Te Awamutu News | March 28, 2024

By Mary Anne Gill

About $1 million for the Waipā museum project – Te Ara Wai - could be redirected to the district council’s water projects.

The $33 million museum was officially put on hold this week by Waipā District Council because of a “significant change” to the financial landscape, chief executive Garry Dyet told councillors.

“It is prudent for all project works to be paused, including the discharge of the Te Ara Wai governance committee,” he said in a report. The project would now go back into the pot for consideration at the Long Term Plan hearings next year.

Council paid $2.05 million in May 2021 for the former Te Awamutu Bunnings building in Arawata Street to house the museum and has been sub-leasing it to AgTech Logistics for an undisclosed sum since August 2022.

Two months later – in a development which muddied the waters for the council - the existing museum in Roche Street was closed because of an earthquake risk and relocate temporarily to Rickit Road.

That “temporary” move might become semi-permanent given the council’s

precarious finances and the ballooning costs of building a new museum to house the organisation’s large collection of more than 19,000 objects.

Items in the collection span centuries with taonga Māori and social history artefacts at its heart, according to the museum’s website.

The collection has extensive material relating to the New Zealand land wars and colonial settlement in Waipā as well as the district’s unique documentary heritage, including photographs, maps, whakapapa and family histories.

Its most precious item is Te Uenuku (the rainbow), an early Māori carving which is of huge significance to Tainui and also for its archaeological value.

It is now in storage.

A resolution to pause Te Ara Wai was needed because of a council resolution in September last year which allowed staff to go ahead with design works, gaining of consents and continue discussion with funders using Better off Funding.

Waipā received $5.24 million from the previous government as part of a $2 billion Three Waters reform sweetener in recognition of the transfer of responsibility

for fresh, waste and storm water to four public water entities.

The new government scrapped Four Waters when it came into office putting the financial responsibility back with councils.

Funding to cover the costs incurred for the project will be withdrawn from the Crown, said Dyet.

Discussions will now be held with the Department of Internal Affairs about any

Museum plan on hold

uncommitted Better off Funding which Dyet estimates could leave about $1 million. The council could use that to reduce debt associated with Three Waters.

Dyet said there would be “disappointment” in the community. Te Ara Wai would have told the story of the 1864 Land Wars in a Waipā specific way. Relationships with iwi and mana whenua would need managing, he said.

An artist’s impression of Te Ara Wai, now delayed for years.

The museum building in Roche Street was cleared out because of an earthquake risk. It could now be upgraded to house the museum’s collections and staff.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

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At 2pm on March 19, a dozen boys in maroon and yellow sports uniforms huddle on a sideline at Albert Park, completely absorbed in their coach Matiu Paraone’s words.

Experience has prepared the Te Awamutu Intermediate teacher well for this moment.

“You’ve got to be calm, as a coach, and I think I’ve learned that over years,” he said.

Originally from North Harbour, Paraone completed an education degree at The University of Waikato before taking a job at Te Awamutu Intermediate 10 years ago.

A former junior representative and club rugby player, it was then that, after suffering “too many injuries”, he decided to trade his boots for a coach’s whistle.

That year, he took a Te Awamutu Intermediate boys’ team to victory at the Waikato Intermediate and Middle Schools touch rugby tournament.

A second win had eluded him ever since – although he had come tantalisingly close.

“In the course of the nine years we’ve made two finals but we’ve always missed out and either been runners-up or finished third, fourth or fifth,” he said.

“I tell you, it’s been nine years’ worth of heartbreak at the WIMS touch tournament.”

But last week, Paraone finally “got the monkey off the back”.

After heading to the Waikato Intermediate and Middle Schools touch rugby tournament at Albert Park with high hopes, his side won pool A against Cambridge, Matamata, Berkley and Morrinsville before advancing to the final against pool B winner Maeroa Intermediate School.

Two-nil down shortly after the start of the second half, Te Awamutu put in a gutsy effort to score twice before the final whistle, sending the match into extra time.

“I’ll tell you what, when it went to two-nil I was a little bit – I wouldn’t say worried – but when you’ve lost enough games and you’ve won enough grand finals, you sort of just know how to go to work, or what players to get on, or what plays to run and just sort of offer a bit of advice to the kids,” Paraone said.

Overtime began with only four players per side on the field, but when the scores remained locked at 2-2 each team lost another player and the game went to sudden death.

Hosea Heke-Heays, who had been outstanding on attack with his slicing runs through Maeroa’s defence, sealed victory for Te Awamutu when he ran wide left and dived over the line.

He was immediately swamped by teammates and supporters, who rushed the field whooping and cheering.

Asked how it felt to score the winning try just minutes later, the

12-year-old described it in one word: “good”.

“I was just tired, that’s all,” he said. “I wanted it to finish, so that’s why I did it myself.”

The team collectively put their victory down to “teamwork, Matua Matiu, and all the support”.

Paraone said winning after nine long years “almost felt like a relief, really”.

“It felt like a long time coming…and you could see on the kids’ faces the look of elation,” he said.

“If there was ever an abstract noun poem it’d be: elation is winning the WIMS touch tournament.”

After coaching junior, school, club and representative touch rugby and rugby union teams over the past 10

Shakespeare is coming to town

Te Awamutu College will host the Waikato Regional Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival on April 5.

It is the second time the College has hosted the festival as it rebuilds from the Covid disruptions that sent it into digital mode between 2020 and 2022.

Eight schools have taken up the challenge of preparing five and 15 minute scenes from Shakespeare’s plays. They are Cambridge High School, Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Hamilton Girls’ and Boys’ high schools Waihi College, St Paul’s Collegiate (Hamilton), Hillcrest High School and hosts Te Awamutu College

This year is the 33rd festival season and starts with 32 regional events, followed by the national festival; held over King’s Birthday

Weekend in Wellington.

From there selected students will participate in the National Schools’ Shakespeare Production in the August school holidays leading to potential selection for the Young Shakespeare Company which travels to London every April to study and perform at the Globe Theatre, London.

“This is such an awesome opportunity for students to explore Shakespeare’s works through performance,” said drama teacher Morag Carter.

“It’s always interesting to see different interpretations of the plays and how they ‘hit’ despite being over 400 years old”

The regional festival will be held in the Te Awamutu College School hall from 10am –2pm and is open to the public.

years, Paraone said a highlight was being appointed head coach of the Waikato Rugby Union’s U16 boys’ development side in 2023.

He said he had been appointed to the same role again this year and was looking forward to the season ahead.

Te Awamutu Intermediate’s girls’ touch rugby team coach Kryton Collett said his team had done “extremely well” at the Waikato Intermediate and Middle School’s touch rugby tournament, placing fifth out of 10. He said the team’s star player was Gemma Bowler who scored six of the team’s eight tries.

Matiu Paraone pictured with Hunter Te Huia-Crean, left, and Malakai Christie. Photo: Larn Berge Photography.

Man found

An 85-year-old man reported missing in Te Awamutu on Monday was found by police overnight and returned to his home.

Fluoride call

Cambridge Community Board members were implored last week to ask the district council to seek a time extension to the end of the year on introducing fluoride to the town’s water supply and avoid the likelihood of costly legal action.

Work stops

Most state highway road works will stop at midday today (Thursday), ahead of the long weekend, and will start up again at midnight Tuesday. Some traffic management will still be in place at major construction sites, such as speed restrictions, closed road shoulders and reduced lanes.

On the rocks

Organisers expect a “couple of hundred” people to take part in a rock climbing festival at Waipari, near Arapuni, over Easter. Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust general manager Edwin Sheppard said Waipā is one of the best places in the country for rock climbing.

Balloons popular

Six balloons entertained a crowd at the Karāpiro Domain last weekend as part of the Balloons over Waikato festival. The crowd were able to get up close to Bila the Baby Polar Bear and Farmer Pig balloons and take part in the Rotary Walk Thru Balloon Envelope to raise funds for True Colours Childrens Charity.

Fees up

Waipā’s fees and charges look set to rise on average by 10 per cent from July 1 affecting dog registrations, burial fees and building consents. There will be a 20 per cent increase for casket burials at Hautapu and Te Awamutu cemeteries. Consultation on the proposals will run to April 26.

Cash cut will hurt tourism

By Mary Anne Gill

Four of Hamilton and Waikato Tourism’s local authority partners – including Waipā – will reduce their funding from July 1.

And the flow on impact is likely to hit the region hard with job losses and business sustainability, chief executive Nicola Greenwell told Waipā’s Finance and Corporate committee this week.

The decisions by Hamilton and

Waikato councils to strip 50 per cent off their funding for the regional tourism organisation, Waipā cutting 20 per cent and a “severe” trim by Waitomo were not unexpected given the financial situations local authorities around the country find themselves in.

Matamata-Piako is holding on while Ōtorohanga has yet to decide.

Funding to external organisations like Hamilton and Waikato Tourism, i-Sites and event organisers are generally the first to go when the squeeze goes on. The same happened nearly 20 years ago in Waikato which resulted in a decline in visitor numbers and spend.

The meeting was held after The News went to press.

Greenwell gave a positive message about how Waipā’s share to the organisation last financial year of $171,864 and $183,000 this year had been well utilised.

Hamilton and Waikato Tourism’s annual operating

budget is $1.343 million – one of the lowest in New Zealand.

To the end of October, domestic visitors contributed $172 million to the Waipā economy and international visitors contributed $44 million.

Occupancy rates at the district’s commercial accommodation operators tipped about 52 per cent till the end of December with 213,500 guest nights for the 12 months.

A campaign which ran towards the end of the year highlighting Waikato as one of the largest berry growing regions in the country bore fruit with numbers up for pick your own locations and dining.

The organisation also profiled the Cambridge portion of Te Awa River Ride, Karāpiro and Te Koo Utu lakes, Bike Skills Park, Velodrome, Te Miro Mountain Bike Park, Matariki Waipā walks, parks and events, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari and the Tree Church through its various channels.

IN THE MAYOR’S OWN WORDS

Council admits a ‘blue’

By Mary Anne Gill

Cambridge residents in the proposed third bridge blue blob zone forced Waipā District Council into significant changes last week while a strident group did themselves no favours by verbally threatening elected officials and staff.

In a tumultuous two days – starting hours before a Cambridge Community Board meeting and ending with the abandonment of a dropin session at Bridges Church – the council unreservedly apologised for its communications and back-tracked on consultation plans.

Consultation on its preferred proposal was to have closed tomorrow (Friday) but has now been extended until April 26. It has opened consultation up to the other options.

It is back to the drawing board on the site for a third bridge, but district councillor Philip Coles is unlikely to play any part as an elected member around the debating table following questions about his impartiality.

Mayor Susan O’Regan and Transport manager Bryan Hudson – in the absence of more senior staff - copped the vitriol at the drop in while councillors Clare St Pierre, Mike Pettit, Mike Montgomerie, community board chair Jo Davies-Colley and deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk watched on from the side.

Continued on page 7

Following last week’s aborted drop in session over plans in Cambridge for another bridge over the Waikato River, Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan explains what’s happening.

It was wrong to be all at

For years, some Cambridge residents have been concerned about the need for a third bridge. Council understands those concerns and has been working to identify options ratepayers can afford, and that the government will help pay for. Without a government subsidy, ratepayers right across the district – not just in Cambridge – will pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars more in rates each year.

We all know this work can’t happen overnight. It takes years of planning and research to get it right. There’s no quick fix because there are no shortcuts to secure government funding.

A report in 2018 told us the highlevel bridge could take traffic for another 20 or so years. In 2022, we consulted on the broader Waipā Transport Strategy. The Cambridge

Connections project came from that, looking specifically at the issues surrounding a fast-growing town.

That included looking at options for a new bridge and where that bridge might go.

We engaged experts to undertake specialist research and to help design a high-level strategy that would be best for Cambridge in the future.

A Project Steering Group was set up to test the assumptions and recommendations.

That included councillors, a Cambridge Community Board member, representatives from iwi, the New Zealand Transport Agency, the heavy freight industry and regional transport planning experts.

That group considered all four options on the table and identified a “preferred option” which includes an in-town bridge crossing, because data showed most people from

Leamington want to access central Cambridge, not travel to Hamilton.

That is why, when we put the options out for preliminary feedback, we only sought feedback on what is known as Option C. We got that wrong. We quickly realised the community wanted to have a say on all the options. T ve extended time for feedback.

I’m hugely disappointed a residents-only information drop-in session for those in the identified blue zone did not go to plan last Thursday. Residents in the zone were invited to come and chat to us about the options.

However, without our knowledge, a group distributed flyers advertising a public meeting, rather than giving residents in the blue zone priority, and a chance to find out more. The session descended into an emotionally driven gathering

which served no-one well. Staff and elected members were abused and threatened with violence.

Some of the behaviour at the meeting was frightening and unacceptable.

It is certainly not the Waipā that I know and stood to represent. I thank those who have reached out with messages of support and were also appalled at what they saw.

My biggest regret though is that those invited to the meeting, who needed and deserved information were denied the opportunity that evening.

We are developing a plan to reconnect with those residents because we genuinely want them to be informed about the process, ask any questions and have their say before any decisions are made. I look forward to those genuine conversations.

Nicola Greenwell

To the thousands of people who are part of our festival “family”, we thank you – the performers and their support crews, the event organisers for each of our events, the community groups and the art market stallholders.

Let us not forget that none of this could be done without the generosity of our sponsors below.

Lastly thank you to the people of Cambridge and Waipā for your support.

Learning about the fallen 58

By Viv Posselt

Genealogists are keen to hear from anyone able to boost research around the 58 fallen World War One soldiers whose names are listed on the cenotaph at Te Awamutu’s Anzac Green.

The call comes after a Heritage Month-linked presentation made at the Te Awamutu Library earlier this month by members of the NZ Society of Genealogists Te Awamutu branch.

Researcher and presenter Avis Steed said the group had previously agreed to research all the names on the WW1 cenotaph.

“This is an ongoing project, and for Heritage Month we gathered

the research so far completed to do a presentation at the library. We have completed the research on around 20 of the names so far,” she said.

Avis said much of the information featured came from the Online Cenotaph website, army records accessed through Archives New Zealand and other online links to wartime records, and from various other sources.

“There were five presenters and Sandra Metcalfe, who is also a member of the Te Awamutu Genealogy group, gave the opening and closing addresses.”

In the audience was Te Awamutu RSA member Adan Te Huia, who will be taking the Anzac Day

service in Te Awamutu on April 25.

Avis said some of the stories researched so far are particularly heart-wrenching. She presented on five of the personnel listed on the cenotaph, and said it was interesting to hear related stories from members of the audience once the meeting was opened to

the floor.

Those attending described the presentation as emotional, with some recounting the tragic stories involving their loss of their loved ones during WW1.

Avis said plans are forging ahead to get the project completed for future generations.

“We want people to share with us whatever knowledge they have on those soldiers whose names appear on the cenotaph,” said Avis. “Their details have not been catalogued locally before and we believe it is very important for us to collate as much information as we possibly can.”

The five speakers who led this month’s Te Awamutu Genealogy group presentation on WW1 servicemen named on the cenotaph at Anzac Green. They are, from left, Avis Steed, Rae Selby, Christine Balls, Anne Roberts and Linda Howarth. Photo: supplied

It’s magic! Te Awamutu twins Maddie, left, and Vivi, centre, Storey-Ross, 6, of Te Awamutu with Kaea Ngapo, 7 on Saturday, from Kio Kio School near Ōtorohanga watch bemused as magician Zero Xiao shows them a trick during the Cambridge Autumn Festival at Te Awa Lifecare Village on Sunday. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

We are in recession

By Peter Nicholl

The recent Department of Statistics release of gross domestic product data for the December quarter, 2023, showed that New Zealand is ‘officially’ in recession.

The phrase ‘being in recession’ is applied to a country when its GDP falls for two successive quarters. Most people will not have been surprised by the announcement. The official data lags by almost three months and most people have felt for a while that the country has been in recession.

What is more likely to have surprised people is that according to the data, the recession has so far been a very shallow one. GDP fell by 0.3 per cent in the September quarter and 0.1 per cent in the December quarter.

New Zealand’s population grew strongly during this period. This would have added to GDP. When adjusted to a per capita basis, our GDP fell by 0.7 per cent in the December quarter and by nearly 3 per cent over 2023 as a whole.

This is a more substantial fall and more realistically measures what people are actually feeling is happening.

The overall figures also mask significant differences between what happened in the private sector and the public sector.

Activity in most private sector areas of the economy, such as wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and transport, fell quite strongly. But activity in the ‘government administration’ category grew by 7 per cent. So if many people in the private sector think activity that affects them has fallen by much more than the statistics department shows, they are right – for them it has.

What does the fact that New Zealand is now in recession mean for monetary and

fiscal policy options over the next year or so?

Any further raises in the Reserve Bank’s official cash rate should be off the table. But it is less clear when the Official Cash Rate will start to come down. Inflation is falling overseas and the heads of both the United States Federal Reserve and the Bank of England have begun publicly talking about bringing interest rates down. But New Zealand is still seeing some hefty price increases in significant areas like insurance and local body rates.

Given this, New Zealand’s inflation rate is likely to move down towards the target level more slowly than in many other countries. Also, the Reserve Bank now has a single policy objective again – price stability. Given these two things, I would expect the bank to be one of the slowest movers in the downward trend in their policy interest rate.

With regard to fiscal policy, the government is cutting expenditure in order to make space to cut taxes. Their aim is that the two sets of changes should be fiscally neutral.

Even if they achieve this, the impacts of these two policies will only have a neutral impact on economic activity in the medium to long term. The downward impacts of the widespread cuts in government spending will hit economic activity almost immediately while the upward impact on spending and activity will occur much more slowly.

Unfortunately, the conclusion I reach is that our recession is going to be with us for a while – longer than for many other countries.

Alcohol sales: have your say

By Ange Holt, Chair, Te Awamutu Community Board

The Local Alcohol Policy submissions closes at 5pm tomorrow (Friday). This is an important submission to participate in if you care about our businesses and the well-being of our community.

As of January 2023, Te Awamutu and surrounds has 30 On Licences, 15 Off Licences and 20 Club Licences. Waipa has a population density ratio per on-licence of 729 people (Waikato – 1181), off-licence – 1401 (Waikato – 1758) and 1831 (Waikato –1643) for club licences.

Most of us enjoy a drink or two and going out for a beer with our mates. We want to conveniently go to places that serve alcohol or we can buy it. We also don’t want to be legislated so tightly that because of a few irresponsible ones the rest of us pay the price.

Unfortunately, as we have just seen in Gisborne there is a dark side to drinking that results too often in premature deaths or serious harm.

This is not “their problem”, it does not always occur in one or two demographics or socially deprived areas. It is “always” someone’s family or friend.

As part of a community it is our responsibility to help find a balance, keep businesses prospering and people safe. Have your say and help us provide a fair and safe Local Alcohol Policy for our towns and district.

There is a lot of information available for you to read and make an informed decision. These can be found online.

The Medical Officers of Health recommends to cap numbers of venues, limit the distance between venues (amongst a number of other things).

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE,

YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY WHEN TRIMMING NEAR LINES

When tree trimming near our network, keeping a minimum safe distance of four meters from our overhead lines, transformers, and other equipment is crucial. This distance not only protects you but also safeguards our team and contractors. Before undertaking any tree trimming work near our network, you must contact us to apply for a close approach permit.

TREE TRIMMING SAFETY TIPS:

• Always maintain a safe distance of at least four meters from overhead lines when trimming trees.

• Be cautious around transformers and other equipment; avoid contact and leave any necessary repairs to our trained professionals.

• During tree trimming operations, wear appropriate safety gear, including hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and high-visibility clothing.

The police would also like to see reduced hours and improved security outside and around venues selling alcohol. The licencing Inspectors are supportive of most of these options to help reduce the harm caused.

I personally support the medical officer’s recommendation for new sites in “Commercial Zones” to have the same requirements as a “Residential Zone”, where new premises selling alcohol cannot be directly beside or behind a daycare, kindy, school, place of worship or any other sensitive site.

Here in Te Awamutu we fought to stop an off-licence going in the current Waitomo site, in front of the Rewi Street Kindy.

Fortunately the Presbyterian Church site fits within the 45 degree frontage requirement.

Please make time to read the information and have your say.

Know, you do not have to just answer questions that are asked on the submission form; you do not need to answer them at all if you do not want to.

There is opportunity for you to raise the issues that you deem important in regard to this policy. You can get a hard copy from the council office or complete it online.

The Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board discussed this policy at their meeting last night (Wednesday) and will make a submission based on the feedback we have received and the information we have been provided with.

today to find out how

Humans versus lava

By Janine Krippner

The fourth eruption since December has been underway in the Reykjanes peninsula near the town of Grindavík, Iceland. Prior to this event defensive walls were built north of the town, with planned dimensions of two kilometres long and four metres high. For now, they have worked. As long as the fissures open on that side of that wall, this is a preliminary success. So why don’t we always do this?

Lava is incredibly heavy and dense. You can’t just throw things in front of lava and expect them to hold the enormous pressures and energies involved. Some lava flows are also metres to several tens of metres thick.

A four metre high wall would not do much against a 10 metre thick lava flow. So, there is the practical considerations of would it even work? The La Palma lava flow field reached around 70 metre thick. These scales are much larger than what we can construct, especially during a crisis. The physical properties of the lava itself must be taken into consideration. The current Icelandic lava flows are relatively thin and fluid, thankfully.

Lava flows are driven by how much is coming out of the vent and the physical properties of the lava itself, and this changes with time. This incredibly dense fluid can also form lava tubes or travel down into cracks, making it difficult to see where it is flowing. Often simply building a wall is not going to do much at all, but sometimes it really does help. The location is also important. If a populated area is close to a vent or the lava is flowing at high speeds, little can be done with a short timeframe.

There was an enormous effort during Heimaey eruption at Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland,

in 1973 to cool lava flows with water to save the important seaport on the island. Five months of effort, 43 water pumps, access to sea water, and the harbour was saved. Over 400 homes were still destroyed, and more were damaged.

Attempts to bomb lava flows to change their course have been made in Hawaii and Etna with mixed results. There was success at Etna in 1983 when bombs were strategically combined with digging large trenches and building barriers, but it is noted that a lava flow has to be confined inside a well-developed channel for such an attempt to possibly work. Lava flows are often not confined, instead they spread out like sheets, especially early on, or several flows may be active and change throughout the eruption.

If you have an eruption in a populated area there a critical ethical question - where will the lava go? Are you going to save your building but direct it towards other homes that otherwise would have been untouched? If you have a densely populated area this is going to be a major issue. There are also cultural considerations. In Hawaii there is a respect for the Goddess Pele and the local relationship with the volcanic landscape, where it is inappropriate to interfere.

This is a great example of where volcanology (understanding the lava flow and how the eruption might change), other specialties (engineering) and societal aspects (population, economic, and cultural) must come together to focus on how to respond to volcanic events. Unfortunately, evacuate, wait, and hope is the only course of action much of the time.

Hopes and reality

By Samuel Pullenger, Ministry Assistant, St John’s Anglican Parish

This week is Holy week in the Christian calendar. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday which celebrates the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem - the hope of Israel enters the holy city.

As Holy Week continues it leads us toward Good Friday and Jesus’ death, ultimately culminating in his resurrection on Easter Sunday. This week is a time to remember our collective folly, as humans who often choose corruption over human flourishing. But it is also a time to remind ourselves that there is always hope, no matter what situation we find ourselves in as individuals or as a community.

The story of Holy week portrayed in the Bible, begins with Jesus entering the city of Jerusalem on a donkey, with all the people celebrating his arrival, viewing him as the great political figure who would overthrow the Roman oppressors and lead Israel into a new, everlasting, reign of power. Though Christians believe that Jesus did usher in a new kingdom, it did not happen in the way the people at the time expected. They hoped for something that Jesus was not going to deliver.

I think we can often be like this when it comes to our political system. We vote in an election, in the hope that this new candidate will bring the chaos we are experiencing around us into order. We hope that the policies they bring in will finally deal with the financial struggles we are facing, allowing us to “get ahead” in life. We hope that the council planning and budgeting will create a township that will thrive as it looks to the future.

Council admits a ‘blue’

Coles was at the back of the room with groups of people who were angrily questioning the council’s actions when Community Services manager Brad Ward called the session to an end.

The News was told O’Regan had been verbally threatened away from the public eye. Accusations and name calling were thrown at her and Hudson when they spoke,

The council released its “preferred option” for Cambridge Connections to the community on February 29. It resulted in a hail-storm of criticism.

A map showed traffic lights dotted around the town, safety humps and streetscape improvements and, controversially, a new bridge from the Town Belt in Leamington across the river to Cambridge’s southwestern suburb. That area was depicted by a blue blob.

Owners and residents under the blue blob

were shocked, spokesperson Jared Milbank told the community board in its open forum last week. Most learned of the plans from The News.

“No one has heard from the council. People are shocked: they are shocked they have not been consulted.

“There is a message consultation will come later, but there is already a map affecting our properties, and people think this plan is already fixed.

The community board resolved to ask council for an extension of the consultation period and for all scenarios to be considered – and Coles made his feelings clear.

“If the recommendation says go for Option C, with the information I’ve got I will not be able to support part of it anyway,” he said.

“If we put this (the bridge) in the wrong place it’s going to screw up this place that my family have called home for 165 years…”

However, as we soon find out this new candidate, this new council, is not able to fulfil the hopes and dreams we had created. Instead, we often find that the new policies or plans seem to go against what we had been hoping for, leaving us confused and disillusioned. I think what we often forget when we place these hopes in people and policies is that they are just as human as we are. Not only do our councillors need to be held accountable, they also need to be encouraged and supported. It is good to vote for the candidate we think is going to do the best job of leading Te Awamutu into the future. However, they are not the ones who can fulfil our hopes and dreams alone. The hope that Jesus offered was not that life would be perfect and that all would be well. Jesus’ death and resurrection offers us a life lived in a loving relationship with God and others. During Holy week we are encouraged to remember the lengths that Jesus would go to in order to bring new life to all of us, and to share that same love with those around us. I encourage us, especially in the way we respond to the council’s annual plan for Waipa, to respond in thoughtful, reflective conversation, in order that together we will lead Waipa into the future we hope for.

Sculpture park will celebrate

Continued from page 3

He said he needed “a lot of convincing” the council’s recommendations were right.

However, his colleague Mike Montgomerie spelled out why he did not take part in the discussion and vote, saying it was nothing sinister but a “serious dedication to doing my job”.

“It’s so when we are deciding at council, I am still an active decision maker.

“If I’ve expressed strong prejudice I actively technically can’t participate at the end of the day.”

• The News would like to clarify its description of the blue blob. Streets either partially or completely under the blue blob to the west of Dick Street and south of Hamilton Road (not included underneath it) are Duke, Bryce, Queen, Grey, Mackenzie Place, Dallinger and Wallace courts and Haworth Ave.

Over 30 years of replanting and beautifying a derelict quarry near Cambridge will be celebrated over the Easter weekend at The Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum in Scotsman’s Valley.

The Seeds of Renewal celebration will offer self-guided walks, a series of workshops, guest speakers and demonstrations on seed collecting, propagation, organic gardening, pruning, designing, soil care and establishing an Asian forest. There will also be different hands-on workshop topics for each day.

Owners John and Dorothy Wakeling began work in 1991 on turning the derelict Winstone’s quarry into a magnificent park. Today, it contains towering cliffs, pools and waterfalls and is home to more than 30,000 trees and shrubs from around the world.

The Wakelings held the first sculpture park event there in late 2003, when 47 sculptures were displayed as part of a Hospice Waikato fundraiser. Since then, it has hosted numerous musical performances and exhibitions and holds regular open weekends in support of charities.

Nine Maadi medals for Waipā

They rowed in 16 A finals, 23 B finals and one D final – and came home to Waipā with nine medals – three gold, three silver and three bronze from the national secondary school rowing championships.

The Maadi Cup regatta was staged last week in glorious conditions on Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel, and Te Awamutu College, Cambridge High and St Peters School were represented at the country’s biggest secondary schools’ event.

Gold medals were won by Cambridge High’s under-15 girls coxed four - Stella Hohneck (stroke), Felicity George, Olive MacDonald, Sienna Ropiha and cox Jack Charlton, St Peters boys under 15 double sculls – Jack Calcinai and Jakob Kampenhout and their under-17 double sculls combination of Molly McClintock and Peyton Barnard.

Te Awamutu sent two rowers to Twizel and Asarina Johnson and Casey Lee Baker came home as winner of the D final of the girls’ under-18 double sculls.

There were several multiple medal winners – including Cambridge High’s Tegan O’Dwyer, a past gold medal winner at Maadi who picked up a pair of bronze medals, and from St Peters, Charlise Davison, cox Darcie Granwal and Olivia Henry.

St Peters’ Molly McClintock and Peyton Barnard both came home with a full set – a gold, a silver and a bronze.

The 2024 Maadi was also a successful one for Waikato – as Hamilton Boys High won the boys Under-18 final and also picked up the Star Trophy which goes to the most successful school at the regatta.

Central wins in Kihikihi

A Cambridge Central combination won a successful tournament at Kihikihi last week.

Skip Laurie Roycroft, with Ron Greenwood and Dennis Wilcock , secured first prize with four wins, 22 ends and 49 points. They headed off Matamata’s Rita Donderwinkel (skip), Phil Crawford and Linda Ata who also recorded four wins and 22 ends – but with 44 were outpointed.

Both Kihikihi Bowling Club greens were fully utilised with 28 teams competing from 11 Waikato clubs on

a beautiful clear autumn day.

The venue with its carpet greens and good organisation has earned considerable popularity among the bowling community of the Waikato.

The best of the three winners, of which there were five teams, was another Cambridge Central team skipped by Bruce Sagers, with Sue Broadbent and Steve Davison. They headed of a Kihikihi combination of Lyn Comins (Skip), Sharon Sincock and Cheryl Froggatt by winning three more ends.

Medals are coming home

Waipā and King Country riders are bringing 11 medals home from the Para Cycling Track World Championships in Brazil.

Ōtorohanga’s Nicole Murray won five – gold, two silvers and two bronze, Devon Briggs set a world record – then broke it – on his way to collecting gold, a silver and two bronze medals and Cambridge’s Anna Taylor picked up a silver and a bronze.

Rio de Janeiro 2024 was the first track cycling event of the Paralympic Year and one of the final opportunities to secure qualification points

for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to be staged in August and September.

New Zealand sent five athletes – the other two were Ben Westenberg (Tauranga) and Cambridge’s Nick Blincoe compete.

Briggs, 20, bettered the world record in his C3 Kilo qualifier, and then bettered it in the final.

“I came into the day wanting to get the world record and we smashed it out of the park,” he said on the night of his win.

“And to come in again tonight, breaking my own world record and getting rainbows on top of that, I’m so stoked.”

Murray claimed a gold, silver, and a bronze medal on the last day – Monday. She made the podium for every event she entered.

Devon Briggs finished the final day with a second bronze and a siler to bring his haul to four. The bronze was not without cost, as another rider clipped his bike, causing him to crash toward the end of the race.

Briggs escaped without major injury and received the bronze medal as the athlete who caused the crash was disqualified. The medal total was one better than the previous best of 10 at the last word champs.

Get Gardening

Autumn is the ideal time of year to plant trees, hedging, shrubs or borders in your garden. Planting now while the earth is still warm means they will have enough time to get established before the real chill of Winter hits. It’s also a great time to think about your edible garden, look to add citrus, Feijoa's and Blueberries which can all be planted now. Here are our top tips when it comes to planting. Number one - make sure your hole is big enough, you want to make it two times the size of the container your plant comes in. Number two - don't bury it too deep, make sure it’s only down as far as it was in the container. And lastly number three - make sure to feed and water it in well.

Happy gardening!

Greetings to all readers of the TA News!

Te Awamutu Christian Church Leaders Association (TACCLA)

Easter message of hope and joy

The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ assures us that the divine plan of salvation will certainly be brought about.

Jesus’ own Passover, which we celebrate in these days, truly is our hope. And we, who are risen with Christ through Baptism, advance with him towards the eternal Passover, sustained by the knowledge that the difficulties, struggles and trials of human life, including death, henceforth can no longer separate

us from him and his love. His Resurrection has formed a bridge between the world and eternal life over which every woman and every man can cross to reach the true goal of our earthly pilgrimage.

Dear friends, our song of joy at Jesus’ Resurrection “Rejoice heavenly powers! Exult all creation!” continues to resound throughout these days of celebration.

You are welcome to join any of the

congregations listed on this notice of church service times.

The Lord of heaven and earth has arisen in glory! His splendour continues to shine upon the human race, giving strength to the weak, relief to the suffering and comfort to the dying. At TACCLA, we pray that Christ’s gift of new life will grow in your hearts and lead you along the way of eternal salvation.

To all of you, Happy Easter!

625

HOLY

The winning team, pictured with club president Dave Barnett was Laurie Roycroft, Dennis Wilcock and Ron Greenwood.

There was no hope for John and Elizabeth Finch of Paterangi in an Auckland explosion, or was there? Meghan Hawkes recounts the story.

Paterangi couple in harbour mystery

Masses of flames and smoke shooting upwards for hundreds of metres over Auckland made a cloud-effect reminiscent of the Tarawera eruption on a November afternoon in 1909.

A colossal explosion was heard all around the city and suburbs, causing broken windows for a great distance, both around the harbour frontage and inland.

Mr Wright, artist, standing on the roof of the Victoria Arcade saw a column of smoke blast up in the direction of Tamaki followed by a dull and distant report. Mr Alder, on the top of the rise at St Heliers Bay, heard the noise, felt the shock and saw the explosion quite plainly.

He thought it must be the powder hulk, the Cloud, in which Auckland’s reserve supply of explosives was kept out of harm’s way in the harbour, blowing up. Nothing else could have caused such an explosion. He was right.

George Taylor, signalman at Mt Victoria station, telephoned the Harbour Board reporting that there had been a big explosion in the direction of where the hulk was lying, and that after the smoke had cleared away he could not see the vessel.

The powder hulk was occupied by a caretaker, John Finch, from Paterangi, appointed to the position only 10 days previously, and his wife, Elizabeth.

There was no hope of their survival. Newspaper headlines were immediately written – Terrific Explosion - Complete Disappearance - Concussion felt in the cityLoss of life feared.

The Cloud had been dismantled and converted into a powder hulk for the Auckland Harbour Board seven years

previously, being used by agents for explosives importers and manufacturers. It had about 20 tons of explosives aboard at the time of the explosion, which was less than the usual amount, only two firms having stocks stored in the hulk. The stocks consisted of blasting powder, in loose and pellet form, and about two tons of gelignite.

The police searched the coast, and dragged the water for the couple’s bodies, an ominously empty boat having drifted ashore. The Harbour Board tug, a launch, and one or two other vessels put out from Auckland to search as well.

At 2.50pm the Auckland Star was advised by telephone that a small boat and some people were to be seen on the shore at Tamaki. Astonishingly, they were discovered to be the Finches who had made a miraculous escape from death.

Their day had begun with John extinguishing the ship’s lights at daybreak, then washing the decks down. He noticed a smell of burning and went to the galley to ask Elizabeth about it. She had lit the fire

and was starting breakfast. A little later John went through the living quarters and around the hulk but could not see anything amiss. Thinking the smell must be from something burning in the galley he returned to his work but after a few minutes saw smoke coming from the fore-scuttle.

John went down the fore-scuttle, where he saw nothing but smoke, eventually locating the fire in the stern of the vessel. Coming back up and going aft he noticed a red glare through an aperture in the scroll. He cut through the decking with an axe to find the location of the fire and was faced with a great glowing mass – the whole interior was on fire.

Realising the fearful position they were in, isolated on a burning powder hulk, with no means of attracting attention, John got Elizabeth to bring buckets of water from the two tanks on deck. He threw the water on the flames, at the same time drawing up further buckets of water from over the side, and also dashed those below. Their frenzied efforts to fight the flames went on for hours until the water in the tanks gave out. Elizabeth was exhausted and John placed her in a boat, lowered it, and cast it adrift.

He then made two attempts to scuttle the hulk forward, but was nearly suffocated on both occasions, the second time collapsing on the deck. On recovering he found flames bursting through the decks and afterpart of the vessel. He realised there was no more hope of saving anything and he dived overboard and swam to his wife. He was so utterly exhausted Elizabeth had to haul him into the boat. After a while the pair rowed for the shore, landing safely at Tamaki, and from there were taken to town in a sailing

craft. Both were in a pitiable plight after their terrifying experience.

John Finch had been a seaman for eight years and had experience in mines. His conduct on the burning hulk saw him referred to in print as ‘A hero of peace.’ ‘The brave caretaker’ and ‘his plucky wife’ had set an example of devotion to duty which all New Zealanders should be proud of.

However, other news reports bordered on sarcasm - “Anybody who will deliberately remain for hours in a burning powder hulk is either a hero or something else. However, ‘tis a certainty that nobody can contradict Finch’s yarn, even if he desired to do so.”

There were also insensitive comparisons to Casablanca - a bombardment with explosives by the French Navy in 1907 which destroyed the Moroccan city and caused hundreds of deaths. Newspapers also sniped at each other‘s reporting, one mocking the “columns of penny dreadful reading, surmounted by thrilling and awe-inspiring double-column headlines.”

Against this background John and Elizabeth Finch all but disappeared, probably relocating, possibly changing identities – a dismal consequence for the couple who appeared to have been resurrected.

• A court case the following year pointed to sparks from the galley finding their way into the hold, starting the fire. John Finch was cleared of blame and the Auckland Harbour Board sued the explosives owners.

The Tamaki foreshore after the explosion of the powder hulk Cloud

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Last week

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Last week

Stories of life, death and bravery by a Kiwi female general surgeon

Call

Stories from my life as a surgeon, a daughter and a mother

by

Ineke

Meredith

The world of surgery is strange, messy and intense. From a man presenting with fishhooks in his stomach to being punched in the face by a patient, it’s all in a mad day’s work for a female general surgeon. Even with emergency operations in the wee hours and constantly being mistaken for a nurse, there are still moments of laughter and tenderness amid the chaos.

When Ineke’s parents in Samoa fall ill, she becomes torn between her roles as a surgeon, a daughter and a single working mother, leading her to ask: are the sacrifices of a life in scrubs worth it?

This is an extraordinary memoir from inside the operating room about the heart it takes to survive.

‘Ruthlessly honest and viscerally beautiful. The book I wish I had read as a medical student.’ Emma

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

INEKE MEREDITH was born in New Zealand to parents of mixed-Samoan heritage. She spent part of her childhood in Samoa but moved to New Zealand to study medicine. She is a general surgeon with a subspecialty interest in breast cancer and breast reconstruction who has published research articles in international peer-reviewed medical journals on breast cancer and reconstruction, cancer rates among Pacific peoples in New Zealand, and has participated in international collaboratives on cancer rates in diaspora. She is the founder and director of Fur Love, a canine skincare company, and lives and works between New Zealand and Paris.

Transport hub (8)

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& Operated

Cambridge Owned & Operated

HOUSE WASHING - ROOF TREATMENTS

HOUSE WASHING - ROOF TREATMENTS GUTTERS - MOSS REMOVAL

GUTTERS - MOSS REMOVAL

100’S OF SATISFIED CLIENTS www.ewash.co.nz

100’S OF SATISFIED CLIENTS www.ewash.co.nz

Phone Mark for a FREE Quote 870 3081 | 027 432 2412

Phone Mark for a FREE Quote 870 3081 | 027 432 2412

FOR SALE!

CARAVAN 180 XL 6.5 metres, C.I. Munro, all aluminium frame, cert, self-contained with fully enclosed awning, double glazed, tinted windows, sleeps 5, microwave, Thetford cassette toilet, 3-way automatic fridge/ freezer (90ltrs), 5 good steel belted radials (8 ply), 90ltrs fresh water, 102ltrs grey, gas cooker & grill, 2 gas bottles, 230 volt & 12 volt lighting, fire extinguisher, excellent storage, galvanised chassis, no rust, only one devoted owner, beautiful condition.

Why would you pay $90,000 or more for a comparable new van when you could have all this for $50,000 REDUCED TO $45,000. Cambridge telephone 07 823 3576

YEATES, David Stanley – Passed away suddenly at home on Saturday, 16th March 2024 Aged 54 years. Dearly loved soul mate of Kate. Much loved son of Joy and the late Laurie, brother and brother in-law to Denise & Chris Riley. Uncle to Stephen and Samatha. Loved by all his family. Following David's wishes a private family farewell has been held. All communications to the Yeates Family, c/- 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800.

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE –

Kairangi & Robinson Roads

Please note that the roads listed below will be closed to ordinary vehicular traffic on Sunday 7April 2024 for the Kairangi Loop Bent Sprint.

Between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm on Sunday 7 April 2024:

• Kairangi Road – between Norwegian Road and the southern end of Robinson Road

• Robinson Road – full length

Access from Hewson, Griggs, Rahiri and Dillon Roads to Kairangi Road will be affected.

Arrangements will be made for access by emergency vehicles during the closure, if required.

For more information, please contact Waip-a District Council on 0800 924 723 or email events@waipadc.govt.nz

Garry Dyet CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Fees and charges are reviewed and updated annually to better reflect the true cost of providing certain services.

The fees and charges currently being reviewed will be applicable for the 2024/25 financial year, commencing on July 1.

The consultation period will open on Monday March 25 and close 9am, Friday April 26.

Escalating costs and inflation have impacted Waip-a District Council’s fees and charges for the 2024/25 financial year. Most fees and charges are proposed to increase by 10 per cent, with some exceptions to these proposed increases, outlined in the statement of proposal.

Submissions on the proposed changes can be made online, via email or through a hard copy submission delivered to Council offices or libraries in Cambridge and Te Awamutu. Hearings, deliberations and adoption of the new fees and charges are scheduled to take place in May.

To have your say and to find more information about fees and charges visit www.waipadc.govt.nz/haveyoursay or call into a council office or library. This information includes the full Schedule of Fees and Charges 2024/25 and the statement of proposal outlining reasons for the proposed changes.

Saturday 30 March 414