King Country News | January 23, 2025

Country

A ludicrous dozen

By Mary Anne Gill

Waikato’s Chamber of Commerce has renewed its call for local body amalgamations and suggested Waitomo and Ōtorohanga district councils should be the first ones off the block.

It is no secret that Waitomo mayor John Robertson is a fan of merging with the council’s northern neighbour, but outgoing Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter is not.

Waikato chamber chief executive Don Good told The News having 12 councils in the Waikato region for

536,000 people – which includes King Country and Waikato Regional Council –is “ludicrous”.

Amalgamation should be dominating election debates this year, he said.

“The duplication is immense. The inefficiency that causes costs ratepayers.

Ratepayers are voters, and ratepayers are not happy with 15 per cent rate increases,” he said.

Robertson, who has experience in amalgamation talks when he was a commissioner in Northland, is on record as saying

Waitomo and Ōtorohanga are two councils of comparable size and population.

Savings would come from having procurement savings, fewer councillors, one district and one long term plan.

Good has even floated the idea of a ‘mega’ southern council of South Waikato, Waitomo and Ōtorohanga as a first step and a natural geographic fit.

A decade ago, an amalgamation between Waipā, Waitomo and Ōtorohanga was floated by the Property Council of New

Zealand.

Sources told The News Ōtorohanga would favour a merger with Waipā over one with Waitomo.

“Downsizing of council staff is one solution but should have been done years ago,” said Good.

“Sharing tasks among the councils is another that could work to reduce costs, but not complete centralisation.

“That seldom works, and invariably reduces democracy,” he said.

Poisonous parochialism would be the undoing of any amalgamation plan, Good

said as would councillors and council staff who protect their patch at the expense of ratepayers.

“Many have developed

cosy, comfortable, monopolistic attitudes and relationships.”

• What do you think? Email us editor@goodlocal.nz

Foodbanks are under pressure

By Chris Gardner

The message is the same across the region – demand for foodbanks services is increasing.

Te Kuiti Food Bank delivers weekly food parcels to the town’s schools from Journey Church.

“We deliver five parcels a week that the principals can pass on to the families who really need it,” said Journey Church senior pastor Terry Bradley.

“Some of the people who really need it tend not to come and get help.”

A further 15 parcels a week are handed out by the foodbank on the two days it is open, bringing the total up to about 20 a week.

“We handed out eight parcels today,” Bradley said of the Sheridan Street operation on Monday.

The foodbank is mostly funded by the Ministry of Social Development, with some community donations, including $30,000 worth of parcels distributed just before Christmas.

In Te Awamutu the Combined Churches Foodbank needs more food, more space to store it, and more volunteers to pack it, as post-Christmas demand busts records.

Foodbank co-ordinator Rita Middleton said demand had almost doubled in two years. Volunteers handed out 784 parcels last year, compared to 400 in 2022.

“In the first week back after the Christmas break, we handed out 23 parcels,” Middleton said. “It really is a matter

of people coming to us and saying, ‘we have no food to feed our children’.”

If demand continued at that rate throughout the year the bank would need to provide nearly 4000 food parcels.

As demand increases Middleton said, so does the need for storage and the organisation is quickly running out of space. She also needs people to help prepare food parcels and deliver them in some cases.

“We need more volunteers,” Middleton said.

The demand for food parcels from the Cambridge Corps of the Salvation Army food bank could reach record levels, as the post-Christmas credit crunch catches up with the community.

“We are currently sitting at about 80 per month but with the Government making cuts, Christmas expenses, back to school costs, I would not be surprised to see it increase to more than 100,” Salvation Army community engagement team leader Julieanna Seath said.

The food bank supplied up to 130 parcels a month in 2023. Seath said it was not just beneficiaries and the homeless looking for help, but people from dual income families who found finances stretched through no fault of their own.

Don Good John Robertson

Journey Church food bank staff, from left Mere Vono, Deeana Bradley, Leone Kretschmer, and Rowena Bradley.

St John Health Shuttle

Course plotted for maunga

By Chris Gardner

Orienteering Waikato members have found a way to support Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari with a Save the Sanctuary Rogaine.

When the club heard the Department of Conservation had withdrawn operational funding from the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust, which operates the world’s largest predator proof fence, they decided to do something about it. They have organised a fundraiser on March 2 as part of the club’s Rugged Rogaine series.

The trust, which is guardian of 3363 hectares of native bush at Pukeatua, reported a $500,000 loss in the last financial year.

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Waikato Regional Council and Waipā District Council continue to part fund operations of the $5000 a day attraction, while the Department of Conservation has switched to targeted funding.

“Rogaining is an endurance sport combining tramping, navigation, competition and strategy,” said club spokesperson Emma Guest.

“Teams of two to five people are given a map and must plan a route with the aim of visiting as many checkpoints as possible in a set time period.”

There are two-hour, four-hour and eighthour courses planned for the event, following the mountain’s predator lines.

“The checkpoints will be marked by orange flags with electronic timing devices.”

The club, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, has spent months upkeeping the monitoring lines in preparation

YOUR LETTERS

Horsey bags?

Is there nowhere to ride a horse around here but in town? With horse poop yet again fowling up the footpaths, it’s becoming as common as disposable nappies. It’s such a shame when some parents virtually teach their kids to have no respect for others, especially when the public are just trying to run their shops and businesses for everyone’s benefit. If dog owners have to carry doggy bags, why can’t horse riders be made to do the same? When you own an animal, you have a responsibility to keep it away from shopping centers. Dogs are not allowed in the commercial sector so why should horses be? Why not ride your horses along the riverside where it’s far more enjoyable and safer for the community.

A.Graham Te Kuiti

for the event.

“The sanctuary requires support from the community to continue their important work.” Guest said.

“They need our help to keep the fence secure, to continue with their world-leading Kiwi conservation programme, and to monitor critically endangered kākāpō on the maunga.

Sanctuary Mountain is a community led initiative and it’s going to need the community to keep it going.”

The club hopes to get 300 registrations between now and February 27 and raise $10,000.

Sanctuary Mountain chief executive Helen Hughes and her team are looking forward

to welcoming Orienteering Waikato for its Rugged Rogaine event.

“The support of Orienteering Waikato and the event’s aim of raising funds for the vital conservation work of the sanctuary is immensely appreciated,” she said.

The trust is focussing on earning revenue through five funding pillars: tourism, education, science and research, donations, and biodiversity credits.

Last year the biggest movement of North Island brown kiwi took place, as Sanctuary Mountain staff sent 222 kiwi to other conservation projects around the North Island.

This year, the team hopes to offer kiwi encounter experiences.

Orienteering Waikato members are preparing for the Save the Sanctuary Rogaine at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.

Festival season

Festival One, New Zealand’s premiere Christian music and arts festival, starts at Hartford Farm, Karāpiro, tomorrow and runs until Monday. More than 100 performers will take to five stages over the weekend, and there will be talks, seminars and workshops. It’s 10 years since the festival replaced the Parachute Christian Music Festival, the last of which was held at Mystery Creek in 2014. This year’s festival is the third at Hartford Farm.

Business theme

The Waipā Networks Business Awards will celebrate a century of service to the community by taking on a 1920s theme at this year’s gala dinner. Entries for the awards, which have 17 categories, are open to March 10.

Hut review

The Conservation Department says it will review the pricing of Pāhautea Hut in Pirongia Forest Park next financial year. Currently adult trampers pay $10 per night to stay in the 20-bunk hut near the summit of Mt Pirongia from Sunday to Friday and $15 on Saturday, while children and youth pay $5, or $7.50 on a Saturday. Hut prices are reviewed every three years.

Standing again

Waikato Regional Council chair Pamela Storey will stand for a third term. The American dairy farmer was first elected to the council in 2019 and returned for a second term in 2022 when her fellow councillors elected her chair. “In terms of the chair, I would love the opportunity to continue to have a leadership role for next term,” she said. Of the two Waipā-King Country councillors, Clyde Graf has indicated he won’t stand. Stu Kneebone had not responded when this edition went to press.

1200 left in the dark

A power play side-lined two vehicles and a power pole in Te Kuiti late on Sunday, cutting power to parts of town.

It prompted quick late night remote control action from The Lines Company –and had police on the trail of an errant motorist.

Police told The News one of the cars brought down power lines and following the crash the driver ran off. The two occupants of the other car were not hurt.

They asked the public for help in finding the driver.

Emergency services were called to the scene, between Te Kumi Side Road and Te Kumi Loop, just before 11pm.

More than 1200 customers in Te Kumi Rd and side roads lost power as a result of the crash.

Lines Company spokesperson Kerrie Fabrie said it was thanks to quick action that the number of customers affected was

reduced to 77 by 11.42pm and further reduced to 43 customers by 6.25am.

“…our control room was alerted to an issue when part of the system tripped,” she said.

Eleven staff went to the scene and three continued to work in the office.

“Breaker switches trip open when an incident like this occurs. This alerts the control room, which is monitored 24/7. The control room operator notifies dispatch - also a 24/7 operation - who dispatch the on-call fault staff to attend. The control room can switch parts of the network remotely, enabling us to restore parts of our network before staff have arrived onsite.

“In recent years we have been investing in this technology to enable additional remote control of the network to enhance the network performance. After that, fault staff systematically

work along the network, sectionalising the line. In simple terms, they steadily turn the system on, section by section at switches. If a switch holds, they move on to the next switch. This is how the team gets groups of customers back on power gradually and safely, for both our team and the public.

“It is also why we were able to get 94 per cent of customers back on within the hour. And by 6.30am, 97 per cent of customers affected by the initial outage had power.”

Fabrie said it was a reminder that in “car v pole” incidents people should stay in their car “and call us immediately”.

“Your best chance of avoiding injury is to stay in your vehicle until we have confirmed the power has been turned off. If you step out of your vehicle, you could become a path for electricity to the ground and may receive a potentially fatal shock.”

She said if it was vital to get out of a vehicle people should jump as far away from the vehicle as possible with both feet together to prevent current flowing through their body.

“Do not touch the vehicle at the same time your feet touch the ground and do not touch the ground with your hands… shuffle or hop, making contact with the ground with both feet at the same time, to safety - at least 10 metres.”.

Beat that: Cardiac team hits 1000

Waikato Hospital’s Cardiology team has celebrated its 1000th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (Tavi) procedure.

Waikato Hospital cardiologist and Structural Heart Disease director, Dr Sanjeevan Pasupati - a former Te Kūiti High School dux and its first student from Sri Lanka - said it was a proud moment.

“This achievement reflects the dedication and skill of a committed team, working together to deliver care for our patients.”

Waikato Hospital was the first public hospital in New Zealand to perform a Tavi procedure in 2008.

The number of Tavis performed annually has grown from 30 to 40 in the early years to around 180.

“Tavi has transformed the way we treat aortic stenosis, and it offers patients a minimally invasive option with a quicker recovery compared to a traditional surgery,” said Pasupati.

The procedure is used to replace a faulty aortic valve in patients with

severe aortic stenosis, a condition where the valve narrows, preventing blood from flowing normally. Unlike conventional valve replacement this procedure does not require opening the chest or using a heart-lung machine.

The procedure is performed through a catheter, often inserted via the femoral artery and is an ideal option for patients who are at high risk for traditional surgery.

“We have come a long way since we began offering this procedure and over the years it has seen continuous advancements in both technology and technique. The devices and delivery systems have also been refined, offering more options for sedation and making the valve deployment more precise and safer for patients.”

With Tavi becoming an increasingly common treatment, the team are also pioneering new approaches, such as using different valve types. One focus is on expanding the range of patients who can benefit from Tavi.

Sanjeevan Pasupati, second from left, pictured with cardiology nurse Nazreen Prasad, surgeon Nand Kejriwal and imaging cardiologist Pranesh Jogia.

Pole axed – the power pole was hit by a car just before 11pm. Photo: The Lines Company.

Work almost done

An upgrade of the grandstand facility at Te Kūiti’s Centennial Park should be completed early next month.

Waitomo District Council secured a $250,000 grant from the Grassroots Trust last year to upgrade the ground floor changing rooms and toilets under the grandstand.

Work began in November has progressed steadily over the past few months, the council said.

The project complements the recently completed Centennial Park Concept Plan, which aims to strengthen the connection of park with the community by exploring opportunities for further development.

The work, carried out by RB Thomas Ltd includes refurbishing the internal changing rooms and adding four toilets, which will be open for the public during events at the park.

Mayor John Robertson says the project would not have happened without the support of the Grassroots Trust.

“We’re very grateful to have received a grant from Grassroots Trust. It lessens the burden on our ratepayers and goes a long way in helping to achieve our goal of enhancing Centennial Park.”

The public toilets by the current playground at Centennial Park will remain open while further decisions on the development of the park are considered.

The grandstand is benefitting from a grant from the Grassroots Trust.

‘I’ll look and listen…’

Chris Gardner catches up with the next chief executive - kaiwhakatere - of te Wananga o Aotearoa.

Incoming Te Wānanga o Aotearoa chief executive Evie O’Brien will be welcomed back to the Te Awamutu head office next Tuesday with a pōwhiri.

It is 10 years since O’Brien left the organisation and she has spent the last four years as executive director Atlantic Institute in Oxford, England, focussing on addressing systematic causes of inequity.

So, what will be her first task, after the pōwhiri?

“It’s been a long time,” O’Brien told The News on a virtual call. “The first thing is to look and listen. To meet with staff, to review all of the documentation.”

Much has changed in the 10 years since O’Brien last worked for the Te Wananga, most notably governments, but she said “incredible leadership” had put the organisation on the front foot as the government demanded tertiary institutions to do more with less.

She referred to Te Wananga founders Rongo Wetere and Iwi (Boy) Kohuru Mangu who started the organisation in Te Awamutu in 1983.

“Te Awamutu is where the founders of the organisation mortgaged their homes and started this organisation in Te Awamutu College,” she said with pride.

That was chapter one.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has grown to now provide tertiary education to more 36,000 students at 80 campuses across the country.

“Without wanting to sound corny, I have the opportunity alongside many others to maybe contribute to Chapter 15 of a 60-chapter book, which has lots of authors,” said O’Brien, whose whakapapa is Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti

Maniapoto.

“That puts it into perspective.”

Māori once had the lowest participation rate in higher education among indigenous people in the world, but O’Brien was happy to say the dial had long since moved on that to one of the highest participation rates.

But the country still needed to plug the gap for those for whom mainstream education was not

WASS.CO.NZ

working.

O’Brien, who will move to Te Awamutu as she takes up the role, talked about developing Te Wānanga o Aotearoa by building on relationships it already has with business and community organisations, while looking at opportunities to build new relationships for the betterment of the community.

“We’ll partner with a community

organisation or a tribal authority in innovative way, taking education to the people. It’s scary, and exciting at the same time,” she said.

“We look at what works, particularly for people who are working, and I think there is an opportunity to scale this.”

O’Brien envisaged a learning pathway that developed and grew that saw Te Wānanga o Aotearoa students, at whatever stage of life, progressing through different courses or programmes that meet a need.

She brings to mind courses for those working in healthcare or law enforcement.

“My role at Oxford was just incredible,” O’Brien said. “I worked with some extraordinary people across the world. Many of my fellows were on the front line, whether it was war or displacement.

“It gave me an appreciation of things that we often take for granted.

“When someone says, ‘you can’t do that’ we say, ‘watch’.”

O’Brien will work alongside current kaiwhakatere chief executive Nepia Winiata to ensure a smooth transition before his farewell on February 13. He has served the organisation for 15 years.

Evie O’Brien, pictured speaking at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

A Frog who knows his caves

By Chris Gardner

Waitomo caver Andrew Fredrickson has led abseil and cave expeditions under Waitomo farmland for decades.

Thirty years after joining Hamilton Tomo Club to explore Waitomo’s extensive cave system, its vice president has earned New Zealand Outdoor Instructors’ Association (NZOIA) Abseil Leader and Cave Leader qualifications. In that time he estimates he has explored around 50 caves.

Fredrickson, known as Frog to Waitomo locals, has joined a handful of other past and present club members who have also achieved NZOIA qualifications.

The qualifications are earned through logging qualifying expeditions both as a participant and leader, completing written work around best practice, and completing four-day courses and assessments for each of the qualifications.

Fredrickson completed the abseil and cave leader courses through Scouts Aotearoa, for whom he has been involved in supporting the annual National Scout Caving School as well as an abseiling base for the 23rd Aotearoa Scout Jamboree in December 2023 and January 2024.

“I was not sure whether the courses were going to be easy or hard, with them being professional level qualifications,” Fredrickson said.

“Some of it was easy. And I was very pleased to see it was not just about which knot to tie, but also about the cultural aspect, flora and fauna.”

Fredrickson is keen to learn more, as he awaits an opportunity to complete the NZOIA Rock Leader assessment. For Fredrickson group membership, and leading

expeditions, is all about community and giving back.

“It’s always been a family thing,” he said.

“Parents bring their kids along to monthly meetings, and we adapt the trip to suit those who are going.”

Andrew’s son James, 14, recently led a scout group through the caves during a three-day camp with support from Andrew and other club members.

“It’s really good fun,” said James who first joined his dad and the group when he was five.

James has often brought friends into the caves with him and is brimming with knowledge about which route to take.

“Sometimes friends say that’s scary, sometimes they say that’s cool,” he said.“I would also like to get qualified for that stuff, and maybe in outdoor education.”

James is considering a career as a cave guide with one of the commercial operators in the district.

Hamilton Tomo Group is one of the oldest caving clubs in New Zealand and has been actively exploring the caves of Waitomo - and elsewhere - since 1949.

The Fredricksons, and other members, are acutely aware that they could not operate without the permission and goodwill of farmers and landowners.

They once rescued livestock for a farmer and were awarded for their efforts. And it is not uncommon for club members to fence off tomo to help their hosts.

Conservation of the cave systems is also foremost in their minds, with club members hosting regular working bees to keep the caves pristine and protect the natural wonders that decorate the caves.

Hamilton Tomo Group members cavers have explored cave

systems in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, the Pacific Islands, England, Wales, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, France, Austria and Turkey.

As well as hosting club members, scout groups, and school groups, its club house, in Te Anga Road, Waitomo, is also used by trampers completing the Te Araroa Trail.

Dr. Scott Mouat (B.Chiro) Chiropractor

Dr. Alana Sherman (B.Chiro) Chiropractor

Andrew Fredrickson leads a caving group at Waitomo.

James Fredrickson, 14, has joined his father Andrew caving for almost a decade.

Andrew Fredrickson has 30 years’ experience, exploring around 50 Waitomo caves

Landlocked scouts celebrate

The Waikato’s only sea scout group has received Royal New Zealand Navy recognition.

Kirikiriroa & St Peter’s Scout Group, which trains and sails Scout Standard Cutters and Sunbursts on lakes Karāpiro, Ngā Roto, Rotoroa, and Taupo, received naval recognition after meeting the highest standards of scouting and seamanship.

The navy recognition standards reflect those expected of the Sea Cadet Forces and naval training establishments and is only awarded to the top 15 scout groups in the country.

The group was formed in 2022 when Kirikiriroa Scout Group’s meeting place was demolished to make way for emergency housing,

leading it to partner with St Peter’s Sea Scout Group. Since then, it has become one of the largest and fastest growing groups in the country.

“Naval recognition is an amazing achievement, especially as the majority of the group had little to no seamanship experience when the two groups partnered in 2022,” said Chris Gardner, a group leader of Kirikiriroa and St Peter’s Scout Group and a journalist working for The News.

“Our youth have worked very hard to improve their boating, paddling, water safety and complementary emergency skills over that time.”

The group leader for kea and cubs, Scott Aitken, said the recognition reflected the ongoing passion and commitment of the group’s kaiārahi (adult leaders) to enable youth to succeed despite adversity.

“I believe we are the only landlocked sea scout group in Aotearoa, sailing on Lake Rotoroa in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. This comes with its own set of challenges relating to water quality and access issues. All have been overcome through remarkable leadership and vision within the group.”

Scouts Aotearoa Waikato Zone water activities advisor Dave Smith described the achievement as “wonderful news”.

“Kirikiriroa & St Peter’s has worked tirelessly to get youth afloat,” he said.

“Both youth and kaiārahi alike, have upskilled themselves in sailing, rowing, kayaking, powerboating and seamanship, gained multiple scout and professional qualifications, attended regattas, and been involved in the updating the group’s fleet of boats,” he added.

Scouts and venturers won the Senior Scout Standard Cutter Trophy at the 2023 Scouts Aotearoa Northland Zone Regatta after crossing the finish line in a cutter borrowed from Shackleton Sea Scout Group in Whangārei.

Both of Kirikiriroa & St Peter’s cutters had failed swamp tests after their buoyancy tanks had sprung a leak and taken on water.

Last year Kirikiriroa & St Peter’s

with Putaruru Scout Group took home the Senior Seamanship Trophy from Kai Iwi Lakes. Since then the group has raised funds through sponsorship to buy two new cutters which were launched last year.

“Being one of only 15 scout groups to be awarded Royal New Zealand Navy Recognition nationally is a testament to the group’s hard mahi and dedication,” Smith said.

The group will be presented with a Commander of the Navy Naval Recognition pennant and its youth and Kaiārahi can wear the Scouting New Zealand Naval Recognition badge.

The groups scouts and venturers practice sailing on Tuesday nights.

Kirikiriroa & St Peter’s Scout Group members practice water safety amidst their new cutters on Lake Taupo.

Scouts and Venturers from Kirikiriroa & St Peter’s Scout Group celebrate their win at Northland Regatta in 2023.

ON SHAKY GROUND

Eruptible magma

By Janine Krippner

There is a lot of misunderstanding around what leads to eruptions, and that is absolutely reasonable considering that it’s a highly complex field requiring different experts who understand the physics, chemistry, and geology.

Volcanic systems are incredibly complicated and there is a lot we don’t yet understand.

First off, most of a magmatic system is well below the surface of the Earth and we cannot see it.

We can use geophysics – the study of the physics and physical properties of the Earth, to estimate aspects of it, like how deep it is. The chemistry of magmatic gases that we can collect at the surface can assist with this, and computer models or simulations also help.

We can look at very old rocks that moved to the surface over many millennia to understand these systems, such as granite, which is magma that never erupted and cooled within the crust. We also look at the rocks that erupt at volcanoes and the crystals they contain.

The basic way of simplifying all of this in textbooks is a diagram showing a roundish blob of magma below the surface, leading to the idea that a big hole fills up with magma and once it is pressurised it erupts. This is wrong.

In reality, magma is often stored in multiple pockets or reservoirs at different depths, linked by pathways. None of these are an open gap or hole in the crust (roughly the upper five to 70 km depending on where you are) or the mantle below that, because despite what movies like The Core (2003) will depict, we are talking about enormous pressures down there.

Deeper down, magma moves upwards into these pockets because magma is less dense than the surrounding rock. Think of pouring oil into

water – the oil will rise to the surface because it has a lower density.

Magma within these reservoirs (also known as magma chambers), is evolving through time as crystals form within the melt (molten rock), gases are released, and surrounding rock may be melted or chunks are broken off and incorporated into the mix.

The amount of molten stuff within that mix of solid and liquid rock is what we call “eruptible magma”.

This is the stuff that is actually capable of eruption, instead of being solid enough that it can’t really go anywhere. When a large amount of crystals, called a crystal mush, have formed, the magma probably isn’t moving upwards unless something happens, like enough hotter, fluid magma enters from below. The solid crystals and chunks can sort of lock it all into place.

Eruptible magma typically contains less than half of the solid stuff. Even then, it might not erupt. Researchers are still working to understand these processes and our understanding keeps improving. There are more exciting discoveries to be made, and advances in technology give new opportunities to understand our planet in new ways.

The next time you see someone talking about magma chambers below a volcano, remember that it is far more complicated than is usually let on.

There may be magma left over from a past eruption, there may be multiple pockets cooling and evolving, it may just need some fresh, hot magma injected into it to get it moving.

Meghan Hawkes looks at some the stories making headlines in King Country – in 1913.

Backblock highways

The King Country backblocks were served by only one fairly good road which led from Te Kūiti, the district’s commercial heart, out west and south to Awakino and Mokau.

There was another, fit only for horseback travel most of the year, winding west past the Waitomo Caves, and on through the Hauturu Peak, to Kawhia Harbour. Another partially formed wagon road led from Ōtorohanga northwards. These, with a few short minor roads and horse-tracks were the settlers’ highways.

The roading was shocking – awful mudchannels along which settlers had to haul their supplies, take their milk to the factory and drive their stock to far-away markets.

Most of the good land was a long way from the rail line, but the big-hearted men and women in the backblocks were full of hope for the future.

They worked away in their cow-bails and at their bush-felling and grass-seeding, living hard, self-sacrificing lives.

They looked forward to a time when the farms which they had cut out of the heart of the wilderness would make them independent for their old age and be a solid heritage for their children after them.

The installation of an electric lighting plant at Te Kūiti was completed as far as possible until an engine from England arrived.

A temporary plant was placed in position, and the current turned on for the first time but only to the business portion of the town and the street lamps.

Te Kūiti had made most exhaustive investigations before adopting electric light. The council had sent a committee to many towns in the North Island to look into the

merits of various illuminants and eventually decided on electricity.

A Snip in Time

The schoolroom at Hangatiki was filled with a large and appreciative audience who listened with interest to Mr Molloy as he described photographic scenes that flashed with rapid succession on a screen.

Mr Molloy led his audience through a series of varied vistas depicting glacier and alpine scenery in Canada, street scenes from London, rural life in Ireland and Scotland, and topical scenes from Egypt, India, Burma, China, and Japan.

A number of scenes photographed by Mr Molloy in various parts of New Zealand were also shown, including the school children at their games, working in the school garden, or swimming in the river.

This caused endless amusement to the children, who were enraptured at the sight of their own familiar faces depicted before them greatly enlarged.

Farmers about two miles past Waitomo’s Ruakuri cave found another of vast extent and great beauty. It abounded in crystal formations and was traced back for a distance estimated at four and a half miles.

The approach to it included four wonderful crystal arches, so perfect that they seemed to have been made by man. It had a cathedral about 12 times the size of the enormous cathedral in the Waitomo cave. In the course of time it would be opened to the public, but for now the approach to it was very rough, and a track and steps had not yet been made to it.

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Down: 2. Leaflet, 3. Bald, 4. Fortune-teller, 5. Stallion, 6. Erase, 7. Steer, 8. Sure, 12. Befriend, 14. Enquire, 15. Bossy, 16. Cane, 18. Stage, 20. Stew.

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ISLE ISOSCELES ISSUE ITALIC ITEM ITINERANT IVORY IWI

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A New Year - A New Campaign

Our client has had this elevated property, in a private setting in Piopio, for sale, for some time now, and realises the past few months have not been a great time to sell. With the market now on the improve, they would like to see some action, and will accept an offer, that will enable them to move. They have reduced the asking price, and will only accept an offer at, or very close to that figure. This is a 3-bedroom home, in excellent condition throughout, with remodelled near-new kitchen (ceramic-top, dual oven stove, new cupboards etc), adjacent dining area, and spacious lounge, and an enclosed sun-deck to the rear. A staircase, takes you to the spacious games/rumpus room (with its own shower and wc). There is a ranch-slider to the front, and an enclosed carport to the rear accessible from the lower level also. The in-ground concrete pool to the rear, has not been filled for several years, and the attached pump and filter, not used, but, we have been told, all was in working order when the pool was emptied. Alternatively, it could be filled to create a lawn, attractive gardens or a deck could be built. Piopio is a delightful little village, about 15 minutes drive, south of Te Kuiti. To arrange an appointment to view, call us today!

Sale Offers over $525,000 View Open Homes: Sun 26 Jan, 11.30 - 12.00pm Sun 2 Feb, 11.30 - 12.00pm

blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/property/TA23659

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E sue.spurdle@harcourts.co.nz

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TE KUITI 14 Liverpool Street

Town Meets Country, Family Home, Rural Views

There’s a lot to love about this family home at the end of a cul-de-sac and bordered by farmland, with space and privacy on a generously sized 1,477m² section.

The home’s open plan living area is spacious and filled with natural light, and fitted with heat pump and home ventilation system for comfort year round. The shared bathroom has a separate toilet and there is a separate laundry. The generous outdoor section has raised vegetable beds and established gardens, as well as plenty of open lawn space. A double carport beneath the home is complemented by additional off-street parking.

You can pick up a free King Country News from our Te Kūiti o ce or at any of the following locations:

TE KŪITI

Queen Street Dairy

Patel Mini Mart

Te Kūiti Hospital

Mobil Service Station

New World

Hillview Home

Z Te Kūiti

SuperValue

BP 2GO

PIOPIO

Cloverleaf Cafe

Piopio Food Mart

Piopio Superette

BENNEYDALE

Benneydale Foodmarket

MŌKAU

River Run Cafe

Whitebait Inn

WAITOMO

The General Store

Waitomo Caves isite

ŌTOROHANGA

Countdown

Caltex Pat Prescott

Information Centre

Ōtorohanga Mini Mart

Michael’s Milkbar

Beattie Home

Paper Plus

Murray Hunt Furnishers

KĀWHIA

Kāwhia General Store

Kāwhia Motors

ŌPĀRAU

Ōpārau Roadhouse

Waitomo Te Kawa Service Station

574 Mangaotaki Road

hectares - Finishing Farm

The resident family have farmed this property for 55 years. It is a high performing farm with consistent and superior livestock production. The farm is predominantly rolling fertile ash country with easy access throughout. The water source is excellent and well reticulated to supply water to the home and the farm. The home is impressive with five bedrooms, two bathrooms, double glazing, established gardens and swimming pool. Extensive decking provides for outdoor entertaining and spectacular views. The "Back Gully" offers magnificent limestone cliff faces and a winding river.

Piopio 26 Kea Street

Ben Stubbs, with children Elijah and Edan are looking forward to hearing the call of the kiwi from their Awatiro farmhouse garden. Four generations of the family have farmed at Awatiro and as they continue making their land safer for native wildlife, their Te Anga Rd neighbours hope to establish a home safe enough for kiwi from Maungatautari to be released there. Chris Gardner talks to the family on pages 6-7.

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Tackling a doddery vampire

A pest plant like “a little Dracula” and found only in Waikato wetlands is being vanquished in shallow graves near Kopuatai Peat Dome.

Seven infestations of the parasitic golden dodder (Cuscuta campestris) were found last March by Department of Conservation staff who were checking a trapline on public conservation land managed by Waikato Regional Council as part of the Waihou-Piako flood scheme.

An eighth infestation was later found.

Golden dodder is an annual pest plant that depends on plant hosts. It was the first time it had been found at Kopuatai, although known sites at Lake Whangape, lakes Rotongaro and Rotongaroiti and Whangamarino Wetland are being actively managed by DOC, and neighbouring properties by the regional council.

Waikato Regional Council Senior Biosecurity Officer Kerry Bodmin says it was decided by both organisations that best way to manage the Cuscuta at the Kopuatai site was to spray it, dig it out and bury it onsite, to hopefully prevent future infestations.

Digging out the top 10 centimetres of soil would remove any seeds in the vicinity and burying the dug-up material at least 50 centimetres in the ground would prevent any seeds surviving germination.

“Hopefully we can do this once and not need to do anymore follow up control, says Bodmin.

“This method is not feasible at Whangape and Whangamarino because of the size of the Cuscuta areas and the wetland environments mean we’d be more likely to lose a digger than anything else.

“At those sites, we do aerial and ground control, but we’re also trialling planting margins with native monocots that are not host species, like flaxes and sedges, with the idea that those plants will grow big enough to outcompete the seed and hosts living there.”

Golden dodder, which is toxic to stock, was found in New Zealand in 1941 and probably arrived as a contaminant of imported crop seeds.

Bodmin says Cuscuta had occurred sparsely around New Zealand in cropping, glasshouse or nursery situations, but it had never established in those environments – only in the Waikato wetlands.

“It’s actually a pretty groovy plant with so many features,” admits Bodmin, who set up the golden dodder management programme when she worked for DOC in her previous role.

“When its seeds germinate, they have to find a host within seven centimetres, or their reserves will run out. Each seedling sends out tendrils that go up and twirl around, anticlockwise, looking for something to wrap around. When it finds a host, it attaches to it with these teeth – I call them teeth but haustoria is the botanical name – and they penetrate the plant so it can suck out all the water and nutrients.

“That’s how it feeds – so it’s like a little Dracula. And that is the only way it can get its nutrients.”

Once attached to a host, Cuscuta just keeps on growing and sending out more tendrils. It can survive on a wide range of crops and weed species, and also some native plants.

Its yellow to orange leafless and hairless threadlike stems, which resemble spaghetti, keep producing more tendrils with “teeth” to coil around host plants and penetrate their stems or leaves.

It grows rapidly into a tangle of up to five metres in two months, even smothering plants that it cannot life on.

Flowering occurs about 51 days after initial attachment and the first viable seeds are present at 60 days. A single plant can produce up to 16,000 seeds that are viable in the ground for up to 10 years.

Bodmin says if left unchecked, golden dodder would increase in abundance in the wetlands, with the potential to spread into surrounding farmlands, other wetland sites, and along access routes

DISHER

WALTERS

and waterways.

“It’s a threat to native ecosystems in wetlands, including bittern habitat, and it’s a threat to the agricultural sector because it can reduce crop yields by 50-75 per cent. In some countries such as Africa, it is a major threat to agriculture and biodiversity, with impacts on crops contributing to economic hardship and famine.”

Golden dodder, Cuscuta campestris, has ‘teeth” which bite into other plants.

Digging out the top 10 centimetres of soil removes any seeds in the vicinity.

Kerry Bodmin says the plant has the potential to spread from wetland to farmland.

Farmers get engaged again

By Chris Gardner

Farmers reconnected with levy funded organisations in 2024 after a time of disconnect, says Waikato Federated Farmers president Keith Holmes.

Holmes wrote of a remarkable year of engagement on behalf of all farmers in his end of year message to fellow farmers.

“Our successes include the interface with DairyNZ, Beef and Lamb, FAR to achieve an unprecedented Team Ag momentum,” he said.

Holmes gave the National party led Government credit for “front footing” making farming and business profitable again.

“Not insignificant is the massive reform tranche of work in taking the Resource Management Act back to First Principles – from which all New Zealander will benefit,” he said.

‘Despite carrying the hurt of the almost hysterical rhetoric, farmers have always been good custodians of the land’

– Keith Holmes

“As levy payers the past disconnect between our supposed representative bodies has been a blight on the whole industry – particular as most farmers pay a levy to multiple levy organisations to act on our behalf, only to find them scrapping in public with each other.”

There was good farmer turnout at two DairyNZ events held in the King Country and Waipā district in December.

Federated Farmers was also slowly building relationships with the territorial authorities across the region as well as Waikato Regional Council, Holmes said.

“It is becoming a two-way street,” he said.

“We must never forget the adage that the customer is always right. However, too often, these organisations following their idealistic goals, forgetting who their customers and shareholders are, by not reading the tea leaves.”

“In simple terms, society must re-learn that profit is healthy and with profit we can afford to be aspirational.

“By being both prudent and visionary, we can educate and house our children, have a first-class health system for all and not have to export our children and talent overseas, because we cannot employ them.”

Holme said 2025 would be remembered as the year when the Government decreed freshwater farm plans should come into force.

“Despite carrying the hurt of the almost hysterical rhetoric, farmers have always been good custodians of the land.

“However today, the price of being dependent on world trade and our largely urban population, trust isn’t a given anymore and so farm plans will be another hurdle we have to negotiate.

“In addition to farm plans, the Western Waikato will also have the added challenge of Plan Change One.

“While currently still before the

Environment Court, we are extremely grateful to our PC1 Team and Team Ag for the massive amount of work, they have

borne tirelessly, to get pragmatism and practicality fused into these pending farming rules.”

Feds demand an explanation

By Chris Gardner

Operational Solutions for Primary Industries (Ospri) is being asked to explain a $16.6 million write-off related to the failure of a major software project.

Ospri’s Informations Systems Strategic Programme was meant to add functionality to the MyOspri portal, integrating new National Animal Identification and Tracing (Nait) functionality.

Federated Farmers Waikato vice president Andrew Reymer made the request for a meeting with the board and a quarterly report after a remit requesting Federated Farmers be given a seat for a farmer who “understands the principle of good governance” on the Ospri board failed.

Federated Farmers is not a shareholder of the organisation and does not qualify for a seat.

“We do not have the power to demand that,” Reymer told The News following a discussion at the Federated Farmers National Council of Provisional Presidents.

Ospri, a partnership between primary industries and the government, manages the National Animal Identification and Tracing (Nait) and TBfree New Zealand national programmes.

Ospri chair Paul Reynolds resigned in October, following the failure, and was replaced by Fenton Wilson.

Reymer’s remit said Ospri’s inability to integrate Nait with third party software providers put the primary industry at greater risk, duplicated the regulatory load for farmers and resulted in a poor fiscal outcome for levy payers.

Nait is only currently available to support beef, dairy and deer livestock with no ability to track sheep or pigs, both industries that would benefit from traceability in a major disease outbreak, the remit said.

“The ownership structure of Ospri being partially owned by the levy bodies was supposed to be able to provide farmer ownership.

The levy bodies as it stands have very little engagement with grass roots farmers, unlike Federated Farmers.

“The proposal to dissolve the Ospri stakeholder council which appoints the Board of Ospri, means there will be even less farmer oversight over who is appointed to oversee the key Ospri projects, like the Nait software rebuild.

“These projects have the potential to lose sight of what the end user needs, and how critical third-party software integration is to this, especially in the event of a major disease outbreak.

“The current board is made up of professional directors which lack ‘skin in the game’.”

“We want to try and get a bit more of a handle on what’s going on,” Reymer told The News.

“A lot of the things they did were not really farmer proof. We just want to make sure that they are on the right track. Ospri must meet and report quarterly to Federated Farmers.”

Ospri has been contacted for comment.

Judge Valley Dairies farmer John Hayward welcomed fellow farmers onto his farm last year through DairyNZ. See further story, Page 10.

REGIONAL COUNCILLOR’S VIEW

A matter of principles

By Clyde Graf , Waipa-King Country councillor

During its last meeting, Waikato Regional Council was required to consider a political statement for submission to the Treaty Principles Bill Justice Select Committee.

However, councillors only received the submission on the afternoon prior to the council meeting (instead of the usual five working days).

The public were also short-changed by this manoeuvre - the document was not made available for public scrutiny until the day of the meeting.

The submission, moved by Stu Kneebone and seconded by Noel Smith, was written by council’s iwi relationships team, not councillors. Warren Maher, chair of the Policy and Strategy Committee, declared his frustration at the poor procedural process, and the short notice councillors were given to consider the document. As a result, councillors Maher, Cookson, Dunbar-Smith, Hughes and I voted against the submission, and councillor Downard abstained.

The submission’s introduction says “thank you for the opportunity to submit on the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. Waikato Regional Council (WRC) opposes this bill and advocates for its abandonment. The bill seeks to eliminate the principle of partnership with iwi and hapū, undermining the foundations of co-governance, co-management and collaboration.

This submission reflects our council’s commitment to upholding the Treaty of Waitangi and fostering robust co-governance and comanagement partnerships with iwi and hapū.”

In my opinion, this was a staff submission, not a council submission. A political statement supported by eight of 14 councillors (including both Māori ward members) – is certainly not consensus. Yet the document was submitted as if all of council agreed to it. My request to have the

vote outcome included within the submission, for clarity, was rejected, and therefore the inferred support for the document was misleading and deceptive.

The eight councillors who supported this ratepayer-funded submission – Kneebone, Smith, Clarkson, Storey, Strange, Nickel, Mahuta and Hodge - have effectively used council as a political soap box to progress personal points of view. Support or oppose the Act Party’s bill, this was never the business of council as a whole.

As councillors, we’re instructed not to submit on political issues, to be seen as keeping an open mind. Once our position has been publicly declared, we’re told, predetermination excludes us from voting on those issues.

Already this term, Chris Hughes has been excluded from voting on Long Term Plan decisions because of personal submissions made earlier in the year.

Are those councillors who spoke to and supported this submission now excluded from voting on similar issues?

Presenting late agenda items and addendums appears to be a tactic used when council is required to consider controversial issues. Section 46 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 states that agenda items must be publicly available at least two working days before the date of the announced meeting, preferably more.

This is not the first time controversial issues have appeared late on the council agenda. Let’s hope it’s the last.

That is my personal view.

RURAL VIEW

A question of costs

By Richard Steele

Fonterra’s price forecast for the current season is a good confidence boost for the dairy industry, and a testament to competent senior management, coupled with strong demand for useful products.

The challenge as always will be hanging on to the money you make.

Decades ago, the trouble with supplementary minimum prices (SMPs) supplementing produce prices was that farm input costs always increased to the maximum the market could stand, so the benefits of the subsidies were very short lived, and highly inflationary.

The projected price increases now will be little different now I fear. Because Myles Hurrell and his team have done a great job for Fonterra shareholders, there is no guarantee for future prosperity unless everybody else contains their costs.

Banks may well lower their interest rates, but not necessarily other charges.

Both district and regional council rates spiral out of control at a far higher rate than inflation. Their tutored projections of increases show little sign of any business acumen.

Fuel and fertiliser prices have always been a rort in my opinion, with competition between companies being at a lip service only level.

That the two large fert co-ops are always within a few cents per tonne of each other has always struck me as suspicious.

Federated Farmers continues to be New Zealand’s best advocate, even though their budget is a third of the compulsory beef and lamb, and a sixth of the Dairy NZ levies. It is a testament to an accountable lobby group flying against the odds.

Everyone gets rich at our expense whether they deserve it or not.

So my message is a simple one, it’s not so much making more money that’s important, it’s hanging on to it.

Today I read an opinion, that our growth rate, economically, is struggling, and here in lies a deeply disturbing economic failing. Why do we need to keep our economy growing at 3.5 per cent a year. Why can’t we just aim to stay in the same place?

So inflation is always public enemy no one, as without inflation, we could always live on what we have now.

When God invented economists, I think she did so, just to make weather forecasters look good.

Deal provides opportunities

A trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates is seen as offering significant opportunities for the red meat sector.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister for Trade Todd McClay signed the UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in Abu Dhabi last week.

The Emirates eliminate tariffs on frozen beef and sheep meat from New Zealand. Chilled products are already tariff-free.

Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said the agreement will provide a significant opportunity to New Zealand’s red meat sector with potential to grow.

“It is among the world’s wealthiest economies and there is increasing demand in the market for the high-quality, safe, sustainable, and nutritious products that New Zealand can provide.

“With a population where over 75 per cent are Muslim, the UAE is a key halal market that is increasingly looking for reliable sources of high-quality red meat that meets their strict halal expectations.

“Halal-certified exports made up 37 percent of total red meat exports in 202324 – New Zealand is well placed to meet the UAE’s red meat needs.”

Beef and Lamb New Zealand chief executive Alan Thomson said the entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement comes at a crucial time for sheep and beef farmers following a challenging two years on-farm and headwinds in global markets.

“New Zealand farmers are raising sheep and cattle to provide the UAE market with the high-quality protein they are seeking.

“Improving market access settings for New Zealand’s beef and sheep meat is critical to the wellbeing of our sector, with approximately 60 per cent of export revenues flowing through to farmers.

“We know food security is a priority for the UAE with international trade identified as a key enabler, and beef in particular, cited in their strategy as a key food item to secure supply in.”

Wormwise with livestock

By Michael Catley, Veterinarian, King Country Vets

This is the first of a two part series on the impact of worms.

The impact of worms on production begins as soon as larvae are ingested from pasture.

The affect this has is a continuum, from no exposure (and no impact) to the presence of heavy burdens leading to disease and death.

There is a cut-off point where the worm burden causes clinical parasitism, such as scouring, dehydration and weight loss, but before this point is reached there is a production limiting affect called sub-clinical parasitism.

Minimising these effects optimises growth rates in your stock and increases efficiency and profitability.

Animals pick up infective L3 larvae from the paddock when grazing pasture (L1 & L2 larvae can be picked up but are not infective).

These larvae are foreign to the animal in a similar way to bacteria and viruses.

The level of contamination will determine the level of impact.

Any level of worm burden, even when drenches are used every 21 days, will cause a growth rate depression in livestock.

These affects are due to stock spending less time grazing and more time lying down due

to parasitism, as well as the immune response the animals mount to the worm larvae picked up. Therefore, the more worms picked up, the bigger the depression in growth rates.

Young animals have no specific immunity to worms and as a result the worms establish and become ‘resident’ in the animal, multiplying worm populations which become a major source of contamination.

Young animals also use a large amount of energy and protein to grow, so are highly susceptible to the effect of parasites.

Cattle and sheep generally develop full immunity by 18-20 months of age.

Exposure to worms is important to develop immunity – and there is no shortage of exposure to them with pasture grazing - so a successful worm management plan minimises exposure of worms to young stock to allow an immune building response, while minimising growth and nutritional impacts.

Next time, we will focus on worm biology and how understanding this can improve management of pastures and animals.

Sirma Karapeeva

Alan Thomson

VET’S VIEW

Waiting for the kiwi

By Chris Gardner

The Stubbs family of Awatiro Farm are preparing for the return of kiwi.

“There’s talk of creating a Kiwi sanctuary nearby,” said sheep and beef farmer Ben Stubbs.

He’s from the fourth generation of the family to farm Awatiro off Te Anga Road near Waitomo village, and the family has found kiwi bones in its cave system over the years.

“The sanctuary will bring their genetics back to our place.”

Rick and Moira Haddrell, who own neighbouring land, are exploring reducing predators to the extent that they can establish a home for some Kiwi from Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain in the Waipā district.

The Haddrells hope to have their land ready next year, with the support of neighbours.

“There’s a huge part to play for this area to make this a success,” Ben Stubbs said. “It will really drive some changes on the farm. It’s a must for the King Country.”

He grew up on the farm before leaving home to train in fine arts and teaching and securing a teaching job at a Morrinsville school.

He returned to farming at Awatiro, a name chosen by his great grandfather Hugh, 21 years ago after his father Alister, mother Ann and uncle Antony, sought help running the farm and continuing the Stubbs legacy.

Ben and his wife Bex, a fine arts teacher at Te Kūiti High School, are about to vest an extra 20 to 30 hectares into its Queen Elizabeth II National Trust covenant.

In so doing they hope to help return more land to its natural state and protect more native flora and fauna species on the 663ha farm.

“About half is QEII land,” Ben said.

“We began divesting it in the 1980s. Ever since we have been adding a little bit here and there.

“It helps improve the quality of the ecosystem. More and more we are looking for opportunities.”

They have a native tree planting programme, mainly grown from seed collected on the farm.

“This is grown on by volunteers in Hamilton and then planted using volunteers when we can. The areas now encompass over half the farm including four headwaters.”

The Stubbs do it for love, and to protect the environment surrounding the farm for future generations.

“We have seen a huge amount of regrowth in the trees and controlled possums to some degree.”

The Stubbs have set possum traps all over the farm. Alister, 84, enjoys a daily drive across the farm to check them, capturing about 130 between mid-November and our visit in mid-January.

They also get a little, much welcome, rate relief on the vested land.

“I don’t believe there’s enough rate relief,” Ben said. “I think there could be a bit more in it for farmers.”

The Stubbs are also involved in a community driven Waitomo water catchment group, whose members have been focussed on improving water quality in the district for 30 years.

“The whole community is behind that, and it’s a really good model,” Ben said.

“Recently we have identified areas which will qualify for carbon credits. These areas while not huge will give an ongoing passive income until 2050.”

Awatiro is a sheep and beef farm. The Stubbs stopped cropping on the land about 15 years ago.

“We lost a lot of topsoil in the rain,” Ben said.

The rain came shortly after planting, so there was no root system to speak off to retain it.

The Stubbs run 1100 Romney Texel

Awatiro Farm has been farmed by the Stubbs family since 1914.

cross ewes, and their lambs, on the farm, producing thousands of kilograms of wool each season.

“Prices are a lot more stable than last year, prices are reasonable, not terrible,” he said.

“But we are still shearing our own sheep because we can’t afford to get people into do it.”

The flock is sheared twice a year. Ben’s son Elijah, 20, takes leave from his trapping job to help his parents out.

His sister, Te Kūiti High School pupil Edan, 16, is on hand with a broom to sweep the wool into a large pile.

“Wool is a fabulous product. However wool prices while improving have a long way

to go before we see a return.

“Sheep on the sort of country we farm will always have a place. Getting the mix right between sheep/beef/trees and tourism is the challenge.”

The Stubbs also run 60 breeding cows built from a dairy beef cross using a Hereford bull over all.

“The last few seasons have been very challenging with high interest rates, increasing costs and lower returns,” Ben said.

“I am hopeful that the beef market will continue to perform well and that lamb prices will hold on better than we have seen recently.”

Elijah and Edan are the fifth generation of Stubbs to be raised on the farm, and one day Elijah is planning to take over from his parents.

“I will take over, and do what is ever needed to be done,” Elijah said.

Other family members make a living off the farm.

Ben’s brother, Angus, runs Tetiro Bed and Breakfast with his wife Rach, and his sister Biddy and her partner Rich Kersel run Rock Retreat Bed and Breakfast.

“Many farms have retired significant areas of land to improve water quality, planting trees and restoring existing native forest,” Ben said.

“As these areas heal over time there will be further challenges to control pest species.

“For farmers in the Waitomo catchment, we are mindful of the fact that the water that flows from our land passes through the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. A thriving tourist destination.

“Farms are multidimensional spaces. A decision in one area may affect another.

“One benefit of being on a fifthgeneration farm is hindsight.

“Our challenge as a family continues to be working to achieve a balance on both sides of the fence.”

Elijah Stubbs, 20, left, and Ben Stubbs, 56, shearing in the Awatiro shearing shed, while Edan Stubbs, 16, prepares to sweep up.

Alister Stubbs checks a possum trap on Awatiro Farm. “Anything to get outdoors,” he says.

Keep a close eye: your responsibility for grazed livestock

Stay hands-on: why checking your grazed livestock matters

When your livestock are grazing offsite, your legal responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act remain firmly with you. Their care doesn’t take a holiday, and neither should your involvement. Here’s why regular check-ins are essential:

• Monitor growth and health – Insist on regular weigh-ins and detailed reports from the grazier. Numbers tell part of the story, but being present at some sessions allows you to verify accuracy and see your animals’ condition firsthand. Early detection of issues, like lameness, can prevent long-term problems and ensure timely treatment.

• Hold graziers accountable – A “set and forget” approach risks your animals’ welfare. Make unannounced visits to confirm they’re receiving the feed, water, and care described in reports. This keeps the grazier accountable and ensures your livestock are thriving.

• Support young stock development –Young stock are at a critical stage of growth. Regular checks help ensure they are meeting weight targets, receiving adequate nutrition, and developing well for a productive future.

Being a hands-on owner not only protects your animals’ well-being but also ensures you meet your legal obligations. Your animals depend on you to advocate for their welfare— wherever they are. Need advice? We suggest you speak with your solicitor or contact the team at Edmonds Judd – we are here to help!

Fiona Jack

Update for calculator

By Chris Gardner

DairyNZ says it will continue to update its Dairy Effluent Storage Calculator (Desc) to keep it fit for purpose after it was labelled “a dog” that had never been ground truthed.

The dairy-farmer levy funded organisation, based in Hamilton, issued a statement from DairyNZ general manager of farm systems and policy David Burger after Agricultural Business Associates natural resource engineer Fred Phillips questioned the effectiveness of the tool at a meeting of the Waikato Federated Farmers executive.

Phillips claimed the Desc model, which had never been ground-truthed on low-risk soils, significantly over predicted storage requirements on free draining soils.

He estimated 120,000 hectares, or about 17 per cent of the 685,542ha dairy land in the Waikato, was incorrectly designated as High Risk including about 60 per cent or more of the region’s peat based agricultural soils.

“At best this is just irresponsible,” Phillips said. “The excessive storage being recommended as a result of this misinformation has a cost of about $400 per hectare or $48 million and it has zero environmental benefit.”

Burger said until there was new research or advice supporting the assumption that high infiltration rates on lowrisk soils was not an environmental issue, it was reluctant to update the tool, and the good practice advice it provided, based on advice from experts and independent scientists.

“DairyNZ will continue to update the Desc to keep it fit for purpose and welcome all engagement on this,” Burger added.

DairyNZ provides Desc to dairy farmers to demonstrate their system can comply with regional council rules, while maximizing their use of a key farm resource.

It provides the farmer with the required storage volume assuming irrigation occurs on every possible day at the chosen irrigation rate and pumping volume.

More storage provides the ability to differ irrigation during

busy times of the year and more strategic use of a valuable farm nutrient.

“We’ve worked directly with Fred and others over the past few years to keep modifying the calculator including updating general useability, the platform format and its performance on free draining soils, and we have also undertaken a review of the tool with scientists from Massey University and AgResearch,” Burger said.

“Following this review, we made changes to how irrigation is scheduled on low-risk soils. Specifically, the tool now allows for more irrigation days than the old version, as application depths below 10mm reduce due to the Desc combining rain drainage and farm dairy effluent (FDE) irrigation drainage caping at 10mm. The old version did not allow for irrigation on a drainage day.”

DairyNZ recommended dairy farmers engage with an Irrigation New Zealand accredited system designer when installing a new effluent pond to identify regional council requirements.

“The advice from AgResearch specialists at the time was that higher rates of infiltration on free draining/low ponding risk soils remains an environmental risk, not only for nitrogen but also for the fate and transport of pathogens and phosphorus.

“The risk to try and avoid is farmers putting in a system with very low storage now, who may then need to invest in a new system in future. Having enough storage provides flexibly in management during unusual wet seasons and better use of the nutrients captured. “

Waikato Regional Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee voted in November for the council to undertake desktopbased geospatial work to update the existing map of soil risk for farm dairy effluent.

It also voted to approach DairyNZ to discuss the potential revision and update of the Desc user guidance regarding the sources and use of soil information for establishing soil risk as input data for the calculator.

An effluent irrigation system helps the grass grow on a Waikato farm.

History against waste plans

By Chris Gardner

Fonterra has raised concerns Global Contracting Solutions may not comply with council rules as part of its objection to a major a waste to energy plant in Waipā.

In its submission to an Environmental Protection Agency board of inquiry due to be heard in June, the dairy farmer owned co-operative authorised agent Mark Chrisp raised the compliance history of the applicant’s parent company Global Metal Solutions Limited.

“In 2022, Global Metal Solutions Limited was ordered to pay $134,900 to Hamilton City Council in respect of enforcement order proceedings... to deal with the impact of noise (including persistent breaches of the noise limits in the Hamilton City District Plan) from its metal recycling business,” Chrisp said.

Global Contracting Solutions wants to build the plant in Racecourse Rd Te Awamutu and the importance of Fonterra’s nearby 140-year-old manufacturing site on Alexandra Street, air quality and customer perception was at the top of the list of Fonterra’s objections.

“The Waipā District Plan reiterates the importance of the Te Awamutu site and the need to ensure compatible activities establish adjacent to the Te Awamutu site,” Chrisp said. Waipā District Council has also objected to the plan.

“The food producing activities that are carried out on these sites are sensitive to other industrial activities.”

On the subject of air quality, Chrisp said as a food manufacturer, Fonterra had concerns regarding the implications of any activity in proximity to the Te Awamutu site that discharges emissions to air that could affect or compromise Fonterra’s existing or potentially future operations.

“These concerns include potential impacts on food safety, risk of contaminants entering the dairy manufacturing facilities and the subsequent response required by Fonterra to manage the elevated risk, the impact on Fonterra’s food safety certification, and the health and safety of staff and contractors who work at the Te Awamutu Site,” Chrisp said.

“As part of its overseas operations, Fonterra’s experience

that other waste to energy facilities have not established in close proximity to its food processing operations.”

Fonterra was also concerned with customer perception, as domestic and international customers were concerned with any perceived or real food safety risk associated with the combustion of waste products in such close proximity to its Te Awamutu site.

The submission aligned with comments made by Waipā district mayor Susan O’Regan who told councillors last year she was concerned with the impact the plant would have on agriculture locally and regionally if the consent was granted.

Adequacy of information was another concern, Chrisp said.

“Fonterra considers that the application is deficient in information as to how the ongoing activities at the application site are to be managed. For example, for an

application of this nature, it is surprising that a comprehensive suite of proposed consent conditions and draft management plans have not been prepared in support of the application, given that ongoing management will be required to maintain air emissions as has been modelled in the Application. This lack of information provides no confidence to Fonterra as to how operations will be managed on an ongoing basis, should resource consent be granted. Without details of how ongoing effects will be managed, it is difficult to determine how it could be concluded that effects will be “no more than minor.”

Fonterra was also concerned with flooding, land use compatibility, alignment with the Waikato Regional Policy Statement, the district plan’s specialised dairy industrial overlay status.

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Plans for the energy plant prompted the creation of a lobby group, Don’t Burn Waipā, which took to the streets in Te Awamutu to protest. is

The value of adding some shade

By Rachael Mitchell

While it has been my experience that farmers generally view the benefits of riparian planting to be water filtration and sediment control, the benefits of shading have recently been highlighted by a DairyNZ field day at Judge Valley Dairies, near Te Awamutu.

John Hayward and Susan O’Regan have been strong advocates for sustainable stewardship and riparian planting of their property and were winners of the Supreme Ballance Farm Environment Awards in 2016. They are heavily involved in collaborating to understand the added value of the environmental work they undertake on their dairy farm. The Dairy NZ field day hand out from the event was a wealth of information on the positive impacts of stream vegetation restoration on aquatic life.

Riparian planting is one of the great onfarm environmental activities with several obvious bonuses. By fencing stock back from streams, grass or planted buffers slow overland flow into streams and drains. This allows the water to drop out sediment –the slower water flows, the more sediment settles out.

Phosphorus binds strongly to soil, therefore less sediment equals less phosphorus loss. The longer the water spends in contact with sunlight, the more E. coli can be killed by UV-B radiation before reaching the waterway. And let’s not forget that in the process stock have been prevented from entering the stream reducing direct additions of faecal material and stream back erosion. Plenty of good

things happening here.

If we add native plantings into this mix, we can also create corridors connecting up longer stretches of river or creating rest areas and new habitat for fauna moving through the area.

Even low mobility species, for example native beetles and North Island robins, can move between habitats which are less than three kilometres apart.

For those of you that have undertaken native plantings, or considering doing so, none of this will be news to you. However, the impact of these riparian plantings can have a directly beneficial impact on native aquatic life.

We may expect this from the reduction of nutrients ending up in the waterway, however this is not where the benefit arises.

There is a stronger correlation between shading of streams, and correspondingly lowered water temperatures, than there is from contaminant levels (in this case nitrogen, phosphorus, E. Coil and sediment) in those waterways.

At the recent field day, one of the most interesting learnings was how the temperature of the waterway provides a natural barrier to exotic and pest aquatic species.

The stretch of stream being looked at was about four kilometres upstream of a monitoring site on the Mangapiko Stream where at least four pest species of fish were visibly present in the water.

With no physical barrier to this upstream section, eDNA1 testing found no trace of pest fish in sampling from this water. eDNA is a recent addition to the

environmental tool box and allows water samples to be processed to extract DNA from any creatures that have been in contact with that site.

This can be directly from the source (scales, faeces, shedding) or indirectly from within faeces. The results present a summary, in several formats, to allow benchmarking and monitoring. eDNA sampling is available to anyone, it is not a laboratory-based technology.

In another fortunate co-incidence, exotic fish prefer warmer water, whereas native macroinvertebrates will not survive in stream temperatures over 22° Celsius. Shaded streams enhance habitat for native species and can actively exclude exotic species.

Rachael Mitchell is a Senior Consultant at Perrin Ag, specialising in environmental and ecological work.

Farmer

A Judge Valley short-fin eel.

Banks urged to abandon alliance

Kiwi banks and their overseas parent companies should follow the lead of America’s six biggest banks and withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance, Federated Farmers say.

Since the start of December, heavyweights JP Morgan, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs have all left the UN-backed banking alliance.

“These big US banks have seen that their involvement in the Net Zero Banking Alliance is about to come under huge scrutiny,” said Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre.

“They’re leaving in droves because of lawsuits for anti-competitive behaviour within the banking sector and growing political pressure.

“Federated Farmers are now calling on our banks to do the same. They need to do the right thing and withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance - and fast.”

Last month Federated Farmers went to the Commerce Commission asking for an urgent investigation into the lending

practices of New Zealand banks.

The complaint relates to potentially anti-competitive, coordinated, cartel-like behaviour from the banks, driven by their involvement in the international Net Zero Banking Alliance.

The Net Zero Banking Alliance is an international group committed to aligning their lending, investment, and capital markets activities with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

McIntyre says with five major banks dominating 97 per cent of the agricultural lending market in New Zealand, farmers should be asking serious questions of their bank managers.

“All five of those banks are either directly members of the Net Zero Banking Alliance or are indirectly affiliated through their parent companies: BNZ, ANZ, ASB, Westpac, and Rabobank.

“Federated Farmers have some very serious concerns about the potential alignment of lending policies and anticompetitive cartel-like behaviour to the detriment of farmers.

“We think this issue deserves some real scrutiny from the Commerce Commission, but also from the banking inquiry currently before Parliament.

“Most of the banking chairs and chief executives have already appeared before the Select Committee, but I think they should be hauled back in to answer some more questions.”

BNZ is a direct member of the Net Zero Banking Alliance, having joined in 2021. Westpac, ANZ, ASB, and Rabobank are all affiliated with the alliance through their offshore parent companies.

The banks reference their Net Zero Banking Alliance obligations in their various sustainability reports and internal banking policies for who they will, or won’t, provide lending to.

Several of the banks have already started putting in place targets for various sectors, including reductions in financed agricultural emissions by 2030.

“Most of these banks are starting to set emissions reduction targets for farmers that look remarkably similar, and that’s a major

red flag for us,” McIntyre says.

“That’s why we’re starting to raise serious questions about potential anti-competitive behaviour and collusion that removes choices for farmers.

“There is also a sovereignty issue here where we effectively have a group of foreign-owned banks coordinating and acting as pseudo-regulators for the New Zealand economy.

“These banks are collectively setting emissions reduction targets for farmers that go much further than the targets set by our democratically elected Government.”

McIntyre says he’s also increasingly concerned about what will happen to farmers if they are unable to meet banks’ emission reduction targets by 2030.

“Will we effectively be de-banked and unable to access the capital we need to run our businesses, like we’re starting to see happen with petrol stations?

“Given the significance of farming and agricultural exports to the economy, this should be something that concerns all New Zealanders.”

Methane breakthrough closer

Dairy farmers are a step closer to breeding cows with lower methane emissions and reducing their agricultural carbon footprint without compromising farm productivity.

A study, led in conjunction by Livestock Improvement Corporation and cattle improvement company CRV, and funded by the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre began in 2020 with a small-scale pilot trial involving methane testing of 20 bulls.

Research presented recently at the New Zealand Agriculture and Climate Change Conference 2024 has shown how the programme has evolved.

More than 1000 young bulls and 393 yearling heifers have had their methane emissions and feed intake measured, with the goal of introducing a methane breeding value to all LIC and CRV artificial breeding bulls from late 2026.

The findings, presented by LIC’s Senior Scientist Dr Lorna McNaughton, show that genetic variation can influence how much methane is produced by heifers and that bulls identified as low methane emitters

pass this trait on to their daughters.

In the first phase of the research, it was found that bulls varied by up to 20 per cent in the amount of methane emitted per kilogram of feed consumed.

During this phase, the highest and lowest emitting sires were selected to produce a herd of daughters at Pāmu Farms of New Zealand’s Wairakei Estate in the Central Plateau.

The emissions from these daughters having recently been measured.

“Throughout the programme we’ve been able to rigorously monitor and measure bulls and heifers to confirm that bulls with low methane emissions could produce daughters emitting less methane per kilogram of feed consumed,” says LIC Chief Scientist Dr Richard Spelman.

“This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the genetic variation between high-emitting and low-emitting bulls and we’re now looking forward to the next critical step where we’ll measure emissions from their daughters during their first milking season in 2025.”

To support this next step, a state-of-the-

art research barn is being constructed to allow for the large-scale monitoring of these lactating cows.

“While the last three years of results are promising, and closely aligned to our predictions, this next stage of testing will allow us to confirm the research finding across generations,” says Peter van Elzakker, Grass Fed Genetics Manager at CRV.

With nearly half of New Zealand’s carbon emissions attributed to methane, this research illustrates how the Agri-sector is working together to support the nation’s climate aspirations.

“I’m extremely proud to be part of the solution when it comes to emissionsintensity reduction targets and I am excited by the future prospect of offering farmers low methane-emitting genetic solutions,” says LIC Chief Executive, David Chin.

“This research is just one example of how we must work together and continue to innovate as we look for new ways to address climate challenges and I’m excited to see the work progress into 2025,” says CRV Managing Director, James Smallwood.

FARM SERVICES

A heifer eats lucerne hay cubes via a feed bin which measures how much each animal eats.

4398 Kawhia Road, Oparau

Set in beautiful park-like grounds of 1.55ha (more or less) with a tidal river running along the edge, this is a gorgeous retreat.

The elevated house is set back so you can take in the grounds and water view from the large deck. The open plan living area is large. The window seats have the extra width so those over-stayers can stretch out and doze off right where they sit. The kitchen is well set out and has a large servery along with a scullery. There are two large bedrooms, one being used as an office. The separate bathroom, laundry and toilet are located between the

two bedrooms. Stepping down from the deck there’s a double garage with a self-contained sleepout - a golden opportunity for a book-a-bach or B&B.

At the edge of the river you have you own private spot to launch the boat, along with a place to set the white bait net. Wish you could have ducks or chooks? You can, that area is ready and waiting for your feathered friends. There’s so much outside space you could even fence off an area for some extra pets or freezer meat. A variety of fruit trees will keep you nourished when in season and

just along the road is a store, so no need to panic if you run out of those essential supplies. For Sale Offers Over $1,080,000 View by appointment

Boundary indication only

Friday 24 January

Te Awamutu 12.00 - 12.45pm 22 Te Aranui Drive $998,000 4 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23682

Sunday 26 January

Te

2.00 - 2.30pm 3/746 Mahoe Street $515,000 2 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23634

Piopio

11.30 – 12.00pm 26 Kea Street Offers over 3 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23527 $525,000

Monday 27 January

Te Awamutu

2.00 - 2.30pm 146 College Street $669,000 2 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23739

2.30 - 3.00pm 590 Puahue Road By Neg 4 6 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23698

2.45 - 3.15pm 1079 Racecourse Rd $790,000 3 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23726

Ōtorohanga

12.00 – 12.30pm 342 Mangawhero Road $725,000 3 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/OH22572 1.00 - 1.30pm 60 Hinewai Street $500,000 3 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/OH22567

1.00 - 1.30pm 67 Mountain View Road $749,000 5 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/OH22566 1.45 – 2.15pm 2 Sangro Crescent $580,000 4 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/OH22584 1.45 – 2.15pm 52 Rangitahi Street $569,000 3 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/OH22574 2.45 – 3.15pm 674 Mangaorongo Road Deadline 5 4 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/OH22587

Te Kūiti 3.00 – 3.30pm 24A Edward Street $539,000 3 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/OH22558

Pokuru

Kuiti 1 Nettie Street

Benneydale 12 Murcott Terrace

Te Kuiti 70

Benneydale Ellis Road

Te Kuiti 40 Seddon Street

Piopio 13 Pukeiti Road

Te Kuiti 23 Edward Street

Te Kuiti 7 Lawrence Street

Benneydale 6 Gannon Street

Les Te Kanawa • 027 271 6167

Lorrene Te Kanawa • 027 333 8531 les@1stsca olding.co.nz • www.1stsca olding.co.nz

Septic Tank Cleaning

• Emptying septic tanks

• CCTV pipeline inspection

• Jetting drainage pipelines

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18 Top 15mth Hfd frsn x hfrs

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Contact Len Sheeren 027 473 5859

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Holes DANIEL JAQUES Mob 027 261 2248

Contact Len Sheeren 027 473 5859

• Spreading animal effluent

Waitomo Liquid Waste Disposal 021 111 3911

HANDYMAN

Property maintenance and construction

Lawns, trees, stump grinding, sections, moss & mould treatments, Chemwash, waterblasting, gutter vac, water tank and trough cleaning fences, retaining, odd jobs and more. References available GST registered.

Mike & Allana 027 350 0836 info@handy-man.co.nz

GURTAS PROPERTIES LTD, 30 Oranga St, New Plymouth 4310 has made application to the District Licensing Committee at Te Kūiti for the renewal of a off licence in respect of premises situated at 249 Rora St, Te Kūiti, and known as Te Kūiti Liquorland. The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licences is that of a bottle store. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is to be sold under the offlicence are Monday to Sunday, 9am to 10pm. The application may be inspected during the ordinary office hours at the office of the District Licensing Committee at Waitomo District Council, Queen Street, Te Kūiti. Any person who is entitled to and wishes to object to the issue of the licences may, not later than 25 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 Waitomo District Council, P. O. Box 404, Te Kūiti 3941. No objection to the renewal of a 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 first publication of this notice.

Piopio-Aria Golf Club

Thursday, Feb 6

Ōtorohanga College

We are looking for an experienced and passionate individual or business to manage the Otorohanga College canteen. This is a great opportunity to provide healthy, delicious meals and snacks to students and staff, while running a vibrant and essential part of our College community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Preparing and serving a range of nutritious meals and snacks

• Ensuring compliance with food safety and hygiene standards

• Providing friendly and efficient service to students and staff

• Offering affordable and appealing menu options for all age groups

• Ability to work during College hours

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please contact the Principal, Lyndsay Kurth at kurthl@otocoll.school.nz by Thursday 23rd January.

Need a qualified and experienced tradesman?

NEED A QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED TRADESMAN?

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Friday, January 24, 2025 Start 12 noon

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Entry fee $30 (incl 2s)

Men’s and ladies divisions

Prizes for gross - nett - stableford Non golfers welcome Tee times from 9.30am – 11.30am Contact Wayne 027 378 6635

We are now looking for a person to join our Ōtorohanga office.

Duties will include:

• Preparation of financial accounts for farmers and businesses

• Preparation of GST and income tax returns

• General business and taxation work

The successful will have a keen interest in accounting, computer skills and clerical work, with attention to detail. Some farming knowledge would be preferred. Excellent people skills, integrity and professionalism are required. While some past experience would be preferred, training will be given to the successful applicant.

Our firm is an Approved Training Organisation with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. We would also offer professional development opportunities through distance learning. Bailey Ingham Limited Chartered Accountants

Email: info@baileyingham.co.nz

Enquiries to: Bridget Boshier or David Bailey 07 873 7325

Trades & Services

Livestock For Sale

GARDENING

Connect with nature

Katrina Christison Tidy Gardens

Why It’s So Important to Get Outside into Nature

In a world where we’re constantly surrounded by screens and the busiest of everyday life, it’s easy to forget just how essential it is to spend time outdoors an connect with nature.

More than just a leisure activity, spending time in nature has profound effects on our mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

Research shows that our disconnect from natural environments is contributing to a range of health issues, from increased stress to reduced creativity. So, I want to introduce Vitamin N & Grounding.

Vitamin N isn’t a traditional nutrient you’ll find on a supplement label, but a term which reflects the vital role nature plays in our health. “Vitamin N” is a essential need for nature in our lives—especially for children who are spending less time outdoors.

While we often think of vitamins as necessary components for good health, Vitamin N is just as crucial for our mental and physical well-being.

Studies consistently show that nature exposure can reduce stress, improve mood, enhance creativity, and even bolster cognitive function.

Nature, it turns out, is a healer, a

mood booster, and a critical element in preventing mental health issues like anxiety and depression, so it doesn’t mean your have to garden just get outside and go for a walk in nature.

Grounding, also known as earthing, is the practice of reconnecting with the Earth’s energy by walking barefoot on natural surfaces like grass, dirt, or sand.

The idea behind grounding is simple: when you make direct contact with the Earth’s surface, your body can absorb free electrons that help neutralize harmful free radicals, reduce inflammation, and promote overall health.

While the understanding of grounding is still developing, early research suggests it can help improve sleep, reduce pain, lower stress levels, and boost circulation. The act of grounding, combined with the benefits of Vitamin N, allows for a holistic connection to the Earth that nurtures both out body and minds.

So, why is it so important to get outside into nature? Because nature is essential for our health and well-being.

By embracing Vitamin N and grounding practices, we can restore balance to our lives, reduce stress, boost our immune systems, and reconnect with our inner selves.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed or out of balance, take a step outside and connect with nature!

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

PROPOSAL TO PART WITH POSSESSION OF THE GOLF SECTON AND RETURN OWNERSHIP TO WAITOMO GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB INC.

Dear Otorohanga Club Members

We are holding a Special Meeting to discuss an important matter regarding the future of our golf club.

Meeting Details:

Date: Sunday 2nd February 2025

Time: 11am

Location: Otorohanga Club Inc. - 107 Maniapoto St, Otorohanga

Agenda:

The primary purpose of this meeting is to present and discuss the proposal to return the ownership of the golf club back to Waitomo Golf & Country Club Inc. This decision is significant for the future of both clubs, and your input is essential.

This meeting will provide an opportunity to:

 Understand the reasoning and implications of this proposal

 Ask questions and share your perspectives

 Participate in a member vote

Your attendance and participation are crucial. Together, we can make an informed decision that aligns with the best interests in both clubs and our community.

If you have any questions before the meeting, please don’t hesitate to contact Steve Wilshier or Jock Gollan.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Bronwyn Merrin

Secretary/Manager Otorohanga Club Inc.

Waitomo District Council Property Services Trades Panel

Waitomo District Council is seeking proposals from local Building, Plumbing and Electrical contractors to join their Property Services Trades Panel.

This panel is an opportunity for businesses to work with the Property and Facilities team at WDC to help respond to emerging issues and maintain our facilities to a high standard. Please note that being included on this panel isn’t a guarantee of work.

To request a copy of the Request for Information and Pricing document and response forms, please email jenelle.burnell@ waitomo.govt.nz who will arrange for you to get a hard copy of the documents.

The King Country App is FREE Download it from the App Store or Google Play TODAY!

* Please note as this is a manual tender process, the documents will not be distributed electronically or will not be available to download from our website.

To apply please return the signed response forms (Response Form A - Non-Price and Response Form B - Price) and return (each response form in a separate sealed envelope) to the Tender Box located in the Waitomo District Council Administration Office reception area, 15 Queen Street, Te Kūiti by 4pm on Thursday 30 January 2025.

For more information about the procurement process and how to apply for the Property Services Trades Panel, please go to the website: www.waitomo.govt.nz/council/tenders/

If you have any queries or need further information, please email: jayne.signal@waitomo.govt.nz.

Letters to the Editor

• Letters should not exceed 200 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.

I would like to thank all my customers over the past 30 years for your support. I have now retired and no-one will be taking over the business.

Sonny Te Kanawa King Country Firewood

Ōtorohanga Football Club

Ōtorohanga Domain Sports Association

Annual General Meetings

January 28, 2025 Corbett Pavilion Otorohanga Domain

6.30pm Ōtorohanga Domain Sports Association

WEEKLY SCHEDULE ON OUR WEBSITE

David's

10am

PIRONGIA MARKET

Pirongia Community Centre, Crozier St Sunday, January 26, 9am - 1pm

Last Sunday of every month

Email jim1@xtra.co.nz or ph Jim 027 366 5842

TRANSOM, Thom 12-01-1937

7.30pm Ōtorohanga Football Club

New members and players are welcome to attend

Any inquiries to Emma Telfer (secretary) 027 644 0434 otorohangafootball@gmail.com

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Tapuiwahine A12 Trust

Date: Sunday, February 23, 2025

Registrations and refreshments: 930am-10am

Meeting Starts: 10am

Venue: Motiti Marae, Mangatea Road, Te Kūiti

AGENDA:

• Karakia

• Chairpersons welcome

• Minutes of previous AGM

• Financial Report

• Chairmans Report

• Correspondence

• Election of Trustees/Officers/ Resignations

• General Business

• Advice of Lease Negotiation

• Karakia

For Proxy forms, zoom credentials, agenda items or apologies, please email the Trust: tapuiwahinea12@gmail.com

TE RONGOROA FOREST & FARM TRUST

NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that a special general meeting will be held at Te Rongoroa Marae, Ōngarue on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

Pōwhiri: 10am

Morning tea and lunch will be provided. All beneficial owners are encouraged to attend.

Angela Pope – Chairperson Te Rongoroa Forest & Farm Trust

Notice of

Annual General Meeting

clerk Ph 07 873 8735

bookings Ph Nina 027 237 2382

Panui:

Owners and beneficiaries of Puketiti 5D block

Special Meeting Saturday, February 8, 2025

Piopio Senior Citizens Hall Weka Street Piopio @11am

Agenda: Updating & changes to current Trust Deed.

General Discussion

All Enquires: Secretary Puketiti 5D trust cheryll.watson@xtra.co.nz

We welcome you to our 10.30am

Sunday service. 10 Sheridan St, Te Kūiti An Assemblies of God church

Waitomo

All Saints Piopio, 22 Moa St Sunday 10am

St Peter’s by the Sea 25 Aria Tce, Mōkau 1st & 3rd Sundays 2pm

Piopio contact: 07 877 8097

Mokau contact: 06 752 9123

Died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Saturday 18 January 2025 at Waikato Hospital. Loving husband of Diana for 59 years. Loving father and father-in-law of Ian and Rosalie, Pauline and the late Aaron, Linda and Jarrod. Loved Pocka of Ronan, Lachlan, Conrad, Estelle, Scout, Ridge, Kasiah, Wolf, April and Van. In accordance with Thom’s wishes private service cremation has taken place.

Unveilings

“Dickie” Dowlings: Hura Kohatu/unveiling to be held 12.30pm Te Kūiti Cemetery Sunday, January 26, with a celebration of life at Waitomo Club from 2pm. All whānau and friends welcome. Details email michaelrdowling@live.com

District Council Service

Information - Auckland Anniversary Monday 27 January 2025

Customer Service Centre - Closed. Our call centre operates 24/7. Please call 0800 932 4357 or email: info@waitomo.govt.nz

Library - Closed

Admin Office - Closed

Aquatic Centre - Open 12pm - 6pm

Transfer StationsManiaiti/ Benneydale, Kinohaku, and Piopio Transfer Stations will be closed

Awakino and Marokopa are closed on Monday as normal

Waitomo District LandfillOur Landfill is closed on Monday as normal

Refuse Collection - Will operate as normal

Waitomo District Council Staff wish you all a happy and safe holiday weekend! Public Notices