Cambridge News | April 25, 2024

Racing to Cambridge

Cambridge has become the physical home of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. Its head office has moved almost 500 kilometres north from Petone to Dick St Cambridge and the move sees more than 45 employees find a new base in what was once the town’s police station. NZTR will continue to operate Petone as a satellite to the Cambridge Head Office until October when all its activity comes north.

The decision behind the move was not a hasty one. A small content and marketing team had operated out of Cambridge for seven years as a satellite of the Petone head office.

The pull to move closer to the breeding and racing action in the central North Island eventually became was too strong for NZTR chief Bruce Sharrock not to consider.

“This move is hugely significant for NZTR and

the Thoroughbred Racing industry,” he said.

“While Wellington is the hub of economic and political activity in New Zealand, it was also the home of horse racing for many decades.”

“The shift North has gradually happened over the past decade and with the large majority of our horses being bred and trained in the Waikato, it makes sense for NZTR to be immersed in the region to best support our industry and stakeholders.”

Established in 2003 as a merger with New Zealand Racing Conference, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is the governing body for thoroughbred horse racing in New Zealand.

In 2023 nearly $1 billion in economic activity could be attributed to thoroughbred racing and the Waikato accounted for 48 per cent of that activity. More starters hail from the Waikato than any other region and more

than 45 per cent of the foal crop was born in the region.

The industry generates more than 3500 full-time equivalent jobs in the province.

The racing industry is enjoying a good run in Waipā – earlier this month the district hosted the biggest harness racing night event in the country. An artificial track on the outskirts of Cambridge has also been a major success for the thoroughbred industry.

Bruce Sharrock

Cambridge’s synthetic track was a New Zealand first when it opened in 2020 and has been used extensively for training and hosted its first race meeting in 2021.

Hard call must be made

I moved to Cambridge in 1996 and the topic of a ‘third bridge’ was on the table then. There has been more than sufficient time for numerous councils to determine a ‘transport corridor’ for the future bridge in that time. There has never been any question that a new bridge will be required at some time. The designation of a corridor would give some certainty to the community. Yet another council has backed away from making a hard but necessary decision.

What Councillors and others pretend is that we have two bridges now. The fact is large vehicles including our emergency services (fire and ambulance) cannot use the high-level bridge. All it takes is a minor collision, rush hour or Fieldays at the low-level bridge and the resultant delays could mean the avoidable loss of life or property. If the police closed either of the lower bridges or roundabout due to a road fatality even these delays would pale into insignificance.

Delaying a decision will only make it a harder and more expensive one for the near future.

Ray Milner Cambridge

Their debt, your home

I recently asked the Waipā District Council what collateral is being used to back their burgeoning debt; specifically requesting what public assets could be at risk, if they failed to repay it.

Their seemingly obtuse answer was that “WDC loans are levied against rates income.” So by deductive reasoning, the actual answer is your home.

How? Because if you were to refuse to pay your rates to cover their loans, unpaid rates (and penalties) get removed from the sale of your house. Therefore their $300 million debt is ultimately covered by your home.

Shaun Robinson Cambridge

Discounts announced

Waipā Networks customers will receive an average discount of $100 on their next bill. Customers receive two discounts each year, and in the upcoming round, close to $2.6 million will be distributed back to customers via their retailer.

Individual discounts are calculated based on the property’s power use and price plan. The latest discount covers the period between September 2023 and March 2024. To be allocated the discount, a customer must be the current registered power user at the property.

The latest discount will be captured on each customer’s next retailer electricity bill.

In the current financial year, around $5.4 million in discounts has been distributed to customers.

Geemaleigh@gmail.com

Monday (April 15) - a male was reported for assaulting his partner. He was arrested and faces charges in court. Staff attended a separate family harm incident and a female was taken for mental health assessment. We dealt with reports of a vehicle speeding on King Street and another driving dangerously on the expressway.

Tuesday - staff attended a mental health incident, a security alarm activation at a childcare facility and a crash on Karāpiro Road. We then followed up a report of a male possibly casing properties in Cambridge East and dealt with another driving complaint. Staff attended a family harm incident in Cambridge East and a report of a male behaving oddly in a park in Leamington. Next came a report of a male behaving in a disorderly manner.

threatening behaviour by a female toward staff at a government organisation. Police attended a report of a suspicious vehicle at the boat ramp, a burglary in Maungatautari, arrested a person who had a warrant for their arrest, attended a mental health incident, conducted bail checks, and dealt with two further dangerous driving complaints.

a report of a confused elderly male lost in Leamington.

In addition there were 14 reports of retail theft last week, multiple traffic stops completed and other case enquiries to be completed by staff. No two days are ever the same in this job and we are definitely kept busy.

Friday - Police conducted a welfare check on an elderly male after a request from his family. He was located injured inside his home and taken by ambulance to hospital. Next came a traffic crash on Raleigh Street before staff attended a report of a male who had locked himself in a female public toilet. More dangerous driving incidents followed on State Highway 1 and the expressway, before a burglary was attended in Karāpiro Village.

Wednesday - we assisted Fire and Emergency New Zealand with a digger on fire in a paddock, responded to dirt bikes driving on the grass in Taylor and Robinsons streets, a report of retail fraud and a mental health incident. Staff conducted multiple bail (curfew) checks then dealt with six sheep loose on Victoria Road. Staff attended when a security alarm activated at a construction site and assisted a vehicle that was reported broken down and blocking a lane on State Highway 1.

Thursday - staff responded to a truck driving dangerously on Tirau Road and

Saturday - staff again attended dangerous driving incidents, a family harm incident in Cambridge East, a crash on the expressway and a family harm incident in Roto-o-Rangi. Next came a disorder incident, a broken down vehicle on State Highway 1, bail checks and a further disorder incident. A male was found to be breaching his bail. Staff next responded to a report of boy racer activity in Leamington and a person believed to be driving under the influence of cannabis.

Sunday - Police attended a burglary in Cambridge East, a family harm incident in Cambridge East, a welfare check in Roto-oRangi and a concern for a driver slumped at the wheel on Tirau Road. We also attended

Prices held

Waikato Regional Council will freeze bus fares for two months beyond the end of government subsidies for agebased public transport. The end of the subsidy will prompt a 20 per cent rise for Busit and Te Huia services – but not until June 30.

Getting creative

Te Awamutu Creative Fibre

Group members will join the pop-up shop community next week to sell items they have made. They will be showing off their spinning, weaving, knitting and felting talents at the Enrich Plus Gallery in Teasdale St for a week starting next Monday.

Out with the old Watermains – some almost a century old – are being replaced in central Cambridge.

Waipā District Council says its watermain renewal programme is moving into the Cambridge central business district and in Dick Street disruption will be minimised as it coincides with it being closed for work on the Cambridge pathway project.

Grants available

Rotary Cambridge plans to provide grants of up to $1000 to apprentices in the Cambridge area in building and construction trades. The club is making six grants available and they will be announced from applicants on June 13.

Liz on board

Waipa deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk has been named as one of the new members of the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata France trust. Outgoing chair, former deputy Prime Minister Don McKinnon, is succeeded by NZ Rail chief David McLean.

Shelling out?

Fisheries New Zealand wants feedback on applications from iwi for temporary fishing closures across three areas in the Hauraki Gulf. If approved the taking of some shellfish species from these areas would be banned for two years.

Now everyone’s on board…

Cambridge residents have taken a huge interest in local body politics in recent weeks – and that was evident when the town’s community board meeting played out to a full house. Viv Posselt reports.

Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley had her hands full at last week’s monthly meeting, with an unusually large turnout for the public forum leaving her scrambling to accommodate them.

In the end, it was ‘standing room only’, with just the early birds finding seating and the rest standing outside the meeting room or watching a live-stream in an adjacent room.

Davies-Colley was overheard saying she had never seen it like it before.

Unsurprisingly, the main attraction was Waipā District

Council’s Cambridge Connections project and the testy issue around the potential siting of a third bridge.

All speakers talking to that issue roundly criticised the council’s handling of it and spoke to the subsequent erosion of trust. Most expressed concerns that the same level of ‘bungling’ would characterise whatever came next.

Responding to one speaker, Waipā District councillor and Cambridge Community Board member Mike Montgomerie said he accepted criticism of the council and said that was why the location of the bridge had been taken off the table for now.

Clarifying what is still on the table, he said: “The business case that is Cambridge Connections is called the programme business case and is much more than just the bridge. It is about how Cambridge is going to work in the medium to long term from a transport point of view. One of the first things you

have to establish with Waka Kotahi before you start getting co-funding is that you have to come up with a business case… essentially an evidence-based statement of the problem and a range of solutions. What is still on the table is that programme business case minus the location of the bridge.”

He said there was more involved in the business case than was immediately apparent because the bridge location became ‘the topic’.

“In there is a diverse range of options on how we are going to deal with roads in Cambridge, from the status quo through to building more roads,” he added. “That business case where we identify the problems and choose the strategic direction is still a live business case. It is still a coherent piece of work. Submissions on that are open to May 24 and we really encourage everyone to still be engaged with that step.”

Several speakers alluded to important findings brought to the council and

board’s attention by resident Carey Church, who also addressed the meeting.

She questioned details around the timing of data-collection used in the modelling for Cambridge Connection’s location of the bridge, saying it was done during the Covid-19 red light traffic settings – a time when people changed their behaviour, worked from home and there was a cap on public gatherings.

“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,” she said.

“Waka Kotahi has reported that 31 percent of us were working from home during the red traffic light setting during these dates … this adds uncertainty about the reliability and safety of the Bluetooth data, which appears to be fundamental to the options presented in the project.”

On advising the council chief executive, transport manage and others on April 9, Church said she was told they were not aware of this issue.

She called on the council and transport team and consultants to start the modelling again, “starting with getting new Bluetooth data that will give us confidence that the information is accurate and representative of how our community travels”. She also called on council to agree to work with a Residents’ Advisory Group in relation to the project.

Tasman’s ship sighted again

His name is given to the sea between New Zealand and Australia – yet the name of the ship Abel Tasman sailed to the South Pacific in 1642 has no such fame.

It was De Heemskerck, the armed flagship of an expedition which included a supply ship, the Zeehaen.

The expedition, having sighted Tasmania from the south reached the west coast of the South Island and then, having sailed around Farewell Spit, anchored at Golden Bay on December 18.

A little short of 388 year on, Cambridge resident Eric Hill is looking forward to the unveiling in Foxton on Saturday of a two metre long model of the Heemskerck he spent four years making and has presented as a gift.

Foxton’s Oranjehof museum will unveil the model it calls its new Flying Dutchman – because it “floats” in the air in a cradle as part of Dutch Week celebrations in the Horowhenua township.

The museum tells the story of Dutch migrants to New Zealand and is next to the giant windmill which greets travellers on Stage Highway 1.

Eric Hill’s model in the museum’s Tasman room sits above a smaller model the Zeehaen.

He is an accomplished builder of model boats – having also produced the Endeavour and Bounty. This one took more work though, as he had a task to find the plans – eventually getting them from a museum in Holland.

Jono Gibson Funeral Director

Jo Davies-Colley

Mike Montgomerie

Eric Hill with the model of Tasman’s Heemskerck.

Mergers – a conversation first

By Roy Pilott

A national conversation about local, regional and national decision making and service provision is needed before any discussion about amalgamation, a Waikato local body leader has told The News.

Waikato Regional Council chair Pamela Storey says optimal structures must be identified first.

Her comments were the latest in responses to requests from the News for views from district leaders after the Waikato Chamber of Commerce chief Don Good said it was time to have a conversation about regional boundaries.

“For any change to be effective, we think all government functions and roles need to be reviewed before restructuring local government,” Storey said.”

“In other words, form must follow function.”

Good listed 13 potential players – suggesting western

‘Central

wards of Rotorua Lakes district could be in the frame for debate.

The News has sought comments from leaders and has received feedback from Storey, Rotorua’s Tania Tapsell, South Waikato’s Gary Petley, Waitomo’s John Robertson, Adrienne Wilcock (Matamata Piako) and Len Salt (Thames Coromandel).

We are hoping to get further comments from Jacqui Church (Waikato)

Paula Southgate (Hamilton)

Susan O’Regan (Waipā)

David Tewavas (Taupō)

Toby Adams (Hauraki) and Max Baxter (Ōtorohanga). Good also included Franklin, part of the Auckland council.

Rotorua’s Tania Tapsell told The News it was difficult to believe combining councils would bring additional benefit.

“Amalgamation has overhyped efficiencies and has already proven to be a failure with both the recent health and tertiary education

government has to stop loading work onto us without the funding to go with it –the ‘unfunded mandate’ must stop,’ - Pamela Storey.

sector reforms that combined local to nationwide entities,” she said.

“I’m a strong advocate for keeping decision making local. Each community in the region is unique and has their own priorities. People who pay rates want to see some benefit of it in their own neighbourhoods. I’d be very concerned that if councils combined, the bigger population cities might suck up all of the funding.

Pamela Storey believed “overall” local government do a good job for communities, and in the Waikato regional, city and district councils worked well together.

“Regional spatial planning has been included in our

'The biggest challenge is trying to run and maintain a city on funding limited to the rates we collect from our residents,’ – Tania Tapsell.

long term plan and is a piece of work that will enable a more collective voice for the region. It will also lead to better informed decisions and smarter investments to improve the wellbeing of our communities and environment.

“Importantly, it will ensure a joined-up-approach to things like housing, transport, climate change, economic development, health, infrastructure, the environment and culture, and so much more.”

But she added it was clear councils were straining under the pressures of capacity issues and lack of funding.

“Central government has to stop loading work onto us without the funding to go with it – the ‘unfunded mandate’ must stop. Direct investment, support and empowerment of local government under a long term partnership approach is way more effective and efficient, but must be informed by place-based expertise and knowledge, including mana whenua and communities.”

Storey said her council was always open to discussions that will increase efficiency and effectiveness of local government for the benefit of our communities.

It was a point also made by Tapsell who, in suggesting it was better to focus on “what we have”, said there was always room for improvement.

“The biggest challenge is trying to run and maintain a city on funding limited to the rates we collect from our residents.

“A better solution to help

councils deliver more for those we serve would be the Government assisting us with additional funding for critical services like water and roading.”

She suggested that could start with councils keeping a portion of the tax they pay to reinvest back into their communities, “keeping it by local, for local”.

Tania Tapsell

Pamela Storey

Positive to negative bag?

By Peter Nicholl

The stats department released the Consumers’ Price Index (CPI) for the year to March 31 on April 17 and it was initially viewed positively.

The CPI grew by four per cent compared with 4.7 per cent for the year to December 31,, 2023.

The share market briefly rose on the expectation that the reserve bank would start lowering its Official Cash Rate later this year, possibly as early as August.

But as people looked more deeply into the number, the views became more pessimistic. The CPI is divided into two broad segments called tradeable and non-tradeable inflation.

In simple terms, tradeable inflation is what we import from the rest of the world and non-tradeable inflation is what we generate ourselves.

The two facts that caused concern are, first, that the domestic element of the March CPI at 5.8 per cent was much higher than the imported element at 1.6 per cent.

Most of the inflation we are now facing is home-grown. Second, while the imported element was continuing to fall in a comforting fashion, from three per cent in the year to December 2023 to just 1.6% in the year to March 2024, domestically-induced inflation had scarcely budged. It had been 5.9 per cent in December and was 5.8 per cent in March. That’s running at a rate that still almost double the top of the reserve bank’s 1-3 per cent target.

When the bank decided to keep their cash rate unchanged at 5.5 per cent on April 10 they said in their press release that they were ‘confident’ that maintaining the rate at its current level for a sustained period would return consumer price inflation to within

the 1-3 per cent target range this calendar year.

As I read the rest of their press release of April 17, I couldn’t understand where their came from.

The following are a list of the possible setbacks for this I found in the

The reserve bank’s press statement: there are some substantial increases in prices for rates, insurance and utilities in the nearterm pipeline; continued strength in net migration is leading to rising dwelling costs; oil prices are rising and so are global supply contract prices; growth in unit labour costs remains elevated; inflation expectations are still elevated in New Zealand and near-term business pricing intentions remain elevated.

In the days following the NZ March CPI announcement the international news on inflation also became bleaker. Tension in the Middle East pushed oil prices up further. The US Federal Reserve poured cold water on the global financial market expectation that they would soon be lowering their official interest rate.

Central Banks pulled the inflation genie out of the bottle where it had lain quietly for 30 years with their extraordinarily lax monetary policies a few years ago. They thought it would be easy to get the inflation genie back in the bottle again when the time came. The time has come. It’s going to be a lot harder than they thought.

We will all pay a big price for the central banks letting inflation return in the first place – and my words are deliberate, central banks are responsible for letting inflation return.

By Janine Krippner

“The biggest volcano in *placename* is set to erupt!”

Something along those lines have splashed across headlines through the years and it always gets an eyeroll from me. It’s not the size of the volcano that counts. There are different ways to measure the biggest, whether it be volume, height from the sea floor, highest altitude… and none of those things tell us that the volcano is going to unleash wrath on the planet. Mauna Loa is the largest at 17km tall from its base on the sea floor, and this volcano tends to erupt fluid lava flows that have built up the cone over roughly a million years.

Volcanic fields like Auckland produce many smaller cones and craters during relatively small eruptions, but the field itself can span hundreds of kilometres or more. Then we have our calderas like Taupō or Okataina that are produced when large enough volumes of magma erupt, causing the ground to collapse. The largest of these eruptions earn the volcano the title “supervolcano”, but as I have said many times, they have far more eruptions that are much smaller and maybe only one or two of the “super” size.

The larger cone volcanoes can form by producing thick lava flows and domes that don’t move very far from the vent (for example Mount St. Helens, USA), but can also have significant (or small) explosive eruptions. Other cone volcanoes have thinner and longer lava flows as well as a lot of ash and scoria. Volcanoes like our largest, Ruapehu, have different active vents over time, producing a broader complex shape. Ruapehu’s size alone doesn’t hint about lahars (volcanic mudflows or floods), a hazard that has been deadly in recent times. A volcano’s size can also be

reduced by flank collapse (for example Ruapehu and Taranaki), glaciers carving out large valleys, or just being old and slowly eroding away.

In school we are taught that the shape of a volcano tells us what sort of eruptions it will produce, but that is a vast simplification. Every volcano type can produce a range of eruption styles, and we can even see different styles in one eruption episode. The 1950s Ngāuruhoe activity at times produced lava flows and Strombolian eruptions visible from Taupo, and then more explosive Vulcanian eruptions that sent ash and boulders into the air. There are a lot of factors at play that control what eruption styles we get and those can change over time.

What we can do is look at the entire spectrum of activity at volcanoes and understand what each one is more likely to do, what the different impacts would be, and what areas will likely be impacted. The next step is to consistently monitor volcanoes through time so that we can detect early signals of something going on far before you can see or feel signs at the surface. Here in Aotearoa research on the volcanoes is done through universities and GNS Science, the monitoring is done by GNS/ GeoNet, and the warnings about what might happen and what actions to take are given by GNS and Civil Defence.

It takes a large, continued effort to make sure we can give communities and stakeholders, like our farming communities, the right information to be prepared for our volcanoes doing what volcanoes do. Thankfully we are far beyond the point of judging what a volcano will do based on its size.

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Council in chief talks

By Roy Pilott

Waipā councillors appeared to be closer – if not close - to naming a successor for chief executive Garry Dyet this week.

They were to meet at Karāpiro – after this edition went to press - to discuss the appointment of a new chief.

Reasons for going behind closed doors to discuss the issue were listed as “to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)” and to “protect the privacy of natural persons including that of a deceased natural person”.

Dyet announced in November that he would stand down after 15 years in the role – having originally joined the council in 1980 - giving the council ample time for find a successor.

The chief executive is the only position appointed by the elected council.

He or she will walk into a council which, like most around the country, is confronted by significant

cost challenges.

Waipā has already bitten the bullet and shelved some major work – a $33 million museum plan was officially put on hold last month because of a “significant change” to the financial landscape.

At the time Dyet reported “it is prudent for all project works to be paused, including the discharge of the Te Ara Wai governance committee”.

But infrastructure work continues – businesses in Hautapu were given an update just last week on the extensive work being carried out on the district’s newest industrial hub.

Fundraising in fashion

By Viv Posselt

Stylish attire was the topic de jour for last week’s fashion fundraiser organised by the Cambridge Altrusa Club.

The club is linked to Altrusa International, a non-profit organisation founded in the United States in 1917 and now boasting more than 100 clubs globally. Its members work on service and leadership within their communities, with a particular focus on education and literacy.

The Cambridge club has raised thousands of dollars over

the years for a variety of organisations. It also gives an annual scholarship towards a young person’s continuing education.

Last week’s fundraiser at the Lyceum Club rooms attracted around 80 guests, with three fashion houses showing their clothes – Gabriels, Annah Stretton Cambridge and Repertoire.

Altrusa Cambridge secretary De-ane Busby said the event had been very well-supported by local businesses, with many providing spot prizes for the night.

Altrusa Cambridge secretary De-ane Busby, left, with a trio of models from Annah Stretton Cambridge - Allyson Gofton, Maree Blakey and Kelly Turnock. Photo: Viv Posselt

Garry Dyet

Get Gardening

If you have pip and stone fruit trees make sure to give these a prune on a nice dry day once they have lost their leaves. Follow up with a spray of lime sulphate and then a copper spray to protect then against leaf curl, black spot, leaf spot and blight come June/July. Prune feijoas bushes once all fruit is harvested. Plant winter vegetables – cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, silverbeet, spinach and beetroot in raised garden beds to help with drainage. Pests like white butterfly, slugs and snails are really making a nuisance of themselves now so make sure to protect against them. It’s now time to replace summer annuals with winter flowers like primula, polyanthus, pansy and viola, dianthus and poppies. Ensure spring bulbs are planted now if not already done.

Are you hearing well?

I had assumed my hearing was 100 per cent until a recent routine hearing check revealed it’s good, but I ‘miss a few frequencies’ Missing a few isn’t unusual so I’m fine with that.

You’re probably aware many animals like dolphins and whales hear lots more than we do. Elephants have brilliant hearing, detecting messages from each other at infrasound frequencies (far lower than humans can hear), even when separated by kilometres. Pigeons also hear infrasound - with their great hearing and exceptional navigation skills, they can detect distant storms, earthquakes, even volcanoes. Mice and rats’ hear at ‘high end’ ultrasound levels, far beyond human hearing. My dog seems tuned to hearing the note of my vehicle coming - he runs to wait expectantly at the door well before I’m home.

Human hearing is important for communicating with those around us and for interacting with our environment. Hard to imagine this, but try anyway… a wife talks to her husband as he scrolls on his phone or reads the paper. Intermittently grunting, ‘yes dear’, his ‘divided attention’ means the sound of her voice is heard but he’s

LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES

By Murray Smith, Bridges Church

tuned out… oblivious to what she seeks to communicate.

Here’s the important point… we hear things we are tuned into.

I read about two light aeroplanes approaching intersecting runways at an uncontrolled airport. One, was piloted by a student pilot with a flight instructor- the other, a Piper was flown by its pilot with one passenger. Both pilots later declared that they had announced their intentions on the airport’s published common traffic advisory frequency.

The student pilot under the flight instructor’s guidance was performing ‘touch and go’ landings and having touched down, was adding power to initiate another take-off when the left wing of the other plane, about to land, hit the tail of the student pilot’s aircraft.

The flight instructor had kept an eye out for the Piper aeroplane having seen it flying in the vicinity of the airport, but he never saw it in the airport traffic pattern - the Piper pilot never saw the student’s plane at all, until moments before colliding.

Post-accident analysis revealed the Piper’s transceiver was set to a different frequency.

Once set to the correct frequency, communication was clear. The Piper pilot’s failure to use the correct common traffic advisory frequency announcing his plane’s position was deemed the ‘probable cause’.

It’s possible to go through life tuned out… essentially, on the wrong ‘frequency’. The teachings of Jesus often included His admonishment, “He that has ears, let him hear.” Ears are a feature shared by all of humanity—to not have ears would be an unnatural occurrence. But there is a difference between having ears and having “ears to hear.”

To have ears, yet remain tuned out and unobservant of Christ’s instructions on how to do life, is like the pilot indisposed to the correct frequency - a matter of grave consequence.

Hearing well, involves more than the three structures of the ear working…the outer, middle and inner ear play pivotal roles in changing sound waves into signals that go to the brain. However, truly ‘hearing well’, means opening ourselves to God - then listening from the heart.

Resthaven opens Hanlin building

By Viv Posselt

The sleek multi-milliondollar first stage of Cambridge Resthaven’s extensive development project was opened last week.

Stage 1, started in April 2022, comprises 33 apartments made up of studio units and one and twobedroom apartments. Of those, 25 are in the new Hanlin Building and eight in the adjacent courtyard wing of an existing building. One of the studio units has been funded by the Waipā District Council.

Additional apartments are planned for Stages 2 and 3 of the development which will take place over the next few years.

Stage 1 has cost around $16 million. Estimates for the full

multi-stage development were put initially at around $36 million, but that figure is expected to change as it will depend on building costs at the time each stage proceeds.

Stage 1 also includes a café and a soon-to-be opened village shop, for use not only by Resthaven residents but also by anyone in the community.

There are also several ‘pool’ electric vehicles available for use by residents.

Speaking at last week’s opening, Taupo MP Louise Upston commended Resthaven for further adding to what she described as the ‘unique’ facility it had created in Cambridge. She said she hadn’t seen anything like it elsewhere and its ‘by the community for the community’ nature was an

impressive point of difference in the provision of retirement facilities.

Describing Cambridge as a magnet for retirees, she added: “At the moment 20 percent of our population is aged over 65. In nine years, that figure will be 25 percent. It is fantastic to see the forethought that has gone into providing for our own.”

Resthaven’s roots are embedded in the community. The Cambridge Resthaven Trust Board was established in 1966 involving six community groups who helped raise funds for a local rest home.

Cambridge Resthaven

chief executive David Hall acknowledged representatives of those six organisations, naming them as the Fencourt Country Women’s Institute, Lions, Rotary, RSA, Federated Farmers, and the then Cambridge Borough Council.

“We have named the Hanlin Building in recognition of the Hanlin sisters whose generous contribution in the 1960s helped establish Resthaven.”

The first residents have been moving into their new homes over the past two months.

Cambridge Resthaven Trust Board chairman Greg Liddy described the project’s gestation

period as longer than that of an elephant, explaining that the concept for further development was first floated in 2016.

“Apparently we are one of the longest projects on Livingstone’s books … but we do acknowledge that Covid got in the way,” he said. “We needed to ensure that we remain relevant for the future… that our facilities align with the population as it ages.”

Guests at the opening were welcomed by Cambridge Resthaven’s independent living manager Jeff Simpson, and a karakia by Harry Wilson, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura.

Cambridge Resthaven chief executive David Hall, left, and Taupo MP Louise Upston with Dominic Buckell, design director of the architects involved in the development, Chibnall Buckell Team Architects. Photo: Viv Posselt

The new Hanlin Building at Cambridge Resthaven after its official opening last week. Photo: Michael Jeans

Bihoro applications open

Planning is underway for the first official post-Covid visit to Cambridge’s sister city Bihoro and members of the public are invited to be part of it.

The group of eight – a mix of elected officials and members of the public – will travel to Bihoro in Japan in SeptemberOctober. Cambridge Community Board member Alana MacKay said preference would be given to delegates who can contribute across the two identified areas of interest for the visit – education and agriculture.

Homestay accommodation will be provided in Bihoro as part of the sister city relationship, but travel and other expenses will be funded by candidates, with any

council costs limited to an official gift for the delegation. MacKay said there may be an opportunity for members of the public who are selected to apply to The Lovely Fund for a contribution towards travel costs.

The Lovely Fund is an independent trust fund that was created around the time the sister city relationship with Cambridge was formed in 1997. The fund came into being after a gift of a million Japanese yen (then $13,500) was donated by Mr Masaharu Yamaki, the man who initiated the relationship with Bihoro and who has helped foster the relationship between the two towns.

In the years since its formation, there have been

regular exchanges between Bihoro and Cambridge High schools. Members of the Bihoro Sister City Working Group within the Cambridge Community Board hold close associations with Bihoro residents, and during the Covid pandemic, an exchange of photographs of the two towns replaced visiting delegations.

Last November, the Community Board hosted delegations from Bihoro and Cambridge’s other sister city, Le Quesnoy. It was during that visit that the Bihoro delegates signalled their desire to extend an invitation for Waipā to visit, and the invitation arrived last month.

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Alana MacKay and Liz Stolwyk at the Bihoro garden adjacent to the library. Photo: Viv Posselt

Ōhaupō gets some love

It was a case of no pain, no gain, when a six month roading project started to provide Ōhaupō with a crossing an appropriate parking. Retailers who felt that pain are now celebrating the gain. Chris Gardner reports.

Ōhaupō businesses are toasting the end of six months of disruption as the council installed a signalized pedestrian crossing.

Great South Road business owners talked of short-term pain for long term gain, with one claiming it had lost up to half of its income as Waipa District Council installed a crossing in the centre of the rural community.

The project started in November and finished on Thursday (April 18). It included the construction of three raised safety platforms to slow traffic, formalising carparks, and upgrading and moving bus stops close to the new crossing.

While cancer research has helped many of our friends, family and clients to survive cancer, we remember with love those who are no longer with us.

Ohaupo Store manager Manraj Singh described the upgrade as “really good, making Ōhaupō a lot better” despite it impacting his family’s business revenue by between 40 and 50 per cent.

Peter, Carey, Paul,

Ōhaupō Antiques and Collectables owner Jane Hurley said she tried to stay positive throughout the

“We had to shut down for two days,” Hurley said.

Hurley was impressed with the skills needed to lay a new footpath around her shop’s verandah posts.

“It was Ōhaupō’s turn, and we were last on the list to be done,” she said.

Cambridge Tree Trust

www.treetrust.org.nz

“It needed it, as it’s an extremely busy road.”

But when the shop was open collectors still pulled over to browse and buy.

“Collectors were not put off getting into the shop.”

“There’s not much we can really do, but we have told the council,” he said. “It’s good that the upgrade is out of the way.”

Ōhaupō Bakehouse Café owner Sreymom Ty said she had struggled through the project and lost regular customers as it had been easy to pull over and stop.

response.

Inspiration Boulevard Bar and Eatery suffered what business owner Natalia Robson-Bush called a “significant impact” as it closed for six weeks during the project.

“What can you do?” asked Robson-Bush.

“It was very hard,” she said. “We are pleased that they have finished here.”

She was grateful for the creation of designated parking spaces outside of her shop, but it had brought a new problem.

“Some people park here to catch the bus,” she said.

Ty has asked the council to impose parking limits on the spaces and is awaiting a

She supported the installation of the crossing.

“Someone was going to die crossing to that dairy.

“It does look good. Now Ōhaupō has some love.”

Ōhaupō Caravans manager Grant Gordon said his businesses had suffered “a little bit of inconvenience, we had limited access to our drive for seven or eight days, but it’s all for the greater good”.

manager Krystle Boyle and Jacket Beverage Company owner Gerard Mooney.

He said there was never a good time to embark on such a project when there were 12,700 vehicle movements in Ōhaupō per day,

At times during the project traffic backed up from the heart of Ōhaupō to the school.

“You just deal with it. It’s good that it’s finished.”

Anderson’s business only lost 90 minutes of trading during the project.

Gordon said the project team was good to work with and communicated its plans well with businesses.

“It’s all happy days, it’s great to see the end of the road cones”.

“It’s a really big refresh,” said Ōhaupō Drinks Station owner Brett Anderson before raising a glass with duty

“We were quite fortunate,”

He was grateful to the project team for laying steel road plates outside his business allowing customers to pull over and park.

There are about 60 species of ash world wide, but this particular variant of the Caucasian ash was discovered as a seedling in a nursery in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia in 1910. It was then grown at the nearby home of the Downer family, ‘Raywood’, and introduced to UK in 1928 and the USA in 1956. Growing to 12 or 15 metres in height with a wide vaseshaped structure, it makes an ideal tree for parks, larger gardens and roadside planting. In 1937 claret ashes were planted along the central reservation and verges of Anzac Avenue in Adelaide, when it was converted to a dual carriageway. What a fabulous idea; they would be in glorious red autumn colour every Anzac Day. In Cambridge we have a lovely mass planting of claret ash in Te Ko Utu park.

Claret ash (Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa Raywoodii)

“They were really good to work with.”

He was also grateful for the way the community supported his business during the project.

Mooney described roadworks as “just part of life” and said he appreciated

In Europe varieties of ash may be found from the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea. Some of the tallest broadleaf trees in the forest, they have been held in awe since ancient times; from Greece to Scandinavia, not even the oak has so much legend woven around it. Hugh Johnston like to imagine the Viking ancestors spending the ‘dark evenings scaring themselves with dragons … To them the ash was Yggdrasil, the greatest and best of all trees. Its branches spread over the whole world and even reach above heaven. At the top sat an eagle, at its bottom a dragon. In between a squirrel scrambled up and down like Henry Kissinger, ‘(or maybe Anthony Blinken), ‘relaying endless threats and counter-threats.’ However if diplomacy failed, the ash was invaluable for crafting bows and the shafts of spears.

Cambridge Tree Trust would like to thank Mitre 10 for their support for these monthly articles which are intended to raise interest and awareness of trees in Cambridge.

We Shall Keep the Faith

by Moina Michael,

1918

Accounted4 are proud to honour those who have served our country.

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields, Sleep sweet - to rise anew!

We caught the torch you threw

And holding high, we keep the Faith

With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies,

But lends a lustre to the red

Of the flower that blooms above the dead

In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red

We wear in honor of our dead.

Fear not that ye have died for naught;

We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought In Flanders Fields.

Sreymom Ty wants parking limits imposed on the spaces outside her shop.

Advertorial

‘Ultimate’ symbol of friendship

The recently opened New Zealand Liberations Museum, Te Arawhata - in Le QuesnoyCambridge’s sister city in France - overlooks its first Anzac Day this week.

Over the next four days, Te Arawhata will host French and New Zealand representatives, New Zealand visitors, and French residents at a series of Anzac remembrance events.

The museum exhibition created by Wētā Workshop tells the story of the Kiwi soldiers who liberated the French town from four years of German occupation on November 4, 1918, during World War One.

New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, Judith Collins, will make her second trip to Le Quesnoy on Anzac Day to acknowledge the commemorations and visit the NZ Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata

for the first time.

Museum Manager Josh Hansen says remembering the sacrifice of New Zealand soldiers, side-byside, with the people of France is the ultimate symbol of the friendships these soldiers helped create.

“Te Arawhata has been crafted so that the visitor experience is a living example of the phrase lest we forget,” he said.

One room in Te Arawhata captures and focuses on the friendships and connections between Le Quesnoy and France from the last 106 years, including footage from past Anzac Days of New Zealand and French locals laying poppies at the cemetery.

On Saturday an Anzac Dinner will be held to mark the friendship between New Zealand and Le Quesnoy.

In Le Quesnoy, Anzac Day is commemorated on the nearest Sunday to April 25.

Hansen says what makes Anzac Day in Le Quesnoy special is the service is organised and attended by the French locals.

“It is a unique and emotional service where the efforts of the New Zealand troops during the liberation are remembered with deep gratitude by the people of Le Quesnoy.

“In this way, Te Arawhata and Le Quesnoy is a perfect place for New Zealanders to come together to commemorate Anzac Day.”

“Being part of Anzac Day in Le Quesnoy means you become a part of this community formed through the remembrance of our shared history. This is something to be commemorated and celebrated.”

Spotlight on Cambridge

Uniquely Sustainable

The Heritage Trading Company in Cambridge is one of those amazing shops where you can browse contentedly for hours looking at beautiful French and English vintage and antique homewares. It’s also a place where you can be interactive, where owners Helen Martens and Jo McIntosh take classes ranging from upholstery and decoupage, through to how to determine your own style in your home.

“Salvaging the past and redesigning

things, bringing them back to their former glory or enhancing their style and usefulness is what we are big on,” Jo says. “It’s all part of living sustainably with beautiful and unique homewares.”

The store is like a vintage department store, with the French brocante area (Jo’s business Linen & Stone), English country (Helen’s business Tuffet & Co.) and the antique furniture and collectibles plus jewellery (the original Colonial Heritage Antiques business the girls’ bought in November 2022) all separate but blending seamlessly. You’ll find everything from kitchen curios, elegant furniture,

vintage jewellery as well as a sustainable clothing area and a range of European-based linen clothing. There is something to suit everyone’s budget in the shop.

The Heritage Trading Company

is open seven days a week, from Monday to Saturday from 9.30am until 4.30pm and on Sundays from 10am until 3pm. You’ll find their store at 40 Duke St, Cambridge on the roundabout.

GARLIC BREAD GARLIC GINGER

CHILLI,

Owner, Tuffet and Co, Helen Martens, Owner, Linen & Stone, Jo McIntosh.

History top of the agenda Kiwi flavour to school production

By Paul Charman

The National Association of Historical Societies gathered in Taumarunui for their annual meeting on Saturday.

The treasurer of the Taumarunui Historical Society, Audrey Walker, said the group, comprising more than 30 visitors, were drawn from historical societies in Auckland and the Waikato, including from Waipā, Cambridge residents Jo Barnes and Heather Wellington.

There were also delegates from historical societies in Wellington and Far North and Invercargill. The society members had attended an annual conference in Morrinsville last year, at which some asked to go to Taumarunui for their next annual meeting, Walker said.

They got through the official business of the day at the RSA on Saturday morning, then visit nearby Ngapuwaiaha Marae.

At the marae historical society members heard about the writing of “When the Bells Toll”, a book published in 1994 and now out

of print, telling the stories of Alexander Bell and his wife Katrina.

Bell, who arrived in Taumarunui in 1874, was the first Pakeha to live permanently there and the couple have many descendants in the King Country and beyond.

Jo Barnes said it was her first time on a marae and she was touched at how welcoming and hospitable the people she met there were.

“I also enjoyed hearing some of the history of the Bell family.”

On Saturday afternoon the historical society members had a bus tour which included a visit to the Taumarunui Rail Action Centre and sightseeing around the district.

Some travelled to Endean’s Mill, at Waimiha, and the entire group were entertained on Saturday night by the Taumarunui Ukelele Orchestra.

Walker said the Taumarunui society, which had published 16 books since 2008, had an excellent standing among historians around the country.

Cambridge High School’s 2024 production, For Today, is set in a contemporary New Zealand high school and features a selection of iconic kiwi songs. Written by Hamish Arthur, the musical centres around a former rugby star, David Miller (Liam Dobson) who was involved in a car crash that killed his friend, Tom Burrows.

After a year away David returns to his old school and joins the choir so he can meet Sophie Wilkinson (Eliza Hobby). Sophie’s ex-boyfriend Jordon Jones (Vinnie Proebstel) is a tough guy who blames David for Tom’s death.

The resulting drama blends romance, action,

singing and dancing with tunes written by some of Aotearoa’s greatest artists, including My Mind’s Sedate by Shihad, I See Red by Split Enz and Something Good by Bic Runga.

Other key cast members include Caleb MortonJones, Anna Crouchman, Erin Bouwer, Milla Seath, Eleanor Whittaker, Harriet Drake, Georgia Bertrand, Sylvie Keightley, Wiremu Poka, Aspen Gooch and Emma Adam.

Toni Garson directs the show, with vocal direction by Jayne Tankersley, choreography by Chloe Gracie and band direction by Lisa Norman.

It will run in the school hall from May 1-4.

Media student Evie Axcell captured this image of students rehearsing for Cambridge High School’s upcoming production, For Today. Milla Seath, who plays Paul Fisher, lies across the knees of (from left) Caleb Morton-Jones (Calvin Porter), Liam Dobson (David Miller) and Erin Bouwer (Alex Edwards).

2024 WARMTH Winter

Comfort at the touch of a button

It’s a bitter winter’s day as you head home from work and the last thing you feel like doing is coming home to a cold house.

That used to be how it was last century – but technology has changed a lot since then.

Central heating systems offer numerous bene ts that enhance comfort, convenience, and these days, ef ciency in households.

Central heating serves as a reliable and ef cient solution to keep your home warm during chilly winter months, providing a uniform distribution of heat throughout all rooms within a house, ensuring consistent warmth no matter where you are.

Unlike traditional heaters that usually only warm speci c areas - and quite often, struggle to heat a whole room, central heating provides a comfortable temperature throughout the entire structure.

Central heating systems offer programmable thermostats that allow homeowners to customize heating schedules based on their preferences. This feature enables users to set different temperatures for various times of the day, ensuring optimal comfort and cost-effective energy usage. With just the touch of a button or a few adjustments on the thermostat, - and

for some, remote usage by way of their smart phones - individuals can regulate the temperature in their entire house effortlessly. This simplicity eliminates the need to constantly monitor and refuel separate heaters in different rooms, saving both time and effort.

And that’s not all. Central heating is also known to enhance overall air quality within the home. Unlike alternative

heating methods like wood or gas stoves that produce smoke and other pollutants, central heating systems operate cleanly and do not release harmful fumes or particles into the air. This contributes to a healthier living environment, especially for individuals with respiratory conditions or allergies. Then there is the energy ef ciency. Central heating systems are known for

it, which can result in cost savings for homeowners in the long run. By heating the entire house evenly and effectively, central heating systems minimize heat loss and prevent wastage of energy. This improved ef ciency not only reduces heating bills but also contributes to lower carbon emissions, making central heating an environmentally friendly choice.

In terms of maintenance, central heating systems are relatively easy to care for compared to individual heaters or replaces. Routine inspections and servicing by professional technicians can help ensure that the system operates ef ciently and remains in good condition. Regular maintenance also helps prevent potential issues and extends the lifespan of the central heating system. And these systems can be put in place in any existing home, not just new builds.

Because of its ease of use and seamless operating within a home, it offers value to a property and enhances its market appeal. Homes equipped with central heating systems are believed to be generally more desirable to potential buyers due to the comfort and convenience they offer.

This feature can increase the resale value of a property and attract a wider range of interested individuals when the time comes to sell.

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2024

WARMTH Winter

Where it all starts

Under oor heating isn’t something you see in a lot of homes – yet it should be.

It’s an ef cient way to heat a home or building that has long been used in the often much colder regions of Europe and America, and has begun to be a form of warmth that Kiwis are looking into much more than they once did.

Primarily, it involves installing a system of pipes or electric heating elements beneath the oor, which then radiates heat upwards, warming the space evenly.

There are two main types of under oor heating systems: electric and waterbased (hydronic).

In an electric under oor heating system, electric cables or heating mats are installed beneath the oor and connected to the mains electricity supply.

When the system is turned on, an electric current passes through the cables, generating heat. This heat is then transferred to the oor surface, which in turn warms up the room. On the other hand, a water-based

under oor heating system uses a series of pipes to circulate warm water through the oor. A boiler or heat pump heats the water, which is then pumped through the pipes and evenly distributed beneath the oor.

As the warm water ows through the

Back to the future: In with the old, out with the new

pipes, it warms up the oor surface, providing a comfortable and consistent heat source.

The way under oor heating works is through radiant heat transfer. Unlike traditional radiators that heat the air around them, under oor heating

By Ollie Newport

Heat exchangers have existed for over 100 years - but they could still be the way of the future.

First used in the 1920s, heat exchangers were quickly used in many industries, including chemical processing, food processing, refrigeration, and waste heat recovery, to heat or cool liquids quickly and e ciently.

Now, with society’s interest in sustainable and green solutions, heat exchangers are taking us back to the future, with the environmental bene ts of reducing wasted energy.

Heat Transfer New Zealand is a company based in Cambridge, that specialises in liquid-toliquid heat exchangers, with various uses in commercial, industrial and domestic settings.

Heat exchangers operate with a primary heating source, such as a heat pump, bore water or solar, to transfer heat into the liquid on the other side of the device, making them “versatile” solutions in a range of settings.

Fraser Browne of Heat Transfer says that “heat exchangers are surprisingly versatile - making them a perfect solution for food processing such as in dairy farms, meatworks, or wineries and breweries - but also in things like heating a swimming pool, or in air conditioning for large commercial buildings”.

For example, to heat a large swimming pool, hot water can be taken directly from a large bore, which is water sourced from the ground, extracted upwards, and passed through the heat exchanger.

The plates inside the heat exchanger heat up as water

passes through, and in doing so, the temperature of the passing water is regulated. This means the swimming pool’s temperature can be easily managed. With heat exchangers, minimal waste is produced by recycling water, which otherwise would be wasted.

Heat exchangers can save up to 95 per cent of the energy used through water recirculation. This

pushes heat from the oor upwards. This heat then rises and warms the surrounding air, creating a cozy and comfortable environment.

Because the heat is distributed evenly across the oor, there are no cold spots or drafts, making under oor heating an ef cient and luxurious heating solution.

One of the key bene ts of under oor heating is its energy ef ciency.

Because the heat is emitted from the oor and rises evenly throughout the room, under oor heating systems can operate at lower temperatures while still providing the same level of comfort as traditional heating systems. This can result in lower energy bills and reduced energy consumption.

Another advantage of under oor heating is its space-saving design. Unlike bulky radiators or heating ducts, under oor heating systems are hidden beneath the oor, freeing up wall and oor space for furniture and decor. This not only improves the aesthetic appeal of a space but also allows for more exibility in room layout and design.

For families with young ones who spend a lot of time on the oor, this form of warmth particularly is great value given that heat rises and the oor can often be the coldest part of the room.

can be commonly found in milk pasteurisation, where you use the pasteurised milk to preheat the incoming raw milk.

By saving wasted energy, heat exchangers could be a sustainable option for the environment, and is a factor that should be considered in both the manufacturing process and during consumer research.

Denis Browne, owner of Heat Transfer New Zealand, mentioned how heat exchangers are more environmentally friendly when it comes to wastage and are much easier to replace when a new one needs to be installed.

“A new set of plates and gaskets is generally only 40 to 50 per cent of the price of the original unit. If, on the other hand, a heat pump is damaged by the pool water and needs to be replaced this means a full replacement of

the heat pump.”

“The result of using a heat exchanger as an intermediary tool is that it may also increase the life span of your heat pump.”

The plates in a heat exchanger can last around 10 years or more if the liquid used isn’t too corrosive. When the plates inside get to the end of their lifespan, corroded plates can be swapped out for a new plate pack - which results in a more cost and timee cient way of renewing one’s heat exchanger and being more sustainable. It’s just another way that heat exchangers may be a great way to go back to the future.

Heat Transfer is located in Cambridge in the Waikato. Denis can be contacted at denis@ heatnz.co.nz and Heat Transfer’s website is at www.heatnz.co.nz

DENIS BROWNE, OWNER OF HEAT TRANSFER NZ

Dear diary, here’s to the 7-day weekend

Love the choice.

Retirement can be blissfully laid back, or it can be wonderfully unretiring and active.

At Summerset, it’s your choice. From day to day, you have the freedom to pursue all your passions and hobbies, or just find a place to relax. All set within a secure, warm and friendly community.

Love the life you choose.

Meet the people who love living at Summerset Cambridge

Join our upcoming Resident led Open Weekend where you’ll meet some of the residents who happily call this village home. They’ll let you in on the lifestyle they enjoy, share the facilities we have, as well as the wonderful homes available now.*

Situated in a beautiful environment with a relaxed country feel, Summerset Cambridge is a vibrant, spacious village that offers the ultimate sun-soaked, peaceful rural lifestyle.

Resident led Open Weekend

Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 April 10am - 2pm

Summerset Cambridge

1 Mary Ann Drive, Cambridge 07 839 9482 | summerset.co.nz/cambridge

“I am looking forward to happy years here, with my fellow residents and management teams, in my super, brand new, very cosy and well-appointed villa.”

SALLY - SUMMERSET CAMBRIDGE RESIDENT.

To see plans and pricing, get in touch with our Sales Manager, Nikki Matthews today or join us at our upcoming Resident led Open Weekend and see for yourself why our residents love the Summerset life. Love the life you choose.

*All Summerset homes are sold under a licence to occupy and are subject to availability. Summerset does not offer rental accommodation.

BMX five eye worlds

Five Te Awamutu BMX club member will wing their way to Rockhill, South Carolina, USA in a weeks’ time to represent New Zealand at the 2024 world champs.

Brooke, Sophie and Luca Penny along with Tate Burdon and Baiden Prescott qualified for the event by way of their top eight rankings at last year’s national champs in Tauranga.

Brooke (U23 women), Luca, Sophie (13 girls), Baiden and Tate (both 10 boys) have been training and racing for 6 months on tracks around New Zealand with hopes of coming home from America with some great results.

At their home club in Te Awamutu they have been at the track most week days, and on top of that they have been training with the other New Zealand riders heading to the world champs on Saturdays.

“As a club we very proud of these riders and know they will represent their club and country with pride and will put in 100 per cent effort as they always do.

“Whatever the results are they should be very proud of their achievements thus far in their careers.”

He said there had bee a lot of fundraising in the last six months and friends, family and the wider community had helped the riders fulfill a dream.

The world champs run from May 12 to 18.

Trophy time in bowls

be following in the footsteps of some accomplished bowlers from the district who have competed over the past 30-plus years.

Eight clubs comprise the Waipa district - Cambridge, Central Cambridge, Kihikihi, Ōtorohanga, Pirongia, Raglan, Te Kuiti, and Te Awamutu.

The tournament is divided into three events and points are accrued over the day to find the winner of each trophy – Vagg Cup for men, John Hastie Cup for women, and Doug Myers Cup for players who have been bowling for less than five years.

Sixteen players from each club will

BOOK BY MUSIC BY LYRICS BY DIRECTOR

The contest was originally called Central Zone but changed to Waipa Division Bowls Waikato in 1994 and women were granted their requests to hold their own tournament on the same day in 2002.

The Vagg Cup is named after a former Central Cambridge member, John Hastie was secretary treasurer of the Bowls Waikato from 1996 to 2017 and Doug Myers was a member of the no defunct Leamington Bowling Club.

Tate Burdon, Baiden Prescott and Brooke, Luca and Sophie Penny are heading for the United States.

Is your suspension adequate?

Kiwis have one of the highest per capita ownerships of 4WDs and SUVs – we are after all, a nation of hardened farmers, hunter-gatherers and passionate campers who take pride in cultivating and exploring our amazing landscape.

Therefore, it’s important to understand the vehicle Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) which is the legal laden weight of your vehicle, in relation to what additional weight you’re carrying, whether you’re operating

it within its capabilities, or if you may need to look at a suspension upgrade.

For 4WD Solutions in Cambridge, this is one of their specialty areas. Factory fitted suspension is perfect for everyday driving and ‘tiki touring’ round the country with a suitcase on the back seat, but if you want to start loading your vehicle up with tools, trailers, boats, boxes, hunting gear and campers - then things can get a little tricky.

Once extra weight is added to any ute or 4x4, it will change the dynamics of how the vehicle handles on the road. Worn or inadequate suspension has an adverse effect on the ability to control the vehicle especially when stopping and turning.

Spokeswoman Jayne Verhoeven says

the impact of heavy loading on any vehicle can lead to several dangerous scenarios.

“It can impact on the steering capabilities, making a vehicle unstable, put undue pressure on the tyres and can cause unsafe headlight beam spread if the vehicle is too ‘tail heavy’.

“We are able to beef up suspensions and can sort out GVM upgrades to legally allow the vehicle to carry more. We can also fit airbags, which helps when loads are not consistent, such as a beekeeper for example who might be moving hives on and off –they can adjust the airbag pressures according to their payload.”

“Agriculture and infrastructure are primary industries where these vehicle solutions are paramount due

to the rough terrain, site conditions and work requirements. This also applies to those who go offroad for leisure, whether using just the vehicle, or towing a caravan.” With many suspension options available – getting the right solution for both you and your vehicle can be quite complex. Considerations like what type of vehicle it is and the capabilities of the brand, whether the vehicle is carrying a constant or variable load, what the vehicle is used for and whether it has added accessories fitted, are all crucial in finding the right solution for you and your vehicle.

4WD Solutions at 16 Cook St, Cambridge, have the knowledge, expertise, accessories, and parts to get your vehicle operating to its optimal capabilities.

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

Quick crossword

Across 1. Bawl (4)

4. Winsome (6)

8. Strangely unsettling (7)

9. Poster idol (3-2)

10. Seep (4)

11. Lively (8)

13. Very probably (9)

17. Bounce off (8) 19. Box lightly, as in training (4)

Last week

Across:

21. Stroke of luck (5)

22. Impressive (7)

23. Beer and lemonade mix (6)

24. Those people (4)

Down

2. Fruit farm

(7)

15. Move aimlessly (5)

16. At no cost (4)

18. Infatuation (inf) (5)

20. Warmth (4)

Down: 1. Unacceptable, 2. Shove, 3. Traipse, 4. Choppy, 5. Torso, 6. Archaic, 7. Trick or treat, 13. Curtail, 15. Tedious, 16.

Sudoku Wordsearch

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ZNCVEMODLECORNICEH

COLUMNARETSINABPLT

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AISLE ANNEXE APSE ARCH

ATRIUM

ATTIC

1. Upset, 4. Catnap, 8. Avocado, 9. Recur, 10. Cheap, 11. Prosaic, 12. Pucker, 14. Stucco, 17. Abreast, 19. Debut, 21. Leash, 22. Provoke, 23. Sledge, 24. Sheet.

Staple, 18. Aphid, 20. Bloke.

Souper soups

There’s nothing more comforting on a cold winter’s day than a bowl of hot nourishing soup. There are thin and thick soups — thin to whet the appetite before a main course and thick soups that can be meals in themselves.

The most famous thin soup in the world must be chicken soup, made by cooking chicken in stock or water. Once the chicken is cooked, it may be deboned and the meat returned to the soup or eaten separately. Vegetables, rice or noodles can be added to provide more body. Bisques are a type of well-flavoured creamed soup, typically made with crustaceans such as crayfish or prawns, but also with vegetables, as in tomato bisque. The ingredients are cooked in a broth, then puréed, strained and ‘creamed’. Traditional bisque recipes use bread or rice to as thickeners. Chowders and gumbos are varieties of thick, distinctly American soups. Creamy chowders are usually thickened with starchy vegetables such as corn or potato. Gumbos are regional American soups from Louisiana, thickened either with a very dark roux—a mixture of flour and fat that is cooked to a deep brown colour — okra, or file powder made from dried sassafras leaves.

THAI CHICKEN SOUP

2 tablespoons rice bran oil

1 onion, diced

3 each: large garlic cloves, spring onions 500g skinned and boned chicken, thinly sliced 3-4 tablespoons (or to taste) Thai green curry paste

400ml can light coconut milk

4 cups chicken stock

2 makrut (kaffir) lime leaves

2 tablespoons fish sauce

250g thinly sliced green beans

Topping: 1/2 cup each: basil leaves, coriander leaves

4 tablespoons lime juice

Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Sauté the onion, until softened. Meanwhile, crush the garlic. Thinly slice the spring onions.

Thai chicken soup

Add the chicken to the saucepan and stir-fry, until coloured. Stir in the curry paste. Add the coconut milk, chicken stock, lime leaves, fish sauce, garlic and spring onions. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the beans and simmer for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, finely chop the basil and coriander. Combine with the lime juice. Ladle the soup into bowls and add the topping just before serving. Serves 4.

MUSSEL CHOWDER

1 each: small leek, large celery stalk (including leaves)

2 tablespoons canola oil

2 cloves garlic, crushed

4 tablespoons plain flour

1/2 cup white wine

1 1/2 cups chopped shelled mussels

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1 teaspoon each: paprika, lemon juice

3 cups milk

Finely chop the leek and the celery (including the leaves). Sauté in the oil with the garlic, until the leek is soft.

chowder

Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the wine. Stir over low heat for 1-2 minutes.

Add the mussels, salt, pepper, parsley, paprika and lemon juice. Stir well. Pour in the milk and heat until simmering, stirring frequently. Great served with crusty bread. Serves 4.

CREAMY CELERY BISQUE

6 cups diced celery and leaves

2 cups each: chicken stock, boiling water

1 onion, sliced

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup plain flour

2 cups milk

1 cup light sour cream

salt and pepper to taste

Combine the celery, chicken stock and boiling water in a saucepan; simmer until the celery is tender.

Meanwhile, sauté the onion in the butter, until softened. Stir in the flour. Slowly stir in the milk, cooking and stirring, until thick. Stir in the celery mixture and sour cream. Season. Purée in a blender, until smooth. Reheat gently to serve. Serves 6.

Mussel

Desired Central Cambridge East

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37 Princes Street, Cambridge 3 2 2

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- Proudly offering 3 bedrooms, a large office/ 4th bedroom & a formal lounge positioned on a generous 1012m² (more or less) section.

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Open Home Sunday 1.00 - 1.30pm

WILKES, Maureen, (nee Attwood) – Passed away peacefully but unexpectedly at Waikato Hospital on Wednesday, 17th April 2024. Aged 79 years. Dearly loved wife of the late Robert. Loved and adored mother and mother-in-law to Martin & Kim, and grandma to Zane.

‘Now reunited with Rob’

The service for Maureen has been held. All communications to the Wilkes Family, c/- 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Of an application for On Licence

Tivoli Cinema Ltd, 57a Cowley Drive, Cambridge, has made application to the Waipa District Licensing Committee for the renewal of a on-licence in respect of the premises at 32 Lake Street, Cambridge known as Tivoli Cinema.

The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is cinema. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is sold under the licence are: Monday-Sunday 10am-10pm.

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

Any person who is entitled to object and who wishes to object to the issue of the licence may, not later than 25 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at: Waipa District Council, Private Bag 2402, Te Awamutu 3840.

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

This is the only publication of this notice.