Cambridge News | March 14, 2024

Councillors ‘keep mum’

By Mary Anne Gill

The level of public excluded discussions by Waipā councillors about the district’s financial woes became more evident this week.

In approving a draft annual plan on Tuesday, councillors agreed to put the $33 million Te Ara

We say…

Councillors given access to confidential information understand they have a statutory responsibility not to discuss it in public. But at a time when the electorate is complaining about a range of issues, elected representatives who have barely debated an issue in public during this term might ask themselves if this was the right time to “keep mum”.

Wai museum, Cambridge Library Hub, Pirongia Cycleway and Cambridge Town Hall projects on hold, increase rates by 14.8 per cent and add $101.7 million to existing debt levels.

Councillors had known about the proposals for weeks and work shopped them behind closed doors, but one councillor queried the approach which gave staff the mandate to consult with affected stakeholders before this week’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee meeting.

Roger Gordon said it had been very hard “to keep mum”, particularly in Cambridge where there was an “uprising”.

“Everywhere you go in Cambridge there’s a reaction about ‘what’s happening in our town’,” he said.

Lack of parking, speed

bumps, cycleways, road closures and a perceived lack of consultation over the proposed third bridge were all hot topics, he said.

“People only got the information about the bridge when it appeared in the paper.”

Included in the draft plan is capital expenditure of $5.9 million on a Business Accommodation Strategy.

Asked to explain what that was, deputy chief executive Ken Morris said it was money to be spent on upgrading and opening the former Te Awamutu Museum building– closed in October 2022 because of an earthquake risk - so the public could see the museum’s “amazing taonga”.

Committee chair Liz Stolwyk said it was councillors’ responsibility

now to respond to residents’ concerns.

“We’re talking about a pause. Taking a breath and looking at the environment.”

Part of the public consultation was around whether the heritage protected Cambridge Water Tower should be demolished for $771,000 or repaired for $5.6 million.

They could also comment on the council’s debt level, currently sitting

at $296.8 million with a recommendation to increase that to $398.5 million by June 30 next year.

“With what has happened in the inflationary environment, debt has become a very important factor,” said Morris who described it as significant and growing quickly.

Mayor Susan O’Regan said nobody wanted the council to be in the position it was but it was taking a fiscally

responsible route “I’m not saying we’re liking it.”

Communication and Engagement manager Lisa Nairne said public consultation now would be “largely story telling” about the council’s financial position and growth and how difficult it had been for councillors to make hard decisions around the table.

Consultation starts on April 5 and finishes on April 26.

...and staff are under pressure

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā staff painted a brutal picture this week of the pressure they are under to produce an Annual Plan by June 30.

At the council’s Audit and Risk committee on Monday, staff revealed eight new risks following the decision to delay the 10-year Long Term Plan and produce an Enhanced Annual Plan in less than four months.

Councillors leaking confidential information was one of the risks.

Leaks would not only result in a lack of trust between staff and elected members,

a report to the committee detailed, the information could also be wrong and prevent council being able to control the narrative.

Strategy manager Melissa Russo said the four ‘very high’ risks were not achieving timeframes, manual preparation of the budget, general illness/stress, and an aggressive community response.

The two high ones are concerns a new consultation system would make it difficult to collect and analyse stakeholder information and the second was around community expectations on what the council

could deliver.

The two medium ones are the risk of there being a legal challenge to council’s decision to defer the Long Term Plan and the leaking of confidential information by elected members.

The report reveals staff have put procedures in place if the community turns nasty. That includes putting council offices in lockdown – something they have had to do in the past and which resulted in the installation of security grills over the counters.

“This risk has been rated ‘very high’

due to the health and safety risk to elected members and staff and the reputational risk to council of misinformation circulating in the community,” said Russo.

Also very high are seasonal illnesses which have increased among staff and these, coupled with stress, could lead to slippage in deliverables and timeframes.

Evidence of how critical the risks are were obvious in the matters discussed in public excluded which included a “deep dive” into the top risks and a discussion with chief executive Garry Dyet over organisational risk.

Basketball

Lacrosse

Councillors and staff pictured at this week’s meeting in Te Awamutu, chaired by Liz Stolwyk (top centre).

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

In simple terms

Please allow me to translate Waipā District Council speak for the masses. When you add an additional bridge to the two existing bridges you get… not three, but two. And of course, as WDC is broke, we the community, get yet more debt. If this is “growth,” then stop growing. What kind of parents demand the family eat bread and water to allow for repayments on a new Tesla?

Hamilton City Council allowed Tainui to gut the soul of Hamilton’s CDB with its retail base at Te Rapa. Let Hamilton take on another billion debt if necessary, but why debauch Cambridge because people want to escape broken cities for more pleasant options?

It has been another busy week in Cambridge. To give you an idea of the range of jobs we deal with, last week saw the team responding to calls for service including family harm, shoplifting, petrol drive-offs, trespass incidents, burglaries, theft from a car and thefts of cars, a water (boating) incident, persons in mental health distress, traffic crashes, speeding and noisy motorcycles, dangerous driving, carrying out proactive patrolling and road policing enforcement, completing bail checks and processing breaches of bail, plus assisting fire and ambulance.

In addition, our Station Support officer and other staff assisted many people over the front counter, from crime prevention advice to crime reporting, lost and found property and the submission of documentation for firearms licencing and other information requests.

Policing is a career where no two days are

Have you served in any capacity in the Army, Air Force or Navy?

(CMT, NS, TF, RF)

Please come along to one of the RSA’s support clinics to fi nd out what support you may be eligible for from the RNZRSA and Veterans’ A airs.

Our Support Advisors can outline what assistance is available to those who have served, currently serving, spouses and family members.

Taylor Made Community Centre, 22a Taylor Street

19 MARCH, 9.30AM – 4.00PM

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO www.rsa.org.nz/get-support/support-clinics

Sadly, history proves the WDC is governed by hubris, greed, and myopia. As such, they will not stop until their debt lust grinds us all to a halt - at which point the asset liens will get called in.

Shaun Robinson

Cambridge

The Treaty

When will the media and the public finally realise that Act is not proposing to rewrite the Treaty of Waitangi?

The Bill as proposed by Act will not change the Treaty itself. That was set in 1840 and will remain forever. What they are seeking to do is continue the process of defining the Treaty

principles, for the first time incorporating the voices of all people through a democratic Parliamentary process, instead of through the Tribunal or the courts. There are so many interpretations of it by so-called experts who all believe they are correct there needs to be some finality so that we can all get on with our lives living together as one

The Bill is cleverly written so it is hard to argue against it. The three proposed principles are no-brainers; the government is allowed to govern, we all have private property rights and we are all equal under the law. Who doesn’t agree with that? Who can mount an argument against that without arguing for more rights for one ethnicity?

Max Brown

Cambridge

the same. Be sure to visit the Te Awamutu Police Station Open Day on Saturday from 9am to noon.

The topic of cyclists in town has arisen again and I have noted the associated commentary on social media. There continue to be two key concerns. One is the prevalence of cyclists of all ages riding at speed on pavements through the centre of town. The second is around the way in which cyclists are riding out onto pedestrian crossings. I understand that the thought of their children riding through the Victoria street CBD on the road may be concerning for parents - there is however an alternative safer route via Dick and Duke streets. Given the number of pedestrians, especially the young and the elderly, the risk posed by riding through town is significant. If your child needs to travel this way, please have them walk their bike through town.

With regard to pedestrian crossings, cyclists should dismount and walk their bikes across the road. When they ride out onto a pedestrian crossing from riding along the road, motorists are given little or no time to react and stop. Dismounting means cyclists have the opportunity to assess and react to traffic, ensuring the crossing is definitely clear. Vehicles similarly have time to see the cyclist waiting, and stop. We do not want anyone to be hit and hurt.

The continued development of cycleways will no doubt help to provide a safe shared space for cyclists, mobility scooters and pedestrians around town.

Finally on the cycling note, remember that helmets only protect your head if you are wearing them and they are clipped in place. Too often we see children riding without helmets or with them dangling from their handlebars. Protect your brain and put it on.

Peace pipe offered?

Waipā District Council listen to ratepayers?

Dreams are free. The current council have only just recognised that the Te Awamutu War Memorial Park changes are not what the majority of ratepayers want. At their recent meeting they finally agreed to review it. As Te Awamutu News stated, Marcus Gower voted against that. Mind you he is also the prime driver for the Kihikihi cycle path/culde-sac fiasco and the selling off of the Kihikihi Government Stockade Reserve for housing, despite residents objections to both projects. Gower is one of the council’s Te AwamutuKihikihi General Ward Councillors, yet never seems to actually represent the views of the residents he is being paid to represent.

Geoff Boxell

Kihikihi

Continued on page 14

Leaders meet

Waikato’s local authority leaders marked International Women’s Day at the quarterly Zone 2 meeting at Lake

Karāpiro. Waipā had mayor Susan O’Regan, deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk and Clare St Pierre in attendance with Waikato’s Crystal Beavis. The meeting included a presentation from Waka Kotahi on the draft Land Transport Policy Statement.

Fluoride call

Waipā District Council is set to be pressed to put a hold on plans to introduce fluoride to water. The council was originally ordered to prepare to add fluoride to the Cambridge town supply in July 2022, but Kane Titchener, deputy chair of the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board, has told The News a notice of motion calling for a stall to work will be tabled this month.

Bowls win

The All Hacks - Keith Hedges, Steve Thomas and Ray Lewis - won Cambridge Bowling Club’s Business House sixweek long bowls contest last week for the sixth successive year.

New chair

Ruth Crampton was elected the National Party’s Cambridge branch chair on Saturday. Party members also heard from Taupō MP Louise Upston on the party’s first 100 days in government at a fundraising event for Cambridge High School’s Jazz band.

Double winner

Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie celebrated a second major win with Mahrajaan last weekend. Mahrajaan became only the third horse to win the New Zealand Cup and the Auckland Cup in the same season. Ritchie paid about $164,000 in the UK for the American bred gelding in 2022. Meanwhile, Rodney Schick, who with wife Gina runs Windsor Park Stud at Leamington, has been appointed to the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Members’ Council.

SeniorNet hangs up the mouse

By Viv Posselt

When The News caught up with Muriel Tooley, she was helping someone load a reluctant computer desk into the back of a small car.

It didn’t work, but Muriel’s efforts were symbolic as she helped clear out the last of SeniorNet Cambridge’s chattels before it closes on March 31. The 88-year-old was there at the beginning and she’s there at the end.

Muriel was at the initial meeting in May 2000, and was among the 40 who signed up. She joined the committee a few months after they started operating in October 2000, and was tutoring people – many of them far younger than she – until the call came to close.

“It’s sad, but it’s a sign of the times,” she said while clearing out the last few items of furniture in the building behind Taylor Made Community Space, home to SeniorNet Cambridge throughout its 23 years.

“Things have changed. In the

beginning, people wanted to know anything and everything about computers. Today, they only want help when they get into difficulty … there isn’t the same need as before.”

SeniorNet came to New Zealand in 1992. It was a US concept designed to offer digital learning to older adults. It was initiated in New Zealand by then Telecom employee Grant Sidaway, who became SeniorNet New Zealand’s Chief Executive until his retirement in 2019. When he became a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to seniors and ICT in 2020, there were 70 clubs and 9500 members nationally. There were more at its peak, and are now far fewer.

Muriel said they started in Cambridge with Windows 98, then XP, Vista, Windows 7, 8, 10 and finally, Windows 11. Working to a teaching manual written by one of their number – the late Peter Mackley – the six tutors covered email and internet, Microsoft Word, files and folders and a range of other Microsoft

subjects. More recent developments have included tablets, iPads, smart phones and digital cameras.

“As each new operating system arrived, the tuition material was updated. When Peter fell ill, he handed his files to me. Over our 23 years, we have had 1214 members here and have taught about 60 different courses and variations. We also gave help sessions to many more who didn’t join the club, held weekly drop-in help sessions and had a monthly social.”

Muriel, who also did the group’s newsletter, came to it with the same trepidation many of her pupils would have felt. The career typist bought her first computer in 1996, and was at that initial SeniorNet meeting because her neighbour wanted someone to go with.

The group’s last chairperson, Pat van der Maas, said with three members remaining this year, closure was inevitable. “Other groups are also closing… we have probably served our purpose.”

Muriel said Covid also contributed to SeniorNet Cambridge’s demise. Numbers dropped off, fewer wanted to help at committee level, and people found different ways to learn technology.

“It’s been very satisfying, but it’s time to hang up the mouse and close.”

Watch out for those sixes…

By Mary Anne Gill

Signs have gone up at each entrance of the Cambridge Farmers’ Market warning patrons to beware of cricket balls when matches are being played.

But The News wonders how much use the signs will be when the final T20 match of the season between Cambridge Premier and St Paul’s Collegiate in round seven of the Waikato Valley premier competition starts at 10am on Saturday.

A six by Morrinsville Piako’s Liam Hayman during his team’s victory over Cambridge A in round three at 11.21am on February 24 soared over the top of the market and landed somewhere in the middle.

There were no shrieks of pain but sources close to the Cambridge cricket club –which leases Victoria Square from Waipā District Council –say players were concerned.

There has been “tension” between the cricket club

and the market since it first started 15 years ago.

The market occupies a designated area of the square every Saturday morning until midday and recently secured a licence to occupy from the council for a five-year term with two rights of renewal of five years each.

The initial annual licence fee is $13,260 payable to the council.

Previously the Hamilton and Cambridge Farmers Markets Trust paid two annual fees – $612 for a licence and $357 for administration, until The News enquiries revealed it was no longer operating as a charitable trust, which had entitled it to reduced rates.

Damage done to the ground during the market’s tenure – in recent years ratepayers have forked out thousands of dollars to repair the southeastern corner occupied by the market –makes fielding in that corner precarious once the market has packed up.

As part of the new licence the market must ensure the area is kept clear of any litter and waste and ensure dogs are kept off the surface.

A portion of the new licence fee covers general maintenance of the site.

Cricket has been played on Victoria Square since 1876 when a team of soldiers from South Auckland travelled by

The Cambridge Cricket Club was formed in November 1907 with mayor William Buckland – a former first class Auckland cricket all-rounder – elected president.

The first match on six foot matting was played the

following month between Married Men 22 and Single 103, according to Cambridge Museum records.

In 1953, the cricket club contributed £300 plus labour towards a brick building in the northern corner of Victoria Square. An upstairs lounge was added in 1980 and a $300,000 extension finished in 2021.

Jono Gibson Funeral Director

Muriel Tooley.

steamboat up the Waikato River to play the Waikato Battalion.

Liam Hayman batting for Morrinsville Piako at a recent T20 match against Cambridge on Victoria Square hit a massive six off bowler Adil Somani (9) into the Farmers’ Market. Watching on is wicketkeeper Scott Warren and batsman Jacob Gordon (33).

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

New focus for i-Site

By Mary Anne Gill

Key tourism industry partners gathered in Cambridge last week to meet with Waikato i-Site operators and discuss current issues.

Representatives from Cambridge and Te Awamutu were present and shared their plans to “go it alone” following Waipā District Council’s decision to end its annual grants to the two organisations.

Tourism New Zealand’s Paul Yeo updated the group on data released earlier in the week which showed international visitors now contributed $10.8 billion to the economy.

Nearly 6800 tourism operators are back post Covid and contribute employment indirectly to 317,514 New Zealanders, he said.

The data also showed more than 80 per cent of residents personally benefited from tourism and 37 per cent of respondents recognised that tourism activity enabled local businesses to stay open.

Mystery Creek Events Centre spoke about recent

changes to its commission structure while an Interislander representative shared details of the challenges the company is facing.

Cambridge Town Hall Community Trust general manager Simon Brew presented on the plans to bring the hall back to life and the work associated with that.

Meanwhile Cambridge Grey Power has added its support to Destination Cambridge and Destination Te Awamutu.

In an email after its recent general meeting, secretary Mike O’Driscoll encouraged members to contact the council about its plans to stop funding the two information centres.

“Many members at the meeting expressed strong disapproval of this proposal,” he said.

“Your committee strongly encourages you to make a submission.”

Submissions must come from individuals, not groups or organisations, and be submitted by June.

Nurses return – 60 years on

A group from the Waikato Hospital nursing class of 1964, including two from Cambridge, recently celebrated their 60th reunion.

Lynette Aish (nee Gardiner) and Paula Butterworth (nee Houghton) joined Putāruru’s Judy Osborne (nee Udy) and Diane Hishon (nee Hillary from Morrinsville) on a tour of the hospital to see how things had changed since they trained there.

And there to greet them was chief Nursing and Midwifery officer Sue Hayward, who also lives in Cambridge.

Judy now lives in Hamilton and reminisced about the old Emergency Department.

“We had a few cubicles and two plaster rooms with x-ray nearby,” highlighting the stark contrast with the current ED, now equipped with 55 beds and five resuscitation rooms.

The nurses found comfort in seeing the hospital chapel, even though the original one was gone.

The stained-glass windows had been transferred from the original and brought back memories, especially for Paula who was married in the old chapel and now lives in Adelaide where she moved a week after the wedding.

The tour ended at the history timeline on the walls of level 2 Meade Clinical Centre, where the nurses traced their journey. It was a trip down memory lane, filled with shared experiences and milestones.

Sue said it was great to see the camaraderie of work colleagues from all those years ago when it was common for nurses to train, work and live together onsite at the hospital.

Clinic locations:

Paula’s sisters Glen Reid and Diane Moss, who were attendants at the Hospital Chapel, still live in Cambridge as does Lynette. Seven of

the class of 1964 were from Cambridge: Paula Houghton, Esther and Lynette Gardiner, Marion Nairn, Kathy Dawes, Isobel Oates and Pam Bruton.

Chief Nursing and Midwifery officer Sue Hayward, left, welcomed class of ’64 nurses Lynette Aish, Judy Osborne, Paula Butterworth, Diane Hishon.

Photo: Supplied.

Paula Butterworth outside the old Waikato Hospital chapel before her 1967 wedding with attendants, Paula’s sisters Diane Moss, left, and Glen Reid, right (who still live in Cambridge), family friend Stan Gilbert who gave Paula away, and Rev Kinloch, the Presbyterian hospital chaplain.

Photo: Supplied.

Ever thought of giving TRACK CYCLING a go?

Back to where it all began

By Janine Krippner

Round up your colleagues & REGISTER your team now!

“We are so small” I said as I looked up at Ngāuruhoe ahead of us, standing between ancient lava flows towering above us on either side.

The younger, black, glassy lava flows that were erupted in 1954 are a stark contrast. We kept pushing forward to where we reached large boulders that are scarred and often shattered where they landed. This would have been a deadly place to be during eruptions. I am absolutely in my element here.

that leads up from the Mangatepopo valley.

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COLLABORATE, COMPETE & CONQUER

I am reminded of my Te Awamutu College geography class field trip to the volcanoes all those years ago not too far from where I was now standing. Back then I dreamed of being a volcanologist.

As a college student I loved the work so much that I didn’t want the assignment to end; when Mum came home from night duty around 7am I was still up working on it. Now I am doing this for real, figuring out what the rocks can tell us about the volcano and its eruptions.

After the country-wide storm killed our first two days of planned fieldwork, University of Canterbury PhD student Amilea Sork and I spent three long 10 to 12 hour days in the field, hiking up the lower flanks of Ngāuruhoe to better understand the ballistics (flying rocks) of eruptions past. These are historically the deadliest of the eruptive processes within 5km of a crater. They can be ejected during magmatic or phreatic (steam) eruptions. With this cone being so steep, the ballistics don’t just land in place. They roll and bounce out to much greater distances, across the portion of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track

We focused on ballistics larger than a metre in diameter, reaching around 5m in length. These sit around 1.5 to 2km from the summit. We are collecting evidence of whether they tumbled off thick lava flows high on the flanks or were blasted up out of the crater. We noted evidence of the rocks being partly fluid or solid when they were erupted, impact marks where they hit the ground or other rocks, and how extensively they fractured with the enormous energies at play. Some of these huge boulders had us perplexed at first, but we methodically pieced together a worthy story as we went over each surface collecting clues. One thing is certain, when Ngauruhoe erupts again you do not want to be where we stood.

We will spend time over the next year at least going over the data we collected, running computer models and analysing satellite data to keep adding to the bigger picture. It is this way that we keep adding to the growing body of knowledge of volcanoes, sometimes feeling painfully slow, making sure we consider all possibilities as we go. The end goal is to understand what areas are impacted by these large ballistics and learn more about how they get there, which can then be applied to other volcanoes around the world.

This is how we figure out these beautiful giants that are such an important part of the planet we live on, and I feel deeply grateful that I get to do this.

An innovative tour to celebrate 20 years

When building is in your DNA, it’s no surprise it’s not just great homes that are constructed along the way.

Urban Homes, Waikato’s most awarded building company, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and managing director Daniel Klinkenberg says he’s amazed at what’s been achieved when looking back.

“Urban Homes was a dream that my wife Bronni and I shared. We wanted to create a company that didn’t just build homes; it built people.” Urban Homes has been multiple winners of the prestigious Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition, and many of its categories, making it the most awarded builder in the Waikato.

In addition, in 2022, it was awarded the national Platinum Award, which is an award presented to any company that has won more than five National awards – the first time any Waikato builder has done so.

This has seen Urban Homes develop and hone an

industry-leading design and build service not only offering a wide variety of available plans that can be adjusted, but a full architectural design, selection and build service.

In 2020, the Klinkenbergs opened StudioU. This immersive, industry leading, state-of-the-art design centre takes inspiration to the next level. Located at Urban Homes HQ in Hamilton this interactive space has been designed with you in mind.

To celebrate Urban Homes 20-year anniversary, Daniel and Bronni want to do something they believe reflects its community commitment.

“Urban has long supported the children’s charity True Colours,” Daniel says. True Colours supports children with serious health conditions and their families.

“We have partnered with the amazing team at True Colours for several years now and so what better way

to celebrate than to organise an event that supports them, but also show cases some of the many amazing properties we have constructed.”

“So, on Friday May 3, we are hosting the Urban Homes 20 Year Celebration Tour. For one day only we will be opening 10 stunning homes we have built for people to come and have a look through and to gain inspiration on what can be achieved,” he says. The homes are open from 10am until 4pm. Tickets will cost $50, must be pre-purchased and can be done so by going to urban.co.nz/celebration-tour. All proceeds go to True Colours.

Urban Homes solid base continues its growth trajectory with the news that a new franchise model is being implemented in the Coromandel in April and later this year into the Bay of Plenty and South Auckland.

Grassroots Trust Velo drome, Cambridge, NZ

The case against incineration

Andrew Johnstone put his views forward last week in support of an incinerator plant for Waipā. Today, Nick Cantlon, representing the Don’t Burn Waipā lobby group, responds.

Don’t Burn Waipā is a group of local residents opposed to the waste-to-energy incinerator (‘Paewira’) proposed for Te Awamutu.

The group is focused on informing and educating the community about the impact the plant will likely have on our health, environment and economy. We strongly believe that the incinerator will bring zero benefits to the community and have a negative impact on the surrounding farmland. We will oppose the application every step of the way through the resource consent process.

While there are many waste incinerators throughout the world – mainly in densely populated countries in the northern hemisphere - we believe the New Zealand environment is quite different, and there are better ways for us to manage our waste than burning it. It certainly does not fit with New Zealand’s long term plan to move towards a “circular economy”.

The Waikato Regional Council commissioned a report from international consultant Eunomia on the implications of Waste-to-Energy plants for New Zealand.

The report recommends that food waste and organic material should always be recovered from waste and composted. Treatment of the remaining non-recyclable waste by incineration or landfill was then compared. If the waste has a high plastic and tyre content - such as at the proposed Paewira plant - incineration releases five times more carbon dioxide into the

atmosphere than landfill where the carbon remains locked in the plastic. The report concludes that “Landfill (with optimised gas capture and energy generation, to limit methane emission impacts) be used as the only waste management approach for genuinely residual mixed waste.”

As well as this fundamental flaw, the specific proposal for Te Awamutu contains several other major negatives:

The Site: The proposed site is designated in the District Plan as Industrial with a Specialised Dairy Industrial Policy Overlay to protect the nearby Fonterra complex from non-aligned uses. Global Contracting Solutions (GCS) believes that the incinerator will have no significant effect on the Fonterra plant. Fonterra disagrees. Their submission to Waipā District Council and Waikato Regional Council asks for the application to be declined, citing the potential negative effects on food safety, staff safety, risk of contamination and impact on Fonterra’s food safety certification and international reputation. The site is also close to homes, day care and schools.

Traffic Impact: The plant is intended to process 456 tonnes of waste every day. This will all be trucked in from beyond Waipa. Other processing materials need to be transported onto the site and ash and contaminated water removed. GCS estimates that 50 trucks and 130 light vehicles will visit the site every day. Double these numbers for entering and leaving the site and this is a tripling of trucks and

20 per cent increase in light vehicles using Racecourse Rd.

Air Emissions: GCS states that the plant will have pollution control equipment to remove most of the nasties from the incinerator smoke so that the remaining toxins will have a negligible effect.

This assessment relies on a number of assumptions that may not be achieved in practice. In particular, the fuel mix will vary considerably and the temperature of the furnace is also liable to vary from the minimum 850 degrees Celsius required for complete combustion. Both these variables will have a multiplier effect on the level of toxins released.

It is difficult to maintain a constant temperature and injections of diesel may be required to stabilise the furnace. Start-up and shut-down periods emit far more toxins than during the ideal operating conditions when monitoring is done.

The toxins that are emitted don’t simply vanish. Some will settle on the nearby roofs of homes, and on gardens and school and childcare play areas.

Some will settle onto farmland and be consumed by the animals whose meat and milk we will then consume. Even if initial air concentrations are within “safe” levels, the toxins will accumulate over time.

The effects of this are unknown but we do know that free-range chicken eggs from areas adjacent to waste incinerators in Europe have been found to contain high levels of dioxins.

Ash and Wastewater: GCS has assumed that 23 tonnes (or 5 per cent) of ash will be produced every day.

Our research suggests it will be much more than this.

This ash has to be trucked away and disposed of as toxic waste to an unspecified landfill. Similarly, 160,000 litres of contaminated water has to be trucked away every day to an undisclosed site where it can be treated.

Other factors: Other areas of concern are public opposition; visual impact of the plant buildings (35m high); human health impacts; impact on Mangapiko Stream; effect on property values; climate change effects; use of steam for electricity affects furnace efficiency and uncertainty of waste supply.

THE FIRST-EVER

NOT GRADES.

Nick Cantlon

Festival briefs

Last hurrah

The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band (pictured) will play its last ever concert in Cambridge on March 23 during the Autumn Festival. The band has been around since the 1960s when it was founded by Paul Trenwith and Alan Rhodes. The lineup has changed over the years – Dave Calder on mandolin, Colleen Bain, who later married Paul, on the fiddle. She died in 2021 and her two sons –Sam and Tim - now feature in the band.

Miho’s Jazz

A group formed by Japanese-born Kiwi Miho Wada will feature with its J-pop, Cubano and Pacific infused jazz in The Woolshed at the Autumn Festival. Wada has performed internationally with artists such as Nigel Kennedy, Jarvis Cocker, Ska Cubano and recorded a series of TV adverts with Iggy Pop. She formed Miho’s Jazz Orchestra in 2011 and will be on show on March 22 from 7pm at Te Awa Lifecare Village.

Art Trail

The Open Studios Art Trail will return this year. The art trail will see six artists and two galleries open to the public on March 23 and 24. The artists are Jo Beckett, Faith Thomas, Janet Smith, Catherine Haworth, Carole Hughes and Lea Woutersen, and the galleries taking part are Heritage Gallery, and Sinclair Barclay Gallery.

Mana in the Blues

Blues man Grant Haua (Ngāti Pukenga) will present anl acoustic solo performance at the Cambridge Autumn Festival on March 21. Haua regularly tours in Europe and Australia.

People’s Choice

The judges’ decisions have been made in the Cambridge Autumn Festival’s photo competition and the top entries are on display at the Cambridge Town Hall. Voting in People’s Choice Award is now open. The theme this year was Capture your Waipā adventure.

In response to popular demand, we've added an extra day to book in - grab the opportunity for a brighter, healthier smile!

Ukulele Workshops

The Nukes ‘original ukulele trio’ will run workshops for children and adults. The musical miscreants will also appear in The Big Family Show in an evening performance on Saturday.

Author talk

Cambridge author Holly Christina will speak and play music at Cambridge Library on March 23. Her presentation will focus on the second book in her Harp and the Lyre series.

Bricktopia returns

Lego’s Bricktopia returns to Cambridge as part of the festival on March 24. The event is part of Cy-Co’s Brain Injury Awareness Month fundraising.

International magician

Zero Xiao will give a free family magic show at Te Awa Lifecare on March 24. The event will also include Biàn Liăn or Face-Changing magic, an ancient Chinese dramatic art.

HE WHAKAWHITIWHITINGA WHAKAARO

Celebrating the haka

By Tom Roa, Tikanga Advisor, Waikato

University

I recall as a young fella watching the All Blacks performing the haka in the 1950’s; 60’s, 70’s... they were all arms and legs flailing wherever, and so unco.

Come the Buck Shelford era and the proverbial light bulb lit up above their heads – there was a significance to this ‘dance’. Or maybe Buck lit a fire in their hearts which sparked off their inherent ‘mana’. The haka had grown into something that became synonymous with All Black (and rugby in New Zealand) pride.

I marvelled in particular at how Pākehā team members gave the haka their all. The ihi, the wehi, their stunning performance of the haka causing the hackles to rise at the back of the neck. The haka’s role in All Black mana became crystal-clear, not just in AotearoaNew Zealand, but just as importantly on the international stage such that rugby (in Aotearoa-New Zealand anyway) is now synonymous with the haka.

And almost every team has its own hakamen’s and women’s teams, at all age groups.

This is so much now a feature of us as Kiwis. New Zealanders of all shapes, sizes, ages, ethnicities are prone to do a haka at the drop of a hat. And it’s not a mere flailing of the arms and legs, hither and thither. I dare say that many impromptu haka would do well on the Matatini stage with the most expert performers at the kapa haka elite level challenged by the expertise in these spontaneous performances.

This expression of pride, of mana, is more than palpable.

So it should be no surprise to anyone that the expression of that mana includes commentary beyond that of the competition at immediate hand. The assertion by many of us that politics and sport must not mix was surely laid to rest with the 1981 Springbok tour and the effect

on our misconception that we enjoyed in Aotearoa New Zealand the most harmonious of race relations in the world. Few in New Zeaand at that time paid any heed to the simmering of dissatisfaction with a Government who were misreading the mood of the time. Civil unrest in all of the centres hosting the Springboks shook the country to its core.

Here in Hamilton in particular the invasion of Rugby Park leading to the cancellation of the Waikato vs South Africa game is still fresh in the mind of many who were there that day –on both sides.

The Hurricanes Poua womens’ rugby team gave voice to a similar simmering of discontent with a Government who appear to be misreading the mood of the ordinary New Zealander. The three hui calling for unity earlier this year must be given their due attention. And the stance taken by these ‘wāhine toa’ reflects the stance taken by Dame Hinewehi Mohi in her rendition at Twickenham of the National Anthem in Māori, met by a storm of protest by those who misread the mood of the country at that time ... which now sees the Māori Language version being heartily sung alongside the Englishjoyously, even gleefully.

In 1990 Justice Sir Paul Temm wrote of what he saw as two vital attributes of our society - the extraordinary patience of Māori New Zealanders and the tremendous sense of fairness of Pākehā New Zealanders. This ‘truth’ in 1990 was Sir Paul’s asserting his belief in a positivity of that time, with all its challenges.

I would like to believe that we can and should say the same today.

This Sunday 17 March 10am-2pm Victoria Street, Victoria Square & Town Hall

Over 200 performers of di erent genres, and over 60 genuine Art Stalls, all on the footpaths of Victoria Street, and the lawns of Victoria Square.

Live Music

The town centre will come alive! Experience an array of music from easy listening and country to jazz, blues, Irish tunes, choirs and much, much more. Enjoy performances from our talented local dance groups, bring the kids along for face painting and balloon animals, sugar art, the paper bag mask competition, parade, and judging, plus photo opportunities with stunning stilt walkers, Blossom the Unicorn Fairy, Batman, and street performers. Take a stroll to the Town Hall for the Art Exhibition + Sale, the Michael Jeans Photo Exhibition, and don’t forget to cast your vote for “People’s Choice” in the Festival’s Photo Competition. This year is our largest Autumn Art Market. Admire artists’ work, woodturners in action, glassware to jewellery, and clothing to pottery.

Children’s Entertainment

Come and enjoy this amazing community day!

Facing the ‘march’ of time…

By Murray Smith, Bridges Church

I visited an elderly couple in an aged care facility. Their marriage had stood the test of multiple decades - understandably, natural physical deterioration from those passing years showed, but not a hint of fractiousness could extinguish the certain ’glow’ they radiated. They were happy in each other’s company and an air of tenderness and mutual honour prevailed.

A photo of them together taken more than 60 years previously, sat on a side table. The young man in his late twenties with striking eyes and a penetrating gaze stood tall - his beautiful young bride seated alongside. She was lovelyjust a hint of make-up applied conservatively to perfect skin and complexion.

The photo highlighted a jarring disparity between how these two used to look, compared to their present reality. With good nature they accepted each other’s physical loss of form, visited upon them with the passing of time. In spite of aches and pains and mobility challenges, they felt blessed - considering how the script of others had played out. She chuckled at how his ‘hiking’ days had long gone along with his ‘teeth’ and the false ones he’d used weren’t much good since ‘his gums shrunk’… his drooling and snoring weren’t easy to take either. He teased her about forgetting things. Gently now though, since her memory and confusion had begun suggesting more serious underlying concerns.

Witnessing the ageing of a beautiful young woman and handsome young man was sobering - a reminder of what a harsh toll, the relentless passing of time exacts.

In a health and beauty aware culture where being young and gorgeous is prized, no wonder people search for interventions to forestay the relentless advance of time and of appearing old that is dreaded by so many. A

well-known Hollywood star admitted feeling ‘terror’ about getting old and to taking 60 anti-ageing drugs daily.

Seeking out cosmetic procedures to help restrain the inevitable impact of passing time is common now. Speaking with a Registered Nurse working in ‘appearance medicine’, gave me insight into the motivation of more and more clients seeking to be a refreshed version of themselves. Increasingly, it’s people younger than before now joining the once predominantly older clientele seeking to improve their appearance and banish, or more realistically, restrain evidence of ageing.

The ageing process will challenge all of us. Since there’s no perfect ‘elixir of youthfulness’, even with what aesthetic practitioners can offer, it’s sensible to add practical things around nutrition, exercise and personal care that people can do to assist ageing well.

Taking care of yourself physically and maintaining healthy interests has its place but of utmost importance is taking care of your inner life… it’s proven that our spiritual and emotional wellbeing promotes longevity and ‘ageing well’.

Carrying toxic emotions like bitterness, unforgiveness, remorse and fears into sunset years, introduces a lethal destructive cocktail totally unconducive to wellbeing.

The couple I visited, had leaned more into God with age…it showed. They’d grasped truth from the Bible, ‘Beauty is fleeting…

Though the outward man perishes, the inward is renewed daily…’

Improvements to our outward appearance can’t last. But attending to our spiritual life matters forever.

Help guide our Draft Local Alcohol Policy

VICTORIA SQUARE STAGE

10.00 am to 10.45 am Quicksilver II (Blues)

10.45 am to 11.00 am Mask Parade and Judging

Have your Say

We’re considering some changes to include in our Draft Local Alcohol Policy and we need your feedback.

Local Alcohol Policies ensure you can have a say on the rules about alcohol in your area. This includes rules such as:

• The number of premises selling alcohol.

• Their trading hours.

• The distance between premises.

First round of feedback is open until Friday, March 29, 2024

To find out more and have your say visit: waipadc.govt.nz/lapreview Council offices or libraries. or one of the

11.00 am to 11.15 am The Nukes Ukelele Trio

11.15 am to 11.45 am Tina Turley (Canadian Blues guest)

11.45 am to 12 noon The Nukes Ukelele Trio

12.15 pm to 2.00 pm Quicksilver II (Blues)

DAYDREAM CAFE

10.00 am to 10.45 am Rowdy’s Rose

11.00 am to 11.45 am Holly Christina

11.45 am to 12.30 pm Rowdy’s Rose

12.30 pm to 12.45 pm Desert Gypsies Belly Dancers

1.00 pm to 2.00 pm Kinda Jazz

FRANS CAFE 11.00 am Desert Gypsies Belly Dancers

11.30 am to 12 noon KS School of Dance

12 noon to 12.30 pm Riverside Ukes

12.30 pm to 1.00 pm Strive – Dance 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm Bruised Brothers

ROUGE COURTYARD

10 am to 10.45 am

11.30 am to 12.30 pm

Mosaic Choir

Reelmen – Irish Band

12.30 pm to 1.00 pm Foggy Dew – Irish Duo 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm

Reelmen – Irish Band

TOWN HALL

9.30 am to 4 pm

Exhibition + Sale 9.30 am to 4 pm Michael Jeans Photo Exhibition

9.30 am to 4 pm

0800868250 437

Miho’s Jazz Orchestra

J-pop, Cubano, Pacific infused Jazz instrumental ensemble, with Miho’s unique style and delightful stage presence.

When: 7pm Fri 22 March

What is going wrong here?

By Peter Nicholl

As I looked through the newspapers last week trying to decide what issue could be the theme for this column, I was surprised by how many New Zealand news stories were about things that I would expect to read about in some of the third-world countries I have worked in.

Here are a few examples:

• Contaminated diesel caused nearly $10 million of damage to a new Navy supply ship.

• Building projects have been put on hold at 20 schools.

• Premier House is so run-down that the Prime Minister has chosen not to live there.

• Amazon announced in 2021 $7.5 billion worth of data centres in Auckland to be ready in 2024. 2024 has come – nothing has been built yet.

• Fish farms will go unscrutinised for another 25 years.

• A school for disadvantaged children in Auckland is crumbling and has mould, mushrooms and musty classrooms.

• PM Luxon had to take a commercial flight to Australia (and leave the media behind) because of a fault in an air force jet.

• An Auckland sewer blockage saw eight million litres of wastewater pour into the harbour daily.

• A Papamoa medical clinic that serves 6000 patients is closing due to the GP shortage and government under-funding.

• The Commerce Commission will take extra time to consider whether or not to approve a merger of Food Stuffs North and South Island cooperatives.

• Government Ministries have been asked to cut their spending by 6-5 to 7.5 per cent. Ideas that have been suggested include staff bringing their own food to meetings, staying

Thursday Night Blues with Grant Haua

When: 7pm Thur 21 March

With support from:

15th March to 24th March 2024

Concerts

Venue: The Woolshed, Te Awa Lifecare Village

Tickets: $25 from Paper Plus Cambridge or www.humanitix.co.nz

823 0800.

with friends rather than in hotels, establishing clear performance measures (why don’t they already have them?), reducing contractor hours by five a week (why don’t they reduce the number of contractors they use?), sharing office spaces.

One department said it would reduce headcount from 1700 to 1576. That sounds more like the scale of change that will be needed. Unfortunately, the chief executive of that department went on to say that “this isn’t happening because anyone did anything wrong”. The department admits it had “unsustainably high staffing levels and was overspending its budget”. The problem is that the Department doesn’t seem to see that these two statements are inconsistent. At the very least the chief executive has done something wrong.

One possible explanation for seeing these stories now is that the New Zealand media has become more negative. It could be that these types of failures have always been occurring but they weren’t regarded as news in the ‘good old days’.

Another possible explanation is that New Zealand and New Zealanders have become less focused on outcomes and results and more focussed on processes and reports.

Processes and reports can be useful. But when they become dominant and take the focus away from getting things completed with good outcomes, they can become the problem. I think the array of poor or delayed outcomes that are getting reported in New Zealand these days is due more to the second explanation than the first.

An Evening of Musicals

Dane Moeke and Fiona Greaves in an unforgettable showcase featuring Les Misérables, Hairspray, Cats, Chess, Mamma Mia and more.

When: 7pm Fri 15 March

Hamilton County Bluegrass Band

Entertaining songs, smooth harmonies, and dazzling instrumental work by NZ’s original bluegrass band.

When: 3pm Sat 23 March

The Nukes

Aotearoa’s award-winning ukulele trio bring their mix of musicality and fun!

When: 7pm Sat 16 March

With support from:

TOWNHOUSES AVAILABLE NOW

We have two and three bedroom townhouses available now at Ryman’s Patrick Hogan Village.

All offer spacious open plan living, with contemporary kitchens and bathrooms, and your own private patio.

Two bedroom townhouses priced from $775,000.

Three bedroom townhouses priced from $1,114,500.

Plus, for a limited time, if you sign up for one of our new home offers, you’ll get a $15,000 credit on settlement*. There’s truly never been a better time to choose Ryman.

*Terms and conditions apply, visit rymanhealthcare.co.nz/ts&cs

Call David or Kelly on 0800 600 446 for

rymanhealthcare.co.nz

Thank you for letting us know (The News, February 29) there’s a proposal to build a road to a bridge through our home.

It’s concerning that the council did not inform owners of homes in the path of the third bridge proposal and does not consider them key stakeholders. No other stakeholders are as directly affected by the announcement — the map is actionable information that will immediately be used by prospective home buyers.

I have family who were in the path of a proposed road, and there was one thing worse than the prospect of homes being bulldozed, or being metres from a busy road and uncompensated. It was the years of uncertainty where people who needed to downsize for retirement, or move for work, or sell for financial reasons, were unable to realise the value of their homes - or sell at all.

There are over 500 homes under the blue arrow and in adjoining areas. Neighbours have been talking to try and make sure everyone knows, but there are still people who have not heard, like owners who are out of town.

The council’s announcement is something that cannot be undone.

Until ground is broken on a bridge or unless an engineer declares the Option C route as fundamentally unworkable, there will be a shadow hanging over the southwest corner of Cambridge.

A key action for homeowners is to send a submission to council and make sure a voice for the area is heard. There are many good reasons against the council’s preferred route. (Abridged)

Jared Milbank Cambridge

Incineration plant

Andrew Johnstone claims that because there are issues that have had misinformation used against them that we can simply apply the same logic to the proposed incinerator.

A documentary called ‘Trashed’ discusses an Incinerator in Iceland. The documentary shows that the farmland surrounding the incinerator has been rendered unusable by the dioxins that were emitted by the incinerator. It can no longer safely be farmed. It has been admitted that not all heavy metals would be removed from the waste before incineration. It would be naïve in the extreme to think that heavy metals and dioxins from burning the waste would not be released. Te Awamutu and

Continued from page 2

Kihikihi Community Board opposes the incinerator.

Kane Titchener

Deputy Chair Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board

Help them copy

The people whose jobs are looking after New Zealanders seem to spend a large part of their time looking after themselves with their large salaries and even larger bonuses.

Large numbers of New Zealanders are unable to look after themselves adequately because finances they receive are not enough.

The cost of food, especially fruit and vegetables, is ridiculous. Also, availability of housing is very costly, with rentals being outrageous and those wanting to own a house having difficulty making mortgage payments.

Couples with children often do not have enough finance to feed their children adequately.

The government in power needs to realise that their job is to ensure that the people are able to cope with living expenses and that private government expenses come further down the track.

Michael Cole Cambridge

Elevate Your Workspace with Sparkling Cleanliness!

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For enquiries, please contact us:

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Think award winning lifestyle

At Summerset, we’re proud of what we offer, with our outstanding facilities, welcoming communities, and excellent staff.

Now there are even more great reasons to choose Summerset. We’ve been voted winner of the Reader’s Digest Quality Service Award, and Aged Advisor People’s Choice and Nationwide Group awards.

So, if you are contemplating village life, pop along to Summerset Cambridge and meet our residents who call the village home. They’ll let you in on the lifestyle they enjoy, share the facilities we have, as well as the wonderful homes available now.* We’d love to share the Summerset lifestyle. We think it’s gold!

Love the life you choose

Resident led Open Days

Wednesday 20 & Wednesday 27 March

10am - 2pm

Summerset Cambridge

1 Mary Ann Drive, Cambridge

07 839 9482 | summerset.co.nz/cambridge

Runners kept in the dark

By

Roy Pilott

Venus was the brightest object in the sky and the Southern Cross was high up as more than 300 people

took the opportunity to run the Hamilton Airport runway on Sunday.

Maintenance work at the airport necessitated bringing the event 30

PIZZAS MARGHERITA

POMODORO, MOZZARELLA, BASIL $20

SPUTA FUOCO (FIRE BREATHING)

POMODORO, MOZZARELLA, SPICY SALAMI, NDUJA, MASCARPONE $25 TARTUFOSA

MOZZARELLA, MUSHROOM, TRUFFLE PASTE, ROCKET, TRUFFLE OIL $25

VERDUROSA

POMODORO, MOZZARELLA, SEASONAL VEGES, EVO $22 PORCA

POMODORO, MOZZARELLA, SALAME, HAM, SAUSAGE, EVO $26

ORTO DI MARE

MOZZARELLA, ZUCCHINI, GARLIC PRAWNS, ROCKET, PARMESAN $25

PIEDINA ROMAGNOLA

PROVOLONE, PARMESAN, ROCKET, PARMA, HOT HONEY, GORGONZOLA $26

SMALL SHARE

PUFFY BREAD EVO, FLAKY SALT $13

MARINARA BURNT BUTTER, POMODORO, ANCHOVIES, OREGANO $17

GARLIC BREAD GARLIC GINGER

CHILLI, BUTTER, MOZZARELLA, PARMESAN, EVO $17

ADD ONS

Gluten Free $3 Cheese $4 Meat $6 Veg $4

Where every bite is a delight! BOOK AND

OPEN HOURS Wednesday - Sunday 11am - 9:30pm

Credit card/contactless payment surcharge applies 9 ALBERT STREET, CAMBRIDGE 3434

minutes forward this year –and as a result the sun was still to come up when Jake Wilkinson came home in a very quick 15 minutes 21s. Wilkinson was a clear winner, but in a Forrest Gump moment, continued running, and running. He explained later than his watch had told him he had not completed 5km – so there was more to be done when he reached the finish line. First woman home was Jen Ayson from Ngaruawahia – and Wilkinson was quick to congratulate her.

“We’re dating,” Ayson revealed.

Wilkinson, 32, who runs up to 70km a week, moved to Cambridge from Waikino recently and works at Glasslines in Peake Rd. He won the event from Whatawhata’s Hayden Ballantyne and Travis Sperry from Hamilton.

The fourth annual runway event organised by Rotary helped raise funds for GoBabyGo, which provides electric cars for children with mobility problems who are too young for an electric wheelchair.

Jake Wilkinson and Jen Ayson won the men’s and women’s sections of the annual runway run at Hamilton Airport on Sunday morning.

Denise Hamilton from Leamington was the Flying Nun at Sunday’s runway event – she was inspired to dress up after watching airport firefighter Kelly Remkes complete the course in full kit last year.

Spotlight on Cambridge

Taking care of the furry family members

The Irish groomer, as her repeat clients a ectionately call her, is one of only a handful of internationally quali ed petgroomers in New Zealand and runs her business Paws and Claws from 9b Anzac St, Cambridge.

For more than 25 years, Lisa Byrne has been attending to the needs of both cats and dogs, o ering a full top to bottom service.

“I spent my early years while studying as a veterinary nurse and worked in Ireland, England and New Zealand,” she says.

The service for both species includes nail trimming, which can be done without an appointment. For everything else, though, bookings are necessary.

“For dogs, we o er full and mini grooms, from shampoo and dry to cuts or trims –even teeth cleaning,” Lisa says.

Cats also require grooming, although not as regularly as dogs.

“Short or long haired, they should come in about four times a year for a full stripping of the underfur which helps stop matting, helps relieve furballs being regurgitated and it’s also good for them to have a hygiene trim around their bottoms to keep that area clear.

Even short-haired cats need a groom –all that licking is simply leaving saliva on their coats; it needs a regular full clean.”

Some cats will allow being bathed and others are not so fussed, but the option is there for that too.

Bookings are essential year round for all grooms. Paws and Claws is open Monday to Friday, and one Saturday a month.

“December 2024 is already fully booked,” Lisa says.

“So while we can do walk in nail trims, anything that is based upon a groom for either animal will need to be booked ahead.”

Clients can contact Lisa via email at lisabyrnegroomer@gmail.com or phoning 0211714716.

Quick crossword

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Sudoku

Major effort for Maadi

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

About 2000 secondary school athletes are gearing

up to compete at this year’s Aon Maadi Regatta in Twizel from March 18-23, hoping the hours they’ve

poured into early-morning trainings will pay off.

Behind the scenes, a huge effort has been ploughed

into getting everyone to the annual New Zealand Secondary School Rowing Championships.

Rowing for gold

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

She was a triple champion two weeks ago – now she has a Maadi medal in her sights.

“Getting three gold medals in a regatta’s pretty unheard of, so we were ecstatic with that,” said Peyton Barnard, who won gold for St Peter’s Cambridge in the U17 girls’ double, coxed quad and eight events at the North Island Secondary School Rowing Championships at Lake Karāpiro on earlier this month.

The 17-year-old can’t wait to test her skills at the New Zealand Secondary School Rowing Championships in Twizel from March 18-23.

“I don’t know what the Olympics feels like to Olympians, but I feel like the Maadi Cup’s what it feels like to a high school rower,” said Peyton, who has lived in Cambridge all her life. It’s the biggest thing, it’s the only thing; you work for eight months just for this one regatta really.”

She has been getting up at 4.30am to train at Lake Karāpiro four and five times a week this season, as well as hitting the gym.

“When I’m with the girls on the water I love it… and crossing the line and winning a medal is one of the best feelings I’ve ever

felt,” she said.

“It’s a really cool place to be because everyone’s in the same boat; everyone’s worked all these hours and everyone wants to show what they’ve got out there,” Peyton said.

“My favourite thing about Maadi is the atmosphere; it’s such an amazing place to

be. I love watching the final eights races at the end of the regatta, with 2-3000 people all screaming at the top of their lungs.”

Well aware of how hard it is to achieve a Maadi medal, she would love to bring one home.

“It would be massive,” she said.

The annual Maadi Regatta alternates between Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel and Lake Karāpiro. Heading south from Waipā are 46 athletes from St Peter’s Cambridge, 44 from Cambridge High School and two from Te Awamutu College.

For the parents, caregivers, coaches and support people involved the journey south is a major logistical exercise.

“We have to take everything we need – boats, oars, ergs for warming up and a big marquee the kids hang out in during the day,” said Cambridge High School rowing chairperson Nic Peacocke.

Peacocke is one of nine parents, five volunteer coaches and one teacher travelling south to support Cambridge High School’s 44-strong team at this year’s Maadi Regatta.

Also going is Karl Manson, employed to run the school’s rowing programme this year. Manson attended four Maadi Regattas and rowed for New Zealand for seven years, taking silver in the men’s quad at the Rowing World Cup in Switzerland in 2015.

His Cambridge High team will be driven to Auckland on Saturday and fly to Christchurch then travel to Twizel in rental vans hired for the week.

Their 12 boats will be driven to the South Island on a trailer.

The Maadi Cup, the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest secondary school sports event, isn’t cheap: with all costs factored in, Waipa’s athletes will each fork out around $3000 to take part.

“We fundraise to operate the rest of the season, but Maadi rowers pay for themselves,” Peacocke said. “It is a big cost, but it’s a pretty amazing experience for the kids.”

St Peter’s Cambridge will take 42 rowers and four coxswains to the regatta.

“At Maadi, we’re fortunate to have our supporters on hand providing support – we’ll be taking down boats and a support trailer with equipment to cater for the rowers, and our parents and caregivers very ably take on the responsibility of cooking breakfasts and lunches for the team,” said director of rowing Josh Wedlake.

St Peter’s Cambridge’s girls U17 eight crew members celebrate their win at the Aon North Island Secondary School Rowing Championships at Lake Karāpiro. They are (from left) Brooke Weir, Olivia Henry, Sophie Hunter, Kellee Cryer, Molly McClintock, Peyton Barnard, Maia Calcinai, Charlise Davison, cox Letizia Hay and coach Kaylin Wren.

Photo: Victoria Whitfield.

Drive PBN 2.00-2.30pm

99 Peake Road PBN 2.00-2.30pm

3 Manuka Place $775,000 2.00-2.30pm

RAY WHITE

Saturday 16 March

30 Ihimaera Terrace Deadline Sale 11.30-12.00pm

21a Saffron Terrace Deadline Sale 1.00-1.30pm

618B Maungatautari Road Deadline Sale 2.15-3.00pm

Sunday 17 March

30 Ihimaera Terrace Deadline Sale 11.30-12.00pm

21a Saffron Terrace Deadline Sale 1.00-1.30pm

618B Maungatautari Road Deadline Sale 2.15-3.00pm

REALTY HQ

Saturday 16 March

130 Oliver Road Auction 12:30-1:00pm

Sunday 17 March

54/14 Terry Came Drive $699,000 9:00-9:15am

102/14 Terry Came Drive $760,000 9:00-9:15am

15/14 Terry Came Drive $635,000 9:15-9:30am

340/14 Terry Came Drive $619,000 9:15-9:30am

209/14 Terry Came Drive $924,000 9:30-9:45am

311/14 Terry Came Drive $699,000 9:45-10:00am

28 Southey Street $849,000 10:00-10:30am

11 Hemans Stree $949,000 10:30-11:00am

20 Nikale Street $2,349,000 11:00-11:45am

37 Jarrett Terrace $1,949,000 11:30-12:30pm

91 Aspin Road Deadline Sale 12:00-1:00pm

105A Thompson Street Deadline Sale 1:00-1:30pm

29B Madison Street $1,179,000 1:30-2:00pm

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- The heart of the home boasts a gorgeous kitchen.

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Max power

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

From the top of the speed ramp, Max Findlay surveys the scooter course at Bay Skate roller sports park on Marine Parade in Napier.

He wipes his palms on his white t-shirt, glances briefly at the ocean, grabs the handlebars and fixes his gaze straight ahead.

It’s January 21. The Goodwood School student is determined to land everything, so he’s not going to try anything too difficult.

Max, 10, has only been scootering for seven months and this is his first competition – the 2024 New Zealand Scooter Nationals in Napier. Run by Freestyle Roller Sports NZ, the event has attracted rising stars and seasoned veterans from all over Aotearoa.

Max competed in two events yesterday in the under 12 age group – park and street.

Park riding, often done in skateparks, involves high jumps and complicated tricks, while street riding focuses more on stunts performed in urban areas, such as sliding the scooter deck along metal rails.

He has made the finals for both events and will have two 45-second runs in each to pull off as many tricks as he can to chalk up points.

All the hours he’s spent practising at the Cambridge Skatepark are about to be put to the test.

“Alright Max, 45 seconds on the clock man, time starts when you drop in,” booms the man on the microphone. “The course is all yours.”

Max launches immediately, gliding down the speed ramp and flying up a box jump. Flying into the air, he flings his scooter out in front of him, spins it sideways and plants his feet on the deck as he lands.

“Kickless late whip over the box jump to kick it off,” the commentator enthuses.

High quality design, tailored to you.

Max glides smoothly on, sending his scooter twirling under his feet and looping over his head as he executes a box whip air, double finger, kickless transfer and bri double whip.

“And that is time,” says the commentator, clearly impressed. “Ladies and gentlemen, hands together for Max!”

It was a great start to a successful day that saw Max leave with bronze medals in both his events.

Max is low-key about his achievements, but his mum Haylie said he was “very stoked and proud of his result”.

He estimated he trained up to 20 hours a week at the Cambridge skatepark and regularly posts videos of his exploits on social media.

“On TikTok I have nearly 2000 followers and on Insta I have 300 followers,” he said.

He would like to become a professional scooter rider and is looking forward to competing in the nationals again next year.

Max Findlay flies into a bri on the quarter pipe at Cambridge Skatepark.