TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2023
TE AWAMUTU
329 Benson Road, Te Awamutu
P: 07 870 1091 E: teawamutu@flooringxtra.co.nz
OTOROHANGA
FREE
It’s a real newspaper
NOVEMBER 16, 2023
63 Maniapoto Street, Otorohanga
P: 07 873 8640 E: flooringxtra@murrayhuntfurnishers.co.nz
Playing for 50 years
Business rate plan in trouble
Marilyn Yeates remembers it clearly. It was July 1977 and part of the original Pirongia School became redundant for school purposes. So, a community meeting of about 60 people was held to discuss repurposing the buildings for Pirongia Playcentre. Marilyn – who had had an association almost since it began life in 1973 because one of her children attended - was there. Pirongia Playcentre had been gathering in Pirongia Memorial Hall, but seeking to preserve the school building - a key part Pirongia’s cultural heritage - a committee including founding chair Barbara Walter was formed to investigate moving it to a new home. Marilyn became building project convenor, land on Franklin St was made available by the then Waipā County Council and ultimately the “western room” of the school, built in 1904, and a “little room”, which had been between two other school rooms, were moved there. That “little room” was the only original part of the Pirongia School built in 1878. A newspaper report said it had cost about $9000 to shift them - $5600 funded by the Waikato Playcentre association, $3700 by the Pirongia community. On Saturday Marilyn and Barbara were there as Pirongia Playcentre celebrated its 50th
The frustration in Shane Walsh’s voice is patently obvious. With less than a week to go a proposed Business Improvement District rate in the Te Awamutu central business district looks dead in the water unless those who claim to support it get out and vote. Walsh, the Te Awamutu Business Chamber’s chief executive, is the man behind the idea which has worked well in other parts of the country and overseas by reinvigorating retail through a targeted rate. The chamber hopes to raise $50,000 in its first year, adding to owners’ rate bills but spending that money on marketing and promotion for their tenants. Voting forms went out to 96 business owners and by Monday 19 replies had come back - 13 against the proposal. It needs a 30 per cent return – so another 10 returns - but within the returns, 60 per cent need to be in favour. “We are confident we are doing the right thing for the retailers,” said Walsh who was brought up in Te Awamutu and worked overseas for several years before returning home around the time of Covid. He took on the chamber chief executive role last year and now also chairs both Go Waipa and Destination Te Awamutu, hoping he says, to make a difference in the community. Walsh said the problem was many of the buildings in Te Awamutu CBD were owned by trusts and out of town people and it was they who vote. “It’s very, very frustrating,” he said. “You know it’s the right thing to do but getting people to actually do it, I tell you what… I’m trying not to get despondent.” Council deputy chief executive Ken Morris said the votes were being returned to the council. “This is a two-stage process. If they can meet the threshold, councillors are committed to including this proposal in the draft Long Term Plan meaning people can submit further.” Voting closes on Monday (November 20).
By Jeremy Smith
anniversary. “How special is this, it’s a sort of full circle moment?” Marilyn – now a long-standing Pirongia Heritage and Information Centre manager - said. Also present were past Pirongia Playcentre preschoolers who recalled “special memories” of edible playdough, a characteristic tree in the backyard and an underpinning sense of community. Among several families representing three generations of involvement with the centre were mother and daughter Caroline and Kelly McMonagle and Kelly’s son, two-year-old Ryan. The trio were called on to cut Saturday’s celebratory cake, and afterwards Caroline and Kelly told The News of their love of the playcentre community. Caroline had a nearly 20-year association from 1991, when Kelly was a preschooler there, then as a teacher and helper through until 2011. Ryan is a preschooler at the Marilyn Yeates signs Saturday’s commemorative board. centre – the “special chapter” that was Kelly’s time there who have gone before us for Saturday. prompted her to want the same persevering to make Playcentre “It’s such a valuable asset for for her son. happen, and then keeping it Pirongia even all these years “I have fantastic memories of going all these years. later,” Emma said. this place,” Kelly said, “…and I “They no doubt faced Renee Coutts, part of Pirongia love that he gets to have those challenges along the way, just Playcentre’s present day same experiences.” as we do today, but pulling leadership team and involved “It’s quite impressive really,” together as a community and with the centre for four years, Caroline said of Saturday’s whānau to overcome makes us said it has always been a celebrations. who we are. We will continue to community-driven initiative Sisters Marcia Flay, Emma hold that true in the future.” organised by parents, with !" #$%&'(')*"$+), -./0()1%2")3&%44)35%6")#7) Hodge and Reanna Peterson, A commemorative mural parents as teachers. who collectively attended was commissioned to mark “That philosophy remains 89:;&&)<=2<)>)8?&&)$=7"), 9@!" A6(/B".)CDCE)=++'" the playcentre between 1983 Saturday’s occasion. today,” she said. and 1990, were also there on “We just thank all those Continued on page 2
murray hunt
!"#$"%&' ()*&+"%#&*' ,-.)/%0
furnishers
Home Décor, Bedding, Furniture, Gi�ware and lots more.
!"#$ $&'#()(*+,%*- .#*/(%+,
Waikato Renova� on Experts 0#)/*(1%2+$34),-5*'6
www.murrayhun�urnishers.co.nz 63 Maniapoto St Otorohanga Ph 07 873 8640
220 Alexandra St Te Awamutu Ph 07 214 2161
45 Arawata St Te Awamutu Ph 07 214 2244
“Our reputa�on built ),7 )((&,(*+, (+ is 7&()*/6 on quality workmanship, ($#-(8%9+,():(%4&%;+$%)%;$&&% a� en�on to detail, and :+,-#/()(*+,<%=+>&$%=)4-&1%% trust. Contact me for a free consulta� on” Roger Ramsey !"#$"%#&""#%'()#"*#+,-.. No job too big, or small !"#$%&'()*&+),-,!"+.%$%&'(,-,!"#&$/&#&%0 Rela�onships | Reputa�on | Reliability rogerramseybuilding.co.nz P 0274 944 905 E roger@rogerramseybuilding.co.nz
By Mary Anne Gill