Giants were at Albert Park in Te Awamutu on Friday evening as the Balloons visit Waipā event brought fun and colour for all ages.
The hot air balloon visitation coincided with the annual Hamilton-based Balloons Over Waikato Festival.
The five-day festival has been on the calendar since 1999, bringing visitors and pilots from around the globe.
The balloons were tethered to the ground, giving fans the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal.
Kihikihi resident Bailey Gore who grew up in Cambridge said the Friday evening gathering was a great event for Waipā.
She took her son Fordie for his first experience of hot air balloon viewing.
“I found out about it from some of my mum friends. Judging by the numbers here, the community are excited by it,” Gore said.
“It’s also a great opportunity to get out of the house, spend time with friends and give Fordie some early memories.”
Crews from Te Awamutu Hato Hone St John as well at the Te Awamutu and Pirongia voluntary fire brigades were there amping up the community spirit.
Photos with the fire trucks certainly kept the children busy as they waited for the balloons to inflate.
One of the crowd favourites was the huge jack-o-lantern pumpkin Ms Autumn from the United States.
Ms Autumn was created in 1994 and is piloted by Montana’s Colin
Inflation welcomed…
other balloons were there including the Independent Traffic Control balloon, Happy 2, piloted
by Leamington-based Rolf Dennler. He and wife Glenda moved from Australia three years ago but have been attending the festival since 2003.
“I’ve been a licensed pilot since 1994. I was ballooning before as a student pilot,” Dennler said.
“I like it [in Cambridge]. Everybody is flying in Hamilton but I’m the only one flying in Cambridge because there’s lots of horses. All you have to do is fly higher and you won’t upset the horses.”
The Albert Park fields were littered with families and their picnic blankets as they soaked up the scenery, enjoying food and music.
A free bus service from Cambridge and Leamington connected Waipā residents at the one venue.
Emma Lewis took advantage of the inter-town service and was highly impressed.
“Fantastic Community spirit. I caught the 4.30pm with my daughter it was full,” Lewis said.
“It was lovely seeing people and children giving up their seats for others.
“Everyone was very cheerful and happy, great ride home too, no problems. It was a fantastic service, especially being free. Nice one Waipā.”
“I’m delighted balloons are back in our district for another year,” Waipā Mayor Susan O’Regan said.
“It’s always such a highlight for the community.”
Saturday night saw the culmination of the festivities, with the night glow held at the Claudelands Oval in Hamilton.
Graham of Endeavor Ballooning.
Fellow American pilot Gary Moore was there to show the
masses his brainy bird, Owlbert Eyenstein, a play on words for the famous physicist Albert Einstein.
Three
Leamington-based pilot Rolf Dennler prepares his Independent Traffic Control balloon, Happy 2, for inflation. Photo: Jesse Wood
Te Awamutu’s Olivia Gash and son Kylin (left) enjoy the atmosphere with Kihikihi-based Bailey Gore and son Fordie. Photo: Jesse Wood
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Kiwi debate
Clyde Graf’s opinion piece (The News, March 20) on kiwi releases from Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain casts unfounded aspersions on efforts to protect brown kiwi. He is also ill-informed about the practice of taking kiwi eggs from the wild, raising the chicks in captivity and releasing them back to where they came from as strong, young adults, a practice known as Operation Nest Egg. This is how more than 90 young kiwi were released into Okahu Valley in Te Urewera to boost and replenish the population. Without this method, unprotected kiwi populations are doomed to extinction from predation by mustelids.
The Tongariro kiwi population is far from a “disaster”. It is a large population with occasional set-backs such as incursions of ferrets from nearby farmland. With extra trapping for ferrets and stoats, and repeated aerial 1080 operations, the kiwi are successfully raising chicks. The number of kiwi calls per hour has gone from 1.1 per hour in 2011 to 4.5 per hour in 2023, the sign of a thriving population. Whio and other native wildlife have also benefitted from this predator control.
More than 600 kiwi have been monitored through aerial1080 drops nationwide, and not one has died from 1080. Monitoring
of birds transferred from Maungatautari is the responsibility of the Department of Conservation, not the Sanctuary.
Kiwi have flourished in predator-free Maungatautari. Now they are making a big contribution to the survival and reintroduction of kiwi all around the North Island. A conservation success story.
Selwyn June
Hamilton
Lake issue
Has anyone visited the predator-proof fenced area at Lake Serpentine (Rotopiko) lately?
We visited a week ago and saw a harrier hawk scavenging a dead duck. We knew something was wrong when the hawk crashed into the bank and fence nearby. Struggling to fly often indicates poisoning, so we went exploring and discovered 12 bird carcasses in various stages of decomposition, and a pukeko investigating a bait station on the eastern perimeter. Apart from that, we saw one pigeon and a fantail. As a bird sanctuary, it’s outstandingly substandard.
A sign at the entrance to Rotopiko says experts re-introduced rats to the predatorproof area to deter the large number of introduced birds that roost there. Then on
Your help, our arrests
It was good to see lots of whānau at the Balloons over Waipa event in Te Awamutu last Friday. In Cambridge on Sunday, a similarly positive crowd cheered on Maadi rowers as they began the regatta with a parade through the centre of town.
Starting off with catches again, Cambridge police arrested a woman for some recent high value shoplifting incidents. An encounter with a different woman last week found her to be in possession of a stolen vehicle and to be wanted for shoplifting. She also had a warrant for her arrest. Her male associate was subsequently arrested for his warrants and also charged for the same shoplifting incident.
In Te Awamutu, police arrested a male for assault and wilful damage after police attended a family harm incident involving his partner. Another family harm incident resulted in the arrest of a second male for intentional damage and resisting police. In a third incident, a male was arrested for wilful trespass and breach of bail when he was found to be at an address where he shouldn’t have been. All have appeared before the court on associated charges.
The above arrests would not have been possible without someone reporting an offence to police.
After a few missed opportunities lately, I
wanted to remind people about calling 111 when offending is in progress.
There can be various reasons why people don’t call police. Sometimes we second guess ourselves, especially asking whether what is happening constitutes an emergency. My guidance is always, if the incident or offending is happening now, call 111. (If it is a few hours, days or weeks in the past, then call 105.) But do make a call.
Some people assume others will have already phoned 111, especially when the incident is in a public space. If we all make that assumption, there may be no one who calls, or the person that does, may not have as much information as you about offenders.
If you decide to try and solve the problem by approaching victims or offenders yourself, this is a missed opportunity. You never know who it is you are talking to or of what they may be capable.
You may be putting yourself at risk, while denying police the chance to help a victim with wrap around support or in the case of offenders, the chance to identify them and take appropriate action, including dealing with any other outstanding matters for which they may be wanted.
February 18 they loaded their bait stations with brodifacoum (rat poison) to kill the rats they’d introduced. I wish experts would stop tinkering with nature.
Brodifacoum doesn’t just kill rats. Go and listen to the silence at Rotopiko and then go and listen to the deafening birdsong at the healthy Yarndley’s Bush (only 5km away). The difference is astounding.
Kathy White Hamilton
Kihikihi Cycle Path
In a recent edition there was an article on the above. In it there were two views given. One was against the cycle paths quoting the disruptions and problems the cycle paths had caused within the village with roads narrowed and cul-de-sacs removing freedom of movement with its increased vehicle travel. The second view was how great the paths were.
The point of interest is that the man who was in favour of the cycle path said how he used it to get into Te Awamutu and back and that it was getting great use from “cyclist and walkers”. “Cyclist and walkers” clearly indicates that he was talking about the path between Kihikihi and Te Awamutu, which is a shared pathway, whereas the cycle paths within Kihikihi are two lane cycle use only in addition to the separate footpath.
I know of no one who objects to the shared pathway to Te Awamutu, indeed it is very popular: the objections voiced by so many of Kihikihi’s residents is to the bike only two lane paths. When asked what residents wanted, the view put forward was for footpaths wide enough for shared use, not the overkill Waipā District Council provided.
Geoff Boxell Kihikihi
with Senior Constable DEB HANN
Back home
Taumarunui has returned to its natural home with the announcement this week it will go back into the TaranakiKing Country electorate and out of Rangitīkei. It means Taumarunui leaves the other Ruapehu district towns of Raetihi, Ohakune, Waiouru, Waimarino (formerly National Park) and Ōwhango.
Order please
Random was expected to be the order Waipā District Council decided on yesterday for candidates’ names on the ballot for the local body elections later this year. It will be the fourth time Waipā has gone with an option which puts every candidates’ name by surname randomly on every voting paper, meaning the order on your neighbours’ ballot papers will be different from your papers.
Over budget
A $22 million variance caused by two-yearly revaluations means a planned $20.2 million surplus for Waipā District Council on June 30 is now likely to be a $1.8 million deficit. Development levies and subsidies are down while operating expenditure is up $19.4 million. The council’s debt on February 28 was $396 million which is expected to rise to $419 million in the next three months.
Cyber efforts
Waipā District Council won the Best in Cyber Security award at the Association of Local Government Information Management annual awards.
Plan adopted
Ahu Ake, Waipā’s community spatial plan, was adopted by the council yesterday, five years after its development began. There were 138 submissions which resulted in changes to the document, including adding “and invest” to the mayor’s foreword, deleting the word retirement and replacing it “with senior living” and removing reference to Mystery Creek as the district’s premier events’ location.
Another bridge too far
By Mary Anne Gill
The developer behind two of Waipā’s biggest projects in the last decade has ruled out land near St Peter’s School in Cambridge for a third Waikato River bridge.
3Ms of Cambridge Development, in a joint venture with the private school, plans to build a 35-hectare residential suburb of 300 homes between Te Awa Lifecare Village and the Velodrome.
Supporters of a third bridge have long claimed this is the perfect spot, but 3Ms director Matt Smith
disagrees.
“We don’t want heavy traffic running through residential areas. It’s no different from how those people under the blue blob felt last year,” he said, referring to Waipā District Council’s preferred plan to have a bridge run through long-established central streets in Cambridge.
He also called for New Zealand Transport Agency and the council to work closely on redistributing traffic around Cambridge by introducing Waikato Expressway on and off ramps at Tīrau Rd, near
New light shed on St Paul’s
By Chris Gardner
A window through which the residents of the settlement of Rangiaowhia looked, is in place after critical restoration work.
Christchurch based conservators have restored the 170-year-old window at the altar of St Paul’s Anglican Church on Rangiaowhia Road midway between Te Awamutu and Cambridge, to its rightful place.
The church opened in 1856, welcoming worshippers from Rangiaowhia who were driven from the land by the British Army in the New Zealand Wars in February 1864.
The window was removed more than a year ago by Stewart Stained Glass after cracks appeared in the enamel and the wooden frame.
Parish priest Julie Guest was delighted to see the window restored and its temporary vinyl replacement was removed after the parish raised $80,000 for the project.
“As one of the restoration team said, it’s so much more dynamic when the light shines through,” she said.
“The team created a printed
replica of the window which has been in place for the year while we continued to fundraise the cost of repair. The replica was amazing, but not very transparent so the whole church was darker.”
Meanwhile, the parish has raised enough money to replace copper spouting stolen from the old church, one of the Waikato’s two category one historic buildings.
The parish insurance company has agreed to reroof the church office which had copper stolen at the end of last year.
Guest said plans for similar work at St John’s Anglican Church had been parked.
the golf course, and at Cambridge Rd West.
These would be better short-term options, he said than a third bridge which was years and several million dollars away.
Smith revealed that the company he, his father Mike, and Mitch Claw own was less than three days away from lodging building consents with the council for a 300-pupil primary school in Bridleways Estate, Cambridge, when the Education Ministry announced in July last year the project was on hold.
Design was to include a
two-storey building with 13 teaching spaces, an administration building, library, resource room, hall, four spaces for learning and behaviour specialists, a learning support unit, caretaker’s shed, hard courts, fencing and extensive playgrounds.
Education minister Erica Stanford told The News last month the school would go ahead “eventually” but her government had inherited a situation where funding had not been put in place by the previous government.
3Ms invested $1 million of the $3.7 million for
Maadi hopefuls
Papatakohe Park Destination Playground – which Smith describes as a legacy project -across the road to the abandoned school site and on future-proofing school infrastructure.
“We fought hard with the ministry at the time over that,” he said. “You’re telling me they can’t fund the school today that was required 10 years ago.”
Sales in the estate, part of the council’s C2 growth cell which had consent for 2500 homes, a retirement village, supermarket and a school, stalled as families reassessed their options.
The historic stained-glass window at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Rangiaowhia has been restored at a cost of $80,000.
The Te Awamutu College rowing team was pictured at the welcome for Maadi Regatta competitors on Victoria Square in Cambridge on Sunday. From left, back row, were Cole Brownlee, Tessa Chappell, Connor Simons, Keegan Jordaan, Casey-Lee Baker; front row: William Bowmar, Hunter Coleman, Samuel Gower, Harli Nicholas, Kristina Market, Maiara Moimoi, Jasmine Wilcox, Ellie Bate, Kate Mitchell. An economic impact study from Maadi in 2021 estimated the value to the area of the national secondary schools rowing regatta on Lake Karāpiro at more than $13 million. The event was launched in Cambridge for the 150 schools competing with a banner parade.
Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Waipa Workingmens Club
Great people, great food, great atmosphere. Enjoy what the club has to offer!
Club Facilities and Member Benefits
• Plenty of off street parking
• Rafters Restaurant
• Full TAB Service
• Gaming Lounge
• Pool and Snooker Tables
• Dartboards
• Kids Zone with gaming consoles and foosball table
• Live Entertainment
• Courtesy Van
• Members Draw Nights
• Meat Raffles
• Covered outdoor dining area
• Venue Hire at discounted rates
• Range of Social and sports groups available
Get in touch or simply fill out our online membership form at www.waipawmc.co.nz
Membership includes reciprocal visiting rights to other Clubs NZ clubs across New Zealand
Club Opening Hours
Monday 1pm – 8pm
Tuesday 1pm – 10pm
Wednesday 1pm – 8pm
Thursday 1pm – 11pm
Friday 1pm – 11pm
Saturday 10am – 11pm
Sunday 12pm – 8pm 07 871 3923
Meghan Hawkes looks back to 1910 and the news making headlines in Waipā.
News A Snip in Time Setting up sports
Te Awamutu township was in a somewhat excited state over the proposal to do away with the present bowling and tennis sites and have new grounds made on Victoria Park.
There was some opposition to the removal of the grounds from the present site and meetings were held to discuss the matter. As a result, the Puniu Domain Board decided to convert their property between Bank Street and Frontier Road into a sports ground, including a summer and winter green, croquet lawn, four tennis courts, and a running track. This met with the approval not only of bowlers and tennis players, but also the whole community. The grounds would prove a most valuable asset to the town.
At Kihikihi the blaze from a chimney fire was noticed all around the township. Three young men who happened to be in the vicinity hurried to the scene, and two of them immediately climbed on to the roof and with buckets
of water and wet bags managed to extinguish the fire. While doing so the top and some of the chimney fell away and it was only by the strength of them both placing their hands against the hot masonry that it was prevented from falling on them.
Their hands were partly burned and the woodwork at the side of the house was charred, but the building was saved. Fire also removed one of the oldest landmarks on the Ōhaupō Road – a cottage which in the early days was occupied by a shepherd. No one was living there at the time, and the origin of the fire was a mystery. The building had just about outlived its usefulness.
A memorial service for His late Majesty King Edward VII, which was held at Pirongia, was attended by all the inhabitants of the district. The Rev Lamond read the funeral service and hymns were sung. An eloquent sermon on the life and good works of King Edward in the cause of peace, which
had earned him the high and well deserved title of ‘Peacemaker’, was most attentively listened to and deeply appreciated by the mourners. His late Majesty’s favourite hymn ‘Abide with Me’ was sung at the close of the service.
At Harapepe a very successful Sunday school picnic was held in Mr Strong’s paddock. Among those present were visitors from Te Awamutu, Pirongia, Paterangi, Te Rore, and Whatawhata. Miss Hodgson, the Sunday school teacher, was praised for her courtesy and tact which was strikingly illustrated when the various events for the young were held, Miss Hodgson seeing that every child was provided with a prize. One of the most amusing events of the day was the baby’s race, which attracted a very promising field of eight. After partaking of tea everybody wended their way homewards well pleased with a most enjoyable day.
What we’ll focus on
By Ange Holt, Chair, Te Awamutu Community Board
Following on from last month’s column, your Community Board got together to go over our strategic plan, assess how we are doing and to finalise our priorities through to the end of our term. As it is already March and council does not meet in July, there is not a lot of time left.
Firstly, we are happy with what we have achieved in what has been a challenging environment, starting with the Community Board Review followed by a very tight budget which has limited us from getting anything substantial happening.
We plan to focus on the following:
As part of enhancing our connection with our community we will ring around the hall representatives to touch base with our rural community. We will continue to attend Kihikihi Residents and Ratepayers meetings and make every effort to attend any community event or meeting we are invited to.
Goal two of our strategic plan was to improve internal relationships and how we worked with Councillors and staff. A big frustration we have had is around “Conflict of Interest” where it basically disables our Community Board Councillors from supporting us, because if they “sell” what we are suggesting then they can’t vote, if they do nothing then often important points are not highlighted. So, we would like to get together with the Mayor, Chief Executive and Committee Chairs to see if we can come up with a solution.
We will continue to provide comprehensive and well considered submissions. We have a couple of big ones
coming up with Local Waters Done Well and the Long Term Plan. We hope the community will make an effort to participate in both of these as they are extremely important and your feedback counts.
Projects that we will continue to support will include the Clean Up Te Awamutu Day – with the next one in May, so watch out for that; Urban Miners E-waste collections (first Sunday of the month) and maintaining the Battery Recycling Station at Pak’n Save will continue. We hope to have some more conversations with Waipā Networks and Ngāti Apakura representatives to progress the Kaipaka Pa Park. Finally, the clean-up of the Ōhaupō Rd “Welcome to Te Awamutu” sign which is now underway.
In addition, we will continue to support topics or initiatives that the Community brings to our attention if we as a board believe we can offer value by getting involved.
In my recent chair report, I asked if it was possible to remove the sides from the perfumed garden in the Te Awamutu War Memorial Park as they were falling off, there was no garden in one side and the other was overgrown. As part of the front entrance, it looked very sad. So, thank you to the park staff who have been in and got that sorted. We are hoping to move the perfumed garden over (to allow the ANZAC soldiers to move past) and re-establish scented plants for those with no or limited sight.
Our Community Board Meeting is on April 16 - early due to Easter.
Pirongia celebrates funding
By Dani Simpson
A group dedicated to restoring Mt Pirongia’s biodiversity says a Waikato Regional Council grant is “life blood”.
Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society will receive $303,000 over three years towards its Kia Mau Tonu Kaitiakitanga o Pirongia project.
Established in 2002 as a community initiative to enhance native flora and fauna on Pirongia, the society is expanding pest animal control operations to protect a spreading population of kōkako.
The maunga is the highest in the Waikato at 959 metres and Pirongia Forest Park covers 17,000ha and contains the largest tract of unbroken native forest left in the Waikato.
Society chair Kevin Christie said the aim is to bring the maunga and ngahere (forest) back to life.
He said kōkako had been extinct on the maunga for 20 yearsthe last survivors were captured in 1995, and the bird was listed as a threatened species by DoC.
“After a series of kōkako translocations back to the maunga they now have an established population. Their conservation status is listed as ‘nationally increasing’ in the North Island which means we no longer received direct funding from DoC for our work related to the species.”
Among the of work the society’s hundreds of volunteers undertakes includes protecting the threatened native flora
including Dactylanthus (wood rose), running pest and predator control operations, reintroducing native mistletoe back, bat monitoring, eDNA work, planting, and working towards opening up a heritage school building which will act as an enviro centre for education purposes.
The funding comes on the back of Waikato Regional Council increasing their natural heritage rate per property
to $15 a year. It used to be $5.80.
“We’re really grateful the council has the Natural Heritage Fund there as a vehicle to help organisations like ours. This money is life blood for us. And it also means that we can use it as a lever to go to other organisations to seek further support as funders don’t want to see just one single source of income,” Christie said.
The regional council granted $1.34 million
from the fund towards four landscape scale environmental projects.
Funding was also provided for projects at nearby Mount Karioi, northern Coromandel Peninsula and the KaimaiMamaku ranges.
The restoration society is finalising their 20-year strategy which sets out aspirations for the maunga under “Our maunga, our mahi, our heart, our home” and will guide their work until 2045.
Boost for sanctuary
By Chris Gardner
Orienteering Waikato’s Save the Sanctuary Rogaine raised nearly $9000 last Friday for Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain.
Aidan Boswell, Andrew de Groot and Mark Gray created and set the course on the mountain for 218 competitors, while Rolf Boswell, Kaye Harding and Megan Brown worked behind the scenes after hearing Sanctuary Mountain Ecological Island Trust was strapped for cash.
Last financial year Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust, operator of the world’s longest predator proof fence around the mountain near Cambridge, reported a loss of $547,976, compared to a $155,312 profit the previous financial year. The cash flow crisis was prompted by the Department of Conservation’s withdrawal of $1.5 million of contestable funding over four years.
Since then, the operation has cut its ranger staff from 13 to seven, launched an endowment fund, and received a surprise $750,000 boost from the Department of Conservation via the International Visitor Levy.
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is home to more than 730 native species of flora, fauna, and fungi, including endangered wildlife such as the North Island brown kiwi, kākāpō, and Hochstetter’s frog.
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari chief executive Helen Hughes said she was grateful to the orienteering community for coming together.
available at our clinic – please allow time before your appointment to obtain and read the information.
Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society members, from left: Gavin Davey, Ken Allen, Gerry Kessels, Steve McClunie, Selwyn June, Jane Sinclair, Matt Hancock (past treasurer) Kevin Christie (chairperson), Cara Hansen, Dianne June (secretary), Brian Bowell, Halle Aish, John Biddle (Ops coordinator Tainui) Tiaki Ormsby (Ngāti Apakura).
Photo: Supplied.
Council boosts media following
Waipā’s communication and engagement team issued 66 media releases in the three months from November 1 to keep the community engaged and updated on the council’s work.
Many were picked up and published in full by media outlets or used as a basis for broader stories, an eight monthly report to the Finance and Corporate committee yesterday said.
The information only report under the name of financial accountant Nada Milne wraps up the council’s performance for the committee.
The council had more social media followers, increased
website traffic and community feedback from its four platforms on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
It also implemented a more “tactical” approach to communication through media releases which took a proactive approach to communicating high-profile community issues. They included releases on the Cambridge Water Tower, Cambridge Connections, waste to energy plant, Waikato Water Done Well, double decker buses, Cambridge Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cambridge Pathway’s completion and Shakespeare St interim repairs. The communications team also reported on a community
celebration it organised on December 13 to honour Waipā’s record number of Olympians and Paralympians.
The event which coincided with other key sporting events boosted Waipā’s sporting profile and saw the district’s Home of Champions spirit shine through as residents came together to celebrate the achievements of their local heroes, the report said.
The News reported the council spent nearly $15,700 on the event which included a civic function and Party in the Park at Victoria Square which was described as a “disaster” by the Chamber of Commerce because so few people attended.
A New Era for Cambridge based Alpha First
Alpha First is an established Private Credit platform that specialises in property funding, offering wholesale investors the opportunity to invest in standalone loans secured by first mortgages.
To date, Alpha First investors have invested more than $750 million, funding standalone mortgage-backed property loans.
A recent change in shareholding has seen four families acquire a majority interest in Alpha First. Individually their shareholder representatives have extensive interests and experience in property, direct investments, and financial services sectors. This expertise and insightfulness will be invaluable in guiding the company, identifying opportunities, and managing risk. Stephen Crerar, one of the new shareholders and recently appointed Managing Director brings 30 years of senior leadership experience across banking, investment, and property sectors.
“Over the last decade Private Credit has developed into an accepted asset class, playing an important role in portfolio diversification for both institutional and individual wholesale investors,” Stephen explains.
“Whilst this market in New Zealand is in a relatively early stage, it is part of a worldwide trend and momentum continues to build. Private Credit investing provides an attractive option for traditional fixed income investors and those seeking an alternative to equities.”
“Alpha First are good people with good values who share my own careful and conservative investment approach. I believe honesty and transparency build sustainable long-term relationships so I’m looking forward to getting to know more investors throughout Waikato and personally presenting future opportunities to them.”
The team facilitating Private Credit investments requires a strong understanding of the property market, banking and property law, exceptionally strong risk management skills and strategic insight to achieve the best results. And this is where Alpha First truly shines.
Similarly qualified and experienced in the sector are the Alpha First Investment Relationship Managers, Bruce BodleyDavies and Olivia Fraser.
Bruce explains that “Alpha First’s approach is different from many other wholesale investment providers. “We’re not a managed fund, nor do we pool funds. Investors maintain control, choosing the opportunities they want to
invest in, and we don’t deduct costs or fees from investor returns.”
Registering with Alpha First enables potential investors to see what is available, without the requirement to commit any funds.
“Alpha First are good people with good values who share my own careful and conservative investment approach. I believe honesty and transparency build sustainable long-term relationships so I’m looking forward to getting to know more investors throughout Waikato and personally presenting future opportunities to them.”
To learn more and understand if this could be right for your consideration; we invite wholesale and eligible investors to contact Bruce (mobile 021 520 068), Olivia, or Stephen to arrange a meeting at our Cambridge offices. For more info, visit www.alphafirst.co.nz or call 0800 555 621 to schedule an appointment with us.
Alpha First’s offices are situated at Level 1, Unit 104, 86 Alpha Street, Cambridge.
L to R: Bruce Bodley-Davies, Olivia Fraser, Stephen Crerar.
Olympians and paralympians prepare for a tug of war at the Party in the Park event on Victoria Square in December.
Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Doctor disputes plant evidence
The human health risk assessment completed for the Paewira Waste to Energy Plant contains contradictory and selective data and should raise alarm bells, according to a general practitioner opposed to the plant.
Dr Crispin Langston, former occupational medicine advisor to the British Army’s Catterick Garrison, said a report from Sydney based Environmental Risk Sciences noted hospital admissions for childhood asthma in the Waikato region exceed the national average while a recent Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand study recognised oxides of nitrogen as an especial risk for childhood asthma.
Langston said the applicant Global Contracting Solutions’ submitted report stated that there was “no significant indication that the population could be considered more vulnerable than the NZ population overall to project related stressors”.
“Such contradictory and selective data analysis should always raise alarm bells,” Langston said.
Last May Langston spoke for a group of Canterbury doctors opposed to building waste to energy plants in New Zealand when they warned of potential health risks if one went ahead in Kaipara, Northland.
The Environmental Protection Authority will also consider an application for a Waste to Energy plant in South Canterbury.
Waipā District Council has opposed the Te Awamutu project, but in Kaipara major Craig Jepson champions the waste to energy process.
Jepson was a spokesperson for a group which sought to convert the former coal-fired power station in Meremere into a Waste to Energy plant more than 20 years ago.
Of the Te Awamutu application
Langston said a standard risk analysis approach was to identify background levels and show that any contribution from a new project was below threshold.
“If we are already assessing toxins at approaching threshold levels, and with accumulative and probably latent effects, it makes no sense to add anything more into the environment. It is stated that toxic emissions, even of accumulative chemicals, will be of little effect greater than 1.5km from the plant, and that such discharges cannot change concentrations in the atmosphere at large distances. Significant evidence exists indicating that this is incorrect, and accumulation may occur even hundreds of miles from source.”
The applicant’s human health risk assessment was made on a limited suite of individual chemicals, assessed in isolation.
“It will be shown that this is unreasonably simplistic and that complex and secondary reactions result in new and unknown toxins,
whilst biological systems may be resilient to single stressors but subject to significant damage from poison exposures in combination, even when individual items are at or below ‘safe’ levels.
“No consideration is given to latent harm, which may remain unidentified for years or even decades, and yet be catastrophic,” he said, citing lead, and dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) as examples.
Langston said the health risks were the same as those arising from any incinerator, the safety of which could not be established in advance.
“Of special health significance those same permitted emissions would include high levels of particulates and
nitrogen oxides (NOx), quite apart from any secondary reactions within the ambient air. NOx have a variety of adverse effects on the lung, spleen, liver and blood, and it has been shown that children aged 5-12 years have a 20 per cent increased incidence of respiratory symptoms secondary to a rise in NOx of 28 micrograms per cubic metre.”
He argued rigorous independent health monitoring might give rise to suspicions of adverse effects on the foetus and infant within a few years but would not reach statistical significance for individual installations. Notice of effects such as adult cancers would be delayed for at least 10 to 20 years, he said.
Kihikihi paint job
The Kihikihi Town Hall is having a refresh. Scaffolding has gone up on the historic building and contractors are expected to start soon on repainting the walls, fascias and windows on the 120 year old hall.
Bollards go
Old bollards around the netball carpark in Te Awamutu will be replaced with other new ones will close off vehicle access from Racecourse Rd into the Te Awamutu War Memorial Park.
Chamber MC
Sports presenter and former league and rugby international Honey Hireme-Smiler will act as Master of Ceremonies at the Waipā business awards on May 2 at Mystery Creek.
Road works
Road rehabilitation has begun on the last 250m of Ngāroto Rd before it meets SH3, north of Te Awamutu. The work, which includes adding a strengthening overlay and widening from 6m width to 7.5m, will take up to four weeks.
Lighting up
Genesis Energy has teamed up with Ecobulb to give away 47,000 LED light bulbs to eligible Te Awamutu households.
The Te Awamutu plant, if approved, would sit within the red lines drawn here – on the boundaries of the Waipā Racing Club, Fonterra and Te Wananga o Aotearoa sites.
This Sunday 30 March 10am-2pm Victoria Street, Victoria Square & Town Hall
Over 200 performers of different genres, and over 60 genuine Art Stalls, all on the footpaths of Victoria Street and the lawns of Victoria Square. The town centre will come alive! Experience an array of entertainment from easy listening music to jazz, a flash mob, and much, much more. Enjoy performances from our talented local dance groups, bring the kids along for face painting, sugar art, plus photo opportunities with roaming street performers. Admire artists' work, woodturners in action, glassware to jewellery, and clothing to pottery.
Then take a stroll to the Town Hall for the Art Exhibition + Sale, and visit the Exhibition of Photos and Quilts in the St Andrew's Church Hall. Come and enjoy this amazing community day!
Facing up to a ‘very real’ threat
By Viv Posselt
New Zealanders are being cautioned against complacency as the global environment faces swiftlychanging security and trade challenges and around 250 cyber attacks a second .
Our geographical distance from major conflicts affords no buffer to their effects, says Cambridge’s Jon Broadley, a business advisor and long-time military officer who is also a brigadier in the New Zealand Defence Force and vice-president of the Cambridge RSA.
Broadley was speaking at this month’s meeting of Cambridge U3A, addressing the topic of New Zealand Defence Force operations within the current complex global security environment.
He said New Zealand is not engaged in a globespanning conventional war as was the case with the first and second world wars, but the challenges and threats to our security and way of life are very real.
“I am referring to terrorism, and the related interstate and internal conflicts across the globe,” he said. “The Global Peace Index last year identified 56 major conflicts, the largest number since WW2, involving 92 countries, or 47 per cent of the 195 countries around the world. The more reported on are those between Ukraine and Russia, and Israel and Palestine, but there are many others.
“Cyber attacks are also a very real threat. It is estimated that between 100250 attacks are happening across the globe every second of the day, creating further challenges we need to be cognisant of.”
Maritime security, including piracy, also affects our collective international security, he added, sucking up a large amount of resources in countries seeking to keep sea lanes free and fish stocks sustainable.
He noted North Korea’s continuing missile testing and provocative stance, and said China’s recent muscleflexing, both economically and militarily, was concerning.
“Closer to home, we face resource challenges with monitoring our vast Exclusive Economic Zone, which is one of the world’s largest, and our friends, the Pacific Island nations, need regular assistance, especially when facing issues such as tropical cyclones or search and rescue.”
Broadley said at an area of 30 million square kilometres, New Zealand’s Search and Rescue zone of responsibility was one of the largest in the world.
“But these are not the only defence and security issues we face. Globalisation has made the impacts of global events local,” he said. “I don’t think anybody takes seriously arguments that New Zealand should hunker
TE AWA LIFECARE
MAIN STREET CARNIVAL
10AM 2PM
SUNDAY 30TH MARCH
VICTORIA SQUARE STAGE
9.45am – 10.15am Cambridge & Districts Pipe Band
10.15am – 11am Ben Gilgen Jazz Combo
down and isolate itself from the world. We cannot afford to.”
As a trading nation, New Zealand has a vital stake in the international system, one that has helped ensure our economic prosperity as a trading nation that is far from world markets.
“Of our $90 billion export earning last year, China took about 26 per cent, the US and Australia about 13 per cent each, and the UK only about three per cent, so our prosperity is inextricably linked to our exporting partners across the globe.
“Therefore, we must care when one country invades another in eastern Europe, when instability in the Middle East is supported by countries such as Iran and Yemen, and when groups of foreign fighters and pirates pop up in various parts of the world. We must be cognisant of the South China Sea and southwest Pacific security debate to ensure we understand its potential impact to New Zealand’s economic interest.”
Broadley said whatever role New Zealand’s government decides it will play needs to be comprehensive in its considerations of political, societal and economic contributions.
“Military power and resources can only really offer the opportunity to create the space for more enduring solutions.”
11.20am – 12noon HBHS Big Band 12.15pm – 1pm HBHS Jazz Combo 1.15pm – 2pm CHS Jazz Band
10am – 10.45am Daniel Peters – rhythmic pulse 11.15am – 11.45am Zoë Clarke – violinist 12.15pm – 12.45pm Alan Sayers – singer/guitar 1.15pm – 2pm Andy Starr – electric guitar
ANTIQUES ON VICTORIA
10.45am – 11.15am The Juke Box Duets 11.45am – 12.15pm The Juke Box Duets 12.45pm – 1.15pm The Juke Box Duets
BNZ CORNER
10am – 10.30am Strive Performing Arts 10.30am – 11am Cruisers Rock ‘n’ Roll Dancers 11am - 11.30am Affirmation - band 11.30am – 12noon KS School of Dance 12noon – 1pm Ignite Arts Academy 1pm – 2pm Riverside Ukes
ROUGE COURTYARD
10.00am – 10.45am MOSAIC Choir
11.15am – 1.00pm St Peter’s music students 1.15pm – 2.00pm Cherie Holden
PLUS ROAMING STREET PERFORMERS, FACE PAINTERS, A FLASH MOB AND MORE!
Jon Broadley, a brigadier with the NZDF and Cambridge businessman, spoke to Cambridge U3A this month.
Photo: Viv Posselt
Hosts top at Owl Farm school event
By Jesse Wood
Te Awamutu College students took part in the third education and agriskills event at Owl Farm, St Peter’s School Cambridge on Thursday.
Five King Country, Waipā and Hauraki high schools were represented.
Since 2015, Owl Farm has been one of three demonstration farms in New Zealand. It is a joint venture with Lincoln University and funding partners.
The 160-hectare dairy farm is between the St Peter’s campus and the Waikato River.
For 90 years, the land has grown produce for the school kitchen and gives the students opportunities to learn farming skills.
About 100 teenagers from Te Awamutu College, Hauraki Plains College, Ōtorohanga College, Piopio
College and St Peter’s put their agricultural abilities to the test at the event.
Attendees completed eight learning modules before an interschool agri-skills race after lunch.
Race activities included tying a terminal fence knot before attaching it to an insulator to set up a portable fence, identifying beef breeds, mixing and using spray chemicals, identifying income and expenses, identifying fertiliser and seed types, potting and identifying native plants, labelling parts of a cow, stacking and securing hay bales and dressing a wound.
The host school came out on top with teams in first and second, followed by Piopio College with the bronze.
“It means a lot. We kept our heads up, worked as a team, got through it and got the win,” St Peter’s winning
team member Hunter Redman said.
“I reckon the secret was just working as a team. We prepared a lot coming up to this and we were mentally prepared. We just kept at it.”
The champion team now have their school’s name engraved on the Owl Farm Secondary Schools Agri Challenge shield twice.
Owl Farm demonstration manager Jo Sheridan said the organisers were thankful for the help from Young Farmer clubs in the Cambridge area and Owl Farm’s industry partners along with the St Peter’s agriculture teachers.
“Even though it was very hot the students were great participants - asking lots of questions in the education modules in the morning and giving everything a go in the agri-skills race,” Sheridan said.
“Many of these students will go on to compete at Regional Young Farmer events where they test their skills amongst the best.
“These events give students confidence in their abilities to contribute to the food and fibre industry and allow them to see the
huge range of opportunities available in the industry.
“We are grateful for the efforts of the teachers that build on these skills
in the classroom and we are excited to see the contribution these students will make in the food and fibre industry.”
Nixon’s riding high
A young Te Awamutu motorbike racer has parked himself at the top of the podium again.
Crossing the line with a comfortable lead in Gore at the weekend, Nixon Parkes secured a clean sweep in the junior grade of the New Zealand Cross-country Nationals.
After dominating performances earlier this year in the first two rounds, in Rewa north of Feilding, the defending champ added round three and four wins to his tally (March 20-22) leaving no doubt as to who holds bragging rights at the sport’s junior level.
The competition also confirmed Ōtorohanga’s Trevor De Malmanche as the best in the veteran grade while Taupo’s Brad Groombridge claimed senior honours.
Series winners also included Stratford’s Megan Collins (senior women), Waitoa’s Chad McGovern (under-85cc class) and Grace Fowler from Rotorua (junior women).
Nixon Parkes in action at the nationals.
The champion St Peter’s team in action. Photo: Jesse Wood
Community Connect
March 27, 2025
Calling all Waipā waste-busters!
Have a creative idea to reduce waste and help your community shine? Waipā District Council has $50,000 (thanks to Central Government) to help bring your waste-busting project to life
Whether you’re an individual, a teacher, part of a marae, an organisation or a local group, this is your chance to grab a share of the Waste Minimisation Community Fund.
Waste minimisation advisor Shelley Wilson said it’s all about turning waste challenges into exciting new solutions — we want to support projects that help rethink, reduce and reuse waste.
“It’s amazing to see how a little creativity can go a long way. We’re excited to see what projects will come through this year’s funding round.”
One project that grew as a result of the fund last year was Street Harvest, which expanded its neighbourhood gardens. The project provides worm farms where people can dispose of their food scraps, and veggie gardens for fresh produce. Thanks to the fund, the project has tripled the amount of food scraps being processed, and produced more food as a result.
Project manager Elise Badger said what started out as a way to reduce waste and grow food has turned
into something really special. “It brings neighbours together for a good chat and some community bonding. Our planting days are always a highlight!”
Wilson said it was a perfect example of how a small idea can grow into something that can benefit the whole community.
The funding is provided to councils from the Ministry for the Environment’s waste disposal levy.
Don’t wait — applications close at 5pm Friday, April 18. For all the details and to apply, head to wastelesswaipa.co.nz/wastefund
Roadworks in Cambridge
Major works are happening on Cambridge Road (near the Velodrome) over the next month, so please expect delays and plan your journey carefully
Work will start on Monday, March 31 between 6am and 8pm with Stop/Go traffic management in place between Ngaki Drive and the new roundabout.
The good news is that both lanes of traffic will be diverted to the new roundabout before Easter.
Please continue to follow the instructions of the teams on-site, and we thank you for your continued patience.
Pirongia skatepark on the right track
Young people who helped design Pirongia’s first skatepark have given a ‘big thumbs up’ to the final plans
The park, which will feature a variety of quarter pipes, bowls, ramps and ledges, will be located next to the Pirongia Rugby and Sports Club, on a Waipā District Council-owned site at 341 Franklin Road.
Council allocated $100,000 through its 202131 Long Term Plan for site selection, planning, consenting and design. The Pirongia Skatepark Community Project is working to raise $800,000 for construction, including offering supporters the chance to have their names engraved on a brick at the skatepark.
Community services manager Brad Ward said feedback on the proposed layout and features of the park showed the council has its plans right. Nearly 140 people participated in the consultation last August through an online and hardcopy survey, a drop-in session and an engagement session at Pirongia School. Most of the responses came from Pirongia School students, with 87 percent of feedback from tamariki aged 15 and younger. Ward said it was great to hear from so many young people about a project the Pirongia community has been passionate about for years, and it helped the project team finalise a design the town could be proud of.
“Doing early engagement in 2023 helped significantly. It gave us valuable insight into what Pirongia wanted in their future skatepark, from the skill level to the features included.
“Now the community group can focus on fundraising and applying for grants. We’re excited to see this project come to life and to provide Pirongia with a valuable asset for future generations.”
What’s on this week
The bumper month of events continues!
• Maadi Rowing Regatta Finals: March 29
• Cambridge Autumn Festival: March 28 – April 6
• Cambridge Raceway Night of Champions – April 4
• New Zealand Dragon Boat National Championships: April 4 - 5
Check out w whatsonwaipa.co.nz or scan the QR code for more!
Street Harvest Neighbourhood Gardens.
ON SHAKY GROUND
Our ancient salt
By Janine Krippner
Salt is part of our everyday lives, whether we are eating it or swimming in ocean water. Before it reaches our kitchens, salt is collected in several ways. One method involves evaporating salty water, leaving the salt behind to be harvested. Another source is rock salt, or halite, which forms when large bodies of salty water evaporate over time. These deposits, called evaporites, can originate from vast inland seas that existed hundreds of millions of years ago.
If you use Himalayan salt, that mineral has had quite the journey before arriving in stores. It is mined from the aptly named “Salt Range” in Pakistan, within what geologists call a fold-and-thrust belt. These massive geological features form when tectonic plates collide, causing rock layers to deform over immense timescales. Imagine pushing a rug along the floor—it folds and buckles as it bunches up. Similarly, when large faults develop, rock layers can be thrust over one another, creating complex geological structures.
One fascinating property of salt is that, under the right conditions, it flows. When thick layers of salt (ranging from hundreds of meters to a kilometre in thickness) are buried by sediments over geologic time, they experience uneven pressure, causing the salt to move. Picture a mattress-sized slab of putty: if you roll over it, the putty will bulge outward, shifting away from the applied pressure.
Salt can also migrate or move toward the surface, forming large domes or even flowing across the land like a glacier. If you search for “Zagros Mountains salt glaciers” online, you’ll find stunning images of multi-coloured salt formations, some even imaged from space to
show their impressive size.
On the seafloor, salt can emerge at the surface and, thanks to a thin protective layer that prevents it from dissolving, create striking geological features. These are particularly abundant on the continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico.
Our own drought
By Julie Guest, Parish vicar, St John’s Te Awamutu
Yesterday it rained properly for the first time this year. Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but that’s how it feels to me at least. And not just me. Everyone was talking about the rain.
Buried salt deposits can also play important role in oil and gas accumulation. Because salt is impermeable, it acts as a natural barrier, trapping migrating hydrocarbons beneath the surface.
Salt can come in different colours, depending on its composition. Pure sodium chloride (NaCl) is colourless, while pink Himalayan salt gets its distinctive hue from trace amounts of iron oxide. This is similar to how minerals like quartz exhibit various colours depending on the presence of other elements.
It’s truly remarkable when you think about it. A vast inland sea slowly evaporates, leaving behind a thick salt deposit. Over millions of years, this deposit is buried beneath layers of sediment, becoming part of the rock record. Eventually, the salt, being less dense and more buoyant than the surrounding rock, begins to rise back toward the surface—just like oil in water or magma in the Earth’s crust. And after this long, extraordinary journey, we harvest it for food, decoration, or even to make salt lamps.
The next time you use Himalayan or other rock salt, I hope you take a moment to appreciate the incredible history this ancient mineral has travelled through time and space.
“You can almost see the grass greening,” someone said. We spoke with relief, because since Christmas conditions had deteriorated alarmingly. This paper reports that the land became barren, farmers have been forced to dry off their herds early, feed supplements, and some are buying in water. In my own garden, crops have failed, even those I’ve successfully grown in other years.
Drought in Te Awamutu, as everywhere, is a stark reminder of the fragility of life when deprived of essential sustenance. This physical drought mirrors the spiritual drought we might experience in our lives when we live with no awareness or acknowledgement of God’s love for us. Just as the land becomes parched and unproductive without rain, our hearts can feel empty and desolate without the nourishment of divine love. God’s love is the living water that nourishes our souls, helping us flourish in love, kindness, and inner peace. Without it, we might try to fill that void with temporary fixes or distractions, only to find that they don’t truly satisfy our deeper needs. However, just as farmers prepare and adapt to survive droughts, we too can seek ways to discover or reconnect with God’s love—through prayer, gathering with others who share faith in Christ, and scripture. God’s love, like rain, can transform a desolate heart into one that overflows with life, purpose, and gratitude .
The practice of the Examen, as beautifully introduced in Sleeping with Bread by Dennis, Sheila, and Matthew Linn, offers a simple yet profound spiritual exercise that can help us to find our way to God, by examining our daily lives. We begin by identifying moments of consolation (where we feel most alive, connected, and in tune with God’s love) and desolation (where we feel distant, dry, or lacking purpose).
In the context of spiritual drought, the Examen becomes a kind of lifeline, drawing us back toward the source of our nourishment. It allows us to reflect on the moments when we felt spiritually “fed” by God’s presence -those consolations that refresh our souls like rain on parched land. At the same time, it gently prompts us to acknowledge the moments of desolation and seek ways to reconnect with God.
What makes the practice so approachable, is its simplicity and adaptability. It’s a process of asking two key questions daily: For what moment today am I most grateful? For what moment today am I least grateful? In the same way that drought forces us to cherish every drop of water, the Examen teaches us to notice and cherish God’s love in the smallest moments of our lives. It’s a gentle, consistent way to nurture our souls, keeping us open to God’s transformative “rain” of love and grace. If you want to know more google the practice of Examen or ask your local church leader.
TALKING ECONOMICS
Perhaps, possibly, purportedly
By Peter Nicholl
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The Government held a major Foreign Investment Forum in Auckland on in mid-March. They see increased foreign investment as a way to moderate many of our major economic problems: increase our anaemic economic growth, reduce our enormous infrastructure deficit and improve our poor productivity performance.
They see PPP projects (Public, Private Partnerships) as a good way to attract increased foreign investment to New Zealand.
One aim of the forum was to show that New Zealand was open for business and welcomed foreign investment. But New Zealand has been open to foreign investment for a long time.
The current level of foreign investment in New Zealand is already around $540 billion. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop had a major role at the forum. He said New Zealand had a $200 billion long-term pipeline of infrastructure projects that were looking for funding. But it seems that only four relatively small-scale projects were actually ready for discussion at the forum. This makes the timing of the forum seem unusual. After the forum, there were no announcements of new infrastructure deals being negotiated and funded.
One thing Chris Bishop did tell the forum was that New Zealand is the fourth worst country in the OECD at maintaining its infrastructure assets. We should be ashamed of that. There seems to be a plea in the government’s invitation to foreign investors that we need them to come into New Zealand to sort out the problems we have in designing and managing large infrastructure projects. We should also be ashamed of that too.
There is no guarantee that PPP contractors will be better at maintaining infrastructure assets. The priority for the private sector participants in any PPP scheme is to make
profits. In the United Kingdom, for example, when a lot of their rail network was handed over to private companies to manage, maintenance problems continued to exist and, indeed, the problems sometimes got worse, and the maintenance costs ended back on the government’s plate. If the New Zealand public sector has problems managing these things when they control the whole project, they will have difficulty ensuring that future PPP schemes in New Zealand don’t finish up with the private sector participants getting the lion’s share of the profits and the New Zealand public sector bearing the lion’s share of the risks and costs.
The Government has announced it is setting up a new agency, the National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Ltd, to be New Zealand’s ‘shopfront’ for infrastructure investment. This seems to be a typical New Zealand policy approach to a problem – set up a new agency and tell them it is their job to solve the problem.
But New Zealand has three major problems when it comes to infrastructure investment. First is the country’s small size. There is nothing this new agency or the government can do about that. Second is that most infrastructure projects are very long term and will straddle the terms of multiple governments. Only our political parties can work out a way to address that problem. The third problem is our poor performance at designing and managing infrastructure projects. We really need to be finding ways to solve, or at least reduce, this problem ourselves.
If we contract the solution of this problem to the private participant in our PPP projects, they are more likely to look after their own interests than to solve our problems.
Need drives expansion
By Viv Posselt
Moves are underway to boost capacity at the Beattie Home complex in Ōtorohanga, with plans to extend the existing facility and provide a wing of dualpurpose rooms to cater for rest or hospital-level care.
Land has been secured and the drafting of concept plans started. The spend is expected to be in the region of $5 million.
The complex is owned by the Beattie Community Trust and is viewed as something of a triumph in terms of community support. With a total of 70 staff, it is also the biggest employer in town.
Beattie Community Trust chairperson Andra Neeley said plans to extend the facility have been on the table for some time.
“It has taken a while to sort out what we needed to do … there have been governmental and regulatory changes,” she said. “The tick to go to continuing care came in November, but we had been preparing for that 12-months prior.”
Trust vice chair Stuart
Gower said a donation received from the John and Sarah Oliver Trust had enabled Beattie to purchase 174 and 176 Maniapoto St, abutting properties they already own at 178 and 180 Maniapoto St. It gives Beattie a parcel of land to extend its Papakāinga Homestead dementia facility and provide a wing of dual-purpose rooms to cater for rest or respite care, or hospital-level care.
Gower said the anticipated figure of $5 million was based on an initial cost per square metre.
“The community will be funding it with a mix of donations and fundraising. We did the same thing for the dementia wing.”
Community has been at the heart of Beattie since it started.
Community leaders saw the 1986 closure of the local maternity home as an opportunity to create a place for the elderly, and in 1988 Beattie Home opened with 27 beds. It was named in honour of one of the town’s earliest doctors.
Ongoing community support led to the addition
of the Wilshier Centre in 2004, providing a residents’ activity lounge. Then came the Kowhai Wing in 2016, bringing nine en-suite rooms, and in 2021 the Papakāinga Homestead opened as a self-contained dementia unit.
Beattie Home general manager, and project manager for the extension, Olive Utiera, said upgrades have continued since, but growing demand, particularly for rest home
and dementia level care, is proving challenging.
Since the opening of Papakāinga Homestead in 2021, about six rest care rooms have been converted to hospital-level care to allow them to be used for either purpose. More conversions will be done soon. That, as well as the progressive training of staff to align with hospital-level care requirements, has gone some way towards easing the pressure, Utiera said.
End of road for i-Site
By Mary Anne Gill
Cambridge i-Site will close on June 30 following cutbacks, a rent increase and Riverside Adventures’ decision to move out of the Town Hall space.
Destination Cambridge, which has 150 members and previously ran the i-Site for accommodation, attractions, hospitality, transport and retail providers - before handing over to Riverside last year - will transition to a digital rather than physical presence.
Its general manager Ruth Crampton has resigned.
Waipā District Council canned an annual grant of $157,000 last year but gave the organisation a one-off $30,000 fee to maintain its online presence.
The organisation runs the cambridge.co.nz website which has 130,000 visitors a year and the popular What’s On events section.
Waipā council funds Hamilton and Waikato Tourism although it reduced its annual contribution this year from $183,000 to $147,000.
Destination Cambridge Chair Lucy Young said the council’s decision to pull funding was “our biggest crisis,” said Young.
The trust which now runs the Town Hall on behalf of the council had also signalled it would double the rent to market rates from July 1.
Riverside business manager Memorie Brooky said her company would no longer operate an i-Site from the Town Hall but planned to provide information services elsewhere.
The News understands the Chamber of Commerce and deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, who was the original manager when Destination Cambridge became an incorporated society to run an information centre in late 2000, have held talks with interested parties about plans from July 1.
Te Awamutu AUTO DIRECTORY
BLM Engineering welcomes Pinto Trailers
Customers looking for reliability will nd that Pinto Trailers is behind them on their journey.
“A trusted local engineering company, BLM Engineering added Pinto Trailers to our range,” company director, Shara Marra, con rms. “We’re well known for thinking big, so we thought ‘why not also think small?’”
While BLM has gained an enviable reputation for (in part) providing trailers for heavy industry, bringing smaller Pinto Trailers into the fold sees all bases are covered.
“These rst class trailers are suited for home use or commercial applications. New Zealand made using locally
sourced materials, they are fully welded and hot dip galvanised to maximise strength, durability and reliability, ensuring a long, rust free life backed by a 10 year guarantee.”
From farm bike trailers to digger and machinery trailers, car transporters and more, Pinto can assist. Accessories including motor bike racks, cages, stock crates and H frames are also available.
BLM Engineering and Pinto Trailers are part of the IGP Group, also encompassing HTSL Diesel Mechanical, Central Diesel Services (CDS) and Road Transport Compliance (RTC). For details regarding the group’s full range of services visit www.igp.co.nz.
Beattie Home general manager and project manager for the extension Olive Utiera, centre, flanked by Beattie Community Trust chairperson Andra Neeley and vice-chair Stuart Gower.
Photo: Viv Posselt
From Middle Earth to Mokau
By Chris Gardner
In a bach on a beach lived a dwarf.
Or more accurately an actor who portrayed a dwarf in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power television series.
“I did 15 days all up, over six weeks,” Colin Jacobs told The News when we discovered him relaxing at his Mōkau bach in the Waitomo District.
He was taking a break from his Te Awamutu-based stonemasonry business Classic Stonework where jobs are described by the tonne of stone required.
Jacobs got the background part without an audition as the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded, having appeared alongside Kevin Sorbo as an evil masked guard in the 1990s television show Hercules.
Then he waited, and waited, for the series to air on Amazon Prime.
He can most notably be glimpsed in the second episode of the first season when the wood elf Legolas is reunited with the dwarf prince Durin IV.
“All the dwarves are in a big cave smashing rocks, sparks flying,” he said.
“It was a pretty full-on time. It was all hush hush, and I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement when I was on the set.”
Jacobs’ scenes were filmed in Kumeū Film Studios, Auckland, after he grew a long dwarf beard of his own over six months and was fitted with a prosthetic nose and wig.
A diminutive actor was made up to look exactly like Jacobs for long and wide shots.
“I did not have any words to say in it.”
Curious, as Jacobs is a man of many, enthusiastic, words.
“It was a really great experience.”
His role in the Middle-earth television series is not a far cry from his real life. Rather than living in caves hewn from a mountain he lives in a home he crafted from stone a stone’s throw from where he was born at Matariki Maternity Home 58 years ago.
Jacobs has also appeared in television and internet commercials, most notably Te Whatu Ora’s Stick It to Hep C advert which shows patients flipping their middle finger at the camera.
“We had 19 complaints,” he said.
Jacobs got into acting after following up on a suggestion from a crewmate on a 1990s Spirit of Adventure journey.
“It cost $400 to do a photoshoot and I thought I had lost my money, but three weeks later I had a role.”
Today he is listed as talent with Red 11 Model Management in Auckland and is waiting for the phone to ring. Perhaps he will be called back for Season Three of the show?
“Colin is a loveable character and all-round great guy to work with,” said Red 11 Model Management’s Timēna Apa. “We are stoked to be representing him.”
Jacobs recently joined Cambridge band Tunnel Ram as a trumpet player after it dropped its first single Space Invaders on streaming platforms.
“It’s pretty heavy,” he said.
“It’s pretty much dirty rock, or that’s what producer Dave Rhodes calls it. It’s like The Pogues, but not.”
Jacobs is eyeing the Awakino Hotel for a gig.
But for now, Jacobs is content to remember his late wife Nikki who died a year ago from brain cancer.
Jacobs and his mates commemorated Nikki last weekend with a beer and a fishing competition based at his bach.
JOIN A CLUB
TE AWAMUTU CREATIVE FIBRE
We are a group of people who explore, inspire and create with bre.
Te Awamutu Creative Fibre has an extensive library, a range of equipment for use with bre, regular workshops in all areas of our interests, spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet etc. Members are encouraged to share their knowledge and skills base.
We have approx 40 members who meet in one or all of our
Te Awamutu stone mason Colin Jacobs remembers his time on The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power with fondness as he relaxes at his Mōkau bach.
A member of King Country’s Fagan family has won the Horse of the Year event this month.
Year 5 Ōtewā School student Javana Johnston, 9, won her category A show hunter class at the Tomoana Showgrounds in Hastings. The youngster has been riding horses since she was toddler.
There were about 1400 riders competing for titles. Javana and her pony Starlight Samara competed against children much older than her across four days.
Her mum Julia Johnston, niece of shearing legend Sir David Fagan, was proud of her daughter’s efforts.
“It’s the second time Javana has competed at Horse of the Year,” Julia said. “Last year she was the youngest rider competing in show hunter and came home with a couple of wins and placings. This year we brought home the big one.”
Javana also rode a category B class pony, Starlight Sahara.
“She had her challenging moments with Starlight Sahara this year though. She started off okay with sixth in her first class but ended up having a couple of falls during the week.
“She got a sportsmanship spot prize for the way she conducted herself and the kindness towards her pony after her falls.
Julia grew up in Te Kūiti before moving north to Whitianga.
The family moved to Ōtewā, on the banks of the Waipā River near Ōtorohanga, when Javana started primary school.
Along with Te Kūiti-based sister Tina Fagan, Julia competed in pony events in her youth too.
“I actually bred Javana’s ponies. Me and my sister Tina, we breed our Starlight horses and ponies. I’ve been breeding ponies since before I had kids in hopes that they would want to ride as well. I got lucky with my first one,” Julia said.
“I have always been trying to chase that quality of pony since I finished in pony Grand Prix way back in my day.
“This year, not only did one of my ponies take out the category A with Javana, but I also had my pony stallion take out the category C with one of my other riders, Te Kauwhata-based Cameron Young.”
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season because she wanted to go for those national classes,” Julia said.
“I think she would like to take out the win. She wants to chase those points for the national series.
“But it’s pretty amazing to win the pony of the year class this year. To come home as number one.”
It was a family affair for Javana and Julia. Tina and her two girls Hannah, 12, and Twyla Ashwell, 11, also attended.
Javana’s cousins both brought home wins and placings in show jumping.
Tina said the competitive spirit is part of the girls’ blood and they understand the commitment it takes in any sport to be a champion.
Riding Starlight Storm, Hannah placed first in the pony 1.10m event and third in speed pony champion of the year 1.20m.
With her second pony, Starlight Irwin, Hannah came first in the equitation medal of the year 13 years and under event as well as third in the pony 1.10m championship.
Javana also placed in five other events as well as placing third in the national category
A high point series, third overall in the 12 years and under national equitation series - the rider class, and third in the national series on her category B high points with Starlight Sahara.
In 2024, she placed sixth overall in all her high point series classes for the national series, bumping her way up three spots this year.
“Javana placed at the Takapoto showjumping event last winter as well, but we’ve concentrated on the show hunter this
Twyla rode Starlight Ishtar, placing second in category C high points and fifth in the equitation medal of the year 13 years and under.
Riding her second mount Quince, Twyla finished sixth in the pony 1.05m championship category.
The sisters also represented Waikato in the Pony Club’s Show Jumping teams event gaining second place.
“The three cousins did very, very well for themselves,” Julia said.
“Tina and I always rode as kids, but to also have our three girls come through, compete and do really well is quite amazing.
“I think they’ve been very lucky to have mums that have ridden and bred horses.”
Javana Johnston and Starlight Samara leap over an obstacle.
Photo: Heidi Clotworthy
16
267 North Street $775,000 1:00-1:30pm
16 Christie Ave $579,000 2:30-3:00pm
Contact listing agent prior-visiting as Open Homes times can change.
Pear perfect
Ralph Waldo Emerson (American essayist) said ‘There are only ten minutes in the life of a pear when it is perfect to eat.” He said this in the eighteen hundreds. Today we have controlled refrigeration to preserve the pear’s wellbeing. But determining ripeness can still be a challenge. A pear is ready to eat, and at its best, when it has softened slightly near the stem.
A good summer variety — and one we have in the garden — is the bell-shaped Bartlett pear. It changes from green to yellow as it ripens but also can quickly deteriorate. There are also red-skinned Bartletts available which are a juicy delight to eat raw and great poached.
Mid-season Beurre Bosc pears are juicy but crunchy and retain their sweet flavour and elongated shape when cooked. The warm cinnamon-brown of their skin is caused by russeting. The latter is a skin condition that causes rough, brownish patches on pears and apples. It’s caused by damage to the fruit’s epidermal (outermost) cells. However, russeting is only ‘skin deep’ and not harmful. The nutritional value and flavour of the pear is not affected. And you can eat the skin. The flavour is best after refrigerating for a couple of weeks.
Spiced pear & apple sauce
I used Bartlett.
1.5 kg pears
500g cooking apples
1 lemon
3/4 cup water
1 cinnamon stick
2 star anise
Peel the pears if the skins are tough. Halve and core the pears and apples. Coarsely chop. Place in a large saucepan. Thinly peel the lemon and add to the fruit. Add the water, cinnamon stick and star anise. Squeeze in the juice of the lemon.
Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is very soft, about 30 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and star anise. Purée the fruit
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mixture until smooth. Bring to a simmer then pour into hot, sterilised bottles or jars to the top. Seal. Makes about 5 cups.
Grilled pears with goat’s cheese & walnuts
1/2 cup walnuts, lightly toasted and chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
freshly ground sea salt to taste
2 ripe but firm pears
1 teaspoon butter or table spread
1 cup baby rocket
100g goat’s cheese, crumbled 1/2 lemon
Combine the walnuts with the oil, vinegar and salt. Halve the pears and scoop out the cores with a teaspoon. Cut each half into four wedges.
Lightly butter a non-stick ridged frying pan and heat on medium-high. Pan-fry the pears — loosely covered — until the pears have charred lines. Turn the wedges and cook the
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other sides.
Divide the rocket between 4 serving plates. Top with the pears. Crumble the cheese on top and drizzle with the nut dressing. Add a squeeze of lemon juice just before serving. Serves 4 as a starter.
Baked pears with sour cream & cranberry
2 pears, cored and peeled
6-8 tablespoons sour cream
4-6 tablespoons cranberry sauce (from a jar)
1/4 cup lightly toasted sliced almonds
Preheat the oven to 220°C.
Halve the pears and remove the cores with a teaspoon. Place the pear halves in a baking dish, cut side up. Remove a sliver from each pear base if they are not level.
Place a spoonful or two of sour cream in the centres. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the pears are soft.
Heat the cranberry sauce in the microwave.
Place the baked pears on serving plates and pour the cranberry sauce over. Sprinkle with the almonds. Serves 2-4.
Spiced pear & apple sauce
Grilled pears with goat’s cheese & walnuts
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Maize Husk and Grain Silage Bales
A by-product of hybrid maize seed production. A palatable product which is an ideal fibre source for high concentrate diets
Feed Value( typical analysis)
• Drymatter 45%
• Crude Protein 7.1 %
• ME: 10 MJME/kgDM
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WAIPA DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING NOTICES
Pursuant to Section 46(6) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 notice is hereby given that the Strategic Planning & Policy Committee advertised for Wednesday 1 April 2025 at 9.10, Council Chambers, 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu, was advertised with the incorrect day of the week. The notice should have advertised this meeting as scheduled for Tuesday 1 April 2025.
Please visit the Council website for the agenda for this meeting.
Steph O’Sullivan Chief Executive
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE –Kairangi & Robinson Roads
Please note that the roads listed below will be closed to ordinary vehicular traffic on Sunday 6 April 2025 for the Kairangi Loop Bent Sprint.
On Sunday 6 April 2025, from 9am to 5pm
• Kairangi Road - from start of Robinson Road to end of Robinson Road
• Robinson Road - entire road Hewson Road, Rahiri Road, Dillion Road and Griggs Road will be affected by the road closures.
Access from Hewson, Griggs, Rahiri and Dillon Roads to Kairangi Road will be affected.
Arrangements will be made for access by emergency vehicles during the closure, if required.
For more information, please contact Waipa District Council on 0800 924 723 or email events@waipadc.govt.nz
Steph O’Sullivan CHIEF EXECUTIVE
DAIRY GRAZING available
– productive finishing farm Te Mata, Raglan. Up to 100 May to May heifers. Excellent care, facilities. High incalf rate history. Stock moved daily. Inline minerals incl. Refs. avail. Brett 0274 830 856
DO YOU love to sing?
Rosetown choristers welcome new members of all ages. Practices on Wednesday evenings. Ph 021 0258 4628.
PIRONGIA MARKET
Pirongia Community Centre, Crozier St Sunday, March 30, 9am - 1pm
Last Sunday of every month
Email jim1@xtra.co.nz or ph Jim 027 366 5842
TE AWAMUTU CONTINUING EDUCATION
Wednesday 2nd April 2025 10am
WOLFE, Skylar Rayne –
Our precious angel, Skylar, grew her angel wings on Wednesday, 19th March 2025, at just four weeks old. Cherished daughter of Leah Wolfe and Peter Lang, and adored sister to Ryder.
A heartfelt thank you to the emergency services and all those who supported us in Skylar's final journey.
A celebration of dear wee Skylar's life has been held. Messages to the Wolfe family can be sent c/- 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800, or in Skylar's online tribute book at www.rosetown.co.nz.
GOLDSMITH, Leon Alexander – Passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, 19th March 2025 after a long illness. Aged 81 Years. Dearly loved husband to Amanda and stepfather to Beyers, Rista, Anna & Mitch, and Jason. Cherished grandfather of Jarius. Brother to Allan and Raywen and their extended family members. A private service for Leon has been held. Messages to the Goldsmith family can be sent c/- 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800 or in Leon’s online tribute book at www.rosetown.co.nz
Entry: $4 on arrival Waipa Workingman Club Speaker: Lyn Williams
Topic: History- Hamilton East and West Cemetries Everybody Welcome More info phone 07 870 3223
WANTED for cash - estate jewellery, all types and art, in the Waikato area. Contact Mike 0272793408
QUALIFIED builder – for all your building and painting needs call the professionals. Call Ross 021 079 4514
QUALIFIED builder available for immediate start. Renovations, new builds, decks. No jobs too big or too small. Just ask. Call Jake 022 108 2330.
on Friday 4th April at the Good News Community Centre, 78 Breckons Ave, Nawton, Hamilton. We ask you please wear lots of colour.
The Rosetown Funerals team L to R: Jim Goddin, Teri
Local, caring and here for you in your time of need
Losing a loved one is never easy, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Our professional and compassionate team is available 24/7 to guide you through every step, ensuring a farewell that truly reflects their life. Call us anytime – we’re here when you need us.
Keir and Jordan Goss
FIREWOOD for sale - Dry, split Oct 24, native, Douglas fir mix. Ph 027 571 3650
SMITH, Florence Elizabeth (Betty) nee Laloli – Passed away peacefully Sunday 23rd March aged 87. Loved wife of the late Jack Smith. mother of Gavin, Julie and Brian. Mother in law of Lisa. Treasured Nana of Ainsley, Leroy, Pippa and Julian. A celebration of Betty's life will be held
