Cambridge News | June 13, 2024

A sanctuary under threat

By Chris Gardner

A cash flow crisis could force the closure of Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari by the end of August.

“Prior to Wednesday we would be looking at six weeks before we were going to shut up shop,” Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari general manager Helen Hughes told The News on Friday.

The Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust, which operates the $5000 a day 3400-hectare predatorproof enclosure, the world’s largest, collected $83,600 in ticket sales from 380 people at a gala dinner and art auction last week.

They were 20 $220 tickets short of a sell-out.

“My hope is money that we have raised will give us a bit more breathing space to take us until the end of August to try and find the funds to bridge the gap,” said Hughes, who took on the role eight months ago.

Hughes is focussed on fundraising, while investigating what “shutting up shop” could look like at the end of August as she currently doesn’t know.

“We have got an immediate cash flow issue. The trust has been going backwards in terms of revenue for a long time.”

The loss of the contestable

Department of Conservation Community Fund had cost the organisation $300,000 a year over the last four years and other sources of funding had dried up in the worsening economic climate.

“What we are seeing is a reduction in funding. Central government and funding organisations have cash constraints.”

Hughes and trust co-chair Don Scarlet are seeking help to fill the funding shortfall.

“We are seriously cash constrained, because that’s what’s happening in the community,” Scarlet said. “Everyone is doing it hard; we are doing it hard.”

Sanctuary Mountain’s 18 full time equivalent staff welcomed a record 20,000 visitors in the last year, including 4000 school students.

“We had a fantastic fundraising gala dinner and auction. Almost 400 people were there for one reason – to support that amazing project.”

“We are trying to keep doing everything we need to do to keep the fence secure, to keep the kiwi secure, kākāpō maintained and our enclosure secure.”

The fence was breached twice in May in high winds.

Scarlet said it was too early to report the trust’s financial position

as accounts were being prepared for auditing.

Asked how much cash the trust needed, Scarlet said: “How long is a piece of string? I would love half a million dollars at the moment to build resilience and another two and half million to build a new visitor centre.”

“Half a million dollars would give us 12 to 18 months of breathing space,” Hughes said.

“Three thousand people giving us $25 per month would solve it.”

“I would love anyone who supports this project to find a little bit of cash in their wallet and send it our way,” Scarlet said.

Hughes said she was feeling deflated.

“I feel like I am screaming in a crowded space, and nobody is listening,” she said.

“I am focussed on trying to solve this problem. I am tired. It’s an emotionally trying process. I believe passionately in what we are doing. I don’t want to see us fail. I believe that we will get there. This is a community led initiative and it’s going to need the community of New Zealand to solve it.”

Marc van den Heuvel Partner

A safe haven for endangered native species is itself struggling to survive.

Photo: Quinn Dallinger

Helen Hughes

Fee-cycling shock

The other day I had ten medium-sized cardboard boxes that became surplus to needs, so I broke them down for recycling, too much for the recycling bin so I went to the transfer station in Cambridge to recycle them there.

On arrival, I advised the attendant that I had cardboard to recycle and was told it was going to cost me, wait for it $24 to put in the recycling bin.

I know that the company has to make a buck but I am sorry this is just over the top and people wonder why rubbish is dumped on the side of the road.

Simon Barton Cambridge

Cycle path explanation

Carbon dioxide is just 0.04% of Earth’s atmosphere, of which humans produce only 3%, and New Zealand just a miserly 0.25% of that. Look it up, don’t take my word for it!

Thus, if Earth’s atmosphere was represented by 8850m Mt Everest, New Zealand’s carbon footprint would be less than a single sheet of A4 folded in half, or approximately quarter of a millimetre. Please let that staggering juxtaposition sink in.

So why is the WDC installing cycle paths we therefore don’t need, with money we don’t have, for an issue that has almost zero impact upon global climate?

We’re being seriously duped people, and what is more, it’s neither the only dupe, nor the worst. It’s time to wake up, do your own research, engage your own faculties, and cease naively trusting those who claim to have your best interests at heart.

Shaun Robinson Cambridge

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Seniors’ ‘changing dynamics’

By Viv Posselt

The government is working across several fronts to meet the demands of changing needs in our ageing population, Minister for Seniors Casey Costello says.

Speaking at last week’s Cambridge Grey Power meeting at Taylor Made Community Centre, the New Zealand First MP said the changing dynamics of seniors, particularly in terms of housing and health, must be factored into any new initiatives.

“So much of what we understand about ageing has changed, and we need to respond to that. We have to be smart about how we deal with health and housing in that sector.”

People are living and working longer, and an increasing number won’t have paid off their home when they retired, she said.

“In 10 years, 21 percent of our population will be over 65, with a greater number than ever aged over 80. In some areas of the country, those percentages will be even higher.”

The view that most New Zealanders would live mortgage free post-retirement is also fading, she said, adding that over 20 percent of those reaching 65 today do not own their own home.

There was a shortage of aged care housing stock and ageing problems related to

current stock, she said. Adding to that was a scarcity of respite-type accommodation, pressure around dementia care, limited psychogeriatric facilities, and employment shortages in the sector, particularly for in-home services, plus a cost of living crisis that is exacerbating the situation for all sectors of society.

“The model we have has been not fit-for-purpose for some time and has not been adequately funded,” Costello said. “We are currently working on a number of initiatives. This sector is a huge priority for the government and there is a lot of work going on.”

Growth in capacity and options is required, she said, and local councils need to upgrade existing pensioner housing and build more. “There are some amazing social housing projects being delivered, but they are not evenly distributed around the country.

Costello, who is also Associate Minister across both police and health portfolios, said the government was actively addressing issues around the cost of living and the provision of health services to seniors.

Last week was another busy one that saw us dealing with offences including two thefts from cars and two thefts of car, six shoplifting cases, public drunkenness, shoplifting, multiple reports of petrol drive offs, five bail breaches and seven fleeing driver events.

On the family harm front we had nine family harm incidents reported and in one day alone I dealt with three Breaches of Protection Order cases. One of those resulted in the arrest of a male who faced associated charges in court last Friday.

In other good catches, a male drove his car chasing his partner who was driving in her own vehicle after an argument. He assaulted her when she he caught up with her on the forecourt of a service station. As you would expect at such a location, members of the public were present including one who began to approach to assist the woman. CCTV evidence also provided key evidence, the combination of which saw the male arrested and charged with the assault the next day. The male was remanded in custody until his next court appearance.

In the past week we have attended no fewer than six traffic crashes. With winter up on us, driving to the conditions is key. The roads

can be foggy, slippery and icy and excess speed only increases the chance of serious injury or a fatality in the event of a crash. This is particularly true if you do not know the roads well. Patience is the key word however that we are asking all to have. Waikato as a district frequently has agricultural vehicles moving around on the roads. Recently a head on collision was only narrowly avoided after a campervan driver chose to overtake a tractor on a blind corner. They were so lucky not to hit oncoming traffic. Taking such risks contributes hugely to our road toll. Drive safely, don’t be an idiot.

Still on the topic of traffic matters and patience, we have increased traffic in the area currently - especially in the roads feeding Mystery Creek Events centre - due to the annual Fieldays event. If possible, take the park and ride options available and avoid adding to the queues. (Buses will leave from outside Cambridge BMX club every 30mins from 7-11am and home again in the afternoon). If you have to take a vehicle, plan your day well, allow plenty of time and be prepared for delays to occur.

Budget 2024’s allocation of $2.12 billion for primary care and public health was aimed in part at driving some healthcare services back to communities, she said, and further planned investment is aimed at expanding cancer screening and lowering wait times for early diagnosis or emergency clinical care.

Casey Costello, addressing Cambridge Grey Power last week

In the money

Cambridge brothers Mat and Nick Mowbray are New Zealand’s richest people, according to National Business Review. They are the founders of Zuru, a toy company with a global presence based in Guangzhou, China. Nick started out selling a mini hot air-balloon, door to door when he was a student at St Peter’s School, Cambridge in 2004.

Bid thwarted

A staff suggestion that Waipā District Council ditch its Age Friendly policy has been thwarted by a former veteran councillor. Kihikihi-based Hazel Barnes told last week’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee the community had thousands of senior citizens who were riding bikes, swimming, hiking and having a great lifestyle who had the skills to help and be part of the council’s engagement.

On their bike Cycleway stats in both Cambridge and Te Awamutu show the last two months have been busy. There were 7871 users in April and 7112 in May on Hamilton Road in Cambridge with the busiest day on Anzac Day – the day of the Cambridge Cycling Festival – with 357 and 407 users on May 4.

Jobs held Waipā District Council has 21 vacancies with 17 positions on hold due to the current economic situation, Human Resources group manager Stephanie Shores told the Audit and Risk committee this week.

Best coach

Cambridge equestrian coach Ella Rutherford has been named New Zealand Pony Club’s young coach of the year. Two years ago the 21-year-old suffered a traumatic brain injury when her horse reared and she fell off. She was unable to speak properly, walk without help, study, work, drive or ride her horses. She now coaches riders from all over the Waikato.

Here we go again…

Thirty years ago, a young dairy industry reporter, newly transferred from the King Country, covered her first Fieldays. The News senior writer Mary Anne Gill will be back at Mystery Creek this week and filed her thoughts.

Maclain Swanson puts me on the spot –so what has changed at Fieldays in the 30 years since you covered your first one?

The Business Development manager says he was just starting kindergarten in

1994 when I made my debut at the southern hemisphere’s largest agricultural expo.

Well media for a start were in what was then the headquarters – the timber building which is now Exhibitor Services base – and we

knew each other on a first-name basis.

We were well catered for too, literally, the food was brilliant.

The other major change has been Fieldays’ ability to innovate – the introduction of the Health and Wellbeing Hub and this year the Rural Advocacy Hub.

And it is obvious –there are more people and the amount of money most exhibitors have to spend is mind boggling.

Although there are still the little stands which have not changed in 30 years.

There will be politicians there – there always were but I am sure we see more now because they realise Fieldays offers a unique opportunity to get the mood of the nation.

Traffic control and public transport is better although it does seem to those of us

who live near Mystery Creek, that it is another opportunity for roads to be dug up. Now we have orange cones to mark where that is – I don’t recall them being around back then.

Maclain got me thinking about global warming too. He tells me he has never felt so cold as he did last year at the opening when then Prime Minister Chris Hipkins came in

a desperate attempt to get the rural vote.

I remember it being ridiculously cold in 1994 too – gloves, scarf, double socks, singlets, jerseys and gumboots.

We had to scrape the ice off the Waikato Times yellow car.

When I visited Fieldays on Monday, it was 16 degrees and raining, ever so slightly.

The weather forecasters were saying

there would be no frosts, no icy chilly days and light rain. Time will tell. But what has not changed in 30 days is the excitement –Fieldays is here. God willing so too was I yesterday morning, finding the best spot in the media centre, trying to recognise anyone I knew and if I did, then what was their name? Bring it on.

Death knell for ski club

By Roy Pilott

A six-decade old ski club is preparing a wake after learning its lease on Lake Karāpiro won’t be renewed.

The Brooklyn Water Ski Club has been at the Taumatawiiwii Reserve since the early 1960s, but new landlords have announced the lease will be taken up by Karāpiro Waka Ama.

In a statement to members the clubs says it plans to end its tenure with a “bang” on the last weekend of the month. The club has been asked to evacuate the site by July 31. It also revealed the club has been in dialogue over the lease for a decade with Ngāti Koroki Kahukura.

“More recently we have been engaged with Ngā Pae Whenua. This is the joint management body comprised of [Waipā District] Council and NKK representatives. We had only been informed in the last few years that we should be talking with the NPW as they are the ones who make such decisions, not the NKK.”

Members were told by the club that around 2014 a new waka ama group was also formed and some overseeing it were also part of NKK Trust. That group had a “pressing interest” in the ski club and despite efforts to find a way of cohabiting the club was told the new organisation was happy for the lease to run out.

Celebrating Life - Your Way

A second ski club operating on Lake Karāpiro is a short distance away at Horahora, but it is understood a merger is unrealistic because both clubs were already at capacity.

The club’s statement to members referred to chasing councillors for answers and immeasurable frustration.

But it also noted NKK and NPW “had ticked all the legal boxes required to have our club moved from the reserve which we cannot refute”.

It is understood the club built the facilities at the site and handed them over to the Department of Conservation at a time when Doc held the lease.

The termination of the lease was confirmed in a letter last week signed by Ngā Pae Whenua chair Johnson Raumati who wrote “we understand and acknowledge this is not the outcome you desired”. NPW proposes to grant Karāpiro Waka Ama an initial term of five years for part of the reserve. The ski club says it will freeze its funds.

“If we find a pocket of land to rebuild on the funds will go to this. If we are unable then donating to a worthy cause is the preferred choice.”

From left, Miff Macdiarmid, Ashleigh Trent and Zoe Groot try out the Happy Cow scratch brushes on Cambridge farming and agriculture Shoof’s stand at Fieldays. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Fieldays Business Development manager Maclain Swanson at the top of the hill near Gate 1 with last minute preparations underway for the agricultural expo which was first held at Te Rapa Racecourse in 1969. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Council called the crisis team

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā activated its Crisis Management team after a Cambridge Connections meeting where mayor Susan O’Regan was allegedly threatened.

The drop in meeting about the site for a third bridge over Waikato River -held at Bridges Church on March 21 - was abandoned.

Some of the estimated 500 people who turned up lambasted staff and elected members about the plans to take swathes of long-established residential land for the project.

The fiasco would go on to be dubbed The Night of the Blue Blob – a reference to maps issued by the district council which showed large chunks of blue over hundreds of houses.

Council’s Audit and Risk committee met this week, and members were told the level of aggression at the meeting resulted in the Crisis Management team being activated to respond to community sentiment.

This “stabilised” the risk, resilience and risk advisor Genny Wilson told the committee. The team assessed the risk to O’Regan, elected members, staff and members of the public, she said. It resulted in a “project reset” with all potential bridge locations taken off the table.

O’Regan then announced an independent review would be undertaken to see where the project could have done better, reflect

on what had caused concern and reset the project to get it “back on track.”

WSP will undertake the review. Part of the multi-national’s brief will be to look at how the business case for Cambridge Connections was developed and whether the project was consistent with Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency’s business case process.

The Waipā crisis team identified improvements to the council’s Threat and Response framework.

A new Meetings and Engagement stream has been added for risk assessment which include safety plans for common venues and procedures for operating meetings.

The council’s executive team would get a register of meetings on the go and discuss whether senior management should be included.

Part of the criticism of the March meeting was that many senior staff – including chief executive Garry Dyet and Service Delivery group manager Dawn Inglis - were not present.

Community Services manager Brad Ward was left to abandon the meeting which had resorted into a moan fest towards Transport manager Bryan Hudson. Neither is a member of the executive team.

The committee also heard that while the organisation’s top risk remains inadequate workforce and capacity, communications and engagement with the community remains an “extreme” risk.

• For more, go to cambridgenews.nz

Gazelle sings again

By Mary Anne Gill

Seven years ago Glyn and Robyn Doughty’s 1965 Singer Gazelle was rusting away in a Levin paddock.

The Tauwhare couple were no strangers to Gazelles, having owned previous models, but were determined to restore this one. It was in hundreds of pieces and cost them $15,000 but it was a labour of love.

It took Glyn about 16 months sourcing parts from wherever he could around New Zealand.

Buying from overseas was never an option as it was difficult to return them if it was the wrong part, he said as the couple waited to start in the Waikato Veteran and Vintage Car

Club’s annual double 50 classic car rally on Saturday.

They were among 67 entrants from around the Waikato, Wellsford, North Shore, Auckland, South Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Taupō.

The rally – based in Cambridge this year - catered for vehicles that were at least 30 years old and could be cars, light trucks as well as motorcycles in their original or restored condition.

Entrants travelled 50 miles – give or take depending on missed turns – in the morning and another 50 in the afternoon.

* See an extended version of this story at cambridgenews.nz

Glyn and Robyn Doughty of Scotsman’s Valley with their 1965 Singer Gazelle.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Here is the news – from 1905

By Viv Posselt

Oh, how things have changed!

A 1905 Waikato newspaper unearthed recently by Cambridge man Bill Wilson makes for some interesting comparisons with today’s newspapers. The content and style has changed drastically and so has the cost of everything, which in the case of these yellowed old papers is splashed liberally across the front page.

There are many standout differences, particularly when it comes to page one. Just one can be seen in Bill’s Waikato Independent of Thursday, June 22, 1905, where the leading left-side offering is The Poet’s Column. Its poems, entitled “Too Old” and “A Fellowship Hymn”, are followed by snippets of information headed “Stately Homes of England” giving detailed descriptions and the costings of the day. Still on page one and still with money in mind, there are several properties advertised … one in Frankton with “water laid on” for £550,

and an acre of Cambridge farmland, said to be in the “best position in town” for £100.

What is described as a “gentleman’s residence, complete with nine rooms, a bathroom and every convenience, a stable, buggy house, man’s room and five acres of volcanic soil” topped out the front-page listings, at least in terms of price, at £1500.

Bill found this and other early newspapers while clearing out an old house in Duke St.

Another one, dated March 7, 1939, had polo on the front page, advertisements for positions wanted and offered and accommodation. Not until well into the paper does ‘news’ appear, and there is not a hint of the mayhem that was to erupt later that year with the start of World War 11.

Bill was tickled pink with his find and says he will pass the newspapers on to the Cambridge Museum to add to their collection.

FLORIDA GARDENCARE

Greenhouse

Cambridge’s Bill Wilson with one of the old newspapers he found.

Miners get international praise

By Mary Anne Gill

Gordon and Heather McInally were so impressed with the Urban Miners recycling operation in Cambridge they intend to take the concept home to Scotland.

The couple visited the Cambridge Rotary Club’s star performer, Urban Miners, last week.

Gordon – formerly a dentist in Edinburgh, Scotland - is the first Rotary International president to visit New Zealand and the couple’s five day trip included four Waipā visits.

The first was at Hamilton Airport where they saw a Life Flight plane, a partnership between Rotary District 9940 and the Life Flight Trust, which runs three nationwide Air Ambulance planes.

They attended district governor Bill Robinson’s Rotary Club in Cambridge, Lake Rotopiko wetlands near Ōhaupō and Urban Miners in Cambridge which runs an e-waste reuse, repair and recycling service for the Waipā district.

The McInallys live in Yetholm – population 600 - in the Scottish Borders. Kelso, the nearest town has 8000 people.

“This is fantastic. We take anything like this… to our local dump, and I don’t think we pay attention to where it goes when we go to the dump,” said Heather.

“We’re going to go back and try and find out a bit more about

what happens to the waste – the computers, microwaves etc. We just take it down to the local tip, it goes in a separate corner, but I realise we have no idea what happens to it.”

Earlier Gordon unveiled a macrocarpa bench at Rotopiko made by Allan Johnston, the

husband of Te Awamutu Rotary Club president Gill Johnston.

During the ceremony he was told that just after sunrise every day, millions of sparrows, starlings and pigeons leave their roosting spot in the reserve having created carnage behind them.

National Wetland Trust co

chair Don Scarlet explained how important the partnership between Te Awamutu Rotary Club, Ngāti Apakura, Waipā District Council and the Conservation Department is to eradicate the wicked birds.

“All they do is to come here and roost, and sleep. Before that they undertake the final bodily function,

which is to excrete and sadly that brings a lot of nutrients into this pristine, very low nutrient peat lake environment.

“That’s our wicked problem and we are still on a journey to mitigate that.”

Waipā’s wetland maintenance contractor Murray Davies explained the latest plan to control the birds involved pruning off the bottom foliage to allow the wind and sun in.

“They leave 100mls thick in the bottom of the forest every might. It’s filthy and disgusting.

“We’ve got to find a way to make it uncomfortable for them to come back and roost.”

Birds hate the wind, he said.

“We cannot do things working in isolation and working alone and it’s only when we truly come together as one that we can achieve great things such as you are achieving here,” Gordon said.

“As one, we are better. This is the most beautiful spot,” he said.

“We recognise and understand the importance of wetlands in terms of our environment and the sustainability of our environment.”

He apologised on behalf of his forebears for introducing starlings, sparrows and pigeons.

“Hopefully you will find a solution to that this year and this very special place will be preserved and will play its part in the harmony of the environment. Thank you for allowing us to be on your land.”

World Rotary president Gordon McInally, centre, with district governor Bill Robinson check out the Urban Miners recycling operation in Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Alana at helm in Karāpiro

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Alana Thompson decided she was going to be a teacher on her very first day of school, in 1993.

“When I turned five, I had the most amazing teacher, Mrs Kitty Higgins,” she said. “She always wore pearls and floral dresses, and I adored her, and I wanted to grow up and be just like her.”

Today, having taken over as Karāpiro School’s new principal,, Thompson is living the dream – minus the pearls and floral prints.

“I am fond of a plain and practical pair of black pants with a great pair of heels,” she said. “Us little guys need all the help we can get!”

Becoming a principal has long been one of her ambitions but she is delighted the job involves a minimum of two days’ teaching a week.

“Being hands-on, every day, with the kids, is still why I get up at six o’ clock in the morning, you know, why I wake up at two o’ clock in the morning thinking about what we could do differently and how we could change that,” she said.

She believes it is a teacher’s job to “help children find their potential and show them they’re capable of reaching it”.

“Through my whole life, it became really apparent the

impact that teachers can have on children in that really formative part of their lives, where their brains are developing and they’re becoming the people they’ll be for the rest of their lives, so being a part of that journey is a real honour and a real privilege,” she said.

“It’s always going to be the thing that motivates me to grow and be better and do more, is to try and have that lifelong impact on kids and create kids that take over the world, you know, the citizens that we want leading our world in the next generation.”

Thompson has lived in Cambridge all her life. She attended Kaipaki, Cambridge Middle and Cambridge High schools before completing a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Waikato.

After graduating she taught at Leamington School for 12 years, where principal Mike Malcolm said she “quickly became a highly respected teacher”.

“Alana is a fabulous person, a stunning teacher, and a builder of communities,” he said.

Thompson moved to Kaipaki School three years ago and was promoted to deputy principal in 2023.

The Karāpiro School opportunity arose at the beginning of term two this year, when principal Tina-Maree

Thatcher left to pursue a career in law.

“We’ve got a whole new staff this year, which is incredibly rare in education, so we have lots of very animated, excited staff meetings talking about the possibilities and the potential and where we want to go,” Thompson said.

“I’m really passionate about the school being the hub of the community – ag days, working bees and sports days become social events for our community.”

Last week she headed to Fiordland, where she will work with the Sir Peter Blake Trust and the University of Otago on a week-long environmental research project.

Six teachers were selected for the professional development opportunity.

Thompson lives in Cambridge with her husband Shaun, an aircraft engineer, their children Caitlyn, 9, and Jake, 7, their sausage dog Louie and their “mixed breed fluffy thing” Oscar.

She loves baking, decorating cakes and “just being out in nature”.

Her vision for Karāpiro School is “to continue the amazing things that are already happening here, to grow the roll and to help the community see just how cool this little school is”.

What’s happening at Cambridge Town Hall

Remembering Rob

Cambridge Town Hall Community Trust were deeply saddened to lose Rob Feisst, our Deputy Chair, on 21 May.

Rob’s three years with the Trust were just a small part of his contribution to the community. Over 40 years, he was also on the Cambridge Community Board, the Chamber of Commerce, Cambridge Racquets Club, and the Cambridge Health and Community Trust.

For his services to the community, Rob was awarded a King’s Service Medal in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours, which he accepted before his death.

for restoring the Town Hall, and we know he’d want his legacy to continue.

To that end, the Trust is looking for up to two new Trustees to join them on the exciting journey of activating and transforming Cambridge Town Hall. As the Town Hall attracts people from across Waipā, Waikato and beyond, new Trustees with a community focus from the Waipā region are welcome. Fundraising experience is desirable for at least one of the roles.

To find out more about becoming a Trustee, please contact Kirsty Johnson on chair@cambridgetownhall.co.nz or 021 848 031

“There are lots of Dad’s fingerprints on community projects around Cambridge, [today] he would be most proud to be part of the Cambridge Town Hall restoration committee.

“We look forward to seeing the town hall restoration project completed, which Dad loved ...and worked so hard for.”

- Rob’s son Andrew in the Waikato Herald, 3 June 2024

Upcoming events

CAMBRIDGE TOWN HALL

FESTIVAL OF SINGING Thursday 11 July - Tuesday 16 July

Visit cth.co.nz for more information and tickets, and to subscribe to the Cambridge Town Hall e-newsletter and get the latest news and events direct to your inbox.

Alana Thompson is passionate about the school being “the hub of the community”.

Photo: Holly Fulforth.

The Trust will miss Rob and his passion

Getting to the ball in style

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Brett Dixon got up to work before sunrise so he could spend seven hours cleaning his John Deere tractor before Cambridge High School’s 2024 Las Vegas Casino Ball on Saturday.

He used the sparking farm vehicle to chauffeur his 16-year-old daughter Sophia and her friend Chelsea Stone, a Tokyo exchange student, to the event, and said the effort had definitely been worth it.

“Chelsea had never been in a tractor before, she was absolutely buzzing the whole way, it was really cool.”

More than 600 students attended the ball, held at the Sir Don Rowlands Event Centre from 6pm10.45pm.

A caravan, fire engine and 50-year-old Plymouth were among vehicles used as transport, which ranged from modern sports cars to vintage classics.

Many family members and supporters gathered to watch the year 12 and 13 students arrive and walk up a red carpet, with the crowd of onlookers swelling to more than 200 at one point.

James Senior and Grace Gillanders were crowned ball king and queen, while Reuben Stevens and Leah Nixon picked up the cutest couple award. Adam Pierce was chosen as the night’s hottest single and Saoirse Herewini won best dressed.

Saoirse wore a fitted black satin dress, a red korowai and bone jewellery gifted by her family. The outfit was planned down to the smallest detail; the fourth fingernail of each of her hands was painted with a tiny tino rangatiratanga flag. Soul Martin chose attire to match – a black turtleneck jersey, bone necklace and black suit with a tāniko band sewn into the jacket’s lapels and cuffs.

Arriving in style (from left) Annelise Bertrand, Eva McKeown, Maddi Bull and Bianca WinstanleyMounsey.

Photo – KeyImagery Photography.

Ball queen Grace Gillanders and king James Senior.

Photo – KeyImagery Photography.

Best dressed award winner Saoirse Herewini (left) enjoys a glass of fruit punch with Soul Martin. Photo – Steph Bell-Jenkins.

Sophia Dixon (left) and Chelsea Stone arrived at the ball in a John Deere tractor.

Photo – KeyImagery Photography.

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When volcanic gases turn deadly

By Janine Krippner

Starting at 9 to 10 pm on August 21,1986, heavy gases crept along the ground from the volcanic Lake Nyos in Cameroon, moving silently towards villages and homes. Over the following six to 36 hours people awoke weak and confused, some unable to speak, to find that 1746 people and thousands of animals had died.

Gases are a fundamental part of volcanic eruptions and a normal part of our planet’s cycles. Understandably, there is concern and even fear about toxic gases during eruptions, but it’s not as simple as eruption equals gases that kill or harm. The type of gases and their concentrations are important, as well as how long you are exposed to them (breathe and exist in the air containing them).

Thankfully, volcanic gases usually get blown away far above our heads, so during most eruptions we don’t have health impacts. However, when the conditions are right for us to be exposed to high concentrations for an extended time, we have a problem.

We measure the concentration of gases by parts per million (ppm), a unit used for very small amounts of one thing (a gas) in something else (like air). One ppm SO2 means there is one molecule of that gas per million within the whole mixture, or 0.0001% SO2. Here are just some of the volcanic gases released during and between eruptions. Some others are harmless, like the most abundant gas - water vapour, and others have different environmental impacts.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is irritating to the eyes, throat, and respiratory tract, and smells like fireworks or striking a match. We can smell this gas starting at 0.008-0.2 ppm and below this level some sensitive asthmatics can feel the effects. Exposure to SO2 over time can lead to headaches, coughing or difficulty breathing, and unfortunately those with conditions like

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asthma are more at risk. About 6 ppm could cause irritation of eyes, nose, and throat, and 20+ ppm leads to paralysis or death after prolonged exposure.

Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) is the gas that gives the rotten egg smell at Rotorua starting at 0.0005 to 0.3 ppm. Our noses are very good at detecting this one! An interesting attribute of this gas is that we lose the ability to smell it at around 20 ppm, and increasing concentrations cause eye irritation and pain, respiratory tract irritation, pulmonary oedema (fluid in the lungs) above 250 ppm, nausea and vomiting, then death above 2,000 ppm.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) has no smell and is 1.5 times heavier than air, leading it to sometimes accumulate in lower areas (e.g., pits or basements) where it can be deadly. In this case we talk about percentage in the air, where at 2-3 per cent we might have shortness of breath with exertion, at 5 per cent breathing can become laboured, loss of mental abilities, drowsiness, and ringing in the ears above 7.5 per cent, and above 15 per cent is a lethal concentration. This was the main gas involved in the Lake Nyos disaster.

Monitoring these gases is important for understanding what is happening with the volcanic system and detecting changes in activity, and also for protecting our health. While horrific events like that day at Lake Nyos are uncommon, we work to understand what happens and why to prevent this heartbreak from happening again.

For a more extensive description of health impacts from volcanic gases and ash go to the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN) website.

Beanies and vortices for Fieldays

By Viv Posselt

Two Cambridge residents are pinning their hopes on a successful outing at this week’s National Fieldays.

One of them is the Cambridgebased chief executive of Brain Tumour Support NZ, Sarah Verran, who hopes the national organisation’s presence at Fieldays will help grow awareness around brain cancer and help boost support.

The other features the VS150 Vortex Stirrer, entered into this year’s Innovation Awards, designed and made by Swiss-born Cambridge resident, Naldo Zryd, under his label Lebendwasser.

He says it has the agricultural effluent problem in mind and can be used to oxygenate and clean water in ponds of all sizes.

Zyrd’s earlier invention, a water ratio imploder, was included in the 2017 Fieldays Innovation Awards, and he was a finalist in the 2020 Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Awards with a creation that also involved a swirling vortex of water.

Neither a scientist nor a naturalborn marketer, Zyrd, a trained chef, has been fascinated by vortices for decades. He found the vortex provided a solution when making ice sculptures, clearing the water as it froze.

“I was hooked from then on,” said Zyrd. “I have worked on several versions of the VS150 since then. This is the result of years of trial and error, it can operate using small pumps and because it sits on a float, it can be set and left to do its work. I’m looking forward to seeing the reaction at Fieldays.”

Sarah Verran, on the other hand, is an experienced marketer, but it was her experience with brain cancer through her now 19-yearold daughter that inspired her to become involved. The Brain Tumour Support NZ Trust started around 2019-20 to offer support to those diagnosed with brain tumour and Verran said it was important

that the topic “is known about before it is needed”.

Their first Fieldays participation follows the launch of a new fundraising platform ‘No Going Back’, an initiative at the heart of last month’s Brain Tumour Awareness Month, entitled Make

May Matter. “A brain tumour diagnosis brings fear and uncertainty. Your life changes from that moment and there is no going back. That is what is behind our fundraising campaign,” she said.

There was no such support in 2015 when the Verran family received news of their 10-yearold daughter’s diagnosis with a rare brain tumour. “We were thrust into months and years of surgeries and treatments with often overwhelming information coming from all sides and really no time to process it.”

She said around 350 New Zealanders are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour each year, with some 260 dying from it annually. Brain cancer kills New Zealand children at almost double the rate of leukaemia; it can affect anyone at any age, and its causes remain unknown.

With no government backing, the trust relies on grants, donations and fundraising to provide patient and caregiver support. Central to that is their Brain Box care packages which go out free to anyone diagnosed with brain cancer, and which include a set of Patient Guides and an array of gifts, including what have become known as Brainy Beanies for added comfort.

It is these beanies, currently coming in by the box-load from around the country, which will be sold at Fieldays to help raise funds.

Sarah Verran, with some of the hundreds of ‘Brainy Beanies’ being sold at National Fieldays.

Five Stags fights for liquor license

Pirongia has been left high and dry by a liquor licensing committee ruling – but it may not be last orders. Chris Gardner reports.

Nora Fu is fighting to bring back cold beer to Pirongia’s Five Stags Restaurant and Bar.

Fu, the sole shareholder of the Franklin Street bar and restaurant operator Night Pearl, has been unable to sell alcohol since May 19 after the Waipā District Licensing committee declined her application for renewal of an on-licence.

The restaurant and bar lost its licence after an underage staff member sold alcohol to a minor during a police controlled purchasing operation.

The young drinker was not asked for proof of identification and was allowed to sit outside the licensed area and drink alcohol.

Fu had previously been advised drinkers could not consume alcohol in the outside area in front of the bar or to its side until a licence variation was granted for those areas.

The licensing committee was not confident the licensee understood

Alys

the obligations or conditions of the licence. Fu had received help from two licensing inspectors, police, and the secretary of the licensing committee, but the committee found “there appears to be an ongoing disregard for the assistance given or an inability to understand the obligations of a licensee.”

“We are still open, but we can’t sell alcohol, only food,” Fu told The News on Thursday.

Yet The Five Stags website continued to advertise “cold beer, great food, tall tales”.

“We are just waiting for a hearing at the end of this month, appealing the decision.

“It’s not good for business.”

Fu’s appeal will be heard by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority.

Waipā Pirongia-Kakepuku Ward councillor Clare St Pierre described the loss of license as “a real tragedy”.

Antiques & Fine Art

Claude Muncaster, UK, 1903-1974, On The Fore Yard, Marine painting, Oil on Board, Signed, 1951

Fellow ward councillor Bruce Thomas met Fu after her licence was lost.

“I don’t think she understood the rules,” he said. “She’s done a heck of a job, and got a professional manager in. I think she’s on the right track.”

Other Franklin Street businesses and residents would love to see the Five Stags get its licence renewed.

Pirongia Four Square owner Chris McDonnell said: “I am just disappointed for the community. I just want them to get their licence… It’s a real shame. We want to see everyone in Pirongia do well.”

The Hive honey and hand made products store owner Shereen Parker was saddened by the loss of service that came with the loss of license.

“It would be really good to have it up and running again,” she said. She was also mourning the closing and subsequent demolition

of Café on Franklin in 2022.

“It feels like we are going a little bit backwards instead of forwards,” she said.

“I love the potential of the area.”

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TUESDAY

8:19pm, Chimney Fire, Goldsmith Street

FRIDAY 9:46pm, Smoke coming from building, Shakespeare Street

SATURDAY 9:55am, Single car MVA, Waikato Expressway

SUNDAY 5:02pm, Fence on fire, Richmond Street

• Popular well-paced excursion

• Three nights in Strahan and Hobart

• Explore the North West corner

• Cruise on the Gordon River • Ride on the Wilderness Explorer Train • Private guided Tour of Port Arthur

Salamanca Markets

Last year Waipā District Council granted building consent for a bakery and three retail tenancies on the site of Café on Franklin. Now the site sits vacant and fenced.

Last man standing: the Five Stags Restaurant and Bar is open, but can’t sell drinks.

Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management and Customer, Community and Services

manager Drew Mehrtens discusses a podcast which tells the story of our land.

A Waikato thing

I first read Dr Janine Krippner’s column in this paper when I was thinking about making a podcast for the Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group.

Janine’s ability to communicate the history and the science through great storytelling is outstanding, and rare.

We connected through this paper and I asked her if she’d be open to being part of the Volcano episode of our podcast: A Waikato Thing.

Cut to: Janine, sitting near the top of Mt Ruapehu, on the breathtaking lava field, hiding from the wind behind a giant chunk of sharp rock talking into my microphone.

The resulting podcast has no host or interviewer, but it’s a series of stories told by multiple scientists like Dr Krippner, all intercut, weaving a single thematic narrative making up each episode.

We all made A Waikato Thing from a place of curiosity, a sense of home and a desire to help our Waikato communities.

Researchers, scientists and experts, like Janine, have generously explained our most powerful natural phenomena.

In addition, we pull back the curtains on the psychology of warning messages with Sally Potter. Discover the future of AI for flood forecasting with Dr Phil Mourot. Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) scientist Brad Scott will take you to the geothermal areas of the Taupō Volcanic Zone and explain some of those things you hear but may never have had a chance to ask a volcanologist or geologist, such as: what is earthquake weather? Why have people reported waves in footpaths during earthquakes when no concrete was cracked?

Principal scientist - and dad - Graham Leonard takes us even deeper, with insights from the 10 year supervolcano Eclipse Project, while also giving us fun ways to teach kids how volcanoes work. Rick Liefting and Whitney Mills from our Hazards Technical

Advisory Group, give us insights about flooding, earthquakes and tsunami. For those on the west coast, get an insight into giant underwater landslides from our past that shaped our coastline. See the Waipā and King Country in ways you may never have before. Travel east across the Waikato into the scarps you encounter when travelling toward Morrinsville and through the Piako. Then across the Hauraki Plains to the Coromandel where you’ll understand more about our flood protection systems and a different kind of tsunami to what people

often expect.

In addition to these and more from our science community, you’ll even get a masterclass on our region’s mātauranga Maōri from Waikato-Tainui’s Rahui Papa. Unlock the secrets of a form of storytelling known as pūrākau where clues to our event history are embedded in epic stories.

And I’ve only scratched the surface of what’s in the podcast. We even have bonus interviews with our experts explaining how they became who they are todayinspiration for any interested in trying something new at any age.

It’s been a fascinating journey for me.

• More details, see cambridgenews.nz

Getting the treatment

Water from Cambridge’s new treatment plant is now entering the Waikato River.

Waipā District Council’s communications department reported mayor Susan O’Regan, elected politicians, mana whenua representatives, the Kaitiaki Group, regional council, and a representative from the Waikato River Authority were all present to “witness history being made” as the treated wastewater meandered its way to the Waikato River over the new rock lined structure.

The new $105 million treatment plant will take wastewater from Cambridge, Leamington, Hautapu and Karāpiro Domain and replaces the 50-year-old plant at Matos Segedin Drive.

Construction on the plant started last December and work will continue through to 2026

Dr Janine Krippner

Drew Mehrtens

Mayor Susan O’Regan opens the valve to send treated water to the new outfall structure.

AGE OF REASON

GP system - oh the pain

By Peter Carr

The previous government elected to re-shape the national health service by demolishing district health boards. In part I supported this move as I had never had faith in poorly-elected inexperienced wannabees (as governance people) dictating policy that affected the lives of people.

Many shook their heads at the (then) government’s move, but New Zealand is over-full of doomsayers.

The reason for this health-centred opinion this week is that, over recent weeks, I have been through the health system treadmill due to a very painful back problem.

Unable to see my GP for at least three weeks I elected a ($30) walk-in triage at my local medical centre where the highly pleasant and helpful triage nurse directed me to a duty doctor (‘may take up to two hours wait Peter’).

This very pleasant overseas-trained doctor prescribed antibiotics and told me to return in two days if it did not have a positive effect. It did not and I returned to find myself with yet another overseas educated doctor.

So, the first question is just how many days a week are GPs actually in their clinics? And why? Are their earnings too high – are they exhausted – or they just fed up with the system? Each of those GP visits cost $60. Bill now $150.

Informatively I have read that the country is short of 500 GPs.

Due to a formal meeting in Wellington the following week – and with increasing pain – I attended a public clinic where a very helpful doctor prescribed much stronger antibiotics. And the pain continued.

Overall bill now climbs to $295 - in a ‘free’ health system.

I returned to Cambridge and the pain grew over the long weekend, so we elected to attend the Te Awamutu Mahoe Clinic – another three hour wait –on King’s Birthday.

The helpful duty GP phoned the surgical registrar at Waikato ED stating that I needed ‘acute’ care. (Bill now climbs to $390). And off we trundled to the frustrating horror of ED at the main hospital.

The staff were brilliant, caring, helpful and continually apologising for yet another three hours wait.

The collection of sick and those just hiding from the cold air outside was pitiful and depressing. The portly and short statured ‘guard’ shows how low and ineffective the security really is.

Once through yet another triage, the subsequent meeting with the surgical registrar changed everything to ‘green’ and I was in a bed by 5pm.

From that moment on I have total praise for every hospital staff member I met.

From the surgeon through to the nice lady who provided sustenance once the operation was complete.

The care, humour, requisite discipline - all A1 plus. Being in a mixed-gender 5-bed room was interesting – resulting in my apologising to the two lady patients for my snoring cacophony.

The key question to all of you is this – when will the GP system collapse causing people to lose faith and go directly to an already overstretched hospital?

I give it a maximum of five years regardless of which political parties are in power.

We are what we feel

By Murray Smith, Bridges Church

I wonder if we realise how much what we think about, the type of thoughts we allow in our ‘headspace’, plus their accompanying emotions, determines the outcomes of our life?

I was visiting someone in hospital who was struggling with layers of physical challenges. I had sensed that there were attitudes and emotional issues, hurts and disappointments from relationships with others, which were directly influencing their physical state. I gently addressed this sensitively in a nonjudgmental way.

Shortly after, I received a message from this person acknowledging they had been struggling greatly with unforgiveness. The text said, ‘I’d tried so hard to forgive, but last night God helped me do it - it was like a ton of bricks coming off.’ My next visit, I saw a very ‘different’ person who literally shone.

Our brain’s functions and its capacity for affecting the whole of our body is astounding and it means the tracks we allow our thoughts to go down, must be carefully regulated.

If our brain is to serve us optimally and assist positively in our wellbeing, evicting negative thinking, anxiety and fears which change our brain wiring in a negative direction and throw our mind and body into stress, is imperative. Toxic thinking wears down the brain - with widespread results, particularly in diminishing our body’s natural healing capacities.

A verse in the Bible says that, ‘as a person thinks, so they will be’. (Proverbs 23:7)

Research proves conclusively that dwelling on negative thoughts, fostering regret, grudges or resentment actually damages our DNA - yet amazingly, by turning our thoughts to positive things, damaged DNA can actually be repaired by engaging with feelings and thoughts of love, joy, appreciation and gratitude.

Thoughts carry an emotional component

in addition to carrying information. As we think - we also feel. This means when certain thoughts drift into our consciousness, they’re likely to bring up attached emotions. Good or bad.

We’ve all experienced when negative thoughts float into the conscious mind, how an associated emotion can bubble up too -we feel that emotion… a sense of turmoil surfaces and a knot in our stomach develops. Again, it’s in our best interests to heed the Bible’s injunction… “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things”.

Indulging habitually in negative thinking - for example, unforgiveness, bitterness, irritation, worries and anxiety, damages our DNA immediately putting our brain into protection mode, releasing negative stress. But there’s good news from various studies that offer us hope - because incubating wholesome thinking, positive attitudes and good choices, rewires everything back to a positive healthy state.

The self-help industry offers visualisation and verbalisation advice, but often with these ‘techniques’ the intent of the heart is not considered, leaving a disconnect between what is being said, and what is really believed and felt deep down. Mere repetition of the ‘right’ words alone cannot bring about sustainable change.

Our need is heart-felt, inward transformation. I know countless people who testify that receiving Jesus, as the source of life, resulted in experiencing a renewed mind, freedom and wholeness.

Price hedging gains traction

By Chris Gardner

A record number of dairy farmers and rural professionals have turned out for a milk price hedging workshop.

Thirty-two people showed up for the workshop at Fonterra Farm Source, Cambridge, a larger turnout than previous workshops in the Waikato, Taranaki, and the South Island.

“Farmers are becoming more interested, which is really positive, interest has been growing pretty rapidly over the past three,” NZX derivatives sales manager James Atkinson said.

More than 20 per cent of New Zealand milk produced by just under five million dairy cows in more than 11,000 dairy herds is being managed via milk hedging tools.

Milk price makes up more than half of an average dairy farm’s risk profile when looking at different costs and revenue streams on farm from season to season.

A pie chart shows milk prices make up more than half of a dairy farm’s risk profile.

Fonterra dairy farmers have been able to use fixed milk price tools since 2019. Futures and Options have been available since 2017, however,

they have seen more uptake from farmers over the past few years.

Milk price hedging uses financial instruments such as futures contracts and options or processor fixed contracts to hedge against fluctuations in milk price driven by climactic, economic, and political factors.

Futures can be used to lock in a milk price for a future season.

“Farmers pay an initial margin upfront which generally decreases over the life of the future position as volatility reduces and the milk price becomes more known,” Atkinson said. “The variation margin is marked daily to the futures market price.”

Options are like insurance, Farmer pays a premium up front, to protect them from a falling milk price.

“Options protect against downside risk in milk price and can be an effective tool for farmers who want to set a price floor,” he said. “There are a number of strategies farmers can use with Options.”

“The ’24 season milk price futures dropped to as low as $6.70 per kilogram of milk solids then peaked above $10.30 throughout the life of the contract. Every season can be volatile.”

Frozen organic blueberries

Fonterra’s May 29 forecast was between $7.70 and $7.90.

“Fixed milk price is a handy way to get farmers started in the education. They can build from that to other products and tools.”

“A lot of other businesses use these sorts of tools to lock in the margin and lock in profit.”

“Farmers use the tools for hedging purposes, which means to manage their price risk and manage their business more effectively. So, if you can lock in margins above costs on farm that can build resilience within a business. It’s for managing milk price risk.”

Feds leader looks for improvements

A Federated Farmers leader has responded to last week’s story in The News where farmers were encouraged to lobby for better milk prices.

Waipā accountant Jarrod Godfrey said Fonterra’s opening milk price forecast for the 2025 season, in real terms, was not materially different to what was paid to farmers 20 years ago.

Cambridge Federated Farmers chair Richard Myers said the costs of operating businesses need to be scrutinised.

“We need to put more pressure on the Fonterra business to improve performance. Fonterra has a work force of about 23,000 employees, three times as many farmer shareholders. When did Fonterra last trim the work force?

He said another important area where farmers had most control was over operating their own farm business.

“One of the major important farm budget items that can be controlled is imported feed. Growing grass is the farmer’s cheapest feed option. Every time imported feed is used there is substitution of grass for a more expensive feed.

“Home grown feed harvested is a major driver of farm profitability. There is real potential for improving pasture management on farm by measuring accurately average pasture cover, grass growth rates, drawing up feed budgets and diligence with feed allocation. We pay for Dairy NZ and there is much helpful information available from this source.”

“Also, we have a Board of Directors dominated by farmer shareholders six to three. How about a board of four each with the Chair the best person for the job?”

James Atkinson.

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.

Brand new homes available now at Summerset Cambridge*

At Summerset, our retirement villages are designed to make sure you get the best out of your retirement. Summerset Cambridge is no exception, with a range of brand new homes ready to move in to now.

Our single-storey villas are modern, spacious and warm - just what you need in time for winter. There are no worries about maintenance or upkeep as we do it all for you.

Once our stunning village centre is complete, residents and their families will be able to enjoy a range of resort-style facilities including:

Open Weekend

Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 June 10am - 2pm

Summerset Cambridge

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

Indoor swimming pool & spa pool

Recreational bowling green

Resident bar

Public café

Exercise room

Hair & beauty salon

Resident workshop

Come along to our next Open Weekend to see why our residents love the Summerset life.

*All Summerset homes are sold under a licence to occupy and are subject to availability, and depending on the type of home, eligibility criteria. Summerset does not offer rental accommodation.

Kiwis are per capita, the biggest lovers of outdoors in the world. Hunting, fishing, camping – you name it, we are out there doing it every month of the year.

To get the best of our pursuits, and the often-rugged terrain we play or work in, we need the best gear available. And that’s where Hunting & Fishing come in.

Since 1986, the chain has built a second-to-none brand in the sector, and they’ve done this by making sure every product they sell has been well tested in the environment it is designed for, before it gets onto the shelves. The product ranges are now extensive, starting with fishing. From the river, lake, land and sea, we feature everything from the latest technology through to specialized gear and rigs.

Then there is hunting – whether it be deer, thar, chamois or pigs or for the small game for young ones such as

rabbit, possum or goats, there is everything you will need and more.

Let’s not forget camping – and you won’t find a better choice than at Hunting & Fishing, whether you are looking for a tent, or want accessories. We stock all your major camping brands, Zempire, Coleman and Oz Trail to name a few.

It’s not just selling the best available. Hunting & Fishing owners are all keen outdoors people themselves – and ensure their staff are equally passionate and knowledgeable, so that when you walk into the store with a query, they can direct you to the best possible product to suit your actual needs and your budget. Come in and talk to Brooke and the team at Hunting & Fishing in Cambridge for all your outdoor requirements, you’ll find them at 2 Oliver Street, Cambridge and they are open seven days a week.

Staff Rob Warne, Keith Thomason, Dayna Tillemans and Brooke Kimber - Store Manager / Director

O’Dwyer chases American dream

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

American universities are lining up to offer top rowers athletic scholarships.

“They chase all of the rowers – they send recruiters over to meet you,” year 13 Cambridge High School student Tegan O’Dwyer said.

O’Dwyer has been selected for the New Zealand U19 coastal beach sprints rowing team and has been a standout for Cambridge High School rowing over the past two seasons.

She won gold in the U17 girls’ single sculls at last year’s Maadi Regatta, and took out the U17 girls’ quad event with teammates Izie Murray, Lucy Eastwood and Libby Tonks.

On the back of that success, she was offered a trial for the New Zealand U19 rowing team. She missed selection but knew there could be another chance this year.

However, disaster struck at the beginning of the 2023/2024 rowing season when she tore her anterior cruciate ligament while playing rugby.

“I chose a brace rehabilitation instead of surgery because I wanted to get back to rowing as soon as I could and that gave me a three-month timeframe,” she said.

“I missed the first half of the season but I got back in the boat with about two months to Maadi and I just went hard, I just really wanted to get there.”

She not only got there, but surprised herself by taking bronze in the U18 single and double sculls events.

That sparked another chance to trial for the national U19 team this year,

but O’Dwyer believes she was probably hindered by three lost months of preparation.

“I was unsuccessful with that; I just wasn’t fast enough, probably because of a lack of training,” she said.

The silver lining was a trial for a New Zealand team to compete at the 2024 World Coastal Beach Sprint Finals in Italy this September.

She made the crew and was excited to discover one of her rowing idols, Olympic champion Emma Twigg, would also be competing at the event in a national open team.

“Coastal rowing is slightly different to normal rowing –it involves a beach sprint of about 50m to your boat, then rowing as fast as you can for about 250m, doing a 180m turn around a buoy and

then rowing 250m back,” O’Dwyer said.

“It’s coming into the Olympics, so they’re trying to boost it a bit more now and get New Zealand involved in the world championships.”

After returning from Italy the 17-year-old will take a trip to the USA to decide whether to accept one of the athletic scholarships she has been offered there.

“It would be an amazing opportunity to take,” she said.

Longer term her goal is to win selection for the New Zealand U21 rowing team, which she said would be possible while studying in America.

“The Olympics is a few years away but it’s always a possibility if I stick with it,” she said.

Van built for speed

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Van Hazelden is hoping to win gold at the New Zealand Mini Motocross Nationals later this year and, based on his recent trophy haul, he’s in with a good chance.

The Cambridge Middle School student got into motocross riding when he was about five, after watching school friends competing.

“It’s just the excitement and the adrenaline that makes it really fun…it just brings joy to my body,” he said.

Van’s father, Mark, described him as a “consistent rider”.

“He got second in the nationals in Christchurch last year, so he’s currently

ranked number two in New Zealand in the 7-11 year-old trail class.”

Van, 11, won the 7-11 year-old 65cc and 7-11 year-old trail classes at the annual Bay of Plenty Motorcycle Club Interschools Motocross competition near Matata recently, and clocked the fastest lap time on the mini track across all classes.

The next day he won the 7-11 year-old trail class on his Kawasaki KLX140 and came second in the 7-11 year-old 65cc class with his KTM65 at the 2024 King’s Cup event in Tokoroa.

His older brother Jack, 12, also added to the family trophy cabinet, finishing second overall at the Bay of Plenty Motorcycle Club interschools competition in the 11-12 year-old 85cc class.

Te Awamutu hang on for draw

Honours were shared in the Battle of Waipā between Cambridge and Te Awamutu in the Waikato division one women’s senior reserve match at John Kerkhof Park in Cambridge on Sunday.

But the joy on the Te Awamutu players face

when the whistle blew with the score at 2-2 showed the draw meant more to them than Cambridge.

And that is because Cambridge – down by 2-0 with 24 minutes to go –grabbed two goals and then peppered the Te Awamutu defence with attack after attack. Holding on was a tribute to the young Te Awamutu team’s character. Cambridge scored through Tahlia Hansen and Charlotte Watson after Amanda Carleton and Esha Fellingham put Te Awamutu ahead.

There are only 5 one-bedroom or two-bedroom supported living apartments still available in the new Hanlin Building. These easy-living apartments are in the heart of our established retirement village with its own café and village shop right on your doorstep. Enjoy the community vibe and great lifestyle with the added benefit of care and support as you require.

Cambridge High School rowing star Tegan O’Dwyer.

Van Hazelden, photographed at Cambridge Middle School after winning five trophies in one weekend.

Across 1. The way something is presented (6) 4. Male feline (6) 9. Cowboy show (5) 10.

(7) 11. Withdraw (7) 13. Curved structure (4) 14. Outdoor garment drier (11) 17. Unaccompanied (4) 18. Plead (7)

Last week

21. Great detail (2,5)

22. Acclimatise

Across: 1. Fray, 4. Cobble, 8. Twitter, 9. Ounce, 10. Baby, 11. Ruthless, 13. Workforce, 17. February, 19. Trio, 21. Eerie, 22. Naughty, 23. Myrtle, 24. Tank. Down: 2. Rainbow, 3. Yeti, 4. Circumference, 5. Brochure, 6. Lunge, 7. Messy, 8. Tuba, 12. Argument, 14. Earthen, 15. After, 16. Copy, 18. Burly, 20. Curt.

ACEIITNRDAMAGESBCE GVFLPYNGSOCCOUNSEL EMWKTEWLAIRTTLEDRT CCTLYTNAGITILHJVEC JHINRUOJDACOKCBWYI VUATGGTFFITNIALPWD GCDRSPRISONERTEYAR KUYGGUEANEOPBUSBLE JKKGEEJPNSSENTIWJV ACTION ADJOURN ALIBI APPEAL ATTORNEY BAILIFF BEAK BENCH CASE CHARGE CITE CLERK COSTS COUNSEL CRIME DAMAGES DOCK EVIDENCE GAVEL GOWN GUILTY JUDGE JURY JUSTICE LAWYER LIBEL LITIGANT ORDER PLAINTIFF PLEA PRISONER RULING

SENTENCE SILK

SOLICITOR SUBPOENA SUMMONS SWEAR TRIAL VERDICT WIGS WITNESS

Reds march on

By Mary Anne Gill

Cambridge maintained their unbeaten run in the Northern Region Football League Southern Conference with a thumping 5-1 victory over Taupō at John Kerkhof Park on Saturday.

Joshua Clarkin opened the scoring after two minutes from a Thomas Walters corner and Jordan Shaw made it two after 14 minutes. Taupō hit back with a goal from Joseph O’Donoghue but a second from Shaw after 26 minutes gave The Reds a 3-1 lead at the break.

Clarkin’s second 10 minutes into the second half sealed Taupō’s fate and Blake Taylor got the fifth.

Cambridge is eight points clear after nine matches and next Saturday travel to Auckland for a Chatham Cup third round clash with New Lynn’s Bay Olympic.

Waipā neighbours Te Awamutu AFC remain rooted to the bottom of the table following a 1-2 loss at The Stadium to Waikato Unicol. They will be looking for their first league win against fellow stragglers Ngongotaha Lakes in Rotorua on Saturday.

Georgie’s Magic week

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Cambridge netball star Georgie Edgecombe celebrated two milestones last week, playing her 50th game for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic on Monday before marking the team’s 25th birthday on Sunday.

“It’s definitely a dream come true to even have played one game, especially for the Magic, because they were my home team and the team I supported growing up,” said the 23-year-old, originally from Hamilton.

“So to play 50… it’s definitely special, and I feel honoured to have been able to put the dress on that many times.”

Edgecombe moved to Cambridge while a senior student at St Peter’s School, which she attended from 2014-2018, and still lives here with her mother, Anne Smith.

Currently playing in midcourt, she filled in for the Magic as a replacement player in 2019 and was contracted full-time in 2021, where she found herself amongst her idols.

“I was a bit starstruck to start with, but, you know, you just come to realise that they’re just people too, and just doing what they love, like I was doing,” she said.

Playing for the Silver Ferns is her “ultimate longterm goal”, but right now she’s focused on helping the Magic have a successful year.

“We’ve just built some really good connections and great team culture over the past three or so years, so it’s kind of starting to come to fruition and the results are coming from that, which is awesome.”

Her advice to aspiring young netballers is to have fun and enjoy the game – “the more fun you have the better you play” – but also to keep working hard, “because you never know who might be watching”.

“There’s a quote: ‘hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard’, so that’s definitely something I’ve had in the back of my head throughout my career so far.”

She encouraged fans to support the Magic at their

remaining Hamilton home games.

“It’s nice to have that noise in the crowd and hearing everyone cheering for you – it’s like an extra player for us sometimes, kind of pushing us over the line at the end of game, so it definitely means a lot,” she said.

In her spare time, Edgecombe enjoys dabbling in photography and walking her miniature Labradoodle, Bear.

“We spend a lot of time walking the streets and hanging out, so that also takes up a lot of my time outside of netball,” she said.

“He’s very cute.”

Reds on the run: Joshua Clarkin, left, and Jack Connor for Cambridge FC burst clear of Taupō defender Sean Barbour. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Georgie Edgecombe and her dog Bear enjoy time together at Lake Te Koo Utu.

Romantic Cottage with River Views

$1,220,000

Watkins Road, Cambridge

- A spacious 212 sqm (more or less) near-new family home.

- Appreciate the attractive kitchen; open plan living; separate lounge; good-sized bedrooms; beautifully tiled main bathroom and ensuite. Open Homes Saturday & Sunday 10.00 - 10.30am

Ideal Location - Heart of Cambridge

$1,265,000

32 Alpha Street, Cambridge

- Proudly sitting on a freehold section since 1910 - oh so central.

- Attractive historical features include polished wooden floors, sash windows and stunning wooden fire surround.

- Superb mix of original and modern convenience.

Sensational Views & Setting

- Pleasantly positioned upon a large and lavish 3,217 sqm (more or less) lifestyle section.

- Added extra – stand-alone self-contained sleepout with a great open plan layout & bathroom; plus, single car garage/ workshop.

RENNIE, Jean Ngahia –Passed away peacefully on Monday, 10th June 2024, at Resthaven Cambridge. Aged 87 years. Beloved wife of the late Lyle, mother and mother-in-law of Martyn, Darren & Deb and darling adored grandmother of Dionne and Daniel. Now at rest. Thank you to all the staff at Resthaven Home and Hospital for care shown to Jean. At Jean’s request a private cremation has taken place. All communications to the Rennie Family, c/- 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434.

CAMBRIDGE OPEN HOMES

PROPOSAL TO GRANT NEW LEASE

Waip-a District Council proposes to grant the following lease of recreation reserve pursuant to section 54(1)(a) of the Reserves Act 1977:

Lessee: Cambridge Holiday Park Limited

Land: Part of the land situated at 32 Scott Street, Cambridge comprising approximately 2.56ha and forming part of the Leamington Domain recreation reserve which is registered under Record of Title 451551 and described as Allotment 569 Town of Cambridge West.

Term: 10 years with 2 rights of renewal of 10 years each.

Permitted Use: Campground and Holiday Park for short term accommodation only, except the inclusion of the campground manager’s residence.

Anyone wishing to make a submission or objection to this proposal may do so in writing by post or email, to be received no later than 5 pm, 15 July 2024. Please state in your submission if you wish to be heard in person.

Address all correspondence to:

By Post:

Waip-a District Council

Private Bag 2402

Te Awamutu 3840

Or

By Email: info@waipadc.govt.nz

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

Privacy Statement: Any personal information you provide as part of your submission or objection will be used for the purpose of the engagement process, including informing you of the outcome of the consultation. All objections/ submissions (including names and contact details) may be provided in full to elected members and Council officers for this purpose. Submissions (including names but not contact details) may be made available to the public at our office and on our website. All information collected will be held by Waip-a District Council, 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu with submitters having the right to access, and request correction to, their personal information. You can read our full privacy statement at waipadc.govt.nz/privacy-statement.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Waipā winner

A Waipā man has been named the Riding for the Disabled Tom Atchison Young Volunteer of the Year Award winner for 2023.

Corban George-Potterton was nominated from a pool of 48 RDA groups across New Zealand, Corban is an RDA volunteer with an intellectual disability and ADHD. He is supported to live as independently as possible by disability support provider Connexu.

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