Cambridge News | November 7, 2024

Scoring in the eighties

By Mary Anne Gill

Two Cambridge women point to technology as the major reason they are still playing golf after 60 and 40 years respectively.

Gaye Bezzant, 87, and Betty Harvey, 90 next month, say their careers were extended following the invention of battery-powered trundlers which made walking the golf course and pulling a heavy golf bag and clubs so much easier.

Both were single figure golfers in their days – testified by the fact their names appear on the ladies' championship board at the club - and a large turnout is expected at a special celebration for them later today (Thursday).

Television and radio presenter Kay Gregory, a keen golfer herself, will interview them in front of a packed clubhouse of family and friends.

“We’ve been so lucky,” says Betty who took up the game 40 years ago after success at tennis and squash.

“There weren’t that many senior golfers like us still around when I started. They had to give up golf because there were no electric trundlers around then and they couldn’t walk 18 holes, they had to give up, poor souls.”

Betty who on non-golf days gets in an early morning five kilometre walk around St Kilda where she and husband Barry live after years in Te Miro, uses a cart now after an operation on her knee and tends to stick to nine hole competitions.

Gaye still gets the odd round of 18 in after 60 years playing golf and after a recent hip operation is back playing as a nine-holer.

She became Cambridge’s 41st inductee on the Duke Street Sports Walk of Fame two years ago for her prowess as an international softball representative and for representing Waikato in softball, netball, basketball and golf.

Their memories are boundless – we would have needed hours - but it is the friendships and community spirit fostered through golf which thread through their time at the club.

“When I started in 1974, I was in awe of Gaye because she was a low handicapper,” says Betty. Women playing with the men was frowned on as

were shorts and slacks.

“We all had to wear skirts, and they had to be below your knee and your sleeves had to become below your elbows,” says Gaye.

Ladies Golf Union rules were strict – women had to finish out every hole or be disqualified while men had ‘gimmies’ which she insists some of them would never have got.

Etiquette was critical – walking near a golfer’s line of eyesight for example was a no no and still is today but is something many modern day players forget.

Gaye was once the top qualifier in the New Zealand championships at New Plymouth Golf Club but crashed out in the first round of match play.

Both played pennants and interclub competitions for years playing with and against some of the best golfers Waikato ever produced.

Each has a soft spot for the Walton Golf Club, nicknamed the gem of New Zealand golf, but both say it is Cambridge – established in 1900 and Waikato’s oldest golf club - they love.

The course itself has changed in their time – the last when three new holes were created to the east of the Fergusson (Low Level Bridge) and the rest of the course adapted.

There are plans to develop housing on the unused parts of the course which both ladies say they might have opposed years ago but not now.

Times have changed, fewer people are able to volunteer and help out at the club.

“I used to come in on the statutory days and work as a volunteer so the girls could have some holidays,” says Gaye. Other members would look after the gardens around the course.

But it is the people they both remember. They look up at the boards and run through the names recalling something about them, the ones who were “snooty”, competitive, strict on etiquette, friendly and great friends.

“We had some great old ladies we played with. We are lucky to be playing, they are not,” says Betty.

More than 100 people from around the Waikato were expected to attend the reunion at Cambridge Golf Club today.

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Cambridge Golf Club’s longest-serving members Gaye Bezzant, left, and Betty Harvey, still playing today.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Consultant fees

Recent reports indicate the Waipa District Council has over 100 staff who are on $100,000 or more and that 10 council employees are earning between $180,000 to $339,999.

This remuneration reflects what the council has to pay to attract highly skilled professionals. However, with this level of remuneration for highly skilled professionals, one would have to question why the council paid $14m to consultants, over and above the remuneration for their highly skilled employees. Do the highly skilled professionals not have the skills the district council needs, hence their reliance on consultants?

The government has clearly stated they expect councils to get back to core business and for government agencies to address what they spend on consultants. It would appear that maybe, the Waipa District

Council did not get the government memo.

David Natzke

Cambridge Fluoride debate

Fluoridation science and why some countries do not do it, are easily read in the online article “Water fluoridation controversy”. It’s a shame that the Community Board do not check the facts properly; even Te Whatu Ora recommends fluoridation. It says some water supplies have natural fluoride and may be topped up with just enough fluoride to help protect our teeth from decay.

Waipa council have approximately 22,000 dwellings which means fluoridation costs about $6.40 rate a household – a drop in the ocean for rate payers. To not fluoridate will cost the rate payers and their children poor dental health forever.

Jack Sharman Cambridge

Family harm case ends in court

Cambridge Police had a good catch following a family harm incident last week.

A male seriously assaulted his partner, threatened others and forcibly removed their young child before speeding away in a vehicle.

On line stats

An online story about an attempted robbery in Leamington led our website post stats for last month followed very closely by our ever popular News in brief.

The cambridgenews.nz site continues to gain new users boosted by our strong news coverage – both breaking coverage and online versions from the newspaper.

Our front page story, with police calling for information about the identities of five juvenile suspects caught breaking into a Hamilton Rd superette, was our third best post.

Fourth was the opening of the new technology hub at Cambridge Middle School and in fifth, proof people read our back stories, an obituary on Anne Jagose written by Viv Posselt and published in July 2022. This was prompted by the introduction of a new website tab pulling together all our obituaries over the years.

Home is still the most visited page followed by pdf versions of the newspaper, Good Local Media contact details and advertising rates.

Rates use

The $81 million collected by Waipā District Council from rates in the 2023-24 year - 47 per cent of the council’s total revenue - wastewater, stormwater and water activities accounted for 36 per cent, or $29 million.

News/Editorial

Roy Pilott editor@goodlocal.nz

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Janine

maryanne@goodlocal.nz

viv@goodlocal.nz

chris@goodlocal.nz

janine@goodlocal.nz

david@goodlocal.nz Office/Missed

Police observed the vehicle on Golf Road, Te Awamutu and its tyres were successfully spiked. The vehicle continued south and was soon located on a rural property south of Kihikihi. Police arrested the male and the child was safely returned. A subsequent search of the vehicle found firearms, ammunition, offensive weapons and drugs. The male has appeared in court on several charges.

Family harm offending does not reach this stage of severity without a period of escalation. Due to a number of factors, the victim is not always able to make the call for help or assist police with the prosecution process. This is why they (and police) need support from the public who may have witnessed what was happening.

Where those people are willing and able to make a formal statement and stand up in court if necessary, we have a much greater chance of demonstrating the true severity of the offending and be able to intervene in a dangerous cycle. We can put supports in place to prevent ongoing harm to the victim and their children and help the offender to try to address their issues and break the cycle.

In the last seven days, police in Cambridge also dealt with two incidents of fighting in a public place, eight traffic crashes, two driving complaints, one mental health incident, four assaults, 16 thefts, 10 attempts to interfere with, attempt to steal or stolen vehicles, three burglaries, five family harm incidents, three drunk drivers and a bail breach.

In other news, I have been asked to remind all about the liquor ban area covering Victoria Square. If you see anyone drinking alcohol on the square or the parking spaces attached to it, please call 111.

In general, a liquor ban in Leamington covers the central area bordered by Browning Street from Tennyson to Burns Streets, down to Cook Street as far as Shakespeare Street and along Wordsworth Street to Tennyson Street and back up to Browning Street.

In town, the central liquor ban extends inwards from the North side of the river along to Dick Street to the west and Tirau Road to the east. The eastern boundary then follows Albert Street up to Thornton Road including Lake Te Koo Utu, across to Victoria Street, extending slight west again at Queen Street back to Dick Street.

Finally, I am looking forward to working at Shaw’s Illuminate Light and Sound show on Saturday night and to seeing everyone at what I know will be another fun family event.

Just over a third - 34 per cent, or $27.5 million - was spent on community services and facilities including maintaining parks, reserves, playgrounds, libraries, halls and cemeteries. Roads and footpaths accounted for nearly $14 million.

Planning and regulatory costs accounted for 6 per cent, while 8 per cent went on governance, including strategy, communications and governance support staff.

Constable DEB HANN

Dog complaints

Wandering and barking dogs continue to test Waipā’s animal control team. In the three months from July 1, the council fielded 1115 calls on behalf of the team with 580 of them relating to animal control issues, including reports of lost dogs and stock. Top complaints were the 220 about wandering dogs and 186 about excessive barking.

Promotions down

High profile events at Lake Karāpiro were expected to take big funding hits when Waipā District Council’s District Promotions subcommittee met on Monday. The national Waka Ama Sprint champs, Maadi regatta and New Zealand dragon boat champs were among the big events affected but so too were district-wide Christmas activities.

Armistice Day

An ‘Armistice Remembrance’ concert will be held in the Cambridge Town Hall on Saturday. The gold coin entry ‘Sentimental Journey’ event will see proceeds go towards the RSA Welfare Fund. A Remembrance Sunday ceremony will take place at the plaza outside the hall on Sunday, and there will be a smaller ceremony at the same place on Monday, starting 10 minutes before 11am on the 11th.

Top students

Zach Macaskill-Smith and Gabrielle Hill have taken top academic honours at St Peter’s School, Cambridge. Proxime accessit for the International Baccalaureate went to Tim Qian, who shared the Robb Family Trophy with NCEA proxime accessit Keana Woodfield.

The school’s head boy for next year is Alapati TusaSoagia and head girl is Madeleine Waddell.

See Cambridge High School dux and heads, page 7.

Tower doomsday delayed

By Mary Anne Gill

The historic Cambridge Water Tower has a stay of execution, but questions remain over why discussions about it were held behind closed doors at a public excluded workshop.

Waipā District Council announced this week councillors supported remove and restore options in the Long Term Plan after they were told about new technologies which would allow strengthening of the tower for about $2 million.

The council has applied for a resource consent to demolish the water tower which was found to be earthquake prone after new national guidelines came into effect after the Christchurch earthquakes. It will also commission a new detailed seismic assessment to better understand the tower’s condition.

Earlier consultations with the community put the strengthening figure at $6

million and said it would cost $800,000 to demolish.

Not surprisingly residents voted for the latter.

But a rear guard action led by Whitehall sheep and beef farmer James Casey and a group of residents who banded together under the leadership of Peter Fulton, swayed the council.

Save the Cambridge Water Tower met mayor Susan O’Regan in August and briefed her on other options which could work. They gave the example of the historic Oamaru courthouse which underwent significant strengthening for just under $1 million.

Fulton said “adaptive reuse” – a term used by heritage architects – had become the group’s buzz phrase.

It pointed the council in the direction of a New Zealand company with a successful track record of strengthening heritage buildings.

The council will still apply for a resource consent to

demolish the water tower which was found to be earthquake prone after new national guidelines came into effect after the Christchurch earthquakes.

The public excluded workshop last month was one of four held during the Long Term Plan discussions.

The council told The News it was to “enable the free and frank provision of advice and opinions by and between officers and elected members” and to protect legal privilege.

Editor Roy Pilott, who queried the decision then, said he still wondered why the discussions were behind closed doors when it was such a public matter.

“What is free and frank when our readers are constantly denied the opportunity to hear elected councillors’ opinions before decisions are made?” he said.

“It, the blue blob debacle and a proposed quarry just outside Cambridge are the three biggest issues

according to our readers and we are no closer in knowing what our elected members are doing about them.”

Meanwhile reader Eric Hill has taken to AI technology to produce an alternative water tower option – a cut down version with the surviving bricks used to create a feature incorporating planting and seating.

“Payne Park and Rest Haven would benefit from this feature.

"A billboard could be erected with an image of the original tower and accompanied by historical dialogue,” he said. Fulton said his group was concentrating on full preservation with an option for adaptive reuse at some time in future.

What’s cooking?

By Mary Anne Gill

Review: Cook Plate Savour, published by Cambridge Primary School.

I’m not a cook, my family know that but even I could make something out of this book because the recipes are by and large simple and made for busy families.

The book itself shows the creativity within the school whānau from photographer Juliette Drysdale’s exquisite illustrations, artwork by Grant Jack and design by Jamie Moore to the person who clearly pulled it all together, project manager Mel Moore.

When the call went out for recipes, they got 130 back from parents and staff. Cooking them was the easy bit, as anyone knows it’s the photo that makes you want to try your hand at it yourself.

My favourite photos were the Conway family’s Turkish eggs, the Deiners ice cream smoothie, cracker toffee from the Dugmores (oh so decadent!) and teacher Hayley Shaw’s ice cream cake.

There are also plenty of photos featuring Cambridge Primary School children which should make for easy sales: how many children can say they feature in a book?

All of the school judging by the back cover!

Sponsorship from local businesses, most whose children either attend or attended the school, makes this a truly community effort.

A must for people who collect cookbooks and a worthwhile stocking filler for people like me who can’t cook but will.

Jono Gibson Funeral Director

An AI impression of a cut down water tower.

Team effort, from left: Hayley Shaw, Mel Moore, Juliette Drysdale and Winnie Waterhouse during the photo shoot.

Keryn, Ewen celebrate 40

By Mary Anne Gill

Ewen Lee was nine months old, and his mother Keryn sensed there was something not right.

He was not meeting the usual milestones and unlike others his age was barely moving on the floor.

The Child Development Centre at Waikato Hospital checked him out and referred Keryn to a newly opened centre down the road which provided early intervention services for children with developmental needs.

That was nearly 40 years ago and on Saturday Ewen, who turned 40 in June, was back at McKenzie Centre in Hamilton celebrating its ruby anniversary.

Today he is a well-known figure around Cambridge at the Woolworths supermarket where he gathers up errant supermarket trollies and at Cambridge Raceway where he helps out in the stables.

He is also a regular on the regional bus service when he heads into Community Living Trust in Collingwood Street to take part in its day services activities.

The trust itself was founded in April 1989 to support people with intellectual disabilities to leave Tokanui Hospital and live in the community.

Ewen was never at Tokanui; instead, he stayed at home with Keryn in Cambridge attending Cambridge Primary School and benefiting from then principal

TICKETSBUYYOURNOW!

Denis Raines’ innovative mainstream approach to children with intellectual disabilities.

From there it was onto the then Cambridge Intermediate – now Middle School – before he finished up at Melville High School.

Keryn, a former security officer who retired from Woolworths (then Countdown) five years ago after 13 years on the checkouts and around the store, says her son’s disability has never held him back.

Ewen once blitzed the competition in a poker tournament using his unique brain power to maximum advantage.

And it is worth asking him about the horses at Cambridge Raceway; he knows them and their form.

Going back to the centre where it all started was a real highlight for him and his mother.

McKenzie Centre Trust was established in 1982 with donations from the McKenzie Education Foundation and the Telethon Trust and started in 1984.

Sir Roy McKenzie was patron for many years. Today the centre is now part of Enrich Group, a Te Awamutu-based disability provider, but still retains its focus on early intervention for children from birth to school age.

Its 40th birthday was held at its neighbours - Hamilton West School - where guest speakers included long-time trustee Ken Williamson and now retired centre director Trisha Benge.

SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER

9AM-4.30PM

Consents rise

Waipā building consents in the quarter starting July 1 were up eight percent to 236 on the same quarter last year but still well down on the 338 in 2022. August was the busiest month with 87. New dwelling numbers are also up in the three months by 11 percent to 92 but again lagging behind 2022’s 131.

Parking complaints

Over a third of the people who copped parking fines in Cambridge and Te Awamutu in the quarter starting July 1 have complained to Waipā council. Of the 361 parking infringements issued, 128 queried the fine. The majority were for overstaying in time limited parking spaces.

Court hearing

A resource consent granted by Waipā District Council for a six-unit compact housing development at 3 Kelly Rd in Cambridge is off to the Environment Court next week. The appellant is Ruth Hickey, the occupier and beneficiary of the estate next door to the proposed development.

Correction

District councillors Lou Brown and Bruce Thomas declared a conflict of interest and did not vote on the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board decision to ask the council to push back on orders to add fluoride to the Cambridge water supply. John Wood voted against the recommendation, not Lou Brown as we reported last week.

NEED FLOORING?

Ewen Lee, left, with his mother Keryn at McKenzie Centre’s 40th anniversary in Hamilton.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Top honours for friendly rivals

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

After receiving her medal from the University of Waikato’s vice chancellor Neil Quigley, Rachel Waterton ran across the stage to wrap Madeleine Jago in her arms.

“We talked about it a few weeks ago and Maddie was like no, don’t get my hopes up,” Rachel said.

She had wondered “how cool it would be to be standing on that stage together”.

When they did, she noted they couldn’t stand still for a photo because we were too busy hugging.

Rachel was named dux of Cambridge High School last Thursday just close academic rivals and friend, Madeleine Jago, was named proxime accessit.

“I think it was more special for me because I got to share it with Madeleine,” Rachel said. “She’s my inspiration – I look up to her and I wouldn’t be on that stage without her.”

Principal Greg Thornton said Rachel, who aims to study engineering in Sydney next year, was an exceptional student and an “incredibly nice person to boot”.

She and Madeleine both acknowledged social sciences faculty head Blair Ludlam for his role in their success.

“He’s taught us that you don’t just have to have a career, you can genuinely have something you’re so passionate about, and we wouldn’t be up on that stage without him,” Rachel said.

Madeleine was “just over the moon” to be runner-up to dux.

“I was just so shocked to hear my name… and I couldn’t be prouder to be going up there with Rachel,” she said.

“I think we’re very good at pushing each other to do the best we can do and be the best we can be.”

She was looking forward to studying science at the University of Canterbury next

year where her older sister Anna – the 2023 dux at Cambridge High – is a first-year engineering student.

“I want to do something to make a difference, I want to leave my mark, whether it’s environmental or something in leadership,” Madeleine said.

She said her parents, Rebecca and Dion, were her biggest cheerleaders.

“And my nana, Joy Jago, comes to every single prizegiving, every single football game, every single anything that I’m at.”

Although study is taking Rachel and Madeleine in different directions, there will always be a reminder of the academic heights the two friends inspired each other to reach.

“We get to be on the school honours board together for the next 50 years,” Rachel said.

“It’s like a legacy that we get to leave that we’re really proud of.”

Head students named

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Millie Balsom was sworn to secrecy for a day after being told she would Cambridge High School’s head girl.

Millie, 17, has lived in Cambridge all her life with her parents, Christina and David. She has two older siblings, Jaques and Gabby.

The Year 12 student joined Cambridge High School as a year 9 student in 2021, after eight years at St Peter’s Catholic School.

She said she is looking forward to working with head boy Malakai Eade, deputy head boy Ethan Bailey and deputy head girl Danielle D’Ath.

“We’ve got a range of different interests and we all bring different strengths to the team,” she said.

“I’ve always looked up to the head students and known that’s something I wanted to do,” she said.

“They’re role models everyone can look to for advice and they’ve always been so encouraging and supportive. That’s something I would really like to continue.”

One of her first goals is to “make an impact on the new year nines”.

“I know how scary and intimidating it can be coming into a big school like ours,” she said. “I want them to feel welcomed by the senior school and to feel proud to be here.”

Cambridge High School dux Rachel Waterton and promixe accessit Madeleine Jago (left).

Millie Balsom and Malakai Eade.

Wartime nurse has links to Waipā

By Viv Posselt

As RSAs around the country prepare to mark Armistice Day on November 11, one 105-year-old with links to Te Awamutu will be sifting through her own wartime memories.

Armistice Day relates to the ending of World War 1. But it is Joan Daniel and her late husband Maurice’s World War 11 experiences that will likely play on her mind.

Joan is believed to the oldest surviving New Zealand army nurse who served in the Middle East during World War 11.

Her daughter is Te Awamutu’s Elizabeth Bayley-Jull, who grew up with her siblings in Auckland where their parents Joan and Maurice settled after the war, and where Maurice established his legal practice.

Joan was born in Auckland on April 1, 1919, and still lives there. Maurice died in 1983. Their daughter Elizabeth and one grandson live in Te Awamutu, while two other grandchildren and three greatgranddaughters live in Cambridge.

Elizabeth received confirmation from the Kippenberger Research Centre at the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa in Wellington that Joan was the last known surviving Kiwi army nurse who served in the Middle East during WW2. They said although several women still alive also served in Africa and the Mediterranean, Joan is the only nurse.

“All my life I have heard mum’s story… and my father’s,” Elizabeth said. “Joan was involved with the RSA in Auckland for many years … mostly on the admin side, organising things like reunions, hospital visits and poppy sales.”

In 2017, Joan recorded an interview for the RSA’s Memories of Service series. In it, she told the story of meeting her husband-to-be Maurice Daniel when she was working at the Auckland law firm he then joined as a law clerk.

The couple were engaged before Maurice enlisted at the end of 1940. He was captured in Greece and spent most of the rest of the war in a German POW camp.

Joan, meanwhile, had joined the Red Cross. Although she nurtured no early thoughts of war service, she later applied with a friend. After a staggered start primarily linked to her age, she finally joined up, and with her friend trained at Trentham before embarking for Egypt on the hospital ship Maunganui.

She was initially based in Cairo working at 1NZ General Hospital at Helwan, near Maadi Camp, before being moved later to different centres in the region. There were many good times – one of them the marriage of the best friend who had been with Joan from the start.

The death of three fellow nurses in a vehicle accident was the biggest blight in those early days.

When Joan transferred to Italy, she nursed men with terrible injuries sustained in the Battle of Cassino. She remembers soldiers of the Māori Battalion being particularly good patients, always good natured no matter how serious their wounds.

At the end of three years’ service, Joan applied to come home; she did so and returned to her legal job in Auckland.

Maurice completed his outstanding two law papers while awaiting return to New Zealand following his release. He then went back to work and later started his own practice in Onehunga.

The pair married a month after Maurice’s return in 1945. They had three children. Joan now has nine grandchildren and 14 greatgrandchildren.

Joan in her WW2 uniform.

Joan Daniel is something of a record-breaker in military terms.

When lightning stikes

By Janine Krippner

A couple of weeks ago my friend and American meteorologist Chris Vagasky was mentioned in a news article after he detected over 50,000 lightning events in the eyewall of Hurricane Milton over 14 hours.

He uses a network called GLD360 that uses antennae that are sensitive to the radio waves produced by lightning, detecting events up to 10,000 km away.

We have had many lightning chats over the years, usually related to volcanic lightning, and he also works to educate people about the dangers. He agreed to help me write this to share his expertise with all of you.

November through January is our peak time for lightning in Aotearoa, with early to mid-afternoon being our peak time of day.

Did you know that if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning? In fact, the longest measured flash was nearly 800 km long. They say “when thunder roars, do indoors” - I have honestly become much more cautious after becoming friends with a lightning expert.

Lightning is hotter than the surface of the sun (around 8000°C) and is thousands of times more powerful than the electricity in our homes at 20 million to 1 billion volts.

This incredible but hazardous event causes about 25,000 fatalities and roughly 250,000 injuries around the world yearly. That tells us that about 90 per cent of people struck survive (that we know of). It is important that first aid is applied to any victims right away, which might include CPR if cardiac or respiratory arrest occurs, and call 111 immediately.

Lightning can cause electrical burns and

it interferes with the electrical components of our bodies - the heart and nervous system. Other complications include trauma from falling or being thrown, unconsciousness/coma, or blown out ear drums/hearing loss. Pain is often a lifelong issue for survivors.

If you think it’s unlikely that you might get directly hit by lightning, you’re right. About 5 per cent of incidents are direct strikes and about 50 per cent of injuries or deaths are from lightning striking nearby and traveling through the ground then into them. About 30 per cent are from lightning striking a nearby object and electricity jumping into them. A key message here is to avoid trees when you can hear thunder.

What are safe places? We want to be inside fully enclosed metal vehicles or substantial buildings. I think it’s a pretty neat fact that planes are also safe places to be. Each passenger plane is thought to be struck around once a year, and they are designed with this in mind.

As we head into our Kiwi summer and relax near the ocean or lake, it’s good to know that being anywhere near water during a lightning storm is very unsafe. This includes boating, fishing, and just being at the beach. You’re usually isolated and the tallest thing around, which makes you more prone to being struck.

We live on a crazy-active planet and these small actions can help us to avoid catastrophe when our beautiful natural processes occur near us. Enjoy the warmer weather, folks.

WAIPA

Community Connect

November 7, 2024

Up for the challenge

Despite navigating almost constant change and uncertainty, Waipā District Council has emerged from a tough year with a firm focus on the future.

As the Council adopted its 2023-24 Annual Report last week, Mayor Susan O’Regan said the best word to describe the previous 12 months was ‘challenging’, with more difficult decisions ahead.

“Like most other councils, we faced financial challenges with interest costs, high inflation, depreciation, and the cost to deliver services skyrocketing. And the change in tack from central Government for water services delivery was a gamechanger, given our rising level of debt.”

The financial headwinds saw the council make some tough calls, including putting some major community projects on hold, and making significant cuts to discretionary funding.

However, despite the challenges, close to $130 million of capital work was delivered via 160 projects across five programmes.

These included the long-called-for safety improvements and a signalised crossing in Ōhaupō, and an upgrade to Te Awamutu’s Walton Street, making it safer for people walking as well as providing new carparks and a new toilet block.

Cambridge saw the completion of a suite of urban projects on Hamilton Road, including new shared walking and cycling paths and raised pedestrian crossings.

The historic Victoria Street Bridge had a glow-up, with maintenance and repainting completed without

disrupting traffic, and a new toilet block and carparks were built at the Leamington Cemetery.

Even with the tricky financial climate, the council has maintained its AA- stable outlook from international credit rating agency Fitch for the seventh year in a row.

“This is a nod to our financial prudence, and allows the council to access lower interest rates,” O’Regan said.

Another encouraging sign was the higher satisfaction scores received in the annual residents’ perception survey, including satisfaction with services and facilities as well as value for money.

“These gradual improvements indicate our residents are slowly building trust in us again, which has been –and will continue to be – a core focus of mine as Mayor.”

The council’s attention is now firmly on delivering the 2025-34 Long Term Plan, striving to keep rates as affordable as possible while continuing to deliver high levels of service. Management of debt will be a big feature of the ongoing financial strategy.

Alongside this is the need to decide how water services will be delivered in Waipā, and responding to ongoing legislative reform.

“As always though, we will continue to seek input from our residents into our decision making, and most importantly we will strive to deliver on our vision of building connected communities.”

What’s on

•Great Kiwi Summer Festival: Mark the beginning of summer with a fun-filled weekend on the shores of Lake Karāpiro on November 9 and 10. This year’s celebration features a variety of events that will captivate the whole family. Head to www.greatkiwisummer.co.nz for more information.

•Bloom Collective Market: Get an early start on your Christmas shopping at the Leamington Domain, Cambridge, on November 9 from 4pm.

•Low waste Christmas: Keen to save money and waste less this Christmas? There is a free online workshop on November 12, scan the QR to register now.

• N Native bird art workshop: One for the kids! Head to Te Awamutu Museum on November 16 from 11am - 1pm with your old or unwanted compact discs and learn how to transform them into native bird art.

Have your say!

•Pirongia h halls: Shape the future of the halls in Pirongia by letting us know how you use the facilities before 5pm, November 10.

• Rural communities: Improve how we connect and engage with our rural communities by filling out the short online survey.

Scan the QR code to have your say on Pirongia and/or complete the rural communities survey!

Karāpiro Lake Domain Reserve Management Plan review

Help us shape the future of Waipā’s most popular reserve, Karāpiro Lake Domain.

We are kick-starting our review of the Karāpiro Lake Domain Reserve Management Plan. The plan will direct the management and development of the reserve, including decisions on sport and recreation, accommodation, events, activities and infrastructure on the reserve.

We want to know what’s important to people over the long term, how you’d like to see the reserve developed and what activities you’d like to see the new plan enable or restrict.

Scan the QR code to have your say!

Cambridge’s shared paths Walton Street toilets VictoriaStreetBridge Ōhaupō safety improvements

The capital gains tax debate

By Peter Nicholl

The issue of whether or not New Zealand needs to introduce a capital gains tax is back in the news.

A recent survey by Ipsos said 65 per cent of 1000 respondents would support a capital gains tax in some form. There was substantially less agreement on what should be taxed.

A month earlier, the NZ Herald Mood of the Boardroom survey had 77 per cent of the 100 business leaders surveyed saying the Government needs to introduce a capital gains tax. They gave both economic and equity reasons for their views.

more foreign investment, but our record in this area has also been relatively poor.

This argument for not having a capital gains tax doesn’t seem to be very strong either.

Another argument against capital gains taxes is that they deter risk-taking and this isn’t good for an economy.

The IMF and the OECD in their reports this year said New Zealand needs to broaden its tax base by introducing a capital gains tax.

The chief executive of ANZ Bank and the departing Head of the Treasury have also publicly supported its introduction.

This got me thinking about what New Zealand thinks it is gaining by being one of the few developed countries in the world to not have a capital gains tax. We are an exception. What does the country gain from that?

Most countries in the world have some form of capital gains taxes and they still have risk-taking and economic growth that is better than our recent record. Another argument is that such a tax will make the tax system more complicated and generate more work for accountants and lawyers. There is some truth in this argument and careful design of a capital gains tax system would be very important.

One advantage often cited for not having a capital gains tax is that it encourages investment. But our overall investment record is relatively poor. The lack of a capital gains tax can also distort investment decisions towards areas where capital gains are regarded as being strong and reliable, such as housing.

This argument for why New Zealand is one of the few exceptions in this area doesn’t look very strong.

A related argument for not having a capital gains tax is that it will encourage

If readers can think of anything that New Zealand gains by being one of the few countries not to have a capital gains tax I would like to hear them. I could easily have missed something but can’t see what we have gained.

On the other side of the debate, when one looks at the huge problems NZ has in many important infrastructure areas such as schools, hospitals, roads and power it is hard to see how the country is going to solve any of these infrastructure problems without a broadening of the tax base.

The NZ population is also ageing. The fiscal consequences of this will need to be addressed either by expanding the tax base or changing the entitlement criteria – or probably it will need a mix of both policies.

Saturday November 9th

A challenge for council

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

New Zealand’s economic outlook is still patchy despite some greener shoots showing for 2025.

So says Infometrics chief executive and principal economist Brad Olsen, who addressed a Waikato District Council workshop last week as the council embarked on developing its next Long Term Plan 2025-34.

In summary, overall economic growth in Waikato District is tracking at about 3 per cent. While the latest dairy payout, estimated at $692 million, is down about $33 million on the prior season, on-farm costs have stabilised in the last six months and the outlook for primary export prices is improving. Primary production represents about 17 per cent of the District’s GDP and is a good economic indicator.

The growth in the number of businesses dropped to about 2 per cent in 2024 following a short post-Covid surge of about 7 per cent. Despite a rise in business confidence, unemployment is also expected to rise, especially among youth, while consumer spending - represented by total regional retail sales - is down 5.3 per cent. Mortgage affordability is still a challenge

and house prices are essentially flat.

The upshot is that rates affordability remains a major concern, and councils will be challenged to maintain services in the face of a sharp rise in infrastructure costs experienced over the past three years. This is an unprecedented time for all councils which face huge changes demanded by legislation and extreme economic conditions.

Since Waikato District Council prepared its last Long Term Plan (LTP) for 2021-31, road construction and water supply system costs, for example, have escalated by 27 per cent, far outstripping the CPI.

On top of this, the council had to repair more than $18 million of infrastructure damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle last year and has now been knocked back $35 million by NZTA removing support for nearly all new roading infrastructure projects for the next three years.

To help contain costs, Waikato District is reviewing and changing its roading contracts which are responsible for 33 per cent of the general rate. It is also working to develop the best possible solution for a shared council-controlled organisation

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for ‘three waters’ (wastewater, stormwater and drinking water) either with Hamilton City or with a consortium of district councils including Waipā. These are major projects taking an enormous amount of staff time and focus.

With only 33,000 rateable properties in the district, the council had to work hard to peg this year’s general rates rise to 11.9 per centbelow the average for New Zealand councils - and must work equally hard to establish a new LTP and set rates for the next two years.

Residents and ratepayers are taking interest in record numbers. A survey last month asking for community feedback on how to prioritise council services and activities, from roading and waste management to community halls and library services, attracted nearly 2000 responses from more than 800 people. Presented at the workshop, this feedback will help determine which key areas require focus with regards rates, debt, and levels of service. Options will be developed for further consultation in March-April next year before the final shape of the LTP is agreed.

First for Waipā

A show home featuring structural insulated panels was launched in Cambridge last week. The house built by Ebode Homes – a partnership between Higgs Building and Tawa Architects - is in Kotare Park and its builders say it will use 70 per cent less energy than the standard New Zealand building code home.

Bird watch

Cambridge mum Sarita Betschart has published a book to encourage children to learn more about birds in New Zealand. “My parents Steve and Dale McClunie and my in-laws, Betscharts and Cowans, have done heaps of conservation work around the area over many years for the forest and birds, so I grew up with that love myself,” she told The News. “I’m passionate about educating kids well, and about being good stewards of the environment around us.”

Showroom all go

Resource consent has been granted to Ingham Group to build a new car showroom on the old Bunnings site in Cambridge on the corner of Queen and Lake streets. Ingham has eight brands – Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Suzuki, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Honda and Mitsubishi – at 17 dealerships and earlier this year purchased Windsor Nissan.

Gerry’s pals arrived on cue

By Viv Posselt

Gerry Wake admitted to being slightly overwhelmed at the start of his 100th birthday celebrations.

His October 25 centennial started with a small gathering in the billiard room at Te Awa Lifecare, Gerry’s home for the past six years. A quick photo was planned alongside his regular billiard buddies, Richard Seabrook and the former Te Awa general manager Jed Rowlands.

The arrival of Matamata playing chums Cliff Hazelton and Kevin Crighton was a happy addition to the trio, then in popped New Zealand’s national billiards

champion, Wayne Carey, bearing the handsome trophy he won earlier this year, a wooden and silver masterpiece first played for in 1908.

“I’m feeling a little overwhelmed, to be honest,” Gerry Wake smiled.

Gerry was born in the Essex village of Ingrave. He joined the navy in 1943, aged 19 and was attached to a naval landing party stationed at Courseulles in Normandy during the D-Day landings.

“My job was to go every day to fetch supplies from the LBV [landing barge vehicle] and take them back to Courseulles,” he said.

“We were there until the campaign finally ground its way forward.”

In a life characterised largely by measured decision-making, his biggest regret centres on something he couldn’t control – the death of his father in an accident when Gerry was just two.

His father had risen through the ranks, first in India and then with the British police force, before his early death left the family struggling. Gerry later brought his mother out to live with the family in New Zealand.

“I have no regrets about anything in my life, except I wish I had known my father.”

At war’s end Gerry came home and applied to join the police force, but was declined because of flat feet, so took other employment. It was on his way to work that he first laid eyes on Joan Pipe and her friend. He spotted her again at a travelling fair, and as luck would have it, one of his cricket-playing friends knew her.

“It was on from the start,” Gerry’s eyes sparkled. “I knew a good thing when I saw it… nothing was going to stop me.”

They married and had two daughters before migrating to New Zealand in 1962, essentially to give the children a better life than postwar England might offer. They soon added a son to the family and settled in Cambridge where Gerry made his mark in the insurance field and Joan made hers on the

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repertory circuit, performing in the productions like Mikado and singing with the Hamilton Civic Choir. Joan died in 1984. Sport was a big part of Gerry’s life. He played table tennis, he captained the local cricket side for a few seasons – at times netting them the cup – and his talent at billiards saw him win trophies in several championships across New Zealand. It turns out his dad was a billiards champion, so it’s likely

there’s a genetic reason Gerry remains passionate about the game today.

Slightly bemused at having made his 100, his mantra has been to ‘enjoy everything, but in moderation’. That’s a key message Gerry passed on to his children.

“I like to think of myself as lucky, not fortunate, but lucky,” he said. “As I see it, the success and happiness I have had in my life can be put down to my wife Joan. She was a beauty!”

Gerry Wake lines up for the break on his 100th birthday, watched by his playing buddies Jed Rowlands, left, and Richard Seabrook. Photo: Viv Posselt

Gerry Wake flanked by his two Cambridge-based daughters, Suzanne Ludbrook, left and Cheryl Kleuskens.

Photo: Viv Posselt

Finding your place

There’s many initiatives in our local community that aren’t highly visible, often go unheralded and aren’t accorded the mana which perhaps they deserve for work done in supporting and enhancing other’s lives. I’m using my 500 words in this column as a heads-up for one such initiative I’ve recently experienced.

Last week I was invited to attend a production prepared by a class at Cambridge High School called Te Haerenga (The Journey). Their brilliant show titled, “Finding My Place” related a whimsical story of ‘Greg’ - a boy in a new learning environment seeking to find exactly where he might fit. It was a wonderfully creative, high energy production. But it was also a very moving experience for those privileged to have seen one of only two shows featured in the school hall. Many attending, expressed how it brought tears to their eyes.

The dedicated Te Haeranga teaching team does such commendable work. They aim to provide a learning environment for young adults with unique challenges, equipping them with necessary life skills for their individual needs. Practical experiences, in and outside of the classroom are provided

By Murray Smith, Bridges Church

which help develop these skills, enabling the students to become more confident, connected, actively involved and lifelong learners. These experiences include participating in the arts, work experience, cooking, reading, financial literacy, team sports, excursions and opportunities to develop social interactions.

Often when secondary schools are profiled, the spotlight drifts onto high academic achievement, cups and prizes won, sporting accomplishments and other ‘elite’ outcomes. That’s all valid and completely fair enough but I was reminded by the “Finding My Place” show last week that the pursuit of excellence must always incorporate much broader expressions as criteria for ‘success’.

I was impressed with something a retiring builder said to me not long ago. Having apprenticed numbers of young builders over the years from scratch, to becoming fully qualified he said, “It’s been about building people more than it has been about just building itself.”

Education is a wonderful opportunity for building young people, helping them become better people. Learning environments where our youth are encouraged to become more whole,

thoughtful and caring of others, living lives that make a positive difference, have a needed place.

Greg, the young man in the story sought to ‘find his place’ with Mrs Funny, the principal offering opportunities to experience a range of faculty expressions at “Good Times High.” From arts, music, science, to maths and engineering, Greg is provided with ‘doors of opportunity.’ He likes them all but finds his niche with the Te Haerenga class.

In our hearts, ‘finding our place’ is everyone’s quest. We need to feel that somewhere we are an ‘insider’…that we have a place where we matter- where we belong, our people. Who am I? What’s my purpose? Where do I fit? These sorts of questions reverberate in people’s hearts throughout life - often lingering into final sunset years with ponderings about what it’s all been for.

Writing this Faith Column, I’m reminded how ‘finding our place’ is such a deep yearning in many souls - a journey that for me, only began upon receiving God’s unfathomable love. That changed everything.

CAMBRIDGE VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE C ALLS OVER THE L AST WEEK

CAMBRIDGE VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE CALLS OVER THE LAST WEEK

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

8:02pm, Fire on side of road

9:55am, Cardiac Arrest, Bryce Street

WEDNESDAY

12:11pm, Building Fire, Puketaha Road

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

THURSDAY

5:26am, Truck vs barrier, Tirau Road

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

7:06pm, Building Alarm and evacuation, Alpha Street

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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

10:02am, Building Alarm and evacuation, Wilson Street

11:52am, Chlorine Alarm, Judd Lane

SUNDAY

MONDAY

3:53am, Medical assistance, Karapiro Road

3:39am, Chlorine Alarm, Parallel Road 8:29am, Medical, Unconscious, Noel Street

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Dear diary, I’m thriving in my new home, just like the strawberries

Love life on your terms.

At Summerset Cambridge there are fewer chores and more choice. So if you’re done with gardening, you can hang up your gloves. But if you’re a big fan of getting amongst the flowerbeds, there’s a community of green-thumbs just waiting to meet you.

Two-bedroom homes are available with flexible pricing from just $675,450.* Plus, for a limited time, we’ll help you every step of the way with $15,000 cash back and a complementary moving package. Simply sign a sales application for a selected home between 01 October 2024 and 31 December 2024, and then settle by 31 March 2025.#

Love the life you choose.

Open Day

Saturday 9 November, 10am - 2pm Summerset Cambridge 1 Mary Ann Drive, Cambridge 07 839 9482 | summerset.co.nz/cambridge

Two lucky children will win a ride with Santa in the New World Cambridge Christmas Parade!

To enter drop completed colouring sheet into New World Cambridge by Monday 25th November 2024. Two lucky children aged between 3 and 13 will be selected from the entries. Judges decisions are final. Winners will be contacted by phone on the 27th November 2024.

Transporting a message

A group of Rotarians from District 9930 – which incorporates the heart of the North Island – travelled by train to Auckland to mark World Polio Day on October 24.

Dressed in red ‘End Polio Now’ t-shirts, Rotarians took the Te Huia train to join Auckland Rotarians in travelling every line on the city’s rail system.

District 9930 board secretary and past district governor Bill Robinson said it was amazing seeing the reactions from the public, “some not knowing what polio is as they never grew up with knowledge of the disease”.

“This is the first time members from our area have joined Auckland Rotarians, and we’ll be keen to repeat it next year.”

The eradication of polio is one of Rotary’s longest-standing and most significant projects and is considered to be the largest public health initiative the world has seen.

Robinson said 18 million people are alive today, or have not been left paralysed by the disease, because of the polio eradication campaign started by Rotarians.

“It was in the mid-1980s that Rotarians set their sights

on global polio eradiation and persuaded the world’s most powerful organisations in the field of health to join us. The result was the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and with our partners, we have helped immunise children against polio in 122 countries,” he said. “We have reduced polio cases by 99.9 per cent

worldwide, and we won’t stop until we end the disease for good.”

Only Afghanistan and Pakistan remain with positive cases. Polio, or poliomyelitis, is an infection disease caused by the polio virus. It has existed for thousands of years, is highly infectious and occurs only in humans.

Closure on State Highway 1 in Taupō

East Taupō Arterial section of SH1 will be closed in both directions from Monday 11 November until 6 Friday December 2024 for road rebuild.

There will be pressure on Taupō highways and local roads with many events and road works. Please use official detour as per map.

Those travelling to destinations above or below Taupō may prefer using other state highway routes such as SH3, SH4, SH32 and SH49.

More closures are planned on SH1 in next 12 months as part of our accelerated maintenance project between Tīrau and Waiouru.

Cambridge Rotarians Bill and Deb Robinson joined others who travelled the train tracks last month to spread the word about polio

Backchat

Local insights into past lives

By Elizabeth Harvey, Cambridge Museum

Have you ever wondered what histories might be lying hidden beneath your feet?

Layers of clues to the past are buried in the soil – an invisible yet tangible connection to the people who came before us. Archaeology is the key to unlocking these secrets, helping us piece together the histories of the generations before us and the things left behind.

When urban development takes place, archaeologists are part of the team. They work closely with mana whenua and listen to what kuia and kaumatua have to say. Land use such as market gardens, trade, warfare and settlements have left evidence that can be found in fields, riversides and backyards. By piecing together these clues, a window is created into the past, seeing how ordinary people may have lived. Once the physical evidence has been excavated and documented, the sites are covered once more.

Locally, some areas around our town have been preserved to provide a special connection with the past. Along the Te Awa River Ride between the Gaslight Theatre and the velodrome, are the remains of Arikirua Pā. Once the home of Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā tupuna, the pā was surrounded by gardens where kūmara, taro, gourd and tropical yams were

grown. Interpretation panels nearby include an aerial view showing where the pā, gardens and borrow pits would have been.

In Leamington, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Whare marama or birthing site in 2018. It is thought to have been used by different iwi in the 1800s. Excavations exposed evidence of widespread garden plantings, large and small storage and firepits, walled areas and spaces where people would have been involved in birthing. The Whare marama would have been built against a large tree intended to provide physical and spiritual support to the women. Ngāti Koroki Kahukura have blessed the site and it is now a reserve.

Finders not keepers

If you find something old looking along the river or in your garden, it might be tempting to pick it up.

Please don’t!

By taking an object away from its surroundings, archaeologists lose the chance to understand the bigger history of a place. If you find an artefact, take a photo, record the place you found it, and contact Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga or our team at Cambridge Museum. We facilitate the care of taonga tūturu which are protected objects that whakapapa to te ao Māori.

Unearthing history: early Māori gardening ingenuity explored

The Waikato Horticultural Complex: Adaptation of Polynesian Agronomy to a Temperate Environment.

If you know your paspalum from your potatoes, you’ll understand the challenges of growing crops in Waipā.

Archaeologist Warren Gumbley has been unearthing the history of food gardens in early Māori communities for decades. Speaking to Friends of Cambridge Museum and members of U3A Cambridge, he shared archaeological evidence from Cambridge and the broader Waikato region which demonstrated the ingenuity of early Māori gardening techniques from the 1500s.

Warren’s studies focus on kūmara which travelled to Polynesia from South America about 100 years before the first waka travelled to New Zealand. When Polynesian settlers arrived in New Zealand around the 13th century, they brought with them a wealth of horticultural knowledge suited to tropical climates. However, adapting these practices to the New Zealand climate required significant innovation and adaptation

Kūmara is a tropical crop and requires warm, frostfree growing conditions, not always guaranteed in our cooler climate and especially during the Waikato winter. As Māori settlements moved inland upriver, they had to solve two key challenges: how to create warm, welldrained soils for their kūmara crop and how to store seed crops over the colder seasons ready for spring planting. Aerial photographs from the 1940s (available online at Retrolens) illustrate the extensive evidence of market gardens that once remained in fields, riversides and backyards. Fortunately, Warren Gumbley has documented much of the evidence before it has been covered by new urban development. Notable features were the large depressions known as borrow pits. These were remnants of quarries where sand and gravel were extracted to create a gardening mixture called ‘made soil.’ Archaeologists understood that adding these coarse grains improved soil drainage and warmth making them

better suited to grow kūmara. But until bowlshaped hollows were found in the Waikato in 1998, little was known about how these gardens may have looked.

Adaptation in the Cambridge Area

Gumbley identified several pre-European Māori garden sites with these modified soils to the south of Cambridge and along the banks of the Waikato River above Cambridge. These gardens provided evidence of the sophisticated land management and agricultural practices developed by Māori to sustain their communities.

Impact on our Understanding

Gumbley's work continues to influence contemporary perspectives on Māori culture, emphasising the sophisticated and adaptive nature of their agricultural practices. The insights he shared with us not only celebrated the achievements of early Māori communities but also gave us a deeper recognition of New Zealand's rich cultural heritage.

Archaeologists at work in the car park behind the Museum in 2010. Image: Cambridge Museum

Te Parapara Garden in Hamilton Gardens features Māori cultural traditions in food cultivation and preparation. Image: Hamilton City Council

Boost for health programmes

By Mary Anne Gill

Three central North Island primary health organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Waikato University to tackle New Zealand’s health workforce shortages.

In putting pen to paper, chief executives from Pinnacle, Hauraki and National Hauora Coalition have committed to creating a regional network of training facilities throughout Waikato and King Country to support clinical placements across a range of primary care health professions.

The memorandum comes a month after the government gave Waikato the green light to develop a business case to become the country’s third medical school.

Jo Lane, the university’s pro vice chancellor of health, said the university had significantly expanded its teaching and research activities in recent years starting with a graduate programme for nursing when it established the country’s first new nursing school in more than 20 years.

Pharmacy and midwifery graduate programmes will start next year.

“Midwifery in particular is hot of the press…

the Midwifery Council accredited our programme on Friday right in time for today’s ceremony,” he said.

“The success of these new health programmes is to a large extent dependent on our clinical placement providers and the quality of the clinical patient experiences that we can provide to students. In short, if students have a fantastic time doing a clinical placement in primary care they’re much more likely to ultimately want to work in primary care.”

Pinnacle is the parent group of the Pinnacle Midlands Health Network, a primary health organisation that oversees 84 general practices across Waikato, King Country, Tairāwhiti, Taranaki, Rotorua, TaupōTūrangi and ThamesCoromandel.

Chief executive Justin Butcher said New Zealand trains the fewest number of health graduates per capita in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

“We’ve got a little way to go yet, but we need to embrace opportunities to do things differently and to try new approaches. And that for me is where the relationship and the work that the

university here is doing.”

Hauraki chief executive Taima Campbell said her organisation was smaller than Pinnacle with an enrolled population of almost 85,000 mostly rural and Māori people.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to support you and your graduates working in our workforce. We cannot wait.”

National Hauora Coalition is a Māori-led charity covering 60 general

practitioner practices across New Zealand, many in the Waikato and King Country.

Chief executive Rachel Brown said the memorandum was an opportunity for students to have placements in primary care, to love their placements, be welcome and therefore want to work in that environment afterwards.

“It’s a privilege to be part of this significantly important partnership.”

Vice chancellor Neil

A Shade S olu tion

Quigley said the university had set itself the goal of addressing the issues in health when it started developing its health programmes.

“One of the advantages of starting fresh is that you avoid the legacy problems of having been going for a long time and brining all of that history and past ways of doing things with you.

“So, we’re quite determined that we’ll learn the lesson and find ways to do things differently.”

Promotions… and relegation

By Mary Anne Gill

High profile events at Lake Karāpiro were expected to take big funding hits when Waipā District Council’s District Promotions subcommittee met on Monday.

The national Waka Ama Sprint champs, Maadi regatta and New Zealand dragon boat champs were among the big events affected but so too were district-wide Christmas activities.

Thirty applications requesting $275,594 were received for the council’s $75,000 and 27 were expected to get either full or partial funding.

Waka Ama asked for $40,000 and the secondary schools rowing champs $10,000; both were expected to get $6000 each following a staff recommendation.

Twelve of the events recommended by staff to get funds are on Lake Karāpiro, eight in Cambridge, four in Te Awamutu, two in Kihikihi and the five others in Mystery Creek, Pirongia, Rukuhia, Arapuni and Ōhaupō.

The list of successful applicants were not available when The News went to press.

Pinnacle chief executive Justin Butcher and Waikato University professor Ross Lawrenson hongi while

honorary professor Jo Scott-Jones waits his turn at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Waikato University and three primary health organisations in Hamilton this week. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Women’s cricket is on a roll

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Seven months ago, the excitement in Elin Gainsford’s eyes as she watches groundsmen prepare a brand new wicket at Victoria Square says it all: local women’s cricket is on a roll.

It was 10.30am on March 9, and the first time Cambridge’s senior women’s team had played at the Victoria St venue, where they will have the honour of christening the pristine grass pitch.

Fast forward and the Cambridge women are regrouping for their second season in the Waikato senior women’s competition.

“There’s such a buzz around women’s cricket at the moment thanks to the White Ferns and their phenomenal win at the T20 World Cup,” coach Chris Guzzwell said.

“Momentum is building at a local level, too. We started with eight core players last year but now we’ve got 12 signed up for the 2024/2025 season – and we’ve just

had a new team, Star University, join our league, so there are positive things happening.”

The women’s competition now includes Cambridge, MorrinsvillePiako, Hamilton Old Boys, Hamilton Marist Suburbs and Star University.

It’s only five teams, but for local players, simply being able to play in an all-women’s league is exciting.

Before it launched last October, girls and women wanting to compete at senior level had to join boys’ or men’s teams – an intimidating option for some.

Twenty-three-year-old Lydia Proffit found herself in that boat after moving here from Taranaki a few years ago.

“I played for a men’s team, but it wasn’t that inviting,” said the left-hand medium pacer, who bats at number three.

“I love playing with the younger girls in this team and giving back.”

She would love to see new players joining the squad this season.

“You don’t need to have all the skills in the world,” she said. “We just want people who are keen to learn and have a go.”

Meanwhile, Chris is looking for sponsorship to help keep the female game growing in Cambridge.

“There are a few dedicated people out there in cricket-land trying to create a pathway for girls from high school cricket to senior

level – a pathway that doesn’t involve being a part of the boys’ or men’s system,” he said.

“Cambridge Cricket Club has done a fantastic job and it’s exciting to see talented players coming up through the ranks.

“The women’s game certainly seems to be gathering pace at a local level.”

And what happened on March 9 this year?

“Oh my goodness,” Elin says, “we had to play at Leamington Domain and it’s not the best, so getting the chance to play on the square is actually amazing, getting everyone to see women’s cricket”.

The year 10 Cambridge High School student and her teammates warmed up in front of the Cambridge Cricket pavilion, while farmers market shoppers swarm around stalls in the far corner of the square. Elin’s team eventually went on to defeat Morrinsville-Piako by 12 runs – their first win against the side since the season began in October 2023.

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Elin Gainsford takes off for a run in a match against Morrinsville-Piako on March 9 at the Cambridge town square.

Cambridge players (from left) Mia Guzzwell, Poppy Jamieson, Georgia Scott, Tayla Frederickson and Lydia Proffit watch their team in action at Victoria Square on March 9.

Cambridge senior women’s cricket coach Chris Guzzwell.

BMXers to the fore

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Cambridge has its fair share of Olympic champions – and sevenyear-old Goodwood School student Archer Griffin might just be one in the making.

Archer, who has raced for Cambridge BMX Club for three years, competed at the first major event of the season recently – the BMX New Zealand North Island Titles, held in Leamington.

Bolting out of the gates super quickly, he achieved three wins and three second placings over six races.

Also performing superbly to finish first in their classes were local riders Holly Nilsson, Beth Walker, Nico Cogan, Danika Bergersen, Tim Ferguson, Jack Greenough and Lily Greenough.

Eighteen of Cambridge BMX’s Club’s 37 riders made finals over the twoday event, which attracted more than 600 competitors.

A highlight of the weekend was the annual Mighty 11 battle between New Zealand and Australia, which began as an exchange between Cambridge and the Ipswich BMX Club in Queensland and grew into a

trans-Tasman event. Boys and girls teams of five 11-year-old riders from

each country competed, with Australia taking home the trophy.

Coming up roses

By Viv Posselt

Organisers of the Te Awamutu Rose Society’s 60th anniversary spring rose show hope a new generation of enthusiasts will grow from this year’s 339 exhibitors.

The November 1-3 show at the Te Awamutu Rugby Sports and Recreation Club marked the anniversary by introducing two new classes to the event – First Time Exhibitor in the Members of the Public Awards, for adults and children up to age 16. An impressive 57 children entered the under-16 category in that new award, and 19 adults.

That was outstanding … we hope some of them will become regulars,” said Te Awamutu Rose Society president and show manager Diana Jones.

Te Awamutu’s Hunter Hastie Jones, 5, took first in the children’s section of the First Time Exhibitor awards, while Wilma Henwick took both first and second in the adult section.

Jan Lusty won an armful of trophies. In the large type roses division, she won the Champion of Champion, Best Exhibition Bloom, Best Decorative Bloom, Best Small Stem, and Best Vase of Roses. She also won the Best Large Stem in the MT (miniature) type roses division.

Sheree Gare, who was away judging another rose show at the time of the presentation, won Best Decorative Bloom, Best Fully

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Open Bloom, and Best Vase of Roses in the miniature roses division. She also won trophies for the Highest Overall Points of Show, and the Highest Overall Points for MT Roses. In the Members of the Public Awards, Gare also won the Premier MT Five Award, and the Rosetown MT Award.

Ōhaupō’s Janet Pike won the Champion of Champion title in the MT type roses, and the Best Small Stem in MT type roses, as well as Best Fully Open Bloom in the large roses category. Society president Diana Jones won the Best Exhibition Bloom in the MT category, and took the Rosetown Premier Five Award in the Members of Public Awards section.

Carol and Murray Hunter won the trophy for the

Highest Overall Points for All Novice Classes, and Tom and Karen O’Hanlon won the Best Exhibition Bloom or Stem Novice for large type roses.

Lisa Fisher won a trophy for the Diamond Jubilee Pedestal Arrangement.

Several other awards given included for Miniature Rose in a Porta Frame (Diana Jones), One Vase of Roses (Michael Budd), Vase of Large Type Roses and Vase of David Austin Roses (both Eileen Wilcox), Basket of Large Roses (Linelle Disher), and Six Large Rose Blooms in a Display Box (Linnie Jones).

The judging team of 10 was led by longtime national judge, Janet Pike. The Favourite Perfumed Rose judged by the public was ‘Papa Meilland’ grown by Hadassah Jones.

Lamb dressed as zebra?

Ag days have been in full swing around Cambridge’s rural schools recently. Carla Fraser snapped this shot of her son Archie and his lamb Thunder about to head to Hautapu School to compete in their first event. Archie, six years old, raided the family dress-up box to dig out his zookeeper costume and a zebra onesie for Thunder, a romney cross texel. The pair came home with ribbons for 4th in leading and 6th in call, follow and run. They also competed at group day, hosted by Hautapu School, where they came 1st in leading and 4th in rearing, and were named reserve leading champions for the entire year 1-8 age group. Group day attracted competitors from Roto-o-Rangi, Karapiro, Hautapu, Kaipaki, Te Miro, Leamington and Goodwood schools.

Archer Griffin shows his skills at the North Island Titles, held at Cambridge BMX Club in Leamington. Photo: Mad Love Media.

Head judge and multiple award winner at the show was Ōhaupō’s Janet Pike, pictured here with Te Awamutu Rose Society president Diana Jones.

Photo: Viv Posselt.

Divine Italian

A craving for pasta hits me at least once a week. It’s comfort food and oh so easy to prepare. Fifteen minutes and it’s on the table. With so many different shapes and sizes one is spoilt for choice. Pastas with holes or ridges are best for chunky sauces while lengths like spaghetti and linguine are more suitable for smoother sauces. However, as spaghetti is New Zealand’s favourite shape, it tends to be an all-purpose pasta.

Conchiglie is derived from the Italian word for seashell (conchiglia). It is a common form of ‘shell’ pasta and its shape and ridges ensure the sauce adheres to it.

There are miniature shells (conchigliette), medium-sized shells and very large shells — perfect for stuffing.

Linguine is a cross between spaghetti and fettuccine — wider than spaghetti but thinner than fettuccine — flat and about 4mm wide. Linguine (little tongues) originated in Genoa and the Liguria region of Italy where it is traditionally served with clams or pesto. There are various trade names attached to pasta shapes such as Trivelle that is a variation on rotini (spirals), twisted so it holds pieces of meat, vegetable or cheese. It is also attractive in salads.

BOLOGNESE CONCHIGLIONI

Rigata refers to the ridges on the outside of the shells.

2 teaspoons salt

24 (250g) large conchiglioni rigata (pasta shells)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

400g lean minced beef

525g jar tomato & basil pasta sauce

1/4 cup water

75g fresh bocconcini or mozzarella, sliced

Bring a large saucepan of water to the bail. Add the salt and slowly add the pasta shells.

Lightly oil a 27cm x 21cm baking dish suitable for the microwave. Heat the remainder of the oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion and sauté until softened. Add the garlic then the mince in batches.

Use a fork to break the meat up. Cook until well coloured. Add 3/4 of the pasta sauce and the water. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, until cooked.

Drain the cooked shells and cool a little.

Let the meat cool then spoon into the pasta shells. Place in the

oiled baking dish. Drizzle with the remaining pasta sauce and top with the bocconcini.

Cover and microwave on high for about 5 minutes or until heated through. Great garnished with basil or parsley leaves. Serves 4.

SMOKED FISH & BACON TRIVELLE

The secret ingredient is the ranch dressing.

2 cups trivelle pasta

3 rashers bacon

1 each: small onion, small green capsicum, diced

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic, crushed

400g can diced tomatoes

1 cup thinly sliced spinach

200g skinned and boned smoked fish, flaked

1/2 cup each: cream, lite ranch dressing

2 cups shredded tasty cheese

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Lightly grease a 22cm square baking dish.

Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Meanwhile, pan-fry or microwave the bacon, until crisp. Drain and chop.

Sauté the onion and capsicum in the olive oil, until tender. Add the garlic and tomatoes, bacon and spinach. Simmer until tender. Carefully stir in the smoked fish and combine with the well-drained pasta.

Combine the cream, ranch dressing and half the

in a saucepan on low heat, stirring until the cheese melts. Add to the pasta mixture. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, until hot. Serves 4.

ROASTED CAPSICUM LINGUINE

Yummy! Looks like tomato sauce but certainly doesn’t taste like it. Fettuccine could replace the linguine.

250g dried linguine

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, crushed

400g roasted red capsicums (from a jar), drained and chopped

1 teaspoon dried oregano

flaky sea salt and freshly ground back pepper to taste

1/2 cup shaved parmesan cheese

1/4 cup sour cream

Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Meanwhile, heat half the oil in a non-stick frying pan. Sauté the onion in 1 tablespoon of oil, until softened. Add the garlic, capsicums and oregano and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Place in a blender and purée until smooth.

Drain the pasta well, stir in the remaining oil and add the capsicum purée. Season well. Stir in half the parmesan, then the sour cream and heat gently. Serve topped with the remaining parmesan. Serves 4.

Bolognese conchiglioni

Smoked fish & bacon trivelle

cheese

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AFFRIC

ALEMOOR

ARKAIG

ASSYNT

AWE

BARR

BEINN DEARG

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BIRNIE

CALDER

CHON

CLEARBURN

DOCHART

DUBH

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FITTY

GARTEN

GELLY

KATRINE

KINGHORN

LINDORES

LOCHINDORB

LOCHY

LOMOND

SHIN

SPYNIE

TAY

TILT

TROOL

TUMMEL

TURRET

PLAID

RANNOCH

RESCOBIE

RUTHVEN

SCRABSTER

SHIEL

VOIL

Set privately on 2,747sqm (more or less) in 'Pukekura', Cambridge's recent lifestyle enclave, your tranquil location has you minutes to the township, and Lake Karapiro, with wide cycle paths leading to both. The 289sqm (more or less) architecturally designed, 2020 built home, is immaculate, offering that 'new home' feel, and offers up comforts you expect from a home of this calibre, ducted heating and cooling, tiled and heated bathrooms, and high ceilings. Two covered entertaining zones with a sparkling inground swimming pool and room for shedding or a tennis court! bayleys.co.nz/2350846

Greenbelt goodness

A charming three-bedroom home across the road from the Greenbelt and the Karapiro cycleway. This property offers a perfect blend of privacy and convenience. Freshly painted throughout this home is light and welcoming. In addition to the three large bedrooms, this lovely property features an office and two bathrooms, making it ideal for families or empty nesters. The living area boasts a cosy wood fire and high ceilings, adding to the sense of space. bayleys.co.nz/2350814

Hayes Paddock, Dress Circle Position

The epitome of central city sophistication, 2A Jellicoe Drive offers elevated and easy living without compromise. Soaking in uninterrupted views of the Waikato River from its spot on the reserve - the location of this home is unbeatable. This property beautifully marries modern living with a sense of heritage charm, offering a unique opportunity to secure a stunning residence in a highly desirable neighbourhood. You are also in zone for highperforming schools, including the prestigious Hamilton Boys High School. With its clever design and proximity to local schools, parks, and the Wellington Street Beach, this home is perfect for families seeking both convenience and a sense of community.

bayleys.co.nz/2316243

sqm 3 2

by Negotiation View by appointment

Sacha Webb 021 363 387 sacha.webb@bayleys.co.nz

Jessie Hodges 027 850 2040 jessie.hodges@bayleys.co.nz

SUCCESS

Ulster Street, Hamilton

11-11.45am Sat 9 Nov Sarah Adams 021 646 901 sarah.adams@bayleys.co.nz

Cambridge 69 Carlyle Street

Hamilton East 2A Jellicoe Drive

Cambridge 36 Whare Marama Drive, Pukekura

Bespoke Beauty

Stunning in every way, this near new four-bedroom Urban home makes no compromise on style, comfort and space. On some 2,766 sq m of land in Pukekura's high calibre country lifestyle community, it delivers elegant relaxation and effortless entertaining and is well connected to everything people love about Cambridge. Clever separation of zones maintains open plan living and a lounge, and large stacker doors blur the line between indoors and out. The superbly appointed entertainers' kitchen is the centre of attention in the central hub, making hosting duties easy. Al fresco niches entice for outdoor living. The ultimate parents' retreat, the master bedroom has large stacker doors for instant outdoor fare, dropped sill picture windows framing garden views, a dressing room and undertile heated ensuite offering an exquisite bathing experience. Ducted air-con, double glazing and insulation keep the chic interior ambient throughout the year in a home that still in its Master Build warranty.

Country Comfort

Enjoy the penultimate country lifestyle close to town. This European style home sits happily a little out of Hamilton on approximately 2 ha with a lovely gully aspect. Part of Tamahere's Golden Mile community, the Pencarrow property has it alla four-bedroom double-glazed home, a circa 80 sq m barn, manicured grounds, three well-fenced paddocks, and much more, including the perks of solar water heating, quality school zones and proximity to Tamahere village, Hamilton Airport and Waikato Expressway. Options to work from home, indulge in favourite pastimes and hobby farm are superb. Comfy and inviting, the split-level home has wrap-around verandas from which to survey the countryside, two ensuite bedrooms, airconditioning/heat pumps, an open fire and a modern kitchen in the central hub upgraded around six years ago, along with the bathrooms, carpet and paintwork, inside and out. There is a great back-to-nature aesthetic, the freedom of abundant open space, and friendly village vibe.

Russell Thomas M 020 4004 0360 E russell.thomas@pb.co.nz

Thomas M 020 4004 0368 E angela.thomas@pb.co.nz

Auction 12.00pm, Thu 28th Nov, 2024, (unless sold prior), 34 Victoria Street, Cambridge View By appointment

Web pb.co.nz/CBL175654

Russell Thomas M 020 4004 0360 E russell.thomas@pb.co.nz

Angela Thomas M 020 4004 0368 E angela.thomas@pb.co.nz

Tamahere 286 Pencarrow Road

Luxury rural retreat

Welcome to this breathtaking luxury rural retreat, architecturally designed by the renowned Turner Road Architecture and masterfully built by Jay Cowley Builder. Nestled on 8.409 hectares of stunning rural land, this cedar-clad masterpiece offers the perfect blend of modern luxury and country charm, just 10km from the boutique town of Cambridge. The main home truly embodies high-end living, with two generous wings for ultimate comfort and privacy. In one wing, you'll find two spacious bedrooms, a fully tiled modern bathroom, and a cozy lounge for relaxed living. In the heart of the home, the open-plan living room, dining area, and contemporary kitchen with scullery provide the perfect space for entertaining, complete with a double-sided gas fireplace, natural wood accents, and polished concrete floors. Step through the bifold doors to a louvre-covered entertaining area, ideal for year-round gatherings. Beyond this space, you'll discover a multi-entertainment zone featuring a seated fire pit area - a perfect spot for starry nights and cozy conversations.

Te Miro 1/336 Flume Road

Income generating lifestyle

Located just 8 kilometers from charming Cambridge, this property spans 12.96 hectares and features two distinct dwellings, providing multiple avenues for income generation. The main residence features four spacious bedrooms, along with an office and a modern kitchen equipped with a scullery. A cozy log burner ensures the home stays warm during the colder months. It includes a family bathroom, while the master bedroom boasts its own ensuite. The flooring showcases a blend of carpet and Matai timber flooring. The generous deck seamlessly incorporates the open plan living with the mature landscaped gardens, providing an ideal space for outdoor relaxing. Additionally, a charming 60 m2 cottage with two bedrooms generates a rental income of $535 (including power) per week. With 6 hectares of flat land leased for maize and rolling contours perfect for rearing beef cattle, this property offers excellent agricultural potential.

Tamahere 316 Hooker Road

Best street - best buy

You put the work in and watch your equity grow. This four bedroom home offers the opportunity of the year for buyers looking for a project. The 210m2 classic villa features beautiful high ceilings that give the sense of extra space, and the stained glass windows throw a warm light around the home. It has a separate dining room off the kitchen area, a large, separate lounge, and the convenience of a family bathroom and a separate toilet. The master bedroom has an adjacent space begging to become the master ensuite. It has a DVS system in place - with a wood burner for winter. The garden is mature and provides the quintessential opportunity to turn it into an outdoor space that you and your family can enjoy. The property includes a fenced paddock perfect for the pet sheep, alpaca or pony. The double garage provides added storage or workspace. With great amenities close by including the Te Awa Cycle way at just 500 metres away and St Peters School just around the corner.

4 1 1 2

Tender closes 4.00pm, Fri 13th Dec, 2024 (unless sold prior), 34 Victoria Street, Cambridge View Sun 10 Nov 2.15 - 2.45pm

Web pb.co.nz/CBL194074

David McGuire M 027 472 2572 E david.mcguire@pb.co.nz

Te Miro 1/369 Flume Road

Cambridge 21 Alpha Street

Retro, renovate or redevelop

Step into a world of possibilities with this Art Deco-inspired gem, built in the 1940s and set on a substantial 1133m2 parcel of land. Zoned 'Residential 9A', this property offers boundless potential - whether you're looking to refurbish, renovate, or redevelop.

Currently holding a Heritage C listing, the property is being sold 'as is, where is,' making it an exciting project for those with vision. Its generous size and prime location make it ideal for multi-unit development, and it is sure to attract savvy investors and developers alike.

Opportunities like this are rare - contact us today to unlock the full potential of this centrally located treasure.

Cambridge 108 Hautapu Road

Premium Hautapu real estate

Be a part of the newest industrial precinct under development in Hautapu. This 1.8ha block borders the main arterial road into the new industrial area of approximately 14 hectares, providing excellent scope to access the services which will be created for this development.

This site can be maintained as one with over 3000m2 of existing buildings generating holding income of approximately $170,000 p/a, or subdivided into smaller lots as per the Waipa Council structure plan.

Contact your Hautapu specialists today for a full information pack.

Tender closes 4.00pm, Wed 20th Nov, 2024 (unless sold prior), 34 Victoria Street, Cambridge View By appointment

Web pb.co.nz/CBC192604

Alan Copeman M 021 874 222 E alan.copeman@pb.co.nz

Tony Wakelin M 021 569 299 E tony.wakelin@pb.co.nz

Tender closes 4.00pm, Wed 20th Nov, 2024 (unless sold prior), 34 Victoria Street, Cambridge View By appointment

Web pb.co.nz/CBC190071

Alan Copeman M 021 874 222 E alan.copeman@pb.co.nz

Tony Wakelin M 021 569 299 E tony.wakelin@pb.co.nz

Tirau 115 Puketirau Road

Matamata 228 Pond Road

This

The sections are conveniently equipped with new fencing and a concrete driveway, making access simple and e icient.Approved Land Use Consent for a duplex dwelling, each unit being 109m2 (218m2 total dwelling footprint) as per approved concept plans with each unit having 2 bedrooms plus an o ice. The combined soakage system for lots 2 & 3 has already been constructed. Both titles are required to be purchased together.

Cassie Emmett M 027 215 9334

Rebekah Bloodworth M 022 361 9879

Avenue

3 1 1 1

lifestyle. With highly regarded Cambridge schools just a short distance away, families will find the location perfect for easy daily routines. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the proximity to the stunning Lake Karapiro, o ering a range of recreational activities, from rowing to leisurely lakeside walks.

Cassie

M 027 215 9334

Rebekah

Cambridge 201/14 Terry Came Drive

Cambridge 26 Whakahaumako Road

This exceptional property o ers a modern design and functional living, beautifully cra ed by local builders, Hill Homes. Situated on a sunny corner site, this high-spec residence o ers both elegance and comfort in one of Cambridge’s newest neighbourhoods. This home is designed to cater to modern lifestyles while o ering a sense of security and community. Whether you’re looking for a family home or a space to entertain, this property has it all. 4 2 2 2

Cambridge 33a Isobel Hodgson Drive

Discover your ideal living space in Cambridge with our exclusive two-storey townhouse, perfectly positioned for modern family living. Scheduled for completion in early 2025, this sought-a er location o ers convenience and tranquility. The lower level boasts a spacious kitchen, dining, and living areas, designed for comfort and functionality. Your upstairs retreat is where you can enjoy four bedrooms, including a master bedroom with ensuite, and a separate family bathroom for added convenience. 4 2 1 2

Emmett M 027 215 9334

Rebekah Bloodworth M 022 361 9879 For Sale $1,399,000

Cassie Emmett M 027 215 9334

Rebekah Bloodworth M 022 361 9879

Leamington 62a/b Thompson Street

Central Town Living For Sure!

- Nestled on a sprawling property of 4.1 acres (more or less) this lovingly maintained 4-bedroom set on beautifully landscaped grounds with ten paddocks, a cattle yard, and a loading bay.

- Two outdoor entertaining areas await, including one with a charming portico, perfect for gatherings year-round.

- Stay warm in winter with a wetback log burner and heat pump, complemented by double-glazed windows.

- Modern kitchen, Four Bedrooms - two upstairs and two downstairs.

- This chic 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom dazzling gem sits in the Heart of Cambridge, offering a low maintenance lifestyle ideal for couples, retirees or busy professionals.

- Set on a tidy, super easy care 130m² (more or less) freehold site.

- Enjoy a bespoke kitchen; open plan layout; an ‘all-you-need’ bathroom with heated towel rail.

- Outdoor, private living with huge deck; garden shed storage and everything you need at your doorstep.

- Here is a 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom home that offers the perfect blank canvas for those ready to roll up their sleeves and unlock its full potential.

- Positioned to capture plenty of sunlight, the home promises a warm and bright aspect.

- Primely nestled in a quiet, this property presents an outstanding opportunity for first home buyers, renovators and investors alike.

- It is guaranteed that there’s work to be done but reap the rewards of the investment of your choice of comforts, décor and next step.

- A 290 sqm (more or less) floorplan, superbly set on a generous, 1012 sqm (more or less) beautifully landscaped section.

- Great-sized kitchen/ dining; sun-filled living space; ample indoor-outdoor flow to the multiple outdoor entertainment areas.

- Expansive, covered balcony with incredible outlook.

- Huge ground level basement including unbeatable garaging and workshop space plus ample off-street parking.

- Heat pump, woodfire & heat transfer system–comfort guaranteed.

Charming 4-Bedroom Family Home

- Set on an 869 sqm (more or less) freehold section, with perfectly maintained mowing strips, raised gardens, irrigation system, lemon and lime trees and fabulous inground pool (8m x 4m).

- Modern kitchen complete with Brazilian granite benchtop, walk-in pantry, five-burner gas cooktop, water filter and waste disposal.

- Good-sized bedrooms including master with walk-in robe & ensuite.

- Features - multiple premium heating sources; efficient solar panelling with Tesla battery; a 3.6m ceiling height in the living area.

Babbling Stream, Waterfall - Rural Outlook

- Spacious master bedroom features a ranch slider that opens to a charming deck, complemented by a generous walk-in wardrobe and a luxurious tiled ensuite storage.

- A separate lounge offers a cozy retreat, while the convenient powder room and walk-in linen cupboard add to the functionality.

- Open-plan kitchen that seamlessly connects to dining & lounge.

- Fully fenced and set off the road, this home provides a safe and private environment for children and pets.

Two Dwellings Rural Option

- A 210m² (more or less) home, offering three generous bedrooms, two bathrooms and a sizeable loft, perfect as a home office.

- Double internal access garage provides ample space, while the large shed is ideal for a workshop, or storage for a boat.

- Captivating 9,235m² (more or less) section - Boasting expansive land, perfect for running a few animals; and a serene bush area with a spring-fed stream and vegetable gardens.

- Enjoy overlooking the garden from the open-plan kitchen & dining, or special sun-filled entertainment on the outdoor covered patio.

- The four bedrooms (plus office) home & pool is well positioned privatized from the two-bedroom cottage.

- House: Three bathrooms, country kitchen, office, separate toilet (one in the laundry), master with ensuite & lots more.

- Cottage (Built in 1997): Accessed by a separate driveway. Two bedrooms; open plan living; heat pump; covered deck.

- Internal access double garage; double carport; separate high-stud (43sqm) garage/ workshop and separate rumpus/ sleepout.

FINAL PROPOSAL FOR REPRESENTATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 2025 LOCAL ELECTIONS

In August 2024, Waipa District Council consulted with the community on an Initial Proposal for the 2025 Local Government Elections. It included a reduction in the number of councillors from 11 to eight, and combining the two rural wards to become one.

The population that each member will represent is as follows: Ward

On September 25, 2024, the Council considered the submissions received on the initial proposal, and at its meeting on 29 October 2024, Council resolved its final proposal for representation arrangements for the 2025 elections to be held on 11 October 2025.

In finalising its proposal, Council must comply with the Local Electoral Act 2001. This legislation requires Councils to make sure that the representation arrangements:

• Provide effective representation of communities of interest within the district, and

• Ensure that the ratio of people represented per councillor in each ward, is no more than 10% greater or smaller than the ratio of population per councillor across the whole district (the ‘+/-10% rule’).

Submissions

Waip-a District Council received 109 submissions on its Initial Proposal. Of those, 23 submitters supported all aspects of the proposal, including a reduction in the number of councillors, and combining the two existing rural wards to create a new rural ward.

A total of 86 submitters did not support all aspects of the proposal. Objections to the proposal included:

• Concern about a reduction in rural representation

• A potential reduction in residents’ access to elected members

• Possible impact on elected member workload if the overall councillor numbers were reduced

• That a combined rural ward would cover a large area, and it would be difficult to provide effective representation with reduced councillor numbers

Final proposal

Having considered all of the submissions, the Council resolved to amend its Initial Proposal to retain Council’s current representation arrangements, including:

• the Mayor being elected at large and 11 councillors elected under the ward system, specifically 10 general ward councillors and one M-aori Ward councillor;

• retaining the Pirongia and Kakepuku General ward and Maungatautari General ward, with their existing boundaries;

• retaining the existing boundaries of the Cambridge General ward and the Cambridge subdivision; and to incorporate two additional amendments.

The first amendment is required to ensure legal compliance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 (the +-/10% rule for population per member ratio). Growth in the Pirongia-Kakepuku Ward since the last representation review means the current boundary is not compliant. The legislation allows for the council to:

• Include a boundary change to rectify the non-compliance, or;

• Define the membership of wards in a way that does not comply with section 19V(2), where specific grounds exist under section 19V(3)(a) of the Local Electoral Act 2001.

• Council has chosen to include a minor boundary change to the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi General Ward. The boundary change moves the T1 Growth Cell, known as Frontier Estate, into the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi General Ward. from the Pirongia and Kakepuku Ward. This is an area of urban development directly adjacent to the current Te Awamutu and Kihikihi General Ward boundary and is an extension of the Te Awamutu township.

The second is to enable the appointment of two Councillors to each Community Board from either the relevant urban General Ward, and/or the relevant rural General Ward, and/or the Waipa Maori Ward.

The Council accepted the objections raised in submissions relating to:

• rural representation,

• the number of councillors and

• the combining of the Pirongia and Kakepuku and Maungatautari General wards.

The Council rejected submissions supporting the Initial Proposal. The reasons Council made these decisions and amendments were to ensure that the amended proposal:

i) Ensures specific rural representation is adequately provided for in the representation structure.

ii) Avoids the creation of a combined rural ward covering a large geographic area with a variety of communities with different needs and interests.

iii) Does not involve the combining of two rural communities of interest.

iv) Avoids a scenario where all rural councillors may be elected from one side of the district. Provides a greater number of councillors to represent the different communities of interest in the district.

v) Does not require a minor boundary change to the Cambridge Ward and Subdivision to incorporate an additional area at Karapiro into the Cambridge Ward/Subdivision;

vi) Provides for a boundary change on the north west side of Te Awamutu to bring the area known as T1 Growth Cell (Frontier Estate), into the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi urban General Ward from the Pirongia Kakepuku Ward. Such change also ensures that representation in the Pirongia-Kakepuku Ward falls within the range of +/- 10% in compliance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001;

vii) Does not require any changes to ward or subdivision names; and

viii) Provides more choice for the appointment of councillors to each community board, by including urban, rural and Maori Ward representation to the relevant community board. Therefore, the final proposal is as follows:

Council Representation

It is proposed that the Council comprises a Mayor elected at large, and 11 members elected from five wards reflecting the following identified communities of interest: Ward Communities of interest

Waipa Maori Ward Maori electoral population district - wide Cambridge General Ward Urban areas of Cambridge and Leamington Te Awamutu and Kihikihi General Ward Urban areas of Te Awamutu and Kihikihi

Pirongia and Kakepuku General Ward The rural areas surrounding the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Ward which look to Te Awamutu as a service centre

Maungatautari

In accordance with section 19V(2), Local Electoral Act 2001 the population that each member represents is within the range of 5,585+/- 10% (5,027 to 6,143).

Community Board Representation

It is proposed that two community boards be elected. The two community boards will be:

Community Board Area of Community

Cambridge Community Board Cambridge and Leamington urban areas, and the rural areas surrounding the urban ward of Cambridge which look to the town as a service centre.

Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board Te Awamutu and Kihikihi urban areas, and the rural areas surrounding the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Ward which look to Te Awamutu as a service centre

Cambridge Community Board

The Cambridge Community Board will have five elected members. Two members will also be appointed to the Board from either the Cambridge General Ward, the Maungatautari General Ward, and/or the Waipa Maori Ward.

The Cambridge Community Board will be subdivided for electoral purposes as follows:

Subdivision Area of Subdivision

Cambridge Subdivision Cambridge and Leamington urban areas Maungatautari Subdivision The rural areas surrounding the urban ward of Cambridge which look to the town as a service centre.

The population that the members of each subdivision will represent is shown below: Subdivision

(as at 30 June 2023)

The population each member of the Cambridge Community Board represents falls within the range of 5,952 +/-10% (5,357 to 6,547) in accordance with section 19V(2), Local Electoral Act.

Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board

The Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board will have five elected members. Two members will also be appointed to the Board from the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi General Ward and/or the Pirongia and Kakepuku General Ward, and/or the Waipa Maori Ward.

The Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board will have two subdivisions for electoral purposes as follows:

Subdivision Area of Subdivision

Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Subdivision Te Awamutu and Kihikihi urban areas

Kakepuku Subdivision The rural areas surrounding the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Ward which look to Te Awamutu as a service centre

The population that the members of each subdivision will represent is shown below:

and Kihikihi

The population each member of the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board represents falls within the range of 4,502 +/-10% (4,052 – 4,952) in accordance with section 19V(2), Local Electoral Act.

Appeals and objections

Any person who made a submission on the Council’s Initial Proposal may lodge an appeal against the Council’s decision. An appeal must relate to the matters raised in that person’s original submission.

Any person who objects to the final proposal may lodge an objection to the Council’s final proposal. Any objection must identify the matters to which the objection relates.

Appeals and objections must be made in writing and must be received by Council no later than 3 December 2024.

Appeals and objections are to be forwarded to:

Attention – Jo Gread (0800 924 723)

• Physical address - Council Offices, 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu, 3800

• Email – jo.gread@waipadc.govt.nz

Further information

Direct any queries regarding the Council’s decision to Jo Gread (contact details above).

Steph O’Sullivan Chief

Keeping up with the news

We might have found our youngest reader or perhaps she just recognised herself in the photo. Mia Mackay, 22 months, featured in The News last month wearing Susan O’Regan’s mayoral chains. The youngster has become quite a regular in the paper, first appearing in December two years ago aged three days nestled in the arms of dad Phil watched on by Cambridge Community Board member mum Alana - understood to be the first elected Waipā member to give birth while in office. Elise Badger has done the same this year to again create history. Photo: Supplied.

Briefs…

Gill wins again

Former New Zealand golf representative James Gill, 39, has won the 54-hole Kau Sai Chau International Amateur Open tournament in Hong Kong for a record seventh year. Gill, who learned his golf at Cambridge and first represented his country while a member now lives and works in the region and beat Hong Kong’s top-ranked amateur Jeffrey Shen, 21, by four shots.

Truck crash

A truck which crashed at 5.05am last Thursday into a side barrier on SH1 south of Cambridge near Hickey Road and the trucks’ weigh station caused rush hour delays while debris was cleared. The vehicle was the only one involved and no injuries were reported.

Business News out

The latest edition of Waikato Business News - published by Good Local Media who also produces community newspapers in Cambridge, Te Awamutu and King Country – is out this week. Leading the monthly publication is a story on Cambridge leech farmers Maria and Robert Lupton whose blood sucking leeches save lives all over New Zealand. Read waikatobusinessnews.nz

Transport refresh

Regional bus users from Waipā and King Country now have access to upgraded facilities at Hamilton Transport Centre following a $6.6 million refresh funded by New Zealand Transport Agency and Hamilton City Council. The upgrades focused on increasing security, promoting a feeling of safety and creating better accessibility.

Winning students

Two Waikato University public relations students with Waipā connections have won the Waikato Management School Public Relations Campaigns competition with their Puumanawa PR team. George Poolman from Te Awamutu and Zack Robertson of Cambridge joined team mates Seamus Lohrey and Ben Woodgates in pitching the idea of GoEco launching an accreditation scheme of farms’ sustainable practices.

Organ Day

Organ donation recipients across the country will come together for ‘Thank You Day’, on November 30. Organised by Organ Donation New Zealand, it is a day of appreciation dedicated to all those who make organ donation possible. Last year, with the support of their whānau, 64 deceased people donated organs following their death, leading to more than 200 people receiving lifesaving kidney, liver, lung, heart or pancreas transplants.

CAMBRIDGE OPEN HOMES

Haere mai / W Haere mai / Welcom e elcome

Come along to our church service 9:30 am Sunday with Children’s Church & crèche

58 Queen Street Ph 07 827 6490

www.cambridgebaptist.co.nz

Cr. Shakespeare & Browning Streets Bible Study Each Saturday: 9.30am – 10.45am

Worship Service: 11.00am

Like us on Facebook: h�ps://www.facebook.com/cambridge.sda.9 email: cambridge.sda.nz@gmail.com Phone: 027 677 6433

Hope Channel – Freeview Ch 27, Sky 204

We offer detailed study of the Bible and inspiring worship experiences.

All Welcome.

Administration Manager – Join Cogswell Surveys Ltd

Location: Cambridge, NZ

Salary: From $75,000 (based on experience) Hours: Full-time, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Cogswell Surveys, a trusted name in land development since 1965, is looking for an Administration Manager to support our friendly, local team.

What You’ll Do:

• Financial Administration: Manage payroll, invoicing, budgets, and reconciliations (Xero and Excel).

• Project Coordination: Help keep projects and workflows on track.

• Communication: Provide updates and manage team requests.

• Tech-Savvy: Comfortable with Microsoft 365 suite and open to learning new software.

Skills Required:

• Financial Expertise: Experience with payroll, invoicing, and reconciliations, ideally using Xero and Excel.

• Strong Organisational Skills: Ability to coordinate multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fastpaced work environment.

• E ective Communicator: Confident in managing updates, triaging requests, and collaborating with various stakeholders.

• Adaptability: Willingness to learn new tools and can identify and improve processes.

• Team-Oriented Attitude: A positive, can-do approach that supports a collaborative team environment.

• People Person: Adept at connecting with colleagues and clients alike, ensuring a positive experience for everyone.

Why Join Us?

• Work Locally: Skip the long commute.

• Work-Life Balance: Full-time hours with weekends o .

• Meaningful Work: Support projects that benefit our Clients the Waipā community. Learn more at www.cogswell.co.nz

Applications Close: 5:00 pm, Friday, 22nd of November 2024.

Apply today by emailing your CV to reception@cogswell.co.nz. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Candidates must be legally entitled to work in NZ and pass credit and criminal record checks.

GARLAND, Leo Wayne

28 Nov 1946 – 1 Nov 2022

He tangata pono – a true gentleman

Every day in some small way

Memories of you still come our way

Unseen, unheard, but always near

So loved, so missed, so very dear

Loving memories of our dearly loved brother, uncle, great uncle and greatgreat uncle - Melba & Joe, Barbara, June & the late Rob and families.

ERBACHER, Tangihaere –Peacefully slipped away at Waikato Hospital on Thursday, 31st October 2024, aged 80 years. Dearly loved wife of the late Jimmy. Devoted mother and motherin-law to Robert & Jenneane, Kathleen (dec) & Hiro, Tania & Steve, Michael & Sharron, and Sandy & Paul. Much loved grandmother and great grandmother. She was loved by all her nephews and nieces. A Tangihanga for Tangihaere will be held at Maungatautari Marae, Hicks Road, Maungatautari, on Saturday, the 2nd of November 2024, at 11:00am, followed by the tâpuke at Paretitaha Urupa. All communications to the Erbacher family, c/- 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434.

GIBBONS, John Alexander – 23.10.1936 - 1.11.2024. Passed away peacefully with his family by his side at Atawhai Assisi Home & Hospital. Aged 88 years. Dearly loved husband of the late Pam. Loved father and father-in-law of Cindy & the late Ray, and Michael & April. Loved Poppa of Travis & Eilis, Renee & Jake and great-poppa of Freya. The service for John has been held. All communications to the Gibbons Family, c/3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434.

OFF Hamilton Rd, $225.00 per wk, quiet off street 3 bdrm house, vegetarian, no TV. Ph 0275 067348 to view.

GOGIAN, Amarinder Singh – Passed away suddenly at home on Monday, 28th October 2024. Aged 50 years. Loving husband to Gurpreet. Devoted dad to Navjyot and Mannat. A final farewell for Amarinder will be held at the Hamilton Park Chapel, Morrinsville Road, Newstead, on Thursday, 7th November 2024 at 11:00am. All communications to the Gogian Family, c/- 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434.

SEMMENS, Gerald Godfrey – Passed away at home with his beloved wife Kathie on Monday 4 November 2024. Treasured dad and dad-inlaw of Vanessa and Chris, Mandy and Brendon, Katie and Nick. Adored grandad to his seven grandchildren and great-granddaughter. A celebration of Gerald’s life will be held at Raleigh Street Christian Centre, 24 Raleigh Street, Cambridge on Friday 8 November at 2:00pm.

Download the Cambridge News App to see more news and photos.

Gibson Funeral Director