King Country
Sanctuary Trust home raided
By Andy Campbell
A raid near Maihiihi, east of Ōtorohanga, allegedly found 64 unregistered dogs last week.
District council and SPCA staff found the dogs at the Takiwatanga Sanctuary Trust on Tauraroa Rd.
Some were classified as dangerous, Ōtorohanga District Council regulatory and growth general manager
Tony Quickfall said.
He said other animals were found living in unsatisfactory conditions, but as the council involvement was under the Dog Control Act, the SPCA was looking into the welfare of the other animals.
The animal shelter made news in 2019 when it was reported owners Steve and Phil Brown had set up their King Country home and farm as a sanctuary for children
with disabilities and their families.
When The News visited the Browns this week Phil Brown said the dogs were registered, and he did not want to talk further.
Quickfall confirmed the property owners visited the council offices the day after the raid and discussed the situation with animal control staff.
As a result, the owners
agreed to register all 64 dogs and have developed a plan to reduce their numbers.
“This is a promising step forward and Animal Control staff will work closely with the owners to ensure this transition is smooth and successful.”
Issues outside the district council’s area of operation are being looked into by the Waikato Regional Council.
The October 3 action
followed multiple attempts by Animal Control to work with the property owners to resolve issues, Quickfall he said.
“The visit was necessary after the owners failed to respond to a formal notice requiring them to register the dogs.
Relevant health and environmental authorities have also been notified and potential investigations will follow,” he said.
In July 2021 it was reported almost 500 animals - including dogs, rabbits, birds, llamas, horses, chickens and sheep - were among the residents at the sanctuary.
The News was contacted last Thursday by a farmer in the district who said the animal sanctuary had been an issue for some time with persistent reports of large numbers of dogs unfed, and other animal neglect.
By Norris Woodbine
Rams, Coasters battle for final spot Rally bid declined
With their trophy cabinet brimming with silverware following a superb 34-17 victory in Whanganui the King Country Rams have an air of confidence ahead of their clash with Ngati Porou East Coast this weekend.
By securing a rare win in The River City, their first since 2013, King Country retained the Pinetree Log and reclaimed the Bill Osborne Taonga they had lost to Thames Valley earlier in the season.
The bonus point victory sealed fifth place in the Heartland Championship which assures The Rams the top seed in the Lochore Cup and a match against the eighth placed Coast side in Taupō.
Rams skipper and hooker Liam Rowlands has been superb all season and his leadership and general play has been inspirational for his troops while current Heartland rep Kaleb Foote, who nailed two tries against Whanganui, is thriving behind a dominant pack.
Tongariro United’s Dunster family are a huge part of the forward power while Hamilton Marist’s Eli Winders is forever
prominent about the park.
Half back Kristian Gent-Standen has come of age in 2024 and is clearly enjoying his role behind a dominant pack and the backline is thriving with his decisive service.
The Rams have unearthed a real star in Player of Origin Patrick Hedley, who hails from Te Kuiti but represents the Varsity club in Hamilton and over the course of the season has produced a few match winning moments.
Josevata Malimole has resurrected his career and is a rock in midfield while Zac Wickham-Darlington has hit the form button since the birth of his second baby and is an absolute weapon out wide, scoring a great try against North Otago and another at Cooks Gardens.
Backs coach Ben Draper has an abundance of riches at his disposal and his final selections will be interesting.
Traditionally matches between Ngati Porou East Coast and King Country produce an exciting brand of rugby, and with fine weather predicted and the beautiful Owen Delany surface, Saturday’s game should fit the mould.
Organisers of the Targa Rally have been dealt a blow by a Waitomo District Council decision to decline an application for road closures.
Councillor Janette Osborne told The News the council had turned down the application because of concerns raised in submissions and the anticipated impact road closures would have during a long weekend. Rally organisers wanted to have roads closed on October 25 and 26 for the event –but those dates clash with Labour Weekend. Labour Day, a public holiday, is on October 28.
Roads which would have been impacted included part of Harbour Road within the Waitomo District, Taharoa Road, Te Anga Road, Haurua Road, Waitomo Valley Road and Rangitoto Road.
The four-day rally based around Otorohanga, Kawhia Harbour, King Country and finishing in Rotorua, is planned to start on October 24.
Zac Wickham-Darlington has been a star out wide.
07 873 7325
info@baileyingham.co.nz
Transported in time
By Paul Charman
Peter Still says he wouldn’t dream of missing Armistice in Cambridge, which will include a celebration of military vehicles on November 7 and 8.
But you get the impression walking around his Ōtorohanga yard that Still could stage a pretty good vintage vehicle show without leaving home.
The tow truck driver and vintage vehicle expert has the kind of collection petrol heads can only dream of. It doesn’t stop with military vehicles: Still has fire engines, earthmovers, classic cars and trucks and a few modern ones. He has no idea how many vehicles sit on his Vue Lane property.
Still served his time as an apprentice mechanic at the Ōtorohanga Ford dealership in about 1963. In 1973 he started Peter Still Motors, Otewa Rd, and ran it for 30 years. The business still runs under this name.
Today Still mainly does towing work.
“But I’ve always liked the old vehicles,” says the NZ Military Vehicle Club member, adding unprintable
comments about modern computerised electronics.
Though cagey about his age Still admits having collected rare cars and truck for decades. Some get left outside but many are shoe-horned into half-a-dozen enormous sheds, to be restored by Still and son Jason. The father and son’s greatest delight seems to be showing them off at Christmas parades and other community events.
“I don’t know why but the kids really seem to like my 1941 Bren Gun Carrier,” Still says, pointing to a magnificently restored tanklike vehicle which runs on tracks.
“I don’t know whether it’s the tracks which run on rubber pads, or the nicesounding side-valve motor.”
He also has a tracked personal carrier from the early 1960s, which can carry 10 soldiers plus a gunner and driver. There’s a 1940s GMC 6x4 truck with four driven wheels at the back and a 1941 Leyland Retriever crane truck.
There are also eight fire engines, mainly collected from across the North Island, with a few of them -- like his latest acquisition, a 1951 Ford V8 crash tender fire truck --
imported from the South Island. What does he like about fire engines?
“I don’t know –they’re a different flavour -- makes a change from the military stuff,” says Still with a wink.
... and there’s always anotherproject ahead.
Over the years Still became expert at retrieving old vehicles from the back of farms and cast-offs from transport companies. He also has knack of cannibalising spare parts and making what he can’t locate.
“My Bren Gun Carrier had been discarded at the back of a farm way out the back of Maihiihi. It had the wrong motor and diff but they hadn’t cut the top off, so I had something to work with.”
Still makes contacts online but refuses to send emails.
“If I can’t pick up the phone and have a conversation with the guy I’m not interested.”
Many of the old vehicles still roar into life at the touch of a
button. Still’s ex-NZ Army recovery truck, which dates from 1973, has three winches with enough power to pull heavy vehicles (like tanks) out of ditches.
Among his most unusual vehicles is a “Thames Cross Cutter”, purchased from a Mosgiel Airfield. This was designed to strap aircraft engines onto the back, where they were tested mechanically. His most nostalgic collectable is very likely a 1929 Essex Super Six.
“It’s the same kind of car my dad used to drive and the model I went for my licence in as a teenager.”
Children love the Bren Gun Carrier. Still quips it might be cause of the nice-sounding side valve motor.
Still learned to drive in a 1920s Essex
Taharoa on fast-track list
By Paul Charman
Additional mining and quarrying at Taharoa is on the Coalition Government’s “fast-track” list designed to speed up granting of resource
consents and get big projects built more rapidly.
Three additional mining operations have been applied for, all located near the present Taharoa Iron Ltd (TIL) operation at the southwest of
Kāwhia Harbour.
TIL has applied to mine or quarry three areas named as Pit 1 Mining Project, Central and Southern Block Mining Project and the Northern Block Mining project.
The respective total sizes of the blocks the operations would be on are 23, 911 and 1397 hectares.
The applications are among 149 projects across the country included in the
one-stop-shop Fast Track Approvals Bill.
Some, such as one to extract iron, titanium and vanadium from the seabed in the Taranaki Bight, have attracted strong public protest but the three applications from Taharoa are less controversial, as they involve land-based mining of sand dunes.
This process, which has been in operation at Taharoa since the 1970s, was described in a resource consent application to Waitomo Council presented by TIL’s chief executive Ian Goodacre in June.
Goodacre outlined digging up dunes, removing vegetation and mixing the remaining material known as “head feed” with water to pump to a centralised processing plant at the mine.
Silts and clays are separated out using gravity and magnetism and remaining iron sands are pumped in slurry form to a buoy mooring called Taharoa Terminal, 3.5km off-shore.
Skatepark resurface is a maybe
By Andy Campbell
Te Kūiti skatepark may get a resurfacing during the current financial year, if it needs it.
The issue surfaced in Waitomo District Council’s discussion of the carry over budgets from last year, money that had not been spent.
Cr Allan Goddard asked about the skatepark’s future, a question he said needed to be discussed before spending the $50,000 budgeted for its resurfacing - given its location and potential nearby development, he said.
The park’s future had been talked around a number of times, chief executive Ben Smit said.
There was a view that it remain where it is.
The other approach was to
park it and have a think about it in the annual plan.
Resurfacing was a temporary fix, given a new skatepark would cost between $500,000 and $700,000.
“So it’s an unlikely investment in this current environment, or do we just do an upgrade?”
Councillors agreed the park was still in use.
The council owned the land under the railway footbridge Te Ara Tika – basically the skatepark and half court and had a licence to occupy on the rail turnaround, Smit said.
“There are some discussions I wouldn’t mind having offline around what else happens around that park,” Cr Janine New said.
The resurfacing money was kept in the budget.
Smit said they will have a
The skatepark’s future has been a subject of debate.
look to see if it’s worth doing some resurfacing, but the skatepark will probably go to the Annual Plan process next year.
Total capital projects to be carried forward is
$6,114,000.
The total revised capital programme for 2024/25 including the proposed carryovers will be $27.6 million.
All the carryover budgets
had a funding source either through grants, reserves or debt. Incomplete or delayed operational programmes had been rated for and the rates collected during the 2023/24 financial year.
Ships tie up to the terminal and take the partially refined material to steel factories in China and Japan for further processing.
Goodacre’s submission said no chemicals are used in the process.
TIL also works to mitigate dust and noise and does revegetation work.
The News could find no record of TIL’s operations attracting environmental protest.
A Te Kūiti man who allegedly stabbed a pregnant woman and threatened to kill her and the baby is in custody.
Police say they were called to a family harm incident last Thursday where it is alleged the 52-year-old man had stabbed a 27-year-old pregnant woman in the leg with a knife.
The knife was so blunt that the incident did not result in a significant injury to the woman’s leg, police added.
The man is also alleged to have told the woman that he was going to kill both her and the baby. When two police officers arrived it is alleged that he also threatened to kill them.
The man was arrested and appeared in the Hamilton District Court where he was remanded in custody to appear at a later date on charges of assault with a weapon, three charges of threatening to kill and one of possession of an offensive weapon.
Iron sands have been mined southwest of Kāwhia Harbour since 1972.
A design for challenging times
Elevate Ōtorohanga’s first economic development forum will look at “challenging times” and feature keynote speakers including Shamubeel Eaqub, Simon Perry, Honey Hireme-Smiler and Andrew Hoggard.
“We’ve recognised that times are challenging, so we’ve planned a day designed specifically for community leaders and managers to ‘take action’. Elevate chair Marain Hurley said.
“Elevate brings together a quality lineup of keynote speakers to deliver a day of lively presentations that
promise to inspire and provide insight into new ways of thinking,”
“Together they can be expected to enlighten us on opportunities to grow our economy, provide insight on how to create successful partnerships, and share experiences that will support us with our own wellbeing and ways to support others.”
Shamubeel Eaqub is former Principal Economist at the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, where he focussed on analytical frameworks to aid economic forecasting, commentary and incisive
research into topical areas of economics.
Perry chairs the Perry Group and Brian Perry Charitable Trust, based in Hamilton and is involved in community projects including Te Awa Cycleway Trust and and Bridge Housing which is delivering affordable homes.
Honey Hireme-Smiler is a former Kiwi Ferns and Black Ferns representative who was appointed a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for her services to sport.
ACT MP Andrew Hoggard is the Minister for Biosecurity, Minister for
Food Safety, and Associate Minister of Agriculture and Associate Minister of the Environment.
He is a past president of Federated Farmers.
Elevate was previously known as the Ōtorohanga District Development Board.
Barbecue invite for farmers
Piopio district farmers are being invited to take a break from the farm via a free community BBQ at PiopioAria golf club later this month.
The Rural Support trust is hosting the BBQ and in a statement says the aim is to “join us for a warm brew,
a bite to eat and enjoy some good banter” and connect with others in the same boat.
Meanwhile, Dame Farah Palmer, three-times rugby world cup winning captain of the Silver Ferns who grew up in the King Country will be the
keynote speaker at the Rural Women New Zealand Inaugural Inspiring Wāhine Conference in Alexandra, Central Otago next Tuesday.
Palmer was born in Te Kūiti and went Piopio College.
Meeting over Kennedy case
By Chris Gardner
NZ Post chief operating officer Brendon Main has agreed to meet with ProDrive chief executive Peter Gallagher to discuss the long-running case of Waipā posties Ian and Danny Kennedy.
The couple were contracted by NZ Post to sort, process, uplift and deliver “all mail and other items for delivery” for the Tamahere RD3 rural post run from April 1, 2019. They
invested $500,000 into the business which ran six vans with five staff. Their contract was cancelled on November 10, 2023, after they asked why other contractors were sorting, processing, uplifting, and delivering mail in the district.
Main agreed to the meeting after Deputy Leader of the House Simeon Brown declined Gallagher’s call for a ministerial inquiry into the case. The case is heading to court.
Marain Hurley
Ian and Danny Kennedy, pictured with ProDrive chief Peter Gallagher.
Council fronts up on tree trim
By Paul Charman
Ōtorohanga
District
Council has acknowledged shortcomings in a tree trimming exercise which prompted a complaint from resident Richard Wallace. He was “dismayed at destruction and mess” made by a tractor-mounted rotary slasher along Puketawai and Tahaia roads.
Wallace, who describes himself as a serious cyclist
and keen observer of the environment, said on September 26 and again on September 30 he biked past trees that were being “crudely disfigured” with branches torn off.
“Obviously trees must be maintained but there was no effort to trim them properly with a chainsaw and some common sense, and there was debris for 100 metres along roadside,” he said.
He spent much time phoning the Ōtorohanga District
Council to make a complaint and finally got through to a council officer, who came with him to the scene of the damage.
“The council’s position seems to be that rates would have to be raised to do the job properly.
“It turns out that contracts are let with no council oversight and in this case council officers had no idea what has been done.
“The council never asked the property-owners to prune
their own trees. The owners are shocked and upset at the damage.”
After being asked to comment on the complaints, the council responded: “we acknowledge this and are committed to addressing it.”
“Council contractors are currently working on high cut vegetation control along the roadsides in Ōtorohanga District. Our contractors use various types of machinery depending on the vegetation,” the council response said.
“The main goal of this work is to trim back overhanging trees to improve sightlines and help prevent road users from hitting branches or swerving out of their lane to avoid branches.
“We received feedback from a resident about the quality of some tree trimming. After visiting the sites, we noticed that while most of work was done well, a few trees could have been trimmed better standard and that some debris needed cleaning up.”
Road work continues
Roading crews will complete asphalt resurfacing on State Highway 3 over Mt Messenger under a series of road closures next month.
As work continues on the four-year Te Ara o Te Ata project - a new 6km route that avoids the road over Mt Messenger between Uruti to Ahititi – so does maintenance work on the existing route.
NZ Transport Agency manager Liesl Dawson said the work would be done mostly at night, between November 10 and 22.
“There will be a series of closures due to the narrow and winding nature of the
road. During these the road will be reopened at regular intervals to allow for traffic to travel through,” Dawson said.
The planned closures are:
From November 10-13, the road will be closed each night from 8pm-5am with an opening between midnight and 1am to clear traffic.
From November 15-18, the road will be closed day and night, with scheduled openings to clear traffic.
During the full weekend closure (November 15-18) there will be scheduled opening times.
From November 18-22, the road will again be closed each
night from 8pm-5am with an opening between midnight and 1am to clear traffic.
Should the weather not be suitable during the weekend of 15-18 November, this closure will be postponed to the next weekend, 22-25 November.
Any changes will be communicated as early as possible.
Crews will return in February-March next year to complete further asphalt repairs at the northern base of Mt Messenger.
This work will also be completed at night to minimise disruption.
Wallace was appalled at the way this and other trees were ‘trimmed”.
Richard Wallace
Realising a vision
By Mary Anne Gill
The success of a maraebased health clinic at Mangatoatoa Pā, just inside the King Country boundary near the banks of the Pūniu River, shows the power of collaboration.
And if you are looking for visual proof, the makeshift waiting room, outside the three consultation portacoms, with its ‘always on the boil’ water urn, outdoor heater, snacks and health professionals readily at hand, provides that.
Marae committee co-chair Derek Roberts describes the past two years setting up and then maintaining the clinic as hectic with support from Te Awamutu Medical Centre, Pinnacle Group and Tainui essential to its success.
“They’ve maintained the interest right from day one. By working in partnership, you can make that vision happen.
“Pinnacle have been the enablers. They’ve enabled us to do what we want to do for our whānau,” he says.
The Wednesday we
Continued on page 7
Finished
Mangatoatoa Pā co-chairs Hone Hughes, left, and Derek Roberts – outside the old and new wharenui, share marae duties and a vision for the health of the community.
Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Realising a vision
visit both clinical care coordinators – Jenny Sutton from Mahoe Medical and Whitney Te Wano from Te Awamutu Medical – are on hand as is Mahoe GP Shivam Deo. When the clinic started in 2022 it was held fortnightly. Last year Mahoe came on board, and it became weekly.
The marae is nine kilometres from Te Awamutu on Te Mawhai Road, off SH3. Its primary hapū are Parewaeono, Ngutu and Paretekawa of Ngāti Maniapoto. A portrait of Rewi Maniapoto - hangs in the wharenui Te Maru o Ihowa, built 10 years ago next to Te Aroha o Ihoa, the original 1908 wharenui.
Te Awamutu Medical Centre general manager Wayne Lim says providing free community health services for Māori away from the practice and in marae had always appealed to him as a model that would work.
The marae committee was keen and with assistance from Raukawa Charitable Trust, Te Awamutu Medical Centre funded a three-month trial that established the service at Mangatoatoa Pā. The initiative notched up a
gear in October 2022 when Waikato-Tainui and Pinnacle saw how the Te Whare Tapa Whā centric model of carethat encompasses western and traditional Māori practices –was working.
Both committed funds to keep it going – Tainui money for the facilities and patient procedures, Pinnacle for the cost of clinical delivery.
Mahoe came on board in January and the clinic’s free services have been fully subscribed every week since providing GP, diabetes nurse and pharmacist consults, cervical screening and prescriptions.
Roberts hope they will soon be able to add immunisations for tamariki.
Lim says word is spreading across the affiliated network and as the clinic becomes more popular the nurses and GPs have been receiving an increasing number of drop-in patients as well as the patients who have made scheduled appointments.
Pūniu River Care – an iwi-connected environmental restoration organisation – has its nursery next door.
irrigation and has since grown into what it is today, says Roberts. Another funding boost from Tainui has resulted in wooden planters being installed to grow vegetables for visitors and patients.
Some whānau had stopped going to the GPs in Te Awamutu because they owed money. The funding helped pay off those debts so they could access specialist help and speed up clinical investigations.
“It fits in with Tainui’s health and wellbeing strategy,” says Roberts.
Te Wano is on a fixed term contract as part of Pinnacle’s Comprehensive and Community team and will be active at the clinic and around the region.
The team provides primary care with a focus on improving equity of access to care and health outcomes for Māori, Pacific people, disabled and people living in rural and highly deprived areas.
Te Wano was previously a public health nurse, and her mother Tania is charge nurse manager at Te Kūiti Hospital.
Rachel Bell to spend more time supporting the marae clinic.
Other partnerships include Rongoaa Tuku Iho Healing, Selina Paerata a health improvement practitioner from Kokiri Trust, Diana Johnson - clinical psychologist Te Amohia Health (Quit Smoking), Ko Wai Au (Rangatahi Service), Māori Women’s Welfare League and Kainga Aroha.
holistic hauora experience.
The clinic has attracted attention from researchers who have secured a grant from the Health Research Council to look at how the healthcare delivery has made a difference.
Hauora Waikato Kaupapa Māori Mental Health Service up until his retirement in 2018. Since then, he has devoted time at the marae.
“There’s been a lot of interest in this marae-based programme,” he says.
In the first three months of this year, the clinic saw 77 patients, 14 of them for the first time. In the next quarter the patient numbers topped 120.
The nursery approached the marae several years ago wanting funds for their first
The community team has also backfilled a clinical pharmacist position allowing
The initiative includes medical visits, bowel screening, mental health assistance, dance and movement sessions and health food preparation workshops to ensure whānau have a
Another successful partnership is at the marae itself where Roberts, a pākehā, works closely with kaumatua and marae co-chair Hone Hughes. There is a family connection – Roberts’ wife Moe is Hughes’ cousin.
Roberts met his wife to be in 1972 after moving from Australia and trained as a psychiatric nurse at Tokanui Hospital. He worked for
Mangatoatoa Marae also hosts a monthly legal clinic in partnership with Community Law Waikato for employment issues, tenancy, judicial matters, power of attorney and wills.
Clinical care co-ordinators Jenny Sutton, left, from Mahoe Medical and Whitney Te Wano, originally from Ōtorohanga, from Te Awamutu Medical.
Company team practices its lines
A Lines Company team will defend the company’s title as winners of last year’s national annual connection event.
The Taumarunui-based team will head to Te Awamutu to compete in Annual Connection 2024 at Castleton Park from October 22-24.
The competition will involve cable jointers and line mechanic teams from energy companies around the country. Activities will test specialist skills and experience, and showcase the range of careers in the electricity supply industry.
Team manager Shogun Haami said the 2024 team want to repeat last year’s success and do the King Country, TLC, their whānau and wider community, proud.
“Our greatest asset is
our culture and how we interact together. The loyalty, the honour, the trust and the faith we have in each other – that’s what matters,” Haami said.
“We’re quietly confident. We know who we are as people and as a team. We work together every day. We train hard two weeks before the competition and we know this will bring out the best in everyone.”
The team is coached for the second-yearrunning by foreman Dion Adams. Members include Richard Bishop, who won the pit rescue category in his competition last year; TLC team leader Wiremu Te Tawhero; the experienced Matty Tamaira; newly qualified line mechanic Topia
Walker and line mechanic trainee Anaru Etana. Both Topia and Anaru are competing at the national competition for the first time. All but one member of the team is based in Taumarunui but all work across the entire TLC network.
TLC chief executive Mike Fox said the event was a rare opportunity for everyone in the industry to be in the same place, at the same time.
There was a lot to discuss, including a looming shortage of skilled workers, he said.
It’s estimated the industry will need twice as many people over the next few years as the country seeks to harness renewable energy and electrify key infrastructure.
Everyone had a ball
By Mary Anne Gill
It might have been a celebration for the clients but staff and care workers from Waikato-King Country disability organisation Enrich Plus had a ball too.
The second Client Celebration Ball was held on Friday night in the Cambridge Town Hall and the theme Prince and Princess gave plenty of scope for creativity.
More than 200 clients from Ōtorohanga, Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Hamilton, Tauranga bopped to the beat of DJ Spin Daniel Cox in costumes which must have tested the stock in various Op Shops around the region.
The big announcement of the night was for King and Queen of the Ball. It was a close thing for the men – Zane Johnson won but had left by the time the announcement was made.
Huge cheers erupted when Maddison Gay won the Queen of the Ball. Her family, including mother Tracey Gay, had excelled themselves creating a carriage – complete with two horsesbuilt around her wheelchair for their princess.
Ian Cotterell was there too – he is an original client from the 1990s when Enrich Plus, then known as Gracelands Community Trust – was founded following the closure of Tokanui.
Team leader Ngawai Hamblin said the night was a huge success and very well received by clients, whānau and Enrich Plus staff.
“Everyone had such a great time and the venue was perfect for the theme,” she said.
Interim chief executive Janne Nottage thanked staff for their contributions saying they not only supported the clients by dressing up but their “creativity and enthusiasm made this event a huge success.”
Awards were given to:
King and Queen of the ball: Zane Johnson and Maddison Gay; best dressed: Leanne Cummins, Bruce Corin, Claire Van der Goes, Naomi Bertrand. Best dancers: William Pett, Matthew Shirley, Luisa Paletua, Abshir Khalif, Peter Crawford. Best dressed staff members: Jo and Tim Barclay, Patrick and Julie McLennan, Deannah Potaka, Kim Potroz.
Timber thieves turn ugly
A builder has told police he was threatened with a spade by masked men who made off with his timber supplies in Te Kūiti last week.
The builder reported arriving to work at a building site in Lawrence St to find two masked men had loaded a pack of his timber onto their trailer.
The builder pulled in behind the two men’s vehicle at about 6.50am.
Both the driver and his passenger were wearing hoodies and driver also had on a balaclava.
Police said an altercation occurred when the builder saw what the men were doing. One thief approached the builder with a spade and made threats.
The builder then cleared the driveway, remaining in his car as the two men drove off with a pack of sixmetre-long construction timber valued at about $1000.
From left: Anaru Etana, coach Dion Adams, Topia Walker, Richard Bishop, Wiremu Te Tawhero and Matty Tamaira in their home base in Taumarunui. Along with manager Shogun Haami, they make up the TLC team defending its national championship title later this month.
Patrick and Julie McLennan of Waitomo at the Enrich Plus ball.
Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Language programme push
Sigrid Christiansen
Farming families are being called on to help connect Filipina women with an online new English language programme.
Founder Lyzanne Du Plessis said she owes her life to speaking English well and easily making friends in New Zealand.
It saved her after she nearly went off a cliff: a real one, not a metaphor.
The course is coming north after a successful South Island pilot.
Topics include Kiwi slang, dairy farming vocabulary, migration rules, schools, and programmes like the ACC and Kiwisaver.
It covers ways to access mental, emotional and physical wellness support.
“It helps facilitate trust and bridge the initial huge language barrier,” Du Plessis said.
She said isolation was the challenge: students often do not drive, so can’t leave their farms easily to attend English classes.
Cultural norms make it hard to speak up and the language barrier makes it hard to find New Zealand friends, or understand the
teachers at children’s schools. Du Plessis, who is from South Africa and lives in Christchurch, knows that a new country takes getting used-to.
When she first arrived, she broke her foot but didn’t go to the doctor “because I didn’t know about the ACC”. Later, it needed surgery.
She thanks the online language learning business
Te Puna Reo Māori, owned by Anita Gill, for offering its platform free, and connecting her with Philippines-based English teachers through existing staff.
The pilot launched two weeks later. Despite the timing, during calving, it got an “overwhelming” response.
“The improvement in the students’ confidence was incredible.
Afterwards, they felt comfortable to approach a Kiwi and say something.”
Through recent funding from Rural Women Southland Interprovincial, the next course starts next month.
So what about that cliff?
While dairy farming at Te Miro near Cambridge, Du Plessis’ second child was born - and “didn’t sleep at all”.
Lyzanne Du Plessis
She fell asleep driving and woke as her car was approaching a cliff.
“But my Kiwi friends told me about Plunket and a sleep clinic.”
Without those conversations, she might not be here.
“21 years ago, I was a rural migrant wife that had to go through all the adjustments to settle in a new country, new climate, new culture, and isolated form my normal support networks back in my home country.
It was my ability to speak English that helped me integrate into the rural community, make Kiwi friends, and find the support I needed, in those early years in New Zealand.”
Jerica’s joy
By Sigrid Christiansen
Jerica Remiter from the Philippines arrived in New Zealand in March.
A few months in, she was struggling with her confidence. Not so any more, her “after video” shows, made as a final touch to the course she had graduated from.
In the clip, from the first “kia ora everyone,” to the final “thank you so much,” it’s clear Jerica, based in Balfour, Southland, gained much in the way of English mastery, and is overjoyed with her progress.
“I was one of the lucky first batch of students to do the course with AgriTeachMe,” she said.
“It’s not your typical English online class, that you can do to learn to communicate with Pākehā or Kiwis here.
“It will also teach heaps of knowledge when it comes to culture, rules of the road, and even
in your work.”
Her partner’s employers and friends have all noticed the change.
“My confidence is really far from what they know when they first meet me. They are glad of my improvements in regards with the English language.”
In mid-September, the employers even asked her to cater for the team’s social meeting - she made Filipino dishes such as pork adobo - and to do a spoken introduction for the evening.
“It was an amazing experience,” she said. And the diners loved the food – all of their plates were empty and they were looking for more, she said.
Lyzanne Du Plessis describes Jerica as “our star student”.
“Her progress was phenomenal.”
In the video, Jerica said she hopes the courses keep going, so other migrants like her can one day enjoy the same opportunity.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF BENEFICIARIES
Notice is hereby given that the above meeting will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2024, commencing at 6.00 pm at the Panorama Motor Inn, 59 Awakino Road, Te Kūiti. The annual meeting will:-
• Report on the operations and financial statements of the Trust and the performance of The Lines Company Limited.
• Confirm auditor appointment for 2024/25 year.
• Conclude with a presentation by The Lines Company Limited.
If you are attending the meeting, The Trust is grateful if you can email your name and address to info@wesct.org.nz to establish voting eligibility in advance.
The Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust 2024 Annual Report to WESCT Beneficiaries and The Lines Company Limited 2024-2025 Statement of Corporate Intent are available for inspection at public libraries situated in Te Kūiti, Te Awamutu, Ōtorohanga and Mangakino during ordinary office hours from September 26 to October 17, 2024. Copies can be viewed on the website www.wesct.org.nz or contact info@wesct.org.nz
Celina Yapp │ Secretariat Services Telephone: 027 PH WESCT (027 749 3728)
Young mum gets the Abba vibe
Sigrid Christiansen
The hit Abba musical “Mamma Mia,” is just four weeks away from lighting up the Te Kūiti Little Theatre stage.
The cast include 26-year-old hip-hop dancer Jazmin Williamson who lives in Ōtorohanga – and plays Judy, one of the main character’s bridesmaids. Her favourite items are “Waterloo” and “Under Attack.”
“I’m finding it so fun; it’s really building my confidence.”
Her family is from Piopio, although she lived in Australia until 2006.
Despite her love of dancing, with singing and acting she was “never confident.” But there’s a first time for everything. Especially when those things are big life goals.
“I’ve always, always wanted to do musical theatre.
“About two years ago I saw an advertisement for auditions for Grease.
“After that I auditioned for a few musicals up in Hamilton, but unfortunately didn’t get in. So when I saw one was happening in Te Kūiti, I was so excited.
At first, she thought she hadn’t got the part.
“They couldn’t ring me, because I’d been so nervous I’d accidentally given my phone number as half my number and half my partner’s.”
“I only expected to be a backup dancer.”
But she did make the grade –and the rest is history. Her family’s been “incredibly supportive”
POLICE DESK
Te Kūiti
with stepdad Michael Heald in Tasmania one of the first to know. She also had “lots of help” in learning her lines, from her younger sister.
And there’s been lots of support from the Mamma Mia team too,
“The singing lessons were amazing. I found out I’m a soprano, and I didn’t even know that was a thing.”
Jazmin hopes to take her passion for song and dance overseas, perhaps as a cruise ship dancer. But that’s on hold right now, because three-year-old son Lucca Wilson is still so little.
And how did Mamma Mia come to Te Kūiti?
It’s all connected to a musical love affair that began in the 1980s – when a young Allan Marsden realised his passion for the Abba song “Chiquitita.”
“One of my sisters was singing it around the house – it had such a good beat,” he said. “It’s still my favourite.”
It’s been a triple challenge for 32 brave performers, director Marsden says.
The cast is talented – and very fresh.
“Most haven’t been on stage before – as with [2023 production] the Vagina Monologues.
“They put their hands up because they loved the music of Abba and wanted to be involved.
“It’s going wonderfully.
The youngest is Year 8 St Joseph’s student, Thanya Pandian: “she’s just so great and confident,” he said.
Police attended 10 family harm incidents and two mental health callouts.
September 30: At about 5pm police stopped a car whose driver returned a result of 713 mg of alcohol per litre of breath. He will appear on a drink driving charge in the Te Kūiti District Court on November 4.
October 1: The Lines Company reported copper earthing wire had been stolen from a vehicle in Mōkau Rd, Tongapōrutu.
October 4: At about 9am a vehicle was stopped on Lawrence St and the driver found to be a woman facing charges of driving while forbidden. Her car was impounded, and she will face an additional charge of driving while forbidden.
October 2: At about 3.45pm police stopped a vehicle on Rora St and found the driver to be a 45-year-old woman with a warrant out for her arrest. A search of her vehicle turned up a bong, a machete and a tomahawk. In addition to being arrested on the outstanding warrant she was warned for possession of offensive weapons.
October 2-4: A property on SH4 at Kopaki was reported to have been broken into for the second time. It was not clear whether anything had been stolen but a saucer was found at the property’s gate.
October 3: At about 10.20am the owner of a vehicle parked in Rora St reported their vehicle had been struck by a truck which was passing by.
Rehearsals have been happening for six weeks, so far.
“They’ve been learning the songs, the scenes, and the dances. Now we’re putting it all together –that’s the hardest part,” Allan said. The final performance is “full
October 3-4: A car was broken into on Rata St. The alarm activated after a rear quarter light window was smashed, possibly scaring away would-be car thieves.
October 3-4: A car was reported to have been driven into by an unknown vehicle while parked overnight on Haines Tce. The vehicle’s front driver’s door was damaged.
October 5: At about 11.30am police were made aware that a group of school-aged girls had organised themselves to meet at the Te Kūiti Primary School to have a fight. Police said they were tipped off about the fight by members of the public who saw the girls gathering at the school. Officers arrived and broke up the fight, “before anything got too major”. They then spoke to three girls aged 12 to 14 years and took them home.
October 7: Around 2:30 pm a call was made to 111 claiming that a person was stabbing another person at an address on Awakino Road, Te Kuiti. The caller indicated that they were 10 years old. Police attended and found no one present and no sign of disturbance. It is believed that the phone call was a prank call. “From a Police perspective, prank calls are a very disappointing to receive given that they put officers’ lives at risk when responding to them, and take Police staff away from genuine calls for service,” sergeant Jimmie Walker said.
Ōtorohanga
Police attended four family harm incidents. September 30: At about 6pm police attended a three-vehicle crash on SH3 just north of Ōtorohanga. The incident is being investigated by the Serious Crash Unit. At least one injured person was taken to Waikato Hospital for treatment following the crash.
Seawall cost shocks
A $74,000 cost for redesigning the Mōkau seawall has staggered Waitomo District mayor John Robertson said. He said the seawall should have been maintained year by year.
“I just find that amount of money huge. According to the resource consent conditions now, we are talking about a redesign, it staggers me.”
The funding for the design of the Mōkau seawall at the end of Point Road, Mōkau was unspent in the 2023/24 operational and capital budgets to the 2024/25 financial year.
Chief Financial Officer Tina Hitchen said a number of projects and programmes were either in progress or not completed at the end of the 2023/24 financial year, or the start date was delayed past June 30, 2024.
This was in part due to the operational environment the council was working in and the progression of Te Kūiti stormwater improvements in response to severe weather events that impacted part of the township.
Incomplete capital projects will continue into the 2024/25 financial year and, the unexpended budgets carried over into the 2024/25 budget.
or surprises” including the “top secret” nature of his role – as well as directing, he’s on stage too. And for the audience?
“Don’t expect to just get in there and watch a show – there will be a good ol’ sing along.”
October 3: At about 1.55pm police issued an infringement notice after stopping a car on SH3, in which the driver had 328 mg of alcohol per litre of breath. The vehicle had been observed driving at about 67 km/h in a 100 km/h zone.
October 4: At about 11.45am a teenage girl reported being frightened when a man began following her at a reserve in Scott Rd, Puketotara. The girl was walking past a van when its occupant allegedly got out and started following her. She ran to a nearby address for assistance. Police said no offences had been disclosed but they are following up the complaint with the owner of the van.
October 5: At about 7.50pm a car crashed into a property on Otewa Rd. The vehicle hit a house, damaging its spouting and also hit and damaged a garage. The driver returned a result of 997mg of alcohol per litre of breath. Police said the reading, which was well over twice the limit, would result in a summons to appear in court at a later date.
October 6: At about 1.10am police stopped a car on Maniapoto St after they noticed only one headlight was working. The 16-year-old driver was referred to Police Youth Aid after failing a breath test. He had 214 mg of alcohol per litre of breath, which is illegal for somebody aged under-20.
Piopio
One family harm incident was reported. October 5: At about 11.15am two vehicles were involved in a collision. It is alleged atruck collided with the back of a car, as the latter was waiting to turn right from SH3 onto Mangakowhai Rd. No injuries were reported.
CALL OUTS
Te Kūiti
September 26: The brigade was called to a medical event at Oparure at 11.05 am, but were stood down minutes later.
September 27: At 4.43 pm the brigade assisted St John at a medical call on SH3 north of Te Kūiti.
September 28: At 11.42 pm a tree beside SH30 near Te Kūiti fell over, pushing down two additional trees. The highway was blocked for several hours until contractors could clear away the debris in the early morning.
Ōtorohanga
October 3: At 7.34pm the brigade was called to a vehicle leaking petrol on Tuhoro St. The Te Awamutu resident who owned the car only noticed the leak when they drove to work in Ōtorohanga and parked for the day. Fire chief Neville King said the brigade has attended four similar calls in the past six weeks, all thought to be the result of attempted petrol thefts.
October 6: At 12.16am the brigade was called out after an automatic fire alarm sounded at an empty house in Gradara Ave. King said the incident was a timely reminder for people to check they had new batteries in their smoke alarms.
October 6: At 10.37am the brigade was called out after an automatic fire alarm triggered at a store in Maniapoto St. No cause was found.
October 7: At 11.02am the brigade was called to the Beattie Home, where an evacuation drill was underway. It was not necessary to leave the station.
Jazmin Williamson and her three-year-old son Lucca Wilson.
Waitomo District Council has been asked to pay $74,000 to redesign the Mōkau seawall.
School challenge promises top action
By Paul Charman
A good turnout of young motocross riders from across the North Island is expected to contest the Ōtorohanga Schools MX Challenge 2024, at Puketotara next Friday. Maurice Hayman, who is organising the October 18
South Waikato Motorcycle Club event, says schools fixtures of this type have been held for at least 10 years but this will be the first at the Bennett family farm on Ngutunui Rd. Hayman said schools motocross events he had organised were originally
run at Rotorua and Hauraki Plains, and have expanded out across the North Island from there.
The two-day event at Puketotara is expected to attract about 300 young riders from Whangarei, Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki. Most of them would race on a course about 2km long, providing lap times of about two minutes.
Primary and intermediate riders would ride a cutdown version of the main track.
The school-age riders race in five main competitive classes: a 12-16 years 85cc two-stroke class; a 12-14 years 125cc to 250cc fourstroke class; a 15-19 years 125cc two-stroke class; a 1519 250 four-stroke class and a 12-19 years women’s class. In addition there will be two novice classes.
“These last categories are usually the ones which fill up first,” Hayman said.
“We get a lot of ‘newbies’ who may ride at home on the farm and it gives them the opportunity to come along and try out riding motocross, but without worrying about obtaining a competition licence,” Hayman said.
Chase Kete, of Pokuru, will be campaigning his KTM 125cc two-stroke machine
at the Ngutunui Rd event.
The fifteenyear-old has been riding bikes since he was aged five or six years old.
He said motocross was now his chosen sport and one he hoped to stay with, “as long as I possibly can”.
Kete hoped a good crowd would turn out to enjoy the specatacle on Thursday.
Quin Hall will be riding a KTM 250. The 16-year-old says he likes going fast, doing jumps and winning. Photo Stephanie Walker.
“A lot of people like motocross because its high action. So I’d say don’t worry about the dust and the noise, just come along and have a watch,” Kete said.
Quin Hall, 16, will be riding a KTM 250 four stroke machine on October 18. The Whatawhata resident contests the Junior 250cc class riding a 250cc KTM. He has been riding motocross events since about
age seven and says there’s nothing like the thrill of, “going fast, doing jumps and winning”.
Hall has has achieved some podium finishes racing at tracks across the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.
“The track at Ngutunui Rd should be pretty fun because its nice natural terrain and best of all its only about 20 minutes’ drive from home if that,” he says.
Like Kete, Hall recommends people come and enjoy watching a day of racing at Bennett’s Farm.
“I’d say people should bring a chair, set themselves up next to the track and enjoy a day of watching motocross. It gets pretty competitive as riders battle each other. The speeds some riders go is amazing, so are the jumps. It’s just an interesting sport and super fun to watch.”
Riders make their national marks
North King Country riders were chuffed to find themselves nationally competitive at the New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships held at New Plymouth at the weekend.
There were 160 riders in the 9-11 age group and they were chasing one of 30 qualifying places.
North King Country Motorcycle Club riders who finished mostly in the top 10 nationally included Mason Williamson, Ōtorohanga Trail 7-9 yrs 8th place, Case Wilson, Piopio 9-11 yrs 65cc 2nd place, Flynn Neustroski, Ōtorohanga, 8-11 yrs Trail 125cc, 8th place, Heath Wilson, Piopio, 9-11 yrs 65cc 10th place, Deklan Burton, Ōtorohanga, 9-11 yrs 65cc 6th place, Evan Gray, Te Kūiti, 7-8 yrs 65cc 11th place, Reed Legg, Te Awamutu, 7-8 years 65cc 1st place, Kase Legg, Te Awamutu, 6-8 yrs mx 50cc, 12th over all.
“We weren’t thinking we would place as high as we got so we were very happy,” proud parent Kim Simpson said. “They live and breathe
these bikes, they quite love them.”
There was some ugly weather off and on.
“It poured with rain for round three,” Simpson said. “Day two, round four and five the rain held off but there was still a bit of mud to push through. They did really well.”
Held at the Barrett Rd motorcycle park facility, on the outskirts of New Plymouth, the two-day event produced high calibre racing, with a large number of spectators in attendance.
Motorcycling New Zealand motocross co-commissioner Sonia Cloke was impressed with the host club’s work rate.
“The club did a fantastic job keeping up with track maintenance. They couldn’t have done better. The track gave competitors a mixed bag of conditions and the eventual champions certainly earned their titles.
“The tricky conditions really did sort them out. The brief rain we experienced really did only serve to keep the dust down.”
Bikesportnz’s Andy McGechan reported the event showed the sport was extremely healthy at this grassroots level.
“It shone the spotlight on the next Kiwi international superstars, young riders who may go on to follow in the wheel tracks of world class New Zealand riders
such as Otago’s Courtney Duncan, New Plymouth brothers Darryll, Shayne and Damien King, Motueka’s Josh Coppins, Oparau's James Scott, Opotiki’s Cody Cooper and West Auckland's Hamish Harwood or Tauranga trio Ben Townley, Brodie Connolly and Josiah Natzke, for example,” he said.
Speakng at the weekend he said it was interesting to note that Harwood, Connolly and Natzke were overseas representing New Zealand at the big annual Motocross of Nations in England, “the pinnacle of senior racing at international level and often referred to as the “Olympic
Games of Motocross”.
That event was won by Australia as luck deserted the Kiwi team as they finished 21st overall of the 36 nations represented and missed the cut off mark.
The trio managed third in a B-final, which was its last chance to qualify.
North King Country riders after the mini champs from left; Mason Williamson, Case Wilson, Flynn Neustroski, Heath Wilson, Deklan Burton.
Photo: Kim Simpson
Chase Kete, of Pokuru, will be riding his KTM 125cc two-stroke machine at the Ngutunui Rd event.
Waitomo send seeds scattering
By Norris Woodbine
The Waitomo Rugby Club out-performed many of their Waikato rugby opponents on the weekend when finishing as beaten finalists in the Suburbs Rugby Sevens.
The tournament attracted teams from Auckland, Counties, Bay of Plenty and Waikato and as usual was played in front of a large crowd of highly vocal spectators.
Waitomo were seeded fifth of the six teams in their draw and turned the tournament on its head – winning four pool games and going down
narrowly in the final.
The first win was by default over Putāruru and the second produced a 33-20 win over Frankton, who fielded a large pack and exerted early dominance after scoring an early five pointer.
Next up was the closest encounter of the day as Te Rapa provided sterner opposition and tries to Jiuta Muatabu and Hedley were countered in kind before Delane Bell scorched past some tiring defenders for what appeared to be the winning try.
Te Rapa had other ideas and levelled the scores late in
the game before conceding a penalty in front of the posts which Taninaloka Coolly slotted.
Hinuera lay in wait and the boys from Matamata proved to be too strong and the 28–17 scoreline was a fair reflection.
A place in the final was sealed with a win 19-0 win over Suburbs as Waitomo adapted superbly to conditions safter a thunderous down pour.
Hinuera had won the pool and proved to be a little too strong again in the final however a much closer encounter ensued as defence
took precedence in a scoreless first half.
Hinuera scored early in the second spell and notched a second before an electric Cory Sargent break set the
big crowd into raptures as he outpaced the cover to score.
At 12-7 the game hung in the balance only for a third try right on fulltime saw Hinuera pull away.
Waitomo side came away having created a great impression on many on the side lines and their opponents as well and brought a lot from the experience.
Superb Sevens – Waitomo beat the odds last weekend.
It’s been seven years since Alasdair Laws set up the only automotive glass repair shop in North King Country.
His now well-entrenched business sees vehicles of every type, cars, utes, SUVs through to heavy industry such as tractors, trucks, diggers and loaders from all over the region being handled by King Country Autoglass. While most are brought to the yard, he can do onsite work for vehicles that can’t be moved.
“We pride ourselves on our ability to do the job properlywe don’t use knives, so there is no damage or potential to create rust areas, for example,” he says.
The best part is, King Country residents don’t have to go to an insurance-preferred repairer out of the region.
“Give me a call and I can sort that for you,” he says.
King Country Autoglass at Unit 3, 5 Main North Rd, Otorohanga (next to Latitude Homes) is open Monday to Friday from 9am till 5pm.
NO NEED TO GO ELSEWHERE
The Coast
Second go at chopping trees
By Andy Campbell
Ōtorohanga District
Council is having another go at removing about 10 pohutukawa trees along the entrance to Kāwhia on Pouewe Street.
A previous move in 2019 failed following a public backlash over community consultation. The Kāwhia Community Board decided last week that this time the public would be consulted.
There will be a three-week consultation period conducted through the council’s online consultation portal.
Council roading manager Paul Strange said the root systems of the trees are causing the seawall to fail and will cause further issues as they get bigger.
Their growth prompted a temporary footpath to be painted on the roadside for pedestrians as the trees took up all available space. It is substandard and provides no protection for pedestrians. Recent increased logging at Kāwhia will make pedestrians feel even more exposed, Strange said.
The seawall condition will stabilise, and any repairs will be more effective, if the trees are removed. Removing the trees will also enable council to build a new gravel footpath
closer to the wall. The gravel path can be concreted once the seawall stability is confirmed.
Board member Richard Harpur questioned the need for gravel when people could walk on grass.
“I don’t see a need for a gravel path or concrete path, until we can establish exactly what’s been happening with that seawall.”
Strange said gravel was cheaper to install and maintain than grass.
“And we can keep an eye on the wall and see what’s happening.”
“And you look at the people that are now using it, there are pushbikes and prams and all sorts of stuff… you can imagine what grass would do in the middle of winter,”
board chair Geoff Good said.
The seedlings for the road side plantation were sourced from Te Awamutu about 20
years ago – not the culturally significant Tangi-te-Korowhiti as had been earlier suggested. The trees are on road reserve and not recorded as having cultural significance.
Three options were presented to the community board: cut the trees now, consult, or do nothing.
If the trees remain the seawall stability will be further compromised, and larger trees are more costly to deal with, Strange’s report stated.
Damage to the seawall will incur costs and major repairs to the seawall. Future issues with the road could have a big impact on traffic and access. Pouewe St is the township’s only road access.
In 2019 the Waitomo News reported costs to replace the retaining wall and rebuild the road was more than $100,000. Removing the trees was then expected to cost about $11,000.
GARDENING
FOR BLOOMING BEAUTIES AND PLANTS THAT THRIVE
Katrina Christison Tidy Gardens
I personally don’t like using weed matting in gardens. I prefer to properly prepare the garden by removing all weeds first.
If done thoroughly, there’s no need for weed matting to suppress weeds.
However, I still like to cover the soil with a more environmentally friendly methodcover the garden bed with a thick layer of newspaper or cardboard.
Then, spread a thick layer of mulch (5-8 cm deep) over it.
This will block sunlight, suppress weed growth, and prevent weed seeds from germinating.
Using newspaper or cardboard is also an excellent way to recycle materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill. It’s an eco-friendly practice that promotes sustainability.
When using cardboard, make sure to remove all tape and labels as these don’t break down.
Once you have covered your soil with either the newspaper or cardboard, wet it
thoroughly, this will not only hold it in place it will also start the decomposition process, then spread your mulch on top.
The benefits of using cardboard/ newspaper - cost effective, supresses weeds, retains moisture in the soil, breaks down naturally, is a great way to recycle, easy to lay, attracts worms which will help aerate the soul and feed the soil with their castings.
Above is a photo of a garden that had weed mat which we removed, and the poor birch tree’s roots were growing along the top of the weed mat.
The reasons I don’t like using it is that it leads to poor soil health, as it can restrict the water and air movement to the soil.
You will notice this when you remove weed mat you find hard compacted soil which is not good for plant growth.
Organic matter like fallen leaves can’t feed the soil as they break down, in some case plant roots may struggle to penetrate the fabric like the photo above.
Weeds still come in with birds, and once their roots take hold they are much harder to weed, if you have used newspapers or cardboard, weeding is much easier.
The roots of this pohutukawa are damaging the seawall
THE KING COUNTRY
This is a rare opportunity to own your own slice of paradise of just over an acre, only minutes to Piopio township in a peaceful setting. A private location with spectacular rural views and on a clear day Mt Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe can be spotted.
This single level brick home comprises of three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe with an ensuite and the other two bedrooms have single wardrobes.
Open plan new modern kitchen, dining and a spacious living area with a bay window plus an extra family area. Both bathrooms have been fully renovated. The main bathroom has a shower, bath
and vanity with a separate toilet. There is a large laundry with internal access through to the double garage.
Excellent indoor/outdoor flow with sliding doors off the master bedroom, dining room and living room out to the well-established and beautifully presented gardens and grounds. A perfect spot for entertaining friends and family. A bonus of a 112sqm (approx) storage shed.
Situated away from the roadside down a tar sealed driveway with plenty of parking, also on the Piopio school bus run. There is enough space for a pet sheep or two in the paddocks surrounding the home.
LOCATION |144 Mairoa Road, Piopio LAND I 4910m²
HOUSE | 180m², 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 car garaging
PRICE | $799,000
LICENSED AGENT | Ray White Te Kūiti
LICENSED SALESPERSON | Buzz Linn 027 496 0053 WEBSITE | rwtekuiti.co.nz WEB
|
RAGLAN 680 Waimaori Road Waimaori - 492 hectares (more or less)
Predominantly easy rolling cattle contour situated 18km Southwest of Raglan. Grass only policy wintering as at 30th June 2024, 279 x 27 month steers, 217 x 15 month steers, 415 x EH, 1040 x MA Ewes, and 25 x Rams. Outstanding four-bedroom homestead which is presented to a very high standard. There is also a three-bedroom Managers house, three stand woolshed and three bay lockable shed. Multiple water systems, long fertiliser history, and riparian planting throughout. This is a farm where attention to detail is evident throughout and a true turnkey operation.
PGG
FINAL NOTICE
WHAREPUHUNGA
124 Happy Valley Road
Apex Heights - 136 hectares (more or less)
36 ASHB Shed, PK and molasses in shed, 12T silo, two x calf sheds, workshop, American style barn, and 3 Bay implement shed.
2023/24: 420 cows - 150801kg MS - Spring and Autumn calving. Apex Heights presents a very productive fertile farm. Easy rolling contour with a fantastic 'engine room' located to the West, invariably ticking all the boxes.
Vendors have emphasised fertiliser application and pasture management to meet their production expectations. Approximately 75% croppable. Bore water.
A very good example of an easy rolling high producing dairy farm.
Two dwellings - 1 x 5-bedroom, three-bathroom, 1 x 4-bedroom Cottage, and two car garaging.
pggwre.co.nz/TEK40100
FINAL NOTICE
WHAREPUHUNGA 196 Happy Valley Road
APEX Drystock - 58 hectares (more or less)
Cattle grazing with superb homestead. The contour is easy rolling to steep to plateau country up top. Well fenced, watered and fertilised as it has been run alongside the dairy farm next door. The fourbedroom family home is of open plan design with an abundance of natural light. Other draw card qualities of this impressive home are the dedicated games room, separate laundry and drying room. Detached 3 bay industrial pole shed providing ample extra storage and complimenting the double garage with internal access into the family home and a garden shed also completes the package.
TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 3.00pm Wednesday 30 October VIEW
10.00-12.00pm, Monday 14 October
M 027 654 7434 Tony Foreman
E tony.foreman@pggwrightson.co.nz
M 027 473 5855
E pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz
TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 3.00pm, Wednesday 30 October
VIEW
10.00-12.00pm, Monday 14 October
Tony Foreman
M 027 654 7434
E tony.foreman@pggwrightson.co.nz
Peter Wylie
M 027 473 5855
E pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz
FINAL NOTICE
MAIHIIHI 342 Happy Valley Road
Apex Valley - 90 hectares (more or less)
Entry level dairy farm with good farm infrastructure.
2019 Built 22 ASHB with in-shed feeders. Two x 3 bay calf sheds, one x 4 bay calf shed plus workshop. Undulating contour, approximately 70-hectare platform. Milking 250 cows in this popular district. Last year’s production 70,877kg MS.
Two dwellings-1 x 4-bedroom and 1 x 3-bedroom home, both healthy homes compliant.
The property is in three titles so future options available - great opportunity.
pggwre.co.nz/TEK40103
TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 3.00pm Wednesday 30 October
VIEW 10.00-12.00pm, Monday 14 October
M 027 654 7434 Tony Foreman
E tony.foreman@pggwrightson.co.nz
M 027 473 5855 Peter Wylie
E pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz
Kuiti
Te Kuiti 16A Manawaiti Street
Te Kuiti 1211 State Highway 4
Breeding, finishing and grazing
Consisting of 244.39 hectares (more or less) 23 km south of Te Kuiti on State Highway 4. A 2016 modern brick home, large living areas, three bedrooms plus an office and internal two car garaging. The second dwelling is an older home, four bedrooms with separate two car garage. Ample shedding, good balance of contour, winters 1077 sheep 150 cattle all grass plus finishes an extra 2000 lambs and 200 cattle over summer in a normal year. Fenced into over 40 paddocks reliable reticulated water - all gravity fed. Excellent fertiliser history, four sets of yards and a three stand woolshed.
Two purchase options available;
1. Entire property (244.39 ha)
2. 199 ha (more or less) excluding homes and woolshed For
Entry Level Dairy with Enviable Contour
Ready to be taken to the next level, this well contoured dairy farm in the popular Maihiihi district is going to be of interest to those seeking a top-notch farming operation which isn’t over capitalized with unnecessary infrastructure.
• 73.2454 hectares (more or less) in 4 titles
• Production history exceeding 88,000 kg/ms
• Predominantly flat to gentle rolling contour
• Upgraded water system and lined effluent pond 20 Aside herringbone Cow shed
• 2 x Houses
Genuinely on the market but only for a limited time, make sure you view our next open day as this is one farm you don’t want to miss out on this spring.
Ōtorohanga 21 Maniapoto Street
Prominent Corner Site
If your business venture is all about the location, this prime site on a busy corner is guaranteed to be noticed travelling South through our friendly and thriving town. Sold with vacant possession (aside from the current lease with the BNZ ATM space) so you can get stuck in to planning your new venture with the peace of mind you can be up and operating early in the new year. Occupying a 273sqm site, with close to 260sqm of available floor space including a double garage. Recently re-roofed and a freshly painted exterior, this building was previously leased by the BNZ bank and comprises of good office/ workroom or retail space with options to enter into a shared lease arrangement with a separate entrance and shared bathroom and kitchen. An opportunity to acquire a quality, freehold prominent location is extremely rare, so enquire today to find out more. Call us today.
Karen Lennox M 027 559 4468 E karen.lennox@harcourts.co.nz
kjharty@harcourts.co.nz
Karen Lennox 027 559 4468
karen.lennox@harcourts.co.nz
AVAILABLE FROM: 6 Main North Road, Otorohanga 07 873 6642 | office@pratts.co.nz | www.pratts.co.nz
Other Showroom Locations: 10 Albert Street, Cambridge | 100 Roche St, Te Awamutu
Pastry edge (5)
Daring (4)
Premature (5)
Will (5)
Across: 1. Slash, 4. Seethe, 8. Oversee, 9. Rogue, 10. Tiara, 11. Collect, 12. Jockey, 14. Papers, 17. Chapter, 19. Quota, 21. Evict, 22. Cuisine, 23. Hearse, 24. Event.
1. Sports jacket, 2. Arena, 3. Hostage, 4. Stench, 5. Enrol, 6. Hygiene, 7. New Testament, 13. Cyanide, 15. Acquire, 16. Crèche, 18. Tutor, 20. On ice.
Hired killer (8)
Centre (4)
Time off work (5)
Opposed (7)
Dress (6)
Balanced (4)
Depart suddenly (4,3)
Kill (4)
Exact likeness (colloq) (8,5)
Drink (8)
Type of coffee (5)
Les Te Kanawa Director 027 271 6167
Lorrene Te Kanawa Director 027 333 8531
Les Te Kanawa • 027 271 6167
Te Kanawa Director 027 271 6167
les.tk@xtra.co.nz www.1stscaffolding.co.nz
Lorrene Te Kanawa Director 027 333 8531
les.tk@xtra.co.nz www.1stscaffolding.co.nz
Lorrene Te Kanawa • 027 333 8531 les.tk@xtra.co.nz www.1stscaffolding.co.nz
Grazing
SEAN CURRAN
Specialising in re-roofing, roof maintenance, spouting, downpipes and light commercial work and roof leaks Ph 027 493 2502
Livestock Wanted
WANTED
Āria Primary School
Aria Primary School
Fixed Term Scale A teacher, year 2-4. 2025 - One year position commences beginning term one. Job share - a possibility. We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic teacher who will inspire and motivate students to learn.
SCHOOL
Part time office administrator required
This position is for 2 days per week, 6 hours each day. To be considered for this position you will need:
0.5 permanent + 0.4 fixed term Scale A teacher, NE – Year 3 Position commences when suitable applicant is found. Job share - a possibility. We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic teacher who will inspire and motivate students to learn. Strengths in working collaboratively, commitment to your own professional growth and strong classroom management skills are required. Our school has a passionate and supportive staff culture. We look forward to hearing from you.
Must have a strong curriculum knowledge particularly in literacy and numeracy. Strengths in working collaboratively, commitment to your own professional growth and strong classroom management skills are required.
• Good reading, writing, spelling and numeracy skills
• Previous administration experience
• Attention to detail with excellent accuracy in data entry
Please send CV plus covering letter and names of two referees to The Principal, Āria Primary School, 17 Barclay Road, RD1 Aria 3979 or e-mail to office@aria.school.nz. For further information, contact the principal Pam Voyce.
Our school has a passionate and supportive staff culture. We look forward to hearing from you. Please send CV plus covering letter and names of two referees to The Principal, Āria Primary School, 17 Barclay Road, Āria 3979 or e-mail to office@aria.school.nz.
For further information, contact the principal Pam Voyce. Applications close Friday, November 1, at 4pm.
• Confidence in using technology
• The ability to work alone
If this sounds like you then in the first instance give Debra a call on 027 287 5235 for a chat
Sale
- Ph Sonny 021 617 349 or 07 873 9190.
Waitomo District Council Meeting Schedule 2024
The following is a Schedule of the Waitomo District Council and Committee meetings schedule for the remainder of 2024.
Tuesday 24 September 2024 Council Monthly Meeting
Tuesday 15 October 2024 Audit and Risk Committee Meeting
Tuesday 15 October 2024 3.30pm - Extraordinary Council Meeting. Note: This will be a public excluded business meeting and will not be open to the public
Tuesday 29 October 2024 Council Monthly Meeting
Tuesday 26 November 2024 Council Monthly Meeting
Tuesday 12 December 2024 9am - Appointments and Chief Executive Relationship Committee Note: This will be a public excluded business meeting and will not be open to the public.
Any member(s) of the public wishing to speak at a Council meeting are required to gain approval from the Mayor at least two working days prior to the meeting. An invitation is extended to members of the public to attend these meetings for observation purposes.
Meetings of Council are webcast in real time to the Waitomo District Council website and are also made available for viewing on demand as soon as reasonably practicable following the meeting.
A copy of the agendas for these meetings will be available on Council’s website two working days before the meeting.
Ben Smit Chief Executive
Ecotour Guide Spellbound Cave Tours Waitomo
We are seeking an enthusiastic person with great people skills to join our team of guides. One full time and one part time position is available
You will need a love of nature and the outdoors plus a passion for working with people from different cultures around the world. We require someone with a mature outlook who can work independently. You must hold a full driver’s licence. Please enquire at waitomochandlers@gmail.com
Position: Reception/ Office Administration
Country App is FREE Download it from the App Store or Google Play
Contract: Permanent Full Time
Location: King Country Vets, Piopio
• Be part of a professional and enthusiastic mixed veterinary practice.
THE ROLE:
To be successful in this role you will need to demonstrate:
• Excellent computer skills, stock control experience, geographical knowledge of Piopio, Te Kuiti and surrounding areas and a flair for organising people (running our farm vet diary is a key task).
• A passion for customer service, an eye for detail, efficient time management and excellent communication skills.
• Previous farming or veterinary clinic experience will be an advantage.
ABOUT US:
We are a small, cohesive and service driven team who work hard but have fun at the same time. The practice is owned independently by four employees, and we have an excellent culture.
The job will be normal hours, Monday to Friday with no weekend work. Don’t miss this opportunity to join our team!
If you think you have what it takes please email a cover letter and your up to date CV to Lisa Coles, Clinic Coordinator, lisa@piopiovets.co.nz by 25th October 2024
O PIOPIO
Aim High - Whakaara Kia Mataara
SENIOR PRIZEGIVING
Piopio College Board Of Trustees, Principal and Staff warmly invite Parents, Caregivers, Whānau and Friends of the College to join us in celebrating Students’ Excellence for 2024.
12.00pm, Wednesday, October 23 in the Piopio College Gymnasium, please be seated by 11.50am
We intend to have a ‘Paddy’s Market’ on Come along for an enjoyable day out. Household items and furniture bargains galore!
SATURDAY, OCT 12
10am at the Piopio College Gymnasium
• Lions caravan • Hotdogs • Chips
• Drinks for sale
2024 Trustee Election DECLARATION OF ELECTION RESULT
MATTHEWS, Sarah GOWER, Marcus MCLEAN, Dave MILNER, Ray GODFREY, Jarrod Cameron COLES, Philip KEMPTHORNE, Pip WEBB, Rollo INFORMAL or BLANK 3,653 2,991 2,807 2,463
Trustees
Networks
The voter return was 14.80%, being 4,312 votes cast. Warwick Lampp Returning Officer 0800 666 033 iro@electionz.com
Situations Vacant
Situations Vacant
October 11 at 10.30am Te Kūiti Community House Trust (above the library) 28 Taupiri St, Te Kūiti
Email your classified ads to reception@goodlocal.nz
Don’t forget to include your billing details, name, address & daytime contact phone number
Sport New Zealand Rural Travel Fund for Waitomo District
We are inviting rural school teams and sporting groups to apply for financial assistance through the Sport New Zealand Rural Travel Fund. The fund is designed to help subsidise rural travel for junior teams aged between 5-18 years. It helps school and club sports teams participate in local sporting competitions. Please note: The Rural Travel Fund is not for the purpose of travel to regional or national events or available for individual athletes or players.
The online application form and further details outlining the fund are available on our website www.waitomo.govt.nz or by contacting the Customer Services Team on 0800 932 4357.
Applications close at 5pm on Friday 8 November 2024.
Piopio Community Recreation Centre AGM Tuesday, October 29 at 6pm at Rec centre. Refreshments provided. Please RSVP to Kimberley Cody 027 210 1860 for catering purposes.
ADOR SHOES
has relocated to 50 Maniapoto Street, Ōtorohanga. Sharing premises with Little Scissors. Call in and see us, Dorz and Benji would love to see you.
In accordance with the Tenth Schedule of the Local Government Act 1974, notice is hereby given that Ōtorohanga District Council, for the purpose of allowing the Targa NZ Tarmac Rally, has made the decision to close the following roads to ordinary vehicular traffic for the period indicated hereunder: Friday, October 25, 2024 and Saturday, October 26, 2024 during the following days and times:
The following roads will be affected by either full closure or restricted access:
• Haurua and Waitomo Valley Rds: Friday, October 25, 2024 from 8am till 12 noon. (affecting no exit roads - Waihohonu Road).
• Mangamahoe, Honikiwi and Turitea Rds: Friday, October 25, 2024 from 8.40am till 4.40pm (affecting no exit roads
- Te Raumauku and Bromley Rds).
• Kāwhia Harbour Rd: Friday, October 25, 2024 from 9.55am till 5.55pm (affecting no exit roads - Te Kauri, Berntsen, Kihi, Rakaunui, Whenuaapo, Owhiro and Waipuna Rds, and also affecting Hauturu Rd).
• Barber Rd: Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 8.10am till 12.10pm
• Otewā, Tauraroa Valley, Maihihi, Paewhenua, Maihihi, and Mangatutu Rds: Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 9.25am till 1.25pm (affecting no exit roads - Pukemapou, Millard, Wall, Grice, and also affecting Lurman Road).
• Bayley, Ngaroma, and Wairehi Rds: Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 10.15am till 5.40pm (affecting no exit roads - Wynyard, Tolley, Waipari Rds and also affecting Hingaia, Mangawhio, Waipari, Aotearoa and Taupaki Roads).
• Aotearoa and Kahorekau Rds: Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 12.15pm till 4.15pm
• Pukewhau and Mangare Rds: Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 12.35pm till 4.35pm (affecting no exit road - Landing Rd).
There will not be any detours in place. Access for emergency vehicles will be allowed in the event of an emergency.
Authorised public notification of the approved road closure before the event, as required by the Local Government Act 1974.
By The Sea, 25 Aria Tce, Mōkau 1st and 3rd Sunday 2pm Service
Piopio contact: 07 877 8097
Mōkau contact: Mrs Dorothy Lowry 06 752 9123
Bride's Anglican Church Haerehuka St Ōtorohanga
GREEN, Farrell James: Just a note to say thank you to everyone for all the ways you’ve cared for our family in recent weeks. While this has obviously been a very tough time we’ve been genuinely moved by your love and support, which has felt like a testament to how much Farrell meant to our community. We’ve also laughed a lot in remembering him which I know he would have loved. Anne, Carly, Bobby, Jasmine, Cameron and families.
HE PANUI WHAKAHIRAHIRA MO
Ngāti Rōrā
On 22 April 2024, Ngāti Rōrā whānau appointed a Ngāti Rōrā Trust Steering Committee to look into the formation of a Ngāti Rōrā Trust. The Ngāti Rōrā Trust Steering Committee are now calling for all Ngāti Rōrā Hapū Affiliates to a Hui-ā-hapū
PURPOSE OF HUI
To discuss formation of Ngāti Rōrā Trust, use of and opportunities arising from Ngāti Rōrā whenua received through the settlement, and the future for Ngāti Rōrā.
WHEN: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2024 10AM SHARP WHERE: TE KUITI PĀ
AGENDA:
• Karakia
• Introduction
• Update from Trust Steering Committee
• Discussion formation of Ngāti Rōrā Trust
• Future Planning Workshop
• Karakia Whakamutunga
Bring your awesome whakaaro, listening taringa and a kai to share with the whānau!
Ngā Mihi
Ngāti Rōrā Trust Steering Commitee Shannon Manawaiti, Isaiah Wallace, Tawhana Ball, Wayne Ball, Pia Searanke, Gannin Ormsby and Aroha Wehi-King
ŌTOROHANGA
BAPTIST
CHURCH Ranfurly St, Ōtorohanga Service times Sunday 10.30am Everyone welcome Contact 07 873 8685 SWINDELLS, Jean Fay QSM (nee Reilly): Peacefully at Hillview Home, Te Kūiti 1.7.1922 - 20.9.2024. Dearly loved wife of the late Jim. Much loved mother of Helen, Joan, Marlene and Glenda. Adored Gran to her five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Jean’s memorial service will be held at a VJ Williams Chapel on Saturday, October 19 at 1pm. The memorial service will be livestreamed, please contact office@
Violet Unuhia: On behalf of the Takiari-McLean Whanau. We invite all friends and family to celebrate the unveiling of Violet Unuhia McLean (nee) Takiari at Râkaunui Mârae on Saturday, October 12. Service will be at 11am. Following the unveiling we warmly invite you all back to the Pa for Hakari. Nga Mihi, McLean-Takiari Whanau. VJ Williams & Sons, Funeral Directors Association of NZ
On behalf on the whānau, we extend an invitation to join us on
Tokanui-ā-noho Marae Pōwhiri: 10am Service: 11am
Unveilings
Public Notices
MCLEAN
Church Notices
