King Country News | September 19, 2024

Te Kanawa: kōrero master

A young speaker is being credited for making whaikōrero (oratory) “cool again among rangatahi”.

The 16-year-old te reo talent won three categories in this year’s Ngā Manu Kōrero speech competition in Tāmaki Makaurau - including Pei Te Hurinui Jones Senior Māori.

The competition attracted 60 speakers from 46 schools. Te Kanawa Wilson’s name reveals whakapapa connections to Ngāti Maniapoto and Oparure.

His mum is Riria (Missy) Te Kanawa and her father, is Dan Te Kanawa. Te Kanawa Wilson’s father is the chair of the Kīngitanga advisory body Tekaumarua, Che Wilson.

The student attends Ngā Taiātea wharekura in Hamilton, where staff and tauira are now “beaming with pride,” according to his Māori language teacher, Paumea Walker, who spoke to The News because Te Kanawa is in Europe with whānau.

Te Kanawa was a role model lending strong support to te reo, Walker said.

While some rangatahi mentally link whaikōrero with “that uncle who recites whakapapa back to the atua,” Te Kanawa was among those making it a platform for kōrero around politics and the taiao, the environment.

His prepared speech, as the 30th of 30 speakers, visually channelled a role model, Kīngitanga orator Kingi Kiriona. But the message was all his own.

Starting with “Te Tiriti o Te Kanawa” he exhorted youngsters to write their own ‘treaty,’ and also to embrace the electoral process: “Vote in what you want; vote out what you don’t want,” is an English translation.

Te Kanawa invoked the whakatauki or proverb “Whatungarongaro te tangata, Toitū te whenua” people pass on, but the land endures, and used loan words referencing Waitangi Tribunal proceedings – with a catchphrase asking the audience whether they’d like to “pāhi te mōtini” or pass the motion.

The “energetic and focussed” Te Kanawa lives and breathes te reo Māori, and always seeks to better his language, Walker said.

“Sometimes in speech competitions, you can tell an adult has written the speech and the young person has just memorised it. But he did it all himself.”

The last thing that stood out about his speeches was his unique way of addressing the judges: not naming them but flinging in-jokes that fitted the theme – such as “Toitū Te Pāti Reipa” to a judge who was a Labour party representative.

For Walker, it brought back memories – he won Ngā Manu Kōrero for Nga Taiātea in 2016.

The Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka, said the number of te reo Māori speakers was expected to increase, “largely driven by our rangatahi.”

“We must continue to support them at home, in our communities and schools.”

• More winners, see Page 3.

Sleeping booty

A Te Kūiti resident tipped off police that a man had been sleeping in a car with the engine running for two hours.

The call resulted in police finding $15,000 in cash, a revolver with ammo, and a quantity of meth.

Ōtorohanga sergeant Jimmie Walker said police saw drug utensils when they approached the late model Audi in Hardy St on Wednesday last week.

A 37-year-old Palmerston North man was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine for supply, possession of drug utensils and unlawful possession of a pistol and ammunition.

The man was remanded to custody to appear at the Hamilton District Court on October 2.

Te Kūiti stabbings

A man was arrested after a Te Kūiti couple were stabbed in their Lawlor St home on Sunday. Police were called about 4.50pm after the attack on the couple, aged in their 60s. Both victims were taken to Te Kūiti Hospital and the male was later flown to Waikato Hospital.

A 44-year-old Te Kūiti man was arrested a short time later after he was found walking on The Esplanade. The man appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Monday, facing two charges and was remanded in custody to appear again next Tuesday (September 24). They arrested man and the victims are known to one another, police said.

Sigrid Christiansen

Te Kanawa Wilson is a role model showing youngsters how whaikōrero, oratory, can be used to highlight the issues that matter to them, like the environment.

TE KŪITI

39 Rora St, Te Kūiti 07 878 8072

Opening hours: 7 days, 7am - 8pm

International flights will return to the Waikato next June after a break of 13 years.

This week Waikato Regional Airport boss Mark Morgan confirmed Qantas subsidiary Jetstar would provide three return flights a week to the Gold Coast and four return flights to Sydney.

The airport is a council-controlled organisation owned by Hamilton City, Ōtorohanga, Waipā, Waikato and MatamataPiako councils.

“The benefits for the entire region – not just passengers – are huge. Analysis indicates the flights will boost the regional economy by about $45 million per year,” Morgan said.

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The airport’s northern terminal will be prepared for Customs, border control, aviation security and other services and the aircraft used on the routes will be a 188-seater A320 Neo.

Having flights mid-morning from Hamilton would change the way you think about international travel, Morgan said.

Door to Aussie opens again Dancing with daffodils

A Te Kūiti grower was among the winners at the daffodil community’s most glittering event, the North Island National Daffodil Society Show, held in Hamilton last weekend.

Lisa Watkins took home four collection classes and two premiers among her results, assisted by husband Raymond, who helped with the lengthy preparation and is named on all the entries.

Their awards included the Mercer

Challenge Cup (6 daffodils), Avery Challenge Trophy, Ron Hyde Trophy, a prize for six stems in Division 2, Amateur Premier Bloom (the winning boom was “Deltone”) and the Small Cup in the amateur division with a flower, “Showdown.”

One of the show’s biggest winners, in the competitive Champion Bloom category, came from further afield.

“Denise Macquarie from Christchurch won the champion flower this year, with a daffodil

called Morrinsville which was bred by Dr Peter Ramsay from Hamilton,” Lisa said.

And she should know about thatChampion Bloom was the category Lisa took out last year, telling The News she had been working towards the title for 14 years before blossoming as a winner.

Her “wee intermediate flower Little Trinket” won reserve champion.

“It was very well done. Everyone looked and sounded great,” Lisa said.

Inglewood Office

Te

King Country Virtual Office 021 815 017 Kuriger.Kingcountry@parliament.govt.nz

Celebration time, from left: Mark Morgan, Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate, a Jetstar crew, Matamata Piako and Ōtorohanga mayors Adrienne Wilcock and Max Baxter at the announcement this week.

Lisa Watkins of Te Kūiti is passionate about daffodils. Photo: Lottie Hedley

Pines push up power bills

By Paul Charman

Poorly maintained King Country pine forests are costing every electricity consumer in the region.

Lines Company CEO Mike Fox says TLC is spending close to $2 million annually on vegetation management – much of it managing trees in forestry blocks. A recent estimate put the cost as being an extra $60-$90 a year on every customer’s power bill.

Fox was asked to comment following last week’s complaints from Benneydale fire chief Murray Patterson that his brigade was attending numerous calls to clear trees which downed power wires – about 10 in Waimiha Rd alone in the

previous two years.

He gave the example of two dangerously leaning pines he had tried unsuccessfully for two years to persuade the forestry maintenance company responsible to remove.

Patterson said it could take four to five hours to clear debris and restore power after trees fell from either side of the road pulling down power wires.

Fox was asked whether it was easy to get forestry companies to pay up after damage done to the network by their trees.

“Some forestry companies are good to deal with, taking a socially responsible approach to keeping our customers connected,

including a conscientious approach to public safety,” he said.

“However, liaising with some forestry companies is largely an ongoing battle.

“TLC spends millions of dollars to manage trees and repair damage, but there are some blocks on our network that are poorly maintained by a small number of forestry owners. Trees on power lines are wildly frustrating because it is our community that bears the brunt of the cost and inconvenience, and they can least afford it.”

In a wide-ranging statement, Fox painted a grim picture of costs being generated by forestry blocks which cover 10 per cent of the region. The region had

hundreds of thousands of trees on forestry blocks, which could grow to 25 metres in 13 years.

About a third of all TLC’s power cuts come from vegetation and of that, more than 90 per cent were from falling trees.

TLC’s network covered 12 per cent of the North Island, however the company only have around one per cent of the North Island’s population in our network area.

“Around 10 per cent of our network – approximately 150,000 hectares – is covered in forestry blocks, some poorly maintained. The company has 269km of power lines running through 262 forestry blocks.

“The impact on our

All in the family

It was a family affair at the Waitomo Golf Club as a couple and their son won championship finals last weekend.

Richard Koroheke, Brooke Walters and Kase Koroheke, 17, all topped their divisions.

Kase – who is on a 13 handicap – has played golf for just a year and won the junior title. Dad Richard swung in with the intermediate honours – and Brooke took out senior women’s title. Stu Baird won the senior men’s category. He

and Brooke were Waitomo’s top junior players in their teen years, and he has returned to the Waitomo club as greenkeeper, at the club where he learned to play.

Kase is not alone as a talented golfing youngster at the club, which has seen a resurgence thanks to the work of Jaz Stafford who has been coaching and supporting our juniors, Brooke’s mum and Women’s Club Captain Heather Gifkins said.

customers is huge and we don’t have a big customer base to spread costs across. Costs aren’t just financial, outages cause frustration and inconvenience and in the case of businesses, there can be additional economic impact.

“Cyclone Gabrielle was a good example of what can happen. Across our network we had around $1.65 million in damage just from that one event, and most of that cost was from trees falling into lines.”

Fox said the TLC was lobbying the Government to update regulations covering the conduct of forestry companies.

“The first round of changes to tree regulations announced by the government in May only tinker around the edges and don’t go anywhere near far enough to remove the risk to communities from power outages.”

More winners

Several of the wāhine Manu Kōrero winners and finalists have whakapapa links to the King Country. Among them are Tommy-Rei Manawaiti, Te Kahurangi Rehia Kata Teinakore-Huaki and Tiaria Potaka.

Te Rāwhiti Ihaka /Junior Māori third placewinner, Te Kahurangi Rehia Kata Teinakore-Huaki is connected to the west coast at Tahāroa, and a mokopuna of Māori language educator Aroha Huaki. Right now, she’s standing with her kapa haka group… in China. Talent also runs in the family for

From page 1

finalist Tommy-Rei Manawaiti, whose relations include composer Petiwaea Manawaiti – and connects to Te Kūiti Pā. Tommy-Rei attends Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa; in the English section she spoke about how to stress less by connecting with others. It’s no badge of honour to not fit in, everyone fits in somewhere, she said. And unplugging from social media was a great way to start.

Te Kanawa Wilson’s cousin, Tiaria Potaka, was a finalist in the Korimako / senior English division.

Ten schools in applicant list

Eighteen young people from across the King Country have applied for tertiary training scholarships from The Lines Company.

TLC launched the the Inspiring Local Minds Scholarship in 2018 and to date has supported 26 young people with their studies.

Successful applicants can receive up to $2000 a year for three years for a range of studies applicable to Lines Company jobs. All applicants must live on the TLC network.

Applications for this year’s scholarships

closed at the end of August, attracting applications from Waitara, Taumarunui, Te Kuiti, New Plymouth Girls’ High School, Ruapehu, Te Awamutu Whanganui Girls’, Otorohanga and Piopio colleges as well as St Paul’s Collegiate. Applications will be assessed by a panel that includes TLC’s chief executive Mike Fox, customer and community engagement manager Anne Terry and Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust chair William Oliver.

Successful applicants will be announced later this month.

Mike Fox

Winners on the green - Brooke Walters, Kase and Richard Koroheke

Kāwhia museum makes progress

By Paul Charman

The Committee of Te Whare Taonga o Kāwhia - Kāwhia Museum has worked hard over the past 12 months to grow its museum society membership, update its 30-year-old constitution and give the building’s reception area a much-needed facelift.

Museum acting chair Kathie Rifle said the reception area’s worn and torn old wallpaper had been replaced with fresh white reclad walls to provide a blank canvas for the next stage of the refurbishment.

“This area will showcase the richness of Kāwhia’s pre and post-colonial histories, where both Māori and colonial stories are honoured and celebrated. We want manuhiri (visitors) to the museum to feel like they have stepped back in time as they enter into a uniquely ‘Kāwhia’ space.”

The museum also houses the Kāwhia Information Centre, and over the coming months this space would be presented to provide a sensory and visual experience of what people saw and did when visiting Kāwhia.

Rewriting the constitution had been a mammoth task requiring considerable consultation, Dr Rifle said.

“Recent changes to the Incorporated Societies Act led us to incorporate Te Tiriti o Waitangi into our constitution. We took this very seriously so adopted a shared governance model with local mana whenua in the spirit of true partnership. Kāwhia has a rich Māori history and continues to have a strong Māori focus with the four main marae - Maketū, Ōkapū, Waipapa and Mōkai Kāinga - functioning as the heartbeats of the community. Kāwhia also has a rich colonial history, and in a museum both of these histories should be equally visible.

The museum’s outgoing chair Jeanette Schollum said the aim was for equitable representation in the governance of the museum.

“Consultation with local mana whenua representatives from Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Te Wehi, Ngāti Hīkairo and Ngāti Maniapoto, connected to each of the four marae, led to a new constitution adopting a shared governance model. These representatives bring with them a depth of local cultural knowledge and expertise in museum studies, management and practice.

“Adding this knowledge to the expertise in anthropology, environmental law, social

policy, and education brought by the museum’s passionate committee members sees the museum in capable hands over the next two years. ‘Te Tiriti o Waitangi’ is embedded in the new constitution and is reflected in its kaupapa, governance, objectives and practices.”

The updated constitution was accepted at the museum’s recent annual meeting.

Dr Rifle said the museum relied on koha to keep doors open and acknowledged support from Trust Waikato, Ōtorohanga Charitable Trust, Ōtorohanga District Community Fund, and Waipā Networks.

“We are currently seeking more volunteers to help to keep our museum and information centre open on the weekends as part of the Kāwhia experience that all manuhiri can enjoy.”

BRIEFS

Burns victim

A wheelchair bound Kāwhia resident is in Waikato Hospital receiving treatment for burns. Fire investigator Kevin Holmes said the man had been starting a rubbish fire with petrol this week when fumes caught fire and set his clothing alight. The man received first aid treatment from neighbours, who put cold water on his burns and covered them with plastic wrap. On Tuesday his condition was given as comfortable.

Riders make a stand

Horse riders across the country took to the roads last weekend to raise awareness about their vulnerability on the road. Pass Wide and Slow New Zealand is concerned about motorists’ behaviour and is petitioning to have the coalition government to recognise horse riders as vulnerable road users.

Up for auction

A medal given to the family of a soldier from Hangatiki who died in 1941 during WWII is about to go to auction. Thomas Green, son of Tawhi Te Puaha Kirini Green and Teremaanu te Amohanga nee Te Hauparoa was killed in action with New Zealand forces in North Africa aged 23. The Memorial Cross presented to his family is estimated to sell for $400, Mowbray Collectibles managing director David Galt said.

Charged up

Waikato Regional Council’s transport committee has been told deteriorating roads and widespread potholes were caused by key government agencies mis-reading their own calculations, leading to bad public policy. In a report tabled at the meeting – but not supported in person - co-author Mark Gasson said Road User Charges for heavy vehicles were, as a consequence, too low.

Kāwhia Museum information officer Haki Raiwhara in the renovated reception area.

The museum showcases Kāwhia’s pre and post-colonial histories, with both Māori and colonial stories.

More spent in less time

By Mary Anne Gill

Shorter stays with higher spending per visitor.

That’s the summary of both domestic and international trends in the Waikato for the financial year ended June 30, Hamilton and Waikato Tourism general manager Nicola Greenwell told Waipā’s Finance and Corporate committee this week.

Ōtorohanga and Waitomo are among five councils – including Waipā, Matamata-Piako and Waikato – to reduce its funding from July 1.

Waitomo reduced its funding by 60 per cent to $30,000 and Ōtorohanga by 50 per cent to $35,000.

Hamilton city with $716,000 was the only council to maintain its funding.

“The team remained committed to delivering our regular mahi ensuring we continue to build a visitor sector that provides economic, social and cultural wellbeing for our communities,” Greenwell said in her report.

It was the international sector which showed the most significant contrast. Despite a 14 per cent decline in guest nights, international visitor spending rose by 14 per cent.

International visitors to the region spent $123.6 million in the 11 months to May – a 22 per cent increase on the previous year.

Domestic guest nights across the region dipped slightly but spending surpassed the national average and was the fastest growing among central North Island regions. Waikato captured 7.3 per cent of the domestic visitor spending market across New Zealand spending $784 million in the 11 months to May.

Ngahuia: our super marketeer

By Sigrid Christiansen

It’s been 61 years and counting since Ngahuia James started at Jim McGregor’s grocery shop in September 1963. It was located at the current Supervalue carpark.

There was a 10-year break, during which she raised two children, Marina and Noki, who both live in Upper Hutt today. She also briefly worked at the Te Kūiti Hotel (ironically, in the same spot as the current New World supermarket). Then, it was back to New World for 40 years straight –a milestone celebrated at the start of the month.

That’s a half-century plus one to be acknowledged.

“I enjoyed what I did,” she said, of her work with the retailer.

In a reference provided in 1964, owner Jim McGregor wrote that he personally held her in “the highest esteem.”

“Ngahuia joined our staff in September 1963 as a general assistant, but very rapidly proved that she was above average in her suitability as a machine operator. She was shortly promoted to assistant machine operator,” he wrote.

A decade later, in 1973, he wrote, “She has a keen understanding of the business operation of the supermarket and is always keen to ensure that the customers are treated with the respect they deserve.”

Over the years, several family members worked alongside

Ngahuia, including two sisters Kiri and Lois.

“There was a close-knit relationship between the Andersons and the McGregors.”

Many things have changed, like the size of the biscuit packets (a shadow of their former selves), plus these days, tinned fruit contains “more juice and less fruit.”

But two memories stand out: the first is her ironing board, a symbol of the standards and beliefs of the day.

Staff were asked to keep a smile on their faces, and to maintain the highest standards of neatness and good grooming: this was overseen by Ngahuia herself.

“If any of the girls arrived looking untidy, I’d ask them to clock off, and send them back to iron their uniform neatly. Then they could clock on again.”

Back then, staff training was more detailed than today. One example is the training Ngahuia completed in 1966, to become a certified “Three Flowers” skin care and makeup consultant, after attending a Richard Hudnut Instructional Course on Skin Care and Make-up, from the Richard Hudnut Cosmetic Advisory Bureau.

“These days, you paddle your own canoe.”

The second memory is the leadership shown by owner Jim McGregor, who had started “from nothing” to become a highly respected and community-minded businessman, alongside his wife

Mavis (Bette).

“I learned so much from him. He was amazing with the community.

“He was strict but very fair. He showed how to treat people the way you would want to be treated.”

“He expected you to do the work, and you did the work.”

Ngahuia said McGregor would always know which families in the community were struggling and would send staples their way if necessary.

In 1966, Ngahuia moved with them to the first New World.

“He insisted on using locals to build the supermarket itself and the shop fittings.”

Born an Anderson in 1947 and

later adopted by her relatives, Huatahi and Charlie Hill, Ngahuia started life among the family on Te Piruru Marae, one of 14 children including brother Puku (Barney) Anderson. Their father Puku Anderson died in 1950. She remained close with them.

“When you’re brought up with somebody else, you still know who your family is.”

As a youngster she was drawn to “the commercial space” business, maths and accounting. However, when it was time to find a job her natural mother, Dolly Anderson, took her down to see Jim McGregor.

“I had no intention of staying long – when you’re young you have plans.”

Here’s looking at you, kid… Ngahuia James with a picture of her younger self. If she could meet her, she’d have one thing to say: “kia ora.” Photo Sigrid Christiansen.

•

Police attended two family harm incidents.

September 10: Two vehicles were involved in a collision at about 3.50pm at the intersection of Kāwhia Rd and Old Golf Rd. A car had turned right onto SH31, causing a T-bone collision with a utility towing a trailer. The two vehicles were both badly damaged but the occupants uninjured.

September 12-13: Four fishing reels, each valued at $2000-2500 were stolen from a car parked at an address on Gradara Ave. A chainsaw and an iPhone were also taken.

September 13: About 9.45am a car crashed into a bank on Ormsby Rd, south of Pirongia. The southbound van failed to take a right-hand bend while over-correcting to avoid an oncoming truck and trailer. There were no injuries.

September 14: At 2.40am the driver of an eastbound vehicle lost control on worn seal in the 50 km/h section of the Ngutunui road. The car hit a bank, rolled and came to rest on its wheels in a drain. Three occupants suffered minor injuries. The stretch of road has recently been the scene of numerous crashes caused by worn seal (King Country News, July 25). At about 5.15pm on Te Kawa Rd another utility vehicle rolled down a bank after losing traction on a corner in wet conditions on a section of slick road. No injuries were reported.

September 14-15: Overnight a transportable home on Ormsby Rd, Pirongia, was broken into. A backpack and an EK crossbow were stolen.

Kāwhia

Police attended one family harm incident.

September 10-11: Overnight a $1600 red generator was reported stolen from a caravan on Kāwhia Rd. It was pushed away in a wheelbarrow which was recovered nearby from the harbourside.

September 11: At about 5pm two people were attacked while fishing at Kāwhia Wharf. Two men arrived at the wharf in a brown Suzuki Grand Vitara spoke to the complainants and this culminated in a can of energy drink being thrown at one of the fishers. One of the complainants was also punched in the face. Police are investigating.

September 14-15: Overnight a Kāwhia resident reported that two dirt bikes were stolen from an “insecure garage” on his property. The machines were a Forza 150cc and a Yamaha 125cc.

was summonsed to appear in court on a charges of careless driving and driving with excess breath alcohol.

Benneydale

Police attended one family harm incident.

Between August 19 and September 9 a burglary took place at a house on SH4, Aria. The house, which was only being lived in intermittently, had its back door, French doors and windows smashed. The property was also ransacked and a television stolen.

Police attended 11 family harm and two mental health callouts.

September 10: At about 7pm a car hit a cow walking in the car’s traffic lane on SH3. The driver was uninjured but the cow was put down.

September 11-13: A padlock was cut by thieves who broke into a concrete building in Rora St. Copper wire, a backpack sprayer and scrap metal were taken from the building.

September 10: At 3.57pm the brigade was called out after a collision between two vehicles at the intersection of SH31 and Golf Rd. There were no injuries.

September 12: At 2.43pm the brigade was called out to assist the Kāwhia Volunteer Fire Brigade after a man suffered burns while lighting a rubbish fire. He was transferred to Waikato Hospital by helicopter.

September 14: At 12.57pm the brigade was called out after an automatic fire alarm triggered at the Waitomo Visitor Centre. They also checked out a car which had been left in a ditch, apparently following a crash some hours previously on Waitomo Caves Rd.

Piopio

Piopio

September 3: The brigade was called out to wash down a section of SH3 near the intersection with Te Kumi Rd following a crash in which a car struck a cow.

September 14: At about 5am a utility vehicle crashed and was badly damaged while travelling south on SH3, near Te Mapara. The ute strayed over the centreline, overcorrected and came to rest in a ditch. The driver, who police said may have gone to sleep at the wheel, was uninjured.

At 10.40pm that day, on Moa St, Piopio, the driver of a utility vehicle crashed into a power pole at the entrance to a driveway. The collision caused the powerlines to drop, although they did not touch the ground. The driver then reversed and crashed his ute into a fence, snapping a strainer post. SH3 was closed for about two hours while the powerlines were repaired. The driver returned a reading of 650 mg of alcohol per litre of breath and

September 7: At 5.16am the brigade was called out after a car went into a ditch on SH3 at Te Mapara. The scene had been cleared when the brigade arrived. At 11.13pm the brigade was called out after a car stuck a power pole and downed power lines. The brigade secured the scene until Lines Company staff arrived and repaired the damage.

September 9: At 10.43am the brigade was called to a property in Mangatea Rd to put out a fire which had started in a starling nest built in a tractor’s engine compartment. The fire was out upon the brigade’s arrival.

and 1980s, are available to occupy under an Occupation Right Agreement (ORA)

No word on skifield sale

By Paul Charman

A buyer has yet to be announced for the beleaguered Whakapapa Skifield, whose operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts went into voluntary administration owing $45 million in 2022.

Since then the Turoa Skifield has been operated this season by the company Pure Turoa, whose bid for that field was accepted by the receiver Calibre Partners last year.

However, Calibre has not returned calls from the News asking whether a buyer has been found for Whakapapa, while the office of Minister responsible, Shane Jones, reported that he had not been advised one way or the other.

In May, Dave Mazey a former Ruapehu Alpine Lifts boss told Newshub he was putting in a bid alongside his investment partners, The South Island Office. Since then, there has been no word on progress.

The owner of the Skotel Hotel Sam Clarkson says lack of transparency on the future of Whakapapa is unacceptable.

“If it was a private company going broke, located on private land, it could be acceptable to keep the media in the dark. But RAL is a

not-for-profit public benefit entity. It is operating on publicly owned land – the Tongariro National Park. What’s more, according to latest six-monthly figures released by the liquidator (PwC), RAL Whakapapa has been trading (in receivership) in the black, despite the present bad snow season.

“So all things considered, we the people of New Zealand deserve better than for everything to be done behind closed doors. There has been an absolute stony silence on the matter.”

Clarkson said Jones had to be taken at his word that Whakapapa would close if no operator could be found before the end of 2024. Were this to happen, according to DOC rules, all skifield infrastructure would have to be removed from the mountain. The estimate for this job had been put at potentially close to $100 million.

“Even if they do find a new buyer that entity is going to need a concession; they would have to apply for one and then go through the process of hearings and so forth. So the threat that the skifield would close if no buyer can be found is made worse by a requirement that exists to find a consent to operate.

In terms of uncertainty this has generated for the local businesses – it couldn’t be higher.

“We see a crisis looming, but we have been kept completely in the dark on whether it can be avoided.”

Clarkson says it would cost far more to close the skifield than to keep running it.

“Let the skiers and stakeholders, who previously owned RAL, step in and run the former company under new directors. That would ensure continuity by using RAL’s existing concessions.

“It has been a very successful model in the past because of the passion people have for skiing and the desire to pass on the opportunity to do so for their children and grandchildren.”

Plenty to see at exhibition

By Paul Charman

A variety of art and craftwork was on display at the Waitomo Society of Arts exhibition at the Les Munro Centre last week.

Society of Arts president Sibyl Iremonger said visitors to the four-day Te Kūiti exhibition got to see some of the multiple mediums and styles demonstrated by local artists.

“The talent evident in these exhibits is impressive to say the least,” she added.

“And it’s so important to encourage our creatives by giving them an opportunity to display their work.”

The exhibition, which also comprised arts and crafts from schools, gave the community a window into various projects artists in their midst were currently working on.

Iremonger highlighted watercolours by guest exhibitor Rebecca DowmanNgāpo, Ōtorohanga; mixed media by Waitomo artist Daniel Ormsby; fibre art by Carol Fagan; felting by Karen Petch and multi-block woodcuts hand painted by Heather McLean.

Pottery on display had a special back-story attached, having come from the property of potters and

glass workers Ron and Jane Gannaway.

The couple spotted a vein of interesting blue-coloured clay while cleaning up following floods last year.

It had been made into pots by potters, who noted that it darkened considerably on the second firing. The result was a unique selection of pottery and clay work that made up part of last week’s exhibition.

Jane Gannaway said Te

Kūiti people should not be too surprised to see pots made from locally sourced clay.

“After all, back in the day, our town had its own brickworks, which used locally sourced clay. So just for good measure, we hunted out one of those locally manufactured bricks and put it on display alongside our pottery collection.”

Skotel Hotel Sam Clarkson says lack of transparency on the future of Whakapapa is unacceptable.

Sibyl Iremonger with fibre art by Carol Fagan.

Rugby News with Norris Woodbine

Rams take the spoils

By Norris Woodbine

An outstanding performance where a makeshift backline clicked into gear saw King Country run away with an impressive 43–17 victory over West Coast and move into a very secure Lochore Cup Heartland position.

In scoring five of the sides six tries the backs demonstrated rare cohesion on what turned out to be a hard and fast Owen Delany number one field and on the back of a dominant scrum the result was never in doubt.

With skipper Liam Rowlands leading from the front and a dominant scrummaging unit where Ōtorohanga›s Sione Paulo added grunt, the makeshift backline thrived and ran in some outstanding tries.

The crowd had barely taken their seats when from the kick off The Rams secured the ball and big centre Josevata Malimole smashed through the Coast midfield and sprinted away dotting down under the bar.

There was no time to relax as once again The Rams secured kick off possession and as play

swept across the field a deft chip kick from Patrick Hedley was gathered in by fullback Cody Nordstrom who scooted down the embankment touchline out pacing the cover and crossing in the corner. Young Hedley nailed a superb side line conversion to extend the lead to 14.

The Coast replied with a try to winger Parker after their big pack spent a period hammering away inside the 22 but the comeback was short lived.

Impressive halfback Kristian Gent-Standen, enjoying his best game in Rams colours, crossed for a try in the 27th minute and soon after Hedley secured the bonus point showing extreme pace as he out stripped the defence for a great try.

The Coast pack rumbled across for a late try before the break but King Country led 26–10 in complete control.

The dominance continued into the second spell and with Standen scoring a second try and Rowlands powering across from a seemingly impossible position the match was beyond reach for the visitors who did narrow the gap with a converted try.

Finally winger Latrell SmilerAh Kong put the icing on the cake finishing off one last backline move with a try in the corner and the final 43–17 scoreline.

With many regular players unavailable for this game coach Aarin Dunster had a broad smile on his face after the game as the had team performed so well.

Te Awamutu’s Nordstrom was outstanding at full back, seemingly enjoying the freedom, and didn’t put a foot wrong whether counter attacking or as a last line of defence.

Hedley mover to the wing and was another with a starring role and is fast developing a reputation as a goal kicking sharp shooter, he looks destined to make the Heartland 15.

Malimole impressed in an 80-minute performance while veteran John Koko, who answered an SOS call in his first Rams game for seven years, solidified the mid field.

The Rams now travel to Poverty Bay this weekend seemingly secure in seventh place and looking to nail a home semifinal to reward their fans.

James boys take title

By Paul Charman

Piopio’s under-15 rugby side has won the Waikato Premiership Under-15 competition – and it’s thought to be the first time in the 10-year-history of the Andrew Strawbridge trophy that it has gone out of the Hamilton area.

Coach Stacey James said the final game against Hamilton’s Fraser High was a standout as his side came back from 14-10 down to win 32-14.

Six members of the team had previously made it into the King Country Under 14s side, while three had made it this year into the Under 16s.

“There definitely is some talent coming through this year. If they choose to stay with rugby, I could see that a

couple of them could go a long way,” James said. “I asked them at the start of the season what they wanted to accomplish. They all said they wanted to have fun and win – so we set out our training schedule and they all committed to it.”

James, assisted by, Carlos Karaitiana, arrived during the season after being injured, is a former Piopio College player who later played as a senior for Bush United.

“I may be biased but I think there is huge benefit to a boy’s character development from having some success in rugby at a young age. It builds that belief in what you can achieve as a member of a team and supplies good memories to take with you into the rest of your life.”

Waikato winners – back row from left, Levi Pari, Jake Peterson, Caleb Smith, Jayden Collins-Love, Zane Heald, Caelym James, Kaynin Watene, Piripi James, Quinn Rodgers, Tana Maguire, Lachlan Lyford, Connor Willison-Tarawa, Hunter Rodgers, Ryshard Tapara, Keanu Edkins. Front, Lynden Brough, Lachie Burnell, Trey Mason, Hami Maguire, Rawiri Maguire, Cory Mason.

Large family home with accessible modifications

On a cul de sac, and elevated with exceptional views, sits a grand 220sqm (approx.) Huntly brick home on a rare 1782sqm (approx.) section. North of the Otorohanga township, the commute to town is an easy two minutes, 25 minutes to Te Awamutu and 50 minutes to Hamilton.

The mini paddock next to the home is a great space for children to play, rear a pet lamb, extend the orchard or develop further for a portable unit. Ample off street carparking is available on the excellent concrete driveway and internal access garaging with a second toilet, workshop space and many storage options are available. At the rear of the home, a covered deck offers space for private entertaining and for children to play.

The solid three bedroom home, perfectly suited to families, has undergone substantial modifications to accommodate those who require accessible living. It features a fully serviced through-floor lift and a hoist in the main bedroom for users requiring help getting in and out of bed. A further recent

upgrade in the kitchen includes an accessible oven and space under the benchtop to allow wheelchair users to be independent in the kitchen. The whole living area has been opened up to allow for easy flow for those living with the effects of disability and their carers.

Insulated top and bottom, the home features two heat pumps and an HRV brand ventilation system. Thoughtful modernisations include electronic blinds and hard wearing vinyl in the open plan kitchen, dining area, lounge and main bedroom to ensure easy wheelchair manoeuvrability. A wet floor shower rounds out the suite of accessible living features. An exceptional opportunity for a wide range of buyers presents itself here. Properties that have undergone substantial modernisations of this type are few and far between; we recommend early enquiry. Call Lorraine any time to chat through everything that this property offers.

Note: the lift is operational but not available for use during open homes or other viewings. Property being sold ‘as is’.

LOCATION |5 Cruden Avenue, Ōtorohanga

LAND I 1,782m² / 0.44 acres

HOUSE | 220m², 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 garage spaces and 1 carport

PRICE | $699,000

LICENSED AGENT | Ray White Ōtorohanga

LICENSED SALESPERSON | Lorraine Fox 027 664 4087

WEBSITE | rwotorohanga.co.nz

WEB ID | OTO30214

Farmer King Country

Te Kuiti farmer Mitchel Hoare is hoping to add to his trophy cabinet. He is one of three emerging achiever finalists in the Beef and Lamb New Zealand awards. Story page 6. Plus Paul Charman checks out the cow whisperer Neil Chesterton page 4.

3YRS/3000HRS

Rivercare takes the plunge

Paul Charman reports on the work of King Country Rivercare to clean up waterways in the King Country.

Many King Country farmers are confused over the need to prepare fresh water farm plans while the coalition government adjusts legislation that will define rules such plans are to cover.

The plans, which were to be completed by mid-2025, were initiated as part of a push by successive governments. They aim to improve the “swimmability” of New Zealand

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rivers by reducing contaminants generated by rurally based farm runoff, plus sewage and factory waste generated closer to town.

But the brakes went on following the election, with the coalition keen to focus on risk and reduce costs to farmers.

Hence, among other changes, a relaxation of rules for keeping farm animals out of waterways and more permissive rules for intensive winter grazing are now expected.

The final set of rules covering freshwater farm plans are expected to be out soon, but a revised freshwater bill is not the only legislation many King Country farmers will have to follow in this area.

The Waikato Regional Council’s Regional Plan Change 1 has similar aims to the Government Bill, albeit with the added impetus of Treaty Settlement conditions aimed at restoring Waikato and Waipā rivers to a much better condition than they are at present.

“There has been no word on what the WRC’s final PC1 rules for fresh water will look like though there has been a lot of consultation,” King Country Rivercare’s Reon Verry said.

“We also don’t really know how Plan Change 1 will meld with the Government’s revised freshwater bill - it all just adds to the uncertainty.

“The WRC Plan Change relates back to a Treaty Settlement which sets it apart from regional water plans in other parts of the country.

Elsewhere regional councils have just been guided by the national policy statement on

fresh water.

“But farmers here know that it doesn’t matter what happens in the rest of the country; we are 10 years into an 80-year-plan to restore the Waikato and Waipā rivers to an improved state, still without a plan in place.”

Verry pointed out that farmers had no problem with the whole idea of improving water quality.

“We have been busy, particularly in the last few years, with measures such as excluding stock, riparian planting and fencing off bush – you name it.

The motivation is nothing to do with the forthcoming freshwater bill or Plan Change 1. We want our families to be able to swim in these rivers, and of course we need clean water for ourselves, our farm animals and the rest of the community.”

Verry says in the last four years King Country River Care’s 160 members had made a major push toward better water quality off their own bat.

“River Care received some funding from the Government’s One Billion Trees programme before the election and we’ve put it to good use.

“Most of the work had been done on farms, though public reserves at Piopio, Āria and Mōkau had also benefitted.

“The aim was to plant 200,000 trees and we’ve exceeded that by more than 10 per cent (planting 227,715).

“We’ve partnered 149km of fencing to protect waterways and restored 80 ha of native bush.”

“The beauty of it all is that nobody has forced us to do this – we have done it willingly. And we have been free to prioritise when and what areas we put the work into.”

Miraka’s milk collection goes green

Māori-owned dairy manufacturer Miraka has launched New Zealand’s first green hydrogen milk collection tanker.

The vehicle, a 700hp Volvo green hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel milk collection tanker, was launched at the company’s dairy plant at Mokai, northwest of Taupō.

Miraka chairman Bruce Scott said the launch marked ‘another significant milestone’ for the company, aligning with the founders’ kaitiakitanga vision and values and Miraka’s commitment to environmental care.

Company chief executive Karl Gradon said the tanker was designed to reduce milk collection CO2 emissions by about 35 per cent per vehicle.

He commended Miraka’s trans-

port and hydrogen partners, Central Transport Ltd and Halcyon Power, for their support.

He said a year to the day before the launch, the company entered a partnership with Central Transport and Halcyon, establishing a Rural Hydrogen Hub which it hoped to expand nationwide.

“Launching our first green hydrogen dual-fuel milk collection tanker one year later is a tremendous achievement which we look forward to seeing rolled out across the fleet,” he said.

Tūaropaki Trust, a cornerstone shareholder in Miraka, provides geothermal energy and steam for the Miraka dairy plant through its Mokai Power Station.

Under a joint venture partner-

Reon Verry.

The new milk tanker. ship with Japan’s Obayashi Corporation, Tūaropaki established Halcyon Power, New Zealand’s first commercial-scale green hydrogen plant.

‘It’s not about you…’

Chris Gardner talks to Peter Nation who announced last week he would be standing down as chief executive of Fieldays.

Outgoing National Agricultural Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation has some sage words for his successor.

“Don’t make it about yourself and keep your ego in check because it’ll be really easy to make it all about you,” he said.

The 63-year-old has resigned for the position he has held for nine years, after 12 years serving on the Fieldays board, and will vacate the position in December.

“It isn’t about you. You’re leading a highly dynamic team of not only staff, but also volunteers and members and stakeholders and suppliers and sponsors. A really big team of over 500 people.”

Nation is not involved in the hunt for a replacement. That’s a job for the National Agricultural Fieldays Society Board led by chair and Waikato farmer Jenni Vernon.

“Early days,” Nation said of the search for his replacement. “The board are going to take their time. It’ll be, I’m not being boastful, a special person because you’re dealing with all these layers. I’ve hosted five or six prime ministers and had relationships with them and senior ministers. Some of them have become acquaintances that I know personally.”

Nation is a well-respected agricultural sector leader.

Before becoming Fieldays chief executive, he spent 11 years as Gallagher’s national sales manager, and 24 years as ANZ rural district manager.

He’s an affable fellow who punctuates every conversation with good humour and laughter.

He navigated the big event focused organisation through its most turbulent time during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister’s mouth in March 2020 was there will be no mass gatherings,” Nation recalled.

“We were 90 days out from Fieldays.. and by 5pm we had no bookings for Mystery Creek. You don’t look on the library behind you and find the book that says here’s your simulation of running a business on fresh air.”

Nation had to write his own book and apply it to the context of the southern hemisphere’s largest agricultural trade show.

“We’ve stabilised the business,” Nation said of the post pandemic years.

“We’ve had some good Fieldays. You look at all that and you think actually Iet’s just draw the line under that and leave on a high.”

So, what other changes did Nation lead?

“I brought an increased focus on risk and compliance,” he said. “That was driven by the tragic mosque attack that shocked the world and New Zealand suddenly woke up.”

Nation’s tenure also included the growth of hubs at the National Agricultural Fieldays, including the forestry, sustainability and health and wellbeing hubs.

“We escalated that really fast,” Nation said. “The health and well-being hub has now become one of those things that really gets the hair on the back of my neck standing up. There’re 25 to 30 thousand people going through there a year, and we know we’re saving lives and working with others to achieve that.”

So, what’s next for Nation? He turns pensive.

“This place gets under your skin,” he said. “I’m not leaving because I don’t enjoy it or I hate it, I just think it’s time.”

Nation said he would probably do some

Peter Nation is leaving Fieldays on a high.

“There are a few companies out there that I could help with my experience. If I can’t, I’ll go white baiting or fishing.”

“I’m really looking forward to the first day

and maybe spending two days just smelling it. Because I need to get to see it. There’s a whole lot of exhibitors I’ve never been to see because I just don’t get time, and I’m

The secret lives of cows

By Paul Charman

As a young vet Neil Chesterton’s developed his interest in lameness early on in his career, when he noticed some farmers had up to a third of their cows lame over a season.

Northern Hemishere cows, housed in concrete-floored barns, generally go lame from sole ulcers, which was less of an issue in New Zealand, but as New Zealand cows are “walking cows”, there was a gap in research, so Chesterton set about doing his own With farmers’ consent, he spent plenty of time in bushes, observing from his car and even climbed under a milk vat to collect data and study cow behaviour – all without alerting the curious and sometimes fearful animals.

“I found they were so able to recognise me as a different person that they would stop to watch.”

“I found that when I wanted to watch a farmer bringing his cows in I would need to ride one of their motorbikes.”

“Somehow, they know the difference between motorbikes; for example, your neighbour’s motorbike and yours.”

Chesterton knew a farmer whose cows were afraid of him because he pushed them to run while riding his motorbike. His neighbour, who had exactly the same Suzuki model, was gentle, and the cows were relaxed with him.

But when the gentle farmer borrowed his impatient neighbour’s bike, the cows ran from him too.

“The same thing happens when you have changes of staff; if the cows get scared of one of them.”

Chesterton has observed that cows like to walk to the shed, to be milked and to walk back to their paddocks in nearly the same order each day.

“To make my recording easier, I was hoping the order they returned from the cowshed would be the same as when they went in.

But I discovered an amazing thing.

“They walk to the dairy shed in one order, they liked to be milked in another order, and to change order to walk back. He excitedly told his finding to farmers who said: yes, don’t you know anything about cows?’

To keep that order the dominant cow will push others in front of her, both onto the track and into the milking parlour.

Others will follow, but if one tries to overtake the dominant cows will beat it back.

“Most farmers will tell you which are the dominant cows, though if it’s a bigger herd there’s only somebody at the back and it’s harder to see.

“If you keep well back and let them find their own order there’s less dominance fighting going on.”

Meanwhile, in rotary cowsheds allowing the cows to have their desired milking order still worked better than controlling them with backing and electrified topping gates.

“My basic rule is when the herd comes into the milking yard no gate must move for 20 minutes.

“In that time the whole herd is quietly rearranging itself into a milking order.

As for the benefits of speaking kindly to the cows, with a slightly raised voice, Chesterton was unequivocal.

“It’s always better speak to them with a gentle tone; it relaxes them and improves milk production. I have numerous examples of farm workers speaking harshly or con-

trolling the cows by tapping them with a prod. “ It is not a good idea; one rough worker can spoil the flow of the whole operation.”

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Neil Chesterton is an advocate of speaking kindly to cows during milking and working within the existing pecking order within herds. He says cows recognise every human involved in their milking and can even tell one motorbike from another.

Impatience leads to lameness

By Paul Charman

To Inglewood Vet Neil Chesterton treating cows with kindness makes sound economic sense.

Chesterton, who speaks on cow lameness internationally, says cows are far more preceptive than many farmers realise.

He is an advocate of speaking kindly to them during milking and working with the often misunderstood pecking order within herds.

Last month (August) he and wife Sandra travelled to Eire to lecture and train farmers on lameness and then on to an international conference on the subject In Italy. As well as speaking on his specialist subject around the world annually, Chesterton has attended the biennial cow lameness conference in Venice seven times in the past 15 years.

Much of the message comes down to patience and farm design.

“Patience concerns the people stuff; so much damage happens when the cows are under pressure because of a person pushing them too hard, both on the track and in the cow shed.

“If the heads are up when they’re walking home, or in the cowshed that’s telling me there is pressure. Under pressure cows can’t look after their feet; they’re afraid of that dominant cow or they’ll need to reverse and turn, and the feet are the things that suffer.

“Basically, I tell farmer if you can get voluntary cow flow, I’ll bet you’ll hardly know what lameness is.

“I used to say the person following the herd on a bike should be 5 metres from the last cow. But helping a friend bring in his cows a few years ago I discovered when

I was 5 metres behind, that cow was not just looking at her calf in front of her, she was looking at me. She recognised me as a stranger, and I probably smelled like a vet. So, I got back a bit further and found that when I was at 10 metres, the cows relaxed and started following with their calves in order, and not looking at me. I now recommend 10 metres, but found out some older farmers already knew this from long experience.”

One farmer had hardly any lameness in his herd, and Chesterton discovered he would stop his motorbike well behind his cows on the stroll to the milking shed and smoke three cigarettes – not that he was encouraging smoking.

Farms which had tracks longer than 1.31.5 km exaggerated the lameness. He sees many farms now with up to 2.5 km to the back paddock, a round trip of 5km.

“It’s too far. Though some farms that have this distance avoid lameness because they let the cows go voluntarily. If they can spread out and walk at their own pace it helps a lot.

“In the indoor system lameness causes a bit of pain but the cow only has about 100 steps to get to the milking parlour. But in our system its absolutely cruel to make a cow walk with a lame foot. Basically, the cow has to be kept close to the cowshed so you’re eating all the close paddocks of grass, which means the whole herd now has to walk even further.”

Lame cows equated to less milk production and from an animal welfare perspective there was nothing more painful. To Chesterton, lameness topped the list of costly health issues, third only to infertility and mastitis.

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Neil Chesterton travels internationally to lecture and train farmers on cow lameness. Chesterton has attended the biennial cow lameness conference in Venice seven times in the past 15 years.

More competition for Hoare

Rangitoto farmer Mitchel Hoare is a finalist in awards that celebrate all aspects of the country’s red meat industry.

Mitchel is one of three emerging achiever finalists in the Beef and Lamb New Zealand awards.

“I applied for something else I missed out on. The guy that did it urged me to try this as he thought I was a suitable applicant,” Hoare said.

“It’s really about getting recognition for helping in the community, being a future leader - but the idea of putting yourself forward for recognition is not really the Kiwi way, is it?

“But I thought what if you don’t put yourself out there? You have got to go after these things. You can’t just sit back and expect opportunities to come to you like that.

“As a levy paying beef and lamb person being self-employed, beef and lamb do a great job with all the extension work that they do. It’s good to support them.”

He’s been in competitions before. In 2015 Hoare and Maihiihi cadet Alex Reekers represented New Zealand at the World Young Shepherds Final in Auvergne, France.

In 2020 Hoare was the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Young Farmer of the Year.

Now 29 and married with a 10-month-old daughter, Hoare is sheep and beef farming over a couple of blocks of about 240 hectares, running a sheep dipping business, working in the family native nursery, and at the moment rearing calves.

“What I hope to get out of it is if I don’t win, I’ll be in the room with some influential people - all a good learning experience, but you have got to put yourself out there.”

He runs nine dogs and has always had an interest in dog trialling.

“I train them and sell them. I don’t really do the ‘train for other people’ model.”

His preference is to train them, work with them a few years and on sell before they start depreciating.

Beef and Lamb’s insights and communication manager Rowena Hume said the number and the quality of entries across eight categories in the awards was pleasing.

While that made judging particularly challenging, it highlighted the depth of talent and innovation in the red meat

“The judging team of farmers and industry professionals did have a difficult job, but all the finalists are making a positive contribution to our sheep, beef and dairy beef sector and it is a privilege to be able to recognise their work,” Hume said.

“It has been a particularly challenging year for farmers and it’s even more important than ever that we celebrate success within our industry.”

The winners will be announced at an awards dinner at Hamilton’s Claudelands events Centre on October 10.

It’s hotter than ever

Niwa’s climate summary for June, July, August showed 40 sites had record or near-record high mean temperatures.

In the King Country the highs were more modest. Waikeria’s mean maximum temperature was 15.3 Celsius, 0.8 degrees higher than normal and the third highest since records began there in 1957.

Similarly Te Kūiti’s 15.3 was 1.1 degree higher than normal fourth highest since records began in 1959.

The action was all elsewhere. The highest temperature was 25.7°C, recorded at Hastings on June 10. It was the second-highest temperature recorded in New Zealand during the winter season.

Dunedin had its warmest winter since records began in 1947 – topping the 2023 record.

It was New Zealand’s third-warmest winter on record. The country has had its warmest winters each year since 2020.

The country recorded its 12th-warmest June, 8th-warmest July, and 9th-warmest August. Overall, the nationwide average temperature for winter was 9.6°C, 1°C above the 19912020 average.

Te Kūiti farmer Mitchel Hoare pictured in 2020 after winning the Waikato-Bay of Plenty young farmer of the year regional final. sector.

LIC in cows for Africa project

Livestock Improvement Corporation is taking part in a project to breed heat tolerant and disease resistant dairy cows for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Embryos bred from LIC’s pasture-based genetics will be sent to the United States, where breeding company Acceligen will perform gene edits on the stem cells. The embryos will then be transferred into dams that will give birth to gene edited sires.

The bull calves will be reared in Brazil and semen will be collected from sires sold into Sub-Saharan African markets through a developed distributor network.

The project is a collaboration with LIC, Acceligen and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which is providing more than $8 million in funding.

The government has committed to legislative change to enable the greater use of gene technologies, ending an effective ban on gene editing by the end of 2025. (See GE rules up for change, Page 11).

LIC Chief Executive David Chin said the company is looking at the science and viability of adopting such tools for New Zealand farmers.

“As an organisation, we continue to explore gene editing as a breeding technology to ensure the co-operative stays current with this area of science so we can understand how the sector may adopt it in the future,” he said.

The African initiative seeks to address food insecurity in the region by providing high-performing dairy animals to help grow sustainable dairy markets, contributing to improving human and animal welfare.

“This is a big one for LIC and we are proud to be involved,” Chin said. “Collaborating with Acceligen allows us to work with the very best in the world, whilst showcasing our advanced breeding capability to global markets.

“The initiative supports us to stay at the forefront of the latest technologies and is an opportunity to leverage international expertise with positive benefits for the dairy sector.

“As a leader in pasture-based dairy genetics and a farmer-owned co-operative, LIC supports dairy farmers to navigate their unique challenges and, in particular, provide them with the right tools to breed the most sustainable and profitable herds, now and into the future.”

Cameron’s family story prompts new call

Rural Women New Zealand is calling for more mental health support for rural communities, following a plea in Parliament by ACT MP Mark Cameron.

Cameron’s son Brody died in May. His father told Parliament last week “yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day. Hard for some, bloody hard for me. I buried my boy, and he is gone.”

An emotional Camerson continued: “I stand here to address this House, to address all of you, a shadow of the man that boy would have become. A shadow. But I am here, because I must. I am a father to a lost son, a parent to a lost

child. But I turn up every day in this House because I believe in rural New Zealand,” he said.

Rural Women New Zealand Board Chair Sandra Matthews said her organisation wanted to offer “our heartfelt support” to Cameron for having the courage to stand in the debating chamber and share his whānau’s grief.

“The more we acknowledge and talk about these issues the better, as we know our rural communities are doing it really tough.

Mental Health Awareness Week runs from September 23 to 129.

Transporter

Cameron lamented the red tape, sermons and other obstacles the total community faced, and he hoped by advocating for rural communities he might help others.

“Politicians need to stop and actually listen to rural folk,” he said. “Actually think of the people we effect when we make laws in this place,” he told fellow MPs.

Matthews said there was a wide range of issues at play in rural communities ranging from communities experiencing significant job losses from the closure or scaling back of major local employers, to public sector job losses in the regions.

• To page 11

Genetics could help fight the food “insecurity” in Africa.

Goats – a feral problem for DOC

They are a threat to our native flora and fauna – and they are also costing the country’s farmers.

Now Federated Farmers is pointing the finger at the conservation department, saying it doesn’t deal with feral animals on its side of the fence.

A survey of more than 700 Federated Farmers members from across the country shows the feral plague costs farmers at least $213 million a year.

That figure includes a direct spend of $5.45 a hectare on pest control ($74 million per year) and $10.22 a hectare in lost production ($139 million per year).

“That is a huge cost for rural communities to be carrying at a time when many farming families are already struggling to turn a profit,” Federated Farmers pest management spokesperson Richard McIntyre said.

“It’s also a very conservative estimate and doesn’t include things such as the cost of restoring damaged pasture, fixing broken fences or the loss of trees.”

McIntyre says goat, pig and deer populations are booming in most parts of the country, but things are particularly bad on farms bordering Department of Conservation land.

“DOC are widely regarded by farmers as the neighbour you really don’t want to have because they don’t fulfil their obligations to control wild animals and weeds,” McIntyre says.

“Farmers are spending huge sums of money trying to get wild animal populations under control, but until we see more investment on public land, nothing is going to change.

“Unfortunately, DOC are spending just $13 million a year managing large browsing animals like goats, pigs and deer.

“This simply isn’t addressing the problem, with DOC monitoring showing deer and goat prevalence increasing 28 per cent in just the last 10 years.”

McIntyre says DOC’s efforts are a drop in the bucket, and the annual cost to farming families is more than 15 times the Government spend.

“Farmers could spend all the money in the world on pest control, but if we don’t see similar efforts on public land, we’re never going to make a dent in these populations.

“Hordes of wild animals will simply keep walking out of the bush, where they’re breeding like rabbits and destroying

National parks comprise about one-third of New Zealand, but a quarter of the country’s indigenous biodiversity is located on farmland.

“If the Government continues to under-invest in pest control, we’re all going to pay the price of declining biodiversity, lost production and reduced exports,” McIntyre says.

“We appreciate the Government is under huge financial pressures, but this isn’t something New Zealand can afford to scrimp and save on.”

McIntyre says it isn’t necessarily about the Government having to spend more money; it could simply be a case of reprioritising existing spending to deliver better outcomes.

“We need to get on top of this problem now. If we allow these animals to keep breeding, their populations, and the cost to control them, will only continue to grow.

Wild goats are thought to number several hundred thousand in New Zealand and DOC has been controlling their numbers since the 1930s. Photo – Department of Conservation. forest understories, and onto our farms.”

The downside of carbon copies

By Paul Charman

A white paper has warned there will be a significant transition of sheep and beef farms into pine forestry unless policies and economic signals are reconsidered.

“Why Pines?” summarises the results of four recently completed research programmes, funded by Our Land and Water.

They all found a likely increase in pine plantations on land used for sheep and beef farming.

Lead author, principal economist at NZIER and science leader at Our Land and Water, Dr Bill Kaye-Blake, said rural communities were concerned a large change to pine forestry would threaten intergenerational connections to their land.

and its impacts on communities and the sheep and beef sector.

Federated Farmers chair Waikato Reon Verry said policy settings around carbon and the carbon price were having a big effect on the price of land.

“If you think that’s a good thing because you are selling your farm – I suppose that’s fine. But long-term effects on the community like the white paper talks about – they are going to be real.

“Carbon farming is no good to service centres like Piopio, Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga or Taumarunui”

- Reon Verry

They were also concerned that it would reduce population, employment and services in their communities, harming the health and wellbeing of those left behind.

Low lamb prices could see more land being converted to trees.

The white paper identified areas for action, including:

Policymakers should take into account the social and cultural benefits of sheep and beef farming.

Researchers and policymakers should quantify the risks and benefits of pine forestry that have not been included in computer models so far.

Policymakers should recognise benefits of native forestry. Converting highly erodible pasture to native forests should be prioritised to reduce erosion.

Policymakers should reassess the influence of climate change policy on land-use change

I still don’t believe there is more employment generated by a forest than a sheep and beef operation.”

Verry said a production forest generated some employment but a carbon forest did not employ a lot of people.

“No hay makers, drain diggers, shearers, vets and there is nobody living on the property so there’s nobody coming into town to spend their money. No jobs for all those agricultural industries that surround the farmland.

“Do we realise where it’s all going in 50 years time? No, only that if we carry on on this trajectory it is going to hollow out the rural communities. Carbon farming is no good to rural service centres like Piopio, Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga or Taumarunui.

“Meat processing operations are the big industries in Te Kūiti but with all the animals gone we won’t have meat processing here. The operations have so many businesses that depend on them over and above the staff employed there.

“ There are sawmills in the King Country too, but you don’t need a sawmill to grow trees for carbon farming because it’s not in the plan to chop them down.”

• Conference announcement welcomed –See page 15.

The 1080 conundrum

By Clyde Graf, Waipā-King Country Councillor

We have some incredible birds in New Zealand. Anyone who’s driven through the South Island has probably encountered the kea (our alpine clown) and if you’ve been lucky enough to go to Stewart Island, you’ve probably heard a few of the 20,000 kiwi inhabitants.

The male has a shrill and thrilling call that cuts right through you; the female sounds like she’s throwing up. Stewart Island is rugged and wild, and it’s never been aerially poisoned with 1080, until now. Zip - Zero Invasive Predators - poison drops are scheduled to begin in 2025.

I have to ask – why would you drop poisoned food onto an island where kiwi are thriving? Kiwi chicks are vulnerable to stoats but there are no stoats on Stewart Island. The Graf Boys (Me, and my brother Steve) have filmed a good range of birds there, including kiwi, ruru, kaka and tomtits.

My brother has even produced a fulllength documentary on the lives of the yellow-eyed, and the Fiordland Crested penguins, the rarest penguins in the world.

Whatever poison you drop will kill birds. Cereal baits containing 1080 or brodifacoum are food, and food is scarce in winter. The neighbouring Ulva Island brodifacoum drop in 2023 killed rats but it also killed robins, saddleback, rifleman, brown creeper, and all but one weka with chicks.

The recent Wet Jacket (Fiordland) and Matukituki (Wanaka) 1080 drops killed 50 per cent of the radio-tagged kea. Back in 2011, DOC killed 78 per cent of monitored kea in North Okarito.

An Official Information Act response from DOC this month states “…we expect the mortality rate of the unmonitored population to be proportionate to the monitored birds.”

Paradoxically, that means DOC is killing a lot of endangered kea when they drop poison into their environment to save them.

DOC says that 1080 isn’t killing kiwi, but you have to test kiwi for 1080 to know that. In 2018, I asked for a list of dead kiwi found in Northland over a 20-year period, their cause of death, and whether they were tested for poison residues.

Of 740 dead kiwi, 53 were tested for anticoagulants such as brodifacoum – 37.7 per cent were positive. Not a single one’s cause of death was listed as “pesticide”. They had only tested three kiwi in the whole of New Zealand for 1080 and none for fluorocitrate (a deadly metabolite of 1080).

This reluctance to test kiwi continues, so it was a surprise to see that two dead kiwi were tested from South Okarito in November 2022, and that the results were positive for 1080. DOC still didn’t say 1080 killed them.

We know that invertebrates eat cereal baits, and we know that kiwi eat cereal baits and invertebrates. Either way, when you drop poisoned food from the sky, it will reach a lot of beautiful birds. It’s how the food chain works.

On a recent Breakfast show, DOC asked people not to feed the kea because feeding them novelty food items is killing them. How ironic.

When will this ecocide end, you ask? I guess, in their minds, the $80 million incentive attached to the Stewart Island project justifies the insanity. VET’S

A long term tool

By Lisa Coles, Clinic Co-ordinator, King Country Vets

The farming community is becoming a lot more aware and proactive about drench resistance, which is great to see. There are plenty of methods to reduce the impact of drench resistance for farming businesses in the short to medium term, especially tailoring it to your farm systems.

However, now is also the time to think about long term tools as they will be slower to achieve but may well be a pivotal tool in years to come.

There are three main parasite related Breeding Value (BV) on sheep Improvement Limited (SIL). What are they? How are they measured? How heritable are they?

1. WormFec – Faecal egg counts of individual lambs at 6-8 months of age (mob average must be over 800 eggs per gram). Lower egg counts equals higher WormFec value. These animals will shed less eggs from a younger age, so not contaminating pastures as much. It is moderately heritable at 21 per cent (this is actually a very good value for selection and heritability and well worth doing, especially if reviewed in conjunction with growth BV).

2. Resilience – measured by ‘days to drenching’ and ‘gain under parasite challenge’; It is very involved, so many breeders do not perform this testing. However, it is designed to select individual lambs (and thus their lines) that can continue to grow despite worm burdens, but they may be shedding a lot of eggs.

Heritability of this trait is 15 per cent, which is low heritability.

3. Carla Saliva Test – this is a measure of the Carla antibodies produced by the sheep immune system in response to larval challenge and which remain present for only a few days.

Carla is a molecule found on the surface of internal parasite larvae (third laval stage, L3s), so having high levels of Carla antibodies means that it can bind to the L3 larval and prevent the worm establishing in the gut.

The saliva antibody response is positively associated with animal productivity (growth rates), which is not always seen with faecal egg count based selection (i.e. an animal with a good low Wormfec result may be a very poor growing animal).

Young animals with high Carla are on average 1.5kg heavier than low Carla animals. Heritability is moderate at 28%

The more that commercial farmers feedback to the importance of these tools to their preferred breeders, the better we can push the industry forward to a lower input sheep.

For any farmers interested in understanding more, we are more than happy to talk genetics.

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GE: New Zealand will get in line

The Government is set to end a 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab with new laws around gene tech.

The laws, to be introduced to parliament by the end of the year, along with a new regulator to oversee applications, will align the country’s stance on genetic modification and gene editing with Australia, which has long had its own regulator.

Five genetically modified (GM) crops have been approved for cultivation in Australia: cotton, canola, Indian mustard, banana and safflower. GM flowers have also been approved for growing or importing into Australia. Other crops are undergoing field trials.

What is envisaged for New Zealand is a dedicated business housed within the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and it would have the authority to exempt certain activities involving gene editing.

No genetically modified crops are grown commercially in New Zealand. No fresh fruit, vegetables or meat sold in New Zealand is genetically modified.

However, some processed foods may contain approved genetically modified ingredients that have been imported.

But future options to use genetic technology in response to climate change and restoring nature have been highlighted in a report from the Aotearoa Circle, a public-private partnership which says it, “aims to restore natural capital in New Zealand”.

The report, published by Price Waterhouse Coopers New Zealand, does not provide specific recommendations on the pathway the country should take with respect to gene tech, but does compare and contrast its position on the technology to that of the rest of the world.

It notes the difficulty New Zealand researchers face to meet this country’s criteria for trialling and releasing genetically modified organisms.

There are nine genetically modified food sources available in New Zealand, including GM potatoes soy, wheat, corn and rice.

New Zealand tends to sit at the extreme end of process approval in terms of caution, alongside the European Union.

Other trading partners, including Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, tend towards a more moderated, tiered approach to gene tech approval.

Only Canada sits at the most liberal end of the approval spectrum, taking a “traits based” approach to the organism, regardless of the process use or change made.

Examples highlighted in the report on the tech that New Zealand could use include

rapid-flowering apple trees, high condensed tannin clovers and sterile Douglas fir trees.

A shift in other countries’ regulatory environment could see the EU move towards more of a tiered risk system.

The report’s scenarios highlight some of the risks facing this country as other countries start to adopt GE.

Alignment with a more tiered risk approach could mean New Zealand retains its competitive advantage as a food producer, while non-GE products may also meet a specific market niche.

More than one commentator has pointed out that the likes of Fonterra and Zespri use “GE free” a promotional slogan.

Story prompts new call

• From page 7

We also have communities grappling with the ongoing impacts and slow journey to recovery following Cyclone Gabrielle and the North Island extreme weather events; various communities facing ongoing drought; as well as farmers affected by low market prices at the same time as rising input and living costs.”

She welcomed the continuing to rollout mental health support to primary and intermediate students in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.

“We also applaud the recent government announcements to increase support for drought-affected communities and increase funding for Rural Support Trusts.

“Rural communities rely on volunteers, and we know people are overwhelmed and at the risk of burnout from the plethora of issues they are having to face.

“With Mental Health Awareness Week just around the corner, we urge the Government to continue to invest in providing increased resources and access to rural mental health services, including counselling and medical assessments.”

Golden rice is genetically modified for an increased nutrient level, which has a different colour and vitamin A content.

Mark Cameron

Freshwater farm plans paused

‘Farmers across the country will be breathing a sigh of relief that common sense has finally prevailed with farm plans’

- Colin Hurst

By Paul Charman

Farmer groups have welcomed an announcement that the Government will pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised.

“Improving the freshwater farm plan system to make it more cost-effective and practical for farmers is a priority for this Government,” Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard said.

“Freshwater farm plans support farmers in managing freshwater risks, but the current system is too costly and not fit-for-purpose.

“We have heard the concerns of the sector and Cabinet has agreed to pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans while potential changes are considered.

“Minor amendments to the Resource Management Act will enable the pause.”

Once these amendments were made, farmers would not have to submit a freshwater farm plan for certification while changes to the freshwater farm plan system were underway.

Federated Farmers freshwater spokesperson Colin Hurst said the pause until improvements could be made was practical and pragmatic.

“Farmers across the country will be breathing a sigh of relief that common sense has finally prevailed with farm plans,” Hurst said.

“There’s been a huge amount of uncertainty hanging over farmers heads for the last year, with many wondering what’s happening.”

Freshwater farm plans were supported as an affordable and flexible alternative to inflexible

national rules or expensive resource consents. Farmers also support their use as a tool to help improve environmental outcomes - but say they needed to be practical, cost-effective, and easy to use.

“Unfortunately, the system put in place by the previous Government was nothing short of a bureaucratic birds’ nest for farmers that failed on all three counts,” Hurst said.

“They took a really good concept that had widespread buy-in from farmers and the wider primary sector and made it completely unworkable and unaffordable.”

Complex rules and duplication of effort added cost and frustration for farmers.

The prospect of a five-figure bill for a new farm plan eroded a lot of goodwill from farmers, particularly those who already had a perfectly good plan in place, Hurst said.

More than 10,000 farmers already had a farm plan of some sort through their milk processor, meat processor or regional council requirements.

None of the existing plans would have been recognised under the current regulations.

“The whole process felt incredibly messy for farmers, with many facing a legal requirement to get a new plan before proper systems and processes were even in place,” Hurst said.

“Thousands of farmers in the Waikato and Southland were expected to have a certified farm plan by February 2025, but until very recently there weren’t even certifiers in place to do the work.”

After 12 months of the rules being active, only a single farmer in the entire country

More than 10,000 farmers already have a freshwater farm plan of some sort.

actually had a certified freshwater farm plan approved, Hurst said.

“Completely unrealistic timeframes and requirements meant these regulations were set to fail from the get-go,” Hurst says.

The Government wanted freshwater farm

plans to acknowledge the good work many farmers were already doing, Andrew Hoggard said.

“The key thing for farmers is to make a start and keep up their efforts – their work will not be wasted.”

Growing a precious legacy

Ken Arnold reckons they have the biggest kahikatea in the Waikato, although Annette, his wife, is happy to claim second place, arguing that the tallest (66.5 metres) is in Pirongia Forest Park.

“No, we have to have some claim, it’s seven metres around the base,” Ken disagrees, good naturedly. “You find another one that’s seven metres around the base!”

Nonetheless, it’s definitely a big, old tree, reaching about 60 metres in height and estimated to be about 800 years old. And it sticks out among the other kahikatea that make up two close-together stands on their property.

“People have said our trees range from about 400 to 800 years old,” says Annette, in wonder of the information. “Why are they still here? How did they survive? I have no idea.

“Precious, precious; that’s what they are, precious.”

The Arnolds are restoring the kahikatea stands – fenced off from stock - on their Ōhaupō life-style block, where they have lived for 20 years, and are tracking their restoration efforts using a kahikatea forest fragment health assessment method developed by Waikato Regional Council.

The Kahikatea Green Wheel is like a Warrant of Fitness for kahikatea that should be undertaken every five years – it assesses 32 important health features using a five-point rating system so landowners can easily see what is working well and what needs fixing. The health features relate to threats such as pest plants and animals, stock presence, nutrient inputs and drainage; the presence of native plant and animal species; and management regimes in place.

Kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), an ancient podocarp and New Zealand’s tallest native tree, play a crucial role in wetland

ecosystems, providing habitat and food for native birds and insects. Before humans arrived, around 189,772 hectares of kahikatea forest grew in the Waikato’s wet areas, beside lakes and swamps and on floodplains. Today there are only around 2760 hectares and the remaining trees are mostly found in fragments under five hectares in size. Without management, these stands are destined to degrade and eventually die.

The council has mapped the region’s kahikatea fragments, including information about their physical condition and links to other natural areas. This information is available online for landowners interested in restoring their stands and tracking their progress as part of the Kahikatea Green Wheel project.

Currently, 29 kahikatea fragments (126 hectares in total) across seven district council areas have been assessed using the Kahikatea Green Wheel – most on private land.

The site scores range from 11.4 to 28.8, with 35 being the highest possible mark.

“I was the first landowner to do the Green Wheel in the Waikato,” says Annette, who helped the council to test the assessment in 2019, at the time scoring 13.2 for stand one, the one with the big old kahikatea.

The stand was already fenced when the Arnolds bought the property, but there had been a lot of privet within it, which the couple had cleared over the years.

“I’d pull them out, lop them down, and we’d chainsaw down the really big ones; cleaned the lot up,” says Annette.

“Then I said, ‘I really got to do this other stand before I get too old’.”

Stand two, which had had cattle through it for many years, was fenced off in 2018, and Annette planted 600 or so eco-sourced native plants into the area in that first year.

During Covid-19 lockdowns, the Arnolds

Ken and Anne Arnold’s kahikatea stands include one tree thought to be 800 years old. also fenced off a wet area next to stand one and planted 100 kahikatea.

“I have planted a total of about 2000 plants now. It’s all kept me busy, but I enjoy it.”

Annette says both stands look so different now, five years later. She has just completed her second kahikatea stand assessment for the first stand, scoring 21.5 out of 35.

The newly fenced second stand was assessed at the same time and scored 22.3.

The biggest job is hand releasing the young plants from grass and weeds, but Annette also checks traps and bait tunnels for pest animals once a week and a live cage daily.

With the stock out and ongoing pest animal and plant management, native plants are now self-generating. “And I do a bit of seed gathering and tossing seeds around.”

The couple have seen an increase in bird species: “Kākā, more tūī, I saw a falcon, kereru, king fisher, grey warbler, ruru… blue heron have been nesting there in the last couple of years.

“The European birds are increasing too, and the Australian – the screechy plovers, magpies and rosellas. And we have bats.” “I would like to come back in 100 years’ time just to have a look.”

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CULTIVATION/PLANTING

Green wash from the deep blue?

Paul Charman argues that the seafood industry should avoid ‘green wash’ when labelling food.

Our meat producers have a positive story to tell, and they don’t have to resort to ‘green wash’ to tell it.

Just look at the verifiable claims beef and lamb can make: advances in animal genetics and health and improvements in farm practices have resulted in our farmers making more from less. Since 1990, they have doubled their export values while halving the number of animals farmed. Our free-range animals graze outside year-round as nature intended.

This country is among the lowest user of antibiotics in cattle and sheep production. New Zealand farmers do not use antibiotics to enhance production or yields. Because of strict controls around the use of hormonal growth drugs, they only be used under veterinary supervision and animals are tagged on a government database. Animal welfare is a priority for the sector;

we have some of the strictest animal welfare standards in the world.

With all this in mind it was disappointing when another major protein producer was accused of ‘green washing’ on its food labels this week.

The accusation came from senior research fellow in the School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Kathryn Bradbury.

She said canned tuna and other seafood products were labelled ‘sustainably fished’, ‘responsibly caught’ or ‘dolphin friendly’. But she says new research shows most of the claims are ambiguous and may serve as greenwashing.

“We looked into the labelling and environmental claims on packaged fish and seafood products in major New Zealand supermarkets, investigating 369 products such as canned tuna or other fish, vacuum-packed salmon and frozen fish or seafood,” she said.

“Just under half of the products (41.2 percent) we investigated contained at least one self-declared environmental claim, such as ‘sustainably fished’, ‘responsibly caught’ or ‘dol-

Effluent Spreading of Oxidation Ponds

•

•

SHEARING MONK

phin friendly’. Nearly 80% of these claims were vague and therefore contrary to international best practice and NZ Commerce Commission guidance.”

“We found 42 products available in New Zealand supermarkets carried a ‘dolphin friendly’ or ‘dolphin safe’ claim. Our results show we need stronger enforcement of existing regulations and clearer rules around labelling of fish and seafood products to encourage transparency around fishing practices.

“Under New Zealand’s Fair Trading Act, misleading or unsubstantiated claims are not allowed. But seafood product manufacturers are not required to state the harvest location or method.

“We found only about half of the products

stated the harvest location and less than 10 percent mentioned the harvest method,” Bradbury said. “This means consumers usually do not know where and how their fish and seafood is caught.”

While the beef and lamb communities we serve have a first-rate story regarding sustainability, it still depends on the public trusting and believing what is written on our food labels.

And while the vague claims made on tinned fish labels may not be “untrue” as such, according to this study they are vague, and amount to little more than “green wash”.

The report suggests seafood marketers should review their marketing as a matter of urgency – or risk diminishing public trust in food labelling overall.

Support for amendment

The New Zealand pork sector has welcomed a policy amendment for highly productive land

It says the previous wording could have prevented pig farming on agricultural land.

The Government changed the wording in the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land to make it clear pig farming is an appropriate activity in such areas.

The industry was “grateful” to the Government for listening to farmers’ concerns and taking action to address the issue, NZ Pork chief executive Brent Kleiss said.

“The wording in the policy states highly productive land should be safeguarded specifically for “land-based” primary production,” he said.

“This effectively excluded pig farming from land, deemed highly productive, creating significant challenges for establishing new farms or expanding existing ones in these areas.

“We were very concerned that was the way the Ministry for the Environment and local

councils were interpreting the policy.”

Under the revised policy statement, pig farming – referred to as ‘intensive indoor primary production’ – is recognised as an appropriate activity on highly productive land, Kleiss said.

NZ Pork raised its concerns with the Government.

“The amendment was important because pig farms are often part of bigger farms where effluent is used as a natural fertiliser on cropping or pastoral land. That is why many commercial pig farms are on land that is considered highly productive under this policy,” he said.

“Resolving this issue has been a significant focus for the industry over the past two years, and we are pleased with the outcome. The amendments ensure that pig farming can develop or expand on highly productive land while preserving the overarching goal of the policy statement to protect these lands for food production.”

Canned tuna and other seafood products are labelled ‘sustainably fished’.

Māori influence in The Hague

Turning the concept of kaitiakitanga into an international legal tool earned Justin Sobion a doctorate which he will apply in the International Court of Justice at The Hague to establish the obligations of countries to address the climate crisis – and the consequences if they don’t.

“In my doctoral studies, I was looking at the duties of states, particularly around holding the Earth in trust for future generations. So I’m a good fit to work on this case,” Sobion said.

He was awarded his PhD in law last week. His thesis is titled ‘Earth Trusteeship: A Framework for a More Effective Approach to International Environmental Law and Governance’.

Trinidad born Sobion will represent Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia in a case initiated by Vanuatu, involving 132 nations.

The eight Caribbean countries have filed written submissions at the Court of Justice for an outcome that will strengthen the region’s legal position in terms of climate loss, damage claims and negotiations.

Public hearings for the landmark case will

begin on December 2, with Sobion coordinating the Caribbean submissions.

It was an article about how the Whanganui River was the first in the world to be recognised as having the same legal rights as a person which caught his attention.

It inspired the Swiss resident and United Nations employed human rights officer to embark on his doctoral studies at Auckland University.

“It was fascinating to read about this legislation that sought to protect the river and aligned with the Māori worldview that the river is a sacred living entity. It got me interested in the country, tikanga, and the legal system here,” Sobion said.

The aim of his thesis was to explore whether Earth trusteeship could provide a framework for a more effective approach to international environmental law and governance - addressing head-on the ecological crisis.

“To be a trustee means you give up some authority because you’re acting on behalf of someone else,” he said. “That’s a challenge, especially in a world where many states prioritise their own interests.

“Despite these challenges, I think Earth trusteeship will become increasingly important as the global community grapples with environmental crises.”

Conference announcement welcomed

Forest owners say the reform of resource management instruments will deliver clearer, more consistent environmental standards for production forests nationwide.

Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced plans to revise settings in the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry at the New Zealand Institute of Forestry conference. The reform will look to remove the afforestation clause which allows councils to impose different planting rules on production forests from those stated in the environmental standards.

New Zealand Forest Owners Association chief executive Dr

Elizabeth Heeg says the reform will reduce the regulatory complexities faced by growers and streamline forestry’s environmental controls.

“The departure from the National Standard and introduction of various councils’ environmental rules has created conflicting standards and confusion among growers as to which takes precedence,” she said.

“These rule variations have placed significant pressures on growers, many of whom have had to apply for resource consents for new planting in low or no-risk areas, without any demonstrable need for these new rules.

Emissions plan: Hort sector wants in

Horticulture New Zealand wants the sector to be included in the second Emissions Reduction Plan.

Acting chief executive Michelle Sands says the current plan makes no mention of horticulture, fruits, or vegetables.

“The sector is crucial for meeting emissions reduction targets, and supporting land-use change to horticulture is one of the many solutions New Zealand should be leveraging,” she said.

“Horticulture is already a low-emissions land use that provides food for New Zealanders and the global market, contributing $7.48 billion in value across domestic and export markets. This is achieved on less than 0.1 per cent of New Zealand’s land area while accounting for only 1.1 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“To ensure a low-risk pathway to net-zero, the Government should develop a diverse portfolio of emissions reduction policies, rather than relying heavily on a few uncertain technological advances.”

HortNZ wants the plan to include clear policy direction supporting the transition of 14,000 hectares of land use to horticulture. This would involve recognising diversification into horticulture as a key policy and elevating ‘enabling the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables’ to a matter of national importance under the Resource Management Act (RMA) and its replacement legislation.

It wants the policy aim to establish a national framework for commercial vegetable production to address the challenges posed by regional regulations.

With the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund officially disestablished under the emissions reduction plan, HortNZ is also calling for the creation of a new fund to

Horticulture contributes $7.48 billion in value across domestic and export markets

reinvest Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) proceeds into greenhouse decarbonisation.

“There is an urgent need for policy mechanisms that facilitate horticultural expansion as a strategy for low-emissions food production, and that provide resources for the sector to further decarbonise,” Sands said.

“HortNZ urges the Government to commit to doubling the horticulture sector’s value by 2035 as part of its emissions reduction strategy, aligning with the goals of the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan, a strategy co-owned by government, industry, science, and Māori.”

Horticulture New Zealand represents the interests of more than 4,500 commercial fruit and vegetable growers across the country, who produce around 100 different fruit and vegetables. The horticultural sector supports more than 40,000 jobs.

She said the announcement was a promising step towards addressing the issue and creating more consistent and outcome-based environmental regulations for forestry across the regions.”

The environmental standards provides a nationally consistent set of legal obligations that aim to maintain or improve environmental outcomes related to commercial forestry activities.

“The reform will ensure forest owners are operating to the same environmental rules across New Zealand irrespective of which jurisdiction they fall under,” Heeg said.

Doctor of Law Justin Sobion

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12.00 - 12.30pm 403 Gleneagles Drive $885,000 4 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23654 12.15 – 12.45pm 140 Stark Street $879,000 3 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23649

12.30– 1.00pm 1/1 Goodfellow Street $730,000 3 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23645 1.00 - 1.30pm 2/294 Mutu Street $665,000 3 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23549

1.00 – 1.30pm 2/120 Puniu Road $829,000 3 2 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23599 1.15 - 1.45pm 19 Hiskens Place $620,000 3 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23549

1.30 - 2.00pm 265 Vaile Street $680,000 3 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23644

1.30 - 2.00pm 249 Mutu Street Negotiation 3 3 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23656

1.45 – 2.15pm 216 Brady Street $675,000 3 1 blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/TA23652

Mokau 8 Point Road

Mahoenui

Kuiti

Productive Pokuru

These 152 hectares (Subject to Survey - more or less) presents extremely well to purchasers who desire contour, infrastructure and production. 50 bail Waikato rotary ACR's, 300 cow feed pad worth autowash, 200 cow stand-alone feed pad with effluent storage, 250 calf capacity, and three dwellings. On average 455 cows wintered, 410 cows milked, 202,335kg MS produced. Fencing is top grade, excellent water, easy rolling contour, and wellmaintained races. Very well-located dairy farm with all the levels of infrastructure in place. Quality farmsee you at the Open Days. TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior)

Closes 2.00pm, Friday 25 October VIEW 10.00-12.00pm, Tuesday 24 September, 01 & 08 October

Across: 1. Stiff, 4. Design, 7. Lei, 8. Cornea, 9. Sickie, 10. Flotilla, 12. Away, 13. Belong, 15. Trendy, 16. Oboe, 17. Besotted, 19. Pastel, 20. Affirm, 22. Egg, 23. Terror, 24. Exult. Down: 1. Shoulder blade, 2. Inn, 3. Flail, 4. Distant, 5. Sacrament, 6. Grin and bear it, 11. Two-seater, 14. Gobbler, 18. Stage, 21. Flu.

week Across

Number puzzle (6)

Hestitant (6)

Sister (3)

Set alight (6)

(5)

Fine and dainty (8)

Clothing (4)

(7)

AWAMUTU 1288 Pokuru Road

Livestock Wanted

Rego and WOF.

Excellent condition. $4000 ono. Ph 027 4061 681.

Livestock For Sale

GOATS WANTED Will buy or muster feral goats Prompt pick up Ph Gavin 027 877 7512 or 07 877 7512

Grazing Wanted

WANTED for weaner and dairy heifers. Contact Bryan 027 4154 122

FIREWOOD - Ph Sonny 021 617 349 or 07 873 9190. SPLIT FIREWOOD new season’s, shed stored, 3 cubic metres, $350 delivered Tkt/Oto area. Fresh sawdust $5 bag. P 027 584 4505 or 07 894 5872.

Maru Trust Team Lead

Due to the growth of Maru Energy Trust, we are excited to expand our team!

Do you want to make a difference in your community?

Do you enjoy working with passionate people?

Are you a natural leader?

As Team Lead, you’ll manage daily operations, fundraising, and ensure the smooth delivery of energy efficiency programmes for homeowners in need. You will collaborate with our coordinator to build relationships and drive impactful initiatives.

Maru Energy Trust, established by The Lines Company, helps families create warmer, healthier homes through sustainable insulation and heating solutions.

Enjoy great benefits like Wellbeing Incentives, Medical Insurance, and Additional Leave.

Sound like you?

Visit The Lines Company Careers page: thelinescompany.co.nz/about-us/work-for-us/

Friday 27th September 2024 at 12.00 noon To be conducted at Bexley Station, 3715

Ranger Biodiversity

• Working with iwi to protect some of Aotearoa’s unique flora and fauna including Archey’s frogs, Mahoenui Giant Weta, Short Tail Bats and Kōkako?

• The salary range for this position is $60,314 to $75,603

• 2x Permanent, fulltime roles based in Te Kuiti or Pureora with flexible working options!

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead pest control operations

• Protect threatened flora and fauna

• Collaborate with iwi partners and stakeholders

• Monitor species and habitats

• Provide technical advice

Requirements:

• Strong communication skills

• Physical fitness for backcountry work

• Pest control knowledge

• Cultural sensitivity

• Full NZ Driver’s License

Desirable:

• Ecology/biology qualification

• GIS mapping skills

• Contract management experience

Benefits:

• Flexible work arrangements (4-day week option)

• Rich biodiversity area

• Strong team culture

Apply now to make a difference in conservation! For further details and to apply, visit (include link to doc advert) Rā katinga | Applications close at 11:59 pm on September 30, 2024

Need a Decorator - Call Now

Dave Rowe Painter & Decorator 027 290 8776 - 07 873 9104

decorator@daverowe.co.nz

Servicing the Waipa and Waitomo districts for over 20 years

Section 101, Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

HANDYMAN

Property maintenance and construction

Lawns, trees, stump grinding, sections, moss & mould treatments, Chemwash, waterblasting, gutter vac, water tank and trough cleaning fences, retaining, odd jobs and more. References available GST registered.

Mike & Allana 027 350 0836 info@handy-man.co.nz

Vegetation removal

TIROA E TRUST – Tiroa Station

Tiroa Station is a 3200-ha effective property situated near Benneydale, 35 minutes from Te Kūiti and part of the Tiroa Te Hape group of farms covering 7500ha effective. The station winters 32,000 stock units made up of a high-performing breeding ewe flock and breeding cow herd.

SHEPHERD

The successful applicant would require 4-5 good working dogs, have a broad skill base and have had experience with finishing both lambs and cattle. You will need to have excellent stockmanship, an eye for detail, clear written and oral communication, be able to take responsibility, have a ‘can do’ attitude, be able to adhere to farm Health & Safety policies, and be able to work both independently and in a team environment.

This position comes with competitive remuneration, a great work environment and good housing. Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa and will be required to have a clear pre-employment drug test.

For further information please contact Wayne Fraser 07 8784815, or email your CV to sharon@tiroatehape.maori.nz

Applications close Friday, September 20, 2024

SITE MANAGER BIOGIENE LTD. BENNEYDALE, WAIKATO MANAGEMENT (CLEANING IN A MANUFACTURING SITE) FULLTIME

About the Company

BioGiene provides a specialized Food Processing facility cleaning and sanitation service, delivering our partners improved value, and brand security throughout New Zealand and Australia.

About the Role

As a Site Hygiene Manager for an industrial/food processing clean-up crew, you will be responsible for ensuring the operational hygiene of the largest Food Processing facilities in the country. You will be working in a multi-skilled role and be exposed to specialty cleaning equipment and processes. The role is a night shift position located in Bennydale, Te Kūiti.

Main Responsibilities include:

• You will be managing the site by providing contingency; mentoring and coaching the supervisors; providing supervision and direction to employees.

• Effectively manage key stakeholder relationships, service delivery, staff development, financial performance, contract performance, and organizational procedures.

• Ensure compliance and quality assurance for daily operating protocol and quality control procedures.

• Following site safety, and H&S requirements and reporting any hazards.

• You will also participate in daily cleaning verification checks to ensure the quality outcomes are achieved.

Skills and Experience Required:

• Experience managing teams of people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

• Sound knowledge of managing and coordinating staff in Abattoirs, Food Manufacturing, or Industrial Cleaning will be highly regarded.

• A ‘can do’ attitude and be physically fit to partake in the variety of tasks within this role.

• Well-presented and able to communicate in both verbal and written formats.

• Maintain documentation, including rosters, timesheets, training records, employment verifications, and traceability reporting (both internally and for clients)

• Having sound knowledge about Health and Safety and First-Aid would be highly regarded, but not essential.

What you need to do now

If you’re interested in a role within this high-growth business, and an opportunity to embark on a journey of progression and development, forward an up-to-date copy of your CV to HRNZ@biogiene.co.nz

JKD2024 Limited has made application to the District Licensing Committee at Ōtorohanga District Council, Ōtorohanga for the grant of an off license in respect of the premises situated at 144 Maniapoto st, Ōtorohanga known as Thirsty Liquor. The general nature of the of the business conducted (or to be conducted) under the license is a bottle store. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol (or intended to be) sold under the license are Monday to Sunday 9am to 10pm. The application may be inspected during ordinary office hours at the office of the Otorohanga District Licensing Committee, Ōtorohanga District Council, Maniapoto St, Ōtorohanga. Any person who is entitled to object and who wishes to object to the issue of the licence may, not later than 15 working days after publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the District Licensing Committee at Ōtorohanga District council, PO Box11, Ōtorohanga 3940. No objection to the issue of a licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in section 105 (1) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. No objection to the issue of a licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 This is the 1st publication of this notice.

Situations Vacant

ACCOUNTANCY ROLE

We are looking for a person to join our team either fulltime or part time, who has a people first attitude and understands the importance of delivering in a positive, timely manner.

You will be joining an accountancy firm with a large farming client base along with many progressive businesses. Flexibility to work from either our Hamilton and/or Ōtorohanga office as well as from home, as our offices are cloud based.

About us

We are more than just about numbers. Our mission statement is ‘Making a positive difference in your life’ which relates to both staff and clients. We are a small growing innovative accounting firm of 12 providing a fun, friendly, flexible working environment. Check out our awesome website for the history of the firm and testimonials.

Qualifications & experience

• Minimum of 2 years experience in a New Zealand Chartered Accountant’s office

Benefits

• Flexible working environment

• Offices in Hamilton and Ōtorohanga

• Payment of professional membership fees

• Staff savings scheme and paid day off for birthday

• Fun progressive team environment

• Being totally cloud based the team are all able to work remotely from home

Send your CV and covering letter to Osbornes Chartered Accountants Ltd team@osbornesca.co.nz

Email your classified ads to reception@goodlocal.nz

Don’t forget to include your billing details, name, address & daytime contact phone number

Economic Development Forum

Thursday 31st October 9:00AM - 3:00PM Ōtorohanga Club, 107 Maniapoto St

A forum designed to connect and support business leaders to understand challenging issues and find solutions to support business success.

Contact Ōtorohanga Information Centre for more information and ticket sales

Phone: 07 8738951

Email: office@otorohanga.co.nz

WAITETE RUGBY FOOTBALL

INC, 55 Waitete road, Te Kūiti has made application to the District Licensing Committee at Te Kūiti for the renewal of a club licence in respect of premises situated at 55 Waitete road, Te Kūiti and known as Waitete Rugby Football Club. The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licences is that of a club. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is to be sold under the off-licence are Monday to Sunday noon to 1am the following day. The application may be inspected during the ordinary office hours at the office of the District Licensing Committee at Waitomo District Council, Queen Street, Te Kūiti. Any person who is entitled to and wishes to object to the issue of the licences may, not later than 25 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at Waitomo District Council, P. O. Box 404, Te Kūiti 3941. No objection to the renewal of a licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specitied in Section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 This is the second publication of this notice. This notice was first published on September 12, 2024.

School Holidays

The Kiwi Kids Club

At the Anglican Church Hall Ōtorohanga. Monday to Friday from 8am to 5.45pm Children aged from 5 to 13 years.

We also pick children up from Te Kūiti at 8am back at 5pm from home if they live in town. What is our programme. Trip days, Movies Te Awamutu, Leap, Time Zone, Splashy Pottery, Hamilton, Duck Tour, Agrodome, Rotorua. In club days, make a wooden toy, tie dying, technology and McDonalds. Cost ranges from $50 to $75 + GST depending on the days activities. Winz subsidy available

To enrol your child for what days you need or for more info contact Wiggs 021491616.

Shop assistant required for busy Te Kūiti store two to three days a week. Approximately 15 to 25 hours per week. This includes weekends and public holidays. Applicant must be interested in learning new skills and gaining knowledge on our vast product range.

If you enjoy working with the public and take pride in giving good service please collect application from our front counter or email and we will send tekuiti@mitre10.co.nz

Situations Vacant

CLUB

PIOPIO RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB INC, PO Box 100, Piopio has made application to the District Licensing Committee at Te Kūiti for the renewal of a club licence in respect of premises situated at 31 Aria Road, Piopio and known as Piopio Rugby Football Club Inc. The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licences is that of a sports club. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is to be sold under the off-licence are Tuesday and Thursday 8pm to 10pm, Friday 8pm to 12 midnight, Saturday 4pm to 12 midnight. The application may be inspected during the ordinary office hours at the office of the District Licensing Committee at Waitomo District Council, Queen Street, Te Kūiti. Any person who is entitled to and wishes to object to the issue of the licences may, not later than 25 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at Waitomo District Council, P. O. Box 404, Te Kūiti 3941. No objection to the renewal of a licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specitied in Section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. This is the first publication of this notice. This notice was first published on September 12, 2024.

ADVERTISEMENT OF RATING SALE

In the High Court of New Zealand

Hamilton Registry

ROHE NO. CIV-2022-419-051

FAT KIWI CAFE LTD, 10 Te Kanawa St, Ōtorohanga has made application to the District Licensing Committee at Ōtorohanga for the renewal of an on licence in respect of premises situated at 10 Te Kanawa St, Ōtorohanga and known as Fat Kiwi Cafe. The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is that of a cafe and caterer. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is to be sold under the licence are Monday to Sunday from 9am to midnight.The application may be inspected during the ordinary office hours at the office of the District Licensing Committee at Ōtorohanga District Council, 17 Maniapoto Street, Ōtorohanga. Any person who is entitled to and wishes to object to the issue of the licences may, not later than 25 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at Ōtorohanga District Council, 17 Maniapoto Street, PO Box 11, Ōtorohanga 3940. No objection to the renewal of a licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in Section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. This is the first publication of this notice. This notice was first published on September 12, 2024.

In the matter of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 Between Waitomo District Council Local Authority

And: Richmond Edward Chase The Owner

Sale of freehold property under Local Government (Rating) Act 2002; property situated at 77 Ellis Road, Maniaiti/ Benneydale

At the request of the Waitomo District Council in the exercise of a power of sale under the provisions of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 for the non-payment of rates, the Registrar of the High Court at Hamilton (the Vendor) offers for sale by tender the freehold property situated at 77 Ellis Road, Maniaiti/ Benneydale, being described as Lot 19 Deposited Plan 7726 being the land comprised in Certificate of Title TN212/93. 77 Ellis Road, Maniaiti/Benneydale is a bare block of land that may contain a small usable shed.

Tenders close at 5:00pm on Friday, 11 October 2024 and are to be submitted to Tauranga High Court, McLean House, 26 McLean Street, Tauranga or posted to The Registrar, High Court, DX HX11034, Tauranga.

Please note that a reserve price may apply.

Particulars and Conditions of Sale

Particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the office of the Registrar of the High Court at Tauranga where the contact is stephen.hewlett@justice.govt.nz at any time during office hours, or from Debt Management Central, DX PA84005, Feilding or email dmc@mw.org.nz

Dated at Tauranga this 26th day of August 2024

Stephen Hewlett

Registrar / Deputy Registrar High Court of New Zealand

Kinohaku West H1B1 H1B2 Trust

Annual General Meeting 2024

Location: Te Kūiti Bowling Club, 1 Tammadge St, Te Kūiti

Date: October 5, 2024

Time: 10.30am

AGENDA

1 Karakia and welcome

2 Present and apologies

3 Minutes of previous meeting

4 Matters arising from previous minutes

5 Chairmans report

6 Financial/Treasurers report

7 Election of new trustees

8 Damage to whenua

9 General business

10 Karakia whakamutunga

11 Kai Hakari

Please bring a plate to share.

ADVERTISEMENT OF RATING SALE

In the High Court of New Zealand

Hamilton Registry

ROHE NO. CIV-2022-419-050

In the matter of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002

Between Waitomo District Council Local Authority

And: Kiley Ian Robert Whatarangi, Eric Van Crown, Marsha Wana te Rongomau

The Owners

Sale of freehold property under Local Government (Rating) Act 2002; property situated at 14 School Road, Maniaiti/ Benneydale.

At the request of the Waitomo District Council in the exercise of a power of sale under the provisions of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 for the non-payment of rates, the Registrar of the High Court at Hamilton (the Vendor) offers for sale by tender the freehold property situated at 14 School Road, Maniaiti/ Benneydale, being described as Section 69 Block X Mapara Survey District being the land comprised in Certificate of Title TNG1/8.

14 School Road Maniaiti/Benneydale is a flat section containing a cottage in need of major renovation.

Tenders close at 5:00pm on Friday, 11 October 2024 and are to be submitted to Tauranga High Court, McLean House, 26 McLean Street, Tauranga or posted to The Registrar, High Court, DX HX11034, Tauranga.

Please note that a reserve price may apply.

Particulars and Conditions of Sale

Particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the office of the Registrar of the High Court at Tauranga where the contact is stephen hewlett@justice.govt.nz at any time during office hours, or from Debt Management Central, DX PA84005, Feilding or email dmc@mw.org.nz

Dated at Tauranga this 26th day of August 2024

Stephen Hewlett

Registrar / Deputy Registrar High Court of New Zealand

Hapimana Trust (Kahuwera B2B1C block) AGM

Hui update: The whanau hui will still go ahead on Saturday, September 21 10am, Napinapi Marae

Agenda:

• Confirm minutes of 21/8/2022

• Chairman’s report

• Correspondence report

• Financial report

• General business

• Election of trustees

However, the AGM will now be held Tuesday, October 15 at 7pm via zoom to ratify any resolutions from the whanau hui. Contact Mary at bevanproffit@gmail.com for: • A PDF copy of our AGM pack –(Chair report | Minutes 21/8/22 | 2 year Financial summary | Agenda).

• A Trustee Nomination form.

• An email link to the AGM hui.

of upcoming meetings can be found at www.otodc.govt.nz/ about-council/meetings

www.otodc.govt.nz

King Country Grey Power Inc

OPEN MEETING

Monday, September 30, 2024 @ 2pm

St Lukes Church, 85 Esplanade, Te Kūiti

Presentation by Diabetes Nurse Chrissie Members and residents aged 50yrs and over welcome Quick fire raffles, Sales table Meeting followed by shared afternoon tea

Saturday, October 5, 2024 51 Taupiri Street (PACT Trust) Te Kūiti AGENDA

Update on properties Process for the election of trustees Enquires to Dawn Magner 027 449 4145 or Desarae Green 021 179 3938 Bring along a plate for a share kai after the hui Nau mai haere mai

The King Country App is FREE

Download it from the App Store or Google Play TODAY!

Public Notice

MAKE YOUR AD STAND OUT FROM THE REST WITH SPOT COLOUR

Ask our friendly receptionists when you place your advert

07 878 1188 reception@goodlocal.nz

Legendary Te Kuiti

Te Kuiti Development Inc Information Evening and AGM

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 @ The Waitomo Club 5.30pm

Meet & Greet

Annual reports

Election of officers For committee nomination forms email info@tekuiti.org.nz

Everyone welcome

Evening service 7pm

The Harvest Centre, 5 Tuhoro St, Otorohanga 07 873 8890 I 027 493 0117 • harvest.pc@xtra.co.nz

Pastors Peter & Carole Coventry (An Assemblies of God Church)

Forgiveness is not automatic, but it is made possible by Jesus (Nicky Gumbel)

Church Notices

“Comfort, comfort my people” says your God. Isaiah 40:2

A call to pray for Te Kūiti

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

An inter-church prayer meeting to intercede for Te Kūiti will be held at St Luke’s Anglican Church on Sunday September 22. It will begin with a pot luck dinner at 5.30pm.

ANSELMI, William Patrick: Passed away on Monday, September 16, 2024, aged 96. Loved husband of Alice, father of Catherine, Michael and Gerard. Onto the next stage of his journey. A service will be held at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Pukekohe, on Tuesday, September 24 at 1pm. A graveside service and burial will be held at Piopio Cemetery, Mangakowhai Road, on Friday, September 27 at 2pm.

MURRAY, MICHAEL JAMES:

Rich, Sis and families would like to express our gratitude to everyone who has supported us during the sudden loss of our loved son, brother, dad, papa, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. To the amazing doctors and nurses at the Waikato ICU - you treated him with the care and dignity that any parent could wish for their child. To all that were at the hospital and funeral home with us from the early hours till late at night thank you. To Mikaere and Te Teira thank you for being by his side, your dad loved you boys to the max. To marjory joyce, Piki and Rena-Anne who stayed with their brother from beginning to end and ensured that he was not alone, you will forever be his queens. To Wik and Jamee no words are needed. To Rangi, Che, Taonui your karakia lifted something that was such a tragic situation into a beautiful healing experience thank you. To his godson Isaiah your uncle would have been so proud. Aunty Ngahuia, Piki, Aroha, women and men on the Paepae where would we be without you! To Phil New who worked over and above the call of duty and enabled our son to get back safe in the arms of his whare tupuna thank you. To the staff and lecturers at Waikato University thank you for inviting and hosting our family to get an insight into the campus life he loved.To our mayor John Robertson and Tanirau thank you for attending. To Nathan and Emily, winners of MKR NZ, thank you for coming to represent everyone on the show. You were all part of his and Piki’s extended sfamily. To whanau and friends who travelled from all over NZ and overseas - many who had not been together in a long time, he truly loved you all. Thank you for your koha, kai koha, hundreds of messages, phone calls, floral tributes and cards with heartfelt words. To Perry, Gary, nephews William Holland and Little Chris thank you. A million bear hugs for his Favey Fave Aunty Doll, Cribby and the team of workers, cooks, dishwashers and cleaners who provided beautiful meals and ran our kitchen like a tight ship. To his aunty Pia and Pianika thank you for making our dining room look so beautiful for our whanau and manuhiri, he would have been right there beside you all. To our cousin Ngahina Taylor a brilliant job, well done, we always knew you were up to the task. If there is anyone we have forgotten please accept this as a personal acknowledgement of our appreciation. The most beautiful things in life are not possessions, they are people and places, memories and pictures, they’re feelings and moments and smiles and laughter. He was blessed to have had them all. Namaste love and light to you all, the whanau of Michael James Murray. Forever Young

DUNPHY Neil John: Peacefully at Te Kūiti Hospital on Thursday, September 12, 2024, surrounded by his loving partner. Aged 66 years. Dearly loved partner of Pam. Loved son of Joan and Bryan. Cherished step-father to Ben, Tim, Marcus and their families. Poppa Neil to all his step-grandchildren, Uncle uncle to his nieces and nephews and great mate to many. A celebration of Neil’s life has been held, followed by a private cremation. All communications to Dunphy Family C/- PO Box 241, Te Kūiti 3941. In the care of VJ Williams & Sons, Funeral Directors Association of NZ MANSELL, Lee Kevin: 8 Nov 2002 – 5 Aug 2024. Forever 21. Loved son of Robert Mansell and Nicola Boswell. Brother of Emma Mansell and uncle of Oli and Ruby. Result of a car accident. Celebration of Lee’s life was held at Seasons Funeral Home Canning Vale Perth. Hood Douglas (Doug) Henry ONZM: born in Te Kūiti on October 19, 1953 to Donald and Dulcie, died on September 10, 2024. He passed in the presence of his wife Victoria and son Jack. Doug died after a hard battle with cancer, which he faced with dogged tenacity. His contributions to Aotearoa New Zealand’s musical history will never be forgotten. Doug’s service has already taken place on September 14. Should you wish to view the service, please contact Jack Oliver-Hood on: jack@joh.co.nz

Church Notices

murray hunt furnishers