new stables match anything in Kentucky. Mary Anne Gill checks out Breckon Farm.
A Waikato horse breeding legend has described Breckon Farm’s new state of the art complex in Ōhaupō as “world leading” saying no stone had been left unturned at the multimillion dollar development.
Sir Peter Vela said the vote of confidence in the industry by owners Ken and Karen Breckon –who have been breeding harness racing horses near Te Awamutu since 2007 – ensured the future for years and years.
“I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere in the world, it’s truly magnificent. It’s taken technology, logic, horse breeding to the next level.
“Just look at the technology. The windows that are automatically governed by temperature. That’s just so important when you’re dealing with animals,” Vela told The News after the official opening last week.
The stables have two wings housing 48 horses – one for colts and the other for fillies. Each stable has wash bays, feed and tack rooms and feeding facilities which the newly installed horses clearly loved.
The complex also includes a function-entertainment centre with views of Pirongia Forest Park to the west.
Guests from around New Zealand and Australia made the opening one of the most high-profile events in the racing calendar but it was Ken Breckon’s down-to-earth speech which stole the show.
He talked of starting a small plumbing distribution business while his late brother Peter worked in the alcohol industry.
When they wanted to expand the plumbing business, they needed funding so called on family members to help. When told their mother might lose her house, the brothers went to the South Island and came back after two months
having turned over $700,000 in business.
Suffering from stress, the brothers thought buying a horse might help so they went to the Karaka sales in 1995 and bought Megaera which went on to become a Group One winner and filly of the year.
“They called us the Blues Brothers,” Ken told guests at the
opening.
“She was lot 68 and she was going in the ring as we arrived. So, we went straight up, put our hands up, we’d never been to an auction in our lives, and we bought that horse for $35,000.”
But the brothers had not registered, and the auction had to be stopped halfway through to allow their details to be taken.
'It’s truly magnificent'
Once bought they had no idea what to do with Megaera as they had no horse float or farm to take her to until they saw trainer Roy Purdon who organised for his sons Mark and Barry to make arrangements for her. The rest is history.
Peter Breckon died of a heart attack in 2003 after the brothers had established themselves as successful harness owners and breeders.
In 2007 Ken and Karen bought Sandy Yarndley’s 75ha standardbred farm in Ōhaupō and set about becoming one of the country’s premier standardbred breeders.
“The moment I came into this beautiful area, I fell in love with it,” said Ken.
“I say to people ‘if you have got a bucket and you wanna get rid of your money, this one here’s a hole in the bucket’.”
It was clear the operation needed to expand though as the number of yearlings grew so, in 2019, they announced plans to build the new facility after visiting several stud farms around New Zealand, including Cambridge Stud which provided the “clincher”.
Five years later despite the setbacks Covid presented, the stables were complete.
“It’s as good as anything around people are telling me, as good as anything in Kentucky,” said Ken.
Before Harness Racing New Zealand chief executive Brad Steele
Continued on page 2
and Karen Breckon with star
Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Farewell to a top cop
Police from across the district farewelled former Detective Paul Galletta at a service at Waikato Stadium last Wednesday. Paul died last month aged 62. He touched many through his involvement in rugby at all levels, his long service in the police and community overall and will be sadly missed.
wilful damage offences. He was recently convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
‘It’s truly magnificent
Continued from page 1
Fresh Berries
Sergeant Greg Foster and I were then appreciative last Thursday of a good turnout at a retailers’ meeting, organised by the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce.
Thank you for the opportunity we were given to discuss current trends and crime prevention. It was then also great to see everyone out and about at the Cambridge Christmas parade last Sunday. This year Cambridge Youth Aid officer Constable Dani Hibdige led the way. A little bit of rain couldn’t keep the crowds away from a great family event.
In more news this week, Cambridge staff arrested a male for breach of bail and breaching a protection order. He was remanded in custody and appeared before court. A second male was arrested for an historic assault and wilful damage and will also be appearing in court. I mentioned back in April, a male had been arrested for breaching bail, fraud, being in a stolen car and rural
In Te Awamutu, staff conducting an enquiry at a residential address located class A drugs in a quantity for supply along with associated paraphernalia. A female was arrested and has appeared in court on related charges.
Last but not least, another reminder this week around test drives. We had an incident last week that shows even when you try to do all the right things, you can fall victim to opportunist thieves. A member of the community selling a vehicle, arranged to meet a prospective buyer. They agreed to a test drive as long as they went along - good so far.
The owner drove first but when they went to swap over so the prospective purchaser could drive the car back, the woman took advantage of the situation and sped away in the car while the owner was out of the vehicle.
Determined thieves will always try to find a way. If dealing with any sort of sale or purchase, especially over Facebook marketplace, I remind you again to be cautious, confirm the identity of the people with whom you are dealing and don’t underestimate opportunism.
New role for Maniapoto leader
By Roy Pilott
A former Maniapoto Māori Trust Board chief executive has been named Trust Waikato’s new chaire.
cut the ribbon to open the complex, he said Ken and Karen Breckon had made significant contributions to the industry.
“They’ve actively shaped its future and continue to push the boundaries of excellence whether through their leadership, investments, tireless advocacy of raising standards, (they) have been instrumental in the growth and development of harness racing in New Zealand,” said Steele.
“Today we celebrate not just their success, but their vision for the future of this great sport.
“These new facilities are more than just a building project, they represent a significant leap forward for our industry, providing world class resources for horses and investors.
“These world class amenities will serve as the benchmark for others to follow,” said Steele.
• More photos – see teawamutunews.nz
Janise Hine-kapetiu Eketone (Waikato–Maniapoto) has held leadership positions with Te Whatu Ora Waikato, including director of Māori Health Strategy. She has been a board member since 2018.
Janise Hine-kapetiu Eketone with Chris Flatt.
Trust Waikato is one of 12 New Zealand community trusts and services the Waikato region. Almost $300 million in grants have been approved for funding since it was established in 1989.
The organisation employs nine staff and its chief executive is Dennis Turton.
In announcing her appointment,
Trust Waikato said Eketone’s tenure as chief executive of the Maniapoto board showcased her ability to drive significant community initiatives, including the successful Nga Wai o Maniapoto settlement.
Trust Waikato also announced a new deputy – Chris Flatt. They have already taken up their positions.
Eketone, steps up from deputy to outgoing chair Vicky McLennan. The two had held those roles since March 2021. McLennan will remain on the board as a trustee until mid-2025 when she will retire after eight-years’ service.
Chris Flatt is the national secretary of the NZ Dairy Workers Union.
Sir Peter Vela inside Breckon Farm’s new 48 box stabling area in Ōhaupō.
Line to open
The Telephone Road crossing on SH1B at Holland Rd, Eureka, closed because vehicles were damaging the railway track two and a half years ago is to reopen in the middle of next year after remedial work is done on the road.
Containing clams
Biosecurity New Zealand is moving to a “long term management” strategy to deal with golden clams in the Waikato River. The freshwater clams, introduced from Asia, are voracious breeders and pose a threat to native wildlife. The plan will be to contain the tiny clams to the river system downstream of Maraetai and exclude it from all other catchments
Cyber award
Waipā District Council won the Best in Cyber Security award at the Association of Local Government Information Management annual awards last week.
New career
Newshub reporter Karen Rutherford has joined Bayleys Cambridge as a salesperson and auctioneer. Rutherford worked for TVNZ, Sky News and served as chief of staff for Newshub for 10 years and as a news presenter for Sky. She won a Voyager Media award for her work on the sinking of the fishing charter vessel Enchanter where Te Awamutu and Cambridge anglers lost their lives.
Tryathlon event
More than 1600 children will participate in the Weet-Bix Kids tryathlon at St Peter’s School in Cambridge on Sunday. The series has been going since 1992 for children aged 6-15 years. Participants get to swim, cycle and run. It will be the first time the event has been in Cambridge. In the past it has been at Waikato University in Hamilton.
Waipā takes the plunge
By Chris Gardner
District councils are signing up to the Waikato Waters Done Well philosophy.
Waipā and Waitomo council both agreed last week to enter into a Heads of Agreement as part of the project.
The decisions commit the councils to working together to investigate the establishment of a councilcontrolled organisation (CCO) to deliver water and wastewater services.
Matamata-Piako District Council and South Waikato District Council have also joined up.
Waitomo District Council chief executive Ben Smit told The News the decision would give his council a second option to take to its community beyond the status quo.
“Waikato Water Done Well is coming together really well,” Smit said.
“The Waikato is quite a long way ahead with the development of water regions.”
Kāhu Manawa managing director Vaughan Payne appeared before Waikato Regional Council on
Thursday with an update on the regional approach.
Payne has been leading Water Done Well on behalf of the Waikato Mayoral Forum and local iwi chairs for 18 months and holding weekly meetings with council chief executives for two months.
“We have got 100 per cent approval so far, because only four councils have formally considered it,” Payne said.
Five councils scheduled to consider signing the agreement are Ōtorohanga (to decide on December 10) Waikato (December 12) and Hauraki (December 18). That will leave Taupō and Thames-Coromandel district councils to make a decision.
“We are definitely signing,” said Hauraki district mayor Toby Adams.
“By signing up to this it gives those councils agreeing to working together the opportunity to design something that will work for all councils and communities.
“And by sharing knowledge and experience and work programmes we can provide a really great outcome for our communities with resilience good infrastructure at a
more competitive cost.”
Payne told Waikato Regional Council the traditional approach saw every council looking at wastewater treatment plants in isolation of what was happening in the rest of the Waikato River.
Using a Waikato River catchment approach, rather than a wastewater treatment plant by plant approach, would save millions of dollars across the region as it had for Matamata-Piako District Council, he said.
“Instead of having five different consent
Santa’s Saturday switch
By Chris Gardner
Te Awamutu Rotary Club has gone back to a Saturday for this year’s Christmas Parade after holding the last two on a Sunday.
Club spokesman and parade coordinator Chris Kay said the club had co-ordinated the parade for six years and switched to a Sunday due to retailer demand.
“The overwhelming reason for switching back to a Saturday is volunteers don’t want to work on a Sunday,” Kay said.
Kay, who leads a team of 30 volunteers, said he was between a rock and a hard place.
“They come to the parade and leave
when the parade ends,” he said.
Te Awamutu Business Chamber chief executive Shane Walsh said the chamber could “see how it goes this year and try to figure out how to make sure that in the future retailers can benefit more than what they do now.”
The theme for Saturday’s parade is It’s a White Christmas.
The parade starts from Selwyn Lane at 11am, turns onto Arawata Street then Alexandra Steet to the roundabout at the intersection of Alexandra, Mutu and Rewi Streets. It will then return to Selwyn Lane following the same route. There will be a lolly scramble and prizegiving after the parade at Selwyn Park.
Rosetown
applications they combined them into one, even though some consents expired in 10 years’ time they decided to get them to all have a common expiry date and get them considered together,” Payne said.
“At a $6 million budget they spent $2 million on the consent, so a $4 million saving on consent processing, and they expect a $20 million saving on capital works because they are looking at nutrient balancing between the plants to get the best return on investment for the Firth of Thames.”
Under the Government’s Local Waters Done Well legislation, all councils are required to produce a water services delivery plan by September 2025, with a focus on ensuring future delivery is financially sustainable and meets quality standards. Options include forming an internal business unit to deliver water services, joining with others to form a multi-council-controlled organisation, or forming a single council water organisation to deliver those services.
Jim Goddin JP Funeral Director
Finishing works took place on the upgraded Te Awamutu Wastewater treatment Plant three years ago. From top (L-R): new UV system, clarifier and screen. Bottom (L-R): new electrical room, UV and screen.
Photo: Supplied.
Christie Anderson pictured on the Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade float which was named best overall in the parade last year.
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Waste to energy board appointed
By Chris Gardner
Environment Court Judge Brian Dwyer will chair the inquiry into Global Contracting Solutions’ resource consent application to build a giant incinerator in Te Awamutu.
He will be joined by Resource Management Act hearings commissioner Nicholas Manukau and air quality specialist Myles McCauley.
Environment Minister Penny Simmonds announced the line up.
The inquiry will assess more than 900 public submissions, most of them against the proposal, and make the final decision on the plant proposed for Racecourse Road.
Opposition will come from Waipā District Counicl.
Submissions close on December 18, and the board has nine months to make a decision.
Meanwhile, Te AwamutuKihikihi Community Board has appointed deputy chair Kane Titchener to finalise the board’s submission opposing the plan after chair Ange Holt declared an interest and stepped out of the latest board meeting.
Holt lives near the proposed site.
Titchener proposed the board append a report commissioned by
Waikato Regional Council into the implications of waste to energy technology in New Zealand, a plume report and request further information from the applicant about its disposal plan for contaminated toxic water.
Council strategy group manager Kirsty Downey told the board the council was opposing the application.
“This is new technology, and this is a new process for Waipā District Council. We’re not experts in this. We’re not a in a position to engage experts to assist in the preparation of submissions. So we’ve really focussed on those matters that have been identified by the community that really focusses on community and social effects, also the impact of the proposal in terms of location, amenity, wellbeing, and iwi mana whenua consideration.”
Council strategic projects driver Mieke Heyns said the overarching theme in the submission was that council was looking for more evidence and asking the board of inquiry to ask for more information.
She recommended the community board ask questions in its submissions.
“If you really want to hammer home certain points, put it in there.”
Double decker delight
By Mary Anne Gill
Electric double decker buses were out and about in Waipā last week as drivers trained on them in preparation for their debut on the Cambridge and Te Awamutu routes.
Passengers on the Cambridge 20 and Kihikihi-Te Awamutu 24 services will soon board the three-axle vehicles which have the capacity to carry 80 seated, 20 standing and one wheelchair passenger.
New Zealand family-owned bus and coach company Tranzit has the Waikato Regional Council contract to provide public transport services
in Waipā.
The company’s specialists designed the double deckers with the chassis built in China and the body in Malaysia. It is believed to be the first of its kind, after modifications were made to a similar prototype that landed in New Zealand last year and will be the first double decker EV in the Waikato region.
Single level electric buses are used on the Taupō Connector and Waipā routes, where the Cambridge and Te Awamutu buses typically travel 350-500 kilometres a day, some of the longest public transport routes in New Zealand.
Electric buses in Waipā use are charged at depots in Leamington and Kihikihi provided by Waipā District Council.
Diesel double decker buses have been in Hamilton since 2018 on the Orbiter route around the city. Tranzit has been at the forefront of bus electrification in New Zealand since 2014, supplying EV buses for AUT in Auckland and Wellington in 2018, Palmerston North in 2021, Taupō last year and now Cambridge and Te Awamutu.
Other electric buses operate in Auckland, Waiheke Island, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Nelson and Dunedin.
…and receive a copy, posted directly to you, every month.
is $119.40 + GST for a
Kale Pompey, left, Tranzit Group Operations supervisor and Waikato Regional Council Public Transport Operations manager Trudi Knight with one of the two EV double deckers. Photo: Supplied.
Lions get ready
By Viv Posselt
given a refresh.
Several Rosetown Lions women spent Monday afternoon preparing gifts for the club’s annual Santa’s Grotto initiative. They spent the time wrapping and labelling Christmas presents for children visiting Santa at his First National spot in Alexandra Street in the lead-up to Christmas. The toys were collected from op-shops around Te Awamutu, checked and then
The initiative, which has been running for about seven years, relies heavily on support from local businesses.
The Rosetown members gathered at the Te Awamutu home of Jane Louw where they prepared the gifts and filled small bags with sparkly oats for each child to take home for Santa’s reindeer.
The grotto will be open after Saturday’s Christmas parade.
big summer flooring Sale
Letters…
Parking plans
I have now read several articles on parking recently that all put up an argument from different perspectives. Previously, I served at Heart of Gisborne for six years, including three as City Manager, an organisation dedicated to the CBD retailers. My research across New Zealand and globally reveals the complexity of parking, with no straightforward solutions, but I have deduced some fundamental principles regarding parking and consumer behaviour. Customers invariably desire complimentary, unrestricted parking, whereas shop owners advocate for vehicle turnover to enhance their business. Different businesses seek parking durations that align with their operations. For instance, takeaway outlets and similar short-stay businesses prefer 15-30 minute parking, while the theatre requires a 3-hour limit to accommodate moviegoers.
The key is to align car park usage with a balance of turnover and demand. An optimal 80 per cent parking occupancy rate seems to be the target, theoretically leaving spaces
available for potential customers while allotting a reasonable shopping duration for parked patrons. The busier the parking, the shorter the allotted time should be. Simplicity is crucial.
I also enquire if a comprehensive parking survey has been conducted. Informed decisions require a thorough understanding of the issues at hand. Parking abuse, such as long-term parking by employees and employers, poses a significant challenge. Then there is the topic of enforcement. Not an easy discussion, but none the less, it goes with the parking restrictions. What other concerns arise from both retailers and customers remains to be explored.
The recent move by Council to increase the parking time by 100 per cent to 2 hours, is interesting. Parking at times is already at a premium, especially along Alexandra St. You are in effect reducing the number of available parks in the CBD, at what is arguably the busiest period for retail. Is this really supporting retailers?
The debate continues.
Ken Huberts Te Awamutu
Rosetown Lions ladies and the piles of toys they are preparing for Santa’s Grotto. They are, from left, Liz Schmidt, Julia Wilcox and Janet Louw.
Photo: Viv Posselt
Confidence hits new low
By Chris Gardner
Prime Minister
Christopher Luxon and Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay heard at Mystery Creek how low farmer confidence has dropped last week.
The message came from Federated Farmers national president Wayne Langford at the Federated Farmers Restoring Farmer Confidence Tour.
The organisation had surveyed its 13,000 members across 24 regions for 12 years and Langford said confidence was the “worst it has ever been”.
High interest rates, inflation and compliance costs had hit farmers in the wallet.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re sheep, beef, arable or dairy. There’s a large number of farms that have been bumping some bills out month to month and a lot that have only just come right recently,” Langford said.
Fonterra, New Zealand’s largest company, raised the midpoint of the 2024-25 season forecast farmgate milk price in November to a record $9.50 a kilogram of milk solids, but it is only about $1 a kilogram of milk solids above breakeven for the average farmer.
Langford said the National-led government had “come through” on nine of a dozen action points the organisation had asked for.
It is still waiting for a law change allowing young farmers to access their KiwiSaver, a rethink of the Emissions Trading Scheme Forestry Rules and building the farmer workforce through immigration reform.
Luxon, rural caucus in tow, told the meeting there was nothing more important to New Zealand than the rural sector.
“… about 13 per cent of our people work in this sector, about 350,000 people, you have 40 million people being fed all around the world because of what you do. You are 80 per cent of
all our export earnings and, importantly, you generate $10,000 for every man, woman and child in this country.
“You were the sector that powered New Zealand out of Covid. You are the sector that powered New Zealand out of the Global Financial Crisis, and we need you to power us out of this recession that we’ve now had for three years thanks to the last lot,” Luxon said Luxon said the sector needed better communications and to tell more good news stories to mainstream of New Zealand.
Farmers were complaining of spending
a quarter to a third of their time on compliance, rather than farming, Luxon said, so the Government had spent its first year cutting the red tape that was “calcifying the sector and slowing it down.”
He said the last government “went to war on farmers”.
McClay told the crowd every time the Government found a rule that did not work it cut it.
Ōhaupō dairy farmer and Waikato Federated Farmers vice president Andrew Reymer said he was not surprised to hear farmer confidence was at rock bottom but “we will see it start to turn”.
Waste tops website
Proof the waste to energy plant is still top news in Te Awamutu came with confirmation the best read post on teawamutunews.nz last month was Chris Gardner’s piece on the Don’t Burn Waipā lobby group asking the dairy industry to stand up against it.
Second was our story on Waipā District Council taking a $57 million budget hit with news of blow out costs for wastewater
treatment plants in Te Awamutu and Cambridge. Cuts at Wintec came in third, news of a two hour parking trial in the CBD was fourth and orange cones being kept in cupboards by the council in fifth.
Home was the top page with the link to the full online version of the newspaper followed by the contact details tab.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says farmers produce $10,000 for every person in New Zealand.
am me’ arrives
By Viv Posselt
At least one woman a day in Waipā is involved in a family harm incident that is reported to police and many more cases go unreported.
It is on the back of escalating family violence that a pilot programme called I Am Me was launched last week.
Developed by women who have experience of family violence, I Am Me aims to create an environment for abused women to reclaim their selfworth and empowerment.
Programme founder and Violence Free Waipā co-ordinator Anne Morrison said police statistics from
2022-23 show family harm reports have almost doubled from 102,888 in 2013 to 191,640 in 2023.
Speaking in Cambridge she said the Police Integrated Safety Response (IRS) database showed there were 386 reported family harm incidents in that town alone during 2023.
“It’s estimated that there is at least this number again of unreported cases,” she said.
The new structured pilot runs for eight weeks and the first group starts in February.
Participants will be selected by December 20; each woman will have accessed local social services within the past 18 months.
After eight weeks,
participants move to the unstructured ‘transitional’ phase which will include ongoing support-group gatherings.
The pilot will end with a comprehensive evaluation that will help chart the way ahead for future programmes. An evaluation of the pilot is expected by late May.
The structured phase will address topics including protection and police safety orders, parenting orders, legal aid, navigating the Family Court system, counselling, budgeting, mental health and wellbeing, spiritual and cultural support, and personal group planning.
The launch took place at the Cambridge Salvation Army premises because it is there, on neutral ground, that sessions will be held. It was attended by New Zealand’s Minister for Children and the Prevention of Family Violence Karen Chhour, Taupō MP Louise Upston, Eclipse Family Violence Services founder Debbs Murray, police and Cambridge Community House staffers.
Speakers emphasised the role the community has in helping break the cycle of violence.
Karen Chhour said it was difficult to get into homes where generational violence existed, where people had no idea of what healthy relationships looked like, and spoke to no-one out of fear and shame. The problem did not discriminate and a one-sizefits-all solution was not the answer.
“Nearly 100,000 adults in New Zealand experience family violence each year and that doesn’t tell us how many incidences each day they all experience,” she said. The creativity of organisations like you means
we can learn how to be more effective.”
Louise Upston said many in Cambridge did not believe the town had a domestic violence problem, but the facts spoke for themselves.
She urged people to be more aware of how they speak to others.
“I would ask people to stop using some of the language we have seen directed towards others… towards those in offices, government agencies and the like. We should call that stuff out for what it is because what we don’t deal
with, we tolerate.”
Debbs Murray, founder of the national Eclipse Family Violence Services, had a role in developing the ‘I Am Me’ programme. She spoke to her own experience and described the programme as one that will change lives through survivor-led healing.
She encouraged the community to get involved where it could.
“This is our issue in our community, and it would be appropriate for our community to support our women. We would welcome all offers of help,” she said.
Programme founder Anne Morrison, left, with police sergeant Greg Foster and Eclipse Family Violence Services founder Debbs Murray.
Photo: Viv Posselt
Community House manager Gabby Byrne, left, with trustee Te Hiiri Taute, Minister Karen Chhour and programme founder Anne Morrison. Photo: Viv Posselt
Old building, new service
By Mary Anne Gill
An historically significant Karāpiro building has been given a new lease of life by a Waipā sporting family.
Olympic rower and rowing coach Mike Rodger, wife Robin Aylett, son Shem Rodger – a former professional cyclist – and his fiancée Whitney Macky from Te Awamutu have refashioned a building which serviced a bustling dam construction community in the 1940s.
It closed as a bar and restaurant complex more than five years ago and when the Ariki St property went up for tender in 2021, the family snapped it up for $1.2 million with all the restaurant chattels included.
“Shem, Robin and Mike have
lived in Karāpiro forever, we’ve always thought this was a cool building. We walked inside and said: ‘oh this is epic’,” said Whitney.
The family decided high-end accommodation was the perfect solution for the building and have spent on sleeping, bathroom, laundry, dining and kitchen facilities. Mike, an upholsterer, did up the furniture left behind - such as the large wrap around couch and the “ugly leather tub chairs” which now provide both trendy and functional seating.
Now named the Ariki Lake House, it is a 32-bed facility for large sporting groups – forward bookings for events like the Maadi rowing or cycling at the Velodrome have been taken by schools and clubs – and corporates.
The dining area features highstud, exposed beams supporting wood roof trusses, and polished wooden floors. Included in the beams is Entebbe, the training boat used for the 1977 New Zealand world champs coxless four crew of Mike’s brother David, Des Lock, David Lindstrom and Ivan Sutherland.
It was named Entebbe after the drama at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda when Israelis and the Air France crew were held hostage.
It was built in 1976 by boat builder Bob Stiles in Christchurch and is one of the few remaining examples of the craftmanship
Having a wine old time
By Roy Pilott
Waipā’s Monavale orchard is toasting success borne out of disaster.
Just over two years after a budding crop was almost obliterated by an unseasonable October frost which hit both production and employment, Monavale has reinvented itself as a champion winery.
Its blueberry wine was named the country’s best table fruit wine at the national Fruit Wine and Mead awards in Nelson General manager Marco de Groot says the recognition has been a welcome boost to morale.
“In any horticulture – especially organic – you are at the mercy of the elements. The frost wiped out our fresh produce market opportunities in 2022 and significantly impacted our production of our secondary products,” he said.
In October 2022 Monavale told The News it had been planning to harvest five tonnes of berries a day from January to March 2023 but in the wake of the frost – and before further
damage from Cyclone Gabrielle – it was looking at just 100kg.
But the orchard was back in The News in early 2023, using what fruit it had to produce a gin – Blue 2022 - in batches of eight.
A little under two years on, as the latest berries ripen, it’s a wine that’s drawing praise. The fruit wine and cider awards it won at drew almost 130 entries.
De Groot said recovery in the blueberry orchard was slow but in line with expectations. Blueberry bushes will take a few more years to reach full cropping volumes after the damage from the frost.
“Last year, we had some modest production, and we are ramping up gradually. We expect to be able to be back to our full capacity as a local employer in a couple of years.”
“We would normally have 150-300 people employed over the season, which brings a lot of new people into Cambridge, and we are looking forward to getting back to that.”
He said there would be plenty of fruit available for its café and Cambridge and Hamilton markets.
needed before composite materials were introduced in 1978.
The 1131 sq m property – with 75m of front deck seating with views of the dam, Lake Karāpiro and Maungatautari in the distance - comes with an upstairs selfcontained 95sq m two-bedroom flat which Shem, Whitney and their two daughters Emerson, 5, and Romee, 2, lived in during refurbishment.
Also included in the chattels was a concrete vault which has been converted into a kitchen. Inside this is a safe where dynamite was stored when workers were building the Karāpiro Dam. Macky was brought up in Te
Awamutu, went to Te Awamutu College and then transferred to St Peter’s School in Cambridge for her final two years of school. Her background is in hospitality, working on super boats in Monaco, and then in New York and Melbourne before moving to Auckland to a sales’ role where she met Shem. The two had briefly known each other in Te Awamutu when Whitney’s father cycled with Shem.
The couple moved back to Waipā five years ago when their oldest daughter was born and now live in Cambridge.
• More photos, see cambridgenews.nz
This photo of the worker accommodation which existed before the river was dammed, hangs among other historic photos in Ariki Lake House. Photo: Supplied.
Family project: Back, from left Shem and Emerson Rodger, 5, Whitney Macky, Romee Rodger, 2. Front, Robin Aylett, left and Mike Rodger. Photo: Supplied.
The Monavale team is celebrating a gold medal for its organic Blueberry Wine.
Our year in review!
Let’s reflect on what we’ve achieved together in the 2023/2024 year.
From connecting communities to strengthening our Waipā District, we’ve delivered nearly $130 million in projects across 160 programmes – what a year it’s been!
Everything we do reflects our commitment to our values and building a brighter future together.
Paving the way for Waipā
Key infrastructure we’re taking care of:
Balloons visit Waipā returned!
Waipā
Hautapu,
Waipā at a glance
A snapshot of the work shaping our communities this year.
109,000
400,000+
160,000
1339 building consents and 493 resource consents
3280 Animal Control calls with 34 dogs finding forever homes
Where your rates go: from collection to action
Resident
survey
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Meghan Hawkes looks back on headlines from 1922.
Fires, a scam –and lights
At Paterangi a kitchen evening was held for Miss F Bell, who was shortly to be married. There were between 60 and 70 guests present, although it was a very cold night. The old hall, with its blazing log fire and decorations, had quite a homelike appearance. Many useful kitchen appliances and utensils were brought by the guests, ranging from aluminium saucepans to the homely corkscrew - sufficient to thoroughly equip an up-to-date kitchen. The evening was spent in card games, musical items and competitions, including picture puzzles and ‘Cats you have known’.
A dainty supper was handed round, after which the numerous parcels were unpacked and duly admired. Mr Ryburn, on behalf of the guests, thanked their hosts for a most pleasant evening, stating that it was actions of loving kindness such as had prompted them to organise the evening that made life worth living.
Dire misfortune struck Mr McPhee whose house on the Pirongia Road burnt down. He and his sister-in-law and the whole of the younger branch of the family were at the pictures. Left at home were his two grown-up daughters (one an invalid) and his two elder sons, as well as a lady visitor. About 10.30 the ones at home got a shock on discovering the front room ablaze. The glare of the fire seen from the town was put down to gorse being alight. Mr McPhee, his trap loaded with his children, got within a mile of his home before he realised that it was his place that was on fire. He could do nothing, and
TREE AWAMUTU 2024
Kids Christmas Treasure Hunt Wooden Christmas Tree Trail Displayed in Te Awamutu businesses all of December
Pop-up Christmas Tree Forest 11–13 December 7pm – 9pm Zion Hub, 38 Churchill St, Te Awamutu facebook.com/treeawamutu
found himself and his family homeless and clothesless.
News A Snip in Time
Near the house was a motor garage used as a store for tools and harness and this also was destroyed. Neighbours rallied round and found accommodation for the younger members of the family while Mr McPhee and other family members camped in an old barn.
What was known as ‘the telephone trick’ landed a woman in the Auckland Police Court on a charge of false pretences after she tried to obtain a ring from James Pascoe, jewellers. She telephoned Pascoe’s stating that she was Mrs Mainwaring, speaking from Kihikihi, and asked him to let her daughter, who would call, have an engagement ring. Later she called in and selected a ring valued at £4, but the jeweller became suspicious and called the police. The accused she said she was muddled with drink at the time and was placed on probation for two years.
One of the greatest events in the history of Ōhaupō took place when the ceremony of switching on the electric light occurred. The honour of turning on the light belonged to Mrs Arthur Graham, one of the oldest settlers in the district. The township was at once transformed to brilliancy strange but welcome to everyone. Festoons of coloured lights were artistically arranged in front of the Ōhaupō Hotel by the staff of the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board, and when these, with the six public lights in the township, were lighted the illumination was warmly applauded.
TALKING ECONOMICS
A 12 week wait starts
By Peter Nicholl
On November 27 the Reserve Bank reduced their Official Cash Rate by 50 basis points to 4.25 per cent.
This was what most market participants had been expecting, though a few were hoping for a bigger cut of 75 basis points. Most banks reduced their mortgage and deposit rates in response, though not many by 50 points.
The bank’s next decision will be in on February 19.
It argues pre-announcing dates for Official Cash Rate decisions a year ahead gives financial markets and borrowers certainty.
I think all it does is force people to worry and try to anticipate what the bank will do. I was involved in making monetary policy decisions in the Reserve Bank for about 15 years.
From my experience, the best time to make policy decisions doesn’t fit into any pre-announced timetable.
The Bank seems to think inflation and financial markets go on holiday over our summer, but market shocks can happen at any time.
So instead of the usual gap 6-7 weeks between cash rate decisions, we must now wait 12.
One good thing about this gap is the bank will see the Consumers Price Index (CPI) outcome for the year to December. That outcome could be important.
Most economic commentators have recently been using expressions like ‘it is good that inflation is finally under control in New Zealand’. I worry that they could be claiming victory a little early when we have only had one CPI figure within the Reserve
Bank’s 1-3 per cent target range.
That figure hit the range because tradedgoods inflation was negative. Non-traded goods inflation, the bit we largely produce ourselves, was still over 4 per cent.
Since our September CPI data, news about inflation stimuli overseas has largely been negative. There is Trump-era tariffs and tax cuts and continued instability in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Global financial markets have started pricing in increases in global inflation over the medium-term.
The Reserve Bank in their November statement raised the level of the Official Cash Rate’s ‘terminal level’ - the level the cash rate could fall to at the bottom of this cycle, to just over 3 per cent. That implies there is still more lowering of the cash rate to come - and it not going to drop anywhere near the 0.25 per cent it was at from March 2020 to August 2021.
We need to remember that the adoption of unconventional monetary policies of extremely low interest rates and huge amounts of liquidity creation by most central banks, including the Reserve Bank, during that period was what triggered the inflationary cycle the world has been going through recently.
I hope the Reserve Bank’s specification of a ‘terminal level’ of the Official Cash Rate around 3 per cent means they have ruled out any repeat of the huge mistakes they made in 2020 and 2021. But I may be being optimistic. The bank has never admitted they made any mistakes in those years.
ON SHAKY GROUND
Big lesson from a tiny coin
By Murray Smith, Bridges Church
Among several coins that I have dating from the antiquities is a genuine ‘widow’s mite’.
Also known as a lepton, meaning ‘small,’ these coins were made of bronze. Their tiny size matches their value - we would understand that value as being about half a cent in their day. Nowadays, speaking relatively from a collector’s point of view, they still aren’t very valuable, nor are they terribly rare,. These little coins weren’t very well struck which means their markings are quite nondescript. But they’re special nonetheless because holding a genuine mite in your hand stirs the memory of a significant incident in the Bible in which they are mentioned. They were minted well before Jesus’ time and were still in circulation during His ministry on earth.
A curious incident occurred one day as Jesus sat in the Jerusalem Temple. This resplendent ‘world wonder’ gleamed in the sunlight as the massive stones used in its construction were sheathed in gold. Sitting by the treasury where people did their ‘giving’ Jesus was observing a parade of wealthy people ostentatiously putting large sums into the coffers.
A poor widow came along. She put in two small coins (mites) amounting to about one cent. Drawing His disciple’s attention to her, Jesus stated that she had given more than all the contributors to the treasury since they gave from their surplus, whereas she gave out of her poverty - putting in everything that she had to live on.
Strangely, this story is mis-used by many who overlook Jesus’ intention in His teaching from the incident - they end up preaching the exact opposite to what Jesus actually taught. This wasn’t a lesson about doing little things
with big love and it’s certainly not saying that giving is about what it costs you, rather than the amount given. Jesus is not praising the widow’s action - rather He’s observing the burden that cruel religion has laid on her.
Directly before this event, Jesus had given His disciples stern warning about religious expressions devoid of God’s heart saying, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets. They Devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation”. (Mark 12:38-44)
The story continues with the disciples admiringly pointing out to Jesus the temple’s beauty. He replied, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” How confronting for the aghast disciples.
Jesus is totally unimpressed by the trappings of religion - especially when perpetuated at the cost of a poor widow’s livelihood. He saw beyond the veneer to a time in AD70, just a matter of decades in the future when the armies of Titus would utterly destroy the temple, plundering its treasures, stripping the stones of their gold overlay.
Jesus points us away from pretentious holiness to authenticity, demanding care and justice for those like the poor widow and a thorough examination of the state of the ‘real’ temple…our heart, the ‘inner’ temple which God sees.
Aotearoa’s night of terror
By Janine Krippner
Early in the morning of 10 June 1886, surveyor John Rochfort in Kihikihi experienced a bizarre show on the horizon beyond Maungatautari.
“I was awakened by what sounded like an irregular discharge of artillery… I went outside to try to discovery the cause, and watched for about two hours what appeared to be a splendid electrical storm… intermittent flashes of sheet lightning played, while at short intervals balls of fire shot up...”
Along with many others in the North Island, Rochfort was witnessing the Tarawera eruption. Explanations for what people were seeing, feeling, and hearing varied as people were woken by what sounded like cannon fire. People from Auckland all the way to Christchurch tried to make sense of hearing distant explosions in the early hours. Residents in Blenheim were woken by “sharp and regularly repeated reports”.
Those in Wellington thought they could hear thunder and could see distant lightning. In the Manawatu region, one thought their neighbour’s horses were trying to kick their way out of stables. Another thought burglars were trying to steal his safe, and someone else thought the noise originated from a “lunatic confined in the police cells”.
In Whanganui and Kawhia, people went out to try to locate what sounded like a ship in distress. Many around the island thought the Russians were attacking, as a man-of-war ship Vestnik just so happened to be nearby.
Ash smelling of sulphur fell at Whakatane and Tauranga,.
Closer to Tarawera the stories get more harrowing, triggering goosebumps as I read them. Reactions ranged from confusion and awe to sheer terror as people grappled with
the ground below them shaking, an eruption opening up across Tarawera, then material falling from the sky with a backdrop of intense lightning and “fire” (lava).
These people were experiencing a very violent type of eruption and the most destructive in our recent history. A 17-kmlong fissure opened up along Tarawera and through what is now Lake Rotomahana and the Waimangu volcanic valley.
Dozens of vents were active over around 4 hours, some violently ejecting lava and ash high up into the air, while others produced a deadly, steam-rich pyroclastic surge. Vents opened below the lakes containing the Pink and White Terraces, coating the area with lake sediments now known as the Rotomahana mud. This heavy, thick mud collapsed homes and caused the landscape to be difficult to cross during the search for survivors.
The numbers are unclear, but around 120 souls lost their lives.
To think of much of the country today being woken by the sounds and sights of this exceptionally explosive eruption is harrowing. Could we be woken up by a large eruption? Yes. When and where will it happen? We don’t know.
The impacts would be much, much greater today, with a larger population and our modern infrastructure.
Thanks to Ronald Keam arranging these accounts in his 1988 book ‘Tarawera’ we have an extensive record of that time. It’s our job to make sure we are prepared for when it’s our turn. We are not powerless.
with Jan Bilton
Bits, bites, bubbles
Tapas and nibbles are essential pleasurable accompaniments when you’re enjoying a festive tipple. Many little bites can be prepared well in advance and served at room temperature or reheated and served hot.
Tapas originated in the bars of Spain. Drinks were lined up and each covered with a small slice of bread to prevent insects from diving in for a dip or sip. Then small portions of food were placed on the bread — such as slices of chorizo, olives, cheese or ham.
The key to skewered foods is a variety of combinations and, of course, can be held in one hand with the greatest of ease. Try: twists of pastrami skewered with cubes of fresh melon; sliced smoked salmon twists with small cubes of creamy, basil-flavoured feta; cherry tomatoes and stuffed olives; or grilled prawns and roasted red capsicums. Serve with a variety of dipping sauces such as horseradish, chutney or soy sauce and wasabi.
Hummus is always a popular dip or spread but add your own innovations to store-bought product using diced Kalamata olives, capers, crushed garlic and diced spring onions or grated kaffir lime peel and chopped coriander.
Mini Salmon & Cucumber Club Sandwiches
350g salmon fillet
freshly ground salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons each: finely chopped spring onion (green part only), lemon juice, sour cream
1/2 small telegraph cucumber
butter or table spread
15 slices white sandwich bread
60g alfalfa sproutsPlace the salmon in a frying pan and cover with cold water. Season and add some fresh herbs, if preferred.
Poach for 3-4 minutes, until just cooked. Remove from the pan. Place on paper towels to drain and cool.
Discard the skin and any bones from the salmon then flake. Place in a bowl and combine with the spring onion, lemon juice, sour cream and salt and pepper. Peel the cucumber. Using a vegetable peeler, cut into long
slices. Discard the centre with the seeds. Butter the bread. Arrange a single layer of cucumber on one slice of bread. Top with sprouts. Place another slice of bread on top. Spread with the salmon to a maximum of 1cm thick. Cover with another bread slice. Repeat with the remaining bread, and ingredients to make 5 stacks.
Using a serrated knife, remove the crusts and slice the sandwiches into squares. Makes 20 club sandwiches.
Cut each rasher of bacon into three equal lengths. Trim the asparagus to about 16cm long. Blanch in a large saucepan of boiling water until crisp tender, about 30 seconds. Drain well and refresh in icy water. Drain and pat dry. Cut each stalk in half and place side by side.
Firmly wrap a length of bacon around a pair of asparagus stalks Repeat with the remaining asparagus and bacon. Spray with oil.
Cook half the bundles in a preheated air-fryer at 200°C for 5 minutes or until the bacon is crisp. Repeat with the remaining half.
Alternatively, place on a foil-lined baking tray. Cook under a pre-heated grill for 5-6 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. You may need to secure the bundles with cocktail sticks. Makes 15.
Cheeky cherry tomatoes
1 medium avocado salt and pepper to taste dash Tabasco sauce
Peel, stone and mash the avocado. Season, add the Tabasco then enough dressing so the avocado can be piped. Halve the cherry tomatoes. Take a sliver off the bases if necessary so the tomatoes will stand upright. Squeeze out the seeds. Pipe the avocado mixture into the tomatoes. Garnish with chives. Makes 16-20.
The Waipa Community Facilities Trust have a current board vacancy and are calling to the public for registrations of interest for a New Trustee.
The Charitable Trust was established to enhance the health and well-being of Waipa District communities by promoting the effective and efficient provision, development and operation of community facilities (Livingstone Aquatic Centre and Perry Aquatic Centre) and programmes throughout the District.
The position is voluntary and trustees are expected to attend 11 meetings per year, as well as the Trust AGM. Please send your CV and cover letter to the Secretary ruby@offsiteadmin.co.nz
Registrations close Friday 27th December 2024.
CARPENTER
We are looking for an experienced and passionate CARPENTER to join the team at WWM Construction.
This is a role for a person who has:
and
Connect to your neighbours in a
• A Carpentry Qualification (or about to Qualify)
• Experience on Commercial Builds
• Good Quality Workmanship
• High Energy and a Good Attitude
Involvements include:
• Day-to-Day carpentry tasks on site
• Understand construction methodologies
• Follow good Health & Safety protocol
Benefits include:
• Attractive New Rates per hour
• Work within a positive and supportive team culture
• Stable Hours (plenty of work available)
• Ongoing Training and Development Opportunities
We specialise in Design and Build Projects. We have undertaken a large range of commercial, industrial, residential and multi-tenant developments. We understand design and we pride ourselves on our customer service. Our goal is to add value at all stages of the project, from budgeting, unique design, cost effective engineering solutions, timely construction, and comprehensive project management.
Email your CV to: annette.venter@wcml.co.nz
Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.
Call Liz on 027 809 9933 or email liz@goodlocal.nz
