Te Awamutu News | November 30, 2023 by Cambridge News & Te Awamutu News

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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Dyet: a run to the finish

By Roy Pilott

Waipā District Council chief Garry Dyet will effectively be sprinting to the finish line when he finishes at the end of June. The chief who started work as health inspector for Waipā County Council in 1980 – nine years before the formation of the district council – announced his departure date this week. He has been planning the announcement since the middle of last year when he shared his plans with a select few, including me. But having not had a day in 15 years where he hasn’t been bound in some way to work calls or emails, a change is due - ahead lies a decent holiday with wife Donna, and then further work in local government. “I’m really interested in anchor institutions and managing risk – councils are

He’s one of our own

big and complex businesses,” the father or two – and grandfather - says. “You manage in three dimensions. There is the governance section, the staff section and then there is the issues ratepayers have. It’s a pretty pressured environment, so being able work on future policy issues would dial back to a pace which is more sustainable.” Dyet has been a highly active chief who has empowered his senior staff, but he grins at being told he has also maintained a low profile. His inbox is constantly filling though, and he has no qualms when it comes to responding to criticism by picking up the phone. When he has had issues with stories in The News, it is almost always to come to the defence of the best leadership and executive team he says he has worked with.

Back to the sprint. Dyet, lauded at the Celebrating Waipā event by his mayor Susan O’Regan for his service last week, has unfinished business in the form of a hugely challenging long term plan – plus key performance indicators. There will be no jogging to the finish line. He wants to leave the council in a place where his successor can hit the ground running. “A big part of this year is about setting up the council for the future of local government – and though three waters is being repealed, they still have to plan for what life might look like – the status quo is not an option and councils will have to look at business cases for what a different entity will look like. “Waipā has been a passion of mine for 45 years so fundamentally I need to leave it in a really good place.

“We also want to land our first spatial plan, Ahu Ake which has been a really good process engaging with the community.’ Ahu Ake is council’s planning blueprint for the next 30 years. “The other piece of work is setting Waipā up as an anchor institution.” Anchor institution – such as universities, hospitals and councils - invest in their communities as a way of doing business. For the district council that would involve “taking steps to keep money local where, now, least-cost service delivery through a tender process often sees money go out of the district and in some cases offshore”. Dyet is a champion for the anchor model which he has studied overseas – Preston in England being cited as a good example. It would involve

Stephen Burrows has been in the news in recent days following the unveiling of a revolutionary new plane. He is pictured pointing to a photo in Papua New Guinea of the plane’s forerunner by Mary Anne Gill – who reveals Burrows’ Te Awamutu background on Page 3 today.

partnering with anchor institutions in the wider district to deliver on community objectives identified through the spatial plan. • Dyet found his first job at the council “soul

destroying” but realised he loved planning – and the council enabled him to pick up a planning qualification and subsequently a master’s degree in public policy

Continued on page 2

Boots ‘n all

When Te Awamutu Intermediate’s all-star kapa haka group was at the Celebrating Waipā event at Karāpiro last week it was hard not to notice year eight student Pokaia Heke. Pokaia has been recovering from a bad ankle injury and, says teacher Matiu Paraone, often performs without her boot. Last week the ankle was clearly giving her a bit more pain – but boot ‘n all, the Year 8 student stepped up. She’s great kid,” Paraone told The News. • Celebrating Waipā – See page 7

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Readers’ contributions of articles and letters are welcome. Publication of contributions are entirely at the discretion of editorial staff and may be edited. Contributions will only be considered for publication when accompanied by the author’s full name, residential address, and telephone number. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers. The Te Awamutu News is published by Good Local Media Limited.

• He lists a low light as in the mid-1990s, “and I found governments – particularly the myself in the second tier of the last one – making significant organisation”. changes to local government • He believes the 1989 decision to “without having significant pair Te Awamutu and conversations with Cambridge was right, us”. He laments the noting the scale of what fact that while his they have achieved council provides 28 together would have services from roads, been beyond their parks, transport, liquor means individually. licences and animal • He is a passionate control to museums supporter of seeing and libraries “for about his hometown tell the same price of your Garry Dyet the story of the New power and gas bill” Zealand Wars… “that part of the council has not been able to the economic development convince people of the value they puzzle, we have not yet delivered get for their rating dollar. on – but having said that, Te • When Dyet stands down, he Awamutu has continued to will have recently qualified for grow and it serves a massive his gold card. The Invercargillcatchment”. born keen cyclist has no plans to • He is proud of the 2050 growth leave Te Awamutu – home for strategy and investment in its him and wife Donna since his Te water infrastructure strategy, Awamutu College school days. culminating in leasing the • The interview finishes. He contract for the Cambridge makes his only request. On top treatment plant. He regards as of lauding his staff he says, “I “environmentally fantastic” the take my hat off to anyone who infrastructure work to install stands for public office - it’s a sewage pipe from Waikeria increasingly difficult, especially through the growth area of in this era social media and Kihikihi and linking up with Te misinformation”. Awamutu.

Waikato’s fledgling kākāpō population is proving too inquisitive for its own good. Three of the 10 birds brought up from the bottom of the South Island to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari managed to climb out of the specially adapted enclosure which protects them. Motupōhue, part of the first group transferred in July, found his way out twice in quick succession and two others, Manawanui and Kanawera, created a high monitoring workload by spending a lot of time near the fence. The three went back to a southern predator-free island last week. The Department of Conservation is now investigating new monitoring systems for the birds. Operations Manager for Kākāpō Deidre Vercoe says departures from the fenced sanctuary were an expected challenge of the trial. Reducing the population means staff can keep closer tabs on the nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrots while still preserving the integrity of the trial. “The kākāpō wear transmitters and are regularly monitored by rangers, but there are some limitations with the technology tracking their exact whereabouts can be very labour intensive and is made more difficult by terrain and weather.” Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kākāpō Species Representative Tāne Davis says Ngāi Tahu had worked closely with Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari and a joint decision was made to return the three kākāpō to Fiordland. “Our curious taonga Motupōhue has been flown “home”. Photo: Peter Drury. will always test us”.

On the beat The week in review

with Constable Ryan Fleming

A look back at the week’s work for Te Awamutu police. Monday - Police attended three family harm incidents, a burglary was reported in Pirongia and four youths were arrested. Police assisted ambulance staff in dealing with a naked male who had overdosed on methamphetamine, a vehicle was broken into, a breach of a protection order and a robbery were reported, Police attended a burglary, a civil dispute between neighbours over bins and batteries were reported stolen in two separate burglaries. Tuesday - A vehicle was reported stolen, a male was arrested for breaching bail and another was reported to be harassing students. Police attended a burglary, a family harm matter, a male was arrested for threatening behaviour and there was a report of shoplifting. A person smashed an item belonging to a member of the public who refused demands for a ride. Police removed an intoxicated male from a private address after he refused to leave. Wednesday - Police received a report of

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threatening behaviour online and attended a family harm incident. An Eftpos card was taken and used at several locations, a protection order was breached, a known drug user was seen acting disorderly and acting erratically, a road incident resulted in wilful damage to a victim’s vehicle, police attended a family harm matter and a male was arrested for peeping into a bathroom window. Thursday - Police attended a minor motor vehicle collision, a civil dispute was reported over claims a tradesman had not completed work despite being paid and police served a trespass notice. Yet another Facebook Marketplace scam was reported. A male breached his bail, a witness called police after observing three females assaulting another person. Police attended a dispute relating to an earlier incident during the week and received a report of neighbours at war. A male was arrested after allegedly assaulting police at a traffic stop – and police assisted in the Operation Christmas Hampers donation drive.

Friday - Police located objectionable material on a cell phone, attended a disorder incident, dealt with a civil dispute over vehicle ownership, attended a family harm matter and recovered a stolen motor vehicle. A male threatened a female at the Te Awamutu Black Friday Party, where some youths robbed another youth. Police attended a burglary scene and issued a breach of protection order. Saturday Police received a report of a suspicious vehicle and attended a family harm matter. A male was found to be driving nearly three time over the legal limit, a vehicle was stolen from an address in Te Awamutu, three bins were stolen from a rural property, a chainsaw was reported stolen and police served a trespass notice. Sunday Police received a report of illegal dumping, attended a family harm incident and recovered a vehicle stolen in a burglary.

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Briefs… Window repairs

The historic stained-glass window at St Paul’s Church at Rangiaowhia was removed and replaced by a plastic replica on Tuesday ahead of planned restoration work. Specialists from a Christchurch company were on site for about two hours completing the removal. See: Coral’s a gala veteran, Page 13.

Dog case

Te Awamutu police were justified in using a dog to catch a youth following an incident in January, the Independent Police Complaints Authority has ruled. A 12-year-old youth was bitten on the leg after police were called to an incident at a pharmacy. A car subsequently sped off and two people were later seen running away from it. They did not stop when told to by a dog handler, police said.

Bus travel

Regional bus statistics for last month are mixed – Te Awamutu services are trending upwards while Cambridge ones are static. There were 9431 passengers on the 24 Te Awamutu service – up on September but just over 1000 shy of March’s 10,565 record. Passenger numbers on the Tokoroa and Te Kūiti connectors, which stop in Kihikihi, Ōhaupō, Cambridge and Te Awamutu, have nose-dived to 336 and 351 respectively.

Squid’s in

Parts of Te Ngā Tupua – Te Papa museum’s Colossal Squid exhibition - will be on show at Te Awamutu Museum from December 2 to the end of March.

Yellow lines

Waipā road safety staff have distributed signs to various schools pointing out the issues parents parking on yellow lines cause outside the schools. They are put out in the morning and at the end of the school day and are working well, a report to the council’s Service Delivery committee confirmed this week.

A plane that lands on a dime By Mary Anne Gill

It took NZ Aero’s chief executive Stephen Burrows several years to fulfil his childhood passion of having a career in aviation. Back in the 1980s he would look up when planes flew over his family’s Paterangi home and beg his father Colin to take him to New Zealand Aerospace Industries factory in Airport Road where he worked. The first thing he did when he left Te Awamutu College at the end of 1988 was to try and get a job in aviation. “I had a passion for aeroplanes but there were no jobs on offer.” So instead, he became an apprentice motorcycle mechanic with Graham Wilks at Wilksbrooke Motors in Te Awamutu. “I can still fix a motor bike and I still get chiranged (talked into) fixing motorbikes and I enjoy them,” Burrows tells The News on the day his company launches a new aircraft which has the potential to revolutionise the global aviation industry. The $5 million SuperPac Xstol (Extremely Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft – which cost more than $10 million and seven years to develop - does not require a sealed runway and can take off in as little as 200m and landing on a wide variety of rugged terrains, including hillsides. And it’s come from a workforce of 60 – expected to grow another 20 next year - largely drawn from the Waipā district in a factory where Burrows’ father once worked. The irony is not lost on Burrows – who now lives down the road in Tamahere - who rattles off where the plane’s Kiwi-designed and built ingenuity will pay dividends. In his office he points to a picture on the wall of the 750XL, the pre-runner to the new plane, making a difference in Papua New Guinea bringing in supplies to remote villages and helping with humanitarian

aid. NZ Aero is the country’s only commercial aircraft maker and they are doing it in an area steeped in aviation history. Outside Burrows’ office window is the kit set factory the Americans assembled and brought their planes to for maintenance during World War II’s Pacific campaign. It was built in weeks and 80 years later is still standing and in use. The legendary Oswald “Ossie” James revolutionised the agricultural industry with his topdressing planes, mostly FU24 Fletchers, assembled at Rukuhia. Aero Engine Services supplied engine and component facilities for James Aviation, on NZ Aero’s site in the 1950s. It went on to become New Zealand Aerospace Industries, where Burrows’ father worked, and then Pacific Aerospace

successfully developed and built planes – like Crescos and the PAC 750XL – it had its down times. Two years ago, Covid was cited as one of the major reasons for the company going into liquidation. Burrows, then Quality general manager, stayed on because he was responsible for oversight of aircraft certificates. “It kind of left me as the last man standing.” The Civil Aviation Authority took over managing and maintaining the certificates for the hundreds of planes Pacific Aerospace had flying all around the world. Without the certificates, they would have been grounded. Aviation attracts entrepreneurs, adventurers, people prepared to take risks. And that is what new owners and directors Donella Bond and

Stephen Burrows and the SuperPac XSTOL (Extremely Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft at the Airport Road aviation manufacturing facility his father also used to work at. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Corporation in 1982. It was in 1996 at Pacific Aerospace where Burrows finally got a job as an aircraft assembler and then in plane maintenance. Wanting to learn more about engineering, Burrows enrolled in a certificate course at Waikato University, only for it to close after a week. He stayed at university for a few months, but the pull of aviation drew him back and he went on to become quality assurance manager at Pacific Aerospace. While the company

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Neil Young were. They purchased the assets of the company, renamed it NZSkydive Ltd – trading as NZ Aero – and continued manufacturing the 750XLs, CT4 Airtrainers, E-350 Expeditions and Crescos. Their big goal was to complete the SuperPac Xstol and get it onto the market. They asked Burrows to become Engineering general manager and then chief executive. “I’m passionate about engineering, manufacturing and aircraft, so it’s perfect for me. “Anything’s possible – from motorcycle groomer to CEO of New Zealand’s only aircraft manufacturing company. It seems like a made up story, but it’s not.”

Burrows can do every job at the company, except fly planes. “I’ve tried flying, I’m not very good at it. “But it’s important as a CEO that you understand the processes of how things are made and the complexities and the issues the staff find when they’re trying to assemble an aircraft or make something.” What does Burrows think Ossie James would make of the new plane with its new propulsion system, electronic flight deck, touch screens, hydraulic control, air conditioning, plush seats and even a USB charger nothing like the ramshackle Fletchers he and other topdressing pilots flew? “I think he would be well impressed. He was a pioneer, he developed aircraft like we have. This is transformative, he would have liked that. “You can get up to 20,000 feet in this aircraft and be back in the ground in under three. “That for an operator is revenue.” Part of the new plane’s future will lie in countries where climate change has resulted in larger fires across huge tracts of land. The SuperPac’s flexibility means it can “land on a dime”, pick up water quickly (using a New Zealanddesigned water carrier), provide medivac services and carry just about anything on board. “We want to make products that serve a purpose,” said Burrows. He is also enthusiastic about providing job opportunities for Waikato youngsters. Te Kuiti High School and Sacred Heart Girls’ College have had students tour the factory. “I’d love to have Te Awamutu College come,” said Burrows who is offering apprenticeships and internships. “We’re keen to stimulate more interest, particularly among girls. It’s an industry which offers trades and the whole gambit of different skills. In order to attract those people, you’ve got to get them young. “That was me, I had a passion when I was a young fellow, that aviation was going to be my career.” The interview ends and Burrows does something he has done thousands of times since he was a boy. He looks to the sky and smiles this time at a plane he knows all too well - the SuperPac Xstol as it descends towards the Hamilton Airport runway.

4 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

FAITH IN WAIPĀ

COMMUNITY BOARD COMMENT

Reviewing our work

Restoring our environment

By Ange Holt, Chair, Te Awamutu Community Board

Transparency, accountability, being prepared to listen and take community feedback are core values of the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community board. We are not always going to get everything across the line but we assure you we are doing our best to have your voices heard. Over the year we have made a number of requests on your behalf. We keep a record through the Chairperson’s report that is available for the public to read. This is where we are currently at: You may recall we have asked if the main streets could be given a good clean and spruce up. Part of this work included the removal of the pots so something more appropriate could be added at a later date. Staff have advised that Council’s contractor is planning this work to remove the heavy pots and reinstate with soil and mulch. We requested to see the service levels for street cleaning, and storm water drains. Staff have advised that they will provide an update on the current contracted levels of service for street cleaning at the board’s December meeting. We asked that moss and weeds across all median strips and crossings to be cleaned, weeded and sprayed. Council has sprayed and its street cleaning contractor is trialling different street sweeping equipment capable of dislodging and cleaning away the dead moss. We contacted Waka Kotahi to get the chevrons on Sloane St roundabout fixed along with the smashed sign. This has been done. It will be interesting to see how long they stay intact as the big trucks have trouble getting around that roundabout.

Due to the ongoing nature and cost of this problem we are hoping that Waka Kotahi will be keen to upgrade this roundabout sooner than later. At our May board meeting we had a report from staff regarding the state of the heritage signs around town. There were lots missing and many are so faded or damaged that they are hard to read. Staff were looking into updating, adding a few new ones and getting this costed so we can get it into the long term plan. We have been advised that other work priorities have caused a delay in finalising the update for the board, and staff hope to present to the board on this in the new year. We moved at the September meeting for the Te Awamutu War Memorial Park work to be put on hold. We have been informed by staff that this will go to the Strategic Planning and Policy Meeting in February for consideration. Our battery recycling collection station at Te Awamutu Pak’n Save is exceeding expectations with over $400 worth of batteries being removed just in the last month. We allocated $2500 towards this project and if we run out of funding, we will provide a paying alternative through Urban Miners by way of a pre-paid sticker. In the meantime, we need your help please. Can you not leave I-Pads, cell phones or devices with batteries inside at the battery stand? The stand is just for batteries only. Finally, a heads up that the next Urban Miners Event will be at the end of January as our Te Awamutu Christmas Parade will be held on the first Sunday of December this year.

Watching and waiting… We are watching the complexity of volcanic unrest in real time in Iceland. A rapid increase in activity resulted from magma rising pretty close to the surface across a 15 km long area, causing earthquakes in the broader area and fractures through the town of Grindavík. Now we wait. There is so much uncertainty in the situation that the volcano may have erupted by the time this is printed, or people could still be waiting to see if they lose their homes. Thankfully it is looking less likely that the volcano will erupt in the town, but we will only know with time. This body of magma is what we call an intrusion, or a dyke, where a long batch of magma pushes upwards through the crust. This is not necessarily a straight-forward process. As the magma nears the surface, it changes. As it rises, gas that is dissolved in the melt is released as the pressure from overlying rock is reduced, and crystals are growing throughout

Here, in Te Awamutu we are lucky enough to be at the centre point between two maunga, Maungatautari and Pirongia. Flowing between the two maunga is the Mangapiko stream which winds its way directly through our town. However, this stream is not really one we are able to enjoy anymore. The Mangapiko stream is known to have some of the worst water quality around the area. It did not used to be this way. One of the projects that is currently working on the improvement of the Mangapiko stream, within a bigger goal, is Taiea te Taiao, meaning cherish the environment. This project is working to create an ecological corridor between Maungatautari and Pirongia through healing the streams and forming mini sanctuaries between the two maunga. This corridor will provide a safe route for birds and insects to find their way between the mountains. One of the things I found exciting about this project is that, as the Mangapiko stream used to be used for gathering food, swimming and playing in and one of the goals of the project is to see the stream restored to a similar quality so we can enjoy those benefits too. At this time of the year, in the Christian calendar we begin Advent, the hopeful anticipation of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. The purpose of this time is to be reminded of why God became human, why God would choose to live a human life. One of the major purposes God became human was to bring about restoration and healing. To see the world God created, including

By Sam Pullenger

the people and animals learn to flourish as God intends. For a Jesus follower, then, we are called to reflect on how and where we participate in projects of restoration, whether it be justice, healthcare, welfare, animal rescue or ecology. In each of these places and more we believe Jesus is calling all people to participate in restoration and reconciliation. Every time we turn on the news, we see all the different ways that humans are figuring out how not to flourish. Yet, here in Te Awamutu we are given a beautiful example of how we can work together to bring about a healthy environment that generations can enjoy. Summer is the perfect time to begin to participate in what is being done to restore the environment around Te Awamutu. For some of us, it may mean a bush walk through either Pirongia and Maungatautari. Or if you would like to participate in the Taiea te Taiao project you can find it online on the NZ Landcare Trust website. There are many different ways that we can participate in caring for the environment here in Te Awamutu. As we prepare for the summer holiday season, I encourage you to find your own way of caring for the land. It is only through working together that we will be able to heal the land and learn to flourish as a community.

ON SHAKY GROUND By Janine Krippner

the magma. These processes change how the magma moves. The whole process is also influenced by deeper magma rising below it - does more continue to rise, does it pause, or does it stop? Will it erupt quickly, or will it wait weeks, or even months or years before fresh magma rises and gets the whole show going? I cringe when I see the word “imminent” across headlines for these reasons. The human side of this can get worse as time goes on. Ideally, volcanoes give us enough warning to prepare and get people and things we deem important out of the way, then we have a brief eruption with a clear ending and the recovery can begin. When unrest goes on and on and people have been evacuated, the stress of waiting builds. Volcanologists, emergency managers, and other responders work around the clock in crisis mode. People who have left their homes and who may be separated from animals are in

temporary accommodation not knowing if they will see their community again. Waiting. What if it stops altogether? Even when the signs of danger are very clear, if people are evacuated and nothing happens this can understandably cause anger and distrust. People may be less likely to listen to scientists next time. We know a lot about volcanoes, we can forecast eruptions, and this does save lives. It gives people a fighting chance to gather what they can and escape while the volcano does its thing, and it helps with recovery. Had the 79AD eruption of Vesuvius happened today we may have picked up many signals that people couldn’t fee as well as understanding what the more obvious signs meant, the immense loss of life could have been prevented. Loss of life is not the only trauma though, the loss of a home, a business, and community is significant. Is this a scenario we could see in Auckland? Yes. It is a different system and setting so not

the same timeline, but we could see prolonged unrest that could cause frustration and anger. Evacuations do work, but they can also inflict harm and we are very aware of that. It’s times like this where communicating the uncertainty becomes even more difficult. Balancing the technical, scientific jargon of what we do know along with how certain we are or are not about it and translating it into language that people can work with (not “dumbing it down”) is hard. An important goal is helping people to understand these processes before a crisis hits. Once the crisis is underway information gets diluted and altered when shared online around the world. The human side of an eruption is just as complex and important as the volcano itself. My heart goes out to those impacted by the unfolding events.

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Pies are coming back By Jeremy Smith

Nearly eight months after a Sunday night fire ripped through their business, Darrell and Nicola Liddington can see the “light at the end of the tunnel”. The owners of Te Awamutu’s Kiwi Pies have pencilled in a mid-December reopening date, and the resumption of a business closed since April when their Rickit Rd bakery and an adjoining gym were torched. Police subsequently charged two teenagers with the arson which caused damage initially estimated at $1 million. The December date is nearly three months after the Liddingtons first thought they would be back on their feet. The couple - whose son Bodhi also works with them have endured several delays which have also meant they missed what is normally their busiest time of year. “Being closed for this long has certainly been a big hit,” Nicola said. The Liddingtons, who have owned the business for 15 years, said closing for good never crossed their mind. “We honestly had no idea it would take this long though,” Darrell said.

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Darrell and Nicola Liddington, pictured with son Bodhi, expect to be testing their new units next week.

Insurance cover enabled the company to retain – and return with - all nine of their staff. The Kiwi Pies team makes the pies by hand - and at the time of the arson they were making 15,000 a week. Replacing two key pieces of equipment lost in the fire proved an issue. A replacement $70,000 oven and a pastry break – which rolls out pastry and costs about the same – were both sourced from Italy. “First, the oven was going to be here in 16 weeks, then it was 20 weeks, then 24 weeks. And we had no choice but to wait,” Darrell said.

The good news is that once one last component for the new oven arrives this week, the team will prepare for a series of test bakes next week before finally opening their doors. “Going through this has shown us just how much the Te Awamutu community – from all the trades people to our customers – cares for us,” Nicola said. “We are grateful to be part of such an amazing community. “When we’re open again it is simply going to be business as usual and I’m really looking forward to seeing all our customers again.”

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6 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

BUSINESS SHOWCASE

Local couple purchase David Reid Homes Waikato franchise Eagle-eyed residents of Te Awamutu will have spotted the change in signage at Lunix Homes in Mahoe Street. That’s because they’re now David Reid Homes Waikato. Here’s what is behind the move...

of offering quality products and workmanship which has seen demand for their services grow.

To sum up the new David Reid Homes Waikato owners Tau Haimona and Felicity Haimona-Kay in one word, we would say “passionate”.

“We knew David Reid Homes had a reputation for building high quality architecturally designed homes, so to be sitting alongside them and know that our work was up to that standard was awesome,” says Felicity.

The husband-and-wife duo have built a reputation of trust for themselves under their previous business, Lunix Homes, but knew that under the David Reid Homes brand they could take things to another level. Tau’s extensive building background, strong work ethic and attention to detail is matched equally by the proﬁciency with which Felicity supports client relationships and build planning. Their commitment to each aspect of the build process has earned the pair a solid reputation

In 2022 Tau and Felicity entered their show home situated in Frontier Estate, Te Awamutu, into the Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards. In a testament to their team’s hard work, the home won a Gold and Category Award at a regional level, and was also named in the Top 100 nationally alongside multiple David Reid Homes regional teams.

felt right. The couple felt their values, work ethic and attention to customer care aligned with the David Reid Homes ethos. Alongside the David Reid Homes national brand, Tau and Felicity look forward to growing the franchise across the wider Waikato, as far north as Te Kauwhata and as far south as Te Kuiti. “The construction of our new display home in Pirongia has begun

and we are excited to present a sophisticated entertainer’s home, built with impeccable craftmanship,” Tau says. “We plan to open the home for public viewing in mid – 2024, so keep an eye out for updates on David Reid Homes Facebook page.” “If you’re planning to build your new home or want to talk through ideas, get in touch with our David Reid Homes Waikato team. We offer a wide range of house plans to inspire your new build journey, while also having the tools, skills and experience to create a home that is uniquely yours. We take the responsibility of delivering a premium, custom-built home for our clients every time. We invite you to get in touch with us and take the ﬁrst step toward building the home you and your family will love to live in.” Visit their ofﬁce at 74 Mahoe Street, Te Awamutu or contact Tau on 027 476 2271 tau.haimona@davidreidhomes.co.nz Felicity on 027 710 4966 felicity.hk@davidreidhomes.co.nz.

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New David Reid Homes Waikato franchisees, Tau and Felicity.

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Contact Tau on 027 476 2271 – tau.haimona@davidreidhomes.co.nz or Felicity on 027 71049 66 – felicity.hk@davidreidhomes.co.nz 74 Mahoe Street, Te Awamutu www.davidreidhomes.co.nz

TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 7

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Mayor: hard Classic time at Karāpiro calls coming By Jeremy Smith

By Roy Pilott

Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan celebrated a successful year for the district but warned of stormy waters ahead last week. The mayor spoke at the annual Celebrating Waipā gathering at the Sir Don Rowlands Centre, Karāpiro, where about 150 invited guests gathered. “We’ve got some decisions coming up that I know will be difficult for me personally, and indeed all elected members,” she said. “Next year is going to tough - we all know that – and harder, because we will be setting our long term plan for the next decade.” All councils would be faced with making some “really hard calls on behalf of our community” she said. “As with all households, we struggle with high inflation, soaring interest costs… but in spite of all that we are still required to keep a rapidly growing district ticking over and we have still got to invest in infrastructure – roads, water, wastewater and community facilities.” Added to that was a whole swathe of government directives – and uncertainty over what would

come down the line from the new government. The harsh reality was that there would be little money left for anything else, she warned. That said, planning had to be bold – “brave politicians think about generations to come” – and the debates next year would not be easy. O’Regan’s comments are by no means the first warning of what is ahead. Chief Executive Garry Dyet spelled out the challenges when he presented a state of the district report ahead of the last local body elections. He told staff in September 2022 “hang onto your seats folks, we’re in for some fun and games over the next few months.” Dyet opened the books to show the district was facing a perfect storm and candidates would not be able to make good on election promises if they involved significant spending. “Identifying cost savings and sensible risk management processes will be a priority,” he warned. The News also revealed this month councillors have been discussing in workshops where revenue can be generated or saved.

Parked up in a shady spot on Sunday, Te Awamutu Rod and Custom Club member Larry Jooste had the perfect vantage point from which to take in all the action. His 1938 Standard Eight was amongst an estimated 1600 vehicles which took part in this year’s Stragglers Rod & Kustom Charity Custom and Classic Car Display at Mighty River Domain at Lake Karapiro. “Isn’t this great?”, he said. Show organiser Martin Bennett told The News it is likely the biggest display in the event’s 17year history. The display raises money for charity and is now New Zealand’s biggest one day classic car show. Participants came from as far north as Auckland and as far south as Alexandra to be involved at the weekend. Money raised via gold coin donations at this year’s display will be given to Cambridge-based charity Kids in Need Waikato, run by Graeme and Linda Roil. It provides support for Waikato children and teenagers between the ages of one and 17 who are in the care of someone other than their parents. Donation totals from this year’s display were still being counted as The News went to print. “I have never seen it that big,” Bennett – who has been involved with 14 of the event’s 17 years to

Larry and Maureen Jooste with their 1938 Standard Eight. Larry is a Te Awamutu Rod & Custom Club member.

date - said. “How amazing.” For Jooste, Sunday’s display was the perfect opportunity to bring out the vehicle which is undoubtedly his pride and joy. “I bought it off a friend of mine and built it from scratch.” An aircraft engineer by day - a job which requires a great level of precision - that same level of detail is evident in every aspect of Jooste’s now complete Standard Eight. It features a six-cylinder RB20 engine Jooste got from a Nissan Skyline and a two-speed gearbox. Having owned the now pristine vehicle for about nine years, he completed the build in 2015. “It sticks to the road so well and it is brilliant to drive.” “And what I love about the process of building a car is that

it is an opportunity to have your fingerprints all over it - in the sense that you can get it just how you want it.” Jooste also owns a 1930s Willys sedan and a 1946 Chevrolet pickup. Meanwhile, New Plymouth’s Kevin and Judy Smith’s 1936 Ford 3-window coupe won Sunday’s best in show accolade – known as ‘Bob’s Best’. Special guest, Detroit’s Bob Larivee, gave the Smiths the award. Stragglers Rod & Kustom Club president Wayne Floyed said he was blown away by the size and scale of Sunday’s display. “It was fantastic.” Bennett said the display wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of multiple businesses.

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8 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

News Council looks at A Cattle and gorse in Kihikihi Boshier report Snip in Meghan Hawkes takes us back to 1899 and looks at the news of time.

Waipā district councillors have discussed communications with the public in response to Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier’s recent report. Boshier took issue with councillors for doing too much work behind closed doors, and echoed some concerns voiced by The News about how workshops were used to brief councillors. A staff report – to a workshop on Tuesday - covered how Boshier had started an investigation in August 2022 into eight councils – Waipā was not one of them – and published his finding last month. They included 24 “expectations” relating to council meetings. Waipā District Council released the staff report to The News well ahead of the workshop, which began a few hours before we went to press. The eight-page document considered changes, including developing training for staff on the difference between governance and operational parts of council, releasing agendas when they are ready rather than at a statutory deadline, and publishing open and public excluded meeting schedules in advance. Councillors also discussed extending the range of meetings which are now live streamed - a proposal which could come with additional costs.

They heard Boshier had acknowledged workshops were a legitimate tool and could be held in a public excluded environment, and the council believed it did comply with rules - but it was prudent to look at the 24 expectations. Councillors spoke in favour of material from workshops being proactively released after meetings and quarterly meetings to review the release of material public excluded items. In the case of public excluded meetings, chief executive Garry Dyet said staff occasionally needed to share information with council and have a frank discussion on matters – “we are sometime driven by deadlines beyond our control”. Cr Lou Brown acknowledged councillors sometimes did a “deep dive” when being made privy to commercially sensitive information and he was concerned councillors were being pushed too far by the Ombudsman report Mayor Susan O’Regan said posting videos and information on social media was useful in “demystifying” what the council was doing. Dyet said decisions around those matters were his to make but staff would consider the discussions as they reviewed the recommendations from the Ombudsman’s report”.

A most successful flower show and fancy fete was held at Te Awamutu. Known as the Waikato West flower show, it was held in the Town Hall and blessed with beautiful weather. There was an excellent display of flowers, and a number of side shows, comprising guessing competitions and the curious attractions of the working of the stereoscope, phonograph, telephone and galvanic battery. A Maypole dance, box making and hat trimming competitions for men, and baby show - which excited a great deal of attention - all assisted materially in swelling the funds. Kihikihi however was not at all floral and the Town Board met to discuss the matter of the nuisance caused by the growth of gorse in the streets and the practice of allowing cattle to roam the roads without any restriction whatever. A prolonged discussion ensued on the matter, and the Board finally determined that they could do nothing. The clerk was, however, instructed to issue a request to all owners of cattle in the Town District, asking them to paddock their cattle from 6pm to 6am the following day. At Pirongia, when the colonel commanding the district inspected the Volunteer Mounted Rifles, there was a small muster on parade, only some 15 of all ranks. The Colonel inquired as to the reason of so meager an attendance, but received no satisfactory explanation and for

some time there was silence. At last, one man replied that they were absent on account of being at work on the government road. “And when,” inquired the Colonel, “do you think they will have completed their Government work?” Another long pause; then replied the same innocent young trooper, “when the elections are over, I suppose sir”. A smile passed all over the troops, a smile that could be heard, and the Colonel sought no more enlightenment as to the absent ones. A chess match between the Hamilton and Te Awamutu Clubs was held at Te Awamutu, five players from the Hamilton Chess Club travelling up by the afternoon train and returning next morning. The match had been looked forward to for some time, as the two clubs were old rivals, and

the match was the first trial of strength this season. Play was commenced at 4pm shortly after arrival of the train, adjourned at 6 pm and recommenced at 7pm finally stopping at 11.30pm. The visiting team enjoyed the trip immensely and spoke in high terms of the warm hospitality of their Te Awamutu friends, who spared no pains to make the outing enjoyable. Another match between Te Awamutu and Ngāruawāhia was played by telegraph. Play commenced at 7pm and continued on till about midnight, resulting in a win for Te Awamutu by three games to two. The three telegraph men received the thanks of the clubs for their careful operating.

Time

The bicycle decorating competition, Te Awamutu.

BUSINESS SHOWCASE

Sound Care Group facility in Cambridge undergoes major renovation When Sound Care Group director Carly Mangulabnan had the opportunity to acquire and manage her first rest home in 2016, she did so with a key goal in mind.

“We are completing the improvements in a manner which causes the least disruption and inconvenience possible and we thank residents, clients and their whānau for their understanding and support of the project - and for bearing with any temporary inconvenience so we can provide better services to them.” Mangulabnan said when residents arrive at Cambridge Life, or any of Sound Care Group other rest homes, they bring with them a life lived with purpose - and the personalised care they receive should reflect that.

Alongside her passionate team, she wanted to build a culture of care which listened and responded to residents’ needs - making them feel safe and right at home. Nearly eight years on with that same aspiration in mind, Cambridge Life - now one of five Sound Care Group-owned rest homes nationwide - has embarked on a major facelift of its hospital wing. Located in King Street, having formerly operated as Cambridge Lifecare since 2004, Cambridge Life has been owned by Sound Care Group for nearly two years. Mangulabnan said the approximately two-month renovation, which will be completed by January, will allow Cambridge Life staff to modernise and upgrade hospital wing equipment and furniture - ultimately serving to provide better comfort for residents. “We will also remove the shared rooms

which were part of the building configuration when we took over the facility, and this will mean better privacy for residents.” Prior to starting the renovation project, the guidance and support of Māori resident Michael Pokaia and staff member Chrystal Bond was sought as a meaningful whakatau – or welcome – ceremony was held. Attended by the entire senior management and facility management teams, it also included representatives from Cambridge Life’s resident

community. Mangulabnan said the ceremony served to centre the team and was a powerful reminder of the true purpose behind Cambridge Life’s work, vision and the essence of the space being renovated.

As well as Cambridge Life, Sound Care Group owns and manages four other rest homes - Steele Park Home in Hamilton East, Athenree Life in Katikati, Taranaki’s Eltham Care Rest Home and South Care Rest Home and Hospital in Dunedin.

“The ceremony symbolised our commitment to creating a space that fosters holistic well-being,” Mangulabnan said. Located in the heart of the town of trees and champions, Cambridge Life - surrounded by strength and beauty - offers a rest home, hospital level care, respite or short stay facilities and day stay services, all of which are delivered with a strong emphasis on individualised care and warmth.

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TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 9

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Mural plan explained Receiving – and By Jeremy Smith

The wheels are rolling on a proposed $15,000 mural project for Te Awamutu’s new skate park. The 14-month-old million-dollar facility in Centennial Park – which also includes parkour features – opened in September last year after a six-month build. Now, in a report tabled at the November meeting of the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board, Waipā District Council museums and heritage director Anne Blyth has proposed painting eight murals on the walls of various skate features at the park. The cost of the project was included in the initial build cost of the skate park, she said.

Blyth said work on the murals could start next month when the school term ended, and completed murals would be place at the park by the end of January. Approval for the project was to be sought at yesterday’s meeting of the Strategic Planning and Policy committee, held after The News went to print. Mana whenua artists who whakapapa to Ngāti Apakura have been engaged to design and paint the murals. Proposed designs focus on interpreting the Ōtāwhao settlement once located on the skate park site. The artists were asked to consider the “place, people and stories” in their designs. Community board member Sally Whitaker questioned the proposed

December time frame, saying the project should be completed outside of school holidays. She suggested February or March could be better suited. “I would just note that school holidays are likely when the skate park will be used the most.” Blyth said she was confident the site – and project – could be managed safely over the proposed December time frame. “We won’t be closing the whole park, it will be done in sections,” she said. Blyth said in her report the mural project aims to provide multiple benefits “…through softening the hard surfaces of the skatepark and deterring potential tagging and graffiti.” The artwork would be coated to protect it against tagging.

An artist’s impression of one of the proposed murals for the sake park.

Cutting off their nose… By Jeremy Smith

Thieves raided a Te Awamutu community forest to steal a tree but, no pun intended, it was no plum job. They uprooted and probably damaged a young plum tree which – in just three months - would have delivered a bounty of free fruit for the community. Thanks to the stupidity of the thieves though, it’s possible neither they nor the community will get any. The group behind the Te Awamutu Food Forest now have to wait potentially an extra two years for any new tree in the spot where the original stood to produce fruit. With help from Waipā District Council, the Food Forest group has three plots, at Fawley Place Reserve, Pekapekarau Reserve and Sherwin Park. The Food Forest concept was first planned about four years ago, with initial trees planted last March. Megan Priscott, who runs Red Kitchen HQ and is on the five-person Food Forest leadership team, told Wintec student Page Hare in the & Co magazine the team wanted people to feel like the community gardens were an extension of their back garden. “It’s about taking, receiving, giving and bringing the community together”. Last week though, it seems, the only message which got through to someone was about taking. Group members arrived at the Pekapekarau Reserve plot to find the tree one of 300 across the three plots - had been crudely uprooted. Since the theft, Priscott said the community spirit in which the Food Forest was established has well and truly been on display. Food Forest volunteers have already been

Photo: Supplied.

now giving By Jeremy Smith

When Kellie Wakelin moved to Te Awamutu a little over four years ago, she did so without know any one at all. “Literally not a single soul,” she said. Yet, within a month of shifting, she was gifted a hamper from Operation Christmas Hampers volunteers. “That chapter was a challenging time in my life, and receiving that hamper absolutely warmed my heart,” she said. Kellie Wakelin “I suppose because I knew how much it meant for me, I wanted to be involved in being that blessing for others.” So, having volunteered with Operation Christmas Hampers last year - and encouraged in part by Te Awamutu Police constable Ryan Fleming - Kellie stepped up to the role of coordinator this year. Aiming to distribute 200 hampers in 2023, the team of about a dozen volunteers will complete their fourth community drive tonight (Thursday), in the lead up to putting the hampers together so they can be distributed by mid-December. A not-for-profit, organisation, it is a collaboration between police, CommSafe, Kainga Aroha Community House and other Waipā organisations. Te Awamutu community organisations provide a list of people who would benefit from help to Operation Christmas Hampers. “We have a fantastic team of volunteers – we absolutely couldn’t do what we do without them,” Kellie said. “On the other hand too, I’ve been absolutely blown away by how giving the Te Awamutu community has been. In many cases, even if they can’t contribute items for hampers, people have given us cash donations.” Those wanting to contribute items like non-perishable food, festive treats or small gifts for the hampers can do so at several drop off points around town. They include Te Awamutu Police Station, Kainga Aroha Community House, Ko Wai Au Trust and the Commsafe offices.

Rainwater Harvesting Workshop! The first 30 attendees at each workshop will receive a $200 gift voucher to go towards a rainwater harvesting tank.

Plum undone – the site which greeted the food forest team.

offered a replacement plum tree. The seedling of the forest idea is now supported by a wider leadership team which, as well as Priscott, includes James Bannister, Brenda McIvor, Jina Scott and Joanne Wansbone – as well as about 100 other volunteers who attend regular maintenance sessions and planting days. “The forest came about as a way to bring all areas of the community together – while producing fresh produce for the Te Awamutu community,” Priscott said. “It helps people get back to basics when it comes to their food too – there are huge benefits which come from people doing so.” “The theft is very disappointing. But the way the community has rallied around us since has been completely stunning. “We’ve had such incredible buy in since we started and the number of people who have offered to help is incredible.” Meanwhile, additions to the Food Forest planned for this week included planting watermelon, while vegetables will also be added in the near future. Priscott said new Food Forest volunteers are always welcome.

Entry fee Limited seats available

Te Awamutu Council office, 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu Friday, 1 December, at 6pm

Cambridge Council office, Wilson Street Saturday, 2 December, at 10am

waipadc.govt.nz/rainwaterworkshop

10 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS

Doing our best…

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Maunga to maunga livestream

Bayley and Josh Storey

The Storey family dairy farm is one of the stepping stones for native birds and bats in the ecological corridor. The Te Awamutu family is excited to help boost biodiversity. Josh, wife Bayley and their extended family have planted more than 25,000 trees on the farm, adding to a remnant forest of Kahikatea and other native trees. They have removed willow and weeds from the Mangapiko Stream and retired some land from farming. “Environmental work on our farm spans six generations – including my great grandfather Doug, my grandfather John, my father Doug and now me and Bayley,” says Josh. “As farmers, we want to do our best to protect the land and enhance native wildlife. We love seeing tūī, kererū and karearea/New Zealand falcon on our farm.”

Get Gardening With Summer upon us our focus turns to maintaining plant growth more than planting. Apply mulch to bare soil to conserve moisture and feed regularly. Do keep planting salad greens like lettuce and herbs but try to plant in areas with afternoon shade to prevent them ‘bolting’. Moving into December it will be time to dig out new potatoes ready for Christmas. Vegetables will need to be watered at least three times a week and regular picking of beans, peas, cucumbers and tomatoes will encourage healthy growth. Also get busy refreshing hanging baskets and pots so you have a glorious display for Christmas. We love bacopa, petunia, begonia, impatiens and fuchsias just to name a few. Happy gardening!

Bush Macky says the restoration work which has encouraged more native birds to his farm has been rewarding.

Dairy farmers, sheep and beef farmers, iwi and other community members are celebrating the second anniversary of a largescale initiative to create an ecological corridor in the Waipā district. The Taiea te Taiao project will link Maungatautari and Mt Pirongia – 40km apart - by planting along the Mangapiko Stream and its tributaries, on farms and other properties. Other environmental work is also underway, including restoring wetlands and predator control. “A key goal is to create stepping stones along the corridor that provide attractive stopping points for native birds and bats to rest and feed, mostly by planting trees. This will help increase wildlife numbers and biodiversity,” says project coordinator Bexie Towle. Dairy farmer Bush Macky says it’s a fabulous project at the heart of the community. “It’s so rewarding working with the hundreds of people and more than 20 organisations involved, including DairyNZ and dairy

companies, to help native wildlife thrive and enhance local waterways.” The project is celebrated its two-year anniversary on Tuesday on Bill Garland’s farm, next to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. At the Mt Pirongia end of the corridor, on their farm Bush and his family have planted more than 10,000 trees and plants. They created a duck pond surrounded by planting and retired some land from farming. Bush says there’s been no loss in farm production and no impact on business viability. “It’s a win-win. We’ve added value to the community and our property. We’re seeing more native birds on our farm than ever before.” So far, more than 200,000 plants have been added to the corridor. Nine kilometres of waterways have been fenced to protect them and native trees planted alongside. Erosion control and willow removal is also underway on the Mangapiko Stream. The corridor planting is regularly

maintained, with weed control across 22 hectares. A comprehensive pest management programme includes trap lines and bait station networks on both maunga, and traps on private property. Four iwi are involved: Ngāti Apakura including Pūrekireki Marae, Te Ruranga o Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Ngāti Hikairo. Nine tohu whenua heritage sites including pā, lie along the Mangapiko Stream, underlining the relationships between nature and people who once lived between the two maunga. Poto Davies of Ngāti Koroki Kahukura says the iwi want the two maunga connected, first and foremost. “Beautifying the Mangapiko Stream will enhance its mana. The stream is the veins of the land, and the whenua is important to us all,” she Poto. Heritage sites alongside the Mangapiko Stream are being protected as part of the project. Predators, tuna/freshwater eels and pekapeka/bats are monitored using mātauranga

Māori methods. Clare St Pierre, co-chair of the Maungatautari to Pirongia Ecological Corridor Incorporated Society, says it’s amazing to be creating biodiversity strongholds for birds. “We’re providing an environment for our iconic species so people can see them on their back doorstep.” More than 20 organisations are involved in the Taiea te Taiao project including funders, sponsors and supporters. The Ministry for the Environment provides funding through the Freshwater Initiatives Fund for two employees, and NZ Landcare Trust coordinates the project. Industry good organisation DairyNZ supports farmers in their work to reduce environmental footprint and organises on-farm fieldays for the project. Dairy company Fonterra contributes funding for the project, and Fonterra and Open Country Dairy support their farmers with on-farm environmental work.

Bexie Towle, with a young team, pictured on one of the many planting days around the Mangapiko Stream.

TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 11

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

e r Kids a all Write

hly page t n o m a s i s i Th primary m o r f ’s t n e d giving stu hools the c s e t a i d e m r and inte ve their a h o t y it n u opport ed in their h s li b u p g n i writ wspaper. e n y it n u m m local co

The Bubble

Name: Hunter V Age: 5

My bubble looks like a monkey. Why does it look like a monkey? It looks invisible. Why does it look invisible? The Bubble.

Here are some arguments why Maths is important. Maths teaches people to measure. If you miscalculate ingredients in medicines it could become poisonous. If a builder misread the measurements in plans, then the walls on your home might collapse because they are the wrong size! If you can’t count money

when you buy things you could be given incorrect change. If you can’t do math problems then you can’t work at a bank, start a business, or be a scientist. Maths teaches us to be accurate and thorough. Finally, now you’ve heard my reasons ... Math is awesome!

Name: Jackson M Age: 9 The moon lit up the night and made the graves tremble with fear. It was the night of the werewolf! Bats somersaulted around a haunted, terrifying

Name: Alec M Age: 8

house. The stairs inside cracked with laughter. Lights lit up the neighbourhood night neatly. It was petrifying.

A day in the life of a Nintendo Switch Name: Zachary W Age: 13 My feet remember touching the freezing cold water.

Pirongia Mountain Name: Adrik P Age: 7

The foggy clouds make Pirongia mountain steamy.

The wind swishes and waves and knocks us on the Maunga.

The hills sway and curve like a wiggly worm.

The trees and birds sing to us as we walk, and listen and look…

P!terangi SCHOOL

Name: Anne B Age: 9

The Haunted House

Pirongia

My eyes remember seeing a black bow-tied tui. My ears remember hearing the rustling and cracking trees. My nose remembers smelling the steaming black, burning smoke.

Mathematics is the Most Important Subject

Zac walked into the room. I was excited to have him use me!! He’s booted up Pikmin 4 again. Lameeeeee ... Why doesn’t he use me to play Splatoon 3? He must have lost it. Too bad he never beat the game! He starts playing Pikmin 4, manages to get to day 35, then he turns me off! Why does he have to go to sleep so early on the holidays? Today he disappeared for a while and didn’t come back until 3pm, then didn’t use me!! What is wrong with him??? Turns out he has school

again. That’s so lame! Why can’t he stay here and play video games? I hope it’s the weekend soon.

Pāterangi School Email: office@paterangi.school.nz | Phone: 07 871 5203 Website: www.paterangi.school.nz

12 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

STAGE 1 UNDERWAY

NEW SUPPORTED LIVING APARTMENTS Enjoy comfort, easy living and the community feel of Apartments on Vogel. In the heart of Resthaven, Cambridge’s 100% community owned retirement village. For an information pack contact: Sandra Fairhurst 07 827 6097 E: sales@resthaven.org.nz 6 Vogel Street, Cambridge

100%

C OM M U N I T

Take a virtual tour at www.resthaven.org.nz

Y OW NE D

Quick crossword 1

Wordsearch 5

8 9

15 17

25 26

Across 1. Chase after (6) 5. Conclusion (6) 8. Repair (3) 9. Faith (6) 10. Loving touch (6) 11. Larva (4) 13. Believable (8) 14. Send out buds (5) 15. Type of coffee (5) 19. Banner words (8) 21. Ancient form of exercise (4)

22. Counsel (6) 23. Part of the foot (6) 25. Pole (3) 26. Avaricious (6) 27. Symbol (6) Down 2. Dig up (7) 3. Device for snow travel (3) 4. Consequence (6) 5. Go beyond (6) 6. Sleeping room (9)

7. Relating to the nose (5) 12. Fierce verbal attack (9) 16. Cleanliness (7) 17. Extreme unhappiness (6) 18. Make up your mind (6) 20. Church official (5) 24. Weep convulsively (3)

Last week Across: 1. Flirt, 4. Embody, 7. Win, 8. Sneeze, 9. Clammy, 10. Symmetry, 12. Sunk, 13. Runner, 15. Treaty, 16. Tiff, 17. Price tag, 19. Geisha, 20. Entail, 22. Cur, 23. Ashore, 24. Theme. Down: 1. Funny business, 2. Ire, 3. Tweet, 4. Encrypt, 5. Brassiere, 6. Demonstrative, 11. Manifesto, 14. Replace, 18. Inert, 21. Tie.

Sudoku

L A U G H T V Y R A T N E M U C O D Y S M Q M O S Q A E T S X S Y I R R L A C O L T C A L S A P P W R O E I R E O U I O Y A T N L S O O C L L N H E M C F I I L W E K T S E R J A K E E M F A R Q U A P L S R K P T X J A Y E O E B I V E S R L W L O S S M N E R S T U L E Q U X E I E S A B T O O C D A E R E N S I S S T E A X Y I C I R E V I E W D T P A E E T D A S A A C X S S T I E S E R H N E S L Y K L C R I M E N R P A M X M T O P Q E V M S K S I P E O D S O A P E E R P A F O N N M R E Y U C P D Z D R Z A P P Z V A I M J E O Z R O K I V H T S W E N I C T C D L A D Z G V K H C T A W C B E K P L M S G A D C W B U S I N E S S S U A W E A T H E R BUSINESS CABLE CAKE COFFEE COMEDY COMMERCIAL CRIME DOCUMENTARY DOZE DRAMA DRINK FILM

FRIENDS KNIT LAUGH LISTEN LOCAL LOUD MOVIES NEWS NOISY PRESENTER READ RECORD

RELAX REMOTE REPEATS REPLAY REST REVIEW SATELLITE SERIAL SLEEP SNACK SOAP SPORTS

SUSPENSE SWEETS TALK TAPE VIDEO VOLUME WATCH WEATHER

321

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

MEDIUM

All puzzles © The Puzzle Company

Last week Sudoku

Wordsearch X W T E G D O L C U K C M E M W B Z M Q R I R A F A S H C A O C T U I D U P A R K B F G O C A M P T L M X S S E I G D E I X U W G E E C A L A P E H N M O E S K V L I R Y A C H T X U B O C F L H I E C N A D B E A C H M O I P B T F F N D I V I N G T F G W A T W S S G U I D E T H W A E O D A T A P H A W D R J E Z A L L N T E L E V O O C M I F H Q K E U L N R U K G R J W O W N M T O L X E E I O C I N E V L M L E H A P S I C R S P E N U S Q N M P L E V A R T A Y M S B G O E D N A L S I E H A E E S O S R P L R X T Q A I H R O Q G N L T A A C R U I S E N E F N T H U F I E P B W C O N Y Y E F S C E N E R Y L L Q C A T C U S T O M S L E I S H W Y X

IN or OUT

A Tale of Cat Versus Dog by Stacy Gregg, Sarah Jennings A hilarious story about friendship, patience and paw-prints! Brilliantly written by Stacy Gregg and illustrated by Sarah Jennings. Dog wants in. He’s trying to build blocks, play with his cars and finish his painting masterpiece. Cat wants in. No, Cat wants out. In. Out. In. Out. It’s enough to drive Dog crazy! Featuring well-known pets and their all-too-familiar characteristics, this fun-filled story is comedically told through the antics of mischievous Cat and increasingly impatient Dog. Can they end the day as friends? Written by bestselling author Stacy Gregg and brilliantly illustrated by Sarah Jennings, this hilarious tale about patience, friendship and understanding will have kids giggling all the way through!

TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 13

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Coral’s a gala day veteran By Jeremy Smith

When Te Awamutu’s Coral Loomb tells you she often marvels at how much the St John’s Anglican Church Gala Day has grown - and changed - over the years, she knows what she’s talking about. In between manning a stand at which she was selling cookies at this year’s gala on

Saturday, Coral told The News of her 60-year association with the day. It was, essentially, the gala’s sense of community which initially drew her in all those years ago. And she’s stayed since. “I enjoy it very much.” This year’s gala was organised by a fiveperson committee - Els Brown, Jill Webber

Te Awamutu St John’s Anglican parish priest Reverend Julie Guest, with her husband Andrew, serve up the sausages.

John and Linda Littlemore and Warren Tims. And, as The News took a quick tour of the gala with Els on Saturday, there were seven tables placed end on end outside the church building. Everything from Coral’s cookies to plants, books and Judith Megaw’s various homemade marmalades were among the items on sale. There was even a petting zoo featuring sheep and kunekune pigs. Funds raised at Saturday’s gala via gold coin donations go towards refurbishment work required on windows at both Old St John’s Church in Te Awamutu and St Paul’s Church at Rangiaowhia. The gala raised $4000 – and the stained glass window in St Paul’s was scheduled to be removed on Tuesday morning. The parish project – first revealed by The News in August – is estimated to cost nearly $150,000. Coral has had a number of roles at the gala across her subsequent six decades – including organisational responsibilities in past years. “Looking around and seeing how much the gala has grown and changed, and what it looks like today, amazes me. “When my involvement with the fair first started, my youngest child was just three months old. “It’s almost hard to fathom that it has been as long as it has now,” she said when reflecting on those 60 years.” Coral has also been a member of the church’s vestry – essentially its organisational committee as she called it – for the past few years. Vestry members essentially function as church elders.

Coral Loomb, left, and Els Brown at Saturday’s gala.

And Coral is always delighted to see the many ways in which the gala builds connection with the community. Te Awamutu St John’s Anglican parish priest Reverend Julie Guest, alongside her husband Andrew, manned the barbecue and handed out the sausages for much of Saturday. “It’s wonderful seeing everyone out and about,” Reverend Guest told The News.

We put you first

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14 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 15

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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16 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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