graham joined the school as principal in 2015 and continues to be impressed by the high quality of learning and engagement that occurs every day. Everyday is open day at Goodwood. You are very welcome to make a time to come and see the learning in action.”

Like you, we believe your child deserves the best today, tomorrow and for eternity. Discover how your child can have the opportunity to achieve not only academic excellence, but build a strong character built on the values of Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence.

Hamilton Adventist Primary School is an integrated Christian primary school that provides quality, Christian Education for families across Hamilton, Cambridge & surrounding areas. Just 12 minutes from Cambridge!

Hautapu School is a semi-rural primary school that encourages every child to explore their limits.

“Our school is such a vibrant learning community with passionate staff supported by a wonderful community.” www.hautapu.school.nz

We are a proud full primary school catering for Years 1-8. Our beautiful school site is surrounded by mature trees with vast areas for our students to explore. Hautapu School is extremely well resourced with a bike track, football eld, rugby eld, astroturf, 20 metre heated swimming pool, Envirogarden, ying

fox and a modern indoor hall facility. We create pathways for learning that provide opportunities for our students to nd their passions, talents and interests. Our vision of ‘Explore Your Limits’ encompasses our belief that we want our students to have a growth mindset and to learn to improve in whatever they may do. We want our learners to continually strive to be their best and to persevere when the learning gets tough.

Our values - Challenge, Courage, Explore, Community and Growth underpin the learning that our students encounter each day whilst at Hautapu School. We have some out of zone enrolment places available. If you are interested in joining our school community and would like a tour of our beautiful school, please email admin@hautapu.school.nz and visit our school website www.hautapu.school.nz

Karāpiro School is a non-zoned school in the heart of rural Waikato offering a vibrant and fun learning environment where all students are supported to achieve their individual potential. At Karāpiro School we treasure the developmental primary school years and strive to provide a wide range of learning opportunities to enable each student to learn who they are in the world and what makes them unique. Our kind staff exemplify our school virtues and show a high ethic of care towards each other, our students and our families. Our talented teaching team are committed to providing fun and quality education opportunities, inside and outside of the classroom.

It is a privilege to be the principal of Karāpiro School. My staff and I extend an open invitation to you to come and see Karāpiro School for yourself. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our learning community. Find us on facebook and at www.karapiro.school.nz Whakatupu tahi tātou. Together we grow.

Tracey - Principal

Lynda Smith

Leamington School

Creating futures together

Leamington is about working in genuine partnership with families to realise dreams and aspirations that parents have for their children. Our extensive grounds, multiple playgrounds, specialist teachers, small class sizes and modern single teacher classrooms allow each child to explore the wonder of their world while also learning about themselves, how to be a great friend, to excel at sport and to excel academically. Located in the heart of Leamington, children can walk, scooter and bike to and from school with their friends and family. You are very welcome to come and see our caring community school in action! Mike (Principal)

“I never dreamed I would find a school that would exceed all my expectations – thank you for making my children the happiest I have ever seen them”

Tēnā koutou katoa. Nau mai haere mai ki te kura o Roto-oRangi. Our school is a rural school in the heart of the Rotoo-Rangi district (just 5 mins from Leamington). The school is a mix of rural and town students from Years 1 to 6, bringing diversity but with a shared goal; to be respectful, resilient and responsible learners shaping our future. At the ngakau/heart of our school is equity; providing the learning experiences needed to achieve our aspirations, reach our potential and be great citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand. Students are prepared to thrive in their future whilst keeping our traditional and rural roots. Our size allows us to focus on the individual and support their individual needs; empowering our learners to know who

they are, what they are capable of and strive to be the best they can be.

Connection with our people, our place and our future is a cornerstone of our learning. Belonging is key in our school vision. The school operates a local curriculum, engaging the students and providing diverse, challenging learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.

You are welcome to come out, walk in our grounds, visit our rooms and get a feel for who we are. The children here are as awesome as the scenery surrounding us. It must be a wonderful community to keep an Aussie principal here for 10 years.

office@rotoorangi.school.nz l www.rotoorangi.school.nz l 07 827

St Peter’s Catholic School

Are you looking for a school with high quality learning and respectful Christian values?

1. Learning where the Catholic Special Character is central.

2. Outstanding achievement

and a wide range of learning opportunities.

3. A smaller full-primary (Year 0-8) in the heart of Cambridge. We are a high achieving yet nurturing Year 0-8 school in the centre of Cambridge. Keeping our Catholic Character central, our philosophy is to focus on every single student, giving them the opportunity to accelerate with their learning and grow as well-balanced individuals.

Principal Anita Asumadu, with over 16 years of senior leadership experience, has been a Principal

1727

in London and New Zealand. She describes the school as, ‘an extremely caring and focused learning environment where each individual is treated as a taonga. The sta are 100% dedicated and the happy vibe in the school speaks for itself’. The school is noted for exceptional student behaviour, exciting sporting and arts opportunities and a rigorous Structured Literacy programme. Over 85% of students consistently achieve at or above nationally expected levels in Reading, Writing and Maths and these gures are rising.

Accomplished Learners Striving For Success in Tomorrow’s World

Accomplished Learners Striving For Success in Tomorrow’s World

St Peter’s Catholic School does not have an enrolment zone; the special character of our school welcomes students from Catholic and non-Catholic backgrounds. We currently have spaces for Catholic (preference) enrolments, and a waiting list for non-catholic (non-preference) enrolments. Contact us today for this school of choice for your child.

Open Evening (for Year 7/8 students 2024) Wednesday, 30th August 5.30 pm Tours/visits at all other times by prior arrangement.

Tauwhare Primary School is a rural primary school nestled at the foot of the beautiful Scotsman Valley, just 10-15 minutes drive from Hamilton, Cambridge or Morrinsville.

Tauwhare Primary School is a rural primary school nestled at the foot of the beautiful Scotsman Valley, just 10

15 minutes drive from Hamilton, Cambridge or Morrinsville.

The mission of Tauwhare School is to provide a balanced and challenging education for all learners to develop their potential. Great kiwi rural school traditions such as Calf Club are held every year, with a wide range of sporting, leadership and cultural opportunities throughout the school. Teachers nurture tuakana-teina relationships where students get the opportunity to be leaders.

The mission of Tauwhare School is to provide a balanced and challenging education for all learners to develop their potential. Great kiwi rural school traditions such as Calf Club are held every year, with a wide range of sporting, leadership and cultural opportunities throughout the school. Teachers nurture tuakana-teina relationships where students get the opportunity to be leaders. RESPECT | RESPONSIBILITY |

RESPECT

RESILIENCE

RESILIENCE

26 Scotsman Valley Road, Tauwhare 3284 Phone: 07 824 0864 Email: admin@tauwhare.school.nz Website: www.https://www.tauwhare.school.nz

26 Scotsman Valley Road, Tauwhare 3284

Phone: 07 824 0864

TE MIRO SCHOOL - YEARS 1 TO 8

Te Miro’s unique rural environment sets it aside from other Cambridge schools. Located only a beautiful ten minute drive from the centre of Cambridge, your child will experience a warm, friendly environment where their individuality is celebrated. We proudly support a cohort of students from Years 1 to 8 through a holistic local programme based on the New Zealand curriculum. At Te Miro School your child will build solid relationships with exceptionally experienced and knowledgeable teachers and support sta . Our small class sizes mean your

Email: admin@tauwhare.school.nz Website: www.tauwhare.school.nz

Tupu Tahi Tatou - Together we will grow

child is never ‘just a number’ - our teachers get to know and care for their students, ensuring your child succeeds. With extensive grounds and sporting facilities, our incredibly beautiful natural environment provides space in which to learn, with students working together to solve problems and build resilience.

Our Bush Class is now in its fth year, where the whole school builds knowledge, con dence and respect for the outdoors. Opportunities at Te Miro School include

our much anticipated Year 7 & 8 Wilderness Camp and activities supported by our rural community such as our annual Agricultural Day and Spring Celebration. Our school is not zoned and we welcome you to come and see the ‘best kept secret’ in Cambridge. Our annual Open Day will be held on 20th August, from 9 – 11am.

Ngaa mihi nui, Michaela

Principal, Wayne Donnellon

DANCE, ACT PERFORM ON STAGE

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Across: 1. Sit up, 4. Review, 8. Blatant, 9. Swede, 10. Extra, 11. Trainer, 12. Regret, 14. Mullet, 17. Nurture, 19. Slang, 21. Awash, 22. Bourbon, 23. Decree, 24. Dumps.

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exciting training programmes are coming to Hamilton! Our cast build their skills and confidence as they work together with the NYT Team towards a shared goalperformances of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr” at Clarence St Theatre

with Jan Bilton

Coffee break bakes

Scones and muffins are top sellers in New Zealand cafés and coffee shops. However, these old-fashioned delights have evolved since grandma baked her plain scones and bran muffins. Additions such as caramelised onion or blueberries now add interest to scones and bacon and cheese or pumpkin, spinach and sunflower seeds can jazz up muffins. Scones are more like bread while muffins are more cakelike. Scones need gentle handling and should never be overmixed. If the dough is too crumbly add a little more milk (or buttermilk, if using). If too sticky, dust with a little flour. Flip onto a lightly floured chopping board and pat (not press) out to about 3cm-3.5cm thickness. Keep the dough cool as this will help it rise.

With muffins, mix the liquid ingredients in one bowl and the dry in another. Combine the mixtures until just moistened otherwise they will be tough and tunnels will form inside. Resist the temptation to mix until the ingredients are smooth. Add any additions at the end. If you don’t fill all the muffin holes, pour water into them. The evaporation will help the muffins rise and prevent the pans from buckling.

DIVINE DATE SCONES

2 cups pitted dates

3 cups plain flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

pinch salt

1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar

200g butter

1-1 1/2 cups milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

Topping: 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Place the dates in a small saucepan with just enough water to cover. Bring to the boil and simmer gently, stirring

occasionally, for about 15 minutes or until soft. Cool. Place the dry ingredients in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add the butter in batches, processing until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Tip into a bowl and add enough milk to form a soft — but not too sticky — dough.

On a lightly floured board, pat the dough into a square approximately 24cm. Brush with the beaten egg then cut in half lengthwise. Spread the date mixture on one half. Flip the other half over the top — egg-wash side down — to make a sandwich.

Cut into about 8 pieces. Place on the prepared oven tray. Brush with egg and sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake for 1520 minutes or until golden. Makes 8.

CRUSTY LIME MUFFINS

2 cups self-raising flour

3/4 cup sugar

75g butter

Karapiro 364 Karapiro Road

This property is only 8 months old and is situated on a spacious 3096 m2 section. With 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, this home is perfect for families or those who love to entertain guests. As you step inside, you’ll be immediately struck by the open-plan kitchen and dining room. The kitchen is fully equipped with modern appliances, making it a pleasure to cook in. The open plan area leads to a portico providing the perfect space for hosting dinner parties or simply enjoying a relaxed evening with your loved ones. Call Gary or Mark today to arrange your viewing!

1 cup milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

finely grated rind 2 limes

Topping: julienne rind 2 limes

1/4 cup each: lime juice, sugar

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a 10-hole muffin tray with paper cases.

Combine the flour and sugar in a bowl. Melt the butter and combine with the milk, egg and lime rind. Add to the dry ingredients, stirring, until just combined. Spoon into the muffin cases.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until a skewer is inserted in the centre it comes out clean.

Meanwhile, combine the topping ingredients without dissolving the sugar. Remove the cooked muffins to a wire rack. Spoon the combined topping ingredients over the muffins while still hot. Makes 10.

For Sale $1,325,000

View by appointment or scheduled open home times www.harcourts.co.nz/CB4032

Gary Stokes

M 021 351 112

Mark Ingram

M 027 495 5941

Karapiro 479 Taotaoroa Road

The Family Lifestyle Dream Step inside and experience the heart of this home. The open plan living area creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for entertaining family and friends or simply enjoying a cozy night in, with heating options for your comfort including a heat pump and of course, a good old country fireplace. The abundance of natural light floods the space, highlighting the stylish finishes and attention to detail throughout. Call Shelby today to arrange your viewing!

Morrinsville 60 Harbottle Road 3

27.82ha

This wonderful 28ha (approx.) property located 15 minutes from Ruakura Expressway and 5 minutes to Morrinsville has stockyards, bore water supply and a beautiful three-bedroom home. Nestled within this stunning rural landscape, the three-bedroom house serves as your comfortable and inviting retreat. Boasting ample living space, this home o ers the perfect blend of functionality and style. Where natural light floods through large windows, creating an inviting ambiance for you and your loved ones, while the kitchen caters to all your culinary needs with plenty of cupboards for storage.

For Sale $2,400,000

View by appointment or scheduled open home times www.kdre.co.nz/L23407573

Kevin Deane M 021 970 902

Alisdair Wallace M 021 107 3549

Crusty lime muffins

Divine date scones

Comfort, Secure and Homely

A fairer commission rate of 2.8% to first $300,000 then 1.8% on balance + gst Plus FREE, tailor-made marketing worth $2,500+

Your Cutie On Clare

- Features & Comforts include: Ultra fibre broadband, solar power and battery; light, refreshed décor; new ceiling fans; family bath room with large shower and double basin vanity; master bedroom ensuited with toilet and vanity.

- Covered entertainment area is a wonderful area to enjoy alfresco dining with the sunset on the horizon; yes, the covered front patio is ideal for morning tea.

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 16th August at 4pm

Like No Other - A Cambridge Icon

- Enjoy this sunny home with single garage, newish kitchen and two bedrooms of generous size.

- A separate toilet and bathroom with shower, separate laundry, heat pump and spacious open plan living make this home very comfortable to live in.

- Well fenced backyard with a large shed offers ample room for a kitchen garden however is not too large.

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 16th August at 4pm

- Sensational! A journey to reward the senses day and night. Understand the balance of practical, low maintenance design and delightful artistic flair blending to create a home of distinction, prestige, and enjoyment.

- The industrial theme, dedicated spaces, tailor-made landscaping, private courtyard sanctuary, and building design features showcase this home of distinction.

Auction (unless sold prior) 24th August at 12.00pm

VIEW

FEATUREDLISTINGS

TO VIEW ALL OF OUR CURRENT

Rustic home maximising the views and great indoor-outdoor flow

Set in a backdrop of native bush area just ready to be explored

Panoramic views & spectacular sunsets set the stage for this tranquil haven on 5489m2

To be held on Thursday 17 August at 1PM at the Cambridge Community Pavilion, corner of Queen Street and Dick Street, Cambridge (unless sold prior)

FINAL NOTICE

FORBES,

Elizabeth, (Liz)

– Passed away peacefully at home. Aged 39 years. Dearly loved partner to Luke. Much loved daughter to Jenny Ghezzi & the late Allan Forbes and sister to Amanda, Jo, and Evelyn.

‘We loved you Lizzy, we will miss you. Now at peace.’ The service for Liz has been held. All communications to the Forbes Family, c/- 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434.

VEITCH, William Frank

Robert – Passed away peacefully after a long illness at Waikato Hospital on Tuesday 25 July 2023, aged 86 years. Much loved and loving husband of Celia for 60 years. Adored father and father-in-law of Jennifer and Patrick, Lynley and Bryan, Stephen and Christine. Cherished Grandpa of Kalani, Arielle, Holly, Timothy and Thomas. In accordance with William’s wishes, a private cremation and family prayers have taken place.

FIREWOOD – Dry Blackwood $130m3 delivered. Ph Phil 027 362 7994

FIREWOOD – Dry mac mix $140 per metre. Delivered.

Ph 027 492 0601

FIREWOOD – mixed Oak, Blackwood, and Gum. Collect your own, shed stored. $110.00 per metre.

Paul 0274 962 399

Viv Posselt viv@goodlocal.nz

233 7686

Jeremy Smith jeremy@goodlocal.nz

317 9499

Advertising Manager

Janine Davy janine@goodlocal.nz 027 287 0005

Owner/Publisher

David Mackenzie david@goodlocal.nz Office/Missed Deliveries 07 827 0005 admin@goodlocal.nz

Worship Service:

Bruntwood Hautapu Pukeroro Hall Society

AGM

37 Hautapu Road

Wednesday 16th August 7.30pm

All Welcome.

Section 101, Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

PUBLIC NOTICE

Of an application for On Licence Shivam and Nilesh Limited, 15 Campbell Street, Cambridge, has made application to the Waipa District Licensing Committee for the renewal of a on-licence in respect of the premises at 15 Campbell Street, Cambridge known as Sahara India.

The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is restaurant. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is sold under the licence are: Monday to Sunday 11am to 11pm.

The application may be inspected during ordinary office hours at the office of the Waipa District Licensing Committee, 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu or 23 Wilson Street, Cambridge.

Any person who is entitled to object and who wishes to object to the issue of the licence may, not later than 15 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at: Waipa District Council, Private Bag 2402, Te Awamutu 3840.

No objection to the issue of a renewal licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

This is the second publication of this notice. This notice was first published on July 27, 2023.

Notice of Public Annual Meeting of Beneficiaries

Availability of the 2023 Chairperson’s Annual Report, Financial Statements, 2023-24 Annual Plan, and Waipa Networks Ltd Statement of Corporate Intent.

I hereby give notice that on Friday the 25th of August 2023, commencing at 10.00am, a Public Annual Meeting of Beneficiaries (Connected Consumers) will be held at Waipa Networks, 240 Harrison Drive, Te Awamutu.

At the meeting the Trustees will report on:

• The operation of Waipa Networks Trust for the year ended 31 March 2023.

• The Financial Statements of Waipa Networks Trust for the year ended 31 March 2023.

• The performance of Waipa Networks Limited for the year ended 31 March 2023.

• The compliance of Waipa Networks Limited with its Statement of Corporate Intent for the year ended 31 March 2023.

• The Annual Plan 2023/24 of Waipa Networks Trust.

At the meeting the Beneficiaries will be given the opportunity to:

• Appoint the Auditor for Waipa Networks Trust for the 2024 financial year.

• Speak on all matters being considered at the Annual Meeting.

Please note that the above named documents are available for public inspection on the Trust website or at the offices of Waipa Networks Limited at 240 Harrison Drive, Te Awamutu during ordinary business hours.

K M Heeringa - Secretary/Treasurer

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Based in Cambridge, Trelawney Stud is steeped in history and offers a picturesque workplace right in the heart of the farm.

The current office administrator is departing after 27 and a half years of service so the Taylor family are looking for an all-round administration star to take the reins of this varied and rewarding role.

A general understanding of thoroughbred bloodstock and farming accounting is desirable but not essential, with a keen attitude and attention to detail a priority.

Tasks include:

• Wages using MYOB

• Debtors ledger and data entry using Ardex

• Cashbook using Farm Focus

• Payments of New Zealand and international accounts

• Weekly reports

• Preparation and filing of GST returns in New Zealand and Australia

Bloodstock Sale entries and associated reporting Some secretarial work and record keeping

• Regulatory requirements with NZ Thoroughbred Racing

This is a small, close knit team so the ability to work well with the existing staff is required. This is a permanent position and is 2-3 days per week with flexibility around days worked.

Email your CV with work references to brent@trelawneystud.nz www.trelawneystud.nz

We are looking for an administrator who can support the many ministries in the Parish.

• You will be engaging, friendly, and with excellent customer service skills.

• You will be well organised and be a great multitasker.

• You will work in a flexible and varied environment.

• You will have values that align with the Parish. The hours are 20 hours per week, 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday. For more information, including a job description, please contact Julie Guest (Vicar) julieguest7@gmail.com

PARISH OF ST JOHN TE AWAMUTU

THE BIG %

*Finance available on New Nissan Qashqai and X-TRAIL models (excluding X-TRAIL Ti-L ePower) registered between 01/07/2023 and 31/07/2023. Approved applicants of Nissan Financial Services New Zealand only. Fixed interest rate of 1% p.a. only available on loan terms up to 24 months (3.9% p.a. applies for 2536 months, 4.9% p.a. applies for 37-48 months and 5.9% for 49-60 month loan terms). No deposit required. Terms and conditions apply. This o er includes an establishment fee of$375, PPSR fee of $8.05 and $10 account keeping fee. All lease and some eet purchasers excluded. Nissan reserves the right to vary, extend or withdraw this o er. Not available in conjunction with any other o er. Additional terms and conditions can be viewed at www.nissan.co.nz.

Overseas pre-production model shown