The numbers game
By Mary Anne Gill
A proposal to reduce the number of Waipā district councillors from 11 to eight is still on the table, but only just, after a workshop last week revealed significant disagreements among elected members.
The proposal, initiated and championed by mayor Susan O’Regan was not a silver bullet but a way for councillors to take control of the district’s destiny, she told the workshop.
But four veteran councillors – Lou Brown, Philip Coles, Bruce Thomas and Roger Gordon – were adamant the representation review is unnecessary and a waste of staff time.
And another four – Mike Montgomerie, Andrew
Brown, Marcus Gower and Mike Pettit – who supported a suggestion staff present a report to council later this month, are clearly still undecided.
“I raised this matter and I challenged us to consider how we could be better governors, more professional governors, more dedicated governors,” O’Regan told the workshop. “More people around this table does not make better representation or better governors.”
Fewer councillors does not mean paying less as the amount of remuneration is set independently and the pot of money would be divvied up among eight rather than 11 councillors.
Stephen Hill from ElectionNZ - Waipā’s
election returning officerstold the workshop residents had been asked to comment on the suggestion to create one rural and three other wards, including a Māori one.
There were 59 responses with 32 saying 11 councillors was too many, 21 thought it was about right and five thought it was too few.
“I was pretty heartened by the feedback we got,” said Clare St Pierre.
Reducing the number of councillors would not see representation suffer and it was clear people wanted that rural voice maintained.
But Gordon dismissed the feedback saying 59 submissions did not suggest the community wanted change.
“I’m not seeing sufficient
A whiff of glory
By Mary Anne Gill
American humourist Mark Twain once said: “The secret to getting ahead is getting started.”
That means his Cambridge namesake has got as good a show as any other horse of winning the Melbourne Cup, the richest horse race in Australasia, at Flemington this year. And the rising five-year-old bay gelding is one up on the other starters – he’s already had a sniff of the $800,000 gold cup which will be handed to the winner’s owners on November 5, the first Tuesday in November.
Keep an eye out!
New season deciduous fruit and ornamental trees are starting to arrive in store.
The cup is on its annual pilgrimage to New Zealand under the watchful eyes of Joe McGrath – its official keeper – and had a photocall at Kingsclere Stables in Cambridge with Mark Twain on Monday.
“Mark”, as he is known around the stables, qualified for the Melbourne Cup with a Kiwi-like come from behind performance at the end of March in the 2600m Roy Higgins listed race at Flemington. That gave him a ballot-free entry into the cup, something co-trainer Robert Wellwood describes as “a boyhood dream even to have a runner.”
evidence for the need,” he said while also noting the final population counts had not come out and further change might be needed.
He agreed with one submitter who said a representation review was “a needless and huge waste of staff resources and time.”
Montgomerie, who represents Maungatautari, said a combined rural ward did not “gel with me.”
Rural people who identify Cambridge and Te Awamutu as their towns were different, he said.
Staff will work on a paper to present to the council’s Finance and Corporate committee on July 30.
That will canvas the options available to councillors and include do nothing, sticking with
the status quo with some boundary changes and reducing the numbers by creating one rural ward and having three general wards.
Muddying the waters is whether Waipā will be required to either resolve or
disestablish its Māori ward or hold a binding poll. That decision must wait for the current bill before Parliament to be enacted or significantly changed to reflect opposition by local authorities throughout New Zealand.
For - Susan O’Regan Against - Lou Brown
Cambridge stayer Mark Twain sniffs the 2024 Melbourne Cup held by ambassador, retired jockey Damien Oliver, and watched by from left, Roger James, Matt Ivil and Robert Wellwood.
Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
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A whiff of glory
Continued from page 1
There are 40 years between Wellwood, 29, and his veteran co-trainer Roger James, but the prospect of having a Melbourne Cup winner has them both champing at the bit alongside Mark Twain.
“The Melbourne Cup is the one race that stands out in Australasia,” says James.
“It’s built a name over the years that’s wrapped in history. To be able to have a runner in it is a privilege.”
James glosses over his earlier training experience in the cup in 2007 when Railings finished second to last noting he was not keen to run him “the owners were.”
But Mark Twain is different, and his form is such both men can dare to dream.
“What could it do for any trainer’s career? For somebody of his (Wellwood) age to win a cup, it would be phenomenal.”
Not a bad result for a 69-year-old either. He has trained six New Zealand Derby winners - including Mark Twain’s stablemate Orchestral – and won 35 group one and more than 1300 races in a 42-year training career.
The mostly Australian owners of Mark Twain prefer to have the New Zealand-bred
On the beat
horse trained in Cambridge.
“New Zealand is the greatest place to race horses, the best place to bring them up, we’ve got such good land and it’s a good environment to bring them, and they know if the horse is good enough, we can travel it to Australia pretty easily,” said Wellwood.
Add in Cambridge’s synthetic track – next door to the stables – and you have training facilities able to negate what would normally be heavy track conditions for horses.
“Getting a horse like Mark Twain ready for the spring racing, now we’ve always got a track we know takes the variability out of it.”
Wellwood describes the horse as “laidback – a real dude, never has any worries or issues. He loves lots of people. He’s very unassuming, walks out, does his thing, never causes any trouble.”
Minutes later he does just that led out by handler and track rider Matt Ivil and as the two walk around the parade paddock, Mark Twain takes a sneaky look at the cup sitting on the fence.
And when retired jockey Damien Oliver - a three-time winner of the cup and now its ambassador – brings the cup over, the ultrarelaxed stayer could not resist sniffing it.
with Senior Constable DEB HANN
Help with the links
We had a wee hot spot of car crime in the Williams, Clare and Vogel streets last weekend and two burglaries in the last week elsewhere in Cambridge.
One offender or group of offenders can be responsible for a number of individual crimes, especially when it comes to dishonesty offending. It is important to ensure that if you do fall victim to such crime, you report it so that we can link potentially associated crimes together and gather the combined evidence to help our investigation.
If your car is stolen, police will ask for permission to tow it when located. While I understand that for those who do not have insurance, this will incur additional costs for them, it is normally covered under insurance.
Towing for a forensic examination is key in enabling us to find evidence of those responsible to be able to hold them to account. I strongly encouraging given authorisation for us to tow it when making the stolen vehicle report accordingly.
Talking about dishonesty offending, school holidays are again upon us for the next two weeks. Time again to ensure opportunists don’t have the attractant, opportunity or means to steal from you.
If you are heading away for a winter
break, my usual crime prevention tips apply. Lock your houses and any garages or shedding. It can be beneficial to create an illusion of occupation, through having a neighbour park their car in your driveway, have someone clear your mailbox, check on your house and if feeding pets, open and close curtains at usual times. CCTV is good to have in place, with most systems allowing easy access to view your cameras via an application on your phone. This enables you to call police if you observe any unauthorised people on your property and provide real-time updates on their actions and locations.
Winter poses additional risks when it comes to road travel with wet, icy and foggy conditions a real possibility. Ensure your tyres have good tread and your car is up to warrant of fitness standard, with head and fog lights working correctly. Remember that the auto setting on car headlights is based around light and darkness, and does not react to fog or other poor visibility scenarios.
As the slogan says, be safe, be seen, so turn those headlights on to manual. Always drive to the conditions and keep to the speed limit. It is better to arrive alive – patience and planning your trip is key.
Tributes to Garry Dyet
By Mary Anne Gill
Outgoing chief executive Garry Dyet attended his final Waipā District Council meeting last week and was given an emotional farewell by mayor Susan O’Regan.
“This will be the last formal meeting that we will have Garry Dyet seating in the CE hot seat,” she said.
“Thanks for everything that you have done for the district and the organisation.
“This is the first of a number of lasts for you and also the start of a whole new chapter for you and Donna and your family.”
Dyet announced late last year he would retire from the council after 45 years mid this year.
He extended his stay beyond June 30 to prepare for new chief executive Steph O’Sullivan who starts on August 26.
Deputy chief executive Ken Morris will be acting chief executive before then.
O’Regan said there would be other opportunities to farewell Dyet but chose to express her gratitude for his “support, guidance and steady brain” at the council meeting.
“(You have) made Waipā the great place it is to live,” she said.
Dyet finishes at the council on July 19.
Garry Dyet
Transport plan
A plan representing $11.8 billion of transport priorities over the next three to six years has been adopted by Waikato Regional Council.
The Waikato Regional Transport Committee endorsed the plan at its June meeting. It outlines transport priorities for the next 30 years and makes a case for central government funding.
Search starts
The search for a replacement for Tainui Group Holdings outgoing chief executive Chris Joblin is on with no succession planning in place. The board and Joblin have agreed an extended notice period to mid-November to enable a recruitment process and transition. Joblin, who joined TGH in 2009 as chief financial officer, plans to take time out with family over the summer and consider his next career step.
Entry date
The deadline for the Waikato Chamber of Commerce business awards has been extended until tomorrow (Friday).
On line numbers
Our ever popular News in Brief, which we update between print versions of our newspaper, was the most popular page and article on the Te Awamutu News website last month. A funding predicament for Maungatautari mountain came in second with Night Riders return – about the night-time ride on Te Awa cycleway – in third place just ahead of our wrap up from Kihikihi Bowling Club.
Inghams expands
Ingham Motor Group has added the Mitsubishi brand to its Cambridge dealership. In February the company, established in Ōtorohanga in the late 1960s – announced it had purchased Windsor Nissan in Cambridge. It earlier bought the adjacent site previously occupied by Bunnings.
Five Stags failures outlined
By Chris Gardner
The operator of Pirongia’s Five Stags Restaurant and Bar breached licensing laws for years, the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority has heard.
Five Stags operator Night Pearl Ltd, whose sole shareholder is Nora Fu, was told in September last year that the front and left side outside area of the building could not be used to consume alcohol until a licence variation was granted for those areas.
But during a police-controlled purchase operation in December alcohol was sold by a 16-year-old staff member to a 17-year-old who was not asked for age identification. The underage drinker was allowed to sit outside the licenced area to consume the alcohol.
“There appears to be an ongoing disregard for the assistance given or an inability to understand the obligations of a licensee,” the Waipā District Licensing Committee found in February. It was not confident that the licensee understood the obligations of a licensee and declined renewal of a licence.
Fu, who had operated with an uncertificated manager on duty, and had failed to maintain the manager’s register, appealed to the authority last Thursday.
Fu’s counsel Sarah Rawcliffe said her client had represented herself before the licencing committee hearing and felt it was incorrect in finding the licence should not be
`You need to be able to trust your licensee to understand their obligation and meet them substantiality, not superficially,’ – counsel Robert Davies
renewed.
Rawcliffe said there was “a significant amount of confusion” throughout the prior process.
Hearing chair Judge Simon Menzies said the appellant’s submission implied criticism of the licensing committee. But Rawcliffe accepted the confusion was the appellant’s issue.
Judge Menzies said the appellant had received a plan showing a clearly defined licensing area that covered to the roofline of the building.
“It was not clear that it could not serve alcohol out the front of the premises,” Rawcliffe said. “This is on the basis that it had been done for many years.”
Judge Menzies asked Rawcliffe: “Is it clear to you?” Rawcliffe said it was.
Robert Davies, counsel for liquor licensing inspector Mary Fernandez, said the key issue was the applicant’s suitability to hold a liquor licence.
“You need to be able to trust your licensee to understand
their obligation and meet them substantiality, not superficially,” he said.
Davies reminded the authority that the Employment Relations Authority had ordered the appellant to pay more than $21,000 in compensation in 2023 following the unjustified dismissal of an employee.
He also spoke of an overriding impression of a patronage in a considerable state of disorder.
“Is it any wonder the controlled purchase operation failed?’
The Five Stags has been forbidden from selling alcohol since May 19, but continues to promote “Cold beer, great food, tall tales….” on its website.
The authority reserved its decision, promising a decision in writing.
“I am not going to put a time frame on that,” Judge Menzies said.
Waste message from board member
By Chris Gardner
Waipā District Council has been told by a community board member to practice what it preaches before investing in resource recovery centres in Cambridge and Te Awamutu.
Council transportation manager Bryan Hudson told Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board’s June meeting a section of the surplus Cambridge Wastewater Treatment Plant at Matos Segedin Drive was being subdivided to accommodate a new resource recovery centre.
The centres will be funded by the council’s waste minimisation levy rather than rates, he said, to realise the goals of the districts waste minimisation plan.
“It would be really nice to be on board and practice what we preach, to start practicing some of this,” responded board member Sally Whitaker.
“It’s sort of like the left hand and the right hand aren’t marrying in and it’s not being demonstrated. If we, as a council, are proposing this type of activity from our people and are expecting this behaviour it would be really nice to be demonstrating that.”
Hudson said he fully agreed with Whitaker.
“Our waste management team are always looking for opportunities. We are certainly keen to be reusing as much material as possible.”
Board member Jill Taylor wanted to know how long it would be before the council would open a resource recovery centre in Te Awamutu. Hudson couldn’t say.
“There is work going on to investigate suitable land sites in Te Awamutu for a range of council activities into the future, so there is potential that a Te Awamutu facility could fit onto that site as well,” he said.
Whitaker was concerned the council might duplicate work already being done by Waste Management in Daphne Street, Te Awamutu. Hudson said resource recovery did not have to happen in one location.
“Across the district resource recovery is happening in all of those second-hand stores which are operating, there are community groups who already doing the mahi in this area,” he said. Board chair Ange Holt wanted to know how much the board could be involved.
“It is the perfect opportunity for the community board to gather supporters and ideas and make contact with interested community parties who want to be involved,” Hudson said.
Discussions were already underway with the Urban Miners, Lions Club and Extreme Urban Waste, Hudson said. But the council had not talked to Waste Management.
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Rosetown Funeral Home are dedicated to providing personalised and meaningful funeral services, and are happy to discuss new ideas, pre-planning and/or pre-paying for your funeral. We are here for you in your time of need, so please get in touch anytime to discuss your options.
Jim Goddin JP Funeral Director
Change at the top for Rotary
By Viv Posselt
Co-hosting delights linked to a French exchange student and a visit by Rotary International president Gordon McInally were among 2023/24 highlights referenced by outgoing Te Awamutu Rotary Club president Gill Johnston last week.
Speaking at the club’s annual changeover – at which Kylie Brewer was welcomed in as the
2024/25 president – Gill said she had thoroughly enjoyed being the club’s 77th president.
“I had a couple of goals for my year – one to get the fellowship and engagement back in the club post the pandemic, and the other to increase membership. I think we’ve done OK on both fronts,” she said.
The French exchange student she spoke of is Louise Zakrzewski, who has spent time with various
families in Waipā over the past 10 months. In much the same time, the club has gained a few and lost a few, she added, resulting in a net gain of three new members.
The evening also saw the presentation of a Paul Harris Fellow award and two community awards.
Jim Broom was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow award in recognition of his lengthy service, both through his work in the police force and through his volunteering. Jim spent 43 years working around the country in joint operations for New Zealand’s police force and Ministry of Transport before retiring in 2019 and settling in Te Awamutu and with his wife, Jill, joining the local Rotary club. His technical skills were central in keeping the club going through the pandemic.
Community service awards went to Robyn Atherton for her extensive support of the local community over many years, and to Sharni Budd for the establishment of Loving Arms, an organisation that donates clothing and vouchers to new mothers.
Robyn Atherton is well-known in Te Awamutu for her wideranging contributions to the community.
She was active in coaching, judging and timekeeping at the Te Awamutu Swimming Club for 12 years, was secretary at Kainga Aroha Community House, the
Hearing Association and the Te Awamutu Citizens Advice Bureau, and is secretary/treasurer of the Te Rahu District Hall Society. She has just retired as a trustee of the Te Awamutu Health Shuttle after nine years, having helped put two new debt-free vans on the road.
Sharni Budd, assisted by her husband Jamie, established Loving Arms in 2014 with the aim of ensuring new mums received adequate support in terms of clothing and other essentials. The Loving Arms Charitable Trust was formed in 2019, and over the past
10 years, they have supported over 5000 families needing help.
Incoming president Kylie Brewer says her adopted theme, embracing change, will take a more outward focus, as it aims to develop new projects and continue to build membership.
Another presentation made was the ‘Log of Wood’ given to the person who has stood out to a club president during their year in office. It was presented by outgoing president Gill Johnston to her ‘go to person’ for 2023/24, Chris Kay.
James ‘Jim’ Broom with his Paul Harris Fellow award, presented by outgoing president Gill Johnston.
Photo by Viv Posselt
Outgoing Te Awamutu Rotary Club president Gill Johnston passes the chains of office to Kylie Brewer. Photo by Viv Posselt
Bydder accuses council
By Mary Anne Gill
Former registered architect
Andrew Bydder claims Waipā District Council released his unredacted submission on the Cambridge Connections project to deflect attention from its rates’ rise and increased funding for Karāpiro Domain.
Hamilton City Council confirmed this week Bydder – a first-term city councillor living in Cambridge – will face the second stage of a Code of Conduct complaint about the submission.
In it he used a derogatory term commonly used decades ago to describe cerebral palsy people, told the Waipā mayor to “get off your fat arse” and council staff to “get on your knees and beg forgiveness.”
Hamilton council received 24 Code of Conduct complaints including one from its mayor Paula Southgate, other city councillors, and some Waipā councillors as well as members of the public.
The News has seen a summary of the complaints. Most refer to “offensive, ableist, disrespectful and derogatory” language used.
But Bydder was unapologetic. He suggested to The News Waipā District Council was using diversionary tactics.
He said he sent the submission in three months ago.
“Clearly Susan O’Regan did not find it offensive enough to act at the time,” he said. “The reason it was done now and not in March, is purely a distraction.”
O’Regan told The News last week she did not see the unredacted comments until June 27 as staff had censored them under the council’s policy.
Waipā rates are going up nearly 15 per cent while the management contract for Karāpiro Domain was awarded to deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk’s company for $4.248 million over five years – with two five-year extensions - an increase of more than $300,000 a year.
“It has everything to do with creating a distraction,” said Bydder.
But council staff maintain they discovered the increase was overdue when they reviewed the domain contract.
Stolwyk’s company has had the contract for 20 years – before she was elected to Waipā council - with very few increases. The process used was approved by the Office of the Auditor General pursuant to the Local Authorities (Members’ Interest) Act because she is an elected member of the council.
Of the Bydder issue, Hamilton chief executive Lance Vervoort said an initial assessment of the Code of Conduct complaints by Tompkins Wake determined the
matter should be referred to an independent investigator.
“For clarity, the initial assessment is intended as a guide to inform decisionmaking.
“An independent investigator may come to a different conclusion to that indicated in the initial assessment on the conclusion of their investigation,” he said.
Bydder, who lives next door to an area now known as the blue blob – where a third Cambridge river bridge was to have been built – says he made the submission as a resident, and not a city councillor.
“The (Hamilton) council has chosen to blur the lines between public and private.
“So, I’ve said if that’s the case, I’m doing everything from my
council stuff because apparently all my private stuff is now council stuff.”
He also criticised the Waipā elected representatives who had made complaints about him.
“Any public submissions from a councillor about a councillor, they have to show me.
“The process they (city council) are going through is actually breaking the law. They are required to follow the Bill of Rights (section 17) – the rights to natural justice,” said Bydder.
“The process has been completed without any involvement from me.”
The News asked O’Regan for comment, but none was received in time for our print detail.
• Updates will go online cambridgenews.nz
Job almost done
By Mary Anne Gill
Ten new one-bedroom pensioner units are nearing completion in Leamington in a development which has become something of an oddity in other communities.
Waipā is one of the few councils which still provides housing for older people in the community and it has become increasingly rare to see new ones built.
The one-bedroom, one-storey units on the corner of Thompson St and Shakespeare St are next to the council’s existing Vaile Court housing.
Funding for the new units was ring-fenced six years ago and the $3.6 million contract awarded last year.
Livingstone Building built the units to a six Homestar rating equivalent which ensures warmer, drier, and healthier homes. The units include a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living area as well as outdoor space but no garages.
Several trees – none of them native and with no long-tail bats present - had to be felled to accommodate the homes while a new road and entrance was built into the complex.
Tenants are expected to move in later this month with an open day planned before that.
Waipā provides housing for just over 100 people in 93 units across seven complexes in Cambridge, Kihikihi and Te Awamutu. The units offer a home for retired people over the age of 65 who comply with the council’s criteria for subsidised rent.
Habitat for Humanity will manage the rental process at Vaile Court while the council will continue to own and maintain the units under a lease agreement.
The residents in the new units will be 60 years and over under an agreement between Habitat for Humanity and the Ministry for Housing and Development.
Potential tenants must be on the Ministry of Social Development’s housing register.
Paula Southgate
Andrew Bydder
Time to go
By Janine Krippner
I am about 18,000 km way from home alongside a lava flow that destroyed communities in 2021.
Here in La Palma, in the Canary Islands off the coast of northern Africa, I am hearing very human and relatable stories about the struggles experienced before, during, and after the eruption.
I spoke with a resident originally from Germany who has lived here for 25 years. Through her work she was asked a lot of questions by visitors about the volcanic nature of the island, so prior to the eruption her awareness was fairly high.
When the ground started shaking, and wouldn’t stop shaking, it didn’t take her long to decide to leave her home on her own accord. Her house was overrun by lava. So many others waited to get an evacuation order, some others left when they saw neighbours running.
Why did she choose to leave on her own? I have heard a similar story from a couple who also chose to leave and not wait. What makes these people different?
The first resident had a good baseline understanding of the nature of volcanic activity here and she was watching the website of the local monitoring agency, seeing the earthquake reports roll in like we do with GeoNet.
She also avoided the conflicting information being shared by media and through local social networks.
The second couple had backgrounds in science and were also watching the monitoring data shared online. Additionally, they understood the uncertainty that comes with monitoring data (like the depth of an earthquake is an approximation). They
did not wait while their neighbours were standing outside, avoiding indoors because of the intense seismic activity associated with the magma moving towards the surface. Their home was thankfully not hit by lava but it was damaged during the eruption.
These people had enough information to empower them to make their own choices for their safety. It is amazing how powerful information can be if we put it into action when the time comes. The “if it’s long or strong, get gone” tsunami messaging in New Zealand is a great example of this. If you’re by the coast and feel an earthquake that is strong or lasts a while, move up hill. Do not wait for someone to tell you what to do. You don’t need a PhD in tsunamis to put this simple information into life-saving action.
With the La Palma eruption we are collecting information on what people felt, heard, saw, and experienced leading up to the eruption that we can pass on to our communities for this reason. Prior to the eruption here, this information was not passed on to the right people. It wasn’t interpreted to mean magma was rising to the surface, right towards them. As within our Auckland Volcanic Field, in La Palma you don’t know where the next vent will open up.
I deeply love looking at volcanoes and trying to figure them out. I equally love hearing the human side of eruptions, even the very painful parts that make your chest ache, so that we can add these pieces together to truly make a difference for those who will experience eruptions in the future.
Getting prepared
By Murray Smith, Bridges Church
A big part of life is about getting prepared. One way or another, throughout our lives, we’re always in some sort of ‘preparation’ for the next thing’.
Think about that…from birth, to first words, first day of school, first friend, first date, first kiss, learning to drive, learning financial responsibility, maybe graduating, beginning a career, marrying, establishing a home, starting a family, retiring…it all involves your ‘preparation’ in measure… at the end, ultimately your funeral has others involved in preparing that for you.
The Scout motto, in English is, Be Prepared, and most international branches use a close translation of that phrase. It’s great advice since being unprepared can carry very dire consequences.
Such thoughts were provoked recently staring at a picture of the Titanic sinking. There can’t be any more vivid example of ‘unpreparedness’ than this tragedy which caused the loss of over 1500 lives. Crew suffered the most casualties, incurring about 700 fatalities. Third class passengers suffered badly too with only 174 of approximately 710 passengers surviving.
On a clear, freezing cold night in April 1912, the stricken Titanic began sinking in glassy seas after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Lack of foresight and inadequate preparation at numerous levels spelled the doom of White Star Line’s trophy vessel on its maiden voyage.
Upbeat over-confidence bordering on arrogance obscured risk analysis, fortifying the illusion nothing (‘even God’ a newspaper said), could sink the Titanic. Numerous reports of icebergs from other ships failed to reach the bridge from the radio room. Some which did, failed to provoke appropriate caution. The Titanic steamed on regardless at 22 knots
(41km/h) just under its maximum speed. It collided beam on with an iceberg and the resulting buckled steel plates and popped rivets below the waterline allowed compartments to flood via a massive ‘gash’, at an estimated rate of seven tons a second. The ship’s fate was inevitable. Over the next two and a half hours water poured in - the angle of incline steadily increasing. Initially, people thought being asked to don life belts was as a joke. They weren’t told the ship was sinking.
The number of lifeboats was hopelessly inadequate. With disaster looming, crew began to prioritise who might be assigned a place in one of the 20 lifeboats… sufficient to accommodate barely half the total number of people on board.
A refined elderly lady was lining with passengers to board a lifeboat. Her turn came and she hesitated - then withdrew, telling crew she needed to retrieve something from her stateroom. Exasperated crew upbraided this wealthy woman for rushing back to fetch (they assumed), trivial baubles of jewellery she had left behind. They pulled no punches expressing their irritation. The lady returnednot clutching jewellery, but oranges. Facing the possibility of death altered her priorities. As it should.
The inevitability of us dying is something that ought to alter our priorities - think; how truly ‘prepared’ are we ? I mean preparing beyond practical considerations like funeral planning… ensuring you have salvation is a must in preparing for eternity - for life beyond the grave. Neglecting God’s offer of eternal life, peace and assurance through Christ, demonstrates thoughtless unpreparedness of a magnitude eclipsing Titanic proportions.
Proud to put the roof over your head
Ebco Roofing is proud to be locally owned and operated in Te Awamutu, with owners Joshua and Jaimee Mulligan an active part of the community.
After spending a few years in Auckland, the couple thought it was important to bring their kids up in a good community with a strong family support network. So they moved to Te Awamutu where Jaimee’s parents and sisters live, and started Ebco Roofing - a combination of their two oldest kids names.
The business focuses on new roofs and reroofing throughout the Waikato, particularly in the areas of residential and light commercial jobs. Joshua says Ebco Roofing understands that New Zealand conditions can be some of the most unpredictable in the world, so getting the right roof for your house is important.
“This is why Ebco Roofing only uses tried and tested products such Colorsteel and Colorcote,” Joshua says. “We pride ourselves on our service and the quality of work we give to every job we do.”
Most of their work involves long run steel roofing and
cladding, which is the usual choice of builders and architects today.
One point of di erence between them and other roofers, however, is that Ebco Roofing are one of the few experienced installers of the Euro-tray roofing and cladding.
A more often popular choice on high end homes, it is made from fully supported systems which use a clip and snap lock system to join panels without any external fixings. This makes for a clean finish with nice sharp lines.
“We recently installed one of these on an architecturally designed house which came second as a House of the Year entrant and is featured on the front page of the colour sample brochure for Colorsteel,” Joshua says.
“There aren’t many roofers who can install these, so it is a real point of di erence for us that we can.”
New builds are a big part of what Ebco Roofing does, but there are plenty of other parts to the business too.
With the average long run roof in New Zealand lasting 40 to 60 years in New Zealand conditions if it is well
maintained, there will always be roofs needing replacement as our housing stock ages and this part of the business keeps them busy.
In addition, Ebco Roofing provides specialized roof reports for a variety of client requirements.
“For example, we may have someone who is looking to purchase a property and wants a proper roof report done in conjunction with a builder’s report,” Joshua says.
“So we provide a report on the condition of the entire roofing system.”
The same is done for insurance companies who are
looking at repairs required under policies.
With 20 years of experience, along with being a licenced building practitioner for over 10 of those, it is fair to say Joshua and his team know what they are doing when it comes to all manner of roofing requirements.
For Joshua and Jaimee, being part of the community is much more than putting roofs over its heads.
“We like to be involved; our kids are being raised here and we support their activities through sponsoring kids’ rugby jerseys and helping out any way we can.”
From Left to right our Ebco Roofing Team: Cohen Mulligan, Eboni Mulligan, Jaimee Mulligan, Joshua Mulligan (holding baby Hudson Mulligan) Joshua Huggard, Mikalah Blackett, Antonio Sears.
Community centre close
By Chris Gardner
Construction of a $3.3 million community centre is about to start on land once occupied by St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Mutu St.
The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand Property Trustees in Wellington were expected to sign a contract with Core Steel Buildings in Te Awamutu this week. The contract will enable the project to start with the erection of protective fencing on July 8.
The demolition of the church office is all that remains.
“It’s been quite a journey,” said project convenor Ray Miller.
The project has been underway since the demolition of the earthquake prone Hinuera stone church - the denomination’s third in the area - in 2015. The first church was built on Brady St in 1872, the second on the corner of Aexandra St and Mutu St in 1918 and the third in Mutu St in 1960.
The congregation continued to meet in the small chapel following the demolition of the church, with the campus continuing to host community groups
in its meeting room and hall, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Te Awamutu Dance School.
The project originally envisaged a 1086 sq metre building, but a two-year delay caused by Covid-19 and the rising costs of building material resulted in plans for a smaller 756sq metre building.
“The whole thing is community focussed,” Miller said. “This facility will be available to the community all the time.”
Te Awamutu Presbyterian Community Centre will have a 150-seat auditorium with a stage with two adjoining function centre rooms which can be opened to expand the auditorium.
Three counselling and meeting rooms are being included at the request of Waipā District Council. It also has an office, kitchen, bathrooms, and storage.
The project is being funded by the sale of the parish manse and
Call to help kōkako
The Department of Conservation’s Maniapoto team wants volunteers to contribute a few hours to help kōkako at Mapara.
Mapara Wildlife Management Reserve near Maniaiti/Benneydale is a habitat for a significant population of kōkako.
Kōkako were common in New Zealand forests a little over 100 years ago, but they were eaten almost to extinction by introduced pests before conservation efforts kicked in late last century.
Claire Jones, a biodiversity ranger in Maniapoto, is leading an operation to bait hundreds of stations across the reserve, where introduced predators continue to pose a threat.
community donations including grants.
“I am quite excited now,” said Miller. “I have been working on this project for seven years.”
The Rev Ron Bennett and community worker Jamie Budd shared in Miller’s excitement.
“It’s going to be exciting to see an up to date, modern facility completed,” Budd said. “It’s going to be fantastic for the community.”
The centre is expected to open in March 2025.
“DOC’s Maniapoto team is a small tight-knit unit – but this is a big job and we’re seeking support from the wider community to deliver this crucial conservation work,” Jones said.
Mapara is 1435ha of steep and undulating terrain at points with access via tracks and over farmland. There is a network of 2200 bait stations (50 metres apart) along bait lines which follow the spurs, ridges and gullies.
Three rounds of baiting start in mid-August before the start of the birds’
breeding season. Baiting will continue through the season to February/March to ensure the best survival of the young chicks. The baiting work supports efforts to reduce rat numbers in the reserve.
“We want to ensure the kōkako chicks at Mapara have the best chance of survival and can go on to thrive,” Jones added.
“This work also supports overall forest health in the diverse Mapara ecosystem.” Volunteers would carry a weighed amount of bait in a backpack to each bait station along lines through the block. The baiting days will be about six hours in the bush. Food and accommodation will be provided.
“A good level of fitness is needed as volunteers will be carrying backpacks over steep terrain. A basic knowledge of the bush and bush navigation would be an advantage, although training will be given. Volunteers will be in pairs and GPS used to navigate,” Claire said.
The Department of Conservation website puts kōkako numbers at about 2300 pairs. The bird’s South Island cousin is thought to be extinct.
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Ray Miller, Jamie Budd, and the Rev Ron Bennett review plans for Te Awamutu Presbyterian Community Centre.
Homes under the hammer
By Chris Gardner
Half of the 20 affordable homes Bridge Housing Charitable Trust is building on Ōhaupō Road in Te Awamutu have sold.
At its June meeting Carli Nolan from the trust asked Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board to refer potential buyers to her.
“We have got close to half of our 20 reserved already, which means that they are already working with the solicitor,” Nolan said.
“If you know of any that might want to look into this definitely, please refer them our way,”
great from the outside, it looks close, but once you’re inside with the double glazing and the way it’s insulated it’s actually not very noisy. Once you’ve got blinds up, I suppose, you’re not very aware of where you are. People often say it’s much nicer than I thought.”
Nolan said there was more interest in the Te Awamutu project than the Cambridge one, but it was hard to narrow interest down to buyers she could get across the line.
“A lot of that was the market as well, the higher interest rates made it really tough.”
Board chair Ange Holt said the project seemed like a good opportunity for first home buyers to get into their first home.
The scheme is capped at first home buyers with an income of $150,000 or less.
BIG WINTER FLOORING BIG WINTER FLOORING SALE
Board member Jill Taylor thought there would be more interest if the complex had not been built so close to State Highway 3.
“I guess a lot of people are not interested because it’s so closer to the road,” Taylor said.
“You can see into rooms from the roadside, which is a shame that it was allowed to be so close to the road.”
Nolan replied, “I know it doesn’t look so
Buyers buy a $291,740 share of the home at a reduced cost with a $14,588 deposit. The trust retains ownership of the land, and the buyer buys a 100-year lease at lower than market rates. Weekly payments of $550 to $630, depending on scenario, are close to the average cost to rent.
Dallas cuts into final
A Waipā butcher was one of two to secure places in the Pact Packaging Young Butcher and Anzco Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year competition last week.
Cambridge’s Dallas Prince from Wholly Cow Butchery won the young butcher category and Alex Pellow, from New World Mt Maunganui, apprentice category at the regional finals in Te Awamutu.
“This is my third regional competition and the second time I have made it to nationals, so I am really stoked to be competing again, this time as a qualified butcher rather than an apprentice,” he said
“I’ll be focusing on working cleaner and creating better signage for my products in the lead up to the grand final.”
loin, whole pork leg, squarecut lamb shoulder, and two chicken barrels into a display of value-added products.
Head judge Peter Martin who is the butchery training advisor at Skills for Work in Auckland, said the regional competitions underway were turning out a very high standard of displays.
Competitors carved their way through a two-hour cutting test last Wednesday at Pak’n Save in Te Awamutu hoping to securing a spot in the finals in Auckland next month.
Prince has been a qualified butcher for five months.
Pellow, who is near the end of his apprenticeship said said he went in with a plan that he had practiced and stuck to it.
Participants showcased their butchery expertise in demonstrating their skills in boning, trimming, slicing and dicing. They were required to break down a beef short
“It’s been outstanding to see the level of support the competitors have from their work mates and whānau at these competitions,” he said. “It’s important for the competitors to be well supported which ultimately contributes to how they perform on the day.”
Both Prince and Pellow won $150 and a trophy.
The shooting of Jeremiah Donovan
By Meghan Hawkes
“You had better go away, or I’ll shoot you”, threatened Jeremiah Donovan when Corporal Hammerton attempted to get the man to rejoin an escort convoy on its way from Paterangi to Te Rore.
Each morning a convoy left either place with two parties of men acting as escort and
on this September morning in 1864 it was no different. But now the escort, consisting of one subaltern, one sergeant, one drummer, and 30 rank and file detailed from the 40th and 65th Regiments, had marched about four miles when it was noticed Jeremiah, of the 40th, was gradually slackening his pace until he was left a distance of about 30 yards in the rear.
After the corporal issued his order to Jeremiah it was noticed that his rifle was on full cock and capped. Corporal Hammerton informed the officer in charge and he ordered the escort to halt. The men having halted, Jeremiah halted also. Sergeant Doney approached him and told him to fall in, but he answered firmly “I will not”. The Sergeant then
said “how is it you won’t fall in! Fall in man on the left.” But Jeremiah still, with a horrible curse, expressed his determination to remain where he was.
forward but in the heat of the moment he had neglected to fix his bayonet.
KNOW YOUR PROPERTY MANAGER
Getting ahead in the rental race
That’s bloomin’ early…
“Very early.”
Finding the right rental is not easy in today’s times. But there are ways in which prospective tenants can give themselves a head start when it comes to being shortlisted for a property they like.
But even so, there are still things that can be done.
“We don’t normally see the flowers until September/October.”
The obvious ones such as having a squeaky clean tenancy record is obvious,
While the quality of the daffodils’ flowers may not
That’s the response from Waipā District Council parks team leader Matt Johnston to reports that fully bloomed daffodils could be seen around the district in the last week of June.
be great “they are still up and growing a lot earlier than normal”. Which has The News wondering - anyone seen any newborn lambs? •Email editor@goodlocal.nz
One of the most important is being able to showcase how your previous rentals have been kept and this means taking photos of when you first move into a property from every angle – inside, outside, gardens, lawns – even fences if they need cleaning or any other maintenance that was left by a previous tenant or not done by a property
Then, the day you leave your rental, taking photos of everything – the same as above,
managers themselves. Many network among themselves, whether in the same town or region, or through the same company and will look for references for tenants moving on or moving towns.
Jeremiah was in the act of thrusting his bayonet into Hiriam’s breast when a shot was heard and he fell dead to the ground. There was an instant hush, the silence being broken by an officer who called out “who shot that man?” When no one answered he gave orders to the sergeant to examine all firearms. The sergeant was in the act of obeying this order, when someone said Thomas McCoy had shot Jeremiah.
Thomas McCoy, of the 40th, was then made a prisoner.
days your credit history will follow you everywhere.
tangible things property managers look for,
And while on the subject of references, some of the best are from property
A plan was devised to take Jeremiah prisoner. This was to march on, and when passing the old redoubt let four men drop silently into the ditch, the remainder proceeding onwards. The ruse was concocted in a very few moments, and four men were detailed to secure Jeremiah, after which the officer gave the word “left face, quick march,” and the escort moved forward. They had not, however, gone more than five paces when the bugler looked round and saw that Jeremiah had his rifle up to his shoulder and was taking aim. He cried out, “Look out,” but these words had hardly escaped his lips when Jeremiah fired.
The ability to have strong references with a good property manager is a definite plus – many property managers are aware of the fact “good” references can be manufactured by way of family or friends, or properties secured for others using someone else’s clean record.
A messenger was immediately dispatched to Paterangi for medical help and in the meantime everything was done to alleviate the suffering of the wounded men.
He had taken a deadly aim, firing into the very middle of the men, wounding three of them. The whole of the escort immediately turned round and saw Jeremiah fixing his bayonet. A section of the men were ordered to take him prisoner. They formed a semicircle around Jeremiah and then moved forward, some with their bayonets fixed. Hiram Travers, of the 65th, suddenly rushed
A part of the convoy from Te Rore now arrived on the scene. These men cut a quantity of fern which was placed in the bottom of an empty cart forming a rough bed on which the more severely wounded man was placed.
On arriving at Paterangi the injured men were taken into hospital.
Jeremiah’s body was also brought in and laid in a dead tent, where it remained until after the sitting of the
inquest. Thomas McCoy was kept prisoner in the guardroom awaiting the verdict. Speculation was rife as to what had possessed Jeremiah Donovan – he must either have been under the influence of delirium tremens or in a temporary fit of insanity. He was said to have had an incorrigibly bad character in his regiment.
The inquest found that Jeremiah Donovan came by his death from a gunshot wound inflicted by Private Thomas McCoy while the deceased was attempting to bayonet Private Hiram Travers. The jury was unanimously of the opinion that it was a justifiable homicide.
Jeremiah Donovan was buried in unconsecrated ground, outside the churchyard, with no religious rites. Only a fatigue party of twelve men attended, who lowered his body, sewn up in a blanket, into its last resting place.
Daffodils in Payne Park, Cambridge.
Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Community Connect
July 4, 2024
A chance to celebrate our hometown heroes
Fan festivities have kicked off to celebrate Waipā’s hometown heroes, as they get ready to take on the world’s best at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. We’re calling on our locals to celebrate and get behind the athletes by videoing their messages of support.
The clips will be a part of the Waipā Home of Champions good luck video for the Olympians and Paralympians heading to Paris.
To get involved, send a three to five second video of yourself or your group cheering on Waipā’s hometown heroes to events@waipadc.govt.nz.
We are also asking businesses to to
show their support by decorating their shop and office spaces.
Mayor Susan O’Regan said we want to create something special around the Games, to foster support and community pride.
Waipā’s Fan Festival event will take place on Sunday, August 4 from 9am12pm at Grassroots Trust Velodrome, Cambridge.
“There will be fun activities for the whole family, food trucks and Velodrome tours.
To get involved and find out more: visit waipadc.govt.nz/welovewaipa WaipaHomeofChampions Waipa_NZ
From today, skaters, bikers, scooters, rollerbladers and the rest of the community can have their say on the Pirongia skatepark concept design. Your feedback will help us to finalise a design. Come see the designs, talk with the experts and provide your feedback at our drop-in session at Pirongia Rugby and Sports Club on Saturday, 27 July, 1pm – 3pm. The future skatepark will be fundraised for by the community, alongside seed funding from the Council approved 2021-31 Long Term Plan.
This is a joint project with the Pirongia Skatepark Community Project team, who are fundraising to build the skatepark.
We are looking forward to hearing what you think of the concept design!
Feedback is welcome until Thursday, 1 August. To view the concept design and have your say visit waipadc.govt.nz/pirongiaskatepark.
There will also be guest appearances from previous Olympic medallists as well as some Paralympians,” O’Regan said.
$200,000
awarded to Cambridge Town Clock
A $200,000 Lottery’s Environment and Heritage grant has been awarded for the restoration of the Cambridge Town Clock.
The fund supports plans, reports and one-off projects that will protect, conserve, and promote New Zealand’s natural, cultural and physical heritage.
The funding would go a long way to support the cost of the Cambridge Town Clock refurbishment project and reduce the overall cost to ratepayers.
The Lottery Board said the restoration work to the clock is needed to preserve the iconic historic building that dates back to 1908.
Special thanks to the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga who supported our funding application.
The clock is set to chime and be lit up in mid-July.
School Holidays are here
Thinking of outdoor play, nature discovery, staying active, and fostering creativity? Waipā has everything you need for a fun-filled and entertaining school holiday.
• Discover the stories of Waipā through Te Ara Wai Journeys, a self-guided tour of culturally significant sites across the district.
• Give something new a try with a havea-go session at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome. Scan the QR code to find out more.
• Make the most of a Hairy Maclary interactive reading event at the Te Awamutu Library, on Saturday, 6 July.
• Grab your walking shoes or hop on your bike and get prepared for an unforgettable night at the Te Awa River Light Night on Saturday, 6 July.
• Dive into Te Awamutu’s Livingstone Aquatics or Cambridge’s Perry Aquatic Centre.
• Get creative at the Mini Makers and get a taste of makerspace STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) activities and lego at the Cambridge Library on Saturday, 20 July.
• Don’t miss out on the opportunity to explore Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari with your kids. From 6 July to 21 July, kids can enter the Te Tūī a Tāne, southern enclosure for free! Scan the QR code for further information.
Lake Ngā Roto Recreation Reserve Management Plan
We are in the early stages of reviewing the Recreation Reserve Management Plan for Lake Ngā Roto.
Feedback is welcome until Sunday, 28 July. To provide your feedback visit waipadc.govt.nz/ ngarotoreview.
Plastic Free July
This month is Plastic Free July, a time dedicated to celebrating and encouraging reduced plastic use. Join us at the Te Awamutu Library for the “Make your own household cleaners” workshop on Saturday, July 27. There are two sessions available: 10.30am to 12.00pm and 1.00pm to 2.30pm. Bring your 2L ice-cream containers, glass jars and spray bottles. Scan the QR code to register.
Pirongia skatepark
COME AND CATCH UP WITH YOUR MATES
Quick crossword Sudoku
Across 1. Shares a house (5) 4. Safe (6) 7. Small child (3) 8. That is to say (6)
9. Land surrounded by water (6)
10. Final straw (8,5)
14. Close to the centre (5) 15. Power tower (5)
18. Captured combatant (8,2,3)
23. Set alight (6)
Pests (6) 25. Perceive (3)
Rubbish (6)
Style (5)
Stadium (5)
(5)
Hinder or block (6)
Miserly (6)
Musical instrument (5) 6. Disagreement (inf) (3-2)
10. Airship (5) 11. Boredom (Fr) (5) 12. Relative by marriage (2-3)
13. Radio mode (5) 16. Otherwise (6) 17. Journey (6)
Across: 1. Suburb, 4. Stupid, 9. Paddy, 10. On a roll, 11. Lectern, 13. Heed, 14. Double cross, 17. Used, 18. Remorse, 21. Evasive, 22. Valet, 24. Outage, 25. Settle. Down: 1. Supply, 2. Bad, 3. Rhyme, 5. Teacher, 6. Professor, 7. Dull, 8. Downhearted, 12. Croissant, 15. Budding, 16. Centre, 19. Movie, 20. Memo, 23. Let.
Wordsearch
BPCFSCREENPRSBIJDF TSIMEXPOSUREDEYELQ TOLXDDHSLRTLMRVPER LIHIEEOHELETEEFOID FPASDLPSBSOPLISRFC
RHDRGEOTAOAOLHNCJO AOEGTLSEHPPTUSEUHM MTTHURGSPVETKWLFLP EOATJROCERTRECLBAO
EYIEAMJPBEIITAEOTS COLLAEUVRUVNSUERII NANTBTMWZFTHTYRDGT AETEHEBOIPNTDFSEII LETLOROXFHFHOJGRDO APYBLMEPSOZCPNOCCN
BGXAPRNHOGUXISCALE ROTCEJORPSEGRAINSW SHADOWPGSSENTHGIRB
APERTURE BALANCE BORDER BRIGHTNESS BUTTON CABLE COMPOSITION CROP DEPTH DETAIL
DEVELOP
Astrochimp
by David Walliams, Adam Stower
From million-copy bestselling author David Walliams comes a laugh-out-loud animal space adventure. Chump the chimpanzee was always being silly. He would:
- make rude noises from both ends…
- pick his nose with his little toe…
- eat the skins of bananas, hurling out the tasty part inside.
NASA’s scientists thought he’d be the perfect chimp to send into space. Little did Chump know that he had been selected for a deadly-dangerous mission. If a chimp could orbit Earth, then chances were a human could too.
With Chump the chimp at the controls of a spacecraft, what could possibly go wrong? As it turned out, everything.
Blast off with Chump, and encounter dog space pirates, evil insects, and the silliest chimpanzee who ever lived in this wildly funny space opera, fully illustrated in fantastic colour.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
DAVID WALLIAMS is a literary phenomenon whose books have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and have been translated into fifty-five languages. ADAM STOWER is an author and illustrator, who has collaborated with David Walliams on several of his books for children.
Short wave – long term
By Paul Charman
“Before there was social media there was amateur, or ham radio, and it’s going to exist long after social media is just a memory.”
That’s the view of longtime Te Kūiti radio ham Mick Gannon, one of 11 members in the Waitomo branch of the NZ Association of Radio Transmitters.
Gannon’s group, who live in Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga and Te Awamutu, stay in touch with fellow shortwave enthusiasts across New Zealand and around the world.
Gannon says in an emergency this form of communication can provide a viable alternative to the telephone network, whose cellphone towers could be wiped out by a weather event, or earthquake. The same would apply if the Internet was deliberately crashed by military activity.
If the national power grid was ever damaged, taking out cellphone towers, shortwave communications could be more resitient.
Gannon said smaller short wave sets use negligable amounts of electricity, some being powered by the likes of AA batteries or 12 volt car batteries.
“That means the network of
current of ham radio operators would still be in business following even catastrophic damage to the power grid..
Amateur radio operators assist with the running of car rallies held in areas with little or no cellphone coverage.
“And one of the reasons for this is that we are maintaining skills which may potentially be called upon in a civil emergency.”
Recently amateur radio had suffered the effects of heightened solar flares, which can make conversations fade out.
These were expected to diminish in coming months as the sun passed the peak of an 11-year-cycle in which activity waxed and waned.
Another factor which affected the ability of ham radio operators to communcate over vast distances was the so-called “greyline”.
This is a period of time at dusk or sunrise, lasting a few hours a day and it allowed radio waves to travel further than they otherwise might.
As the Earth rotates the greyline moved, hence much of Gannon’s ham radio operation activity revolved around relatively short-lived greyline periods of the day.
Gannon has sent his OSL (ham operator’s identity) card, which depicts Te
Kūiti’s giant shearer, to ham radio enthusiasts befriended worldwide.
He has stayed at the UK homes of friends made over the airwaves, and some have travelled to New Zealand have stayed with him and his wife, Rita.
He came into amateur radio after dabbling with CB radio back in the 1960s, then deciding there had to be something better. There was.
“One of the guys showed us
the VF high frequency radio in his car and started talking to a person in Australia, then another called in and he was in Spain. I was hooked.”
In that era Gammon had to learn Morse Code to gain his amateur radio licence, though this is no longer necessary.
He said today’s equivalent qualification is relatively easy to obtain, and anyone interested would receive plenty of help and encouragment from groups like the one in
Waitomo.
“It opened up a new life for me. Within one year I was getting to know people in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Also, in America, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Russia, South Africa and Mozambique.
“I was speaking to people all round the Pacific Rim, even in Antarctica. After just a year I had worked 96 countries, which is good going for any amateur.”
Waipā Networks is inviting applications for funding to support projects and initiatives that make a difference in communities.
Waipā Networks, general manager of customer and community Anna Greenhill says groups and organisations looking for financial support of up to $1000 can apply for level one sponsorship.
“As part of Waipā Networks’ wider programme to inject funding back into Waipā communities, each year we coordinate two sponsorship rounds that are designed for smaller projects that need a funding boost. We have a total funding pool of $10,000 for each level one round,” Greenhill said.
Applications for the first level one round of funding for 2024 will close at the end of the month. A second round will close on at the end of December.
“We prefer community projects and events that are free of charge, support community well-being, and help create better communities,” Greenhill said.
Mick Gannon with some of the ham operators’ tools of the trade. He is pictured with a couple of smaller radio sets, morse keys and OSL cards exchanged by amateur radio operators around the world.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING INVITATION
E te tini, e te mano o Ngāti Unu me Ngāti Kahu, tēnā koutou katoa
We cordially invite you to the Te Kōpua Marae (Kakepuku 9B1D1 trust) Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the year 2024.
The AGM provides the opportunity to present audited financial books, report on activities of the marae committee, and receive written resolutions.
Date: Sunday 4th August 2024 Time: 10am
Location: Te Kōpua Marae, 213 Morgan Rd, Pokuru
Agenda:
1. Mihi and Karakia
2. Approval of 2023 AGM Minutes
3. Presentation of Annual Report
4. Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report
5. Any written resolutions
All written motions must be received by the Secretary no less than 14 days prior to the AGM. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to contact our Secretary at tumoanaviles@gmail.com
We look forward to your presence and valuable contributions.
Kakepuku 9B1D1 trustees
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