Cambridge News | April 18, 2024

Goodbye, Mr Blobby

By Roy Pilott, Editor

The proposed bridge location is gone – long live the next one. Waipā district councillors held yet another behind closed doors meeting last week to finally put to rest suggestions they would bulldoze through Cambridge’s history to build a bridge over the Waikato River.

Of course, they didn’t actually make a decision, because you are not allowed to make decisions away from standard meeting forums, like informal meetings, unadvertised meetings and workshops.

This, we were told was a decision made to take the potential location “off the table” as a result of a “discussion” involving the mayor and councillors.

But put it this way – at the start of the meeting/discussion, the blue blob on Cambridge was a route option for the next bridge and by the end of it, there were no options on offer.

The News has asked the Ombudsman whether Waipā has breached the Local Government

Act by setting policies at off-camera meetings, this appears to be another potential offender.

So endeth this chapter on a public relations disaster for a council which has combatted its falling profile by paying Google and Meta-Facebook to promote its own propaganda - and in the process emerge as The News’ major media rival in Waipā.

Mayor Susan O’Regan and staff issued an abject apology last month for not telling the people who lived under the blue blob that their homes were in the firing line.

The language around the bridge now is focussed on

the time frame – as in decades – before it is built.

In the latest statement O’Regan said elected members had agreed it was not the right time to pin down a location.

“I appreciate that this has been a very stressful time for those people in the affected zone, and I hope this decision, and the fact that all potential river crossing options will be back on the table in the future, goes someway to alleviating their concerns.

So the blob is off the table, but all options are on the table –we’ll take that to mean it’s goodbye Mr Blobby. Three councillors elected in the Cambridge ward - Roger

Gordon, Philip Coles and Mike Pettit – sang from the same hymn sheet last Thursday – all making a point of praising a council media release then expressing hope the community would give clear feedback on the Cambridge Connections plan. The fourth, deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk told The News she supported the new approach, noting a lot more work needs to be done to look at locations.

Coles did though add “people are unlikely to support changes particularly when they don’t have an opportunity to either provide constructive input, understand the changes and to learn and contribute towards the particular project in front of us all”.

He might have added “or hear councillors discuss the issue”.

Taking all options off the table doesn’t mean the blue blob can’t be considered again – but woe betide any future regime which looks twice at it.

LEFT: The blob is gone, but not forgotten. (With acknowledgement to BBC Studios).

Indian soldiers to be remembered at Anzac

This year’s Anzac Day commemorations in Cambridge will feature acknowledgement of a relatively unknown aspect of New Zealand’s Gallipoli experience –the recognition of Indian soldiers who fought alongside Kiwis at Gallipoli.

It is thought that the honouring of those troops here next week will be a first in New Zealand. Laying a wreath on behalf of the 14th Sikh and 5th Gurkha regiments on Anzac Day will be Captain Allan Rodrigues (retired) of the Indian Navy.

He told The News that both were very old regiments. The Sikh regiment (King George’s Own 14th Ferozepur Sikhs) was raised in 1846, and the 5th Gurkha regiment (Frontier Force) was raised in 1858. Both regiments serve in the Indian Army.

He said information gleaned from the Imperial War Museum in London shows that a battalion from the 14th Sikh regiment landed at ‘V’ Beach, Cape Helles on May 1, 1915, as part of the 29th Indian Brigade. They suffered 78 casualties before they had been in

the front line for two days. By July 6, the battalion was reduced to two officers and 117 men. After further losses suffered following a period of rest and reinforcement, they finally left Gallipoli on December 14.

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Indian soldiers remembered

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Three men of the battalion received the Indian Order of Merit (the highest award for Indian soldiers), and 38 more the Indian Distinguished Service Medal for gallantry. They were thereafter called ‘The King George’s Own 14 Ferozepur Sikhs’ in recognition of their service.

The first battalion of the 5th Gurkha Rifles Frontier Force suffered heavily at Gallipoli. They arrived later than most of the troops, but

within a few hours of landing lost 129 men and seven British officers. After a period of recuperation, they returned to the battlefield and suffered stoically through appalling conditions until they left the peninsula as the last Allied troops to leave Gallipoli.

It’s out with the coal

Fonterra has announced plans to close four plants at two Waikato manufacturing sites.

The sites - Waitoa and Te Rapa – will continue to operate.

Fonterra director NZ manufacturing Alan Van Der Nagel said the decision made was because Waitoa’s specialty powder plant and coal centre, and two powder dryers at Te Rapa were “aging assets”.

They had served well but were no longer efficient to operate.

“For these reasons, we have let our teams know of plans to close these plants.”

Staff impacted by the plant closures had all

been offered job opportunities within the co-op.

At the end of last year, Fonterra opened a wood biomass boiler at its Waitoa site allowing the co-op to transition from using coal to wood biomass to process milk.

Similar switches have seen both the Te Awamutu and Hautapu sites reducing emissions by progressing to the use of wood pellets.

At the Te Rapa site, the two dryers would discontinue operations in May.

The spokesperson said this closure would impact “fewer than 10″ staff.

On the beat with Senior Constable DEB HANN Success – and a reprimand CONTACTS

Starting with good news - great work by store staff and a quick response by police resulted in the arrest of a male at the Warehouse last week. He was also identified as the suspect for a previous theft at the same location and was trespassed and is now before the courts.

Continuing the theme, a male was recently disturbed by a homeowner at the scene of an early morning rural residential burglary. The vehicle driven by the male was found by police just a few hours later. Stolen property was recovered and a male arrested and charged. Just a couple of the great arrests we have had.

Other jobs attended by Cambridge police in the past week include burglary, vehicle theft, the offences of speaks threateningly, traffic crashes, family harm incidents, an assault, traffic offences and theft - including petrol drive offs.

Last Wednesday, Senior Constable Walker and I conducted a beat patrol targeting students riding through the main street after school. This matter has been raised a few times in this column and through school. Cyclists on the pavement continue to pose a risk in our central business district.

While I understand there is sometimes flexibility granted with regard to students riding on the pavement in some suburban streets, in the CBD, this is just not possible. The area on both sides of the road between the

clock tower and the Police station is a high pedestrian traffic area. People are walking in and out of our local shops and their movements can be unpredictable.

Please support us and the business community in telling students to dismount and walk their bikes through town or ask them to use the cycle lane.

Finally, a word about crash scenes. Recently I was working on a crash scene on Burns Street, Leamington. We had police cars with flashing lights and road cones blocking the intersection in the middle of which was a vehicle with significant frontal damage. Despite this, several drivers either tried to detour around the police cars - including driving up and over the grass verge - to continue through or tried to drive directly across the scene until stopped by an officer. If you are driving on a road and encounter police, fire or ambulance vehicles blocking your path, stop and follow instructions. This may include turning your vehicle around and driving around the block or following some other detour to reach your intended destination.

Interrupting emergency services work at the scene to deal with errant drivers delays us in dealing with the victims involved, in clearing the road and may compromise evidence in the crash scene itself.

On the bridges

There is no panic, we can maintain the status quo for the next 30 years, but no denying a new bridge will be required in that time with the growth of Cambridge/ Leamington.

With Waipā District Council’s grand plan for a new bridge, I must say it must be the stupidest idea they have had so far.

But not to worry, basic sense will prevail. The planned bridge under the blue blob, firstly if built it would have to have restrictions, like no heavy or goods vehicles, so what’s the point? It would be bad enough with 5000 commuter vehicles a day driving though what is now a nice quiet residential area, starting at 5.30am returning as late as 8pm. Past Resthaven, well thought out.

Now let’s talk sense, how many bridges would our town require to service its needs? it worries me that the council can come up with a plan based on 28,000 bridge crossings a day.

To make a decision. The district council must survey traffic and find out the purpose of those crossings, at the very least, for an investment of this magnitude. Throw away the crystal ball it’s cracked.

I suggest connecting Lamb Street, Leamington to Peak Road, Cambridge. This would serve the town's expansion needs, well into the next century, removing Te Awamutu heavy traffic from town and Leamington commuter traffic to Hamilton and Hautapu. Yes, it would be expensive but so was the Victoria Bridge to the people of the day.

Stu Barnett Cambridge

Briefs…

New Tuia member

Tane, the son of Linda Te Aho (Ngati Korokī Kahukura) and Willie Te Aho has joined the national Tuia Leadership Programme and will receive mentoring from Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan. Te Aho, who is fluent in te reo and excelled at Hamilton Boys High, is set to complete his degree in te reo Māori and Māori Development this year.

Great advice

Cambridge-based My Mortgage director and adviser, Claire Williamson won the New Zealand Financial Services Group Adviser of the Year award in the regional category at the 2024 New Zealand Mortgage Awards.

Mahuta appointed

Rotorua lawyer Tyler PakiTe Huia (Mangatoatoa and Mōtiti marae) has joined Te Nehenehenui Board as an interim trustee. Her election comes soon after former cabinet minister Nanaia Mahuta (Te Kuiti marae) and Dean Nikora (Kaputauhi) were appointed to the Ahuahu Group, the commercial arm of Te Neheneheui (Maniapoto) as an independent director.

Fluoride watch

Anti-fluoride politician Kane Titchener, the deputy chair of the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board believes legal action taken last week will impact on Waipā. An injunction has been filed against Hastings District Council over its decision to resume fluoridating its community water supply.

Concert time

An early May concert presented by Te Awamutu Concerts Alive at St John’s Church will feature awardwinning performers who share Kiwi-Korean backgrounds.

Rachel Song is a South Korean-born New Zealand pianist who completed her Master of Music in classical piano performance from the University of Auckland. Yune-Sang Yune is a KoreanKiwi flautist who made her first professional debut with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra last year.

Mayors keep cards close

By Roy Pilott

An amalgamation discussion right now could be short and pretty one sided in Waikato.

A snap survey of Waikato’s civic leaders suggested the most do not buy into Waikato Chamber of Commerce head Don Good’s call that it’s time to discuss the existing local body political boundaries.

The News reported last week that one mayorWaitomo’s John Robertson had already put his stake in the sand – but of a dozen leaders asked, he was only one of four to respond by the time we went to print.

Two said it would be inappropriate to comment.

“The councils in our region already work collaboratively. Amalgamation isn’t something that our council has discussed, so I feel it inappropriate to comment any further,” MatamataPiako’s Andrene Wilcock told The News.

“It’s not a topic that has been raised or discussed with our councillors or our community and it would be inappropriate for me to make a comment on the

subject at this time,” Thames Coromandel’s Les Salt said.

South Waikato’s Gary Petley was prepared to talk about an issue not discussed by his council.

“Amalgamation is not out of the question - if it can be shown to have benefits for our communities and – if there is an appetite for amalgamation from our community and ratepayers,” he said.

“Debt levels of neighbouring councils would need to be considered so as not to unnecessarily burden our own ratepayers. But it’s not just about finances and efficiencies. We must ensure that our communities’ interests are aligned.

“Amalgamation can challenge a community’s inherent sense of place and interest. Business cases for amalgamation must extend beyond simply bolting councils together. This alone won’t realise financial benefits. Councils and communities will still need to do the hard work of rationalising facilities, staffing and service levels. Most communities have little tolerance for losing their local library or pool for

Mixed bands for services

Anzac Day commemorations in Cambridge will start at 7pm next Wednesday with an Anzac Eve Concert in the town hall that brings two major bands together.

Organised by the Cambridge Brass Band, the event will feature well-known pieces from New Zealand and Australian songbooks, as well as music from Italy, France and other theatres of war where Australians and New Zealanders served but not necessarily as Anzacs.

The band will this year be joined by members of the Cambridge and Districts Pipe Band.

Emcee at the event will be Paul Murphy, and all concert proceeds will go to the Cambridge RSA Welfare Trust. Following on from that, the annual dawn service will take place at the cenotaph outside the Cambridge Town Hall at 6am, with the civic service in the hall at 9am.

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example.”

Robertson said he didn’t have views on other areas –just the two smallest in the region – Ōtorohanga and Waitomo.

“To me it’s a no brainer and would bring advantages to the ratepayers of both districts,” he said.

Four principles should drive council area definitions, he argued.

They were the ability to gain economies of scale and spread overheads, having a community of similar interests, enough scale to attract professional staff and to procure goods at competitive prices – and protect local democracy.

He gave ticks to all four for Waitomo and its neighbour Ōtorohanga.

The call to suggest a Waikato super council is not new.

Former Hamilton mayor Margaret Evans appeared before a select committee to back that idea in 2009. The influential group she led included former mayors John Hewitt (Waipa), Eric Tait (Ōtorohanga) and Angus Macdonald (Waikato).

One Hamilton councillor, Dave Macpherson – who

retired only last year – called the plan a “spectacular brain explosion”. Former Waipā mayor Alan Livingstone suggested such a move would be “on our town time” and not through rushing to Wellington to ask the government to decide it.

At the time Evans noted

“how can you expect someone who’s occupying a seat that’s going to disappear to have a positive response?”

• What do you think? Is it time for a merger discussion? Send us your thoughts in a letter to the editor.

The Greater Waikato today – are the lines wearing thin after 35 years?

Rehearsing for Wednesday’s Anzac Concert in Cambridge are members of the Cambridge Brass Band and the Cambridge and Districts Pipe Band, from left, Jack Redpath (brass band assistant musical director), pipe major Gordon Carter, Rowan Thorley, Chris Reynolds, Andrew Cameron, Robyn Irving, David Moon and Anne FerrierWatson.

Hautapu developments explained

Waipā District Council staff talked about the vision applied in establishing one of the region’s booming industrial estates – but the major issue for some last week was a roundabout.

About 60 business leaders gathered last Wednesday for a briefing on the new Hautapu industrial precinct zone from Tony Coutts and Wayne Allan.

The gathering at the Hannon Rd home of C and R Developments was organised by the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce.

Deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk represented the council’s elected arm on an evening when mayor Susan O’Regan released a statement announcing the proposed third bridge route through Cambridge had been shelved.

Chamber chief Kelly Bouzaid said recent plan changes and notable developments were seeing a transformative shift in neighbouring areas occupied by APL Manufacturing, Hautapu Rugby Club, Pacific Medical Hub and included the design and the build of two roundabouts.

Wayne Allan – a manager who has been at the council since 1989 - said

the Hautapu site became popular once the Waikato Expressway went by Cambridge, and he had been confident of the opportunity for development there since 2015.

“All of a sudden everyone wanted to be here – but we had challenge, for example the [Hautapu] cemetery.”

Successful lobbying for a northern interchange at Hautapu had been a primary factor in the eventual growth.

The move to change zones and open up 55 hectares of land in the area for development and the growth have been quicker than expected.

The “industrial enclave” was supercharged by the arrival of APL. The company’s 44,000 square metre factory produces hardware for windows and doors, and glassware.

Allan spoke of the planning undertaken by the council for Cambridge, which had included enabling more commercial activity on Carter’s Flat. He noted dovetailing into the plans, Hamilton’s Southern Links plan was at a stage where funding was being looked at and at Piarere work had started

on a roundabout which would eventually take traffic from an extended Waikato Expressway.

Tony Coutts, the council’s principal engineer, growth, discussed the extensive infrastructure work planned – a pump station had already been built – and there was provisions for

“pocket parks for recreation.

It was when he talked through the major roundabout on Victoria Rd, including the provision for heavy haulage vehicles to mount the kerb, that he was interrupted.

C and R director Mike Ross lamented that his company has spent $1.1

million to develop a special trailer and of the new roundabout… “it won’t even look at that” .

After the presentation further discussions were held on the design of the roundabout, Bouzaid told The News.

They delved into detail with the council, which is in

the process of refining the design to enhance clarity on tracking and pavement details.

“The Chamber was delighted to enable the information exchange and foster connections among stakeholders, ultimately contributing to a favourable outcome,” she said.

Tony Coutts goes through the stages of the Hautapu development last week.

Here hums the bus…

By Viv Posselt

The first new EV bus slid quietly off the Cambridge i-Site rank on Monday morning, signalling the launch of an expanded Waipā bus service that also ticks the zero emissions box.

It was the first of six new EV buses set to replace Cambridge and Te Awamutu’s current diesel bus fleet. The new vehicles will work to an expanded and more frequent timetable that doubles the number of weekly services connecting to Hamilton.

The Cambridge service increases on weekdays from eight to 20 return trips, and the Te Awamutu service grows from nine to 19. Over weekends, both services increase from four to 13 return trips daily.

The additional services mean Waipā’s regional bus services cover some of the longest distances in the country. Each vehicle will typically travel between 350500km a day, while most New Zealand public transport buses average 220-250km a day.

The new buses can carry 75 passengers (37 seated and 38 standing). Patronage numbers will be monitored, and existing diesel-fuelled ‘assist’ buses will be on hand to ensure all who want to travel can do so. Double-decker electric buses, which will further boost capacity, are expected to come on stream later this year.

Monday’s launch was marked by a blessing, followed by a ribbon-cutting and talk by district and local councillors and representatives of Tranzit, the coach company supplying the new buses.

Destination Cambridge general manager Ruth Crampton said it signalled “a real

move towards the carbon zero targets that all councils and countries are working towards”.

She said an upgrade in Bee Card interest had been seen in the weeks since the upgrade was announced. The Bee Card is an electronic fare payment smart card used on bus services throughout New Zealand.

“Of particular interest is the doubling of the timetable between Cambridge and Hamilton,” Crampton said. “This week, we even had 40 Bee Cards purchased for

international students visiting Cambridge High School, which they will use to get to and from school.”

Tranzit general manager of bus and coach, Jenna Snelgrove, said significant planning went into electrifying bus routes. It included selecting the correct bus and batteries for Waipā’s roads, catering to the demands of longer trips, and ensuring passenger and driver comfort. The company bought six new electric buses and employed 12 additional drivers for the Waipā services.

Waipā District Council’s group manager service delivery, Dawn Inglis, said the new EV buses and expanded timetable will benefit Waipā residents and visitors. “We are constantly looking at ways to improve how people get around our towns, as well as offering visitors other options to get here. The upgraded timetable and decreased environmental impacts are a win for everyone.”

The increased service frequency is seen as a critical component of the HamiltonWaikato Metro Spatial Plan, said Waikato Regional Councillor and deputy chair of the Future Proof Public Transport Subcommittee, Angela Strange. “We’ve seen increasing frequency lead to greater passenger numbers across the network.”

Waikato Regional Councillor and Regional Transport Committee chair, Mich’eal Downard, said EVs are critical for the regional public transport objective to deliver services with at least net neutral carbon emissions between 2025 and 2050. “Having this first fleet on the road shows we’re making great progress on our environmental goals.”

Services in Cambridge and Te Awamutu will follow slightly different routes to accommodate charging. The batteries will take between two and four hours to fully charge overnight at the depots.

In Leamington, the Cambridge bus will travel from the Pope Terrace depot onto Goldsmith, Southey, Arnold and Shakespeare streets.

The Te Awamutu service will carry on to and end at Kihikihi, meaning the town will enjoy a seven-day service instead of the current Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Thumbs up for the new EV bus launch on Monday. From left are Waipā District Council’s group manager service delivery, Dawn Inglis, Destination Cambridge general manager Ruth Crampton, Waikato Regional Council public transport manager Trudi Knight and Waipā District Councillor Roger Gordon. Photo: Viv Posselt

Wild weather and tacos

By Janine Krippner

Weather warnings can be like Tacos.

Living in the United States, a country that has a hurricane, and a tornado, and a winter storm season, I experienced my fair share of weather watches and warnings. Even with those frequent reminders there can still be confusion about what they mean and what actions to take.

Recently the Taupō Civil Defence team shared a tasty analogy. If weather was tacos, a taco watch means we have all the ingredients to make tacos out on the bench ready to go. A taco warning means we are having tacos right now!

A weather watch means stay alert and watch out for local updates. Severe weather is possible because the right conditions are there, but there is still uncertainty involved. We have two warning levels here, orange and red. An orange warning indicates that people need to be prepared and take the appropriate action (given by MetService and our local Civil Defence groups) for severe weather – weather that has the potential to cause disruption or harm. This includes heavy rain, strong wind, thunderstorms, or heavy snow. A red warning means take immediate action now, follow the advice of official and emergency agencies. We are having tacos, folks!

In the United States I saw plenty of stories of people not following weather event advice. A common one is “turn around, don’t drown”, referring to not driving through flooded streets. Too often images were shared of cars and their occupants submerged in water that was hiding a large sinkhole, or within water much deeper than it looked. Cars are certainly heavy for us, but they can float in water and be carried away. Cars

can be death traps in floodwater.

Another scary issue is how quickly severe weather like thunderstorms and tornadoes can develop right out of conditions that look perfectly charming. According to NIWA, we have about 7-10 moderate to strong tornado events in New Zealand each year. They might not be as destructive as the mile or so wide tornadoes in the American tornado alley, but any tornado can make simple objects deadly projectiles.

Last year many Kiwis got a first-hand experience with how traumatic and dangerous a cyclone can be. We call these huge storms cyclones when they form in this part of the world, typhoons in the northwest Pacific, and hurricanes over the North Atlantic or North Pacific. As we saw, the winds are certainly dangerous but it’s the water that can also bring deadly force, bringing down our landscape in landslides and flooding large areas.

Agencies work hard to help us avoid loss of life when weather conditions hint that we could see destructive events. Like volcanoes, meteorologists are monitoring constantly evolving systems and there are uncertainties involved. Uncertainty comes from the weather itself changing as we get closer to an event, limitations in technology and weather models, or judgement call that need to be made. Even with these factors we know that warnings save lives. Just like having taco ingredients in the kitchen, versus tacos on the plate ready to go, it is up to us to take the appropriate steps towards the best outcome for ourselves and those around us.

What are you looking to?

By Murray Smith, Bridges Church

People look to many things for happiness and fulfilment - for peace and quiet, daily necessities, wellbeing and prosperity. Whether from the government, local authorities, doctors, employers, teachers, the church, family… regardless of whatever we look to, our expectations are inevitably going to be let down and disappointed.

That’s simply because, there’s just no human ‘agency’ that can ever be enough.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a remarkable English 19th century preacher. As a 15-year-old Spurgeon found Christ and he began writing and preaching for the next 40 years to audiences of thousands until he went to heaven on January 31, 1892.

It began when an exhausted teenager, battling through a snowstorm, ‘accidentally’ slipped into a church service to take shelter. The scheduled speaker couldn’t make it… just a handful of people were present.

Here’s Spurgeon’s own description of that meeting:

“At last a very thin-looking man, a shoemaker, or tailor, or something of that sort, went to the pulpit to preach… he was obliged to stick to his text, for the simple reason that he had little else to say.

The text was, ‘Look unto Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth.’ (Isaiah 45:22). He did not even pronounce the words rightly, but that did not matter.

There was, I thought, a glimpse of hope for me in that text.

The preacher began: “my dear friends, this is a very simple text indeed. It says look. Now lookin’ don’t take a deal of pains. It ain’t liftin’ your foot or your finger; it is just look. Well, a man needn’t go to college to learn to look. You may be the

biggest fool, and yet you can look. A man needn’t be worth a thousand a year to be able to look. Anyone can look; even a child can look.

“But then the text says, Look unto Me. Ay,” said he, in broad Essex, “many of ye are lookin’ to yourselves, but it’s no use lookin’ there. You’ll never find any comfort in yourselves. Jesus Christ says, Look unto Me. Look to Christ.”

When he had managed to spin out 10 minutes or so, he was at the end of his tether. Then he looked at me under the gallery, and I daresay, with so few present, he knew me to be a stranger.

Fixing his eyes on me, as if he knew my heart, he said, “Young man, you look very miserable”. Well, I did; but I was not accustomed to have remarks made on my personal appearance from the pulpit.

However, it was a good blow struck. He continued: “and you will always be miserable — miserable in life and miserable in death — if you do not obey my text. But if you obey now, this moment, you will be saved”.

Then, lifting up his hands, he shouted, “Young man, look to Jesus Christ. Look! Look! Look! You have nothin’ to do but to look and live”.

Spurgeon “looked to God” on that stormy night - and never looked away.

Don’t be robbed. Looking to anything other than Jesus for the life we inwardly crave, will result in eternal remorse.

Hall of fame start nears

The first ceremonial sod in what will be the country’s next sports hall of fame has been turned. It paves the way for what will be an 1800 square metre addition to the Grassroots Trust Velodrome.

The News has reported the cost of the project had

been estimated at $8.2 million last November and $3 million had been raised. Grassroots Trust committed $1.1 million plus $300,000 for operating support. The hall of fame is moving north from Dunedin and the sod turning ceremony was held on the day it celebrated

its 10th anniversary – and staged a battle of the schools event.

“As we close on our first decade, we are thrilled to begin our second with a turning of the sod for the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame,” Home of Cycling charitable trust chair Simon Perry said.

Quoting the late Sir Peter Snell, he said “the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame is a marvellous place for the champions of tomorrow to be inspired by the champions of yesterday.”

The hall would feature a futuristic and interactive exhibit, and building will start in the next few month.

The trust is budgeting on 30,000 visitors a year and a $10 entrance fee.

Also at the weekend event were Taupō MP Louise Upston, Waikato Regional Counicl chair Pamela Storey and velodrome general manager Dion Merson.

The open day from 9am to noon featured have-ago track and trike sessions including paracycling, behind-the-scenes tours, meeting members of the Olympic team, gym and active sessions and face painting.

More than 150 pupils from 14 schools took part in the Battle of the Schools and teams of three raced for three laps.

The Cambridge Middle School 2 team of Ellie Kinnear, Emily Cameron and Nina Davies-Colley won the event, averaging a speed of almost 42kmh for the course. An artist’s impression of how the

Cambridge Middle School’s Emily Cameron, Ellie Kinnear and Nina Davies-Colley prepare for their competition winning ride.

MP Louise Upston and Simon Perry with the ceremonial sod turning.

new sports hall of fame will look.

By Peter Carr

As I write - or rather tap out - this opinion piece the first rays of dawn-driven light are starting to reveal the skyscraper ringed harbour that services the bustling metropolis that is Hong Kong. But let me back track a few days.

A week ago we boarded a plane flying directly to Shanghai. Where we had been before, spending five happy days there about 10 years ago. This mega city of 25 million residents is amazing and the early morning arrival at Pudong airport saw us shuffling through the immigration area where not only is the passport checked, but fingerprints are taken. Unless the visitor is over 70 years of age. One look at me and the Chinese official’s face broke into a smile as I was waved through. Clearly my less than cherubic countenance determined the prints were not necessary.

So why 70? Do older people constitute a lesser risk in China than those more nubile? Who knows but we were able to skip quickly to collect our bags and head for the Maglev train into the city. This unit departs every 15 minutes riding on a cushion of magnetically controlled levitation at speeds up to 420kph. On our day it was ‘going slow’ at 301kph.

Arriving at the city terminus we plunged down into the bustling metro - this being the 8am rush hour for commuters. Many readers will have seen photos of Tokyo commuters where metro station staff push and pummel passengers into their carriages leaving those inside with their noses pressed flat against the glass of the sliding doors.

Well in Shanghai the sardine can packing trick is performed without the pushing folk leaving us all inside taking turns to breath.

Luckily thanks to YouTube I knew we only had five stops before struggling, baggage laden, to fall out onto the platform. Had we not been near the door we would possibly still be being whisked around the 530 station Shanghai metro system.

I will leave the stay in this huge city for a later article when Cambridge news is a bit slow. So the following day we boarded our cruise ship and proceeded down the winding Huang Pu river to spill out into the mighty Yangtze which starts a huge distance away in central China. The heavy industry along the river is amazing but soon we were cruising towards Hong Kong three days away. A quick fun fact on China. Trying to send emails using Gmail meets with dismal failure as the Chinese authorities will not permit use of the American’s wicked initiative. Go figure.

Tensions between China and Taiwan are constantly simmering and passing a large and lethal destroyer with the huge red flag over the stern was evidence that the Chinese are leaving nothing to chance.

Back here in Hong Kong - re-owned by China since 1997 - there is a military garrison full of Chinese army folk who do not venture out into the streets even on their days off. Their very walled-in presence being deterrent enough to ensure behavioural compliance by the general population.

So it is Monday here in Hong and my birthday so no doubt some small celebrating to undertake at 30 degrees and almost 90 per cent humidity. Tomorrow off towards Vietnam.

Meghan Hawkes looks back on the news as reported in 1921.

Milk, transport, euchre and weeds

A new Te Awamutu venture was to begin producing dried milk. Dried milk, whether with or without its cream, was a highly concentrated food, and it wa1s dried milk without cream that was the product contemplated for the Te Awamutu factory. Dried milk was far more convenient to the housewife and the cook than liquid milk which was always in danger of going sour or being contaminated. Dairy farmers around Te Awamutu would be guaranteed that as the public become more educated as to the high food value of dried milk, they would increase their purchases. There was no doubt that behind a proper barrage of education on the subject the people of the world would

welcome the new industry.

News A Snip in Time

Despite a cold snap an enjoyable euchre evening was held for those who splashed bravely through puddles and mud to their usual rendezvous, the Te Rore School. Following the card game and supper there was a pleasant little dance, Miss Samuelson and Mr Krippner providing suitable music. Mr Krippner also gave several amusing recitations. Many reached the conclusion that on a wet night there were far worse places to be than the Te Rore schoolroom.

Gorse, blackberry and fern covered

Continued next page

Red light warning

What were you doing between February 24 and March 30, 2022?

Like most New Zealanders, you were probably hunkering down and if possible, working from home. This is because the whole country was in the Covid Omicron ‘Red Traffic Light’ setting.

Between February 24 and March 30 2022, the Cambridge Connections project was collecting the Bluetooth origin and destination data to provide evidence for Cambridge’s future transport plan and the location of the third bridge.

The project steering group “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” as described by mayor Susan O’Regan.

I’ve had many conversations with people scratching their heads over this. The data doesn’t make sense compared to what they know.

Waka Kotahi has reported that 31 per cent of us were working from home during the Red Traffic Light setting in early 2022. This was the largest percentage of working from home since the very first lock down in 2020. Perhaps the confusion is because 31 per cent of people were working from home in that period and not driving to work.

Think about what you were up to in February and March 2022? Does this data make sense to you? Can we commit hundreds of millions of dollars to a new transport route and bridge, when the data collected was in an abnormal period and may not reflect what the community needs?

When the council goes back to the drawing board with this project, I

Continued from previous page

hundreds of acres in Pirongia. These ‘absentee’ acres needed legislation to bring about some remedy. Isolated patches had been cleared, fenced and sown, and were being farmed by owners or lessees. But on other sections the rates had never been paid, while on others they had been paid by those holding the lands for speculative purposes. These people neither cleared nor improved the lands, and their holdings were a distinct menace to the freedom from noxious weeds of adjoining lands and detrimental to the advancement of the district. This state of affairs had been most unsatisfactory for 20 or 30 years and was steadily growing worse. It was suggested that the Minister of Lands be empowered to seize the sections, bring them under the provisions of the Public Works Act, and offer the lands in blocks for sale by public auction.

The Raglan County’s five-ton motor lorry, laden with long bridge beams, crashed through a bridge at Harapepe. Just as the front wheels touched land the bridge collapsed, and had it not been for the long

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recommend that they re-do the Bluetooth testing in ‘normal’ times, so that we can be sure of the traffic patterns.

Carey Church Cambridge

Slow down, please

What’s going on Cambridge? Are we really losing our minds in the hurry to get from A to B?

I’m referring specifically to the Alpha St carpark entrance/exit and the dangerous driving behaviour that is a regular occurrence at this point on the footpath.

I take my six year old to school and usually park outside the bowling club on Alpha St. She scoots or walks to school while I walk with her. We usually travel down Dick St, but with the road work that’s happening, we’ve been heading off down Victoria St instead for the past few weeks.

But after feeling like we’ve been running the gauntlet for the past week and experiencing two very near misses, I have to raise the fact that many drivers are just not behaving responsibly and are not looking for pedestrians crossing the entrance. It doesn’t take much to slow down, stop and look. Many look right to make sure they’re not going to connect with a car coming from Victoria St, but few look left to make sure they don’t connect with a pedestrian.

Many turn right into the carpark from Alpha St in a hurry to catch a break in traffic, and barrel across into the driveway in front of pedestrians.

Come on people – getting to the next thing you think you need to do is never worth hurting someone else. (Abridged)

Cristal Montgomery Cambridge

length of the beams reaching the opposite bank, a most serious accident would have taken place, as nothing could have prevented the lorry from dropping backwards into the water, which was about 10ft deep. A temporary service bridge had to be erected to allow the traffic to pass until the county’s lorry was extricated, which occupied a couple of days.

A young man, who was going to visit some friends in Te Kūiti missed the express and went on by one of the slow trains. A long stop at Ōhaupō was followed by another at Te Awamutu, and when about half an hour had been spent at Te Kawa the guard came through the train, and the young man said to him “I say, guard, are we likely to reach Te Kūiti tonight? I have only come from Frankton Junction, and, so far, I have been on the train for four hours.” “That’s nothing,” replied the guard, “I’ve been on it for four years.” “Great Scott!” exclaimed the young man, “you must have come right through from Auckland!” The roar of laughter from the other passengers drowned the guard’s reply.

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Record funding distributed

By Viv Posselt

By Viv Posselt

The Cambridge Christmas festival crew have once again done themselves proud. Funds raised at December’s festival hit their highest in the event’s 20-year plus history, facilitating the recent distribution of $37,340 to 17 separate Waikato charitable organisations. The money is raised at the annual Christmas festival in the town hall where handmade decorations and gifts made throughout the year by society members are sold. The event has also become known for its eclectic array of Christmas trees, its choir performances and other entertainment. Last week many of the recipient groups joined Cambridge

Christmas Festival members for a celebratory tea at their regular meeting spot in Vogel St where festival president Philippa D’Ath thanked the town for its support and welcomed group representatives able to attend.

Each of the recipient organisations received varying amounts. The 17 groups are Sports Chaplaincy NZ, Waikato Rivertones, ChildPlayWorks Charitable Trust, Leamington Croquet Club, Mosaic Waikato Modern Choir, True Colours, Achievement House, Waikato Family Centre, Children 1st Charitable Trust, Clothe Our Kids, Cambridge Community Marae, Cambridge Lifeskills, EquiPotential NZ, Blue Light Cambridge, Interlock NZ Trust, St John Ambulance, and Cambridge 24/7 Youth Work.

This month’s Colour Run at Lake Ngā Roto in support of St John proved successful and was loads of fun, says organiser Tracy Chisholm.

The April 7 event attracted over 200 participants and raised around $2000 for the organisation.

Tracy, who is the volunteer secretary/treasurer of the St John Te Awamutu area committee, has spent months pulling the Colour Run together. She organised it as fun way to replace the usual street appeal type fundraising event. She told The News last week that the community event had also been great in terms of raising the organisation’s profile.

“The weather was perfect and people had a lot of fun doing it.”

Christmas Festival Society members Linda Sutherland and Philippa D’Ath, at right, with some of the recipient organisation representatives. They are, from left, Garry Christensen and Katrina Richards (Mosaic Choir), Murray Hunt (Sport Chaplaincy NZ), Kathie Shepard (EquiPotential NZ), Police constable Kat Payne (Blue Light), Shelby McClelland and Neil Fynn (Achievement House), Ellen Heebink (Cambridge 24/7 Youth Work), Sandy Wesford (Cambridge Lifeskills) and Heidi Gleeson (True Colours). Seated from left are Lyn Toka and Pam Fisher (Leamington Croquet Club), Karen May (St John Ambulance), Colin Pearce (Interlock NZ), and Jeanette Dyer (EquiPotential NZ). Photo: Viv Posselt

Paint-splattered Lisa Fisher and young Freddie were among the winners of spot prizes at this month’s Colour Run. Photo: supplied

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Bell shows tons of promise

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Xavier Bell wrapped up his summer season in sensational form, scoring two double-centuries in two weeks.

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CAMBRIDGE VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE CALLS OVER THE LAST WEEK

MONDAY 7:38pm, Vegetation Fire, Pickering Road

WEDNESDAY 7:58am, Rubbish Fire, Robinson Street 8:32am, Building Alarm, Oliver Street 9.38am, Building alarm and evacuation, Swayne Road 1.21pm, Assist ambulance sta , Alan Livingstone Drive 8:52pm, Building Alarm, Matangi School

THURSDAY 9.05am, Building alarm and evacuation, Grey Street, Hamilton,

FRIDAY 3.28am, building alarm and evacuation, Cambridge Road 8.53am, Single car MVA, Matangi Road

SATURDAY 4.02am, House Fire, Gorton Road 6.34am, 2 car MVA, Tirau Road 5.59pm, Powerline down, Maclean Street

SUNDAY 10.38am, 2 car MVA, Waikato expressway 11.08am, Building alarm and evacuation, Albert Street 1.39pm, Single car MVA, Fencourt Road 2.46pm, Car Fire, Waikato expressway.

“One double hundred is a significant achievement but two is virtually unheard of and would be the most significant achievement for a cricketer in the Northern Districts region this year,” said St Peter’s Cambridge boys 1st XI manager Matthew Markham. Bell, 17, is weighing his options as he considers a professional career in the sport, and like his runs, he is aiming high.

“I’m tossing up maybe taking a gap year in Australia or England to see if I can play club cricket at a high level, or just staying here and playing for Northern Districts to try and make my way up the ranks,” the right-handed batsman and right arm offspin bowler said.

“I could try and play for the Black Caps or go overseas, go to a club and hopefully get a bit of money, or work overseas and travel and stuff…I’m still trying to figure it all out at the moment.”

University is another option in the

mix, but Bell said playing professional cricket was “the perfect scenario”.

The year 13 student lives in Matamata with his father Russell Bell,

who runs a tiling business, and mother Tracey Thompson-Bell, a dentist. He went to primary and intermediate

Xavier Bell playing for Northern Districts at an U19 national tournament in Christchurch. Photo: Northern Districts Cricket.

Continued from previous

school there before winning a partial sports scholarship to attend St Peter’s as a day student in year 9.

This year, as well as representing St Peter’s, he played for the Northern Districts U19 academy, the Northern Districts senior men’s reserve team and Waikato Valley’s top senior men’s team.

Bell’s first double-century came after he opened the batting for his Northern Districts U19 team in a match against Auckland at St Paul’s Collegiate School on March 10.

He finished the match not out on 255 off 143 balls after smashing 16 sixes and 23 fours, and also bowled five overs, taking one wicket.

The teenager notched up his second double ton playing at home for St Peter’s in round two of the regional Gillette Cup competition against Aquinas College on March 19.

He scored 10 sixes and 24 boundaries before being dismissed by Asa Banbury for 247 off 138 balls.

The achievements were still sinking in, he said.

“You go off the pitch and it’s just another innings until you really think about it and it’s like, 255’s worth celebrating – it’s a once in a lifetime innings, that doesn’t happen every day – and then a week later I did the same so, yeah, it’s pretty unbelievable.”

Triple joy

A Cambridge team won the Kihikihi Bowling Club’s Te Awamutu Funeral Services Tournament last week.

The event attracted 24 teams – and at the end of the day none managed to win all their games so it came down to a count of ends won among half a dozen who chalked up three wins.

Central’s team skipped by Chris Denton came out on top from Judy Cato (skip), Linda Bennett and Nvenka Drnasin. Close behind in third place was the Te Kūiti trio of Steve Woods (skip), Kevin Higgins and Peter Lange. A composite combo of Alan Bowler (skip) Clive Merrin and Eddie Knox finished fourth.

On Sunday the Kihikihi club hosted the Waikato Centre Fours champion of champions

series - the single biggest championship event on the Waikato Calendar. There were 17 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams in action.

The event has still to be completed and it could resume on April 28.

Meanwhile the Cambridge club will host the champion of champion triples on Sunday.

The winning Cambridge Central combination of Mary Hughes, Glenys Carter and skip Chris Denton.

Big grins for Butcher

Former Cambridge driver Zachary Butcher steered Auckland-based pacer Merlin to win the $1 million feature, The Race By Grins at Cambridge Raceway’s Night of Champions on Friday.

The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained four-year-old set a New Zealand track record for the 2200m mobile pace, stopping the clock in 2m35.1s, 0.3s better than the previous mark.

“He is a beast, what a thrill,” driver Zachary Butcher said. “It might be too early to say it, but that might be my biggest thrill in racing. When I pulled him out at the 300m he was just trucking. He felt like a different beast and he just keeps getting better and better.”

He revealed plans to lead early were sniffed out by by Don’t Stop Dreaming and Natalie Rasmussen.

“We had intentions to try to lead but Nat was just too quick out for us.”

The other feature slot race on the card, billed as the best trotting race seen in this part of the world didn’t disappoint, with the little Aussie horse who has been all over the world, Just Believe, producing a world class performance to win the $600,000 TAB Trot.

The Victorian overcame having the hardest run sitting parked to head home an Australian domination of the locals, clawing his way past Callmethebreeze and

Queen Elida for a stunning victory in the 2200m mobile.

He was driven to perfection by Greg Sugars, whose wife Jess Tubbs trains Just Believe, as he allowed the pony-sized trotter to miss the early fireworks and then stride forward to get outside the leader at exactly the right time.

“He is a very special horse, he just wants to win,” Sugars said after the race.

“To come over here and do this is very special. I remember watching Kerryn (Manning, fellow Victorian) come over here to win

a New Zealand Cup with Arden Rooney and thinking how special that would be.

“So to come here and beat the Kiwis on their own track is a huge achievement.”

It was Just Believe’s first start in New Zealand and he also flew the Australian flag in Sweden last year where he had three starts without winning but was twice placed against outstanding horses.

Just Believe was running for the Taylor St Racing Syndicate, so many Cambridge locals were

involved in his success.

Earlier in the programme Christchurch-based Natalie Rasmussen, officially driving for Australia, won the trans-Tasman Dorothy Cutts Invitational with the Tony Herlihy-trained Skipper.

Rasmussen went to the front mid race and rallied when it mattered to hold out a fastfinishing Hugotastic.

The Invitational is a new race run to celebrate Dorothy Cutts, who won this country’s first totalisator race against the male drivers, at Cambridge in 1979.

Branch back to business

By Roy Pilott

It’s straight back to work for Cambridge Raceway chief Dave Branch.

No sooner was the clean up from last Friday’s meeting done than he was concentrating on putting together the 2025 version – and planning his report and how to attract sponsors.

He’ll be moving like Merlin the Magician too – he wants to have his ducks lined up in a row with feedback reviewed and 2025 packages sorted in the next four weeks.

Branch has a dream of seeing 5000 people at Cambridge Raceway and the house full sign going up.

Rainy days like last Friday don’t help – while the weather on the night cleared, a miserable day of weather discouraged a good section of the potential walk-up crowd which can make a night like than an outstanding success. Branch said just under 3000 were on course on Friday.

The event – the third in the three year cycle of the Race by Grins – ran like clockwork and issues with over imbibed crowd members which were reported last year were not a factor this time.

“The turnover was $1.8 million – and it has become the biggest night event in harness racing in the country,” he said. It suggests that if the weather stays clear next year, the club should have confidence that it will be able to see the magic 500 number getting close.

Three Bridges for Cambridge?

A group of concerned Waipa residents are holding a public meeting to :

• Hear people’s positions

• Identify current traffic problems

• Look at potential options for the third bridge

• Establish where to next

• Offer help with making a submission

(A

Merlin wins the 2024 Race by Grins at Cambridge.

Where handpieces are R18

By Sigrid Christiansen

During her childhood, Sonya Fagan’s shearing contractor dad, Craig Fagan, discouraged her from the industry.

But at the recent New Zealand Shearing Championships, Sonya gained valuable experience when they shore together in a family contest. She appreciates the mentoring – both in competitions and in the sheds.

“When I’m with Dad, I tell him ‘I’m having trouble here, what am I doing wrong?’ And then you do it and you click, and you’re like, ‘I just did it way faster.’”

The story begins with reluctance: on both sides.

“If I’m being brutally honest, I’ve done everything I can to talk her out of it,” Craig said. “Because I know the reality of the industry. It’s not easy. Even as a bloke it’s tough but for women, they’ve not got the advantage of strength, and it’s tougher again.

“No one wants to see their children struggle. But 20-year-old Sonya, who “doesn’t do things by halves,” insisted on giving it a go. And Craig ultimately picked up on her passion and became a supporter.

“Being quite headstrong, she’s decided this is the path she wants to go down. So I’ve said, OK, if you are going to go this way, the least I can do is give some insights to help you,” he said.

“I wanted to make sure this was what she really wanted to do. Because it’s not an easy road.”

At first, even Sonya herself didn’t want to go shearing.

And for some time, it wasn’t an option for her, or any of her siblings.

“We had a rule in our house that you weren’t allowed to pick up a handpiece until you were 18, because you can wreck your body if you do pick it up any sooner,” Sonya said. That didn’t mean the young Fagans weren’t involved; Sonya started woolhandling at 12. And that was behind part of her reluctance to shift to shearing. “I didn’t really want to go into the sheds because I’d been doing it for so long and I wasn’t keen.”

She originally wanted to join the Navy, and also later went to uni, but health affected her progress in both areas. Only after that did her mind turn to shearing.

Around that time, Craig organised for the two to go over to Australia, working in the sheds, and Sonya loved the atmosphere as a woolhandler. “Over there, you throw big Merino fleeces and there’s a lot more work to do on the fleece, they care a lot more.”

Craig suggested she “do the last side” of some of the sheep. “When we came back, Dad said, ‘do you want to do a shearing course?’ I thought, I’ll give it a go, this could be a good way to make money and travel the world. That was in 2022.

The course was run by Piopio’s Mark Barrowcliffe. That’s when Sonya first shore a sheep by herself.

Another inspiration was recordholder Sacha Bond, who helped her choose handpieces and provided consistent encouragement.

When Sonya spoke to King

Country News recently, she was back from a year overseas in Norway and the UK. At the end of the recent Scottish main shear she shore her first 100.

“That’s the hardest tally you’ll do, because you’re not used to it. You get thrown in the deep end.”

Young shearers aspire to get there in eight hours, but Sonya did it in just six.

Since returning home this year she has shared a stand with gym buddy Chloe Bingham. “After New Years, we both got a crack at our 200 and we both got that. We were so happy.”

Shearing has been “a bit of a journey” and frustrating at times.

“Strength is my worst challenge. I’m not a big girl –so trying to pull ewes out all day is a struggle. They can be pretty big and strong.”

Craig added, “Most of them would be bigger than her.”

Sonya said there were “no days off,” in the shearing season, with tiredness and fatigue a reality.

Continued on page 19

Sonya Fagan

Velvet leaf threat on two farms Contractors talk road safety

By Paul Charman

Following three crashes involving tractors in Waikato over the Easter break, the board of Rural Contractors NZ has been discussing ways to improve safety.

A spokesperson said the subject came up at the organisation’s last regular board meeting, after three crashes on Easter Saturday.

“Board members reported feedback from contractors that it was often hard to let people pass because of road works, wire ropes, or steep banks at the sides of highways.”

The board will consult members to gather more information on how serious the problem is.

Meanwhile, a Ministry of Transport spokesperson has denied rumours that it is preparing to regulate the movement of tractors using the national roading network to move from one farm to another.

“There is not currently a review underway in relation to the rules for tractors on the road,” the spokesperson said. “However, the Government will be considering its work programme and priorities for improving road safety over the next three years as part of developing its new road safety objectives.

“The new road safety objectives will replace Road to Zero. The Government is committed to continuing to reduce death and serious injury on our roads.”

On Easter Saturday two people were seriously injured after a car and tractor collided on Oparure Road, near Te Kūiti.

Just 10 minutes later a motorcyclist was critically injured after a crash involving a tractor in the Matamata-Piako district. The rider later died in hospital from his injuries.

Then at 9.45pm on the same day, a tractor crashed into a car at the intersection of Pond Rd and SH 29 (the road over the Kaimai Range), leaving four people injured.

Police said they had noticed a growing number of tractors on Waikato roads as farmers took advantage of the dry weather to cut maize and make sileage in preparation for winter.

“We know that it can be frustrating to be stuck behind slow-moving agricultural vehicles, but we’re asking motorists to be patient and only pass when it is safe to do so.

“Similarly, we’re asking those on agricultural vehicles to be mindful of traffic around them, and to pull over and let traffic pass when it is safe to do so.”

Police said all drivers needed

to focus on the basics, including watching speed, not using the phone while behind the wheel, avoiding driving while impaired (including being fatigued), and making sure everyone had their seatbelts on.

NZTA senior media manager Andy Knackstead said in general terms, tractors being driven on a public road had to follow the same road rules as everyone else.

“They must be in good condition and be safe to use on the road. Those driving tractors are also responsible for checking that the tractor is not over-width and has the correct signage.

“There are tips for other road users on sharing the road with tractors in the NZ Road Code. You will sometimes see tractors and other farm or construction machinery on our roads.

“So, because they are large and usually travel slower than other vehicles, you need to be especially careful when driving near them,” Knackstead said. NZTA recommended the following around large tractors:

• Begin to slow down as soon as you see a tractor ahead of you and watch out for any warning beacons.

• Be patient while driving behind tractors – a few minutes of travelling at a slow speed is better than risking a crash.

• Be extremely careful when passing and only pass when it is safe and legal to do so

• Remember that tractors often have wide or long loads, which can make passing more difficult.

• Be especially careful around tractors that have just stopped, as they may actually be about to turn.

Forensic work is underway to determine how an invasive weed arrived on Waikato farms – and where else to might have gone.

The discovery of velvetleaf (pictured) on two new properties in the Waikato region has sparked a renewed call from Waikato Regional Council for robust biosecurity measures on farm.

Now biosecurity farm management plans are being put together to manage the risk of spread on 60 properties. Velvetleaf is one of the world’s most invasive pest plants and its seeds remain viable for decades.

It is an annual broad-leaved herb that grows between to more than two metres in height and has buttery-yellow flowers about three centimetres across. It flowers from spring through autumn.

Leaves are large, heart-shaped and are velvety to the touch. A mature plant can have as many 15,000 viable seeds.

“A significant amount of work has gone into controlling velvetleaf in this region since it was first discovered in 2011, so it is extremely disappointing to have these two new outbreaks,” said Waikato Regional Council’s biosecurity pest plants team leader Darion Embling.

“We can’t be certain how velvetleaf has spread to these two properties.

However, tracing has historically identified machinery and infested maize silage as the most common vectors, which demonstrates the need for continued vigilance by farmers and growers, as well as rigorous machinery hygiene protocols by the cropping sector.

“Our focus is on tracing machinery and crop movement, which is critical to ensuring the risk of spread beyond these properties is effectively managed,” Embling said. Velvetleaf was discovered in the region in 201 and the scale of finds escalated in 2016.

The majority of the infested properties are in the north Waikato, Matamata-Piako and south Waikato districts.

The Transport Agency says motorists should take extra care around tractors on the road.

Don’t dish the dirt

By Stu Kneebone, Waipā-King Country Councillor

A significant part of Waikato Regional Councils (WRC) catchment management programme involves helping landowners/managers to better manage erosion prone catchments, particularly in the steeper parts of the region. Loss of productive land in NZ hill country is estimated to cost our economy $100 to $150 million / year. The benefits include keeping soil on the hills where it is supposed to be, and reducing sediment loss and contamination into our freshwater bodies. The Waikato Hill Country erosion programme is a partnership between the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) and Regional Councils. The Waikato programme involves a targeted approach in catchments with the greatest erosion risks, and aims to support landowners with a suite of mitigations, including poplar pole planting, native afforestation and land retirement and reversion to native.

For those in the Karapiro Stream and upper Mangaonua Stream catchments (Whitehall and Te Miro) you may be eligible for up to 70% of the cost of fencing and planting. A total of $745,000 is available from the programme over the next four years for these two catchments. Contact Melinda Dresser 078590858 or Melinda.Dresser@ waikatoregion.govt.nz

In the Waipa Catchment, The Waikato River Authority and WRC with the support of the MPI Hill Country Erosion Fund can work together to jointly support landowners via the Waipa Catchment Plan programme with a total of $4.15million available over the next four years. The types of work eligible include fencing to retire steep, erosion prone land (including land with native bush on it), re-vegetation of steep, erosion prone land with natives, and poplar pole planting

for stabilising land slips etc. Landowners in the Kaniwhaniwha, Moakurarua, Mangarama, Mangatea, Mangarapa, Upper Waitomo and Upper Puniu catchments may be eligible for funding assistance. Up until June 2024 (the next two months) up to 85% of the cost of work is able to be provided. However from July 2024 through to June 2028, 70% funding assistance will be available. Phone 0800 800 401 and ask for a catchment officer for your area.

The ability of the Waikato River Authority, MPI and WRC to combine resources and assist landowners to undertake restoration work in steep, erodible and unproductive catchments provides a great opportunity to progress with future proofing your farming system. For those with marginal steep gullies and other unproductive areas that are not really suitable for cattle, this funding assistance is worth considering.

Noting that the pending Plan Change 1 regulations will require exclusion of cattle from certain streams and other waterbodies, this funding assistance will not be available for work required by regulation. However in situations where landowners are prepared to go the extra mile and go over and above the regulatory bottom lines, demonstrate real value add for the health of a catchment, and for example create a wider riparian buffer than the regulations require, then this funding assistance can be applied. As well as mitigating erosion risk, this work also provides a range of other benefits to help future proof farming systems in hill country, including building resilience to climate change and enhancing native biodiversity.

O’Brien to stand down

Rural Women New Zealand chief Gabrielle O’Brien will step down at the end of June. She will pursue some different opportunities, projects and interests including travel.

“I’m taking this step with mixed emotions as I have absolutely loved working with the board and national office team and meeting so many of our wonderful members over the past three years.

“It’s been a privilege to lead this special organisation and I’m proud of the work we have achieved during my tenure, including navigating the organisation through the challenges of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The organisation – which began life at the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, then Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, is preparing for its centenary in 2025.

Board President Gill Naylor says she will miss Gabe’s measured expertise.

“It’s been a great pleasure to work with Gabe and she is leaving the organisation in a much stronger position to tackle the future as a result of her dedication and commitment over the past three years.”

Where handpieces are R18

Continued on page 20

“You work from after New Year’s straight through to the end of January. You’ve got to have the right mindset to get past all of that.”

“The sheep do kick you and you’ve got to deal with it as well. If you get kicked real bad, you’ve just got to get back in your pen really.”

Sonya has collected a few shearing ribbons, placing third in the women’s event at the Gore show. All women were in the same class.

“I was talking to my uncle David (Fagan) at the show last week. He was helping me a lot with my gear and talking to Dad on the phone trying to get me into the right headspace.

“The more practice you get, the better you will get at it. I’m just trying to learn to have fun with it instead of worrying about where I come.”

Sonya’s goal as a shearer is to do a record one day, perhaps when she’s 30. She’d also like to win one of the big shows.

“That’s the long-term goal. But who knows what’s going to happen between now and then? I might do a whole main shear next year and not enjoy it. But you’ve got to have a goal.”

At first it felt “very pressured” to be a Fagan starting out in shearing. “You go up on stage and they say, ‘she’s from the famous Fagan family.’ You are really nervous, especially overseas.

“I just try not to worry about it too much. Try not to let the pressure get to you, that’s the main thing. Everyone expects you – that’s why I had a hard-ish couple of shows before Gore, everyone was like, ‘you should be doing better than that because you’re a Fagan.’

Her next plan is to go to the main shear in the UK. She doesn’t want to run a gang like her dad though: “that’s way too much dealing with people.”

Otherwise, she’d like to go farming and “live a simple life. You don’t have to get stressed every morning about people turning up to work.”

“This industry isn’t for everyone. It is a hard industry to get into as well – but contractors will give you a job if you’re reliable and you can go somewhere in life. I’ve had a great couple of years travelling.”

“It is still harder for girls to shear than boys to shear, because you haven’t got that strength, but I think that if a girl wants to shear – I think girls are a lot calmer than boys naturally, most of the time.”

“I love to see women shearers that come up. Me and Chloe have had the same tallies coming up through the main shear, and it’s great to see that other women shearers are happy for you.

“Any girl can conquer this job with the right mindset.”

Refrigeration for over 20 years. We are committed to the rural community and understand the needs of our Farming customers. Qualified

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Cambridge at your fingertips

It’s all on your local App –are you?

The Cambridge App is the go-to place for your latest mobile news, sport and opinion.

Every day, locals open the app to stay informed about what’s happening in Cambridge.

But there isn’t only news on this app: it features upcoming events, funeral notices, the latest properties for sale, places to eat and drink, activities, local businesses, and much more.

Download the Cambridge App, look around, you might be surprised by what you find.

•News • Property • Sports • Rural •Lifestyle • Dining • Events

• Activities • Art & Culture • Funerals

•Jobs • Shop • Stay • Professionals Scan

Main office 55 Victoria St, Cambridge

Reach a targeted rural and lifestyle audience each month by advertising your business in CountryLife; featured inside the Cambridge News and Te Awamutu News.

Readership 70,470

Distribution 26,100

Your next home is here

Find houses for sale each week in your local independent Cambridge News and Te Awamutu News – covering the Waipa region

Lock Up & Leave

Lovely location, single level 3-bedroom brick home. Bathroom has a bath, separate shower and the toilet is next door. Good storage throughout. Spacious open plan living kitchen area, practical layout, indoor/outdoor ow. Surrounded by quality homes add your own touches and give this place a refresh. Low Body Corporate fees, perfect for someone downsizing, investing or rst home. Double garage with internal access and bonus o -street parking. Tenants in place so viewing strictly to Open Homes.

Price $765, 500 Open Home Saturday 12:00 pm

Maureen Strong Residential/Lifestyle M 027 869 9789 E maureen.strong@raywhite.com

Ray White Cambridge

Cambridge Realty Limited (Licensed REA 2008 73b Victoria Street, Cambridge, 07 827 0222, https://rwcambridge.co.nz/CAM30277 | rwcambridge.co.nz

A Rural Romance in the Bay of Plenty

Rural levels of peace, privacy and breathtaking views will be found at this 11.5 hectare (approx.) rural sanctuary. This 323m2, 2021-built residence is a testament to the harmonious fusion of nature and modern design. The living area offers a modern designer kitchen and spacious scullery, formal lounge, dining and entrance foyer. The large master bedroom is serviced by a generously sized ensuite, and the office. The north wing of the home provides three double bedrooms and full bathroom. Year-round outdoor living is provided by 176m2 of decking. Remarkably private, elevated, and rich with mature native bush. The modern one bedroom Air BNB is ideal for family or guests, while over 400m2 of shedding, six hectares of grazing and 500 avocado trees add to the allure. + GST if any

eves.co.nz/ektc15058

Tender Closes 4pm, Wed 1 May

Cnr Jocelyn Street and Main Road, Katikati

(unless sold prior)

View 11.45am-12.30pm Sat 20 Apr & 10.15-11am Sat 27 Apr or by appointment

Durrelle Green

027 949 3725

durrelle.green@eves.co.nz

Best Choice - Comforts & Space

Deadline Sale

9B Clare Street, Cambridge

- Very tidy 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom home boasting spacious bedrooms with double glazed windows & the added bonus of a heat pump in the master. good-sized living room invites substantial natural light.

Open Home Saturday 12.00 - 12.30pm

Stunning Section - A Fantastic Home

$829,000

- Superbly refurbished three double bedrooms – master bedroom with walk-in robe & ensuite home on the 834m² (more or less) section.

- Separate north facing lounge, open plan kitchen and dining. - Extra-large double garage allows for additional workshop space. Open Homes Saturday & Sunday 11.00 - 11.30am

Welcome To Your Family Oasis

Negotiation

1 Vennell Street, Leamington

5 3 1

- 4 Bedroom double glazed home - renovated & updated throughout, master bedroom with esnuite & access to louvre covered deck.

- Studio - immaculate double glazed with bathroom & outdoor deck. Open Home Sunday 10.00 - 10.30am

Desirable Homestead Lane

Negotiation

1 Homestead Lane, Cambridge

- Stylish well laid out kitchen with scullery and dining area, seamlessly connected to a separate living space.

- Generously proportioned master bedroom boasts a walk-in robe & ensuite, positioned to capture optimal sunlight with a sliding door. Open Home Sunday 1.00 - 1.30pm

-

private lane access (gated); ducted air conditioning; 5 bedroom; separate lounge; master with ensuite (walk-in tiled shower, double vanity); separate laundry; triple car garaging plus separate fully insulated PODLIFE office (4.1m x 2.435m).

Open Home Sunday 3.00 - 3.30pm

- 3-bedroom home with brilliant garaging set on 6770m² (more or less). Log burner(wetback) & heat pump ensure year-round comfort.

- Other highlights include – fruit trees and berries galore, 4 paddocks, sheep motels, fully insulated, spa and 2 bay shed.

Viewing By Appointment

ANNUAL PJ DRIVE IS BACK FOR 2024!

25th March 2024

26th April 2024

Cambridge Real Estate is proud to be running our annual PJ drive in association with Kids In Need Waikato. We are accepting brand new pyjamas in all sizes from infants to teens.

CAMBRIDGE REAL ESTATE WILL DONATE A PAIR OF PYJAMAS FOR EVERY SECOND PAIR RECEIVED.

We would love your help to collect as many pairs of PJ's as possible to donate to Kids in Need Waikato. Drop off point is inside the office of Cambridge Real Estate. One donation makes a difference! Get behind this amazing cause.

BUTLER, Jocelyn, (Joss, nee Fellingham) – Passed away peacefully at Waikato Public Hospital on Thursday, 11th April 2024. Aged 82 years. Dearest soul mate of the late Barry. Much loved Mum of Michael & Suzanne, Philip & Lois, Peter & Louise, and Simon & Christine. Adored Grandma to 11 grandchildren. ‘Larger than life, with a heart of gold’. The service for Jocelyn has been held. All communications to the Butler Family, c/- 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434.

McCATHIE, Joan – Passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Wednesday 10 April 2024 after a long illness. Much loved and loving eldest daughter of the late David and Gwendoline McCathie. Adored sister and sister-inlaw of Gaye and Gary Lorigan. Cherished Aunty Joanie of David and Amy, Jane and Riki, Jack, Katie, Grace, and Lucy. A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at Woodside Estate, 132 Woodside Road, Tamahere on Saturday 20 April at 1:30pm.

to Section 46 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 notice is hereby given that:

in

Residents and visitors to the Waip-a district are cordially invited to attend the Anzac Day Commemorative Services.

PUKEATUA – 21 APRIL

The Pukeatua Memorial Church service will be held Sunday 21 April at 11.00am

TOKANUI – 21 APRIL

There will be a short memorial service held at the Tokanui Cemetery on Sunday 21 April at 1.30pm

CAMBRIDGE DAWN & CIVIC SERVICES

The Dawn Service will be held outside the Cambridge Town Hall commencing at 6.00am, muster at 5.45am on the eastern side of the Town Hall Piazza.

There is no indoor wet weather option. We will parade regardless of weather.

The Civic Commemorative Service will be held inside the Town Hall commencing at 9.00am, followed by placing wreaths at the Cenotaph. Families who wish to lay a wreath are welcome to do so after the official wreaths have been laid.

Members of the public and community who wish to participate in the Civic Commemorative Service Parade are asked to assemble on Alpha Street outside Onyx Restaurant at 8.30am. Group Leaders and Markers are to report to the Parade Marshal at 0820 outside Cambridge Vets.

Parking will be available for the aged and infirm in Kirkwood Street for both services. Please note that there will be limited seating for older veterans at the Dawn Service.

KIHIKIHI

Returned and Service personnel and members of the public are invited to a memorial service to be held at the War Memorial, Main Street, Kihikihi at 8.30am.

ŌHAUPŌ

Returned and Service personnel and members of the public are invited to a memorial service to be held at the Ōhaupō Memorial Hall, Great South Road, Ōhaupo at 10.00am followed by light refreshments.

PIRONGIA

Returned and Service personnel and members of the public are invited to a dawn service to be held at the Pirongia Memorial Hall, Franklin Street, Pirongia at 6.00am. Organised groups that would like to march assemble at 5.45am at the Five Stags Car Park. Light refreshments will be served in the hall after the service.

KĀWHIA

Returned and Service personnel and members of the public are invited to a memorial service to be held at the War Memorial, K-awhia at 1.00pm. Returned service and members of the public that would like to march assemble at the Town Hall at 12.45pm.

TE AWAMUTU DAWN & CIVIC SERVICES

The Dawn Service will be held at the Sunken Cross War memorial, Mutu Street at 6.00am. Ex service personnel will parade outside the RSA Clubroom, 381 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu at 5.45am. Light refreshment will be served at the RSA Clubrooms after the service.

Wet weather venue RSA Clubrooms.

7.45am Te Awamutu Cemetery Flag raising ceremony with Veterans and members of the public.

The Civic Commemorative Service will be held at the War Memorial, ANZAC Green, commencing at 11.00am. Members of the public are invited to join the returned and service personnel there. Returned, service and members of uniformed groups are requested to parade at the RSA Clubrooms, 381 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu at 10.45am.

Wet Weather venue Te Awamutu Events Centre.

The RSA requests that medals be worn. Medals worn by family on behalf of deceased service personnel should be worn on the right chest. Wreaths will be laid at the memorial and organisations desiring to place official wreaths will report to the Marshall in Teasdale Street on arrival at the Cenotaph. The RSA Clubrooms will be open for all members, invited guests and members of affiliated clubs from 1.00pm, with the restaurant available and entertainment provided.

Lou Brown Parade Organiser

Te Awamutu & District RSA

Col (Ret) Tony Hill, MBE President Cambridge RSA

ADVERTISING TERMS OF TRADE

Advertising Deadlines (Run of Paper):

Advertising booking deadline for is one week prior to publication day. Copy deadline for ad-make up is 5pm Friday prior to publication day. Advertiser is responsible to advise us of any copy changes before 5pm Monday prior to publication day.

Advertising supplied in completed form, deadline is Tuesday midday prior to publication day. Public holiday weeks, deadlines move forward on working day. Cancellation deadline week prior to publication. If cancellations are received after the booking deadline then full charge applies. Advertising setting is free for use in Good Local Media Ltd publications only. If used elsewhere charges will apply, pricing available on request. Advertising space only is purchased, and all copy made up by Good Local Media Ltd remains the property of Good Local Media Ltd. If supplied ready to print, copy is owned by the advertiser. Publication day is Thursday for urban deliveries and Friday morning for rural deliveries.

Specifications: For supplied adverts: PDF/X – 4 spec, fonts pathed or embedded, text 100% black. Photos & logos – high resolution jpg (300dpi). All files to be large. Colours to be CMYK not RGB. Photos should be colour corrected with a total ink level of approximately 220%.

Rate card: Rates are based over a 12-month period starting from the date the first ad publishes. Rate bracket e.g. 6 insertions, 12 insertions etc. chosen allows ad sizes to vary within the rate bracket. If the number of insertions chosen is not met then a bulk charge will be applied at the end/cancellation of your schedule based on correct rate reflective of the number of ads published e.g. if you have chosen the 12 insertion rate and only publish 6 insertions, the bulk charge will be the difference in price between the 6 insertion rate and 12 insertion rate multiplied by the number of ads published. You pay the rate reflective of the number of ads you actually publish.

Invoicing and Payments: For advertisers on a regular schedule invoices will be sent at the end of the month and payment is due by the 20th of the following month, otherwise payment is required by end of day Tuesday in advance of publishing.

36V - 12” Bar - 3/8” LP - 2.95kg (excl. battery)

Lightweight, easy to use battery chainsaw ideal for home pruning tasks and cutting small branches.

36V - 48m/s - 4.2 kg (excl. battery)

Compact multi-purpose, multi-speed battery leaf blower vac, with tool-less transition from blower to vacuum. Padded harness included.

36V - 49m/s - 2.5 kg (excl. battery)

Easy-to-use, battery-powered leaf blower with high blow force, low weight, and low noise level. Easy starts with cruise control. Padded harness included

36V - 45cm Bar - 33mm Teeth Opening- 3.2kg (excl. battery)

Lightweight and well-balanced hedge trimmer that is very easy to start and use. Built with premium quality in design, cutting performance, and durability.

10” Bar - 180 cm Length - 3.1 kg (excl. battery)

Agile and light-weight battery-powered forestry clearing saw with truly professional performance.

36V - 30cm Cutting Width - 3.0kg (excl. battery)

Quiet, lightweight and easy to use battery trimmer for lawn edges or small areas of higher grass. Intuitive keypad for safe, convenient starting and stopping.

10” Bar - 240 cm Length - 3.4 kg (excl. battery)

Battery pole saw for professionals with long 4m reach and performance that surpasses petrol equivalents.

36V - 50L Collect BioClip®/Rear Eject Cutting Width 42cm Battery lawn mower with super-easy start! Compact and