Cambridge News | April 3, 2025

Thou shell not pass

By Mary Anne Gill

Gold clams have found their way north to Hamilton and Tuakau but there is no way they’re heading south with any rowing boats after the Maadi Cup regatta.

Close to 1000 boats and 80 trailers left Lake Karāpiro at the weekend and not one of them would have had a clam anywhere near them, organisers of the New Zealand Secondary Schools rowing championships say.

Domain acted on a plan developed between the Ministry for Primary Industries, Rowing NZ and site manager Liz Stolwyk.

One was a boat belonging to Craighead Diocesan School of Timaru and used by the girls under 15 coxed fours.

Clam ambassadors led by Janette Douglas at the Mighty River

The plan was months in the making and with one goal, said Stolwyk.

“There’s no free ride south here for any clam.”

The invasive freshwater gold clam Corbicula fluminea was discovered at Bob’s Landing, Lake Karāpiro in May 2023. It is unknown how long they had been there or the extent of their spread, but none have been reported in the South Island.

A leading South Island aqua marine operator was concerned enough about the risk to his industry that he wrote to Stolwyk for reassurance.

“They were legitimate concerns. Once he saw our plan, he was satisfied.”

But clams have made their way north helped by the Waikato River current. The News saw clam shells during a tour of Hamilton’s Waiora Water Treatment Plant last week and Watercare found them at the Tuakau plant.

“We’ve been working closely with other river users and MPI and following all biosecurity requirements,” said spokesperson Sharon Danks.

Five people were on the ground at Karāpiro to make sure the rowing boats were cleaned before they left.

Former world champion rower Brenda Lawson was one of them armed with a water blaster to spray out every stray clam out of boats’ nooks, cracks and crevices.

Coach Owen Payne said while he did not know about the clams, he was aware of the problems didymo ‘rock snot’ – invasive freshwater algae - had caused in South Island rivers.

“These boats will dry out before they get to Timaru so that will be okay,” said Lawson.

But some boats develop cracks, and water collects inside bunged areas where clam can survive.

Once each boat had been water blasted, a red tag was tied on and when they left in trailers, each boat was checked and a yellow tag put

on the trailer.

“We have not spread the clam,” said Stolwyk.

“That was a huge risk with this regatta. Our job is to protect the South Island.”

Meanwhile dragon boats replace skiffs and boats on the water this weekend with the national championships held on Saturday and Sunday while the Cambridge Kennel Association is holding its championship show in the top field.

“Dragons and dogs, whatever presents, we’re onto it,” said Stolwyk.

The control of gold clams has now moved to long-term management.

The other golden ones

Former world champion rower Brenda Lawson water blasts one of the boats heading for the South Island.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill

St Peter’s won gold in the boys under 18 novice coxed quad sculls at the Maadi Cup regatta competed on Lake Karāpiro last weekend. Pictured celebrating were, from left, Mattias Everett, Bradley van der Bijl, Josh Garrett and Matt Carey and coxswain Jade Noonan. Mary Anne Gill took in the sights and sounds of Maadi 2025 – See pages 6 and 7.

Photo: Picture Show Ltd.

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Dear Editor,

I write in response to the page three article

Another Bridge Too Far (The News, April 27).

the planet one lawn at a

A majority of the community are not against major developments for his town, but rather are understandably against the lack of transparency, and the fact that consents involving possible crossing sites should be on hold until a greenfields site is secured, and any future developments are aware of its purpose. I think 3M are important members of the community, but didn’t realise their Nimby mindset regarding the bridge until this article.

It appears that developers in Waipā are the tail that wags the council dog when it comes to the third bridge location, and unless this practice stops, it will have a much larger impact on the community than a few digits in the profit column of their forecasts.

Danielle Schaad Tamahere

Column comment

I want to thank Janine Krippner for her column. It’s always interesting and the

subjects are so varied. I hope they can all be available in bulk for schools to use as research.

Deborah Christiansen Cambridge.

Editor’s note: Janine’s previous columns can be viewed through our online sites.

Councillor responds

In response to my recent column, Selwyn June stated (Letters March 27) 90 kiwi were released back into the Okahu Valley (which skirts Te Urewera).

The Department of Conservation stated in a 2025 Official Information Act response that “DOC has not released any kiwi into the Okahu Valley, as there is no stoat control in the area to protect the birds from predation”. DOC also states it has removed over 100 kiwi and eggs from the Okahu Valley in the last 25 years. Despite the kiwi removals, the pig hunting, native logging, and absence of “pest control”, the population continues to thrive.

Mr June also states that “more than 600 kiwi have been monitored through aerial 1080 drops nationwide, and not one has died from 1080.” DOC tested only three kiwi for

1080 poison residues between 1998 and 2018. Since 2018, nine kiwi have been tested, two being positive - 22 per cent.

An OIA report on 740 dead kiwi in Northland between 1998 and 2018 shows 53 were tested for anti-coagulant rodenticides (not 1080), and 20 (38 per cent) were positive. Not a single kiwi has ever been recorded by DOC as dying from any kind of poisoning. Between 2014 and 2024, 54 kiwi chicks were recorded as dying in the Tongariro Kiwi Sanctuary in the five years they were monitored. Between 2005 and 2013, over 120 chicks died, and in at least one of the seasons, the entire Operation Nest Egg batch of chicks died. Hundreds of kiwi have been translocated into poisoned forests like the Tongariro, none into unpoisoned forests.

In the Waikaremoana/Te Urewera wild kiwi range, the population is thriving. DOC states not one kiwi has been reported dead in the area in the last 10 years, despite the absence of pest control. As I said previously, mad scientist experiments are no place for kiwi.

Clyde Graf Waikato Regional Councillor

Letters to the Editor

Next Wednesday at 10am, Cambridge Police will be hosting a “Coffee with a Cop” event in conjunction with Daydream Espresso on the corner of Alpha and Victoria streets, Cambridge.

CONTACTS

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Coffee with a Cop is a chance to talk to local officers in an informal setting, whether it be for advice or to learn more about becoming a police officer. Representatives from our Neighbourhood Support Group and Community Patrol will also attend. Save the date and we will see you there.

Moving on to some recent arrests, Cambridge police received a report of a serious assault last week. On attendance a male was found injured and the person allegedly responsible had fled the scene. The victim’s injuries required medical assistance. Subsequent enquiries led to a person being located and arrested by attending officers in Horotiu. He has since appeared in court on assault and threatening charges. In a separate incident, a Cambridge male was arrested for breaching EM bail conditions and also appeared in court.

In Te Awamutu, Police were called to a family harm incident where a firearm was said to be present. A firearm and ammunition were subsequently located and seized. A male has appeared in court facing charges relating to unlawful possession of the firearm and ammunition

and for breaching a Protection Order. In another incident, a male was arrested after allegedly confronting his neighbours brandishing a weapon and assaulting three people. He too is facing charges in court.

Finally this week, a couple of reminders. The first is to secure trailers when left parked up to avoid theft. We recommend that they be kept out of sight, and if visible from the road, ensure they are secured, such as with a wheel clamp or coupling lock. While some offenders will manage to steal them regardless, such interventions make the task harder, increasing the time they take and the chance of them being seen or leaving behind evidential material. Please also consider installing a CCTV camera. As registration plates can be easily removed, take photos of your trailer and ensure it has some specific marking somewhere that can categorically identify it as your own.

The second reminder is around cycling on footpaths in town - again. Please tell the young people in your family that this is not allowed. If they want to go through the main shopping area on Victoria street with their bikes, especially afterschool in high pedestrian times, they need to either dismount and walk it or use one of the designated cycle lanes.

• Letters should not exceed 200 words

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• Please include full name, address and contact details for our records only

• Letters may be edited, abridged, or rejected at the editor’s discretion

• The editor’s decision on publication is final.

Fantasy and film

Eight Cambridge school students are part of Youth Orchestra Waikato which will play at the Fantasy and Film Performance at the Town Hall on Sunday. They are Valentina Di Maio and Nicole Van Der Maazan from Cambridge High School, and Lucia Li, Gordon Chen, Amirdha Kanchi, Samuel Haines, Dylan Wang and Grace Cox from St Peter’s School.

Board report

Cambridge Community

Board deputy chair Elise

Badger’s six monthly report to the Waipā Strategic Planning and Policy committee this week highlighted its Long Term Plan work for a new Cambridge Library/ Community Hub, a vibrant CBD and Cambridge Connections. She also reported on the town’s sister city relationships.

Cyclists galore

March was another record for the Hamilton Rd cycleway in Cambridge with 9336 people – 5636 cyclists and 3700 pedestrians. Waipā council has added new counters in Cambridge and Kihikihi.

Roundabout work

The Cambridge Rd roundabout outside Te Awa Lifecare Village is expected to be finished by September. The roundabout includes an underpass to link cyclists and pedestrians from Bridleways Estate to the 3Ms/St Peter’s development on the other side above the Te Awa Cycleway and Waikato River.

Hautapu success

Watchu Security celebrated its first birthday in the Hautapu Industrial Precinct by hosting the year’s first Chamber of Commerce Business After 5 for Hautapu neighbours last week. Mayor

Susan O’Regan gave about 100 people an update on the council’s Long Term Plan and water decisions.

It’s a main street attraction

A street carnival second-to-none. That’s the view of Cambridge Autumn Festival main street carnival organisers on the back of Sunday’s four-hour event. Musicians, dancers and tables selling a variety of wares set up through the centre of town, the Cambridge Town Hall, Victoria Square and at St Andrew’s Church hall. Cambridge Autumn Festival Trust chair Alana MacKay said this was the second year the festival had gone into Victoria Square, and organisers were thrilled with the turnout. Viv Posselt was there with camera in hand to capture the day… and we have more from the festival inside today. See more at cambridgenews.nz

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One-man-band Alan Sayers performed a set of popular numbers.

Cambridge Tree Trust’s Eric Todd enjoyed his time manning the stand in Victoria Square.

High-flying dancers from the Ignite Arts Academy fascinated the little lad on the left.

Cambridge Autumn Festival committee members at the start of the carnival, from left, Jocelyn and David Cooney and Barbara Campbell.

Some members of the 140-strong Cambridge Ukulele Group were a hit with the crowds.

Sam and Letitia Garmonsway with their daughters Quinn, 2, and Sienna, 4, after the girls had their face painted by members of the Krippner family from Ngaruawahia.

Photos: Viv Posselt

Economic plans

Takitini is the new economic development brand for Waikato District Council.

It was launched recently and symbolises the district’s connection to navigating waka (canoe) and the lifeforce of the Waikato and Waipā rivers.

They are central to the community’s vitality, economic and community-led development manager Julie Dolan says.

The council has worked in partnership with Waikato-Tainui to develop a brand that reflects the evolution of the economic opportunities in the district and the significance of the area to the Waikato people and mana whenua.

Meanwhile Waipā’s economic wellbeing strategy was approved for consultation by the Strategic Planning and Policy committee on Tuesday in Te Awamutu.

The strategy signals a new direction for the council, Economic Development advisor Joy

Mickelson told the committee.

It was drafted following consultation on the council’s spatial plan Ahu Ake and focuses on economic development.

It will cost $30,000 to develop the plan which includes engagement, design and publication of the strategy.

“A range of data including housing, population, and industry sectors, tell us we can expect to see continued population growth in our towns and villages; continuing demand for industrial land; increasing impacts from climate change and changes in farming and land use practices; and a desire to entwine culture and art in the public realm as both an expression of our communities and to create destinations,” said Mickelson.

Feedback received from elected members at a February workshop have been included in the strategy which now goes to the public.

Bricklayers and rehab…

By Mary Anne Gill

Miriam Ellis crashed her mountain bike four years ago and suffered a brain injury which contributed to her being bored during recovery.

One of the things she liked to do to help the brain fatigue was putting lego pieces together to create masterpieces.

She and her son could do it together and their collection increased.

March was Brain Injury Awareness Month, so Miriam created Cambridge

Bricktopia during the Autumn Festival to bring together young and old through the creative and rehabilitative power of Lego. All funds raised on Saturday went to Brain Injury Waikato. Miriam was there with Cy Co, the cycling coffee machine she created after the crash.

Children from several schools provided pieces they had worked on and other children from around Waikato worked on the Lego Miriam now owns as part of her therapy and her son’s enthusiastic nature of creating lego masterpieces.

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At Waikato District Council’s Takitini launch, from left: Waipā Economic Development advisor Joy Mickelson, Waikato Regional Council chair Pamela Storey and Waikato District Council Community and Business sustainability manager Kim Parker. Photo: Craig Brown

Getting stuck into the Lego was, from left Sammy Simpson, 8 of Waikato Montessori, Xander, 6 and Benji, 8 Hale of Goodwood School. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

A Maadi regatta to remember

By Mary Anne Gill

Estimating crowd numbers can be a fraught exercise unless you’re an expert like Mighty River Domain site manager Liz Stolwyk.

Finals day for the Maadi Regatta on Saturday she put the numbers on the site as anything between 15,000 and 20,000.

“Depends how many people are stacked up in the vans,” she said less than an hour out from the main events – the finals of the girls and boys under 18 coxed races won by St Margaret’s College of Christchurch and Westlake Boys High School in Auckland.

Cambridge-based St Peter’s School was the best of the Waipā schools celebrating a 1-2 finish in the boys’ novice under 18 coxed quads, with coxswains Jade Noonan and Sophie Sinclair leading both crews to gold and silver.

“It was so fun racing next to each other,” they said.

The school’s total haul was three

golds, three silvers, and a bronze, while Cambridge High School picked up two medals: a silver in the under-16 double sculls with Lily Cameron and Cate Kuggeleijn, and a bronze for Lily in the single sculls.

Te Awamutu College performed solidly with no medals, but the highlight came from Maiara Moimoi and Tessa Chappell, who were first in the girls under 18 double sculls C final while Maiara was second in the girls under 17 single sculls D final.

A wrap of Waipā college results will be posted on cambridgenews.

nz

Stolwyk visited the Rangi Ruru Girls’ School contingent. The Christchurch school had two crews in the under-18 coxed eights Levin Jubilee Cup final, finishing third and sixth.

“What a dream come true for those girls,” said Stolwyk who had another mixed week. Fog delayed racing on two days, one of them for two hours. Finals day was perfect,

A FRESH START

races started at 8.23am and there were no delays.

Overflow parking on Maungatautari Rd, before the dip down to the domain, opened with park and ride in place.

“This is as many as I’ve seen here for Maadi,” she said, confirming there were 2236 competitors.

“The weather has been magnificent, when you don’t have wind, thunderstorms, heavy rain. You just have a hell of a lot of happy people.”

There were some hiccups, people backing into taps and transformer boxes, ice cream containers and vapes in the toilet and lots of bee stings.

“An unusually high number.”

A highlight was the volunteers’ dinner on Friday, where people from all over the country celebrated their involvement in the southern hemisphere’s largest secondary school event.

There were other familiar faces around. Kay Gregory, journalist,

Newsreader Kay Gregory, who lives in Te Awamutu, has been announcing and presenting medal winners at the Maadi Regatta for 19 years and is pictured with the Maadi Cup. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Continued next page

former television presenter, and Hamilton city councillor, now a NewstalkZB news reader, marriage and funeral celebrant, was there presenting medals for the 19th year.

Now living in Te Awamutu and playing lots of golf “badly”, she started when her daughter was rowing for Waikato Diocesan School for Girls, and they were down in Twizel.

“I asked if there was something I could do, meaning shall I help make some sandwiches, and they said would I like to present the medals.”

And she has done it every year since.

She said 2025 was the busiest yet.

“The kids are fantastic, the sportsmanship is unbelievable, the parents are happy, and it seems like a happy place to be. It’s also good to see lots of older rowers back to watch.”

Older rowers like former world double sculls champion and Sports Hall of Famer Brenda Lawson, now a freshwater threats ranger for the Conservation Department. Pest weeds such as didymo, hornwort, egeria and now gold clams are on her hit list, so she was helping clean rowing boats before they left Karāpiro, particularly the ones heading back to the South Island.

King’s College of Auckland won the award for the best marquee display. Rowing committee member Emma Cleary said they started their planning months ago with the focus on the photo boards featuring crews from the 1950s.

“We really went to town with our decorations. We went for the castle look. King’s, the crown, so that was our theme and a lot of florally things,” she said.

“We love coming to Cambridge, everyone loves Cambridge. We couldn’t ask for better people, a better community and better people. We loved everything, including the parade.”

As an example of the support they got, Oxford Clothing featured King’s in the shop window, visited them at Karāpiro and cheered the Auckland rowers on.

King’s College has a lock up in Cambridge it uses to store things away in during the year.

Stolwyk says events are often judged by three things. “Rubbish, toilets and the quality of food and we can tick all those boxes,” she said with a satisfied grin.

King’s College of Auckland wins the under 15 boys’ coxed four despite Christchurch Boys High School supporters wandering into Lake Karāpiro to offer their support to their team which finished third.

Photos: Mary Anne Gill

In the tower, regatta officials watch as the girls under 17 double sculls B finalists cross the finish line.

The Maadi Swapz (gear exchange) is always a highlight and from noon at the boat ramp it was all go as students bartered with each other.

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Taut on the recruiting front

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

A Waipā principal says schools are struggling to recruit teachers and the fields of applicants is as thin as he has seen in 25 years in the role.

“High quality experienced teachers are increasingly difficult to find, and experienced applicants often have multiple simultaneous offers from schools,” David Graham of Goodwood School, Cambridge said.

He said he had a full team, but all schools were struggling with recruitment.

The Ministry of Education has predicted schools could be short 1250 teachers this year and contributing factors included migration-driven enrolment growth and increases in teachers’ noncontact time.

Karāpiro School principal Alana Thompson says the government should do more to attract and retain quality staff.

“A recent survey from the Teachers’ Council indicated 58 per cent of teachers are likely to leave the profession within the

next five years, and that figure is even higher for our beginning teachers,” she said.

There was a “lack of resourcing and understanding of the real challenges within the sector”.

In late February, education minister Erica Stanford announced the government would fasttrack the residency process for primary teachers to attract skilled teachers.

But Te Awamutu

Intermediate acting principal Sue Germann would like to see more New Zealanders involved in the education sector, rather than “having to rely on people from overseas”.

“I’m not against other people coming into the country and teaching, but I think our first priority should be to encourage New Zealanders to go into the teaching profession,” she said.

“Generally, they are up to play with New Zealand culture, and I think that’s important… they would have been at school in New Zealand, and they know about our education system… and you haven’t

got the issues of English as a second language.”

Germann had a full complement of teachers and said her school had not had a problem filling positions.

Graham said while all initiatives to address teacher shortages helped, he would prefer to employ “high-quality, locallytrained teachers where possible”.

“We have recently recruited teachers from overseas,” he said. “They have been experienced and capable teachers but will naturally take extra time to learn about our culture and curriculum.”

Cambridge’s Te Miro School principal Luke Willis said recruiting from overseas would add to schools’ workloads as they supported new teachers to learn the New Zealand curriculum, assessment system and science of learning – with no additional funding.

He did not believe the education ministry was doing enough to tackle the teacher deficit.

“Students are not paid like apprenticeships; their starting wage is not an

incentive,” he said.

“We have people passionate about becoming a teacher who cannot afford to train and be underpaid. I personally know many provisionally certified teachers who have to work two jobs.

He said a large number of trained teachers were not working in the industry because the conditions were not attractive to them.”

Cambridge Primary School principal Mike Pettit managed to fill all his full-time staff positions for the 2025 year by the end of 2024, but said many

schools were struggling to fill vacancies.

He believes the education ministry, unions and training providers need to work more closely together with the teaching sector to find solutions to teacher shortages.

“Keeping an eye on the outcomes of pay negotiations, which also have staffing implications, and government changes to staffing levels, which are often implemented over a few years, would be a couple of no-brainer areas to start with,” he said.

“We have the data, let’s better use it.”

He hoped recruiting overseas teachers was a short-term solution and would not become the norm.

“One has to ask themselves, why don’t we have enough teachers?” he said.

“In many leading educational countries there is no shortage of people wanting to become teachers – in fact it’s the exact opposite and there’s a very high threshold to be accepted as one. Hence the profession, in these countries, is held in the highest regard.”

Building Cambridge's Finest Homes for 20 years.

David Goodwood

Luke Willis

Sue Germann

ON SHAKY GROUND

Forces beneath our feet

By Janine Krippner

I’ve been thinking about the vast, interconnected processes that shape our world. As a geoscientist - someone who studies the Earth - I work across scales that range from thousands of kilometres down to microscopic levels requiring a microscope to see. Even relatively small volcanic events can have catastrophic effects for us, but they pale in comparison to the immense forces that drive volcanic activity in the first place.

In relatively recent times it has been wellestablished that the Earth’s outer crust is made up of tectonic plates that slowly shift over time.

These plates interact in different ways: some are forced beneath others in subduction zones, some grind past each other along transform boundaries, and others pull apart at divergence zones. Come back in a million years or so and our regions will look quite different.

Here in the North Island, we sit near the Hikurangi Subduction Zone, where the Pacific Plate is pushed beneath the Australian Plate. The Pacific Plate—Earth’s largest tectonic plate—is surrounded by a network of active zones forming the infamous Pacific Ring of Fire. The South Island lies along a transform boundary, and further south, the pattern reverses, with the Australian Plate subducting beneath the Pacific Plate. Our region is geologically dynamic, to say the least.

One tectonic feature we don’t have in our neck of the woods is a divergence zone, where plates spread apart, creating new land. Some of the most well-known examples include the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the East Pacific Rise. There’s also the East African Rift Valley, often making

headlines with claims that Africa is “splitting apart” - though this process has been happening for 25 to 30 million years at about the same rate as our fingernails grow.

One place where a spreading ridge reaches the surface is Iceland. Most of these ridges are hidden beneath the ocean, leaving much to be explored. These vast regions are where new oceanic crust is formed, giving rise to impressive fault systems, deep valleys, and volcanic activity that shapes the seafloor. The salt deposits I mentioned last week can flow across these zones, adding another layer to their complexity. A great example of this is the Red Sea Rift.

The discovery of plate tectonics revolutionised our understanding of Earth. What was once a groundbreaking theory, only widely accepted in the 1960s, is now fundamental to how we study our planet. And yet, we are still uncovering new insights. With advances in ocean mapping, technology, and computing power, we continue to refine our understanding of the forces that create and shape the landscapes we depend on.

In just this short discussion, I’ve touched on processes that span timescales and distances almost beyond comprehension. It has taken generations of scientific inquiry to reach this level of understanding -and there is still much more to learn. Within our lifetimes new discoveries will change the way we think about different aspects of our incredible planet. I look forward to sharing new discoveries with you.

A letter from Nepal

By Murray Smith, Bridges Church

As I write, I’m on day four of a 10 day trip in Nepal. Landing in Kathmandu brought back memories of my last visit in 2019. In the surging sea of bustling humanity struggling to get through the ‘pinch-point’ of passport and visa control booths, I tumbled off to the baggage claim area where a kaleidoscope of people earnestly awaited their luggage.

Folk from across the border with India visiting family, people pursuing business interests, some in tour groups, mixed in with lycra-clad trekkers and climbers looking springy and gazelle-like, clutching walking poles.

Many just wandered with disoriented looks on their jet-lagged faces. Throngs queued into over-patronised toilets – and exited as quickly as they could.

It’s such a wonderful, intriguing experience arriving in this capital city of about 900,000 residents in the city itself plus four million people in its metropolitan area. Founded in the second century, Kathmandu is one of the oldest continually inhabited places in the world.

The city has been for many years the centre of Nepal’s culture, history, art and economy. It has a multi-ethnic population within a Hindu majority.

Tourism is an important part of the economy. Trip Advisor rates Kathmandu third among the top 10 travel destinations and first in Asia.

The city is considered the gateway to the Nepal Himalayas and is home to several World Heritage Sites. Kiwis, with their special affinity to Sir Edmund Hillary and his 1953 conquest of Everest, are plentiful - many come to climb and trek the options available.

My impressions of central Kathmandu are of a bustling city, tall buildings, narrow shop-lined streets jampacked with constant horn parping cars and bikes plus meandering pedestrians in dusty smog… a city trying to redefine itself amidst massive upheavals of change.

Building works are everywhere - the 2015 earthquake enlivened multiple building projects which was evident in my 2019 visit… but that zeal for building seems to have propelled the city into an almost frenzied pitch. You can hardly go anywhere without seeing roading ripped up and construction projects of all types.

In a difficult economy there’s swirling currents of political unrest. Yesterday a government curfew was imposed due to riots aggravated by ‘royalists’ wanting to see the royal family under the king reinstated as head of state in the nation. The riots turned violent, and people lost their lives.

Spending time with Nepali youth reveals their concerns about jobs and making a living. Many eye off-shore possibilities. This is a place of burdens - theirs is a burden of uncertainty.

The image of a frail, elderly man bent in half under the huge load of coconuts he bore on his back pausing in his struggle up steep steps to a temple teeming with monkeys is now etched on my mind of just one, eking out his living. My thoughts here continually turn to Jesus’ words, “Come to me, all who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest for your souls…”

AGE OF REASON

Democracy relies on us

By Crystal Beavis, Waikato District Councillor, Tamahere-Woodlands Ward

New Zealand is small enough to give each of us almost unmatched access to decision-makers at national and local level compared with most western nations.

We angst about voter turnout, yet we are still one of the most participatory democracies in the world, with relatively high trust in our public institutions according to international measures. So, it’s worrying that two recent studies sound warnings over falling trust and diminishing social cohesion.

The latest Acumen Edelman Trust Barometer shows our sense of grievance with business, media, government and NGOs stands at 67 per cent, surpassing the global average of 61 per cent.

And a new study on social cohesion, commissioned by the Helen Clark Foundation, cites financial inequality as just one of the factors driving increasing polarisation in our society.

Growing financial hardship due to the inflation that followed Covid, unemployment, housing shortages, declining education standards, healthcare problems and tensions arising out of “treaty politics” are probably all serving to feed anxiety levels.

Democracy relies on all of us to participate. So it’s heartening that Kiwis still believe people’s voices count.

The Treaty Principles Bill attracted more than 300,000 submissions this year, and late last year Waikato District Council received nearly 2000 responses – a record - from more than 800 people on a survey about key areas of focus for our Long Term Plan. Let’s hope that interest continues.

Consultation on the Waikato District Council

Long Term Plan opens next week and runs to May 11 with drop-in sessions in the Tamahere-Woodlands Ward on May 6 in the Tamahere Hall and May 8 in the Gordonton Hall.

The proposed LTP is based on a general rate increase of 4.25 per cent for the first year (2025/26) – down from an 11.9 per cent increase this year - before falling to an increase of 3.05 per cent in 2026/27, then forecast to be between 2.5 per cent and 4.5 per cent in subsequent years.

There will be options to consider as affordability is still a concern, with overall rates (general and targeted rates added together) in our townships likely to rise between 7.8 per cent and 10.8 per cent in the first year, compared with about 6.2 per cent in country living areas and 4.2 per cent in rural areas, where properties are not subject to significant targeted rates for services like reticulated wastewater.

Major matters for your feedback include a new model for managing water services – the preferred option being a Council-Controlled Organisation owned by Waikato District Council and Hamilton City, but with opportunities for other councils to join. The purpose is to gain economies of scale that will, over time, help control the costs of treating and managing drinking water and wastewater.

We are also seeking your views on the level of investment in our roads, and on our waste minimisation and management plan. Please take part – your opinions matter.

Marvellous Maadi

By Peter Carr

Each fortnight I am driven to sit at my computer and settle on a suitable subject for this opinion piece.

Sometimes it is obvious – but on other occasions I must dig deep to emerge with readable material to satisfy both editor and readers.

So, what has attracted my attention this week? Maadi springs to mind as I have a lengthy background in volunteer work at Lake Karāpiro. A local gem if ever there was one. Not me - just the event.

As most locals will be aware, the lake was transformed from a dwindling trickle of the diverted Waikato River in 1948 when the war-delayed completion of the new (and final) dam was topped off. The delays were caused by shortages of materials and labour being syphoned off for war-related needs some years earlier.

Out of the sometimes-disputed bottom of the valley emerged a fine lake - the first sporting event upon the waters being that of the fledgling Cambridge Yacht Club who had to carry their boats some distance as the lake was only a quarter full initially.

It was clear to rowing aficionados that this expanse of water – free of tides, currents and commerce, would be an ideal spot to create a battleground for clubs and schools.

It culminated in being the venue for the 1950 British Empire Games where the name Don Rowlands is shown as being in the silver medal winning eight.

His name adorns the Don Rowlands Centre alongside Karāpiro Rowing’s finish tower.

It was clear Karāpiro was here to stay as the premier rowing venue in the country

– relatively close to the epicentre of national population and adjacent to a very pleasant town.

World rowing events followed in 1978 and 2010 and drew huge numbers of competitors and supporters.

Last Saturday possibly up to 7000 people (rowers, supporters and race management) both ashore and afloat were at the Karāpiro Domain for the renowned Maadi Cup – a series of lively events where superbly fit senior school pupils battled it out for supremacy.

The cup itself, a very prestigious award, has been won 17 times by Whanganui Collegiate but this year it went back to Auckland thanks to the sterling efforts of Westlake Boys High School.

Any parent with keen rowing (and swimming) offspring is aware of the morning sacrifices made to meet training demands of the sport - and the associated costs.

The sport produces fine young adults, setting them up for life, with fit bodies, competitive minds and great contacts for future years.

It is to the volunteers of KRI that I raise my glass this week. A single race requires no less than 64 team members to check for required standards, control the launching, progressing the start, guiding down the course, assessing the results - all with an overall view of the demands of on-the-water safety.

This ensures families may relax, safe in the knowledge that their loved ones will step ashore (triumphant or otherwise) in one piece and thirsting for more.

TUESDAY

3:43pm, Car vs Motorbike, Airport Road

WEDNESDAY

5:23, House Fire, Alpers Ridge

Scout’s honour for Riley

By Chris Gardner

Riley Willmoth is a prize-winning tramper.

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

The 14-year-old Cambridge Scout Group member and Cambridge High School pupil walked away from this year’s Scouts Aotearoa Waikato Zone Velocity Venturer Programme Course with a prize for an exceptional presentation on kaitiakitanga or guardianship.

9:55am, Cardiac Arrest, Bryce Street

1:55pm, Building Smoke logged, Queen Street

1:09pm, Building Alarm and evacuation, Ruakura Road

SATURDAY

1:46am, Building Alarm and Evacuation, Cambridge Road

11:56pm, Building Alarm and evacuation, Hautapu Road

3:03pm, Medical Cardiac Arrest, Thornton Road

6:10pm, 2 car MVA, Thornton Road

FRIDAY

9:02pm, Car vs Barrier, Tirau Road

Riley was one of 15 Waikato and Bay of Plenty venturers to plan and execute an overnight tramp in the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park. He was one of five participants from Cambridge Scout Group, in Maclean Street.

Venturers were assigned topics to research and share with their peers during the tramp.

8:42am, Building Alarm and evacuation. Maungatautari Road

SUNDAY

8:38pm, Medical Cardiac Arrest, Ruru Street

SUNDAY

MONDAY

3:53am, Medical assistance, Karapiro Road

9:25am, Fire in backyard, Maungakawa Road

Alys Antiques & Fine Art

Presentations were also delivered on the seven principles of leave no trace, activity planning, managing risk, gear and tools, packing a backpack, weather, programme tools, tents, emergency shelters and bivouacs, fire safety and cooking, teamwork skills, and river safety.

Venturers climbed from an elevation of about 40 metres at the battery at Wairongomai Valley Loop Road to a small clearing which was once the centre of the Quartzville mining settlement at an elevation of about 600 metres. The group overnighted in their own tents and bivouacs at Quartzville.

“I learned I can be more resourceful,” said Riley after the course.

“I learned that by helping others, they will help you back. It really showed me that being helpful to others is a really important thing to do. It made the team work.”

Quartzville was established in 1882 by gold miners who preferred to live on site next to their workings. A few level terraces along the track are all that remains of this camp. The last miner in the valley, Malcolm Hardy, lived at Quartzville until 1946.

The course helped participants set goals for achieving the highest award in scouting – the King’s Scout Award.

“Going on this Velocity course really helped me with progress on my bronze level, but I still have a few things to do,” Riley said.

the bronze level Duke of Edinburgh International Award Hillary Award.

HOMME DE LA NOVELLE ZEALANDE

It’s great to create

Lori Neels describes quilting as “cheaper than therapy.”

The award-winning quilter is part of the Cambridge Patchwork and Craft group which meet every fortnight at the Taylor Made Community Space.

Members displayed the results of their endeavours during the Autumn Festival at the St Andrew’s Hall.

Pauline Milroy, a Hamilton supporter and newbie to quilting, said it was a highly creative pastime.

“It fills in your day and provides companionship,” said Lori. “A real sanity saver.”

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The Cambridge group is one of several around the Waikato – one also in Te Awamutu – where people share a common interest in patchwork and quilting. The hall exhibit, along with examples of work from the Cambridge Photography Club, was an opportunity to discover artistry in every stitch and frame.

Lori said it provided a celebration of local creativity, culture and craftmanship.

The Best Heat Pump Solution

It also counted as a practice adventurous journey for

Riley Willmoth sets up his tent at Quartzville on the Scouts Aotearoa Waikato Zone Velocity Venturer Programme Course. Photo: Chris Gardner

A hand made quilt on display during the Autumn Festival with, from left: Pauline Honey, Kaylene Lines, Pauline Milroy and Lori Neels. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Catherine’s horses and pet projects

By Viv Posselt

Cambridge may be small by international standards, but a surprising number of artists with global reach call the town home.

The extent of that talent will be on display this weekend at the Passion for Art exhibition that is part of this year’s Cambridge Autumn Festival.

Among those exhibiting –individual artists, groups and galleries – are those with a longstanding following far beyond the Waikato. Some have works in homes and galleries across the world, others have commissioned works hanging in major business and government offices. Some are relatively new to their craft, others have been around for years.

Catherine Haworth is among the latter.

She’s a home-grown girl with an unsurprising love of horses, given her Cambridge roots. She started painting them for school-C art and pretty much hasn’t stopped since. Even while she trained in typography and design and during her early days’ working in that career, she kept on painting. She also did a course with Cambridge’s Wayne Sinclair – whose Sinclair Barclay Gallery is included in Passion for Art – working mainly in pencil and charcoal before settling into her preferred pastels.

Catherine left town for a spell and began painting in earnest only on her return. For years now, she has been exhibiting and selling

much of her work the modern way, through online platforms. It’s clearly working as she has received commissions from all over New Zealand and around the world –recent ones are from Switzerland, Sweden and Australia.

Horses, of course, remain a preferred subject, but there are a bevy of other animals she paints to perfection. So lifelike are her works that many people ask her to paint their beloved pets, big or small, as a lifetime’s keepsake.

Haworth has been involved in the Passion for Art exhibition since it was started by Cambridge expressionist artist Carole Hughes. Because she is such a prolific artist, she is never concerned about not having enough works to put on show.

“I am painting a lot of the time anyway. I love it … nothing about it is a chore,” Haworth said, explaining how she fits it into a life that incorporates the family’s jersey bull farming operation on the outskirts of Cambridge.

She retreats to her studio in their old villa each day for at least a couple of hours if she can. There are always commissions on the go, and she has a massive resource of images she likes to use for ideas, enjoying the freedom of playing around with those almost as much as the commission pieces.

“These exhibitions are great for local artists,” she said. “They’re an opportunity for people to get to know who is around and what they

produce.”

The Passion for Art self-guided tour of artists’ studios is this

Artistic trio

A Shade S olu tion for

weekend, at the tail end of the Cambridge Autumn Festival programme.

Catherine Haworth works on a painting of horses galloping through water. Photo: Viv Posselt

Art in the eye of the beholder: Cambridge Art Society members, from left Noleen Sommerville, Desma Barrie and Joanna Holmes in the Cambridge Town Hall where artists from all over New Zealand were part of the 150-strong exhibition catalogue of paintings and drawings in various media, sculpture and pottery on display during the Autumn Festival. A People’s Choice Award was won by Auckland artist Michael Freeman for his pastel depicting a cow and called 100%NZ. It was listed for $4750, the most expensive painting on show. Second was Irina Gronous’ Breeze and Michelle Sigley with By the Pond was third. Nineteen artworks were sold.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

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Two titles for Jakob

By Jesse Wood

Cambridge High School student Jakob Robbers, 13, won two national titles at the New Zealand Secondary School Kayaking National Championships on Lake Tikitapu in Rotorua earlier last month.

Paddlers aged Year 9 to 13 from more than 30 schools around the country competed at the event.

Jakob, who is in Year 9, won the under

Million dollar race

By Mary Anne Gill

Champion Australian pacer Leap to Fame will contest the $1 million Race of Champions at Cambridge Raceway tomorrow night and caught the plane over on Sunday with two other Aussie contenders.

Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo and Inter Dominion trotting winner The Locomotive accompanied the race favourite who hope to gatecrash Cambridge’s party night with victory in the fourth running of the lucrative slot race.

Stringent alcohol rules are in place following Cambridge Raceway’s recent appearance before the Waipā District Licensing committee. Merlin, last year’s winner, is back in the 10-strong field driven again by Cambridge driver Zachary Butcher, part of Waikato harness racing’s royal family.

And punters on course will be hoping another legendary Cambridge driver will finally bring up a significant milestone. Nicky Chilcott has been stranded on 699 wins since early January when she drove Showtym Girl to victory at the Raceway.

She is competing in the Dorothy Cutts Invitational race for female drivers.

14 boys long course title by two seconds on Saturday. Westlake Boys’ High School’s Max Bowden claimed silver.

The following day saw Jakob win the under 14 boys 250m title.

He beat Takapuna Grammar School’s Owen Hawk by 0.08 seconds.

Cambridge High School team manager Monica Robbers said Jakob knew most of the other competitors well and he’s been training hard.

“Winning the events meant a lot, especially since both races were incredibly close. It was very special,” Jakob said.

“I’ve been training five times a week in the kayak (on Lake Karāpiro) and four times a week running.”

Jakob is now preparing for the New Zealand Canoe Sprint National Championships at Lake Karāpiro next month.

Cambridge drop points

Cambridge have tasted their first league defeat in more than a year.

The newly promoted Northern League championship side was beaten 2-0 by former New Zealand footballing powerhouse North Shore in Auckland last weekend.

Hamilton Wanderers’ second win from two – 4-2 away to Manukau - left them top of the table, but no other Waikato sides in the league followed up opening day wins.

Melville lost 2-1 away to Mount AlbertPonsonby – conceding a 90th minute goal – while Ngāruawāhia was beat 4-0 at Takapuna.

The premier Waikato domestic men’s competition starts on Saturday – with a 10 team league sorted. It comprises Cambridge, three Claudelands teams, Tokoroa, Wanderers, Huntly, Unicol and Te Awamutu plus Ōtorohanga, who were thought unlikely to have a team in the league.

The competition takes team from last year’s WaiBop league one, which fell over.

In the Southern Conference Waipā interest is low – Matamata, and Claudelands, Northern and West Hamilton make up the Waikato contingent alongside Ngongotahā, Papamoa and Otumoetai and Taupō.

Papamoa and Matamata opened with big wins last weekend.

Cambridge women opened their season last weekend with a 2-0 home loss to Birkenhead on their Northern League championship debut.

In the Waikato women’s league, Te Awamutu also fields a team in the Waikato women’s division which kicks off this weekend.

Jakob Robbers claims gold on the podium at Lake Tikitapu.

Two in a row for Jan

By Mary Anne Gill

She’s done it again.

Leamington resident Jan Mackenzie took out the Cambridge Autumn Festival short story first prize with her A little less of lonely.

“Yes, that’s right, that’s the title, it isn’t wrong,” she told The News after sponsors David Cooney and Steve France made the announcement she had won for the second year running.

The theme this year which attracted 150 entries was April Fool’s Day seeing April 1 fell in the middle of the festival.

“This particular story, the starting line I really like,” said Mackenzie.

When the big square bales dropped off the forks, they knocked the land-girl flat.

“It’s been in my head for two or three years. It’s just been there, nothing done with it. So I thought, oh well. The topic was so hard and the story just came so it was

really, really neat.”

Mackenzie has had a few story rejections in her time.

“It’s like somebody not liking your kid. You get timid about it.”

She recently decided she was never going to write a book but would write short stories instead.

“They come from nowhere really.”

Sherson said they judge the entries blind and had no idea it was Mackenzie who had won again. She described her as a writer who takes risks with her work.

“The theme of April Fool’s was interpreted in many different ways. The three winning entries featured in all four judges’ top choices. However, the winning story - A little less of lonely - was exceptional. It had wonderful timing and rhythm, with a little twist that made the reader squirm. The writing was spare and assured,” she said.

the 13th year of

and the

A little less of lonely

When the big square bales dropped off the forks, they knocked the land-girl flat.

She hadn’t heard him coming. Plugged into her Walkman, broad back turned to him, shovelling out years of an old leak in the hayshed spouting. He should have fixed it, but you didn’t keep a dog and bark yourself.

“Clean out the soft stuff,” he’d said, “and throw some shingle in to stop the bottom bales from rotting.”

His hand slipped on the controls.

He sat thoughtfully on the tractor, studying the situation. The top bale had skewed to one side but the bottom one sat squarely on the ground, pressing her body into the bog. Dead or not, she wasn’t going anywhere.

He ticked off a mental list. The isolation of the farm. The baling contractor, gone yesterday. The land girl, invisible inside, working on the books while the hay was baled. Himself carting the hay in, and plenty of daylight left. The girl, having told neighbours she was leaving, not. No-one but him knowing that.

He put the tractor into gear and went to work. The last light, whispering its way over the farm, showed the paddocks clear and the huge shed, full. He fell into bed untroubled.

In the morning, he poured diesel on her gear and burned it in the drum, the smoke hidden by low clouds that had gathered helpfully while he slept. He added rubbish of his own and burned that too, sifted carefully through the ashes. He fixed the hayshed spouting. For a while he thought he’d put her and all she was to him away but he’d been a fool; his stubborn mind, inflexible as a concrete octopus, stuck in neutral and refused to let him be. He dreamed of hands…his hands…deliberate

on the controls. He dreamed he heard her startled scream.

April. Autumn. Winter coming fast and hard. He’d slogged through spring and summer, didn’t mind autumn but winter… weeks of rain, cattle up to their knees in mud, bawling to be fed. Strip-grazing grass and kale to make it last, watching his stock get thin and thinner. Screwing up the paper in disgust when some bloody townie who’d never been near a farm in his life splashed front-page photos of mud and cattle, bold-type headlines shouting cruelty to animals.

The list of what he missed got longer… his wife, cleared out with the rural delivery man. The house warm when he came in finger-frozen from the farm. Food that wasn’t cold meat and plastic gravy. A warm body to climb into, instead of his ice-cold forty-acre bed.

He was tired. Of discussing world events with the dogs just to hear his own voice. Of missing the lap-cat that cleared off when his wife did. Of all the splintered shades of lonely.

Which is why he stared so long at the ad on the back page of the local rag.

Available now, Experienced Land-Girl. Have thistle grubber. Will travel. No ties. Call me…021………….

It might be an April Fool’s day joke but what could he lose? He shrugged and rang the number anyway. Yes, she was available, would a week from now be ok? It would.

He asked the proper questions; yes or no. Ride his battered bike, yes. Grub thistles, yes. Find and fix the shorts in the electric fence system, yes, and yes

to cooking, cleaning, working dogs and lambing ewes.

He didn’t ask about “Experienced”, but his body did a little leap at that one. Could it mean what it said? Could it mean a little less of lonely?

She’d be here on Monday. Six days to fix the house. Tear down the mouldy shower curtain, scrub the ring around the sink, send the washing machine into panic mode with piles of dirty washing. Jackhammer the stove and the oven with their baked-on fry-me, roast-me grease.

He left the bedroom until last. That wistful body leap again, the just-in-case rush to drag off dirty sheets, turn the mattress with its mysterious stains. The windows, man, open the windows! Musty linen from the cupboard in the hall, hung out in the wind to flap the stale away.

Winter came. She wasn’t pretty but then, he wasn’t either. It didn’t matter. With two of them, the days were not so long. The house was warm, the dinners good. On Wednesdays he knocked politely on her door, and when she told him no, he went away. Until the night she let him in.

He’d loved her then, or something near. The rusted chains of should and must dropped puddled at his feet. He liked his life the way it was, the now of it, worked harder, laughed longer. He saw the sun and felt the wind and watched the bright grass grow.

The neighbours saw the change in him, the worried frown that lifted from his face.

They told him “she’s a keeper” and they said “you could do worse.” It struck him hard. This time his body didn’t leap. He thought about the future. The committees he would serve on, the council. The by-elections. The beehive. The well-bred, lovely girl he’d dreamed of

By Jan Mackenzie

on his arm, the mother of his children. The inside farmers’ wife.

It wouldn’t do. The land-girl wouldn’t do.

In spring, it wasn’t cold and he forgot. Forgot the rain, forgot the mud. Forgot the laughter, and the forty-acre, lonely bed. Forgot he couldn’t do it on his own.

The land-girl read the signs. She looked for work, but hadn’t found a job so far, to let her travel on. The neighbours shook their heads for her and thought the man a fool.

No-one asked about her, but then, he hadn’t thought they would. She’d been around. “No ties”, her ad had said. “Have thistle grubber, will travel.”

Over many winters, he fed out the hay, leaving the four rows against the back wall untouched. If he’d been asked, he’d have said it was to have some in reserve, but who would ask? He farmed alone, he managed as he chose.

It was pure bad luck that two things met and merged. The drought struck first, three dry years in a row that stopped the grass from growing and ate into his store of feed. He bought in ryegrass and barley straw, to supplement supplies.

His recovery from the stroke that left him immobilised and speechless, was slow; not helped, the doctors said, by his frantic attempts to communicate. His neighbours, meaning well, emptied the hayshed to keep his stock alive.

Uncovered broken bones. Arms outflung. A shovel. The land-girl, never looked for, never missed.

Cradled in the land-girl’s womb, the baby never wanted, never held. Spring, summer, autumn, rolling on, and winter, coming fast and hard.

It was

the competition

last one sponsored by Cooney who has retired and sold the insurance business he founded in 1987 to Maurice Trapp Group. Second prize went to Julie Taylor of Okoroire with

Concrete Proof while third was One Joke Too Many by Anne Williams of Auckland.

Jan Mackenzie with her certificate surrounded by, from left: husband Ken and judges Denise Irvine and Venetia Sherson. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

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Water, water everywhere

Water or H2O: a clear liquid without colour or taste, falls from the sky as rain, comes from the mountains as melted snow and covers about 70 per cent of the earth’s surface. Senior writer Mary Anne Gill explains why we should care about this life-giving compound, particularly this month.

It would be all too easy to ignore water until the toilet doesn’t flush or nothing comes out of the tap.

Our rural neighbours deal with it regularly. They dread the word drought because without water there is no life which is why the decisions our communities make over the next month about water are so important.

At the Waiora plant – a name which means “the purest form of water, the source of life and wellbeing” – Fiona Sutton and Karl Hjelmstrom from Hamilton City Council are about to take us on a tour.

Sutton, the head of operations for Three Waters - storm, waste and drinking – is a Waikato University graduate in law and science.

Her team’s job is to extract water from the Waikato River and provide clean, safe drinking water for Hamiltonians and then treat the city’s wastewater before it goes back into the river.

Finance Minister Robert Muldoon opened the Hamilton Water Treatment Plant, next to the Glenview Club, on August 24, 1971 and Hamilton mayor Michael Redman opened the station upgrade on February 16, 2007. Plaques mark the occasions.

Sutton and her team are usually anonymous unless the force of nature throws a spanner in the works – a major drought or a catastrophic event such as a volcanic eruption or an earthquake.

“Our systems are pretty resilient. We have back ups typically to ensure we can keep producing even if we need to maintain things and fix things.

“The team we have are pretty smart and are resilient in making sure the water keeps being provided for Hamiltonians so they can continue having their showers, cooking meals and drinking out of their drink bottles.

“Every single day, including Christmas Day, we have people out there collecting samples and testing the water is clean and safe to drink,” she says.

As part of community consultation about the future of water services in the city, the council this month opened the plant’s doors to the public for an unprecedented show and tell.

“We are very keen to tell our story to explain to people the important work that does happen because we’re really proud of it,” says Sutton, who has been in her current job for three years.

Hjelmstrom, an engineer, is the Waiora plant team leader who was born and raised around Hamilton, joined the city council and is back after stints at Waipā and Tauranga councils.

“I came back to my favourite place – the Waiora Treatment Plant.”

His team controls, pushes the buttons and does the monitoring for the plant which in its heyday would have had three manned shifts, 24 hours a day but is now down to semi-automated with a team of six.

“They respond to the alarms, they’re holding the babies at night,” he says.

Hamilton’s drinking water comes from the Waikato River.

“We’re blessed to have our taonga, our river,” says

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Hjelmstrom.

“It is very clean, the best I’ve seen it, clear and beautiful. It’s a very stable water resource for us.”

It is screened twice, firstly at the intakes through coarse vertical bars which go up and down to remove leaves, weeds etc.

At the intake, across the river, is Hamilton Gardens with the Italian Renaissance Garden roof clearly visible.

“We try and remove what we can before we pump it into the clarifiers,” he says. At the clarifiers they add polymer and aluminium sulphate “the magic ingredient” which settles things that gravity does not. The resulting sludge goes to the sewerage plant and the water continues through to sand filtration where any remaining nasties are taken out.

Then it is onto ultraviolet disinfection, adding chlorine, fluoride and lime – lime to correct the pH (potential of hydrogen) level – and porous carbon to remove any dissolved contaminants.

It leaves the pumping station through one pipe and onto Hamilton’s nine reservoirs which store 123 million litres of water for the city’s 60,000 properties and other neighbouring properties such as Tamahere and Matangi in Waikato district.

“We’ve got a lot of water out there,” says Hjelmstrom with a look of satisfaction.

• This story about Hamilton’s Water Treatment Plant appears in Waikato Business News this month in a series on Water Done Well options.wbn.co.nz

(including

Hamilton City Council’s Rhys Stevenson cleans out the Waiora plant intakes of Waikato River waste before the water goes through the Hamilton Treatment Station.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill

It’s goodbye Ngā Roto

By Chris Gardner

Lake Ngā Roto will soon be no more.

Te Awamutu–Kihikihi Community Board heard the lake’s name would soon be changed to Wairoto as members prepared a submission on Waipā District Council’s Lake Ngā Roto Management Plan.

At least one was taken by surprise.

“Whose idea was it to change the name? How did this come about? I don’t understand,” asked board member Sally Whitaker.

XYST Ltd senior consultant Anna McElrea told the latest board meeting the current name was incorrect, with Ngā meaning many and roto meaning lake.

“The drive has come through working with iwi, and the traditional name that they use,” McElrea said.

The Reed Dictionary of Modern Māori defines ngā as “the (plural)”. Waikato Regional Council’s website refers to the lake as Ngāroto/Wairoto, while Waipā District Council lists it as Ngā Roto, a style adopted by The News in 2022.

The board threw its support behind the 30-year management plan, as it seeks to restore the health of the lake but Whitaker had reservations. The lake is currently under a Health New Zealand health warning.

“My concern is the money required, when we are a cost-of-living crisis” she said.

Whitaker said she understood plantings undertaken at the lake had to be repeated because the council had neglected to weed after planting.

“I feel quite upset that the regional and [district] council have allowed it to get to the water quality level that it is, and how long it’s been like that,” she said.

Whitaker wondered how more run off from residential development at Ōhaupō had impacted the lake.

McElrea said run off from surrounding dairy farms led to the huge nutrients loads in the lake. The

nutrients led to harmful algal bloom.

“There has to be some big changes to what is happening in the catchment,” she said.

The implementation of Plan Change One by Waikato Regional Council in coming months would lead to improvements, as farmer development environmental management plans.

Ngā Roto is tapu, or sacred, to mana whenua, as one of the first areas to be settled post the migration of Māori inland from Kāwhia.

Last year Ngā Roto Sailing Club asked the council to clean up the lake by dredging it.

Meanwhile Te Awamutu-Kihikihi chair Ange Holt told the council’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee this week the board was disappointed community board members were not being supported about some issues.

Deputy chair Kane Titchener had worked hard on behalf of the board to raise awareness of new scientific data from the United States regarding fluoridation.

The Health ministry directed Waipā to add fluoride to the Cambridge water supply.

“As a community board we have supported stopping the addition of fluoride, not only due to the harm it may cause but because we as a community should have a choice to have fluoride in our water –it should not be a government decision,” said Holt.

“In reflecting we have done our best to act on behalf of the community who elected us. We worked very hard to get the Holmes Garage Project across the line, we have continued to speak up for the community. Unfortunately, most of these things have not gone in the direction the community supported.”

The project proposed to repurpose the former garage in Mahoe St near Te Awamutu Library for a community space including indoor markets.

But the board chalked up one success – it got extended parking in the Te Awamutu CBD from one to two hour parking.

Ngā Roto will soon become known as Wairoto.

Across 1. Rostrum (4) 4. Figure of speech (6) 8. Resembling a dream (7)

22. Pacify (7) 23. Money lender (6)

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Last week

Across: 1. Basic, 4. Calmly, 8. Centred, 9. Tryst, 10. Adept, 11. Inertia, 12. Desert, 14. Urgent, 17. Outcome, 19. Queue, 21. Tired, 22. Unearth, 23. Decree, 24. Threw. Down: 1. Back and forth, 2. Singe, 3. Curator, 4. Caddie, 5. Lithe, 6. Layette, 7. Steal the show, 13. Set free, 15. Request, 16. Reduce, 18. Order, 20. Error.

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SEASON SEEDLING SEMANTICS

SENIOR SENSUAL SEPIA SEQUIN SEWAGE SHADOW SHAFT SHINY SHYLY

Chicken winners

‘Chicken for the cook is what canvas is for the painter.’ Anthelme Brillat-Savarin French Gourmet.

And he’s right. A painting is all about colours and chicken dishes can be an eclectic mix of colours. For example, red Italian chicken cacciatore; yellow and (spinach) green Indian curries; herby green/brown French casseroles; and goldenbrown Kiwi roasts.

Chicken engages the taste buds. The bland flesh makes it internationally popular because it combines harmoniously with so many spices, herbs, textures, fruits and vegetables, it encourages cooks to be creative.

Versatile chicken can be poached, fried, grilled, stir-fried, baked, roasted, cooked in the microwave and air-fryer. It’s relatively inexpensive compared to other meats and there’s little waste.

And don’t throw the bones. Use them to make a good stock for cool-day soups. Brown the bones in a little oil in a saucepan, add some chopped onion, carrots and celery stalks, plus a few fresh herbs. Add water to cover and simmer gently for 1-2 hours until reduced by half. Cool and store in an airtight container in the freezer.

To paraphrase a popular saying: ‘You can count your chickens when it comes to hatching great meals’.

Peanut butter chicken curry

The moist, dark meat of chicken thighs is perfect for curries, stews and casseroles.

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 medium onion, diced

1 teaspoon each: whole cumin seeds, grated garlic, grated root ginger

750g skinned and boned chicken thighs

1/4 teaspoon each: chilli flakes, ground turmeric

3-4 medium plum tomatoes, chopped

125g frozen spinach

3 tablespoon each: peanut butter, coconut cream (or regular cream)

Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan on mediumlow heat. Add the onion and spices and cook, stirring

Briefs…

Correction

Councillor Mike Pettit lives in the Cambridge ward and not outside the boundary as reported in The News, 20 March.

Express delays

There will be north and sound bound lane closures on the Cambridge section of Waikato Expressway until tomorrow (Friday) to allow contractors to reseal sections of the road prior to the onset of winter. There will be four worksites in total to be repaired – 2 northbound and 2 southbound. Following the work the lanes will be under temporary traffic management with a reduce speed limit in place.

Nearly done

Work on State Highway 3 between Rukuhia and Narrows roads near Hamilton airport will finish tomorrow (Friday). The rebuild work involved digging out the existing road layers and replacing them layer by layer. The road was then surfaced, swept and line marked. The work was completed one lane at a time.

Resource ready

The transformation of part of the wastewater treatment site in Cambridge into a cuttingedge sustainability hub is officially underway, marking a major milestone in Waipā’s green future. The new resource recovery centre will offer a convenient place for people to drop off recyclable materials, purchase repurposed items and play an active role in minimising waste.

Contract extended Waikato Regional Council has extended the contract of chief executive Chris McLay for another two years. He was originally appointed for five years from September 2020, with the option of a two-year extension if the council supported it.

occasionally, until the onion is softened. Increase the heat to high. Add the chicken and cook the chicken about 7 minutes each side. Stir in the chilli flakes, turmeric and tomatoes. Cover and cook on medium for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Stir in the spinach and cook for a few minutes, until heated through. Combine the peanut butter and coconut cream, then stir into the chicken mixture and heat through. Great served with naan bread or rice. Serves 4-5.

Marcio’s chicken marbella

A twist on this Spanish delight from my friend Marcio.

Marinade: 4 large cloves garlic

1/4 cup each: red wine vinegar, capers, extra virgin olive oil

4 small bay leaves

12 pitted prunes

1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano salt and pepper to taste

Chicken: 4 large chicken legs (thighs and drums attached)

1/2 cup white wine

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup pitted green olives

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

To make the marinade, combine all the ingredients in a casserole large enough to hold the chicken in one layer. Stir well.

Volunteer shortage

Fieldays is experiencing a volunteer drought, having recruited only two thirds of the 150 volunteers needed to run the event.

Head of customer and strategic engagement Taryn Storey said the charitable organisation was still seeking 48 volunteers to help support the event in June with directing car parking, ticket scanning, collecting rubbish, and other roles.

“It’s difficult to get people who work to take three days off work if they are working,” Storey said.

Asked whether a volunteer shortage had been a problem before, Storey said she had never shared the problem publicly before.

Storey said volunteering had been part of the fibre of the event since the beginning.

Add the chicken, moving it around so the legs are well coated. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight, turning occasionally.

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Remove the casserole and bring to room temperature. Add the wine and sprinkle the chicken with brown sugar. Bake for 30 minutes. Turn the chicken over and baste with the juices. Add the green olives. Bake for another 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Serve garnished with parsley. Serves 4.

Peri peri chicken

This South African speciality is ‘hot’. Add the chilli powder to taste.

1.2kg chicken portions

5 cloves garlic, crushed

1 onion, finely diced

2 tablespoons paprika

1-2 teaspoons chilli powder

2 tablespoons lemon juice

400g can diced tomatoes

If necessary, cut the chicken in to serving-sized portions. Combine all the other ingredients. Marinate the chicken in the mixture for 2-3 hours in the fridge, turning often. Preheat a grill or barbecue. Grill for about 15 minutes each

Volunteers should be 16 or over and are required to complete health and safety onboarding.

Peanut butter chicken curry

Marcio’s chicken marbella

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GODFREY, Kenneth –

Peacefully at home surround by family on Saturday, 29 March 2025, aged 96 years. Beloved husband of the late Doreen. Much loved father, grandfather, greatgrandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Special thanks to all those who cared for Kenneth in his final weeks. Messages to the 'Godfrey Family' can be sent c/Grinter’s Funeral Home, 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434 or in Kenneth’s online tribute book at www.grinters. co.nz. A private cremation has been held.

SOMAS, Sanjay – With heavy hearts, we announce the sudden passing of Sanjay Somas, who left us on February 17, 2025, in the USA. Sanjay was the devoted father of Suraj and Sahan, a cherished son to Rama and the late Viji, a dear brother to Meena and Andrew, and a loving uncle to Tyson. His kindness, warmth, and unwavering love for his family and friends will forever be remembered. A Celebration of Life service to honour Sanjay’s life will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 11am at Woodside Estate in Hamilton. Family and friends are invited to join in celebrating his memory. In true Sanjay fashion, smart but vibrant attire is encouraged. Let’s gather together to celebrate the unforgettable moments he gave us.

SQUIRE, Gael Lorraine (nee Cates) – Passed away peacefully at Waikato Hospital on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, aged 79 years. Beloved wife of Dawson and stepmother of Brenda and Kelly. Loved sister of Ray, Neville (dec), and Bruce. Special thanks to the staff at Waikato Hospital for their care of Gael over the past three weeks. Messages to the ‘Squire Family’ can be sent c/- Grinter’s Funeral Home, 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434 or in Gael’s online tribute book at www. grinters.co.nz. A private service has been held.

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Pursuant to Section 46 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 notice is hereby given that a meeting of Nga Pae Whenua the Joint Management Body for the Taumatawiiwii, Ngati Koroki Kahukura ki Hinuera, Waikaukau and Te Reti Reserves will be held on Thursday 17 April 2025 at 1pm in the Kaipaki Meeting Room, Waipa District Council, 23 Wilson Street, Cambridge.

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A copy of the agenda will be available two days before the meeting at the Cambridge Public Library.

Many more take the plunge

By Jesse Wood

The Waipā Community Facilities Trust has recognised a growth opportunity for Swim Waipā upon presenting their six-monthly report.

more events and more usage in the stadium side. The stadium is up by 13,000 visits or 68 per cent,” Horne said.

“Perry Aquatic Centre, once again the patronage is up, and its reputation is getting out there. The visits are up again by over 11,000.

a barrier in this economic climate that we’re in. It’s an upfront payment and then they get their swimming lessons,” Walsh said.

Trust chief executive Matt Horne and chair Shane Walsh unveiled the July-December 2024 report at the Waipā District Council service delivery committee meeting last month.

“Last year was a very successful year for the trust and this year seems to be tracking better than that year,” Horne said. “As of December, we were at just over 37,000 visits more than last year – up 19.3 per cent.

“As of February, we were at about 43,000 visits. We’ve had a good summer.”

“The Club Waipā gym is doing well. Our gym membership, as of last month, is at 1405 members. That’s pretty good with the amount of gyms and similar activities in [the Waipā].

“More members, means more visits. We’re up by more than 4000 visits, about 13 per cent.

“We’re looking at [creating] an app. The app will have several functions. One will be to spread that payment out, more like a gym membership where you’re paying as you go.

“We want to be the best swimming school in New Zealand, that’s the vision. We want to have this app where parents know where children are in terms of their swimming, what level they’re at, just there on their phone.

“We’re trying to improve the communication.”

The Te Awamutu Events Centre occupancy has gone from 37 per cent to 60 per cent within a short period, while there have been 53 per cent more visitors to the centre compared to the same time last year.

Perry Aquatic Centre in Cambridge and Club Waipā gym in Te Awamutu have also had more visits, but Swim Waipā participation has plateaued.

“The event centre itself is doing well; that’s up at around 26,000 visits. A lot of that is because we’ve had

“Swim Waipā is slightly down on last year. Last year was record numbers. If you look at the year prior, it’s around the same. It’s something we’re working on.”

The classes are for all ages and abilities at Te Awamutu and Cambridge facilities.

Horne said the numbers are still good but when the new Cambridge pool complex opened, the swim school grew by default.

“It’s got to that plateau now, so we need to work harder in that area.”

Walsh said the trust board is working to improve the numbers and a smartphone application could be one of the answers.

“We think cost may be

Horne said they’re going through the process and are down to a final selection of providers.

“[It would be] like a school app where you can log-in on your child and see how their progress is going. When you’ve got 2000 kids in the swim school, to get to talk to every parent on how their child is progressing and the turnaround between classes can get tough,” he said.

“If you’ve got comments, you can fire them through on the app and someone can reply. We’d love to be face to face with everybody, but sometimes that’s not possible.”

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