Te Awamutu News | June 6, 2024

Out with the old?

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā looks set to scrap its Age Friendly policy in the same week the Census shows more than a quarter of the population is over 60.

But if the council does get rid of the policy, it will be going head to head with a former district councillor who was instrumental in getting it adopted eight years ago.

Hazel Barnes was furious when The News contacted her about a staff report which

said the policy, adopted by council in 2016, was outdated and had limited to no value.

The council’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee considered the report yesterday, after The News went to print.

“What? It feels like our senior citizens have been pushed aside,” the 85-yearold said.

“I can see a hell of a lot that needs to be done for us. I’m going to say to them ‘why are you doing away with it when

Jolly hockey sticks

you haven’t even consulted us’?”

The report, signed off by Strategy group manager Kirsty Downey says the views and needs of elderly were already considered as part of standard planning processes.

Waipā’s position is in stark contrast with neighbours Hamilton – the first city in New Zealand to join the World Health Organization’s global network of age friendly communities and cities.

The city council is said to be leading the way in age friendly planning.

Census figures released last week confirmed Waipā’s population was 58,686 – and 15,147 or 25.81 per cent – were aged 60 years and over.

The population in Hamilton is 174,741 and 16.9 per cent (29,541) are over 60.

“I’m going to get on the phone to Grey Power about this and see what we can do. This is ridiculous,” said Barnes.

The present Waipā policy promotes an age friendly environment by encouraging engagement with and contributions from the elderly, preparing for an ageing population and promoting Waipā as a desirable place to live for the elderly.

Waipā is already getting itself a reputation of being the most popular retirement district in the country. Cambridge is understood to have the highest per capita retirement village population in New Zealand.

The council prides itself on its pensioner housing policy – it owns 93 units across the district and provides homes to 107 tenants. Construction is nearing completion on 10 new one-storey units in Leamington.

The report says council should consider other age friendly initiatives such as a senior council.

“Revoking the Age Friendly Policy could signal a commitment to building truly connected communities that are inclusive and responsive to the needs of all residents, including older people. By revoking an outdated and ineffective policy, the council demonstrates a willingness to reassess its approach and make necessary changes to better serve the community.

The council’s vision has shifted since this policy was created, making it no longer suitable or aligned with current objectives,” it says.

Farmers told to lobby

A Waipā accountant is telling farmers to advocate for a “material” improvement in milk prices from Fonterra.

Chartered Accountant

Jarrod Godfrey, Associate Partner at Findex Waikato, says Fonterra’s opening milk price forecast for the 2025 season, in real terms, is not materially different to what was paid to farmers 20 years ago.

The forecast started at $8 a kilo of milk solids and left the 2024 season forecast unchanged at $7.80.

“Most dairy farmers will be putting together their budget for 2025, and it probably doesn’t show much joy for the next 12 months, even with an $8 milk price,” Godfrey said.

“In real terms, milk prices have not changed much over the past 20 years, and combined with farm expense inflation and recent high interest rates, budgets will be looking fairly tight for the next 12 months.”

He said the break-even point for an average 124ha Waipa dairy farm, peak milking 370 will be $8.20.

He encouraged farmers to put together a budget for the upcoming season, so plans could be made to navigate the tighter cash flow periods.

• See Country Life today, starting on Page 12.

Te Awamutu player Sammi Harrison (right) fights for the ball with Cambridge Middle School player Cruz Morgenrood. Waipā was to the fore last week in the Waikato Intermediate and Middle Schools tournament in Hamilton - with Te Awamutu celebrating a third place finish and Cambridge winning it. The annual tournament, held at Innes Common attracted eight teams. Cambridge beat Fairfield Intermediate in the final and Te Awamutu finished third after winning a penalty shoot out against Matamata.

Photo Steph Bell-Jenkins

What we are not prepared for…

For the second time in a matter of days the Ōhaupō community was witness to a tragedy on State Highway 3. As former district councillor James Parlane was being mourned, more families were learning of a road crash which claimed five young and not so young lives. Among the victims were Paul and Lois Grimmer. They were known in the Hamilton community for Grimmer Motors in Heaphy Terrace before their move to become part of the Whatawhata community.Te Wananga o Aotearoa and Te Awamutu College combined to support mourners grieving the deaths of three young people – Cheyene Love-Mitchell and Piata Ofufangavalu, pictured, and Suliasi Lefai. The College made O-Tāwhao Marae, on the school grounds, available for a tangi. Julie Guest, Vicar of St Johns Parish, shares her thoughts with Te Awamutu News readers.

In the past two weeks, Te Awamutu has been in the news because of the two traffic accidents on Ohaupo Rd.

Both resulted in loss of life, leaving families and communities shocked and grieving. Stalwarts of our community and young lives with much yet to give - all gone in an instant. In Te Awamutu each time we hear the siren’s wail, we wait and wonder what has happened this time. We are adept at “reading” the signs. Who is responding? Police? Fire? Ambulance? All three and we know it’s bad.

The recent two accidents were bad. When five people are killed in one accident, we are horrified, and wonder what could have happened. How could this have been avoided? I have two journalists in my extended family. As soon as the news of the

tragic accident near Te Awamutu hit their newsrooms, they each contacted us to be sure it wasn’t us, or anyone we knew-that we were OK. I’m sure many other locals had similar experiences.

And that’s the thing about car accidents, isn’t it? Whenever we hear news of a bad accident, we are aware that this time it could be someone we know or love who could be affected, who could have lost their life, or be seriously injured. We all live with the knowledge that driving is dangerous, but we drive anyway. So, we accept that driving is dangerous, that more than one person a day will be killed on the road year on year.

But we are not good at preparing for death - be it sudden, as in a car accident, or a slower more predictable death. Nor are we good at knowing how to support those

whose lives are suddenly turned upside down by the death of a loved one.

As a Christian priest, many of my conversations are with people who are coping with feelings of loss, grief, and subsequent loneliness. Grief is a lonely journey, partly because your grief is your

Hazel - 35 and counting

Volunteering veteran Hazel Robertson has been doing her bit to help those impacted by cancer for 35 years.

Robertson was one of the early members of the Te Awamutu Transport to Treatment driving group.

Having lost her husband to cancer when she was 40, Robertson knew first-hand the importance of support with transport.

It was also her motivation to join the volunteer driving pool, supporting people to get to and from treatment a 30-minute drive away at Waikato Hospital.

“It’s the most heartwarming thing and the most help you can give to people,” says Robertson. “They arrive at their appointment and are not stressed as we’ve helped them get there relaxed and not worried about the driving or finding parking.”

It’s far more than just the practical support, there is an emotional need the drivers can fill too, she says.

Robertson, who has had some recent health issues and now takes an administrative role helping with driver rostering, finds volunteer work rewarding.

She has also volunteered in the past as a Daffodil Day area coordinator helping make the annual street appeal a success in Te Awamutu. Cancer Society Volunteer Support Lead, Sharon Louie says the society couldn’t deliver its client-focused services without the input of dedicated volunteers like Hazel.

own. No matter who else cherished the person you grieve for, their way of grieving will be different from yours. That can cause even more upset, as one person’s way of coping can seem inappropriate to another. But it seems everyone does wrestle with the same big question. When a loved one’s life ends, it calls into question the very purpose of life. What is life all about? Why do we struggle and labour in life, when it is so suddenly over?

Jesus gave us the answer that satisfies, even in the midst of grief. We are given life because God loves us. We’re invited to accept God’s love and become a conduit of God’s love to others. We are told that although we cannot now be with a loved one after they pass from this life, we can never be separated from God’s love. In the midst of grief, it is the love and care of those around us who make God’s love real.

In the Death Café I’m part of, the most wonderful care is offered from one grieving person to another. The group know the journey, know the pain. They treat each other with tenderness, deep listening and generosity. Such care is underpinned in love and the shared journey. What a privilege it is to walk the grief journey together.

Cheyenne Love-Mitchell

Piata Ofafangavalu

Hazel Robertson was one of the early members of the Cancer Society’s transport to treatment group.

Rotary visit

Rotary International president Gordon McInally and his wife Heather are visiting Waipā today (Thursday) as part of his New Zealand tour. McNally, who lives in Yetholm in the Scottish Borders and grew up in Portobella, is the second Scot to become international president. He was to visit Rotopiko/Lake Serpentine near Ōhaupō and Urban Miners in Cambridge this morning and attend a dinner in Hamilton tonight. Yesterday he visited Hamilton Airport to see the Life Flight Rotary project.

Edge dies

One of New Zealand’s best jockeys has died in Cambridge. Until recently Garry Edge, 84, ran an agistment farm in St Kilda Road. He rode 740 winners in New Zealand with his first win coming in 1955 at Te Aroha on Sweet Wren. He went onto name his farm after her. A celebration of Edge’s life will be held next week at the Cambridge Raceway.

Stewart missed

Former NZ First MP and Cambridge resident Barbara Stewart has died aged 72. She is survived by her son Alister. Her husband Gordon died in early 2017 which prompted her announcement she would not stand for re-election later that year. Her greatest achievement was working with Labour on providing free doctors’ visits for children under six.

Choir song

The Christ’s College Chapel choir from Cambridge in the UK is to perform in St Andrew’s Anglican Church in Cambridge, New Zealand next month.

More clams

Pest clams found earlier this year at Lake Taupō’s Aqua Park are not the same as those discovered at Lake Karāpiro in Waipā. The clams are an Australian based subspecies of the unwanted golden clam.

Bus seats in demand

By Mary Anne Gill

Passengers catching the regional bus services from Te Awamutu and Kihikihi hit record levels last month – but price hikes are coming.

Frequency has been given as the major reason for the boost in numbers – more buses to and from Hamilton - plus the introduction of modern electric models.

The number 24 Te Awamutu service at about 13,000 passengers last month is soaring ahead of pre Covid numbers – and up nearly 40 per cent on May last year. The service is so pressed for space, many passengers are hopping on the Te Kūiti Connector.

The other Waipā service – number 20 from Cambridge - is also breaking records with more than 12,000 passengers last month while the Tamahere-Matangi trial, launched in February, has started with a hiss and a roar.

But there are concerns at Waikato Regional Council headquarters in Hamilton about the Te Kūiti and South Waikato connector services which travel through Waipā.

The Te Kūiti bus leaves the town’s i-Site at 6.40am and travels through the King Country and Waipā, arriving in Hamilton at 8.10am and Wintec Rotokauri at 8.25am.

It returns from Rotokauri at 5.15pm, arriving in Te Kūiti at 6.47pm.

Te Awamutu and Kihikihi numbers on the King Country bus are regularly more than half the total on Te Kūiti Connector each day.

Regional council team leader of Customer Focus Sandra Sesto-Dekic said it will take longer for people to get used to the increased services which now include more evening and weekend runs.

The Te Kūiti Connector year-long trial has ended, and it was a case of “use it or lose it,” she said.

Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency funded 51 per cent while other funding came from Wintec, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga, Waipā and Waikato regional councils.

“It is a shame, it is a trial and for the trial to be successful, someone will be looking at those numbers while they are making their decision

as to whether it should continue or not.”

All regional bus fares go up on July 1.

“We are now looking at the biggest ever tariff changes since we had the Bee card,” she said.

Part of it is the government’s decision to scrap subsidies for agebased fares. Before April 30, children aged five to 12 travelled free and 13-24 got half price fares.

The regional council opted to keep

those until July 1.

Super Gold card holders and those with an impairment, which means they are unable to drive, remain free.

Sesto-Dekic is confident the council’s decision to introduce a weekly fare cap for under 19s of 6.5 trips and nine for adults will help.

Another success has been the extra boost given to Bee Card retailers like the Te Awamutu i-Site which also provides top ups.

• See Bus goes vroom page 10

Waipā King's Birthday honours roll

Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Stephen Cox (Ōhaupō) for services to cycling

Stephen Cox had an outstanding career in road cycling, attending three Commonwealth Games, claiming a bronze medal, and attending the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.

After retiring from international racing, he gave his time to the New Zealand cycling team and took the role of manager at the Kuala Lumpur 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Stephen encourages youth to participate in sport.

He says it is up to you, hard work, no pain no gain but just don’t give up!

Dr William Howell Round (Te Awa) for services to medical physics and biomedical engineering

Dr Howell Round is internationally respected in the fields of medical physics and biomedical engineering over four decades and has presented at numerous conferences, consulted on expert panels and advised government on a wide range of policy issues pertaining to his

field. He has chaired the University of Waikato’s Department of Physics and Electronic Engineering, transforming the department through various initiatives into an innovative, internationally respected team. Dr Round has served terms as SecretaryGeneral of both the Asia-Oceania Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics and the International

Union of Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine.

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Samuel Lewis (Te Awamutu) for services to business and the community (see story page 8)

Anthony McGovern (Roto-o-Rangi) for services to the racing industry (see story page 5)

King’s Service Medal

Ian Stuart Campbell (Te Awamutu) for

Celebrating

services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and TaekwonDo Campbell is the chief fire officer at the Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade. He has been a member since 1982 and Te Awamutu Taekwon-Do Club for 27 years. He has been chief since 2007, overseeing the busiest volunteer brigade in the Waikato region with more than 400 callouts annually and more than 40 volunteer members. He led the fundraising of $54,000 for the purchase of hydraulic rescue equipment in 2009 and $41,000 for a new emergency response vehicle in 2016. He is one of 13 7th Dan masters in New Zealand.

Robert Allan Feisst (Cambridge) for services to the community.

News of Rob Feisst’s inclusion in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours was met with applause at his Cambridge Town Hall farewell last week. The announcement was made by Taupō MP Louise Upston, who said special permission had been given to award the King’s Birthday Medal before the official date of June 3. That meant that Rob knew about the award, given for his service to community, before he died on May 21. The citation noted his involvement with community organisations.

We believe that each funeral service should be as unique as the life you are celebrating. When a funeral is personalised, it creates a special space for sharing precious memories, telling stories, and simply being together with friends and family.

Rosetown Funeral Home are dedicated to providing personalised and meaningful funeral services, and are happy to discuss new ideas, pre-planning and/or pre-paying for your funeral. We are here for you in your time of need, so please get in touch anytime to discuss your options.

Jim Goddin JP Funeral Director

Ian Campbell

Rob Feisst Stephen Cox Howell Round

First and final stop, Kihikihi. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Silence – not always golden

By Ange Holt, Chair, Te Awamutu Community Board

As elected members of the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board, we bear the responsibility of making decisions that shape our town’s future. Our role involves weighing various factors, from safety to affordability, and considering both immediate benefits and long-term impacts. While we don’t have the final say, our recommendations carry weight and contribute to the larger decision-making process led by councillors.

In a community like ours, where opinions flow freely, we often find ourselves aligning with the strong sentiments expressed by our residents.

Most decisions are straightforward, guided by what benefits the community today and lays the groundwork for a better tomorrow.

There is however a caveat: sometimes the loudest voices aren’t necessarily the majority, so taking people’s rationale into account is important.

There is also a common misconception in central and local government that suggests the silent majority (known as the “Voice of the Majority”) automatically supports proposed ideas by not participating – if they don’t respond they therefore must like it. Unfortunately, this is being used more frequently by politicians to support their decisions.

A report written by Rob Lawson (Professor in the Marketing Division at Otago University) and Janet Stephenson (Director of the Centre for Sustainability at the University of Otago) revealed that silence doesn’t equate to agreement. People refrain from participating for many reasons such as busyness, lack of interest, insufficient knowledge, they just want to remain neutral or believe the experts or passionate people will be able to make a better decision than they can. Some silent voices may

indeed agree but just as many disagree.

We generally use submissions and public feedback which aren’t random and therefore not a true reflection of our entire community’s views —they’re influenced by various factors, such as submission bias. This can be based on people’s world views, what they personally stand to gain or lose, or some may be making their decision based on having the wrong understanding.

Thoughts on the Budget

By Peter Nicholl

The centre-piece of this year’s Budget was the implementation of the tax cuts that National had ‘promised’ during last year’s election campaign. They did this by raising the three lowest tax brackets by about 11.5 per cent. This was a sensible and welcome move as these tax brackets had not been raised for 11 years.

‘Bracket creep’, where even if a person’s income only increased in line with inflation, they moved into a higher tax bracket and paid more tax, had become a very real feature of the NZ tax system.

This year’s budget is expected to have a deficit of $11.1 billion. Next year’s budget deficit is forecast to be even higher at $13.4 billion, more than double the previous forecast.

A possible solution to counter this bias is to run random polls for each major topic we seek feedback on and take these results into consideration in conjunction with the submissions. The benefit is that unlike submissions, a random poll of 100 people in Te Awamutu is statistically reflective of our population.

In the meantime, we encourage more community members to voice their opinions. Here’s how:

Speak Up: Whether you’re for or against an idea, share your thoughts. Your perspective matters.

Rationale Matters: When expressing your opinion, provide rationale. Why do you support or oppose a project? Your insights enrich the conversation.

Simplicity Wins: We understand busy lives.

“Having your say” needn’t be onerous. Keep it simple—let us know what you think and why in a sentence.

Join us in shaping Te Awamutu’s destiny. Let’s build a resilient, sustainable future together.

Remember, the silent majority isn’t always what it seems.

In the 11 years since these tax brackets were last raised, aggregate inflation has been 40 per cent in New Zealand. Governments should commit to raising these tax brackets on a regular basis In line with inflation in future to make sure this ‘bracket creep’ tax grab doesn’t happen again.

There was a lot of worried commentary in the media after the budget about the growth in the government debt levels forecast in the Budget. The debt/GDP ratio is forecast to peak at 43.5 per cent this year and then fall slightly to 41.8 per cent by 2027-28. Just last November (only 7 months ago) the Treasury had forecast that 2027-28 debt ratio would be 37.6 per cent.

The new forecasts reveal a rapid and large deterioration which is a concern. But even the latest forecast debt ratios of over 40% of GDP are not high by global standards.

However, global data is hard to interpret as some countries have extremely high debt ratios. For example, Japan sits at the top of this global list with a debt/GDP ratio of 262 per cent - that’s not a misprint. Singapore’s ratio is 160 per cent, USA 129 per cent, UK 97 per cent. Our neighbour, Australia, has a much more modest debt ratio of 36 per cent. I think they should be our role model in this area.

Despite this, the forecast path optimistically has the budget coming back into a small surplus in 2028. Forecasting a return to a budget surplus is fine, even if it looks like wishful thinking. But the government needs to be careful not to turn a budget surplus in 2028 into another political ‘promise’. Nobody knows what the state of the New Zealand economy or the world economy will be over the next four years. There are plenty of headwinds and whirlpools out there.

New Zealand also has a huge infrastructure deficit that we are going to have to address. A budget surplus may not be what NZ needs in 2028. Governments need to retain fiscal flexibility.

The budget also forecasts inflation will fall back below the top of the Reserve Bank’s target range, which is three per cent, by the end of this year. The bank predicts the same thing. I doubt it will happen. A lot of people had thought the first reductions in Central Banks’ official interest rates would happen in May. They didn’t.

I think they are still some time away. Recent inflation data in both Australia and Germany revealed small increases rather than reductions in their inflation rates. In New Zealand, the news on things like local body rates, insurance premiums, some significant pay increases and tax cuts in the budget aren’t consistent with inflation falling back below three per cent by the end of this year.

HEADS UP, WE’RE FLYING BY!

From Monday 17 June, we’ll use a helicopter for a day or two to survey our lines and equipment in your area. This survey is crucial for ensuring your lights stay on and our community stays safe.

The footage we gather will help identify areas needing maintenance, repairs, or replacement. Our aircraft will fly over Waipā Networks-owned lines and infrastructure, capturing visual footage of equipment only – no private property or livestock!

The survey is weather-dependent, so stay tuned on our social media for updates!

McGovern’s life of racing

By Mary Anne Gill

Tony McGovern was 16 when he first became involved in racing, but the King Country-born industry stalwart was born into it.

His family have long ties with the racing industry – uncle Rory was a successful trainer in Matamata and his father Tom, a butcher, worked for the Taumarunui Racing Club president Rod ‘Porky’ McLeish.

Trips from their Manunui home for the annual Taumarunui meeting at Waipā Racing Club in Te Awamutu were a must and once the family moved to Hamilton - when McGovern was eight – the tradition continued.

“We used to get all the rellies come up and there would be a big meeting of the clan when the Taumarunui race meeting was on.”

McGovern, 68, was born in Taumarunui – he was in the same Manunui Primary School class as Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton - and now lives in Roto-o-Rangimidway between Te Awamutu and Cambridge.

He has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the King’s Birthday list for his services to the racing industry.

While at Fraser High School in Hamilton, the family would spend the school holidays at his uncle’s place and he would help on the starting gates at various meetings,

alongside his father. McGovern left school midway through the fifth form because he wanted to work on a farm, completed a butchery apprenticeship and in 1972 embarked on his 50-year racing career as a starting gates barrier attendant.

He became a chief starter in 1990 in the upper North Island – at Dargaville, Ruakaka, Auckland,

Avondale, Pukekohe, Hamilton, Thames and Paeroa – where he officiated at all meetings including Group One races.

In 2003 he was appointed Hong Kong Jockey Club chief starter where he stayed until 2016, officiating at two courses where over 700 races were run each season.

For the past four years he has provided advisory services to New

Zealand Thoroughbred Racing on starting procedures for races, mentored a new generation of industry participants, and continues the role of chief starter for several race meetings each year.

He does a bit of work with veterinarian Michael Hurley who vets horses that are bought in New Zealand and sold to Hong Kong. The examination for entry into Hong Kong is one of the most

rigorous vettings a racehorse can undergo.

He also works at the Cambridge Jockey Club, now part of Waikato Thoroughbred Racing, where The News caught up with him on race day last week where he was out the back with the stipendiary stewards checking horse brands before the races.

It was bucketing down, offering more proof the decision to lay a synthetic polytrack in 2020 was a wise one.

“It’s a new tool for racing. A lot of people don’t like it, a lot of people do like it. If your horse goes well on it, you do like it. But it runs better with a bit of rain on it.”

Semi-retired “my rubbish bin goes out more than I do now” though still getting called on. He filled in at Pukekohe on Saturday and will be in Whangārei next week.

He is not sure who nominated him for the honour, but it took him several days to decide whether to accept it.

“I talked to my wife (Cathy), and I was reluctant to start with and she said, ‘it could be grounds for divorce after all these years of staying at home while you were away at racing’,” he says.

“You do these sorts of jobs, you’re not in the limelight, you’re not like the jockeys or the trainers, getting write ups.” Until now.

Tony McGovern takes a break between checking horse brands at the Cambridge Jockey Club.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Tragedy in the river

By Meghan Hawkes

Gathering bean sticks for the runner beans in the family vegetable garden was the afternoon’s occupation for a few lads near the Te Awamutu railway station in December 1901.

To get to the sticks 10-year-old Roy Howatson and his mates had crossed the railway bridge over the Mangapiko River. On re-crossing the bridge Roy suddenly fell through the sleepers into the river, a distance of about five metres. None of the boys could swim, and an older boy named Davis ran for help.

Roy’s father, Andrew Howatson, a railway engineer, happened to be at home, and along with some other railway employees rushed to the spot. Roy was soon removed from the water and the Silvester method of restoring natural breathing was applied but without success. Dr Pairman arrived on the scene, and when he

established that Roy had been in the river fully 10 minutes he had little hope for the boy, medical advice maintaining that four minutes’ total immersion was fatal.

This tragedy came four years after another calamity had hit the Howatson family.

Andrew had been 16 years in the railway service, starting work in Invercargill and then moving to Dunedin. He had been driving trains since 1890 and from Port Chalmers he was transferred to Auckland.

In 1886 he had married Mary Smith and they had four children. His work saw the family shift around the country and by 1897 he was stationed in Auckland. He had only been driving the Onehunga train a few days when a Ponsonby omnibus suddenly shot across the railway line and was hit by Andrew’s train.

Several people were injured and three killed. Andrew was found to be not at fault and was quietly transferred

to a Rotorua ballast engine, no doubt suffering greatly from the trauma of the accident.

Around 1900 the Howatsons moved to Te Awamutu, Andrew still working for the railway and Mary involved in the Band of Hope, an organisation which encouraged young people to sign a pledge to abstain from alcohol. The couple was also active in community events, Mary entering flower shows and baking competitions and Andrew joining local committees.

The inquest on their son Roy, held in the railway station room, found that he accidentally drowned and there was no blame attachable to any person. Roy was buried at St John’s Anglican Cemetery, the inscription on his headstone poignantly reading ‘God holds the key’.

Te Awamutu at your fingertips

It’s all on your local App –are you?

The Te Awamutu 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 Te Awamutu.

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 Te Awamutu App, look around, you might be surprised by what you find.

Emergency bush skills taught

By Chris Gardner

Scout leaders learned how to build emergency shelters in Pirongia Forest Park recently.

The leaders, kaiarahi or mentors, were challenged to build emergency shelters from material found lying on the bush floor. While trampers should always carry some form of shelter in case of an emergency, even on day trips, no pack liners or survival bags were used.

The 10 scout leaders were given just 15 minutes to build their shelters by the

Scouts Aotearoa Introductory Tramping Course facilitators last month.

When they were done the group reviewed each effort and suggested what they would do differently next time, or with more time.

“I want to be more prepared for our scouts,” said Kirikiriroa and St Peter’s Scout Group scout kaiarahi Dawei Wang.

Wang joined the combined land and sea scout group in Hamilton two years ago after emigrating from China.

He was invited to become a kaiarahi after his son Tristan

joined the group.

“I am as new as blank paper to New Zealand, scouting and all the tramping skills, but I must learn as quickly as possible. I am passionate to contribute to Kirikiriroa and St. Peter’s Scout Group and to Scouts Aotearoa as a big family.”

With his fellow kaiarahi, Wang learned how to prepare for a day trip following best practice established by the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council. A waterproof jacket, warm hat, gloves, phone, emergency communication device, compass, map, fire lighting kit, headtorch, batteries, survival bag, food and water are a minimum requirement for everyone on every trip. Search and rescue are required for 540 people in New Zealand every year.

Kaiarahi were taught the differences between true north, grid north and magnetic north, the foundation to navigating with compasses and maps. True north is the location of the imaginary North Pole. Grid north is the direction vertical lines (or eastings) run on a map. Magnetic north is the constantly moving mass of magnetic ore off of North America sitting 23.5 degrees east of true north.

Wang spent the following day practicing his newfound skills navigating his way back onto a track from thick bush.

“It will help me to enjoy a tramping journey and get home safely,” he said.

Pirongia Cub kaiarahi Matt Rogerson has recently returned to scouts as an adult, having been a youth member.

He had learned many of the skills covered in the course when he was a cub and scout in Feilding Scout Group. It was great revision for him.

“Some big take aways were the connections with fellow kaiarahi I made, and knowledge gained to successfully lead our cub section on future tramps safely,” he said.

“The connections will really help Pirongia Scout Group when it comes to supporting youth planning more adventures.”

Te Awamutu Cub Scout leader Harirewa Shearer feels better prepared to take cubs on a day walk.

“I challenged myself by going into my first ever cave, which was terrifying, exhilarating and exciting.”

Her group, led by Kirikiriroa & St Peter’s Scout Group kaiarahi Lyndon James, visited Kaniwhaniwha Caves.

“I would never have done

that if I didn’t feel safe in the knowledge that there were people there who would not only keep me safe, but also guide me and help me mentally through it. I wish to do the same for the cubs I lead also.”

James is also a New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association Bush Leader with Overnight Endorsement and is working on his Abseil and

Rock Leader qualifications.

Shearer found the handson aspect of the course, learning by doing, beneficial, and she particularly enjoyed role playing scenarios such as sprained ankles, and members of the party running ahead.

“It was a brilliant day, with people who are trying to step forward with their training, to be a better leader.”

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Cub kaiarahi Matt Rogerson prepares to take a compass bearing in Pirongia Forest Park with cub and scout kaiarahi Benjamin DurhamWesthead and Dawei Wang.

Te Awamutu cub kaiarahi Hariwera Shearer.

Balks gets her medal

Megan Balks may have been the last in the latest round of investitures bestowed by the New Zealand governor general, but her citation was among the longest.

The leading New Zealand soil scientist who has contributed significantly to Antarctic soil research received her New Zealand Antarctic Medal last week from Dame Cindy Kiro at Government House in Wellington.

Eleven recipients received their insignia for outstanding contributions including Balks whose gong was announced in the New Year Honours late last year.

In 1990 Balks, who lives at Ngutunui on the Mt Pirongia slopes, joined other soil scientists beginning research into permafrost and human environmental impacts in Antarctica, going on to complete 19 Antarctic expeditions - 12 as field leader.

Through this research, a series of Antarctic soil climate monitoring stations were established that contribute to an international programme to monitor the effects of climate change in polar regions.

Among her numerous publications, she co-authored

the award-winning textbook ‘The Soils of Aotearoa New Zealand’ (2021), which includes coverage of the Ross Sea Region.

She lectured at Waikato University from 1988 to 2018, supporting 10 graduate students in Antarctic soils research and helped develop links with the international scientific community in the subjects of Cryosols (soil in very cold environments) and permafrost (frozen ground), furthering scientific collaboration and recognition of research undertaken by New Zealand soil scientists in Antarctica.

She was a member of the Crysol Working Group of the International Union of Soil Sciences from 2000 until 2023, with two years as co-chair.

Balks represented New Zealand on the Council of International Permafrost Association (IPA) from 2008 to 2022 and organised the first Southern Hemisphere IPA Regional Conference on Permafrost in 2019 and was a founding member and secretary of Antarctic Permafrost and Soils, a working group of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. Balks has been a member of the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Committee on Antarctic Research, the New Zealand Geographic Board Committee of Place Naming in the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica, and President of the New Zealand Society of Soil Science from 2018 to 2020.

‘Surprised’ Lewis takes stock

By Chris Gardner

Affco chair and Open Country director Sam Lewis spent the King’s Birthday on Monday moving cattle on his Waipa farm after receiving a King’s Birthday Honour.

Dry stock farmer Lewis, of Mangapiko Road, Te Awamutu, became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and the King Country and Waipā community.

“I’m still farming,” the nearly 80-year-old said on Monday. “No one came and moved my cattle, so I had to do that,” he joked. “It keeps your feet on the ground.”

Lewis served Waikato Federated Farmers as treasurer for nine years from the mid1980s during a time of economic reform. During this time, he supported and mentored other farmers in restructuring their business while keeping a keen eye on their mental health and wellbeing.

“It’s been a long run,” he said. “A lifetime involvement.”

So, what are his favourite Federated Farmers memories?

“There’s lots of lots of them. I’ve still got friendships there. They’re important to me and they still exist today.”

Lewis has chaired leading meat processor Affco New Zealand Ltd since 1999. It has 12 plants around New Zealand and exports to more than 80 countries.

“It’s been going for 120 years though, and I think it might be a record.”

“That’s been an interesting run with a lot of twists and turns and different challenges along the way,” he said.

Lewis is also a Director of Open Country New Zealand.

“It’s a New Zealand owned company that’s doing well.”

Lewis is also a former Director of FMG

Insurance.

He chaired a fundraising committee that raised $2 million for a building project for Gracelands Community Trust in Te Awamutu (now Enrich Plus), which supports and enables young people and adults with disabilities to engage in employment or contribute to their communities.

“There’s a lot of other people associated with that one.”

Lewis has also supported Commsafe, a charitable trust based in Te Awamutu, through Affco and Open Country Sponsorship. Commsafe manages safer communities through Neighbourhood Support, community patrols and closedcircuit television monitoring to build a safer and healthier community.

Lewis wasn’t sure who nominated him for the honour, but expected it was someone in the local community that he interacted with.

So how did Lewis feel when he received the news of his honour.

“Totally surprised. I imagine every recipient is.”

Sam Lewis.

Megan Balks pictured with Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro in Wellington. Photo: Supplied.

Waikato’s regional bus services have had a huge injection of cash and resources. Expanded timetables, electric buses and connectors from the far-flung parts of the region. Senior writer Mary Anne Gill had a day on the buses in Cambridge and Te Awamutu and made some observations

Bus goes vroom vroom vroom

The wheels on the bus go round and round the Waikato region in a vote of confidence in public transport by the region’s territorial authorities that should have patrons beating a path to the bus stops.

But as I found one day last week, there is still a lot of work to do to get people out of their cars and onto the buses.

It is 6.55am and there are three of us waiting at the Cambridge Town Hall for the number 20 bus to Hamilton. One of them, a young woman, is holding a hot water bottle but the water is cold, she tells me.

So that is a tick for the heating on the bus which three minutes later appears out of the gloom coming towards us, right on time as every bus that day was.

It is my first trip on one of the five new fully compliant and operational electric buses in the fleet servicing Waipā’s regional bus services in Cambridge and Te Awamutu. Waipā’s improved timetable requires six single and two double-decker buses.

The old diesel buses had wi fi and it is just as erratic on the electric version. A word to the wise – if you are expecting the regional bus services will allow you to download movies and the like, think again.

But the USB ports at each seat were a lifesaver for me as my mobile was not fully charged and if I wanted to listen to podcasts for the rest of the day, it needed a boost.

There are 28 on the bus – too early yet for the students and a word of warning – avoid the 3.30pm bus from Hamilton to Cambridge in summer if that pungent smell of adolescent schoolboy disagrees with you.

The seats are comfortable, the driver has the radio playing but most passengers have

their own headphones or ear buds.

There are a couple of incidents to make this newshound curious. Police cars are outside the Hillcrest Four Square either waiting for the shop to open or pursuing a conversation with the two people standing in front of a red car.

That is the thing about bus rides, you fleetingly see something from the window, but you are never sure how it ends.

The second incident involved a man who got on the bus outside Anglesea Clinic carrying a box of cider and a can of something which he denied to the driver was alcohol.

When we arrived at the Transport Centre on time at 7.43am, he is met by security staff who must have called the police because a few minutes later, two police cars turn up to chat with him and he then had to empty cider out of every can in the box before he was sent on his way.

You cannot drink alcohol on the buses, nor can you spit, swear, eat, drink, smoke, vape or put your feet up on the seats.

You are not allowed to loiter around the Transport Centre either and I was conscious I might be on security’s radar as I waited for the Te Kūiti Connector 26 to arrive and saw other connector services from Raglan, Te Kauwhata and Huntly arrive. I’m too early for the South Waikato Connector from Tokoroa.

Passengers got on at the Te Kūiti i-Site at 6.40am and I was interested to see how many got off at 8.15am at the Transport Centre given the service’s limited timetable. There were 27 – a mix of secondary school students and public – plus a bike tethered to the rack at the outside front which its owner removed

and cycled quickly away.

The bus continued onto Wintec Rotokauri with no passengers that I could see and later that day – at 5.15pm – returned to Te Kūiti; arriving back in the King Country at 6.47pm.

I catch the 8.25am Te Awamutu 24 service – one of the old diesel buses still in servicebound for Kihikihi.

There are only three of us on the bus.

The driver toots his horn as he passes resident doctors protesting outside Waikato Hospital. The trip to Te Awamutu goes smoothly and then it’s just me to Kihikihi where we arrive at 9.18am having taken a detour around the west side of the village while roadworks continue.

We leave Kihikihi at 9.45am with another woman onboard who was heading into Te

Awamutu for some shopping. She, like me, has her gold card loaded into her Bee card so the trip is free. The balance on mine has stood at $13.80 since my 65th birthday.

Eleven get on in Te Awamutu – most get off at the hospital – and then back to the Transport Centre on time at 10.24am. I even had a snooze en-route.

On arrival, I check the timetable and decide to treat myself to a coffee and cake and a walk around the shops before catching the 11.45am bus back to Cambridge.

It is a diesel too but still quite comfortable if not as environmentally-friendly as the electric version.

Three Spanish-speaking women hop on opposite the Police Station fumbling with money in confusion. They get off in suburban Hillcrest.

Again, the curious part of me wonders who they are and what they are going to do now?

Heading into Cambridge, we bump and rattle over the various road humps which have sprung up between the Velodrome and town and the bus pulls into the new noncompulsory stop just past Kelly Road because there is a man sitting in there.

But annoyingly, he is just talking on his phone. Bus stops, sir, are for waiting for buses and are not telephone booths!

Right on time, we arrive in Cambridge, and I get out in front of Good Union. It is not clearly marked as a bus stop but is for the moment.

The motor on the bus goes vroom, vroom, vroom and off it goes in a trail of diesel smoke.

And the wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town.

Side by side, the Waipā services at Hamilton’s Transport Centre – the number 24 to Te Awamutu and Kihikihi and 20 to Cambridge.

The Te Awamutu number 24 bus heads to Hamilton through the Waipā countryside. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Waipā District Council is currently considering a representation review, which may result in changes to the way Council is elected and structured in the future.

What is the representation review?

Local elections are usually held every three years so you can decide who will represent you at the Council table and on the community boards. To make sure that residents have fair and effective representation, all councils must review their representation arrangements at least every six years.

Waipā District Council last undertook a representation review in 2021 in preparation for the 2022 elections. The focus of this review is to better understand how people want to be represented around the Council table, and if there is an opportunity to make changes to the ward structure or to the number of councillors.

What is the current situation?

At present, the Council is made up of the mayor, who is elected by all voters in the district and 11 councillors, who are elected by voters within each of the five existing wards:

• Cambridge (4),

• Maungatautari (1),

• Pirongia-Kakepuku (2),

• Te Awamutu-Kihikihi (3); and the

• Waipā Māori Ward (1).

There are two community boards, one representing Cambridge and one representing Te Awamutu-Kihikihi.

We are not proposing change or asking for feedback on community boards in this process.

We are not proposing change or asking for feedback on the Māori Ward at this time, as this is subject to a different process.

What is the process for the representation review?

Before we finalise a representation proposal to consult our community on, we are seeking initial feedback to help inform options that the community can have their say on in July.

Council will consider the community’s feedback, along with other analysis and community information, before making a decision on any proposed changes to proceed with.

The decision will be in the form of an

‘Initial Proposal’ which will go out to the community for formal consultation in July/August 2024.

Anyone can make a submission on the initial proposal. After considering all submissions and holding hearings (if required) council will publicly notify the final proposal. Any objections or appeals to the final proposal are sent to the Local Government Commission, which makes the final decision.

Find out more and have your say: www.waipadc.govt.nz/representationreview

You have until 16 June 2024 to provide us with your views.

For members of our community that wish to provide feedback non-digitally, there are hard copy surveys located at each of our offices and libraries.

How does this affect my rates?

Councillors’ remuneration is based on a fixed pool of funds which is set independently by a government agency, the Remuneration Authority. This amount does not go up or down in relation to the number of councillors.

Councillors are funded from district rates, however any changes to the ward boundaries or the number of councillors will not have a significant impact on rates.

Community boards are funded by a targeted rate within the respective ward.

CountryLife

Fonterra outlines plans

By Mary Anne Gill

Waste water, carbon emissions, river pipeline and roading changes were some of the issues covered at Fonterra Hautapu’s annual meeting with its community last month.

All bar a couple of seats at the factory’s training rooms were occupied as Environmental manager Jude van Bommel welcomed residents and used the next hour to bring them up to speed on the site’s activities.

Hautapu specialises in producing high-value products – for example, casein, lactoferrin, hydrolysates and whey protein concentrate.

A factory has been on the site since 1884 and 140 years later continues to expand. It now employs 300 people in eight plants and has two distribution centres.

The factory receives milk daily from more than 500 dairy farmers and 126 tankers and can process up to 3.2 million litres of milk a day.

The session included an update from Fonterra subsidiary DairyFert which manages all the dairy liquids generated by Fonterra’s Waikato manufacturing sites.

Fonterra owns three nearby stockless farms: Bruntwood, Buxton and Bardowie farms, where they grow crops from the by products to distribute to Fonterra farmers.

The by products also go to stockfood for animals.

DairyFert has added new equipment to help spreading operations – a mobile nurse tank and an umbilical system which allows for quick and efficient by product spreading. Van

Bommel said the factory reported three incidents to Waikato Regional Council this season.

They were an odour from paddocks following a silage cut, a riverline leak in Peake Road and a missed paddock line flush.

Work has started on the controversial $85 million wastewater treatment plant which will treat process wastewater from the manufacturing plant. Construction is expected to be finished by March next year.

When the company announced its intentions three years ago, there was widespread opposition from neighbours. Waipā District Council granted consent in April 2022.

To support the plant, construction began last month on a new river pipeline to discharge treated waste into the Waikato River. The line will leave the factory and travel west along

Hautapu Road, then south along Peake Road to the new Cambridge Road subdivision and roundabout and then discharge next to Waipā District Council’s stormwater outfall structure.

Work on decarbonising its operations at Hautapu is well underway and will see coal-fired boilers go and replaced by wood pellets.

Once complete, Hautapu will reduce Fonterra’s carbon emissions by a forecasted 15,785 tonnes per year - the equivalent of taking about 6500 cars off New Zealand’s roads – and see a 25 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions.

The wood pellets are made from sawdust and shavings compressed using heat and pressure to make a pellet.

The boiler conversion construction began

last month, and all boilers should be live by next month.

All the work has required roading changes around Gate One in Hautapu Road – a date has yet to be confirmed – and the construction of a new roundabout on nearby Victoria Road.

Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency also plans to replace a culvert on SH1B just south of the intersections with Bruntwood and Zig Zag roads.

Future consultations by Fonterra include a plan change for the dairy company’s Bardowie farm from rural to industrial. For supper, attendees were treated to the gold medal winning Hautapu mature organic cheddar which picked up the award at the recent New Zealand cheese awards. Also available was the factory’s Gouda M.

Fonterra Hautapu Environmental manager Jude van Bommell points to some of the roading changes needed near the site. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

The Māori ward issue

By Stu Kneebone, Waipā-King Country Councillor

Waikato Regional Council has made a submission on the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill. It outlines concerns and recommendations regarding the proposed changes, with a focus on ensuring equitable and fair representation of Māori in local government. For context, this council established two Māori wards in 2013, and since then two Māori councillors have been part of a diverse mix of 14 councillors. Councils are required to review representation arrangements every six years, and councillors elected in 2017 and 2023 to continue with Māori wards. It reaffirmed a commitment to recognising the value of having a Māori voice at the table. The Local Government Act 2002 requires councils to provide opportunities for Māori to contribute to decision making processes. Waikato Regional Council has found having two Māori ward councillors at the table has proven to be an effective way of giving effect to this requirement.

The concept of Māori wards is not dissimilar to the situation at central government level where Māori electorates have existed since 1867.

Despite those who choose to go on the Māori role being able to exercise a vote for their preferred Māori representative at a central government level for a very long time, it is only relatively recently that those on the Māori role have had this opportunity at a local government level. This is because they can only do this if their council has established a Māori ward.

Up until 2021, the process to establish Māori wards was challenging for local Councils.

The law provided for any decision made by a council to establish Māori wards to be overturned. In essence, if a Council wanted to establish a Māori ward, five per cent of the voting public could trigger a binding poll amongst all electors. If 51 per cent of those responding to the poll didn’t support Māori wards, then council could not establish them. This provision was overturned in 2021.

The proposed Bill would require councils who have established Māori wards since 2020 to hold a binding poll at the 2025 local body elections if they had not already done so.

This would mean 45 councils will be required to go back and hold a poll in 2025. If 51 per cent of those participating in the polls do not support Māori wards, those council will be required to disestablish them. This law would only apply to Māori wards, and not, for example, the establishment of a rural ward to represent rural interests.

Waikato Regional Council has submitted that reinstating these provisions is undemocratic because it imposes a higher procedural standard for establishing Māori wards. The submission noted that requiring referendums only for Māori wards undermined the fundamental concept of a fair electoral process, and the council’s obligations under the Local Govt Act to recognise and respect the Crown’s responsibility to consider the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and maintain and improve opportunities for Māori to contribute to local government decision-making processes.

Getting the basics right – Wills and Enduring Powers

1 June represents the start of a new financial and farming year for many of our clients. It’s also a good time to review your basic “life” documents and make a tine to talk through any changes. At the top of this list should be your Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney

The starting point is whether you have a Will?

There is a common misconception in New Zealand that if you die without a Will, all of your assets will automatically pass to your spouse. This is not quite the case. Take Morgan as an example.

Morgan owns a large life style block, farming equipment, Kiwisaver and other small shares and investments. He has a rocky relationship with his parents but a wonderful wife, Kayla. They don’t have any children. Tragically Morgan dies in a farm accident. Unfortunately, Morgan dies without a Will. Morgan believed he did not need a Will as he believed that Kayla would inherit all of his assets regardless.

As Morgan did not create a Will expressing his wishes, Kayla now has to apply to the Court for “Letters of Administration”, to have herself appointed as the administrator of Morgan’s Estate. She will then need to distribute the assets in accordance with the Administration Act 1969.

This Act sets out that Kayla must distribute Morgan’s assets

as follows:

1. Kayla (as Morgan’s wife) will receive Morgan’s personal effects, $155,000 and 2/3 of the remaining assets in his Estate; and 2. Morgan’s parents receive the remaining 1/3 of Morgan’s Estate.

Morgan’s parents are thrilled that they get a large distribution from their son (especially because they had such a rocky relationship)! They cannot wait to spend their inheritance.

Kayla however, is left incredibly upset that Morgan’s wish that she inherits all of his assets, had not been followed. She also cannot help but feel angry that Morgan did not make a Will. It is vital to create a Will to ensure your assets are distributed in a manner you are comfortable with, and that saves your loved ones undertaking the difficult administration process.

Major life changes may trigger the need to review your Will. These include the beginning or end of a romantic relationship, buying or selling major assets and whether the people you have chosen as your Executors are still suitable for that role.

Enduring Powers of Attorney for your children?

Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPOA) are another area that often catches people out. Most people know that there are two types of EPOA – one for personal care and welfare and

one for property decisions. EPOA need to be put in place before you lose capacity – once capacity is lost, the only avenue for these decision making powers is through an expensive and time consuming Court process.

One aspect that is often overlooked is the legal age at which responsibility for these decisions passes from parent to child.

Take Tim as an example. Tim is 19 and recently moved away from home to take up a Junior Shepherd role in the King Country . Tragically, while shifting some ewes, he rolled the quad bike and is now in ICU, in a medically induced coma. Decisions need to be made about his ongoing medical care, including whether life sustaining care is to be withdrawn if he shows no sign of improvement. If Tim does recover, a lengthy stay on a spinal unit is likely –decisions need to be made if he should go to Auckland or Christchurch for this care. Tim’s Dad is very vocal in his view that Tim should not be allowed to suffer. Tim’s sister has a different view and believes everything should be done to sustain Tim, at any cost. If Tim survives, she wants him moved to Christchurch where she is living. Tim’s parents believe that, as his parents, their views will take precedence. They are shocked therefore when Tim’s sister applies to the Court to be appointed as his welfare

guardian, with the power to make these decisions on Tim’s behalf.

Up until they turn 18, parents who are guardians can make decisions on behalf of their children. However, once a child turns 18, parents lose the legal right to make these decisions for their children. Before the law changed in 2005, parents were guardians until their children turned 20. The lowering of the age to 18 still catches many people by surprise.

In Tim’s case, if he had appointed his Dad (or his sister) as his EPOA for personal care and welfare, it would have been clear from the outset who he would want to be making these decisions for him and an expensive and stressful

Court process could have been avoided. Tim’s example serves as an important reminder to encourage your children to make both a Will and EPOA when they turn 18.

For advice or assistance with making Wills, EPOA, or applying to Court for the Orders mentioned above, contact

or

Dunn at Gallie Miles.

Nicole Porima

Renee Dunn

Nicole Porima, Associate, Gallie Miles

Nicole Porima

Renee

Unleashing dairy and beef potential

By Chris Gardner

Beef and dairy farmers don’t typically work together, but that will soon change if Bob Thomson gets his way.

Thomson, an Agfirst agribusiness consultant of 50 years’ experience, is leading a project he hopes will unleash dairy beef potential through partnerships between two quite different segments of the agricultural sector. One is geared towards producing beef, the other milk.

“We’re proposing to put up a project to demonstrate how partnerships between dairy farmers and beef farmers can work,” Thomson said following a May 28 workshop at Owl Farm, Cambridge. Owl Farm is a joint venture between St Peter’s School and Lincoln University that aims to demonstrate excellence in farm performance, share knowledge and provide opportunities for students.

Owl Farm cows are in the top three precent when it comes to breeding worth.

“They don’t need to mate all of their cows to dairy sire to generate the next crop of replacement calves, so they have cows available to mate to something else. Their calves could just be surplus, or they could be generated for a useful purpose,” Thomson said.

That purpose is joining the national beef herd.

“The timing is right for this, and the reason is we’ve now identified beef bulls that provide a real value proposition, a real good reason to establish a relationship that you can get these calves of these top sires back onto your farm for finishing as a beef breeder,” he said.

“Dairy farmers have got surplus calves. It’s not such a big deal now we can bobby a number. In the future we’re having to think about that might not be an option. So, if we can start working on solutions now, that would be a great thing.”

The project is relying on a decade’s

The ins and outs of subdividing

When you think about subdivision, there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. And for CKL, a company founded in Te Awamutu more than 35 years ago that has expanded across the North Island, this is certainly the case.

Hamish Ross, one of seven directors and who is based Te Awamutu, says his company takes pride in the fact they know the rural land and its people from Waipa and the Waikato very well indeed.

“Our Te Awamutu office works with all the local councils but primarily Waipa, Waitomo and Otorohanga, and there is no doubt it’s harder than it used to be when we look at all the compliance requirements from Resource Management through to Government legislation and regulations,” Hamish says.

“Given that things only tend to get harder, there’s probably no better time than right now to sit down and have a look at what we can do”.

Farmers often have a variety of scenarios that could work for them which can range from slicing off a couple of sections to release equity, protecting native bush or a wetland to generate a subdivision opportunity, subdividing off surplus farm dwellings, selling land to a neighbor, buying in a transferable development right to create a section on the farm or relocating existing farm titles to better fit the farm’s needs.

“A 5000sqm metre lifestyle section

set changes all that, including crucial birth weight, calving ease, gestation length and days to weaning data.

“Information has not been collected and available like this before,” Thomson said. “This was a first. We’ve actually learned that not one breed has got a monopoly on good performance. There are a number of different breeds that have that.”

Thomson described it as a “win win situation” for both dairy and beef segments of the agricultural sector, one focused on milk solids production, the other on carcass weight.

“It’s real data giving them the confidence that they’re not dealing with estimations. They’re dealing with actual information.”

“With cattle from dairy farms making up fifty percent of all beeffinishing cattle in New Zealand it is imperative that we seek breeding solutions that meet dairy farmers objective of short gestation and easing calving and provide a high growth, excellent quality animal for the beef industry,” Owl Farm demonstration manager Jo Sheridan said:

worth of dairy beef progeny data collected from two 800 cow herds at Limestone Downs, Port Waikato, and Wairakei, Taupo. Typically, beef farmers don’t collect the depth of data on their animals that dairy farmers do. But this dairy beef progeny data

is going to generate a reasonable profit while not having a great effect in terms of overall farm production. Often these lifestyle blocks can be positioned to minimize the disruption to the running of the farm and provide a great way to release some equity. Some farms located on the town boundary may also have a zoning that allows for more intensive rural residential development.”

This is where CKL comes in particularly useful because the size of the company means they have instant access to a range of professionals from resource management planners and civil engineers to land surveyors and environmental engineers.

They also have partnerships with other rural professionals that work with them to achieve the right outcome for their farmer clients.

“As CKL have been around for so long, we know what farmers want and also how to work with councils and other professionals to create a

development that works for all parties.”

Many farmers today are looking to diversify their farms by creating additional income via different markets ranging from forestry, kiwifruit to other horticultural crops. The reality is that creating that diversification and ringfencing it with a separate Title makes good sense from a business and an asset protection perspective.

Another factor to consider is farm succession which can be looked at a couple of ways.

“You may have a farmer who has a child who wants a farm but can’t afford to take on all of the family farm at this time. Mum and Dad can carve off some land for the child to buy and get up and running and later, once some of the debt has been paid down and land values have gone up, they can then use the equity generated to buy more land.

“Or they may want to separate the main farm between kids,” Hamish says. “Either way, it’s where CKL put to

“With the advances in technology to mate cows and the data coming from superior beef sires - we have the ability to improve productivity for both dairy and beef farmers by creating a high-quality dairy beef calf that adds value to everyone along the supply chain.”

excellent use their years of expertise in the field.”

Hamish looks back on CKL’s 35 years in the area and is proud to be a part of the farming communities that they work with in addition to the depth of local knowledge in the region that he and his staff have.

“We are experts in all forms of rural subdivision from creating lifestyle blocks to new Titles that are hundreds of hectares in size. We can also assist with land use consent applications, farm boundary marking, drone surveys to map out paddocks, easement surveys to protect water and access rights and covenant surveys to protect native bust or wetlands.

“Rural is what we know, it’s what we do, and we get a kick out of helping farmers realise the best value from their land. We work with our farmer clients from start to finish to guide them through the process so that it’s as easy as possible,” he says.

“Pick up the phone for a no obligation chat to discuss what opportunities might be available for you – you might be surprised with what we can help you with.”

Agfirst agribusiness consultant Bob Thomson, Fonterra Farm Source’s Dr Rebecca Hickson, Owl Farm demonstration manager Jo Sheridan, farmer Jeremy Lee, WormWise programme manager Ginny Dodunski, Beef and Lamb director Phil Weir at the Owl Farm workshop.

Mega-rural - views sought

By Mary Anne Gill

Future representation has become a big issue for rural residents who have an opportunity to have their say at two hall meetings.

The first is tonight at Maungatautari and there residents from Kaipaki, Monavale, Horahora and Roto-o-Rangi will be able to talk about a proposal to have one mega rural ward and two representatives in the Waipā district.

The proposal was unveiled last week at a council workshop and would see the Pirongia and Kakepuku ward merged

with the Maungatautari ward.

Boundaries would alter to suck up population increases in Cambridge and Te Awamutu for the two urban wards of Cambridge and Te Awamutu/Kihikihi.

The Māori ward is still up in the air waiting on the progress of the government’s bill which Waipā, like most local authorities, do not support.

Later this month, on June 20, Whitehall, Fencourt and Karāpiro residents can attend a meeting at Te Miro Hall.

Board member Andrew Myers said other topics will include road maintenance, rates setting, the enhanced annual plan and the upcoming Long Term Plan.

“But if people can put their burning issues forward, we will try to answer them,” he said.

It will be like the roadshow events held for Ahu Ake – the spatial plan roadshows – with staff and elected members also present.

The change in style comes after numbers at the various halls were down.

Myers said having two big meetings rather than several smaller meetings was a trial worth doing.

Halls will be rotated in future years.

DRAINAGE

Cambridge Community Board member Andrew Myers and his dog Pippa, with chair Jo Davies-Colley.

Photo: Sylvie Davies-Colley.

The current situation (above) and a proposed mega rural ward (below).

Six months to turn wool around, MP

By Paul Charman

Associate Minister of Agriculture

Mark Patterson has given himself six months to begin turning around the fortunes of wool.

“I agree that the situation is dire, but there’s so much going on behind the scenes which farmers should know about,” he said.

“We’ve got six months to make a coherent plan for recovery, because that is the time we have between now and when farmers begin to purchase their genetics for next year.”

Patterson agreed with Matthew Scott’s comments on $10 being the break-even price for wool.

“While we won’t be seeing the wool price rise to $10 a kg in six months, we want farmers to see the pathway to get there.”

The coalition Government was

aware of the situation and he had been tasked with, “getting under the bonnet and making a real change”.

But counterintuitive as it sounded, he said the issue was less about wool than the profitability of hill country sheep and beef farming and its ability to be a sustainable land use, particularly in competition with forestry.

“If we don’t have wool contributing to farmers’ bottom line in a meaningful manner, that whole model is in jeopardy. Then pastureland will be lost to pines with disastrous consequences for rural communities. Wool couldn’t be a higher priority in terms of recognising this issue.”

With Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and fellow Associate Minister, Andrew Hoggard,

Patterson has been explaining the Government’s thinking at a series of 30 shearing shed meetings across the country.

“The situation is bad and many wool farmers are making what is to them a logical move in the short term to shedding sheep.”

He described the situation as a burning platform.

“But there is only one way to turn this around; we need demand exceeding supply (with wool) going into end uses that can support a much higher farm gate price.

He said in the last two or three years $38m had been invested in 30 technology projects.

“Also, we have co-funded Wool Impact, which has been tasked with looking at ways which we can lift returns for strong wool.

“We’re seeing things like

3D printed acoustic panels and wool going into medical grade bandaging, nappies and sanitary pads.”

Wool Source NZ had deconstructed wool into powders dyes and pigments.

“A lot of those initiatives are at a point where they are ready to up-scale and go commercial.

The big opportunity we have is that there is a real move back to natural fibres and a growing awareness of issues like micro plastics.

“It’s also good news that following a $50m rebuild, the cyclone damaged wool scourer at Awatoto, near Napier, is back up and running.”

He said pathways to take wool to market should be improved.

“We have to look at the likes of Zespri and Fonterra; we’re not going to be able to replicate them, but there could well be a more direct link between the growers and the end market. That’s not the big prize but it’s certainly part of the puzzle.”

Down to the last 24.4 million…

A long-term drop in the total area of grassland is, unsurprisingly, being blamed for a drop in livestock numbers.

Agricultural statistics senior manager at Statistics NZ, Stuart Jones said the national sheep flock was 24.4 million for the year ended June 2023 – a three per cent (773,000) drop.

In the same period, total beef cattle numbers fell four per cent (167,000) to 3.7 million and dairy cattle by 1 percent (45,000) to 5.9 million.

The total area in grassland, excluding tussock, fell 12 per cent (942,000 hectares) from 2011 to 2023. Over that period sheep numbers fell 22 per cent (6.8 million) and beef cattle numbers by five per cent.

The area was about 15 times the size of Lake Taupō. The area in pine and other exotic forest grew 11 per cent - (179,000 hectares) in that period.

Dairy cattle numbers peaked in 2014, and have since fallen by 12 percent (813,000).

The exception to that fall is Canterbury where numbers rose 27,000 – two per cent.

The use of fertiliser usage also fell – by 54,000 tonnes, 11 per cent in the period.

Agriculture continues to be a mainstay of New Zealand’s export industry. Of New Zealand’s total $69 billion exports for the year to 31 March 2024, the top four export products by value were dairy products ($19.6 billion), meat and edible offal ($8.7 billion), timber ($4.9 billion) and fruit ($3.7 billion).

Mark Patterson addresses a meeting at Awatoto, Napier.

Mark Patterson.

COME AND CATCH UP WITH YOUR MATES

Across 1. Unravel or become worn (4) 4. Paver (6) 8. Short message system (7) 9. Unit of weight (5)

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Last week

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Across: 1. Inept, 4. Bother, 8. Radiant, 9. Alibi, 10. Strip, 11. Explore, 12. Sachet, 14. Severe, 17. Impulse, 19. Elect, 21. Least, 22. Sharpen, 23. Season, 24. Thyme. Down: 1. Irresistible, 2. Elder, 3. Trample, 4. Bitter, 5. Tramp, 6. Episode, 7. Life sentence, 13. Cupcake, 15. Elegant, 16. Lesson, 18. Lotus, 20. Empty.

RNOFNRUBEDNIILORYR XEXLULEIWDAVRLFATT LRDSFTASKEDCREEKEC PNHPOURGENLYSLICLU RORGUYREORULWAWAOD EHNANXCAVOVOWKCNHE SUCDTLLOPLNOYEDAEU YWZTALYKSIUNIAILRQ ECTAILRACEDCCRBROA GBPRNDLFXZFSXMIHBH AQUEDUCT AQUIFER BAYOU BOREHOLE BROOK BURN CANAL CASCADE CHANNEL COURSE CREEK CULVERT

CURRENT DITCH DRAIN DYKE EDDY FALL FLOOD FLOW FLUME FOUNTAIN GEYSER LAGOON

LAKE LOCH POND POOL POUR PUDDLE RAPIDS RESERVOIR RILL RIVER RIVULET RUSH

SPRING STREAM TAILRACE TARN TRIBUTARY VIADUCT WEIR WELL

What if calling someone stupid was illegal?

Mania by Lionel Shriver

In a reality not too distant from our own, where the so-called Mental Parity Movement has taken hold, the worst thing you can call someone is ‘stupid’.

Everyone is equally clever, and discrimination based on intelligence is ‘the last great civil rights fight’.

Exams and grades are all discarded, and smart phones are rebranded. Children are expelled for saying the S-word and encouraged to report parents for using it. You don’t need a qualification to be a doctor.

Best friends since adolescence, Pearson and Emory find themselves on opposing sides of this new culture war.

Radio personality Emory – who has built her career riding the tide of popular thought – makes increasingly hard-line statements while, for her part, Pearson believes the whole thing is ludicrous.

As their friendship fractures, Pearson’s determination to cling onto the ‘old, bigoted way of thinking’ begins to endanger her job, her safety and even her family.

Lionel Shriver turns her piercing gaze on the policing of opinion and intellect, and imagines a world in which intellectual meritocracy is heresy. Hilarious, deadpan, scathing and at times frighteningly plausible, MANIA will delight the many fans of her fiction and journalism alike.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LIONEL SHRIVER’s novels include the National Book Award finalist So Much for That, the New York Times bestseller The PostBirthday World, and the international bestseller We Need to Talk About Kevin. Her journalism has appeared in the Guardian and the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and many other publications. She lives in London and Brooklyn, New York.

LOVE-MITCHELL,

Cheyene

McDERMID, John Ross

03.11.1930 - 02.06.2024

Kauri – Suddenly passed away on Tuesday, 28th May 2024, aged 19 years. Dearly loved daughter of Pania Love and Stewart Mitchell and sister to Syvana, Herangi, Rihipete, Te Haunoteraki and Te Amo. Most treasured aunty to Leon, Sissy Girl and Aria. Will be greatly missed by all her whanau and friends. A tangi will be held at Te Kopua Marae, Morgan Road, Pokuru on Monday, the 3rd of June 2024 at 11:00am, followed by a burial at Ahurei Urupa. All communications to the Love-Mitchell Family, c/- 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800.

Passed away, peacefully surrounded by family at Kingswood care home. Much loved best mate of the late Inthia. Loved stepdad of the late Lance and daughter in law Cathy. Much loved and admired Poppa to Bridie and Mandy. Great Poppa of seven, great great poppa to five, and great great great poppa to one. As was John’s final wishes, a private cremation will be at Newstead with no service. May your ship sail on calm waters & your beers always be cold Poppa.

OTUFANGAVALU, Piata

Amelia Blaise – Suddenly passed away on Tuesday, 28th May 2024, aged 19 years. Dearly loved daughter of Stacey-Joyce & Terita, and sister to Sione, and Veisinia. Will be greatly missed by all her whanau and friends. Her Rà nehu will be held at Ngati Wai Marae, Ngaiotonga on Monday, the 3rd of June 2024 at 11:00am, followed by the burial at Te Ara-aka-Te Rawhiti Urupa. All communications to the Otufangavalu Family, c/- 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800.

TAI, Rosita Lola, Whitinga mai o te rā - 29th June 1954 - Hekenga mai o te rā - 2nd June 2024 – E tangi ana te ngākau, e hotuhotu ana te manawa, mōu e te māhuri tōtara kua riro atu ki te pō. E te parekawakawa o Raukawa ki Wharepūhunga moe mai rā i tō moenga roa. E waipuke ana ngā roimata, kua taka ā roto mō te Mareikura a Rosita Lola Tai (aka Huri) On behalf of the whānau it is with a settling heart and great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mum, nanny, sister and aunty - Huri.

A Tangi for Huri will be held at Parawera Marae, Parawera, Te Awamutu, on Thursday, the 6th of June 2024 at 11:00am. From here the whānau pani will take Huri for a private cremation. All communications to the Tai Family, c/- 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800.