White balloons show our community is mourning the death of a baby this week as police seek to understand what happened to 18-month-old Mustafa. At the same time, a reward has been announced in the hope it will help find three children who have been missing for two and a half years. See our stories today on Page 3.
Judy Donovan never came out of the Pureora Forest in late March. She was the subject of an extensive search. Today, speaking exclusively to the King Country News, her daughter tells of the family’s gratitude – and makes suggestions on what might have worked better.
By Paul CharmanThe family of a conservation volunteer lost in the Pureora Forest almost three months ago has broken its silence to thank helpers. Their recent experience has left them with some concerns about search and rescue protocols in remote rural locations.
Judy Donovan went missing on March 23 in the northern part of the forest after becoming separated from a group laying bait, part of an annual exercise.
An extensive search for her in the first eight days was coordinated by Police Seach and Rescue with support from volunteers. The search for her was abandoned a little over a week later.
“We are immensely grateful to police SAR personnel, local Waikato Land SAR, and the Search and Rescue teams, both human and dog, land, helicopter and canyon rescue, who travelled from many regions to help – thank you all for your generosity, time and skills,” Donovan’s daughter, Golden Bay based Nic said.
She presented the family’s thoughts in letter to the King Country News – which we are publishing in full on our website at www.kingcountrynews.nz
Nic said she wanted to express her thanks, and speak of the family’s experience, and would not make further comment to media.
Her concern was that present protocols around searching – including recent restrictions around shift times, could be impacting on
the potential success of searches, particularly in the period immediately after someone goes missing. That included how well local
resources were now being used.
“In this era of centralised health and safety regulations, we seem to have lost the ability to tap into the valuable local knowledge and competence in our rural communities,” she said. “Meanwhile, police are under-resourced in a remote situation like this. Hopefully we will come back to a more collaborative approach sometime in the near future.”
She believed had the neighbouring farmers been informed earlier and encouraged to assist their input could have made a difference – simply by taking their many vehicles to a high point, turning their lights on and sounding their horns overnight.
“I believe Judy would have been embarrassed at being lost rather than worried in the first place. She tried to call a contact - but she should have called 111 - and that’s something people should be made aware of.”
“Judy was a fit, agile, capable and practical 79-year-old retired businesswoman and lifestyle block farmer. She had just biked the Alps to Ocean trail (Mt Cook to Oamaru). Stories from her biking and tramping club friends attest to her physical and mental toughness,
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Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter has signed an open letter to the Government opposing the Government’s proposal to initiate a referendum on Maōri wards.
extra burden on ratepayers, many of whom struggle with increasing costs at present. Are compulsory Maōri wards still necessary? Perhaps the time has come to question this.
cils maintain the road for use at present day standards and does not put aside pockets of money for future activities.
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Certainly, a recent article in the Waikato Times reported him considering the referendum “disrespectful” to Maōri.
Yet at the inauguration of the new Ōtorohanga District Council some months back, the welcome was entirely in Maōri, without translation. It is unlikely that most of those present had much comprehension of what was said. Respectful?
Should the residents of Ōtorohanga District be entitled to a voice?
The views of a broad cross-section of society are necessary to create an effective democracy. There have been times when an equaliser has been necessary, but we only need to look at the present composition of our Government and Maōri representation (currently 33 elected Maōri MP’s) to question the need for it now.
Maōri people work, contribute and compete effectively at all levels of our society.
There are now more than 166 nationalities populating this country. Most are mixed race, as are practically all Maōri. The revival of Maōri language, culture and heritage is to be applauded and enhances our unique national character. But representation is about ability and the willingness to listen and accommodate, not ethnicity.
The previous Labour Government, in making Maōri wards compulsory, has imposed significant costs on ratepayers throughout the country. The inflationary effects of this decision have imposed a not insignificant
If we fail to respect democratic process, autocracy too easily leads to dictatorships, the detrimental effects of which are blatantly obvious in too many parts of the world at present.
I believe we need to support, respect and value democratic process wherever possible.
Frances Rawlings
Ōtorohanga
I refer to the article Confronting the forestry issue (King Country News June 6).
The overall tone of the article I found quite offensive. Andy Campbell stated that the long term plan proposal reflected the depth of disconnect between the Waitomo District Council and its rural ratepayers. The facts do not support this statement and the message I have had from rural ratepayers does not support this view.
Federated Farmers also supported this view. However I am aware that the comments Andy Campbell has reported on were opinions presented at the submissions hearing.
The submissions presented to council were helpful and were well received by local councillors. However emotion was running high at times. Submissions like Theo Muller saying that council woke up after a 30 year snooze, I find unhelpful and insulting. His comment that the council had 30 years to prepare for this overlooks that fact that coun-
In the submission document council proposed a roading rate of x12, which is what submitters were deeply concerned about. Some other councils have increased their roading rates by similar amounts. However after consultation with forest owners our council has accepted a proposal from Greenplan, as reported also in the June 6 edition of King Country News, which proved the worth of having submissions presented.
Waitomo District Council is fully aware of the value of forestry to the region, but we are also aware of our responsibility to all ratepayers.
Gavin Todd Rural Waitomo District CouncillorKing Country name
I support the suggestion of re-naming of the area to King Country.
Te Kūiti/Taumarunui and outlying areas were known as King Country when I was a child in the 1940s. Our mail was directed to Te Kūiti, King Country NZ. Later when suddenly we were designated Waikato we wondered why the change.
Some thought it was something to do with quite sweeping changes to the electoral boundaries, others were convinced New Zealand Post influenced the change, possibility it became easier when sorting facilities were centralised, to change the name to Waikato. Maybe some who worked in the Post Office in earlier times could enlighten us?
Colleen Johnstone Te Kuitiand her calm strength in a crisis.
“Judy’s death could possibly have been avoided. If she was carrying a Personal Locator Beacon this might have ended differently. If she had used the last of her cell phone battery to call 111, they would have GPS located her instantly. Instead, she is lost, presumed dead. Without a body or a death certificate her family and friends are faced with uncertainty and a lack of closure.”
Nic said she would be disappointed if her comments were interpreted as a criticism of the people who worked tirelessly to look for her mother.
She also revealed searches had continued.
“A police cadaver dog search was conducted for two days in early May. A Land SAR dog team has recently been out for a weekend of training and searching.
“Two local families and their extended networks have provided amazing support to the family. They have shared their knowl-
edge and experience of the area. They have taken time off work and farm to spend time in the bush. They have offered good old fashioned Kiwi hospitality and kindness. And they have added their number-eightwire problem solving skills to the search. Thanks - you are all amazing people.
“DOC and tangata whenua provided support to the family with a karakia blessing on a farm close to Judy’s last known location.
“For everyone’s efforts and care we are grateful. We acknowledge the frustration that we are hearing locally. Many farmers and hunters were keen to be out helping in the early days of the search. Some of these people have decades of bush experience in that location.”
She acknowledged police had kept media and community involvement to a minimum because of the remote and untracked bush environment her mother was lost in.
“Our understanding is that this was to
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avoid the risk of inexperienced but well-intentioned people adding to the SAR burden.
“Land SAR volunteers (both dog and human) need to rest and recover after a long day in the bush, in order to stay safe. Police are limited to their shifts in order to operate the radio for communications and coordinate searches. Communication can be difficult in remote locations, leaving searchers vulnerable. Dense bush canopies and adverse weather make infra-red searching by helicopter teams difficult.
“Unfortunately, these limitations conspired to mean that Judy was alone without a search on the first cold night in the bush. She possibly died of hypothermia.”
“Judy is missed by her large network of friends and family. She was a keen gardener and tree planter. We know that she will enjoy the fact that she has become compost for a tree in the beautiful Pureora Forest. For us it is just 20 years too soon.”
The Phillips children have been missing for two and a half years – now police are giving people in the know two weeks to say where they are.
For information leading to the return of missing children Ember 8, Maverick 9, and Jayda Phillips 10, they will pay $80,000. Their message to the community is “do the right thing”.
The children have been missing, with their dad Tom Phillips since early 2022.
This week’s reward announcement came just days after The King Country News sought an update from police on the case and asked a series of questions – which had not been answered as this edition went to press.
The News is the primary media covering the area the missing children are presumed to be in, which police say is within Marokopa or the surrounding areas.
Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders announced on Tuesday the reward will be available until June 25, and police had sent a team to Marokopa as part of a new phase of the investigation.
“…we encourage anyone with credible knowledge of the whereabouts of the Phillips children and who is prepared to assist the
investigation team to make themselves known to our officers,” Saunders said.
“We believe that Tom and the children are being assisted and we’re urging anyone who’s doing this to please stop, do the right thing and tell police what you know.
“We are committed to finding these children and we’re willing to take the step of offering a reward if it will prove the tipping point to help people put the children’s welfare first,”
Saunders added.
“We have concerns for the welfare of the children who have been living in isolation for the past two-and-a-half years, with no connection to others and without formal education and health care.”
Phillips faces charges in relation to aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Police say he should not be approached.”
• Phillips and his children disappeared in September 2021.
• A large search and rescue operation was suspended after 17 days when he and the children walked into his family’s farmhouse.
• They had been living in a tent in dense bush, inland from Kiritehere Beach, police said.
• Phillips was charged with wasting police resources.
• After he failed to appear at Te Kūiti District Court for a scheduled hearing in mid-January 2022, a warrant for his arrest was issued.
• In November 2022, police linked Phillips to the theft of a red quad bike from Te Anga, then later released footage they believe showed Phillips and one of his children breaking the glass frontage of a store in Piopio.
• In May 2023, police said Phillips was one of two people involved in the armed robbery of the ANZ bank in Te Kūiti.
Police investigating the death of a baby boy at Te Kūiti on Saturday, say there are inconsistencies with accounts of how he received his injuries.
On Tuesday Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley identified the boy as Mustafa Maheir Mukzameel Ali. The baby was unconscious when he was taken to Te Kūiti Hospital by his parents on Saturday afternoon and attempts there to revive him were unsuccessful.
The 10-month-old, who had suffered violent blunt force trauma earlier that day, was pronounced dead and a homicide investigation was launched on Sunday.
Pitkethley said police had spoken to both parents, who have both given statements but there appeared to be inconsistencies with stories they had told. Two other people who lived at the home with the baby and his parents had also been assisting the inquiry.
A scene examination took place at the home in Meads St which Mustafa lived with his parents and the two other adults.
Mustafa Ali had been known to police due to previous “non-accidental” injuries, Pitkethley said.
Police revealed they conducted a “number of reviews” in October into an incident. Pitkethley wanted to hear from anyone who “heard the screams from the home”.
“It is the role of police to get answers for the community and the team of investigators is very driven to reconstruct the events of last Saturday.”
Waitomo Mayor John Robertson said the incident was devasting for the whole community and especially those in the street where Mustafa lived.
Robertson had just got off the phone from a speaking to another mayor who had
expressed a message of sympathy for Te Kūiti people.
“I guess the thing that disturbs me most is that a vulnerable baby could lose their life in this way; could lose their life from whatever happened.
“It’s not a reflection on Te Kūiti; it’s a reflection on New Zealand… That’s why anyone who is thinking about this is just so sad.
Roberston said the level of mourning was apparent from the fact that people had put white or blue balloons outside houses and businesses across town.
“You want to do something and I guess this is just one small tangible way to show you care. To me it shows the strength of feeling in our community that people who did not know the baby are wanting to do something to honour him.”
Hundreds of revellers and stallholders were in town and on the platform in bright winter sunshine when Ōtorohanga Railway Station turned 100 last weekend.
Co-organisers Trish and Lee Fisher from Origin Coffee, which operates from the railway buildings, said it went swimmingly with no major misadventures.
“We created a festival type event with giant bubble blowing clowns, a magician, stilt walkers, pipe band, dancers, musicians, a cake cutting ceremony, Kiwiana costumes, even dinosaurs. Wahanui Crescent was closed for a street market,” she said.
A number of guests came in steampunk and 1920s garb.
Toby the Mitre 10 train carried visitors around town and to the museum, past a display of vintage vehicles and machines at the Ōtorohanga Club.
Wikitoria Katipa-Maikuku, granddaughter of Maniapoto diplomat Wahanui who negotiated with the Crown around the building of the railway in the 1880s, brought a portrait of her koro.
She found the centennial party “amazing and wonderful.”
Together with Ōtorohanga institution Bill Millar, famous for greeting guests at the station, the two cut the birthday cake: appropriately a steam train.
Katipa-Maikuku had arrived via the regular Northern Explorer train service – among an official party also including MP Barbara Kuriger, Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter and chief executive Tanya Winter, whaea Pera MacDonald and the museum’s Liz Cowan.
Baxter said there had been a decision not to commission a historic steam train for the day – although he was not personally involved. It is understood this may have related to the cost to the community.
Both Kuriger and Baxter enjoyed listening to the historical commentary on the train via headsets.
“On the train we learned a lot about the settlement and the history of the railway,” Kuriger said.
“It’s a huge part of our history.”
“It was fantastic to arrive and see all the people there – and also Bill Millar, who is such an institution,” she said.
Baxter said it had been “excellent and symbolic” to acknowledge a building so important to the town’s history. It had survived disrepair and neglect in times past, but was a valued part of the landscape today, he said.
“The birthday really brought the community together,” he said.
He said the railway – in linking Auckland and Wellington – was hugely significant to New Zealand’s broader history and that of Te Rohe Pōtae.
Bill Millar was pleased to see
such a large crowd turn out to enjoy the celebrations.
“This response served to remind us how fond people are of rail transportation in general,” Millar said.
“And in particular, people in this town realised just how important
the Northern Explorer for bringing in tourists on their way to Waitomo Caves and other attractions in the district.”
The anniversary comes just one year after the railway line was symbolically returned to Maniapoto (and regifted to the Crown), after the Government acknowledged its breaches of Te Ōhaki Tapu, the agreements made between the Crown and Maniapoto rangatira, including Wahanui.
The celebration was funded through several Ōtorohanga community groups and trusts.
Police accept shortcomings in their response to the death of Kerry William Phillips, also known as Blue, on the highway near Maniaiti /Benneydale.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that Police failed to respond appropriately to an emergency call reporting that a pedestrian had been hit by a car near Benneydale early on January 24 last year.
Instead of sending police to investigate the scene immediately, a patrol did not investigate until daylight.
Phillips, 41, was struck and killed instantly when the driver rounded a corner on SH30. The collision caused damage to the windscreen and front of the vehicle, but the driver did not stop. With his partner and child on board he continued to his mother’s home in Maniaiti/Benneydale.
The mother drove along the highway in search of the crash scene but was unable to find it. She then called Police emergency to advise what had happened. During this call she explained her son was not sure if he had hit a person or an animal.
The call was taken by a call taker in Christchurch who recorded the details and coded
the job for dispatch. The job was then tasked to the duty night shift sergeant in western Waikato who discussed it with the night shift senior sergeant.
For reasons, including that the driver’s mother had already searched the area; the possibility the driver could have hit an animal, and the availability of resources, a decision was made to delay Police attendance until morning.
The officer who drove into Benneydale in the morning failed to see Phillips. Even after returning with the driver, they drove up and down the section of highway searching each side of the road before finding Phillips’ body beside a fence.
His family complained to the Authority about the police decision to delay a response until morning, angry he may have been laying injured. The IPCA noted the pathologist advice Phillips would have died instantly and any medical intervention would not have prevented his death.
The driver was later charged with failing to stop after the crash. He pleaded guilty and on April 22, 2024 was sentenced to seven months and seven days home detention and disqualified from driving for one year.
Barbara Kuriger says she’s “like a pig in muck” this Fieldays week.
The Taranaki-King Country MP is now part way through at least four days of volunteering, manning the National Party stall, and meeting up with friends and supporters.
“I’ve jokingly been called ‘The MP for Fieldays,’ she told The News. “I just love it. I’ve been going since my late teens, both in my farming and my governance days.” Kuriger says the best thing about the event is that “absolutely everybody’s there – the whole community, the whole farming community.”
Over the years, some of her fondest Fieldays memories related to the Bachelor and Bachelorette contests, she said.
This year, public transport is on her mind – she made a video to encourage Fieldays-goers to catch a bus rather than bringing their car.
Located at 19 Tuhoro St, this burgeoning business is setting a new standard for local shopping, offering a diverse range of products akin to a small-scale The Warehouse, Kmart or TradeMe Whether you’re looking for home essentials, kitchen gadgets, or the latest electronics, The Budget Warehouse has it all.
As an authorized reseller for Jaycar Electronics, The Budget Warehouse is a go-to destination for tech enthusiasts. From state-of-the-art security and surveillance systems to audio and video equipment, they offer top-quality products that cater to various needs. They also sell different kinds of batteries, solar systems, small to large speaker systems, camping goods, portable fridges and freezers, CCTV units, and more. Their selection of high-resolution cameras and smart home devices ensures that every customer can find the perfect solution for their home or business security. But the offerings don’t stop at electronics. The Budget Warehouse is a treasure trove for home and kitchen items, small appliances, LPG gas stoves, and BBQs. With an extensive array of products from well-known brands, you can outfit your kitchen or outdoor space with reliable and efficient appliances. Their competitive
prices and wide selection make it easy to find exactly what you need without breaking the bank.
For those with a penchant for DIY projects, The Budget Warehouse is a haven. Stocking an impressive range of auto parts and accessories, hand tools, and power tools, it’s the perfect place to find everything required to tackle any project.
The store also caters to families with a broad selection of stationery, kids’ items, and toys, making it a one-stop-shop for all your household needs.
Despite being a new player in town, The Budget Warehouse has quickly become an integral part of the Otorohanga community. It fills a crucial gap by offering products that were previously unavailable from
local businesses, enhancing the shopping experience for residents.
Owner Harpreet Singh is committed to delivering exceptional customer service. Whether you visit the store or shop online, you can expect a seamless experience. Their efficient click-and-collect service promises a two-hour turnaround during business hours, and they offer free delivery to all Waikato towns with an urban address, including Hamilton, Huntly, Te Kuiti, Te Awamutu, Matamata, and more. Plus, with current promotions like a 5% discount on online orders, there’s even more incentive to shop at The Budget Warehouse.
Flexible payment options, including layby, Afterpay, and Zip, further enhance the customer experience, making it easier for everyone to access the products they need.
In conclusion, The Budget Warehouse is more than just a new store; it’s a valuable addition to the Otorohanga community. With its vast selection of products, competitive prices, and outstanding service, it’s a must-visit for anyone in the region. Whether you’re shopping for your home, a special gift, or just indulging in some retail therapy, The Budget Warehouse is the place to go.
Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton “is not too concerned” that the Government has allocated funds to restore the Mt Ruapehu environment following any end to ski operations there.
The budget allocated $8.5 million toward management and removal of ski field infrastructure between now and 2028, but Kirton said the decision to do this was taken back in October, when the outlook for the Whakapapa ski field looked bleak. Since then, three parties had put in bids to buy Whakapapa from liquidators, and the Government would reveal the successful bidder in the next month or two.
Those who declared their interest in Whakapapa are
Whakapapa Holdings Ltd; a former Tūroa bidder John Sandford and a pan-iwi group.
“So with the Pure Tūroa Company having received a 10-year concession to run that ski field, and with Whakapapa now looking like it would soon have a new owner, any need to dismantle all the ski infrastructure seems pretty unlikely,” he added.
Cabinet had allocated $7m to operate Whakapapa to the end of the forthcoming ski season, but Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has said this represents the end of Government bailouts for ski fields on
Ruapehu.
DoC’s regional operations director Damian Coutts said the $8.5 m had been approved to remove redundant infrastructure associated with Tūroa and Whakapapa ski areas.
“The department will be using this funding to remove all redundant infrastructure, including the Ngā Wai Heke Chair, and to undertake restoration of the sites where material is removed.”
Kirton admitted if no deal could be reached on Whakapapa remediation required would have to be much wider in scope. In such a case the Conservation Act would
King Country school support staff will join colleagues in discussing next steps after deciding the Government’s budget “failed to deliver.”
Hundreds of staff are attending paid union meetings around the country from this week to discuss priority issues including working conditions, job security and professional development.
NZEI Te Riu Roa says the budget failed to deliver meaningful funding for schools and kura. It noted while inflation is four per cent, the operations grant increase was only 2.5 per cent.
The grant pays for education workers collectively known as ‘support staff’. These include teacher aides who support children
in the classroom, people who manage school offices and administration, librarians and school technicians.
Spokesperson and Auckland based teacher aide Ally Kemplen said Te Riu Roa regarded it as hugely frustrating to see the Government “ignore the needs” of schools and tamariki.
“Teacher aides provide essential learning support to learners, but don’t have job security. Many of us are on fixed term contracts because of the insecure funding system that funds our pay.”
Support staff are also key to managing school discipline issues, which have risen in recent years, according to teachers with decades of experience who spoke to The News.
kick in, demanding that all buildings, ski lifts and other equipment there would have to be removed and the mountain put back to its natural state.
Such an operation was estimated to cost tens of millions to achieve.
“But I am an optimist and I predict a successful outcome, with one of the current bidders winning the right to take Whakapapa into the future,” Kirton said.
“There’s just too much at stake in terms of loss to not only our region but our whole country, for this ski field to be lost. The Government is well aware of this.”
He said between them
the two ski fields generated winter revenue of $89.6 m to $115.2 m, much of which went into King Country businesses.
“The
On-farm servicing, covering the King Country and Waikato regions – convenience to farmers by bringing the
Waitomo mayor John Robertson’s push to double down on Hamilton and Waikato Tourism’s objection to its funding being reduced was turned at the council table.
Robertson had moved the council remove a remaining $30,000 intended for tourism funding because Hamilton and Waikato Tourism – HWT - submitted to the proposed Long Term Plan that anything less than $70,000 would not be viable. The council proposed
lowering HWT funding from $70,000 to $30,000 a year. Robertson moved the $30,000 in the budget be removed, as it was below the level HWT was prepared to accept.
In the debate Cr Janett Osborne moved the $70,000 be re-instated. She said tourism brough $101 million a year into the district and probably directly employed about 400 people.
It was an investment, not a cost and there was huge support for the caves village area for HWT and the work
its staff did. There was also a huge potential for Te Kūiti township to grow from that tourism, she said.
Cr Janine New said there was a need to understand the value tourism brought to the entire district, from the north and out to Piopio and Pureora. Each business in the district that benefitted from tourism was unable to market themselves individually at the national and international level as HWT was able to.
Deputy mayor Allan Goddard noted farmers would
Host club president Geoff
Ten teams - from Lepperton in the south, Putaruru in the east, Raglan in the west and Hamilton in the north competed in the triples event.
McManus, supported by Steve Woods and Caroline Johnson was the only skip to record four wins. Next in line was a Kihikihi team skipped by Owen Johnson with Lyn Comins and Clark Ambury. They had three wins and a draw. Third was another Te Kūiti team skipped by Michelle Tapara and including Ramon Nahna and Kylie Norman.
be pay most of the $70,000 as it would come out of the general rate.
Cr Dan Tasker’s suggestion the council see if there was any industry support was adopted.
The $30,000 would remain in the budget, while the district tourism industry would be asked to come up with $40,000 – by September 30.
Tasker questioned HWT’s claim visitors to the district contributed $101million to the Waitomo district economy for the year to
October 2023 – $37million from international visitors, and $65million from domes-
or
into the
Ōtorohanga District Development Board is offering to connect businesses with mentors.
It is running a June 25 information session to assist existing businesses or organisations and people looking to set up a new venture, wanting help in management or oversee a project.
The event is run with the help of Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ) which has more than 1500 mentors who give their time voluntarily.“The only motivation for BMNZ and their mentors is to support and accelerate success,” the development board’s Local Business Coordinator Teresa Ferguson said.
The session will be held in the Tuatara Room on Rotary Park.
Councillors were told there was huge support for the work Hamilton and Waikato Tourism did for the Waitomo Caves. tic visitors – $277,000 injected district economy each day. McManus skipped his team to success in last week’s Te Kuiti Bowling Club mid-winter event.Jon Nabbs is running from Bluff to Cape Reinga fundraising for child cancer.
“We’re trying to give kids with cancer something to get excited about,” he said as the long distance runner – dressed as the caped crusader Superman flew through the Waitomo District.
Mind-boggling distances are Nabbs’ thing.
After losing both parents to cancer in 2020, the Waikato runner – he’s from Kaipaki in Waipā – and ex-farmer needed a good cause and a way through his grief.
So he walked the length of New Zealand’s 3000km Te Araroa trail. Then last year he ran 8000km across Canada. This year, it
was back to New Zealand for more.
He passed through Ongarue and Te Kūiti this week, later chatting to The News from Auckland after running via Te Awamutu, Ngāruawāhia and the western backroads along the Waikato river.
Nabbs “absolutely loved” the King Country, and Waitomo Caves, but he didn’t stop for the caverns.
There wasn’t time.
“It’s been all business. Eat. Sleep. Run,” he said.
Alongside fundraising for cancer, he hopes to set a new record for running the length of New Zealand on foot.
The women’s record, Emma Timmis’ blistering 20 days, is already out of sigh - Jon’s
already been on the road nearly a month.
According to our best efforts with Dr Google, there’s no sign of an official Guinness Book of Records male record.
There are records. In 2018 64-year-old Feilding man Perry Newburn ran the distance it in 18 days, 8 hours and 45 minutes; breaking Siggy Bauer’s 1975 record of 18 days and nine hours.
But neither was an official ‘Guinness’ record – a substantial admin challenge in its own right, that few achieve.
Nabbs therefore appealed to the internet to witness his record attempt.
“Track me online, come out and meet me. Even run with me. And sign to say you witnessed the record attempt happening. This is what a Guinness world record needs, they’re very, very thorough.
“The more witnesses we get, the better chance we have of getting our record submission accepted once we reach the Lighthouse at Cape Reinga,” he said.
While he’s “the opposite of a fan of social media” it allowed him to connect with supporters through his travels.
“I arrived in Newfoundland not knowing anybody. But the time I reached Calgary and Vancouver I was being invited to meet the mayors in those cities, and really able to highlight the cause through them. All that happened through social media.”
Socials also connected him with Mike Gibson, who follows him in a camper van and helps out with cooking, laundry and groceries.
The two met just over a fortnight ago, with the latter taking on this role in the spirit of mateship after following him on Instagram. A previous support person had suddenly left and returned to Canada.
Gibson said he’d learned from the runner “that the human body and mind are capable of anything. On a day to day basis, he’s been so consistent. It’s been tough sticking to the routine but he hasn’t ventured from his goal at any stage. 70km is always 70km, not 58.” What’s next for Nabbs? Further big adventures are still secret because they’re only being planned. Before that, he will go to Canada to plant trees, to earn a bit of money. He hopes the record-breaking caper will see people making donations online.
Police attended a single family harm incident last week.
June 1: At about 11.50 am police were called to a serious crash on SH3 just north or Kio Kio Station Rd. It was thought a south-bound truck crossed the centreline. One of the drivers was taken to hospital a critical condition. The serious crash unit is investigating.
June 2: At about 10.10pm police signalled the driver of a white Ford Courier utility to stop on Huiputea Drive, but the driver drove off at speed. The vehicle was later located in The Esplanade, Te Kūiti. It was impounded and investigations are continuing.
June 4: At about 6.20pm police received a report that rocks were being thrown at a house on Sargent Place. The rocks, thrown over a period of 30 minutes, caused significant damage to a double-glazed ranchslider. Youths aged 13 and 14 were spoken to and referred to Youth Aid.
June 4-5: Overnight, a red Honda quadbike was reported stolen from a carport at a rural address on Roberts Rd. The owner awoke to hear the bike being started and driven past their window.
June 5-10: In this time period a 130 litre hot water cylinder was stolen from a vacant property on Turongo St.
June 5-7: Overnight at a rural address on Ouruwhero Rd a portable electric fence reel was reported stolen. A vehicle was heard leaving the area between about 4 and 5.30am.
June 8-9: Two hot water cylinders were stolen from an unoccupied rural property on Te Kawa
Rd. The house was found to be flooded with water as a result.
June 9: At about 2am on Rangatahi St a local resident was threatened and assaulted by a stranger while walking. In the course of the incident the assailant allegedly stole the victim’s mobile phone.
June 8-10: Somebody apparently attempted to steal a Holden Rodeo utility from a commercial address on Maniapoto St. The passenger window was found smashed.
June 11: An unknown vehicle came down the driveway of a home at a rural address on Paewhenua Rd, Maihihi, at about 1.30 am. When automatic lights went on it left again leading the householder to call the incident suspicious.
Police attended a single family harm incident.
May 31: Galvanised manhole covers called “scruffy domes”, which belong to the Waitomo District Council, were stolen from an address on Mangatoa Rd, Marokopa. The covers are valued at $5000.
Police have attended two family harm incidents in the past week.
June 1: Two vehicles were involved in a collision at about 1am on SH4, Kopaki. They were both reported to have been significantly damaged in the nose-to-tail crash, but no injuries were reported.
Police attended eight family harm incidents and two mental health callouts last week.
June 1: At about 8.30pm police received a complaint about a Visa card owned by a
business being used to make unauthorised payments of about $610 online. The card was stopped and cancelled.
June 1: Six complaints were made of cars being damaged at around 10 pm in the Te Kūiti Hospital Carpark. Police have assured hospital employees and hospital users that they have increased patrolling in the area.
June 3: Between 1am and 3am a station wagon was damaged on a driveway on Lawrence St. All four tyres were slashed and the front windscreen smashed.
June 5: At about 12.30am a man entered the BP service station and passed a note to the attendant demanding all the money in the till. The man was asked to leave and did so. Police said the matter is being investigated.
June 5: A Walker Rd resident reported that a burglary had taken place at their property between 2020 and the present. This involved the theft of a Samsung mobile phone and a Crosman air pistol with a combined value of $1350.
June 5-6: 180 litres of diesel was stolen from, a vehicle parked at a commercial address on Waitete Rd.
Police attended eight family harm incidents.
June 4: After becoming verbally aggressive a female was trespassed from a local facility.
June 5: Threats to damage property were reported to police. Windows at the Manunui Memorial Hall had rocks thrown through them.
June 6: Police arrested a male for assaulting a female.
June 7: A person was offered saddles and bridles which they thought may have been stolen.
June 10: Items were taken from BP Station. A female wanted by police was located and arrested.
June 5: The brigade was called out at 2.24pm following activation of a monitored alarm at a residential address in Te Kūiti Rd. Cooking fumes are thought to have been the cause.
June 7: When the same alarm triggered at 5.58 am, no apparent cause was detected. The brigade left the matter in the hands of the home owner to sort out with their alarm company.
June 8: At 1.30am the brigade was called to the scene of a crash in Carroll St after a car had hit a power pole opposite Repco. The brigade directed traffic at the scene and secured the vehicle after the Lines Company had made it safe.
June 7: At 12.24pm the brigade was called to assist with a medical case at an address in Pokuru Rd.
June 8: At 11.36pm the brigade was called out after a dog was reported to have been locked in a car parked in Te Kūiti Rd.
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Ōpārau bike racing wiz James Scott is following famous King Country athletes by using farmwork as a buildup to international competition.
Previous examples have included the legendary Meads brothers, Colin and Stan, and more recently, international axe champion and farmer Jack Jordan, who is a Kirikau farmer. But Scott is in the big league too.
The current national 250cc motocross champion is a dominant force in this country’s enduro and cross-country racing and he also regularly competes at the top levels overseas. At 21, Scott is a seasoned member of the Altherm JCR Yamaha Race team, plying his trade at events around the world.
Over the next few months he’ll contest the premier cross-country motorcycle series GNCC in the United States; several enduro GP and motocross GP events in Europe and the Australian National Motocross Series in Queensland. More importantly, he will be marrying fiancé Anika Bailey, a schoolteacher formerly of Te Awamutu, on January 11.
To remain race fit, Scott works with a personal trainer twice-aweek at the Velodrome Gym in Cambridge, which demands driving an hour each way to and from his parents’ farm.
But that’s only part of the story: The core of his training comes from the likes of pig hunting in the bush, mustering, fencing and other farm work.
He credits a combination of farm life plus early years as a boarder at Hamilton Boys High School, with providing life skills to help cope with all the pressures of international motorsport.
Scott’s mentor, Yamaha management team member, Josh Coppins, agrees.
“James spends a lot of time working on his own in the hills, which no doubt keeps him grounded,” Coppins says.
“Working on the land you get a lot of time to think about things and plan your goals. It also provides a very good work ethic. And working on your own working like that you’re disciplined and accountable. Applying those principles to your sport will make you successful.
“A significant group of Kiwi sportspeople have had the discipline of working on the land while they achieved international success, and if you asked me to break the benefits of that down to one word it would be ‘values’.
“They gain respect and understanding this way. They are prepared to make sacrifices, take responsibilities seriously and understand consequences.”
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Coppins, a former top international motocross athlete, says it is primarily values that he looks for when choosing an up-and-coming rider to mentor.
“Values come before speed, technique and even natural ability. You can have all that but you need character to face adversity. We have to face adversity both in our life and our sports. And it’s values will get you through during the hard times.”
How did Scott’s career start?
“It began with me and my cousins ripping up his dad’s paddocks and getting told off for it when we were very young.
“I probably didn’t start racing competively till about age 11 or 12. I just stuck with it, as you have to, and the outcome is that I’ve just won my first senior motocross title.
How does he find the international travel?
“It’s okay, but I definitely like it when I get to come back home and its nice and quiet. No outside noise and all you can hear are the birds and sometimes bulls and dogs - and its good.”
How does the money side of it work?
“I get looked after very well by Yamaha, who covered most of the costs of my last trip overseas. I was very lucky there but there’s still a lot of costs I need to cover myself. I’m lucky my parents are prepared to help me out but it’s very expensive, particularly this year as there’s so much I want to do overseas.
“So I’m hoping to increase support from sponsors but it’s pretty hard to get money out of anyone at present because of the economy.”
James Scott won the 2024 Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships’ third round, held two weeks ago.
This boosted his series lead and clinched his selection for Team New Zealand at October’s International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Spain.
PWR Yamaha’s Wil Yeoman also made the team and will join Scott for the gruelling Spanish event. It will be the two Yamaha riders second time contesting the ISDE, after they both rode for the Junior team in 2022.
Scott is having a stellar year, having secured the MX2 title with the Altherm JCR Yamaha motocross team in March, and he will join forces with his main enduro title rival Brad Groombridge, over in Spain.
Their top-tier ISDE squad will be bolstered by Kiwi internationals Hamish Macdonald and Liam Draper.
Scott moved up from his second place after the first two South Island enduro rounds, following wins in both the sprint event and traditional timecard enduro race, held earlier this month.
He also leads the E3, 301cc-to-open four-stroke class.
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
Continued to page 16
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.”
Prescott
Our
Deane Mark wanted to be just like his workmate, now his daughter wants to be just like him.
Mark, 48, applied to be a volunteer firefighter 30 years ago when he worked at Erg Automotive in Te Awamutu.
He was intrigued by a colleague who used to run to the fire station every time the siren sounded.
“I decided to join up then,” he said.
The colleague who inspired him is long gone from the service, but Mark – of Deane Mark Autoelectrical in Ōtorohanga and Te Awamutu – remains.
He will be presented with his 25-year Gold Star on June 29 with his daughter Addy, 18, alongside him in uniform, fulfilling a longheld dream. She’s been joining her dad at the fire station for two years.
Mark’s wife, Ange, and younger daughter, Kenzee, 11, will also attend the occasion.
Mark doesn’t remember his first call out. It was about six months after he signed up, but his first fire was on Taylor’s Hill, Te Awamutu, where the occupants escaped the flames and Mark’s crew extinguished them.
“It was pretty much destroyed,” he remembered.
In 2001 Mark took a leave of absence from firefighting to establish his own business, Deane Mark
Autoelectrical, in Ōtorohanga. He returned to Te Awamutu after hiring an Ōtorohanga manager five years later and established a second branch. He’s just sold the business after establishing Caravan Import UK.
Mark returned to the fire service in time to join the effort to extinguish the Tamahere coolstore blaze and subsequent explosion that killed Derek Lovell in 2008.
“We spent a few days there,” he said.
Mark considers earning his Lions award from the United Fire Brigades’ Association Firefighter Challenge as his biggest achievement.
So how many hours a week does he spend at the fire station when responding to calls?
“Quite a few because we do a lot of training and fundraising, I look after the property, and there’s lots of social things,” he said.
“You do spend a lot of time down there.
“It’s up to you what you want to put into the place, but the more you put in, the more you get out of it.
“It’s a great place to be part of. When you’re a part of that place, you want to do things for the place.”
Te Awamutu chief fire officer Ian Campbell said Mark had given 25 years of extra ordinary service.
Continued from page 13
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.”
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.”
This article was also published in the June issue of the King Country Farmer.
Over the coming weeks we’ll be under taking an aerial sur vey of TLC-owned lines and equipment using helicopters.
The footage will help identify areas needing maintenance, repairs or even replacement of structures and equipment — keeping your lights on. It will also help us to keep our community and workers safe.
The survey is weather dependent. The aircraft will rapidly fly over TLC-owned lines and infrastructure — only taking visual footage of equipment, not of private property, people or livestock.
More information thelinescompany.co.nz 0800 367 546
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 Grey Power meeting in Waipā last week, 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 fitfor-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 prior-
ity 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.
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.
The oldest baby swan, and the second oldest boat in New Zealand, is about to return to the water after a three year restoration process.
There are no public details available of Cygnet’s previous restoration that took place in the mid 1990s, but her current owner and restorer Andrew Shaw has taken the steps to ensure an extended lifetime – barring accidents.
The former Mōkau cream boat has been transformed with its double diagonal carvel planked kauri hull splined and glassed using epoxy fillers and resin. Her topsides received the application of two-pot paint. Wiring has been replaced, steering updated to a hydraulic system.
“There used to be a chain round the wheel, connected via pulleys to brass rods that ran all the way down the back,” Andrew said. “Everything was rusty and it was old.”
Hydraulic controls replaced the old system. A new rudder was built in Auckland of 316 stainless steel by copying the outline of the old one, and a bronze tiller arm added.
“The whole thing is fully rewired, all the lights - everything is all new,” Shaw said.
He’s also added a through hull transducer – a sounder for looking at depths in muddy channels. The toilet tucked in aft of the wheelhouse is a chemical one.
Cygnet is being restored under the oversight of a marine surveyor, enabling the former riverboat to take paying passengers on the Kāwhia harbour.
Cygnet was built by Thomas Major Lane in Auckland 1913. Her brass commissioning plate records Victor Albert Sjolund as the original owner. She was shipped to Waitara. At 35ft with 7’6” beam (10.6m x 2.28m) Cygnet was shallow draft drawing 12” unloaded and 18” (30cm x 45cm) with a two ton load. Cygnet could take 22 passengers. In those days the Mōkau river was the only North Island river designated a highway, and Gygnet’s run was 30km up the river, dropping fresh bread, mail and farm kids’ correspondence lessons, and collecting cream cans on the journey downriver for
processing at the butter factory that used to be near the river mouth. Upriver, it was a two-day trip.
Sjolund sold the boat and cream run after six years to Eric Lewes who operated it until 1957.
“Then they put the road in, that was the end of that business,” Shaw said. “John Rubay bought it, and sailed it from Mōkau to Kāwhia.
“There were a couple little issues on the way. As soon as they left the river because it had never been in rough seas it disturbed all the rubbish in the bottom of the fuel tank, so it kept stopping. But they made it.”
From 1957 through to the late 70s or mid 1980s, Cygnet operated as a passenger boat in Kāwhia, then she was sold again and returned to Mōkau where Cygnet was operated as a tourist boat by Dawn and Neil Coleman who announced in 2016 they intended to sell it.
Shaw bought it about three years ago. He put the boat and its trailer on the back of a truck and returned it to Kāwhia.
Shaw says he had a lot of knowledgeable help in the restoration and he learned a lot about West system epoxies, and all the different fillers and powders.
“Everything is just one job after another, but we’re nearly at the stage where there’s nothing left to do,” Shaw said.
SS Earnlsaw on Lake Wakatipu is the oldest boat, registered in 1912.
During the cooler months, food becomes scarce for our flying friends, so here are some tips to keep their bellies full over winter.
Many of our native birds eat nectar, fruit and insects, so if you provide something for our native birds you will be inviting all birds to your garden.
Set up a feeding station or two in your garden, it may take a while for the birds to come but once they know it’s there they will visit whenever you put food out. Some tips to having a bird feeding station
• Set it up where they are safe – high enough that a cat can’t use it as their feeding station.
• Clean the feeder regularly to avoid the spread of disease.
• Provide water so the birds can stay hydrated.
Feeding stations can be as simple as putting a nail into the fence that can hold half cut oranges, apples, pears, feijoa’s, kiwifruit.
These fruits will attract the tauhou (silvereyes) guaranteed and if you are lucky maybe korimako (bellbird) and tūi.
You can even place fruit in your trees, or I like to put them in my roses as the birds can get in but the cats don’t like the thorns.
For our insect loving birds you can leave the leaves that fall off your plants and shrubs (if they are not diseased) in the garden.
Over time a thick layer of mulch will build up and this makes the perfect breeding ground for insects.
If you are like me and remove your leaves, then why not find a back corner to make your leaf mould and the insects can move in there for the birds to find.
Sugar water is another treat for our nectar loving birds.
To make, dissolve half a cup of sugar in four cups of water.
The best sugar water is a ratio of 1:8, anything higher may attract bees and wasps as it may start to ferment more quickly.
You can also pop into Mitre 10 as they have readymade bird cakes, (some are on sale at the moment) seed bells, sugar water feeders.
In my garden I provide a choice fruit and bird cakes and I get to enjoy the silvereyes dancing in the air while flying from one to the other.
A north facing suntrap with elevation, this tidy home with three double bedrooms is the perfect starter or secondstep property.
Located in a quiet cul-dec sac with a rural outlook from the deck this home has had a full renovation and was redecorated a couple of years ago including a modern kitchen and more recently, a new bathroom too with only the flooring left to complete.
Better in brick with a basement storage area (which can be accessed by vehicle)
provides a good dry lock up area for toys, tools and the spare freezer.
A sound property as a rental with the changes to the brightline test just a month away.
In-zone for Ōtorohanga South School and priced to sell!
Get your offer in quick as the sellers have purchased elsewhere.
Open home Sunday, June 16 - 12.15 to 12.45pm LOCATION | 6 Glen View Ave, Ōtorohanga
I 913m2 HOUSE | 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. 1 garage PRICE | $529,000
LICENSED AGENT | Harcourts Blue Ribbon Realty Ltd MREINZ Licensed Agent REAA 2008
LICENSED SALESPERSON | Kerry Harty 027 294 6215 Karen Lennox 0275594468
WEBSITE | blueribbonharcourts.co.nz
WEB ID | OH22468
This early 20th century (circa 1911) weatherboard home has been renovated and redecorated throughout, to a very good standard, and is now vacant and available for occupation, by a new owner for themselves, or as a low-maintenance rental.
Two double bedrooms, kitchen/dining, and separate lounge, bathroom and separate toilet. Chattels include, new stove, heatpump, and carpets, vinyl and drapes.
Situated on a corner section, approximately 1km from the centre of town with a double garage, the property is fully fenced, and is connected to the town's mains sewage system, and water.
Te Kuiti is very well served, with 4 Primary Schools, and High School, that are all held in high regard.
The Rateable Valuation is $365,000.
Contact Sue or Bruce today!
2.15 – 2.45pm 4 Sargent Place $749,000 3 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23566
Te Kūiti
11.00 – 11.30am 63 Waitete Road $369,000 3 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23569
– 12.30pm 965 Hazelmere Crescent $585,000 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23539
– 12.45pm 1650 Te Rahu Road $859,000 3 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23437 12.30 - 1.00pm 384 Waikeria Road
– 1.30pm 4 Cicada Place, Kihikihi $749,000 3 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23586 1.00 – 1.30pm 88 Kacey Avenue $979,000 3 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23575
blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23579
– 1.30pm 2/294 Mutu Street $665,000 3 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23549 1.15 – 1.45pm 14 Ballance St, Kihikihi $719,000 3 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23572
1.30
Family friendly
Built in 1950 and located close to Centennial Park this three bedroom plus sleepout home has had a fabulous makeover. Two double bedrooms and a single bedroom in the main house and the sleepout would be an ideal spot for the teenagers or perhaps a boarder. The open plan living/dining area leads to the galley style kitchen which is bathed in light from windows along one wall. The main bathroom is at one end of the house with an extra toilet in the laundry area. A double carport is attached to the sleepout at the rear of the home. This is a great family home and room for the kids to play a game or two on the lawn at the rear of the property.
When location is key
This three-bedroom property allows for easy walking distance to Te Kuiti township. The flat section makes for low ground maintenance. Native floorboards and solid weatherboard are all the ingredients for anyone looking to enter the home ownership ladder. Partially fenced with deck at the back section and garden shed. Sick of renting? Pick up the phone.
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Need somewhere secure to store chemicals? Purchase a 10, 20 or 40 foot container. Contact PGF Transport for details. Phone 07 878 3622 or 027 223 9246 or email o ice@pgftransport.co.nz
3pm:
King St East, Te Kūiti
Comedian HypnotistHaiming Jiang
As seen on Breakfast Show & TikTok
Saturday, June 15 at 7pm Show is R16, Free Entry and open to the community Club Liquor Laws apply to purchase alcohol Bistro open from 5pm
Situations Vacant
Acting Principal – Term 3 Expressions of interest before June 20, 2024
Rangitoto School Board is seeking an Acting Principal for Term 3, 2024 while the recruitment process for the permanent Principal position is worked through.
The position is a fixed, full-time role that combines principal functions and responsibilities with some teaching duties.
If you are a strong communicator, have a proven track-record, enthusiastic with plenty of energy and are keen to support our exceptional teachers and students during this time of transition then please contact Sam Duder via email on srduder@gmail.com before June 20, 2024.
Are you an admin superstar looking for a flexible hybrid role? Work from home, and from our home office in Ōtorohanga.
We support a number of clients with their administrative needs including operating a phone service and email management.
We are so BUSY we need someone to join our team in a contractor capacity asap! Our busiest peak is Monday mornings (8am-1pm) and Friday afternoons (1pm-5pm) so we are looking for someone who is available to work those hours, but is flexible to work additional hours to support the needs of our clients. There is approximately 10-15 hours per week available. This is contracted work and you will be required to invoice for your time on a weekly basis. Potential to earn up to $40 per hour once the training period has been completed. If this opportunity sounds like something you are interested in, please send your cover letter and CV to sarah@eight73consulting.co.nz or phone 07 873 7104 for more information.
Closing date: Wednesday, June 19, 5pm
TE WAITERE BOATING CLUB, 1230 Te Waitere Rd, RD8, Te Kūiti 3988 has made application to the District Licensing Committee at Te Kūiti for the renewal of a club licence in respect of premises situated at 1230 Te Waitere Rd, Te Waitere and known as Te Waitere Boating Club. The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is that of a sport and social club. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is to be sold under the licence are Monday to Friday 10am to midnight, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays from 10am to 1am the following day. The application may be inspected during the ordinary office hours at the office of the District Licensing Committee at Waitomo District Council, Queen Street, Te Kūiti. Any person who is entitled to and wishes to object to the issue of the licences may, not later than 25 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at Waitomo District Council, P. O. Box 404, Te Kūiti 3941. No objection to the renewal of a licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in Section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. This is the only publication of this notice.
PROPOSAL TO CLOSE ROADS TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC –TARGA NZ 2024 RALLY
In accordance with Sections 319(h) and 342, and Section 11 of Schedule 10 of the Local Government Act 1974. Notice is hereby given that Ōtorohanga District Council proposes to consider temporarily closing the following roads to enable Targa NZ to hold a tarmac rally on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26, 2024.
• Haurua and Waitomo Valley Rds: Friday, October 25, 2024 from 8am till 12 noon.
• Mangamahoe, Honikiwi and Turitea Rds: Friday, October 25, 2024 from 8.40am till 4.40pm (affecting no exit roads
- Te Raumauku and Bromley Rds).
• Kāwhia Harbour Rd: Friday, October 25, 2024 from 9.55am till 5.55pm (affecting no exit roads- Te Kauri, Berntsen, Kihi, Rakaunui, Whenuaapo, Owhiro and Waipuna Rds, and also Hauturu Rd).
• Barber Rd: Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 8.10am till 12.10pm
• Otewa, Tauraroa Valley, Maihihi, Paewhenua, Maihihi, and Mangatutu Rds: Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 9.25am till 1.25pm (affecting no exit roads - Pukemapou, Millard, Wall, Grice, and Pukemapou Rds and also Lurman Rd).
• Bayley, Ngaroma, and Wairehi Rds: Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 10.15am till 5.40pm (affecting no exit roads-Wynyard, Tolley, Waipai Rds and Hingaia, Ngaroma, Mangawhio, Aotearoa and Taupaki Rds).
• Aotearoa and Kahorekau Rds: Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 12.15am till 4.15pm
• Pukewhau and Mangare Rds: Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 12.35am till 4.35pm (affecting no exit road- Landing Rd and Arohena Campground)
For the proposed period of closure, the road would be manned at intersections by clearly identifiable marshals equipped with radio communication and access will be provided in the event of an emergency. There will not be any detour in place.
Any person wishing to object to or support the proposal is called upon to lodge notice of their objection or support and grounds thereof in writing before 4pm Thursday, July 4, 2024 at the offices of the Ōtorohanga District Council, 17 Maniapoto Street, Ōtorohanga or by contacting Paul at paul@otodc.govt.nz
TE RONGOROA MARAE
SGM, Ongarue
June 23 @ 10am
1. Review of Charter 2. Marae Development Plan Enquiries: terongoroapapakainga@gmail.com Nau mai, Haere mai
Te Kuiti & District Historial Charitable Trust AGM
Sunday 23rd June 2024 at 2.00pm
123 Rora Street, Te Kuiti - upstairs (enter from rear of building off Taupiri St) Nominations are open for trustee positions. Nominations to the Secretary at tekuitimuseumandgallery@gmail.com
Held at theTe Kuiti Museum & Gallery Entry from Taupiri Street Light afternoon tea provided NEW MEMBERS WELCOME
Wool themed event to run at the same time as NZ Shearing
85TH ANNUAL MEETING
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 2024
VENUE: Ōtorohanga Club Incorporated 107 Maniapoto Street, ŌTOROHANGA START TIME: 11am
All financial members of the Ōtorohanga Club Incorporated are invited to attend. Current membership cards must be presented on admittance.
Bronwyn Merrin, Secretary/manager
The Ngāti Maniapoto Marae Pact Trust (Inc.) Hui – A – Tau – 2023 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
If you are interested in helping form a group to make this happen come along Tuesday, June 18 @ 7pm Creative Spaces 119 Rora St, Te Kuiti. Txt 021 104 9707 or email Sue at creativespacestekuiti@gmail.com
BROTHERS 2022 Ltd, 1 Riverside Lane, Te Kūiti has made application to the District Licensing Committee at Te Kūiti for the renewal of an on licence in respect of premises situated at 1 Riverside Lane, Te Kūiti and known as Riverside Lodge. The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is that of a tavern. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is to be sold under the licence are Monday to Sunday 9am to midnight. The application may be inspected during the ordinary office hours at the office of the District Licensing Committee at Waitomo District Council, Queen Street, Te Kūiti. Any person who is entitled to and wishes to object to the issue of the licences may, not later than 25 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at Waitomo District Council, P. O. Box 404, Te Kūiti 3941. No objection to the renewal of a licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specitied in Section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. This is the first publication of this notice.
Alissa Reweti, 36 Anzac St, Te Kūiti secretary/ manager of Quota Club Te Kūiti inc, 71 Taupiri St, Te Kūiti has made application to the District Licensing Committee at Te Kūiti for the renewal of a club licence in respect of premises situated at 71 Taupiri St, Te Kūiti and known as Quota Club. The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is that of a club. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is to be sold under the licence are Monday to Sunday 9am to 1am the following day. The application may be inspected during the ordinary office hours at the office of the District Licensing Committee at Waitomo District Council, Queen Street, Te Kuiti. Any person who is entitled to and wishes to object to the issue of the licences may, not later than 25 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at Waitomo District Council, P. O. Box 404, Te Kuiti 3941. No objection to the renewal of a licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specitied in Section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. This is the first publication of this notice.
FRIDAY, 21st June 2024 at Maniapoto House 51 Taupiri Street TE KUITI 10.30 am to 1pm
Agenda 1. Welcome 2. Chairperson report 3. Chief Executive Officer / Financial report 4. Maniapoto Training Agency report 5. Maniapoto Community Services report
6. Election of Officers
7. Acceptance of new Trustee nominations 8. Appoint Solicitors, Auditors and Accountants
Marae Administration Grants
General Business
NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
All members of the Ōtorohanga Club Inc. are advised that a Special General Meeting of Ōtorohanga Club Inc. will take place as follows:
Date: Sunday, July 14, 2024 Time: 11am Place: 107 Maniapoto St, Otorohanga
Purpose of the Special General Meeting: - To relinquish ownership of the golf course and golf clubrooms - To retain ownership of the golf rental house
AGENDA 1 Welcome 2 Apologies
3 Proposal to relinquish ownership of the golf course and golf clubrooms whilst retaining ownership of the golf rental house • Discussion • Voting 4 Close meeting
Note: To have the right to attend and vote at the Special General Meeting, members must be financial and be able to present proof of current membership on admittance to the meeting.
Awaroa A2J2 Special Meeting
Sunday 30th June, Trust Waikato 4 Little London Lane, Hamilton. 1pm - 2pm
Agenda:
Apologies
Charter ratification
Karakia
THE WAITOMO CLUB INCORPORATED NOTICE TO 2023/2024 FINANCIAL MEMBERS
Sunday, July 7, 2024
1pm registration - 2pm start Both entrances open at 10am
Agenda
1. Welcome and apologies
2. Reading and moments silence for past members
3. Confirmation of the 2023 56th AGM minutes
4. Matters arising from the 2023 AGM minutes
5. Presidents Report
6. Treasurers Report
7. Financials a - 2024 Financial Statements b - Appointment of Auditor
8. Appointment of Officers
9. General Business
Amanda Kiddie Club Secretary
Doors will be locked at 11:10am
AGENDA: Apologies
Minutes of 2023 AGM
Consideratin of President’s report Financial statement for the year ending March 31, 2024
Election of officers
Election of auditor
General business
No vote is required for President, Treasurer as nominations were equalled to the positions available.
A vote is required for the Vice President as two nominations were received.
The unsuccessful candidate for Vice President will automatically full the 7th committee position.
Piopio Cosmopolitan Club
June 25, 2024 at 7pm
42 Moa St, Piopio All welcome
Waitomo Search & Rescue AGM
Thursday, June 20
Saturday, June 29 10.30am at the Piopio Domain All Welcome
7pm
Te Kūiti Fire Station Taupiri St, Te Kūiti All welcome Enquiries to Sandra (sec) 027 316 1768
Kãwhia Sports Club Incorporated
Notice of AGM
To be held at the Kãwhia Community Hall Kawhia on Saturday 22 June 2024 at 1000
Te Kūiti Bowling Club Inc AGM & Prizegiving
Sunday, June 30 at 1pm
at the bowling club
Tammadge St, Te Kūiti
Please bring a plate for afternoon tea Nau mai, haere mai
All welcome
Sunday Service 10.30am Kids Club 11am Youth 12.30pm-3pm Evening service 7pm
The Harvest Centre, 5 Tuhoro St, Otorohanga 07 873 8890 I 027 493 0117 • harvest.pc@xtra.co.nz Pastors Peter & Carole Coventry (An Assemblies of God Church)
Ultimately life is based on a bunch of decisions, but the most important decision you’ll ever make is trusting Jesus with your life. (Tim Tebow)
BOROEVICH, William Brian (Sam): passed away unexpectedly on May 31, at his home in Te Kūiti. Dearly much loved son of the late Bill and Betty Boroevich. Much loved and adored brother of Pat, Bev, Marie (dec), Ngaire (dec), John, Tony, Sharon and Kevin. Respected and loved brother-in-law and uncle to all his nieces and nephews. Until we meet again. Moe mai rā e te Rangatira.
BURNS, Jan: on June 11, 2024. Passed away at Tauranga Hospital surrounded by loving family and friends with heavy hearts. We will miss you forever. Service to be held on Saturday, June 15 at Hope Funeral Service Te Puna at 2pm.
LONGDEN, Janice
Piopio contact: 07 877 8097 Mōkau contact: Mrs Dorothy Lowry 06 752 9123 Email your classified ads to reception@goodlocal.nz Don’t forget to include your billing details, name, address & daytime contact phone number
Ailsa: Peacefully at Bob Owens Retirement Village, Tauranga, on Sunday June 9, 2024. Aged 83 years. Dearly loved wife of Bob. Much loved mother and mother-inlaw of Jane and Bryce, Steph and Rich. Adored grandmother to Morgan, Paige, Courtney, Lucy, Hannah and Sam. Great grandmother to Jacob. A celebration of Janice’s life will be held at St David’s Presbyterian Church, Ōtorohanga on Monday June 17 at 11am, followed by interment at Te Kūiti Cemetery. All communications to Longden Family C/- PO Box 241, Te Kūiti 3941. In the care of VJ Williams & Sons, Funeral Directors Association of NZ
PERRY, William Sasha: June 7, 2024. Very proud father, of irreplaceable Indigenous Rangatira children. Much love to you.
TATTERSALL, Betty
Dora:
17.7.1936 - 10.6.2024 In her 88th year. Passed away peacefully with family by her side at Resthaven on Vogel, Cambridge. Dearly loved wife of the late Tom, mother of John, Dale, Alan, Maree, Robyn, and Wendy (dec). Loving grandmother and great grandmother. Huge thanks and gratitude to the staff at Resthaven for their love and care of Mum. In accordance with Betty wishes a private cremation has been held. Te Awamutu Funeral Services, FDANZ.
