Health: time to talk
By Chris Gardner
Former All Black Steve Gordon will encourage men to talk to each other about their health at Te Awamutu Community Menz Shed’s inaugural men’s heath expo. Gordon, a former Te Awamutu College pupil who was an All Black from 1989 to 1993, will give a half hour talk at the free event at the end of the month the Baptist Church in Teasdale St. Gordon’s July 27 talk will follow time to chat with representatives of health groups, experts in
Alzheimer’s, dementia, and mental health as well as Diabetes New Zealand, Prostate New Zealand, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation representatives.
Te Awamutu Menz Shed chair Richard Cato said although the concept of a Menz Shed health expo was new to the town, men’s health and Menz Shed went together.
“Men’s health is the gist of the organisation,” he said. Menz Shed members from Cambridge, Hamilton, Ōtorohanga Te Kūiti have been invited as well
‘The greatest supporters of Menz Shed are the women who encourage their husbands to come to the shed,’ – Richard Cato
as members of service organisations such as Jaycees, Lions and Rotary.
Cato said everyone was welcome to the expo, especially men aged 50 plus, and wives.
“The greatest supporters of Menz Shed are the women who encourage their husbands to come to the shed,” Cato said.
“Nine times out of 10 they
are lonely and loneliness and mental health go hand in hand. Men are terrible at talking about their health.”
Te Awamutu Community Menz Shed has been serving the community since 2010, a sort of Kiwi Repair Shop fixing much-loved family treasures, as well as taking commissions from the likes of Te Awamutu Scout Group for whom it is building
wheel carts. The group started meeting in 2010 and more than 50 members now meet Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings in Raeburne St.
Cato said Te Awamutu businesses were great supporters of the Menz Shed.
“This expo is our way of giving something back.”
Entry is free, although gold coin donations will be asked for cups of tea throughout the morning.
“Men talk shoulder to shoulder, while they are having a cup of tea.”
They will have more
opportunities to chat when the expo ends with a sausage sizzle at noon.
Time to “zhuzh up” the main street
By Chris Gardner
Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board chair Ange Holt wants to get plans to “zhuzh up” Alexandra Street in Waipā District Council’s long term plan.
The board heard at its June meeting that work was underway on the council’s 2024-2035 long term plan from strategy manager Melissa Russo.
Holt said she was thrilled to see Te Awamutu Market in Holmes Garage on the list of key projects and asked Russo how to get other community-led ideas on the list.
“We’ve been having these discussions and asking for feedback and then it stops,” Holt said.
“The retailers, as a group, feel very unheard. It would be great to be able to say we’ve got this into our long term plan. The
main street is the bit that attracts people, it needs to look good, and we need to allow some funding to be there at intervals to, make it look good or give it a freshen up.”
“We are in a really financially constrained environment,” Russo said, before asking Holt to email her and other council officers with their ideas.
“I would encourage you to use that to demonstrate that it’s not just an idea that you’ve come up with, that this is something that has been in train for a while.”
Staff will provide regular progress on the project at each community board meeting, Russo said in her report.
The chairs and deputy chairs of both community boards could attend plan workshops and consider and provide input on plan related matters including major projects.
Richard Cato
Could do better: the community board wants to give Alexandra Street some more appeal.
Record entries for biz awards Grey Power
TE AWAMUTU
This is your invitation to join fellow members and potential members at our next meeting.
Waipa Workingmen’s Club, Albert Park Drive. Thursday 18 July 1pm for a 1.30pm start.
GUEST SPEAKER: Richard Cato on Men’s Sheds around the World, New Zealand and Te Awamutu.
Richard is the current chairperson at the local menzshed. He will talk about the projects that are being done at the shed as well as the benefits for the members.
Usual raffle and cuppa.
For further information please contact Michael 871 9006 or Bernard 027 491 6763
Te Awamutu Brain Injury Support Group
We invite all people living with a brain injury, their family/whanau and carers to join us.
Support groups can provide a sense of belonging, make social connections, and share ideas, issues, and worries. It is a place to share, listen and support surrounded by people who understand or are walking a similar path. Everybody welcome!
When: Friday 19 July 2024
Where: St John’s Ambulance Hall, 31 Palmer Street, Te Awamutu
Time: 10.30 am till 12pm
We look forward to seeing you for a hot drink and biscuit and a chat. A gold coin donation is appreciated. Please RSVP Phone: (07) 839 1191 022 381 2369 admin@braininjurywaikato.org.nz www.braininjurywaikato.org.nz
A disgraceful choice
An old saying suggests we will be remembered more for how we do things than what we do.
Certainly in the case of the Cambridge resident/Hamilton City councillor, Andrew Bydder and any justification he may have had in his stance on the issue in hand was totally lost in his disgraceful choice of words used in his submission to Waipa council.
Now to further demonstrate his lack of sophistication, he is trying to deflect from his shameful performance and blame it on totally unrelated matters.
Shame on you councillor. Whilst you may have made the comments in a private capacity, you cannot separate yourself from the very public position you hold within Local Government.
If the judicial process you are going through at present doesn’t come out with the appropriate punishment, I can only hope the voters will send you packing at the next elections.
Alan Sherris Cambridge
Defending Bydder
I write in defence of Andrew Bydder, as much as the wording of his submission
was not in language most of us would use, many of us share his frustration. Was his submission the only one the [Waipā] council has taken notice of? Many of us feel totally unheard by the council and I think the bridge fiasco was the last straw for many of us after having had the same lack of communication for other projects in Cambridge.
Back to Andrew. It is council policy for any unsuitable words to be redacted before being sent to councillors? So who broke council rules and showed the unredacted submission to the mayor? Who showed the submission to the other councillors? Who gave the submission to the media? Is it normal practice for a private submission to one council to be passed on to the person’s employer? I think not. Surely that breached privacy?
Therefore my question is: who is actually at fault here? Yes Andrew probably should have worded his submission differently, but we do have free speech in New Zealand and privacy laws? So should the unredacted version have been given to councillors? Should it have gone to his employer? Should it be in the papers? To my thinking it is no to all of those questions.
Norma Mackie Cambridge
HE WHAKAWHITIWHITINGA WHAKAARO
The influence of Tamihana
By Tom Roa, Tikanga Advisor, Waikato University
Tarapipipi Te Waharoa was born in 1805 into a world where the principle of utu was first and foremost in how his people lived. I should note here that the most well-known consequence of utu is that where should someone do something bad to you, you did worse back – which too often escalated into tribal warfare. The converse however was also true, and is less well-known - if someone did something good to/for you, you did better back.
With his baptism into the Christian fraternity Tarapipipi committed to the Gospel’s teachings and the principles of loving God above all else, and of loving one’s neighbour as oneself. Upon that baptism he received the new name of Wiremu Tamihana, and his commitment to ‘Utua te kino ki te pai’ – repaying evil with goodness – in those very challenging times of war with Crown forces, of raupatu and muru whenua, led him and his iwi, Ngāti Hauā, into principled behaviours that live to this day amongst Ngāti Hauā and many with whom they share various relationships.
The recent launch of the book Tamihana at Rukumoana Marae near Morrinsville was a celebration of a family, indeed of an iwi, who
Entry numbers for the Waikato Chamber of Commerce’s annual business awards have hit a new high.
There are 88 entries across a range of categories – “…the most we have ever had and 11 more than last year,” marketing and events manager Rebecca Aston said.
Finalists will be announced on September 18 at Ninja Valley – the Hamilton playground which was winner of last year’s people and culture award.
The awards dinner will be held at the Claudelands Events Centre on November 15.
This year’s categories are business growth and strategy, service excellence, people and culture, chief executive of the year, for purpose, innovation, sustainability, marketing, small business of the year, emerging leader of the year, community contribution and international trade.
“We’re thrilled to see so many emerging and established businesses entering. It’s a great opportunity to focus on your business to identify strengths and competitive advantages as well as areas that might benefit from more focus,” Aston said.
Head judge Dr Heather Connolly said her team of 31 judges will soon be conducting site visits across various locations in the Waikato, for the 10 business categories and conducting interviews for the two individual categories.
willingly and intentionally of their own volition joined with Tamihana in that essentially Christian ethic.
Central to that ethic is Christ’s model of servant leadership.
The mana of the Kingmaker, the Pou Whakawahi Kīngi, later termed Te Tumuaki with that ethic of their being servant leaders resounds in this book in their deeds, their conduct, and their iwi’s behaviours.
At the invitation of the now-deceased Tumuaki, Anaru, the book’s author Jade Hohaia Te Uru Karaka traces a narrative of Wiremu Tamihana, his influence in the formation of the Kīngitanga – the Māori King Movement - and his contribution and commitment along with that of his descendants in upholding and progressing his legacy of servant leadership.
The assertion that some people climb up the ladder of success principally to benefit themselves is in juxtaposition to Tumuaki Anaru’s assertion that he, his predecessors and antecedents, climb down the ladder of success to be one with their people.
“All entrants receive independent assessment and feedback from our experienced judges. It really provides the business with advice to grow, develop and improve,” Dr Connolly said.
Briefs…
Behind closed doors
Councils who have been told by the Ombudsman’s office to be more open and not hide their debates behind “workshops” appear to have been given a new tool to discuss issues in secret. The Newsroom website has reported councillors in Auckland have been told they can avoid public gaze by holding “facilitated sessions”.
Cycleway users
Pedestrians and cyclist numbers on Waipā pathways continue to rise. On Park Rd, Te Awamutu, the number for June, 2611, was up 293 on June 2023.
Site winners
Waikato manufacturing sites were successful in Fonterra’s Best Site Cup awards in Auckland, including taking top honours for Waitoa, Waitoa UHT, Tīrau, and Lichfield sites. Hautapu was runner up to Waitoa for the best medium site and second in the Sustainability Cup. The annual awards for coop’s sites cover a range of areas from sustainability, innovation, and efficiency.
Stag poached
Police say a $20,000 stag has been shot, its head removed and the carcass left in a paddock on Hauturu Rd, Waitomo. A black double-cab ute had earlier been seen near the property.
Walker named Waipā rider Leila Walker has been named in the New Zealand BMX team to compete in the Paris Olympics. The Cambridge rider, 19, and North Shore’s Rico Bearman, already in France, are the newest additions to the New Zealand contingent.
Vandals hit
Waipā ratepayers will pick up the tab for a second attack by vandals on a recently completed park in Cambridge. Vandals damaged the exterior of a toilet block –which will cost about $15,000 to fix - and trashed a garden and barbecue area at the Terry Came Drive playground –seven months after another attack where they tried to light fires.
Talking water, not mergers
By Andy Campbell
Waikato mayors including Waipā and its King Country neighbours, will be meeting soon to discuss a water services entity.
And Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter is warning of pitfalls. The water service entity is required by the Government because the Waikato has to have a water services plan in the next couple of months.
“It’s not a given by any means that there will be a unified approach across the Waikato, because there are winners and losers,” Baxter said
He said 27 per cent of the revenue is created by Hamilton city ratepayers, but 50 per cent of the infrastructure spend over the next 10 years will be in the city.
“If that is the case, if those figures are accurate, the other councils will be subsidising Hamilton’s infrastructure and their three waters,” Baxter said.
“And what is the chance of Ōtorohanga having any real impact on their actual costs... but it having a massive impact on our rates?
“I don’t think an agreement on what is the best way going forward at the moment is going to be universal.”
He said the core issue was that local government was not adequately funded – it received just two per cent of the national tax take, he said.
“Any sort of amalgamation until the funding model changes will just be a dead duck,” he said in response to Waitomo mayor John Robertson’s repeated calls to look at a merger with Ōtorohanga.
“It is inevitable that
one day there will be amalgamation between neighbouring councils, and one I would suggest will not be led by local government.”
Baxter thought amalgamations might be services led rather than political. Amalgamation might be services led rather than by changing political boundaries. Ōtorohanga and Waipā recently collaborated on a pipeline contract that brought savings of scale to both councils, he noted.
“I think in the interim closer working relationships, greater collaboration, sharing of IP and ensuring
optimum efficiency is the key focus currently,” Baxter said’
“The joining of Ōtorohanga and Waitomo per se, through lack of scale is not going to deliver on the savings which our communities desire or need.
“Amalgamation of the two councils? I’m not seeing it, I’m not feeling it.”
At a half hour meeting with King Country/ Taranaki MP Barbara Kuriger last week he told her the coalition government – on the back of the last government, was killing local government, and localism.
“You came in with a mandate that’s all about localism, devolution of responsibilities and powers, empowering local communities; he said.
“All you have done is taken further funding away from local government, the last nine months since you have been in power. You are killing us. You are making local government fracture, there is no real closeness and camaraderie as there once was.
“You think about it where you have got sovereign citizens holding up elected members and arresting mayors and CEs because they have no trust in the delivery of services.
“When our rates increases were two and three per cent, communities were reasonably happy with us because we could actually do that. You throw inflation in that the increase in CPI and all of a sudden your rates increases are between 10 and 20 per cent across the country.
“And people are really angry. And I don’t blame them.”
Board’s poser: show us a sign
By Chris Gardner
High school students may be asked to design a new sign welcoming motorists to Te Awamutu. Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board member Jill Taylor suggested approaching Year 13 students to the job after chair Ange Holt raised the matter at the June board meeting.
Holt said the Ōhaupō Rd sign looked very dated and tardy.
“It’s really not very inviting at all,” she said.
“That’s something I was quite keen to discuss with everyone at some point and see if there’s an appetite to use a bit of money and maybe get a sign that could go there that was just a little bit more brighter and a bit more modern.”
Holt was keen to incorporate key organisations in the sigh, such as Lions and Rotary Clubs.
“When we approached this last time we were asked not to do anything because it was going to tie in with Te Ara Wai, based on the fact that Te Ara Wai is not going to be happening in the next few years. For $1500 or a couple of thousand dollars we could have something that looks smart and nice and a little bit more welcoming.
Holt told Taylor she could look at involving high school students.
Helen Carter Funeral Director
John Robertson
Max Baxter
The Te Awamutu Kihikihi Community Board is pushing to dress up a welcome sign to Te Awamutu – and thinks this one on Ōhaupō Rd looks tardy and dated.
Perfecting sound and vision
By Mary Anne Gill
When conductor David Rowland rehearsed with the acclaimed Christ’s College Chapel Choir in St Andrew’s Anglican Church on Sunday, he knew there was something wrong.
Gothic wooden church that
“I couldn’t hear the tenors and basses as much as I thought I should be hearing them,” the Professor of Music at Christ’s College in Cambridge, England told the 200 people packed into the Cambridge, New Zealand church for a concert on Sunday afternoon.
Such were the acoustics in the 143-year-old Neo-
basses are considerably taller,” he said pointing to Exhibit A, a tall singer to his left.
“We worked it out so they
Cambridge – the first was in 2006.
The choir’s repertoire
It’s been almost 60 years since Murray Hunt Furnishers opened their doors in Otorohanga and with two shops now in Te Awamutu. It’s testimony to the levels of service customers have come to expect when it comes to creating your own personal space.
Murray Hunt Furnishers team of staff are available to help clients work with some of the best manufacturers and suppliers of home furnishings from in New Zealand and internationally.
And this is visible from the moment you walk through the doors with a sumptuous array of choices when it comes to absolutely everything ranging from beds, bedding, furniture, furnishings and the accessories to enhance it.
Murray Hunt Furnishers is part of one of New Zealand’s best-known franchises in Beds R Us with an extensive range of New Zealand made Sleepyhead beds and Murray Hunt Furnishers friendly staff can help you choose what is right for you.
They also stock a fabulous range of curtain and textile fabrics, and blinds in the Otorohanga store, with expert advice on what’s best suited for your particular situation.
Their expertise and wide-ranging products has seen them involved with not only the many finishing of homes, but fitting out of
By Roy Pilott
More than 2000 people competed or watched when the Hamilton Cat Club held its 75th anniversary show at the Tamahere Community centre last weekend.
The event was moved from its previous home, Hamilton Gardens last year when work was being carried out there, and a decision was made to stay.
Show manager David Crymble called it a spectacular venue.
music from the 15th century to the present.
College foundress Lady Margaret Beaufort left a bequest of three organs on her death in 1509 which resulted in a choir starting, originally with male voices only with a boy trebles singing the upper parts.
Girls were admitted to Christ’s College in 1979 but prior to that, the choir used females from other colleges to sing the upper parts.
The concert in Cambridge featured choral compositions by Hubert Parry, Charles Villiers Stanford and Herbert Howells.
It catered for a total of 178 cats, representing 30 breeds from 90 exhibitors from Northland to the South Island as the event underlined its standing as the best supported show of its type in the country.
Visitors who did not want to test the softness of a grassed parking area found parking at a premium.
Eight judges were at the show – two each from Australia, the United States and New Zealand and one from pan and South Africa.
The event was also a triumph for club president Megan King – who is a Tamahere resident.
“It was a full on day… without exact figures we think over 2000 members of the public came thought he door, there were queues on occasions,” she said.
The overall supreme winner was Taniver My Silver Lining - an eight month old Black Smoke and White Persian kitten.
The owner and breeder is Cheryle St Clair-Newman from Christchurch.
CREATING A SPACE
that’s all about you
doctors’ clinics, schools, and resthomes to name a few.
Murray Hunt Furnishers pride themselves on their exceptional levels of service, both in store, in home and after sales and are proud of the many years of repeat customers they have built up over the years with their philosophy being high quality products at affordable prices.
A section of the Christ’s College Chapel Choir during the concert in St Andrew’s Anglican Church with the tall bass at right. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Breeder Natalie Burton from North Shore was pictured with a Birman kitten, which she bred and was entered in the show by Jacob Marshall. Birmans are like “teddy bears” and are the dogs of the cat world, Burton told The News.
Megan King, Hamilton Cat Cub president, with one of her entries, Zachariah, a five year old domestic long hair blue and white.
Left to Right Brodie Hewlett and Bev Cooper.
Call to dredge Ngā Roto
By Chris Gardner
Ngā Roto Sailing Club is asking Waipā District Council to clean up Lake Ngā Roto by dredging it.
Water quality at the largest of the district’s peat lakes is very poor, according to Land Air Water Aotearoa. The 91.75ha, 3.8m deep lake is frequently the subject of Health New Zealand health warnings when excessive nitrogen and phosphorus promote cyanobacteria growth.
Cyanobacteria can trigger asthma and hay fever symptoms and cause rashes, upset stomach, tingling around the mouth, headaches, breathing difficulties and visual problems.
“What has to be done? Get rid of the fish, they are an invasive species,” said club spokesman and former commodore Gordon Wallis.
“Dredge the lake. Put up a stop bank on a farm and pump the bottom out.”
Wallis, who hopes such action would remove the nutrients causing the problem, was responding to the council’s call for the community to have its say on the future of the lake near Te Awamutu. The lake and surrounding land are significant to mana whenua as the site of New Zealand’s largest intertribal battle.
Council community services manager Brad Ward said he wanted residents and ratepayers to share their vision for the reserve
whose walking and cycling track attracted 44,689 people last year.
“Get out there and do something about the situation. It’s the biggest, most used, natural lake in the district,” Wallis said.
“The whole community, now,
says don’t go out to Nga Roto, it’s toxic. How toxic is it? Is there signage written in such a way that it overreaches what it actually is? It’s a train wreck that has happened caused by 100 years of agriculture. We put fertiliser on
land and didn’t understand that it went in the streams. You can’t blame anybody for that. That’s what the whole world did. The lake has become a settling pond for those nutrients.
“The only thing that they do is
to now put up signage. I’ve sailed out there for 35 years. I can recall algae blooms for at least half of that period, but nobody ever got sick and died.”
Ward said, in a statement:
“Restoration of the lake is a longterm game. This plan won’t be a quick fix, but it will be a vehicle to bring key parties together. We need to be on the same page to improve the reserve and support the collective efforts to better the lake’s water quality.”
The plan will guide future management and aims to:
• understand views of mana whenua and other users, on the use of the reserve
• ensure it reflects the district’s growing and diverse population
• reflect the changes in the reserve’s values and new ways to protect and restore the reserve
• consider renaming the reserve to mana whenua preferred name
• align the plan with new or reviewed legislation, national policy statements, policies, strategies, and bylaws, and;
• update the plan to include land purchased in 2018 and approved projects.
A focus group has also formed to provide guidance and feedback. They will ensure the plan aligns with community, mana whenua and key stakeholder’s aspirations and views.
Wallis is seeking a sailing club seat on the focus group.
Social times and farm work
The Punga Maru Stud, a splendidly equipped pig farm close to Te Awamutu comprised 75 acres and was situated in a well-sheltered and well-drained valley in a bend of the Mangapiko stream.
Remarkable increases had recently occurred in exports of pig meat. These increases were outstanding, and it was doubtful whether any other primary industry had ever shown such a meteoric rise from an insignificant industry. First-class bacon pigs were produced from four breeds at the stud — Tamworth, Berkshire, Large White and Devon—or by crossing selected members of these breeds.
A ‘hard-up’ dance was held in the Kihikihi Town Hall and attended by visitors from all parts of the neighbourhood.
Costumes included a dress of sack cloth and a dress made from brown paper. Mr Barnett fined various people for not being in hard-up apparel. He was then himself heavily fined by Mr McGhie for daring to fine other people. A feature of the dance programme was the ‘Air Raid Waltz’ when the lights were put out and partners changed.
Delightful music was supplied by Mrs Holmes, and extras contributed by Miss Anderson (piano) and Mr Mathers (piano accordion). In keeping with the hard-up theme a novel and satisfactory supper of polonies and bread and butter was served.
A most enjoyable few hours was spent at the Pirongia school grounds when a large crowd assembled to witness
an amusing fancy dress basketball match. An exciting and entertaining hour of play, followed by afternoon tea was the order
of the day. Mr ‘Bill’ Bell was attired as a bridesmaid, and was coy and much admired and Mr Reg Bell impressed greatly as a Viking. Male
Piggeries, like these at Te Awamutu and Pukeroro (Tamahere) were important branch of New Zealand’s wartime rural activity.
players also dressed as a housemaid, a chorus girl, an old English lady and a modern flapper. The referee, Miss Girlie Bell, who was attired in a very fitting outfit, caused quite a lot of laughter. The afternoon was in aid of Red Cross Funds.
A farmer, who owned a considerable area of swamp land in the neighbourhood of Ōhaupō, reported that the spread of blackberry was becoming such a menace that he was seriously considering abandoning the whole place. He added that he had tried flame-throwers, poisoning, and grubbing, but as fast as he cleared an acre or 200 new plants appeared.
Phenomenal rainfall caused a blockage of the intake at the head works of the Te Awamutu water supply and there was a
A Snip in Time
noticeable falling-off in water pressure. Some residences on the high levels of the town were without supply. Householders on the lower levels were not completely without water but pressure was very low.
Rumours that there had been a serious burst in the mains, and memories of complete cutting-off from some years ago, when water was hawked about the town, prompted residents to fill every available receptacle. After repairs had been made normal supply was restored.
By Peter Carr
Over the recent weekend I was pleasantly involved with the celebrations of a good friend. The reason for the festivities being his 80th birthday.
ebcoroofing@gmail.com 022 454 4440 828 Bond Road, Te Awamutu New Roofs Residential Re-Roofs Commercial
Being a long-time resident in a retirement village such an event is, of itself, just one of a continuum of reasons for a party. As I looked around the room in our magnificent 1902 Homestead at the bright faces that clearly told of the passing of the years, I wondered what such a gathering would have been like 50 years ago. Well for a start it would have been much smaller. A far lesser proportion of the New Zealand public would have reached such an age. Yet in our village community of approaching 300 people, we have not only many residents as octogenarians but a number now well over 90. Bright people, still driving cars - despite the strange cognitive test that is forced upon those over the age of 80. No mention, by the Ministry of Transport, as to their capability to drive cars nor a recital of the Road Code. For reasons that Waikato Hospital still cannot explain, I was put through
the same cognitive test prior to being discharged after an operation on my back. I have a problem connecting the removal of a painful growth with my certification as a well-reasoned and mentally capable citizen.
Statistically, on the national scene, the ageing numbers appear almost frightening. Not physically so but socially. Not forgetting the awareness that this brings for the public who are concentrated on the wild and brutal attacks on retail operators by gangs with an average age of 14. The media are well concentrated on this youth social problem and no government –regardless of political colour - has the answer other than to incarcerate the perpetrators in what used to be known as boys homes. The appalling record of Oranga Tamariki (and its predecessors) in this ‘youth jail’ scenario is disgusting and bordering on complete taxpayerfunded incompetence.
So, at one end of the social age scale, we have the younger ones – or rather small groups of them - going wild and the common thread of this hinges very much on the lack of parental control
and, sadly, the alarming increase in the absence of a father figure in the household.
The Samoan community – back in their home islands - have a strong ethic where the grandparents have a major influence on the upbringing and subsequent behaviours of young family members. The family group, known as the Aiga, is very much wound around the wider family with great respect for the elders. Young parents, howsoever brought into that grouping, often happily allow the elderly to guide their young children.
Here is this country, we have rapidly growing numbers of young women who decline to name the father(s) of their children – and are supported by the taxpayer. There is surely a pathway for an Aiga-type system of respect and collective responsibility where those ‘of an age’ can provide guidance, care and planning for younger people prior to them becoming baton-waving adolescents intent on robbing hard working shopkeepers.
There are only 5 one-bedroom or two-bedroom supported living apartments still available in the new Hanlin Building. These easy-living apartments are in the heart of our established retirement village with its own café and village shop right on your doorstep. Enjoy the community vibe and great lifestyle with the added benefit of care and support as you require.
Contact: Sandra Fairhurst 07 827 6097
Young Heart at
A word to the young at heart
Life after 65 is, in the middle of the second decade of the 21st Century, a great place to be.
There is so much out there across the spectrum to be part of, technology to enjoy and ways to create great social networks whether it be interest groups on the net, or travelling via organized tour groups around the country or the world.
The advent of retirement villages has become a very real part of enjoying the golden years and in Waipa and surrounds, there is plenty to choose from.
Everything depends on what your lifestyle choices are, what you are looking for in terms of unit size, what it offers and affordability, and whether or not any add-on services are available when you might need them, from community dining to medical help.
Because Waipa is a location many choose to retire to, with its easy rural feel close to vibrant shopping centres, hospitals, a fast-growing city - and the coast, it’s a great place to network, strengthening existing friendships and creating new ones no matter what your interests may be.
Toward that end there are many clubs and groups you can join and you can find out more about these by checking in with organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureaus, iSite offices in any of the district’s towns and the Waipa District Council offices or website.
Tips for retirement successful
Any number of studies have been done on what makes the years of retirement successful for some and not for others – no matter how much money one may have in the bank against another.
The research has come up with several surprising factors when it comes to the advice older retirees have for those approaching retirement –or even those who are beginning to think about the long-term plan.
The top tip is: save while you can. Even putting aside 10% of your income, no matter how small it might be each week, will help you. Kiwisaver in New Zealand was one of the best retirement ideas and while for the baby boomers it came too late, for every other generation, this will help them move into a time when the Governmentsponsored pension is no longer enough to do more than simply survive upon. And with Kiwisaver, you don’t miss what isn’t in your paypacket to begin with.
Five years before you plan to retire, set out to clear all debt, this includes credit cards.
The next biggest tip was to ease slowly into retirement. Start thinking about it, create a bucket list of things you want to do (and that you’ll have the means to do them); drop down into part time work if you can, even if you turn 65 and continue working and drop your hours back. Bear in mind, you’ll pay secondary tax once your income reaches a certain level. If your house is too big, make it an adventure to find a smaller one that will suit your fitness and time needs, or to choose a retirement village; spend your free time investigating and getting all the information you need to be very comfortable in the final decision you will make.
The third tip is definitely one for the mind. Most talk about having to ease themselves into the golden years mindset and having to realise that is a complete change to what their entire adult life has been about.
It’s not a bad thing, it’s just difficult to adjust to, particularly for men. It can take a year or more, and if not handled well, can put stress on both individuals and couples’ relationships. Experts say it’s a good idea to begin planning on how to organise their time well before they intend to retire; to join clubs ranging from cards or darts, Menzshed, bowls or other sports, and volunteer groups such as Lions through to Altrusa.
The building of networks for this next stage of life is crucial and people often don’t realise how many life skills and skillsets they have to
offer that could be of benefit to others.
Enjoyment is the next big tip. Making sure you take the time to get out and enjoy life, whether by way of a coffee meeting, gym membership, day trips and picnics through to organised guided tours with like-minded travellers.
And finally, exercise is the last big tip. Almost all retirees who have participated in studies say the “Use it or lose it” philosophy is important as we grow older. It can be as simple as a daily walk, through to gentle swimming exercises, yoga or tai chi. Whatever it is you like to do – keep active.
We provide personalised rest home and hospital-level care, expertly delivered round the clock by a compassionate team of registered nurses, health care assistants, and support staff.
Our in-house kitchen prepares daily meals for residents and offers Meals on Wheels service to nearby neighbourhoods. Our hospital wing was recently renovated and is now ready to welcome new residents. Visit us and see how our location is the perfect balance between tranquility and convenience, privacy and proximity.
Contact us to arrange a visit. 07 8275972 • manager@cambridgelife.co.nz 86 King Street, Cambridge, Cambridge East 3434 Rest Home • Hospital • Respite • Day Stay soundcare.co.nz
Nau mai ki tō tātou Ahurea Tiaki
It’s Time to Experience Premium Independent Retirement Living
Family owned and operated, Te Awamutu’s Highfield Country Estate was established in 2012 and is set in beautifully landscaped grounds.
Commanding sensational views across to Mount Maungatautari, Highfield Country Estate Retirement Village currently houses 116 villas and due to unprecedented demand, is proud to announce the limited release of an additional 50 villas. The earthwork construction will start soon, with future Highfield residents being able to select from a variety of floorplans. The well-appointed two- and three-bedroom properties feature spacious, open plan living, coupled with quality fittings and appliances.
Our Residents Enjoy the Benefits of:
•A family focused and dedicated Management Team
•Friendly, welcoming and supportive staff
• A comprehensive programme of weekly social outings, events and activities
•A safe and secure living environment
•Beautifully landscaped well-established and maintained grounds
•A vibrant community atmosphere and sense of belonging
•A focus on health, fitness and well-being
•Maintenance free, lifestyle living
“One of the best decisions we made was to move into Highfield, where we know, and our family knows, that we live in a safe, happy, and friendly environment where people look out for one another. We love living here and if you are lucky enough to get the opportunity to purchase a villa, please come and join us and enjoy our retirement.” – Dave & Shona Hollinshead
To learn more about the benefits of independent lifestyle living at Highfield and to organise a personalised tour of our facilities contact General Manager Sheryl Thomas – 07 871 2020 (Monday to Friday between the hours of 10am – 3pm) manager@highfieldcountryestate.co.nz | 397 Swarbrick Drive, Te Awamutu | www.highfieldcountryestate.co.nz - The Lifestyle You Want, the Peace of Mind You Deserve
The for you
right vi age
There comes a time when downsizing just is the right move to do, when the big family home needs more maintenance than your aging body knows it’s capable of, or you just want more time to enjoy your golden years.
These days, the choices of retirement homes are a natural fit for many who look at selling but still want the security of investment in a property they call home without all the added hassles.
And that’s how the model for retirement villages “right to occupy” came about.
How this works is that rather than outright buying a unit, a couple or an individual can buy the permanent right to live in a one- to two-bedroomed unit in a village type environment.
As part of that ‘for life’ agreement, you also get the services, and use the village amenities. For many, these include not only general garden maintenance to cleaning the interior and exterior of your windows, or clearing your gutters, mowing your lawns, it also means you get use of amenities such as the tennis courts, the pool, or gym, or whatever else may be on offer.
There are additional costs however, that need to be noted. The two main ones are the ongoing weekly costs and the deferred management fees.
The ongoing weekly costs revolve around what you would be expected to pay for your maintenance and entertainment funds.
The pool has to be kept clean, the gardens of every home and the village itself done, and ongoing expected – and unexpected - maintenance on every unit in the village for example; all these things cost money, which is why the weekly fee is set.
Some retirement homes have a fixed fee, which you agree to at the start and which doesn’t change.
Others will increase their fees as time goes by – you need to read the fine print of your contract to find out what the realities are. Fees increasing over time, for example, could be a problem, considering most people are on fixed incomes.
The second cost is known as the deferred management fee. This is used by many retirement village groups and is otherwise known as an exit or departure fee.
It can range from 20%-35% of the sale of your unit, depending on which healthcare group you choose. Some will charge a full refurbishment fee from it, some will charge refurbishment on top of that; some will give you or your family what you paid for the unit, others will pay (less the deferment fee) whatever the unit was sold for. And, some will continue to
charge a weekly fee even if you are not in residence until it is sold – so be aware of potential pitfalls.
These are all conditions that your group will have noted in your contract, so it is important you and your family are fully familiar with them and you should have legal advice to make sure you do understand all the terms and conditions.
are loving the unrivalled hearing experience, rechargeability, music streaming and phone connectivity offered by today’s cutting-edge hearing technology.
‘Operational is not working
By Chris Gardner
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has deflected Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari’s plea for help.
General manager Helen Hughes turned to Potaka for help in May, before revealing to The News last month that a cash flow crisis could force the closure of the world’s largest predator proof fence near Cambridge by the end of August.
The project lost $1.5 million worth of DOC funding over four years and needs $500,000 to continue providing predator-free habitat for rare and endangered native species like takahe, kiwi, and kakapo.
Potaka told Stuff last week Hughes’ plea for help was a Department of Conservation (DOC) operational matter and the department was doing the best it could with a limited budget. DOC was directed to find 6.5 per cent savings from its budget to meet the coalition Government’s savings target.
“I am pretty disappointed by these words, because clearly operational is not working,” Hughes, who has been in the job nine months, said.
“Operational is not coming to the party, and operational is not making the commitment.
We need central government to assist.”
Potaka’s press secretary Jaed Nicoll said “we don’t have a comment to make here, sorry… the best place to ask about this issue is the Department of Conservation.”
DOC Waikato district operations manager Jane Wheeler is looking at options to support the project.
Karāpiro-based Minister for Community and Voluntary Sector Louise Upston, National MP for Taupō, said in a statement that she hoped a solution could be found.
“A lot of staff time and countless volunteer hours have gone into planning, building, and maintaining Maungatautari.
“The economy is going through a tough time right now, but this project got off the ground because of the vision, hard work, and generosity of donors. Those things still exist in the community.
“My colleague Barbara Kuriger is working with the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust Board to explore all options for support, including through the Department of Conservation.”
Kuriger accompanied Potaka to Maungatautari in May when he learned of its cash flow crisis.
Maungatautari chief Helen Hughes
Meanwhile, the project has received its first significant donation since going public about its cash flow crisis.
Len Reynolds Trust has funded several thousand dollars.
“We see this as an investment in an internationally recognised taonga with a proven track record,” said chief executive Melissa Gibson.
“That’s amazing,” Hughes said. “Absolutely incredible.”
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is dropping admission fees for children over the school holidays, in the hope they will learn to love the place.
Children 16 years and under visiting the mountain must be accompanied by a paying adult with a $30 Sanctuary Explorer Pass.
“We are hoping that loads of families come to the sanctuary,” said Hughes.
“The parents will pay; they will come and experience and grow to love it and they want to return.”
Young farmers on their marks
Dennis Main went from building to farming then back again before entering the Young Farmer of the Year competition.
The 30-year-old from Piarere now hopes to emulate the current title holder, Pirongia’s Emma Poole.
The event’s grand final kicks started in Hamilton today and will run for the next three days before an anticipated audience of thousands of spectators. The final brings together seven regional winners who will race against the clock and each other in a series of challenges which test farming knowledge and quickness of thought.
More than $90,000 worth of prizes are at stake in the FMG sponsored events.
Fourteen junior young farmers of the year teams and 63 AgriKidsNZ competitors will also compete for a national title.
Te Awamutu College students Summer Korkie and Luke Pease are excited about the opportunity the junior
Presbyterians break old ground
final will give them. They hope their background in equestrian and dairy farming will give them an edge other teams may not have.
“Luke and I have been hard at work practising our practical skills, and we visited Fieldays to pick up some extra information. Now, we’re patiently waiting for the speech topic and prompts so we can crack on with some further study,” Summer said.
New Zealand Young
Farmers Chief Executive Lynda Coppersmith says this year’s Grand Final contestants come from a wide range of backgrounds – so picking a winner is anyone’s guess.
“We’ve got sheep and beef farmers, a fencing contractor, an agri-manager and even a builder – it just goes to show the depth and variety of skills in Aotearoa and highlights the diversity of the food and fibre sector today.”
Skate park feedback sought
Skaters in Pirongia are being given until the end of the month to give their views on a concept design for the town’s future skatepark.
The community was invited to provide initial feedback on what they wanted the future Pirongia skatepark to look like and the style of features to include in last October.
Community services manager Brad Ward said the high level of engagement gave a good indication of what the community wanted.
“The majority of people wanted a skatepark that catered to beginner skaters and had features for scootering and biking. This was invaluable feedback that we have incorporated into the concept design,” he said.
The community will be able to see the designs, talk with the experts and provide feedback at a drop-in session at the end of the month.
“Getting Pirongia’s input on the concept design will help us finalise a plan that can transform the space into a facility that skaters can be proud of and enjoy for many years to come,” Ward said.
The Pirongia Skatepark Community Project team is fundraising to build the skatepark and feedback is open until August 1.
Te Awamutu College students Summer Korkie and Luke Pease will compete in the junior young farm final.
ON SHAKY GROUND
Words matter
By Janine Krippner
I am sitting in Tenerife, a volcanic island with a very volcanically active past, chatting with linguist Dr Hannah Little from the UK about how people perceive risk.
A linguist specialises in how our use of words affects how we think about the world. Amazingly, she is working with SETI (Search for extraterrestrial intelligence) to come up with a plan on how to communicate with aliens, should we actually find them. There is so much power in words in every aspect of society. They can destroy lives or save them.
We are here with the GeoTenerife programme talking about how wording of information changes how people take in information on risk or events, like a virus or a potentially impending volcanic eruption. Volcanic risk is the potential loss or damage to any aspect of society.
This takes into account the probability or chance of specific volcanic activity (for example ashfall, lahar, pyroclastic flow) occurring.
There are so many different ways to express how something will impact you, your life, your family, and your belongings, and it is the responsibility of scientists to understand that so that we can better guide you towards making safer decisions. As someone who specialises in the processes in volcanoes and how they can impact areas, this is far beyond my specialty. This is why we work together.
I am interested in the understanding of how people might be impacted by volcanic unrest (before an eruption) or eruption activity so that we can know where to begin in empowering communities with information on how to act and protect themselves.
Do you know if you might be affected
by an eruption? Do you understand what volcanic ash is? Do you understand what to do if volcanic ash falls where you are?
Will you feel more confident in a statement like ‘Ruapehu is likely to erupt’ if we tell you more about what information we used to figure that out?
What does the word ‘likely’ even mean for you? If I said it was likely to rain today, do you feel differently about that than ‘there is likely to be a fatal accident on the main street of Te Awamutu today’, or ‘there is likely to be an eruption at Taupo today’? Would you take an umbrella? Would you drive down the main street? Would you avoid going outside, avoid the main street, or avoid the Taupo area?
If I said ‘there is a 20 per cent chance of a small eruption at Ruapehu’, would you think differently about that than ‘there is a 20 per cent chance of a small eruption below the main street of Auckland’? Context and how we perceive these different scenarios is important.
In New Zealand we have a bit of a superpower in that our volcanology community values working with social scientists to ensure that the scientific information we have on volcanoes can be given to communities in helpful ways. This is not the case in many other places, and a lot of damage has been unwillingly done even when the best of intentions were there. We will get it wrong, we learn from mistakes made around the world, and we do truly want to be helpful. Volcanoes are scary. The words we use to describe them are critical.
Helping community thrive
By Julie Guest, Vicar, Parish of St John, Te Awamutu
When I was a child, my parents would often host a party on a Saturday night. Guests would arrive with a flagon and a plate to share. Non-alcoholic punch was always on offer. Singing dancing and laughter would follow. Supper would be served, perked coffee to follow. The only noisy aspect of those parties that I recall was the laughter and singing.
There was never any anger or violence; people enjoyed each other’s company. I’m aware now, that we lived a community that was still being developed.
Those gatherings were made up of people who were working together to help it thrive. They were invested in each other and what they were building together; new community facilities, churches, clubs and governance.
The sense of being a small community that Sam wrote about a couple of weeks ago was very strong. People belonged and were valued. Anyone who was experiencing a rough time, was in need in any way, was supported. How things have changed. In
“On the Beat” in our local paper, we too often read of problems caused by excessive alcohol in this community, such as family harm and violence.
We read too, of lives forever changed through drunk driving and the tragedy that follows. Then there’s the harm caused to children growing up in families where violence resulting from excess alcohol is a pattern. Even when there is no violence, children are being taught a way of life where alcohol is used as a way of coping with life’s stresses. Those lessons are hard to unlearn.
Jesus teaches that the highest and greatest purpose in life is to love your neighbour as
yourself. What does that actually mean for our lives? It means putting as much energy into the wellbeing of those around you as you put into your own and your family’s well-being. It also means that there is deep joy in living so that you and those around you thrive. That’s what I witnessed happening in those parties as I grew up. People caring for each other such that everyone was better off.
Te Awamutu and Kihikihi board member Jill Taylor has called for a ban on the sale of alcohol in supermarkets. I know from walking with those fighting alcohol addiction, that a supermarket selling alcohol is a place of huge temptation. I watched them mentally prepare to go for their weekly grocery shop, knowing they would need to resist the pull of the alcohol laden shelves, and not knowing if they would have the strength.
If we want the best for our community, to care for our police and first responders who have to deal with the fallout of excess consumption, to take even a tiny step to protect children, surely we would be willing to forgo the convenience of supermarket alcohol sales?
This community of Te Awamutu is richly blessed by the people who built and continue to build community here, fundraise for the facilities, build the churches and create the clubs.
Can we today, in the same spirit of community, support Jill’s call and together seek the best for everyone -not just those for whom alcohol poses no threat?
PROPOSAL TO GRANT LEASE – PART OF PIRONGIA WEST RECREATION RESERVE
Pursuant to section 73(3) of the Reserves Act 1977 and Part 3B of the Conservation Act 1987, Waip-a District Council, acting on behalf of the Minister of Conservation pursuant to instrument of delegation dated 12 June 2013, proposes to grant a lease for land forming part of Pirongia West Recreation Reserve at Sainsbury Road, Pirongia to Cloverlea Farms Limited for a term of 15 years. The proposed lease requires the land to be used for the purposes of farming. The land is comprised of approximately 49.1946 hectares and is located on part of Pirongia West Recreation Reserve which is registered under record of title SA1294/16 and described as Allotment 335 and Part Allotment 336 Town of Pirongia. The land is administered by the Waip-a District Council as a Recreation Reserve under the Reserves Act 1977.
Anyone wishing to make a submission or objection to this proposal may do so in writing by post or email, to be received no later than 5 pm, 12 August 2024. Please state in your submission if you wish to be heard in person.
Address all correspondence to:
By Post:
Waip-a District Council
Private Bag 2402
Te Awamutu 3840
Or By Email: info@waipadc.govt.nz
For more information, please contact Waip-a District Council on 0800 924 723 or email info@waipadc.govt.nz.
Privacy Statement: Any personal information you provide as part of your submission or objection will be used for the purpose of the engagement process, including informing you of the outcome of the consultation. All objections/submissions (including names and contact details) may be provided in full to elected members and Council officers for this purpose. Submissions (including names but not contact details) may be made available to the public at our office and on our website. All information collected will be held by Waip-a District Council, 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu with submitters having the right to access, and request correction to, their personal information. You can read our full privacy statement at waipadc.govt.nz/privacy-statement.
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