Where the council saves
By Mary Anne Gill
A Waipā district councillor has revealed the extent of the council’s line-by-line budget savings as part of the Long Term Plan consultation, but residents may struggle to find the details.
The savings, which affect hundreds of individual work plans, are not included in the glossy consultation brochures delivered to households.
They are under a “See more” section on the council’s Have Your Say website.
Council staff conducted a line-by-line review of spending, resulting in an average rates
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increase of 5.9 per cent over the next 10 years.
The steepest hike – 15.5 per cent - is expected in the upcoming financial year, before tapering off to as low as 2.3 per cent in later years.
At last week’s Cambridge Community Board meeting, member Andrew Myers raised concerns about the visibility of these savings.
“We’re asking our ratepayers to make sacrifices — maybe switching from Sanitarium to Pam’s products to save 17 per cent,” he said.
“I’d like to see examples where the council has said ‘we’ve got to cut our cloth to suit’, not just drawing lines through things. Making the tough calls on expenditure.”
Finance committee chair Mike Montgomerie,
also a member of the board said there was no culture of overspending at the council or around the council table.
He said there were reductions across 10 activity management plans in areas such as cemeteries, heritage, parks, property, public toilets, libraries, transportation, stormwater, water treatment and supply, and wastewater. They include:
• Signage: Heritage, wayfinding, and walkway signs will not be replaced.
• Leamington Domain Reserve: Implementation of the concept plan has been slashed by 80 per cent.
• Parks and Recreation: Cuts affect Lake Rotopiko, sports fields (47 per cent reduction), neighbourhood and amenity reserves, and conservation areas. Fewer volunteer projects will proceed due to reduced onsite management.
• Cancelled Projects: The Sports Clubs Lease Model review, the Pirongia to Te Awamutu cycleway, and the Pioneer Walkway will not go ahead.
• Land Acquisition: Plans to purchase land at Horahora Domain have been shelved, halting any expansion of the reserve.
Montgomerie said the budgeting process began with staff proposals, which were then scrutinised line by line.
Myers said he received “marketing” emails from the council every single day and he and the public were largely unaware of the extent of the savings.
“I didn’t understand that and I sure as hell know that the ratepayer doesn’t know you’re going to those lengths to do that.
“I think the community will respect that and we should hear a lot more about it that you are really digging in and doing the mahi,” he said.
Montgomerie later told The News he was impressed by the board’s engagement and questions.
“I thought the Cambridge Community Board was flying,” he said.
“That is exactly how a community board should be functioning I reckon.”
• Read more cambridgenews.nz
Gastro issue remains a mystery
By Mary Anne Gill
Mystery still surrounds the cause of a gastroenteritis outbreak at the Waipā Business Awards despite the caterer issuing a public apology this week.
Public health officials from Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, Ministry of Primary Industries and Waipā District Council have been investigating since 100 people – about a quarter of those present - experienced gastro symptoms following the awards at Mystery Creek earlier this month.
Waikato medical officer of health Geoff Cramp said two bacterial pathogens had been identified but no definitive source of the illness has been linked to the outbreak. It was foodborne, consistent with the symptoms reported, including diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort.
“It would not be appropriate to speculate on the specific source or method of transmission at this stage,” he said.
Foodborne illnesses can result from consuming contaminated food or beverages and may occur at any point in the food production and handling process. According to the World Health Organization, contamination can stem from polluted water, soil, or air, as well as improper food storage or processing.
The caterer was Cambridge Raceway’s caterer Off the Track. Chief executive Dave Branch said his team cared deeply about their work.
“This isn’t the standard we hold ourselves to, and we’ve taken this seriously from the outset. We’re committed to learning from this, taking responsibility where it’s due, and doing everything we can to move forward with integrity.”
Millie Balsom, left, and Liam Dobson were crowned King and Queen of the Cambridge High School board on Saturday at the Don Rowlands Centre, Karāpiro. It was one of the most anticipated events of the school year. See story and photos cambridgenews.nz
Gift marks sister city links
By Viv Posselt
A finely embroidered gift celebrating the 25year relationship between Cambridge and its sister city Le Quesnoy has been presented to Waipā civic leaders.
Cambridge Community Board member Alana MacKay presented the framed gift last week to Waipā district mayor Susan O’Regan and Cambridge Community Board chairperson Jo Davies-Colley.
The framed item was given to board representatives at the recent Anzac Day/25th sister-city anniversary commemorations in France.
They had delivered a gift for Le Quesnoy during the visit, a hand-drawn art piece by Saiorse Herewini.
O’Regan said the embroidered gift represented the recommitment of the relationship between Cambridge and Le Quesnoy and underpinned the strength of the relationship between the two.
“It is a testament to people in both towns that the relationship has endured and is still in good heart,” she said, adding that visitors to both towns enjoyed seeing signs of their home towns
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I was pleased to be able to attend a Pink Ribbon breakfast at Cambridge Community House last week. It preceded the monthly Cambridge Community of Social Services meeting and was raising funds for a great cause. We are lucky to have a large number of social services organisations, offering our community a broad range of support – food assistance, advocacy, financial mentoring, drug and alcohol counselling, family harm counselling and more. I encourage you to reach out if you need help.
In good news, earlier this week police were alerted to a vehicle displaying stolen plates at the Lakewood shopping area. On arrival, the vehicle was located along with the driver. Its true identity was shown to be a vehicle that was stolen in April from Hamilton. A search of the vehicle uncovered offensive weapons and ammunition. Investigations are ongoing. Through that incident another male then came to police attention. He was found to be wanted for burglary and theft. He was arrested and will be appearing in court. Criminals are regularly stealing number plates to hide their true identity. If your vehicle plate is stolen, please ensure
embedded in one another.
MacKay said the recent gathering in Le Quesnoy had been ‘very special’, with about 200 people in attendance.
While there, she and Waipā district councillor Philip Coles co-signed a certificate marking 25 years of friendship between the two towns, one that said both were committed to continuing their twinning and to strengthening the strong ties that bring them together.
Election reflection
Our three mayoral candidates are all longstanding councillors voicing their frustration with local government.
Mayor O’Regan wanted a reduced council populated by people with sound business experience the sort you would find on the board of a publicly listed company. Mr Petit bemoans the 1000 page agenda and his solution is a speed-reading course. Mrs St Pierre says councillors are denied critical information upon which sound business decisions can be made.
Each in their own way demonstrates why we do not get the outcomes we deserve or the correct people standing for council. It’s time for the council to assert its authority by holding the executive to account.
it is reported to police and obtain different replacement plates.
In other news, I have been made aware of teenagers banging on random garage doors in the early evenings in the Norfolk downs area. While no damage is caused and the youth involved may see it as a harmless prank, such behaviour can be annoying and very unnerving to local residents, particularly our elderly. A CCTV camera is helpful in identifying those involved so that police can follow up. One way to assist connection and confidence within your local neighbourhood and keep abreast of any local issues is to join your local Neighbourhood Support group.
Last Wednesday we again had a few cars stolen - or attempts made to steal them - along with seven burglaries across the week. While these crimes often happen in the middle of the night, we should all be generally vigilant for suspicious behaviour and report it at the time if seen. Crime in Cambridge is committed by offenders from outside of town. Whether opportunists or serial offenders, they do not stop at one crime. If we all work together, we can help gather as much evidence as possible, early, to hold them to account.
No corporate board anywhere in the world would accept such large agendas, such obfuscation or lack of accountability from its executive, and we should not expect our council to accept it either.
This election makes an informed decision and vote for the candidates who you believe have the ability to affect the change needed to bring true accountability to our local democracy here in Waipa.
Ray Milner
Cambridge
*Editor’s note - see Peter Carr’s column today on Page 10
with Senior Constable DEB HANN
Waipā district mayor Susan O’Regan receives Le Quesnoy’s gift from Cambridge Community Board member Alana MacKay, watched on by Cambridge Community Board chairperson Jo Davies-Colley. Holding the certificate marking 25 years of friendship between Le Quesnoy and Cambridge is Mia MacKay.
Photo: Viv Posselt
Money raised
Nearly $300,000 has been raised for the Cambridge Fire Brigade, Hato Hone St John and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust by a campaign launched by Windsor Park Stud and the Schick family. Jimmy Schick, 10, died when an ATV rolled on a rural property near Cambridge and his father Rodney Schick, owner of the stud, was critically injured and remains in hospital.
Breakfast protest
About 40 protesters unhappy with the government’s pay equity measures gathered outside Onyx in Cambridge earlier this week while Taupō MP Louise Upston gave Cambridge Chamber of Commerce members a breakfast briefing on last week’s Budget.
New executive
Eeva-Liisa Wright has been appointed Waipā District Council’s new group manager Service Delivery from June 9. Wright takes over from Dawn Inglis who leaves after 15 years.
Liquor hearing
Applications for the renewal of the on licence and manager’s certificate for Five Stags Leamington were considered by the Waipā District Licensing Committee in Cambridge on Monday. The results were unavailable when The News went to press.
Jets return
Air New Zealand has confirmed jets servicing a domestic route will return to Hamilton Airport in September. A 171-seat Airbus A320 will operate five days a week on the Hamilton–Christchurch route.
Jamboree announced
Mystery Creek Events Centre will host the 24th Aotearoa
New Zealand Scout Jamboree from December 27, 2026 to January 6, 2027. It is the third jamboree in a row to be held at Mystery Creek.
Where will they go?:
Greyhound Racing NZ has applied for a judicial review of the Government plan to ban the sport. Jesse Wood talks to an advocate of the sport about her concerns if the ban goes ahead.
Cambridge-based greyhound advocate Jenny Bartlett is concerned about where more than 2900 dogs will go once the industry is out of the picture in New Zealand.
Racing minister Winston Peters announced the end of greyhound racing in December. A date of July 2026 was set to give time to rehome the dogs.
Former Waikato Greyhound Racing president Bartlett said that’s not possible and after meetings with Greyhound Racing New Zealand, the Government appointed Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) have come to the same conclusion.
“When the ban was announced, there was no warning of it. We were absolutely blindsided,” she said. “There were trainers
that would have had a bitch having a season that they’d impregnated just prior because they had no idea this was coming.
“We’ve got these racing dogs out there, the brood bitches, the sires and we’ve got puppies. So, 2900 is just a ballpark figure.”
MAC have realised rehoming the total dog population by July 31, 2026, is not possible and there will need to be a rehoming effort of 24-30 months post closure.
“It really worries me as to how we are going to rehome 2900 plus greyhounds. How do we do it? Don’t think that the SPCA are going to do it,” Bartlett said.
“I’ve yet to see one politician put their hands up and say we’ll take a dog. I’ve yet to see one anti-greyhound
Continued on page 10
Waikato to get a mayoral rematch
By Mary Anne Gill
Former Waikato District councillor Aksel Bech has announced a second, all-or-nothing bid for the mayoralty, citing skyrocketing rates and a need for systemic change in local government.
“Rates unaffordability has reached a tipping point,” Bech said. “It’s time for a reset.”
Following his announcement, the current Tamahere Woodlands councillor Mike Keir withdrew his own nomination for mayor, throwing his support behind Bech, who was the Tamahere representative on the Ngāruawāhia-based council for six years until 2022 and three years as deputy mayor under Allan Sanson.
Bech said block voting cost him the mayoralty. Jacqui Church, a third term
councillor for Pōkeno, Tūākau and the rural areas bordering Auckland, picked up a lot of her votes in three Franklin booths. Bech became an affordable housing advocate, a cause he believes is central to broader social well-being.
“Housing is at the core of so many other well-being issues like education, crime, health, social isolation ... if you don’t have a place to call home, so many other things can go wrong.
“Our communities need voice, choice and control, right? And that’s likely to be a key driver for me. I can say that more succinctly than I could before,” he said.
Danish-born Bech, 60, migrated to New Zealand as a teenager.
He has a science degree from Massey University and a master’s degree in social science from Waikato University.
His professional background spans human resources, project management, and marketing. He entered local politics in 2016 after serving on school boards and the Tamahere Community Committee.
Bech supports collaborative cost-saving initiatives, such as the council-controlled water organisation formed with Hamilton City Council. However, he believes more efficiencies are possible.
“And why can’t we licence food trucks the same way? Why not review building inspections for savings?”
He says local government costs are out of control and parochialism is a luxury the country could no longer afford.
He pointed to Future Proof, a growth strategy comprising councils from Hamilton, Matamata-Piako,
Waipā and Waikato districts, Waikato Regional Council, iwi and central government. Each council had its own chief executive, a chief financial officer and elected members.
Future Proof should be looking at consolidating those and empowering the community.
Bech argues that local government has drifted from its purpose.
“It should be the servant of communities rather than the master. We need to strengthen community committees and boards.”
Bech was critical of Jacqui Church’s leadership, citing a sharp rise in council debt — from $178.8 million to nearly double in just over two years — and an expanded executive leadership team, from six to 11.
“I campaigned on this three years ago. I warned that we were heading into
a period of complex, costly decisions.”
He wants to look at alternative infrastructure funding models, including public-private partnerships and local government bonds.
Bech plans to talk to residents in the north of the district – places that voted for Church and not him.
“A lot of the Aucklanders who have moved down to Pōkeno are now paying two to three times more in rates than they were.”
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Jenny Bartlett wants to know how they will rehome 2900 plus greyhounds.
Photo: Jesse Wood
Friction over road names
By Mary Anne Gill
A Waipā councillor has reignited debate over road naming rights, arguing private landowners should have the final say on their land - even when council policy prioritises Māori names.
Crs Roger Gordon and Philip Coles were dissenting voices when the council’s Service Delivery committee approved the name Taawharuwharu Lane for what is currently a private right of way at 2/1215 Kaipaki Rd west of Cambridge.
Landowners, the Marsden family, had proposed Marsden Ave or Marsden Lane, citing a possible ancestral link to Rev Samuel Marsden, a missionary who introduced Christianity to New Zealand.
Waipā District Council’s naming policy emphasises increasing the use of Māori names, particularly those with local topographical or historical relevance.
Development Engineering team leader Harry Baxter noted that while Marsden was a nationally significant figure, he had no direct connection to
the Waipā district.
Gordon argued that ownership of the private land should be quite strong in determining the name of the road.
“That would outweigh the other considerations as long as it did comply with one of the factors of our policy which in this case it does.”
The naming policy gives weighting to topographical features within the community.
“On principle I think this is not a good move. There have been many occasions in the past, street names across the region, after the developer or the owner of the land. A lot of precedent has been set in terms of road naming.
“If the landowner wishes to see that name given to the road, I think that is a strong case,” said Gordon.
Cr Andrew Brown said he supported the Taawharuwharu name.
There had been a proliferation of names which meant nothing to the district in the past.
“I’m pleased to see a name recommended which has
meaning to the area it is in.”
Māori ward councillor Dale-Maree Morgan and mana whenua representative Hinerangi Kara also backed the name Taawharuwharu. Kara warned against undermining the council’s own policy, calling it “a dangerous and slippery slope.”
Deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk acknowledged the ongoing friction around road naming and suggested a compromise might still be possible.
“In this instance, it was either Marsden Lane or nothing else,” she said.
“Given the Marsdens are the current and continuing landowners, I believe another solution could be explored.”
Brown said land ownership was not permanent and should not override cultural or historical considerations.
Despite the opposition, the committee approved the name Taawharuwharu Lane, aligning with the council’s policy to honour local Māori heritage and topographical features.
• What do you think? Email editor@goodlocal.nz
Customers get power discounts
Waipā Networks customers are receiving the first of two discounts for 2025 off their power bill.
An estimated total of $2.8 million - an average of about $97.65 per customer - is being given back to customers across the network.
Waipā Networks Trust chairperson Sarah Matthews says profits are retained in the community via these discounts, rather than going to external shareholders.
Since customer discounts began in 2001, Waipā Networks has distributed more than $100 million back to customers connected to its network.
Waipā Networks Chief Executive Sean Horgan said as an organisation owned by the Waipā Networks Trust on behalf of customers, “we’re in a unique
position where we can give back to the community that owns us”.
“The reason our line charges have been so low is because our network is a lowcost network driven by a simple 11kV structure.
“While this structure has served us well in the past, regional growth and increasing demands for electricity require us to invest and upgrade our network, which incurs a cost.”
“We’re about to commission our new Hautapu substation that will bring 33kV to our network, creating more capacity for our customers to enjoy a more reliable and resilient electricity connection.”
Horgan said there are also plans underway to upgrade the network in Te Awamutu.
An aerial view of the new Hautapu substation.
John Bertrand Collectables Buying in Cambridge and Waikato Next Week
Once again, the gold and collectables buyers from Wellington company John Bertrand Collectables are visiting Cambridge and Waikato next week. Mr Tony Grant from the company says, “If you are downsizing or wanting to dispose of things because they no longer serve any purpose to you or your family bring them in”. “Next week will be a great opportunity to have any items you want to sell assessed by our buyers” said Mr Grant. Particularly wanted are Gold and Silver (in any of its forms) and Collectables such as Coins, Banknotes, War Medals, Old Wind-up Watches and other interesting Small Collectables.
“We are keen buyers, especially of the items in the list below” said Mr Grant. “Nothing is too small for our consideration. We are just as happy buying 1 item as we are buying 1,000 items” he said. The buyers will be in Cambridge and Waikato next week. (see details below). As Tony Grant points out “If you are in doubt about any items you may wish to sell, bring them along for an instant appraisal.”
Gold & Silver At Near Record Prices
During these uncertain times
we have seen a sharp increase in the price of precious metals. The gold price in New Zealand is at near record levels so gather up all your unwanted items and take them along to the buyers. Tony Grant says “We can buy old gold items in all forms, including Jewellery (Rings, Chains, Brooches etc), Coins (Sovereigns and the like), Alluvial (River Gold), virtually anything, even Gold Teeth! We also need all Sterling Silver including Cups, Tea Services, Cutlery and Old Coins” he said.
Interesting Small Collectables Wanted
The buyers from John Bertrand (Collectables) Ltd, visiting Cambridge and Waikato next week are happy to look at any interesting items, for example vintage pocket and wristwatches such as Rolex, Men’s Omega, Breitling and gold watches etc. Also wanted, pre 1950’s picture postcards, Maori and Pacific artefacts, old fountain pens and other small antique or historical items.
“If you have something unusual which you would like to sell, please bring it into one of our venues, we would like the chance to at least have a look at it” said Tony Grant, buyer for the Company. “We will consider anything which may be of interest to a collector” he said.
Some Big Dollars in Early Banknotes
Early New Zealand Banknotes dated before 1932 are currently fetching big money! This is according to Mr Tony Grant, author of the John Bertrand New Zealand Coin & Banknote Catalogue Mr Grant is in Cambridge and Waikato next week on a buying trip for John Bertrand (Collectables) Ltd and would be very keen to see any of these issues. “We will pay at least $300 for any undamaged Ten Shilling or One Pound
banknote from a New Zealand trading bank dated 1932 or before.
Denominations of five pounds and higher would be worth from $700. “Any banknote dated prior to 1900 would be worth at least $1000” said Mr Grant.
Also purchased are any Reserve Bank of New Zealand pre-decimal issues, especially 50 Pound notes. All overseas banknotes are also wanted, especially early Pacific Island issues.
Collectors Need War Medals
Currently, throughout NZ and the world there is a big demand by collectors for war medals. These cover all wars right through from the New Zealand Land Wars and the Boer War, to the First and Second World Wars and the later Korea and Vietnam conflicts. New Zealand Servicemen and Women first served overseas in the Boer War in South Africa around 1900 and the war medals awarded for this service are needed by the buyers, as are any other Medals from early New Zealand and the New Zealand Wars. General service medals from both the First and Second World Wars will also be purchased, but as can be imagined these were awarded in fairly large numbers. “If a group of medals has any special award for bravery such as the Military Medal, Military or Flying Cross or other medals for Distinguished Conduct or Meritorious Service, these can add great value to a group” stated Mr Tony Grant, buyer for John Bertrand (Collectables) Ltd. “Many families have old medals, some dating back to early Imperial days, that they are not sure what to do with. These are better off in the hands of collectors who will look after them. We will be happy to look at any war medals whatsoever, just bring them in to venues” he said.
Old Coins Can Toss Up a Rarity
Do you have a bunch of old coins sitting around in your drawers and cupboards? You just never know what rarities may be lurking there. The advice from Tony Grant from John Bertrand (Collectables) Limited is to “bring them in and let us have a look”. “No need to sort anything out just bring them in ‘as is’ and please don’t clean them! We can go through coin accumulations and collections fairly quickly” he said. The buyers are particularly keen to buy pre 1946 New Zealand Silver Coins for at least 20 times their face value (more for quantity). “In any event we will buy All Coins,” said Mr Grant.
(Tony)
Refund call splits council
By Mary Anne Gill
A surprise $2.5 million surplus sparked a stoush among Waikato regional councillors last week resulting in chair Pamela Storey using her casting vote to block a proposal to return the funds to ratepayers.
The debate, which unfolded at a council meeting last week, saw seven councillors — including Waipā-King Country representative Clyde Graf — argue that the surplus should be returned to the public.
Graf said the refund, while modest, could help struggling households.
“Our group knows that times are tough for many people, and we think that the $2.5 million rates reduction would have helped ratepayers put food on the table.”
Finance committee chair Chris Hughes echoed the sentiment, saying he was disappointed the council would not align with central government guidance to keep rates increases at or below inflation.
Opposing councillors, including Graf’s fellow Waipā-King Country representative Stu
Kneebone, warned that returning the surplus now would lead to higher rates in the future. Chair Pamela Storey agreed, casting the deciding vote to retain the surplus in council reserves.
“While returning the surplus might sound appealing in the short term, it would create a gap in our finances for future years,” Storey said.
“My decision was about protecting our region’s long-term stability, rather than offering a small, shortterm refund that could cause bigger problems down the track.”
Storey said the average ratepayer would have received approximately $1.09 per $100,000 of capital property value — equating to $10.90 for a $1 million home.
She also noted that using reserves now would leave the council less prepared for emergencies such as cyclones or biosecurity threats.
Graf said the council had no right to keep what was not their money.
“If a bank overcharges for fees it is required by law to return the customer’s money – and we should too,” he said.
“Unfortunately, this
opportunity has been denied by the chair’s casting vote.”
Ratepayers would not get a refund as such, but the average rates’ increase for 2025-26 would have been four per cent rather than the 5.7 per cent in the Annual Plan.
It is the second time this year Storey has used her casting vote on the same issue arguing the decision should be part of public consultation.
The two submitters who fed back agreed with retaining the surplus.
“It’s worth noting that the regional council has never returned a surplus before, and for good reason. We have worked hard to keep rates increases as low as possible, even with rising costs and changes in government funding.”
Those in favour of returning the surplus were: Warren Maher, Ben DunbarSmith, Chris Hughes, Mich’eal Downard, Clyde Graf, Robbie Cookson and Kataraina Hodge.
Those against were: Bruce Clarkson, Angela Strange, Jennifer Nickel, Stu Kneebone, Tipa Mahuta, Noel Smith, and Pamela Storey.
Sheryn tells her story
A speech describing society’s role in domestic abuse won second prize in a speech competition in Rotorua earlier this month.
Cambridge Toastmaster Club president Sheryn Dean presented ‘Culture of Complicity’ at the Toastmaster District 112 Conference.
Members from 130 North Island clubs competed at club, area, then division levels to select eight finalists.
Dean joined the Cambridge Toastmasters Club in 2021 with the goal of being able to speak about domestic abuse – specifically psychological abuse in the middle class.
“Domestic abuse resources focus on women who are physically attacked,
but psychological abuse is also devastating, and unfortunately, extremely common. It is really confusing because there is not something specifically violent. But it’s like the proverbial water on the rock, and eventually it can break even the strongest of people.”
Her speech focused on the lack of support and understanding she experienced from her peers.
“I know the people I reached out to were good people. But with the benefit of hindsight, their reactions were detrimental to me and my situation.”
Dean concluded her place-getting speech with advice to listen to anyone who is confused about their
relationship.
“Encourage them to set boundaries, value themselves, seek professional help. Listen and don’t project your own experiences. Whatever you do, don’t infer it is their fault, or that it is something they should put up with. The abuser is probably already telling them that.”
Clyde Graf - for Pamela Storey – casting vote Stu Kneebone - against
Sheryn Dean
A WARM WELCOME AWAITS
Arvida Lauriston Park, 33 Thompson Street, Leamington, Cambridge.
Come and explore our contemporary townhouses at Cambridge’s Arvida Lauriston Park this winter. In contrast with the community’s iconic Victorian homestead Whare Ora, our townhouses have been architecturally designed to keep you blissfully warm this season.
Enjoy our homely and family-style environment, where you can enjoy slow mornings with a warm tea in hand, bask in a warm evening swim in the Community Centre or get comfy on the couch with a good book. All of this is waiting for you and more – book a private tour today.
Call Tineke on 07 444 4021 or visit arvida.co.nz/lauristonpark
Milner’s service recognised
By Viv Posselt
Community champion Sue Milner has been celebrated for her many years of service to Cambridge and Waipā.
Recognition for her decades of dedication came at a surprise awards’ ceremony held before last Wednesday’s Cambridge Community Board meeting at which she was presented with a Community Long Service Award.
Cambridge Community Board chairperson Jo Davies-Colley outlined Milner’s achievements, saying her influence went “far beyond her time in local government, where she served as community board member and chairperson”.
“Her impact can be seen in every corner of our town – from arts and heritage, to her work with the [Cambridge] Tree Trust, our military history with its connections to Anzac and Armistice celebrations, our sister city relationships, Christmas lights, playgrounds, libraries, the Empire Street little library and even the military bunker at the lake. It’s hard to find an area in Cambridge that hasn’t been touched by Sue’s dedication.”
Davies-Colley described Milner’s connection to, and knowledge of, the history
of Cambridge as ‘unparalleled’.
Milner served as a Waipā district councillor for nine years, was on the Cambridge Community Board for six years, including one term as chairperson - the first woman to hold that title. She served on numerous committees, including those involved with Cambridge’s sister city relationships with Le Quesnoy and Bihoro, and Anzac and Armistice commemorations.
HARRY LOVES TO EAT
She helped secure funding for Cambridge’s Le Quesnoy sculpture by the late Fred Graham and was involved in the educational storyboards that speak to that battle.
Her passion for reading saw her advocate strongly for the Cambridge library – she worked to secure the removal of borrowing fees on books.
Waipā district mayor Susan O’Regan commended Milner for her outstanding
service, saying: “You have served with not only dedication but with insight and a genuine love for your community. You are known for your leadership… and impeccable style.”
She also thanked Milner for helping ease her into local politics when she was a ‘green new councillor’.
Cambridge RSA president Tony Hill thanked her for helping make Anzac and Armistice commemorations ‘more vibrant’ than in many communities, and John Bishop thanked Milner for her lengthy involvement with the town.
He said he had been inspired to get involved in the community when seeing Sue and Ray Milner walking the streets delivering leaflets into letterboxes.
Last week’s celebration saw Milner presented with a certificate marking her years of devoted service and advocacy. She was also presented with a Tītoki sapling by Cambridge Tree Trust members Pete Fisher and John Moodie.
In responding, Milner said she had been privileged to be part of the council and community board and had enjoyed every minute of it.
She will see out her current term on the Cambridge Community Board.
The Cambridge Tree Trust’s Pete Fisher presents Sue Milner with a Tītoki sapling, watched on by fellow tree trust member John Moodie. Photo: Viv Posselt
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Shipwreck Secrets Uncovered
By Elizabeth Harvey, Cambridge Museum
Last Friday, maritime archaeologist Matthew Gainsford gave a talk that took us on the final voyage of the HMS Buffalo.
The vessel, once a timber carrier, quarantine and immigrant ship, now lies wrecked 50 m off the coast of Whitianga. Thanks to an expert team including Gainsford, Dr Kurt Bennet, Rebecca Cox and Ngāti Hei iwi, her story is being rewritten.
Built in India in 1813, HMS Buffalo was purchased by the Royal Navy and became part of Britain’s global operations. Her final journey transporting timber brought her to New Zealand, where she was caught in a violent storm and wrecked in July 1840. For decades, her remains were eroded by the sea. During the late 1980s South Australia’s Department of Environment and Planning visited the site and conducted a survey and small excavation. More recently, new methods are breathing life into the HMS Buffalo’s bones.
The marine archaeology team led by Gainsford and Bennet has used 3D photography, underwater mapping and historical re-analysis to build a comprehensive record of the wreck. Their work has revealed discrepancies in the official accounts, questioned the decisionmaking of her final hours, and revealed unexpected connections with Canadian passengers.
At the heart of the project is a partnership with the Mercury Bay Museum. As Gainsford explained, “Engaging with the local community and schools was a highlight of the Project.’ Through school visits, public programmes and an online display, the project has brought history to life for a wide audience. It’s a shining example of how museums and archaeology work hand in hand to foster curiosity, preserve knowledge and make our past accessible and meaningful.
Lost to the Lake: Horahora’s Histories
Closer to Cambridge, the remains of Horahora
hydroelectric power station lie beneath Lake Karāpiro. It was New Zealand’s first large-scale power plant. Built in 1912-3, to power the gold mines of Waihi, it later became the main power source for the North Island for many years, only to be submerged by Lake Karāpiro in 1947. Archive film footage on display in the museum shows the turbines still spinning as the waters rise.
Friends of Cambridge Museum recently went on a barge trip over the site at Finlay Park. Local guides Ian and Maia shared stories of the families who once lived in the village where there were homes, a school and post office. Steps leading down into the water were a haunting reminder of how new technology can generate major changes in local landscapes.
Time to study the form
By Peter Carr
Sleepy Hollow is slowly awakening to the thunderous interest of the upcoming triennial local body elections. Or is it (again) a quiet whisper that drifts by in October? Either way, once again, we are to be besieged with promises, self-congratulations and adulation from the worthies as to their governance prowess over the past three years. Or, even worse, promises by newly minted wannabies of sweeping improvements that collectively would stretch the budget (and rates) to dizzying heights.
So, dear voters, pause - and take stock of what is being placed before you - pondering as to how about a third of you will bother to tick the boxes presented.
Firstly, why do only a third care to take any form of real interest at the ballot box? Well, this year, a proposed rates increase of over 15 per cent should be sufficient to make your eyes water enough to pick up your pens. How does this staggering increase appear beside other, nearby, councils with increases less than one third of that amount?
Couple all this with the fact that, currently, three long-standing and well respected elected councillors have announced their aspirations. (One) a highly successful and hard-working Deputy Mayor to dally at the regional council table while (two) others have thrown their hats into the ring for a tilt at the mayoral chair, vehicle and financial emolument that accompanies the mayoral chains.
Something is amiss at Waipā DC. But before taking sides please remember this is a democracy. Waipā has not been beset with a hard-hitting first term knock-theminto-shape mayor as sits in the big city to the north. Nor has it had a one term wonder,
as at the bottom of the island, where attendance after hours at hostelries was publicly evident. That mayor has thrown in the towel to permit a long standing exminister of the crown to be gifted the role. No - this current growth in mayoral Waipa interests smacks of something amiss that needs a public airing.
All this at the start of a clear initiative by a new council chief executive charged with driving the management forward with a new Long Term Plan totally devoid of preparation for the future placing of another river crossing.
Clearly, in longevity terms, the arrival of this key piece of infrastructure is light years away but planning should be clearly identified in Long Term ideals at least as to the purchase of required land for access and egress.
And is it in the best interest of the overall well-being of the district to have three well-meaning aspirants splitting the voteespecially with a pitiful voter turnout that has, sadly, become the norm?
My plea to Waipā voters is to study the form. Work out where sensibility and experience will come together in our fine district. And vote accordingly. But before doing so, listen to what the aspirants have to say. Challenge them in a professional manner where respect and commonsense can prevail.
The Chamber of Commerce has arranged an early September Town Hall election presentation by those standing to state their case. Be there, listen, question and seek more clarity that is well overdue.
Where will they go?
Continued from page 3 racing protestor put their hand up and say we’ll take a dog.
Greyhound racing contributes $133 million annually to the New Zealand economy and $13 million to the Waikato economy. Greyhound Racing New Zealand spends more than $8.5 million annually on rehoming.
The total number of greyhound adoptions since the announcement, up to and including April, stands at 526. The average adoption rate for the first nine months is about 58 per month.
At this point of the season, adoptions are up 16.5 per cent on last year’s record.
“It’s a complicated process to rehome and I believe that the trainers and the owners want to ensure that this process is to continue,” Bartlett said.
“The whole rehoming side of it is all for the dog. It’s not whether the dog’s right for you. It’s if you’re right for that dog. It takes time to get that right.
“Once a dog has retired from racing, they’re not rescued because they haven’t been tied to a tree, the trainer is required to get that dog desexed, get a dental report done and a health check. That is all funded by Greyhound Racing New Zealand.”
The dog will then go on the Great Mates list before it retires.
“The Great Mates kennel is the first stop for that dog starting its new journey into becoming a pet,” Bartlett said. “Great Mates assess that dog. They will say, she’s a bit of a shy little girl or she’s not cat trainable.
“They’ll take them for walks in town and assess them because a lot of these dogs have lived rurally. They don’t know a truck; they don’t know a wheelie bin.”
The next stop is a rehoming agency.
The main organisations are May Hounds, Nightrave, Kiwikiwi Hounds and Gap.
“May Hounds might say, we think we’ve got a home for her, we would like her.
“Then more work is done with that dog to expose it to becoming a pet. May Hounds put their dogs into a foster home immediately, so none of them are in a kennel.
“They might be there for two weeks, six weeks, six months. It doesn’t matter –they’re in a home, learning all about it. Then someone might say, ‘I want that dog’, but you’re not just going to get her.”
The person wanting to adopt must fill out an application form detailing their lifestyle, who is the dog for, what they can give the dog and where the dog will sleep.
“No greyhound going through a rehoming process is to sleep outside at night,” Bartlett said.
“Then May Hounds will send someone to do a home check, to meet them, meet other family members, look at fencing, to look at the setup and see if it’s going to work. Then they can meet the dog.
“This process takes time. You’re not going to take 2900 dogs and rehome them in six months.”
Rehabilitation to rehome, RTR dogs, is another part of the process.
“The dog is cared for and seen by top New Zealand vets. Once all clear, they enter the rehoming process.
“They all make the most amazing pets, they’ve got a great nature, but you have to get the right home for each dog.
“Logistically, you tell me how? I’d like to say to Winston, will you tell me how we’re going to do it?”
•
Marine archaeologist Matthew Gainsford, with Elizabeth Harvey and Carey Church, speaking at the U3A/Museum Friends partnership talk series on 23 May 2025. IMAGE BRUCE HANCOCK
Trust’s third donation for Lifeskills
By Viv Posselt
Cambridge Lifeskills has received a welcome donation of $5000 – the third and final in a series of three equal annual donations from the Give It Back Charitable Trust.
Trust members David Cooney, Lee Turner and Nathan Milne visited Lifeskills this month to make the final donation official. On the receiving end were Lifeskills manager/clinical leader Sandy Wesford and Cambridge Lifeskills Board co-chairperson, former Hautapu School principal, Marilynn Jones.
Cambridge Lifeskills provides a free counselling service to 13 public schools in the Cambridge district, working with children aged 5-15 and often their families as well. The organisation receives no government funding and relies solely on grants and the generosity of the community.
Wesford described the Trust’s support over the past three years as ‘gold’ and said it helped make Cambridge Lifeskills more
sustainable.
“We have managed to stay afloat for 32 years but live hand-to-mouth each month. We are determined to keep the service free, but the reality is that the need for our help is always growing,” she said. “We are lucky to live in a generous community, and it is donations like these from the trust that help us meet that need and reassures me that we are not alone.
“It is increasingly known that this service does really help. We cannot give up on the kids… there is a never-ending queue of people needing us.”
David Cooney said that while the latest donation marked the end of the contracted three-year cycle of support, it was not the end of the relationship between the two.
“We want you to keep us informed of progress at Cambridge Lifeskills, and we will re-evaluate accordingly,” he said.
The Give it Back Charitable Trust was formed several years ago to recognise Cambridge’s unsung heroes and volunteers, provide
financial support to those in the community needing health and welfare assistance, and encourage others to engage with their community.
Marilynn Jones said Lifeskills was
one of five charities that received funding from the closure of Lyceum club last year.
“That money will have to be for the future. We don’t want to whittle it away … it will be used to help
future-proof us.”
Wesford said the organisation had not done any serious fundraising since Covid but was planning to reinstate its popular golf tournament later in the year.
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Give It Back Charitable Trust members Lee Turner, David Cooney and Nathan Milne flank Cambridge Lifeskills’ Marilynn Jones and Sandy Wesford outside the Lifeskills headquarters in Queen St.
Photo: Viv Posselt
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The day the earth roared
By Janine Krippner
What was the world’s most powerful earthquake like? In a word: devastating.
On May 22, 1960 the Earth ruptured in southern Chile. The rupture raced along the fault at a velocity of 3.5 kilometers per second, extending across about 1000 kilometres. The Valdivia Earthquake, or the Great Chilean Earthquake, registered magnitude 9.5 — the largest ever recorded.
The rupture occurred along the boundary between the Nazca and the South American tectonic plates, just offshore from Chile, and on the far side of the Pacific Ocean from us. I would hope that many of you at this point are wondering: was there a tsunami?
The answer is yes — a massive one.
The earthquake triggered a tsunami that surged across the Pacific Ocean, well before the days of our modern Pacific-wide tsunami warning system. It took about 15 hours to reach Hawai’i, plenty of time for a modern warning to be issued and life-saving actions to be taken. Thankfully in 1960 there was a warning, but warnings only work if people take action.
The first waves that hit Hilo around midnight were about 1-2 m high. Then, at 1:04 am the largest waves arrived, reaching 4.3m. A tsunami wave is not a normal wave, it is far more dangerous. Tsunamis move immense volumes of water with relentless force, surging water up and across the land across much greater timespans.
A total of 61 people were killed in Hawai’i and 43 were injured.
On the other side of the Pacific, in Japan, the tsunami struck about 22 hours after the quake, having travelled over 16,000 kilometres. Despite warnings, around 122
people died. Waves reached over six metres in some locations. Back in Chile, the devastation was catastrophic. Over 58,000 homes were destroyed, displacing about two million people. At least 1655 lives were lost — but as with many major disasters, the true number remains uncertain.
In Aotearoa, tsunami waves were also detected, triggering widespread evacuations. Observations came from over 120 locations, including the west coast. Run-up heights reached about 4m in Nelson and 3.5m in Gisborne and the Chatham Islands.
The impact was described by the late David Johnston and colleagues as “considerable minor damage” to homes, boats, shops, and coastal infrastructure.
At the time there were calls for improved warnings and public awareness about tsunamis. Today, we’re lucky to have access to a wealth of information at our fingertips. But we must engage with it.
There will be more large tsunamis. While we now have improved warnings and education, we also have far more to lose. In 1960, New Zealand’s population was around 2.4 million. Today, it’s more than double that, and many more people live, work, and play along our vulnerable coastlines.
The 1960 earthquake and tsunami were devastating. The words we use to describe the next major tsunami will depend on the actions we take now—as individuals, scientists, governments, and communities. Even in the face of the Earth’s most powerful forces, we are not powerless.
One more move…
By Murray Smith, Bridges Church
Visiting the Louvre Museum in Paris to view the famous artworks on display will remain as an unforgettable memory for me.
One painting hanging there, originally titled, “The Chess Players,” is the work of 19th Century German painter Friedrich Retzsch. I’ve found this painting and a remarkable story attached to it, particularly memorable.
Better known now as “Checkmate”, the painting depicts two chess players: The Devil (Satan) and a young man, evidently defending his soul.
The stakes are high in this game of life and death.
The young man, seated to the right of the chess board, looks disconsolate and contemplates his situation as he is in ‘Checkmate’.
His head is bowed and his eyes are tearfilled. On the opposite side, Satan looks arrogantly confident, not even looking at the chessboard.
The Devil has seemingly just won in the game of life over this lad. Engulfed in despair without strength, or way out, he stares at the board hopelessly. Standing between the two players, the artist has included an angel in his work. The angel’s stricken expression conveys deep consternation and sadness over the young man’s predicament.
A chess player named Paul Morphy stuided this painting one day. He felt sorry for the boy and he hated the looks of the Devil.
This champion chess player wanted to see victory snatched from Satan and to see the young man ‘saved.’ Then, suddenly, he shouted out loud: “Son, there is one more
move! You’ll escape the Devil’s snare if you make this move!”
Forgetting himself, Morphy had become immersed in the painting, caught up in its drama and engrossed with trying to find a way for the young man’s release.
In a sense, all of us are engaged in this ‘chess match’…in the ‘game’ of life with its outcome swinging in the balance.
We have an evil, malevolent adversary in common and while in ignorance, many cynically scorn the notion of an actual evil ‘being’ personified in Satan, the fact remains he is not a mythical force but is an insidious opponent hell-bent on our destruction. He delights in deceptively masking his existence.
For some of our lives, it may seem the Devil has almost got us.
From a whole world vantage point of view, a darkened shadowy future of uncertainty looms ahead.
But there is One who offers a future having overcome and defeated all evil. He is greater, infinitely more powerful and insightful than our foe and his band of wicked cohorts.
He says to us all: ‘There is a move, there is one move that you can make, and you can win.’ In those moments when we’re almost ready to concede “Checkmate,” there’s a way of escape and victory.
When hope fades from our life and when we are convinced there’s no answer for us, remember, there is one more move.
That move is toward Jesus Christ. You can make that move today in your own heart.
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“It was just so easy.”
Sally Nelson’s journey into retirement living wasn’t pre-planned, it was a decision made two years after her late husband’s passing.
“I had no vision whatsoever to come into a retirement village. But, I had a big house, lots of lawn, lots of garden, and although I could do it now, I knew it would come to the stage where I wouldn’t be able to do it any longer. So, I thought, right. I talked it over with my kids and I they said, ‘yeah Mum, do it’.” recalled Sally.
Moving from a five-bedroom house set on an 800m2 section, into a two-bedroom villa at Summerset Cambridge required Sally to downsize. While Sally had made a start on the big stuff, she engaged Summerset Moving Services to help with the rest. “I was the first person to sign up here, and when I signed up sales manager, Nikki said ‘you’ll get a call from a lady named Trish, who’s our moving specialist’.”
“I was very lucky because when I sold my house, I had a seven-month possession date. So, I had seven months to start cleaning out stuff, I’d done a lot of downsizing before I saw Trish. Trish was wonderful, she was going around measuring everything. I didn’t realise, but I was pleasantly surprised to get the floor plan of my new home with all my furniture fitted on,” said Sally.
After decluttering five bedrooms and the garage, Sally decided to leave the rest in the capable hands of Trish, and her team. “I thought, no, I’m not going to pack up anything in the kitchen, dining room or lounge, I had the packers do all that. And that was just wonderful. They take photos of how stuff is set up, they pack it all up and then when they unpack it in your home, they put everything back exactly as it was. Even the China cabinet, all the glasses were put back exactly as the photos. It’s all unpacked for you.”
In preparation for the move, Trish provided Sally with tips and checklists to help make the transition easier. “So much paperwork it seemed, but it was really useful. Including a list of people to notify that you’ve changed your address, businesses, and things like that. The solicitor notifies the council but there’s so many other people you’ve got to notify. I just went through and ticked off tasks as I did them. Nothing was a problem for Trish, she’d give me a form to sign for things to be done and then the phone numbers of the contractors to ring to come and do it. It was just so easy.”
If you’d like to know more about the Summerset life, or find a village near you, visit summerset.co.nz
Equine find in Town Hall
By Mary Anne Gill
When a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system was installed in the Cambridge Town Hall recently, workers made a surprising discovery.
Down in the bowels of the building were moulds for the horse and foal statues outside the Town Hall on the Victoria St side of the building.
Alongside them was a piece of paper showing the sculptures and providing contact details for future restoration.
The 850kg bronze statues of the mare with a foal sitting at her feet
fixed to a concrete pad has become a visitors’ delight with children and adults climbing all over them and thousands of photos a year taken.
Town Hall general manager Simon Brew said while he had no responsibility for the horse and foal, he did recognise it was now an integral part of the hall precinct.
The upgraded Victorian Room provided a perfect backdrop for the statue and photos, he said.
Commissioned by Waipā District Council to mark the central business district’s upgrade and unveiled in March 2024, the statue was funded with $129,000 in support from the Cambridge equine industry, local
businesses and prominent identities.
The town is known for its thoroughbred horse studs and has produced many champion horses including Inter Dominion and Melbourne Cup winners.
The artist behind the sculpture, Michelle Farrell of Waiuku - known for her Celtic and Gaelic workwas commissioned to create the piece. It was her moulds that were found in the hall. When contacted for comment, Farrell declined and referred inquiries to the council.
With the HVAC system now occupying much of the hall’s storage space, Brew said the moulds would be returned to the council. Previously, the hall relied solely on underfloor gas heating, which made it uncomfortably warm during
Let Tiles Make Your Statement
summer events.
“With this upgrade, we’re introducing full heating and cooling, making the space much more comfortable year-round. This is a game-changer for everyone who uses the hall. Keeping the venue at the right temperature will make a huge difference for our guests and the incredible artists who take the stage,” he said.
Although the statue’s 20th and 21st anniversaries passed without fanfare, Brew is keen to mark the occasion. “I’m sure we can have some sort of celebration,” he said.
Have a photo with the horse and foal?
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Roundabout ready
A roundabout outside Te
Awa Lifecare Village west of Cambridge has opened and the road running alongside Bridleways Estate and Patrick Hogan Retirement Village on Cambridge Rd is back to two-way after 21 months of construction. The next phase is the installation of an underpass.
Rest in peace
Marie Bradley, who we featured with husband Eddie on their 70th wedding anniversary in January, has died aged 91. A service celebrating her life will be held in Cambridge today. The couple met in Belfast, Northern Ireland as teenagers, married and had six children, three of them born in Cambridge after the family emigrated.
Pastor moves on Te Awamutu News person of the year Phil Strong has preached his last sermon as senior leader of Zion People church. Strong said he resigned after a decade having come to the realisation that “the Lord leads us in and out of seasons”.
Standing down
Tammee Wilson has stood down as Cambridge Chamber of Commerce chair after five months. David Natzke will assume key responsibilities until an acting chair is appointed.
Thousands of photos are taken every year of visitors with the horse and foal outside Cambridge Town Hall and as interested onlookers during various protests.
Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Cambridge Town Hall Trust general manager Simon Brew with the moulds and designer details found during renovations. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Hautapu continue dominant run
By Jesse Wood
Hautapu Sports posted a big 62-26 win against Fraser Tech in Waikato premier rugby on Saturday, while Te Awamutu Sports fell 17-10 to Morrinsville.
The 10 tries to four drubbing took place in front of the Hautapu faithful on club day at Cambridge Memorial Park.
Hautapu had a star-studded line-up including Fiji international Manasa Mataele, four Waikato representatives and two club centurions – David Morris and Jason Thomasen.
Te Awamutu’s match was away at Campbell Park. Many of their premier players were in Scotland competing at the Melrose Sevens. Young debutant fullback Jaoquin Burke, fresh off a touch gold medal in the Asia Pacific Youth Cup, stepped up to slot a penalty and conversion.
But Morrinsville remained in control, three tries to one. Flanker Dylan Jeffries was the Te Awamutu try scorer.
Hautapu B fell short 35-33 against Fraser Tech B, while Te Awamutu’s development side lost 34-24 to Morrinsville B.
Pirongia thumped Kereone 70-5 in Division 1A, while Leamington pipped Taupiri 22-20.
Donning pink ladies day jerseys, Ōhaupō were beaten 33-24 at home by the men from under the Kaimai ranges, Hinuera.
All three Waipā Division 1B teams registered wins.
Pirongia B defeated Kereone B 33-5, Leamington demolished Taupiri B 55-15 and Ōhaupō B got their third victory of the season, 34-22 against Hinuera B.
Hautapu got their second win in the women’s premiership, 22-15 against University.
Kihikihi lost 48-10 against Ōtorohanga and are still to pick up a victory.
June 7 will see another Waipā women’s
premiership battle at Kihikihi Domain – Kihikihi v Hautapu – at 1pm.
Women’s championship division team Pirongia lost 45-30 in a fairly close encounter with Hamilton Marist.
Leamington, Hautapu and Pirongia all had losses in the under-21 competition and Te Awamutu Sports had a bye week.
Thames Valley United defeated the Leamington colts 41-19, Hautapu under-21 were beaten 27-19 by Hamilton Marist and Hinuera topped Pirongia 33-15 at Wealleans Park.
The Kio Kio United Cattle Dogs hosted
Pukekohe under-85kg on Saturday and lost 67-0.
Pukekohe scored 11 unanswered tries in the combined Counties Manukau-Waikato under85kg competition match at Maihihi.
Kio Kio head into Hamilton this Saturday to face Hamilton Marist Bulldogs at 1pm.
All other teams get a break for King’s Birthday weekend.
The Pirongia Mountain men dominated the Leamington Loonies in the presidents, over-35, grade. Pirongia won 34-0 at Pirongia Domain.
Due to several teams fielding low numbers, a new presidents draw will kick in from June 7.
Reds keep on winning
Cambridge survived a late scare at home last weekend – conceding two goals in the last 20 minutes to visitors Hibiscus Coast on their way to a North Regional football championship 3-2 win.
The three points kept the Vogel Street club second on the ladder sandwiched between leaders Wanderers and Melville who both won. Goals from Joshua Clarkin (2) and Blake Taylor continued Cambridge’s good form.
Cambridge travel to fourth placed Manukau next – on June 7 – when Wanderers host Melville in a first v third Hamilton derby. Manukau beat Ngāruawāhia 2-1 with two late goals last weekend.
In the Northern Region women’s championship Cambridge was beaten 4-1 at Birkenhead last weekend and sits midtable.
In the men’s Waikato first division Cambridge went back to the top of the league by thumping previous leader Claudelands Wallys 5-0 at Galloway Park.
The floodgates opened after David Samsom was shown a red card for the hosts when the score was 2-0.
In the pink: Ōhaupō prop Liam Palaone looks to barge up the field against Hinuera on their annual ladies day. Photo: Arthur Uden
Hicks did it our way...
By Mary Anne Gill
One Aucklander at the premiere of The Tavern in Cambridge summed it up with a smirk.
“There’s a VTNZ in the background,” he said, lamenting the challenge of snapping a glamorous photo of the arriving cast.
But that was exactly the point.
This wasn’t Hollywood or Cannes - it was Cambridge, a Waikato town that has produced two movies in the last five years.
For that, thank Cambridge producer/director Matt Hicks whose latest labour of love The Tavern joins Home Kills as pieces of Kiwi cinematic history.
The casts of hundreds in The Tavern, filmed at the former
Masonic Hotel and other identifiable places around the town, make it a must see for Cambridge residents.
“I will be honest with you, this is a movie full of deplorable individuals,” Hicks told friends, family and sponsors who attended opening night at The Tivoli Cinema last week.
An eight metre long red carpet inside the movie theatre, led to a backdrop where people had their photos taken, much like any traditional premiere.
Most of them were armed with cans of locally brewed beer. Hicks was unable to get support from major beer brands so he brewed his own.
“If you’ve got nothing nice to say
about the film,” said Hicks. “Don’t.”
With that, the crowd filed into Tivoli’s three cinemas to watch the 98-minute film, made with support from Creative Waikato. The movie sold out its weeklong Cambridge run, prompting additional screenings. Cinemas in Waipukurau, Wellington, Hamilton, Thames, Motueka, Masterton, Tauranga, Ōpunake, Palmerston North, and Matamata have also added showings.
Hicks - a Cambridge High School old boy as well as DJ, wedding celebrant, actor and director - wrote, produced and stars as one of five small town guys who race against time to save their beloved rundown tavern.
Taking care of safety
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Often people don’t actually know the correct
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Family affair: from left David Bell, Mary Barnett, Jessica Ferris, Matt Hicks, Sarah Barnett, Phil Barnett and Robbie Ferris.
Sound recordist Robert Pendergrast of Hamilton, with sisters Maggie Dray, left, from Waiheke Island and Sarah Price of Auckland, who did make up and worked in the movie’s art department, on the red carpet.
Tokoroa’s Graham Lauder, gaffer and second unit camera assistant on the film, with The Breeze’s Stu Smith, right, on the red carpet. Photos: Mary Anne Gill
The killing of an industry
By Jesse Wood
When Te Awamutu-based greyhound trainer Corey Steele heard racing minister Winston Peters’ December announcement outlawing the sport in New Zealand, he was shocked.
The sport is being phased out across 20 months to allow time to rehome the estimated 2900 racing greyhounds nationwide.
The last official racing event could be in July 2026 or sooner.
After meetings with Greyhound Racing New Zealand, the Government appointed Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) concluded rehoming the total dog population by July 2026 was not possible, and that there would need to be a rehoming effort of 2430 months post closure.
Details of this are still to come.
Peters said the decision was driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs.
At the time he said “despite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals”.
Greyhound racing is in Steele’s blood and has been the family industry for several generations.
“My great grandfather Jim Steele won the Waterloo Cup back in the 1920s or 1930s, when it was still in
the coursing days, but I’m a thirdgeneration trainer,” Steele said.
The Waikato Greyhound Racing vice president trains his dogs on dad Wayne and mum Tracey’s property, Te Māwhai Racing Kennels.
“The welfare of the dogs means everything to me. What’s been hard mentally is being told about our lack of welfare,” Steele said.
“I love my dogs like they’re my children. It’s hard.
“The health of the dog is the most important thing. One, they can’t perform if they’re not healthy, and two, we’re the most transparent sport that involves animals in the world.
“If there’s any injury on the track, it can be so minor as a chip in a toenail, that dog can’t race for seven days because it’ll take that long to grow back.
“Every single greyhound has been checked by a professional veterinarian prior to going into the kennel block, prior to going on the track.”
Steele said that as well as the government, the trainers have the owners, Greyhound Racing New Zealand, the Racing Integrity Board and MPI to answer to.
“We’ve been answering to them so much over the last four years, that the announcement was definitely a shock. It changed my life in the space of about half an hour,” he said.
“We’ve exceeded all expectations
and it’s still not good enough.
There had been egular reviews the industry had ticked the boxes, he said.
“With dogs being a man’s best friend, it draws on the heart strings of every New Zealander. So, it’s a very easy thing for people to have an opinion without knowing the facts.”
Steele said they heard nothing from Peters personally in the lead up to the announcement – or ever.
He had been working alongside the board of Greyhound Racing New Zealand for two years as an emerging director.
“My aim was to become a director on our board because I love the sport so much. I want collaborative success for everyone within the sport and I love the dogs. I want nothing but the best for everyone’s dogs,” Steele said.
“Winston never spoke to us from the day he got in as racing minister to the day of the announcement. We did not have one bit of correspondence with Winston himself.”
Since his parents gave him the opportunity to forge his own pathway in the industry, Steele has gone all in. Now his working future is uncertain.
“Mum and Dad have spent 30 years doing that, setting up this property to be the best greyhound facility that they can have, and it’s all wasted now,” he said.
“All the kennels that we’ve built,
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that we’ve spent nearly $100,000 on, gone - they’re worth nothing. The sheds, the irrigation system for our running track, our paddocks, it’s all for nothing now.
“On Christmas Day, we still go out and work. When we’re sick, back when we all had Covid, we were out there basically
crawling in the kennels to make sure the dogs had the utmost care. Nothing like that has ever changed. The dogs come first; they always have.
“They’re talking about the welfare of the dogs, but very quickly they’ve forgotten about the welfare of the human.”
Cambridge Tree Trust
Cambridge Tree Trust
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Five-finger (Neopanax/ Pseudopanax arboreum)
Five-finger (Neopanax/ Pseudopanax arboreum)
One Arboretum, Two Arboreta ….
Did you know that the oldest arboretum in the Western world is Trsteno in Croatia, established in 15th century. And the largest in the world is at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England with 25,000 trees over 500 acres. So what is an arboretum? You could call it a living tree museum, where trees are cultivated for their scientific or educational interest.
In 1968 the J F Kennedy Memorial Arboretum opened on 250 hectares in County Wexford, Ireland. It is now also a sanctuary for many threatened tree species, including 24 endangered conifer species. A similar idea lies behind New Zealand’s National Arboretum at Eastwoodhill, Gisborne, which was started by Douglas Cook in 1910. Recuperating from World War 1 with his wealthy Scottish relatives, he admired their park-like grounds and resolved to create something similar at home. As the nuclear arms
Cambridge
race escalated in mid 20th century he came to see Eastwoodhill as a safe haven for northern hemisphere tree species in event of nuclear war. New Zealand’s relative isolation and stringent biosecurity regulations make Eastwoodhill uniquely suited to this purpose.
Cambridge boasts not one, but two arboreta. Across from the High School is the Oak Arboretum, while running parallel to the Expressway is the Maple Arboretum, accessed from Tiaki Place, off Thornton Road. Each is a collection of about 35 different species from around the world. As far as possible the trees should not be pruned, so that their natural form is evident. The different species have been labelled (name and place of origin), so for anyone with an interest in trees these are informative collections to browse through.
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Corey Steele and Opawa Sooty at home.
Club hosts national event
New Zealand’s elite squash players are in Cambridge for the country’s prestigious three day national squash tournament starting tomorrow (Friday).
The Cousins Shield for men, first played in 1948, and the Mitchell Cup for women, which started 10 years later, are the sport’s premier club team events.
Vying for it at Cambridge and Leamington squash clubs are 220 A grade players including last year’s winners Devoy Squash and Fitness from Tauranga and Henderson who won their titles at Hawke’s Bay Squash Club in Napier.
Cambridge players competing in a Waikato bonus team are Ezra Murray, Rebecca Rouse, Shelby Garrett, Jordan Herewini, Jayden Turton and Scott Calder.
Calder, Garrett and Herewini have been playing since juniors while Murray and Rouse discovered the sport in their 20s and 30s and have quickly flown through the ranks. Turton joined Cambridge from Rotorua last year.
Herewini’s return to the top flight comes after an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2017 saw her withdraw from the sport until her return last year.
She started playing squash in 2007 because her parents Deano and Lisa played and competed successfully as a junior while at St Peter’s School and then in London.
It is the first time Cambridge has hosted the tournament which top players Bruce Brownlee, Susan
Devoy, Leilani Rorani, Paul Coll, Ross Norman and Cambridge’s own Joelle King have all competed in over the years.
Cambridge Racquets Club earned hosting rights due to its programme growth and vibrant activities, the strong volunteer culture, its professionalism, and recent accolades.
Across town rivals Leamington Squash Club will support Cambridge and are sharing courts and resources as well as hosting some of the matches.
Cambridge chair Carli van Zyl said it was a huge honour for the club, which was founded in 1885 as a lawn tennis club, and last year was named Waikato Squash club of the year.
“To be chosen reflects the progress we’ve made in growing our programmes and investing in our facilities.
“With so many visitors coming through our doors, we’re excited about the financial boost this will bring to support the major club renovation we are undertaking,” she said.
The club, which is fundraising for a major facility renovation, will open its doors so the public can watch the best squash for free. The event will finish with A Night at the Races celebration.
Hosting the event is also expected to bring a welcome boost to local businesses, with players, supporters, and officials filling cafes, accommodation, and shops throughout the long weekend.
Riders to Denmark
By Jesse Wood
Three Waipā riders will be at the BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark in July.
The annual event will take place at the Ved Slusen track in Amager from July 28-31.
The Te Awamutu BMX Club members will be among 3500 riders competing in masters and championship divisions.
Youngster Tate Burdon and the experienced Paul Luttrell are guaranteed to compete, while Brooke Penny has already left for Europe to secure her chance of qualification.
The trio are highly placed in the New Zealand ranks.
Luttrell is no stranger to Copenhagen, having raced there at the 2011 world championships. He will ride in the 50 plus cruiser male category.
“We also lived in Copenhagen from 2017-2022, so it will be a homecoming of sorts. This will be my 11th and final world champs,” Luttrell said.
“It’s always been a proud occasion to wear the New Zealand shirt on the world stage. To represent Te Awamutu with Tate and Brooke will definitely enhance that.”
Luttrell is also one of the Te Awamutu BMX trainers, guiding the youngsters who are attending worlds.
Cambridge Squash Club’s Jordan Herewini will play in the Mitchell Cup event.
Spotlight on Cambridge
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Credit card/contactless payment surcharge applies 9 ALBERT STREET, CAMBRIDGE 3434
FIVE STAGS
Five Stags at 9 Campbell St in Leamington is styled on a hunting lodge; where you can enjoy the warmth of a fire, catch the game with mates over a few drinks or enjoy their well-known menu featuring some of the best foods New Zealand has to offer from slow roasted beef, venison burgers, pork ribs, to southern fried chicken, and the best fresh fish.
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Waikato Stonecraft specialise in a wide range of memorial work, from unique, specially carved memorials, through to traditional granite headstones, cremation, and burial plaques. They can custom design using a range of sizes and colours to suit all budgets. Call us on 07 827 5226 or call in at 39 Shakespeare Street, Leamington, Cambridge.
JOE’S GARAGE
Joe’s Garage, at 107 Swayne Rd – “halfway between the high school and the motorway,” is part of a nation-wide franchise. From cooked breakfast, a good range of burgers, fish and chips, pizza, and steak meals, to a wide variety in the cabinet of sweet and savoury, hot and cold foods, Joe’s Garage open seven days a week, will have something to suit.
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CULVERT DITCH ESTUARY FLOODPLAIN FORD FOUNTAIN GULLY LAGOON LAKE LOCH MERE POND POOL RAPIDS REACH RESERVOIR RILL RIVER RIVULET SEWER SLUICE SPRING STREAM STRETCH
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Chicken winners
‘Chicken for the cook is what canvas is for the painter.’ Anthelme Brillat-Savarin French Gourmet.
And he’s right. A painting is all about colours and chicken dishes can be an eclectic mix of colours. For example, red Italian chicken cacciatore; yellow and (spinach) green Indian curries; herby green/brown French casseroles; and goldenbrown Kiwi roasts.
Chicken engages the taste buds. The bland flesh makes it internationally popular because it combines harmoniously with so many spices, herbs, textures, fruits and vegetables, it encourages cooks to be creative.
Versatile chicken can be poached, fried, grilled, stir-fried, baked, roasted, cooked in the microwave and air-fryer. It’s relatively inexpensive compared to other meats and there’s little waste.
And don’t throw the bones. Use them to make a good stock for cool-day soups. Brown the bones in a little oil in a saucepan, add some chopped onion, carrots and celery stalks, plus a few fresh herbs. Add water to cover and simmer gently for 1-2 hours until reduced by half. Cool and store in an airtight container in the freezer.
To paraphrase a popular saying: ‘You can count your chickens when it comes to hatching great meals’.
Peanut butter chicken curry
The moist, dark meat of chicken thighs is perfect for curries, stews and casseroles.
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 teaspoon each: whole cumin seeds, grated garlic, grated root ginger
750g skinned and boned chicken thighs
1/4 teaspoon each: chilli flakes, ground turmeric
3-4 medium plum tomatoes, chopped
125g frozen spinach
3 tablespoon each: peanut butter, coconut cream (or regular cream)
Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan on mediumlow heat. Add the onion and spices and cook, stirring
occasionally, until the onion is softened.
Increase the heat to high. Add the chicken and cook the chicken about 7 minutes each side. Stir in the chilli flakes, turmeric and tomatoes. Cover and cook on medium for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Stir in the spinach and cook for a few minutes, until heated through. Combine the peanut butter and coconut cream, then stir into the chicken mixture and heat through. Great served with naan bread or rice. Serves 4-5.
Marcio’s chicken marbella
A twist on this Spanish delight from my friend Marcio.
Marinade: 4 large cloves garlic
1/4 cup each: red wine vinegar, capers, extra virgin olive oil
4 small bay leaves
12 pitted prunes
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano salt and pepper to taste
Chicken: 4 large chicken legs (thighs and drums attached)
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pitted green olives
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
To make the marinade, combine all the ingredients in a casserole large enough to hold the chicken in one layer. Stir well.
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Add the chicken, moving it around so the legs are well coated. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight, turning occasionally.
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Remove the casserole and bring to room temperature. Add the wine and sprinkle the chicken with brown sugar. Bake for 30 minutes. Turn the chicken over and baste with the juices. Add the green olives. Bake for another 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Serve garnished with parsley. Serves 4.
Peri peri chicken
This South African speciality is ‘hot’. Add the chilli powder to taste.
1.2kg chicken portions
5 cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons paprika
1-2 teaspoons chilli powder
2 tablespoons lemon juice
400g can diced tomatoes
If necessary, cut the chicken in to serving-sized portions. Combine all the other ingredients. Marinate the chicken in the mixture for 2-3 hours in the fridge, turning often. Preheat a grill or barbecue. Grill for about 15 minutes each side on medium heat, basting often. Serves 4-6.
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Cambridge 3/11 Bryce Street
Leamington 49 Chaucer Street
Peanut butter chicken curry
Marcio’s chicken marbella
Whispers of Mid-Century
- Set on a generous 2,481m² section (more or less), the home is perfectly positioned for privacy.
- Four bedrooms and two bathrooms – including two bedrooms with walk-in robes and master with ensuite.
- Both bathrooms have been modernised, plus separate internal laundry with an extra toilet.
- Double garaging, a workbench, and two garden sheds offers plenty of storage.
- Generously sized 200m² floor plan single-level home on a 1000m² section offering you perfect blend of space, comfort, and privacy.
- At the end of cul-de-sac this home offers 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms - 2 Master Bedrooms with ensuites plus a rumpus room.
- An added bonus is the back master bedroom with ensuite, complete with its own fridge and cabinetry unit.
- Step inside to find new carpets and flooring (updated in 2017/18), a new heat pump (2024) for year-round comfort.
- Private outdoor area, where there’s plenty of room for kids to play.
When Location Counts
- Beautifully presented three-bedroom, two-bathroom home sits on a 561m² section (more or less) section.
- Step inside to discover a very spacious, open-plan living area that seamlessly flows onto a north-facing deck
- Two bathrooms and two toilets add to the home’s practicality, ensuring ease and convenience for busy households.
- A garage with great shed space, plus a carport, plus several parking spaces provides ample storage and parking options.
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- Boasts five spacious bedrooms, including two ensuites, plus a dedicated office and a stylish family bathroom.
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- A separate lounge provides the perfect retreat for movie nights.
- Expansive double-glazed windows bathe the open plan living and dining areas in natural light, creating a warm and inviting ambiance.
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David $1,549,000 NOW $1,595,000 $1,650,000 $1,695,000 $1,749,000 $1,950,000
This is the last chance to secure a prime section in exclusive Riverside Lane, Karapiro Set on a generous 5129m² (approx ) site and bordering the majestic Waikato River, this is a rare opportunity to craft a bespoke lifestyle home in one of the region's most desirable locations Design and create your own dream home - whether it's a modern family sanctuary or an elegant country retreat This exceptional site is ready to build on, with a flat building platform and water meter at the gate Enjoy the peaceful charm of Karapiro Village with the added benefit of easy access to the Waikato Expressway, offering seamless travel to Cambridge, Hamilton, and beyond Rare, refined, and ready for your vision - Riverside Lane's final offering won't last so contact David now for more information
BRADLEY, Martha (Marie) – Passed away peacefully on Friday 23 May 2025, aged 91 years. Much loved and loving wife of Eddie for 71 years. Loved mother and motherin-law of Robert and Hannah, Fiona, Sharon and Tony, Kimberley and Christopher, James and Liw, Julie and Neville. Adored nana, greatnana and great-great-nana of her many grandchildren and their families. A celebration of Marie’s life will be held at Raleigh Street Christian Centre, 24 Raleigh Street, Cambridge today, Thursday 29 May at 12:00 midday. Followed by Interment at Leamington Cemetery.
COURTNEY, Phillip Lloyd
– Suddenly at home on Sunday, 25 May 2025 aged 84. Ex-husband and longtime friend of Janice. Dad of Michael and Kirsty, John and Sunshine, and Daryn (dec). Poppa of six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers a donation to St John Ambulance would be appreciated and can be made online at www.stjohn. org.nz. Messages to the 'Courtney Family' can be sent c/- Grinter’s Funeral Home, 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434, or in Phillip’s online tribute book at www.grinters. co.nz. A service to celebrate the life of Phillip will be held at the Cambridge Raceway, 1 Taylor Street, Cambridge on Saturday, 7 June at 11.00 am, followed by private cremation.
GRACE, Yvonne – Passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, 22nd May 2025, at the age of 48 years. A beloved friend to many, she was the best friend of Bree and Catherine. Yvonne will be deeply missed by her close circle of friends. We take comfort in knowing she is now reunited with her beloved boys, Kaia and Kazan—her cherished four-legged companions. A private farewell gathering has already taken place. Messages for Yvonne’s friends can be sent c/o 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434, or shared in Yvonne’s online tribute book at www. grinters.co.nz.
MCGRATH, Patrick William – Passed away peacefully at Cambridge Life on Monday, 12th May 2025, aged 76 years. Loving husband to Patricia for 41 happy years. Beloved father & father-inlaw to Emma & Richard, Michelle, William & Jessica, and David & Kaori. Much loved grandad to all of his grandchildren. Special thanks to the Cambridge Life staff who cared for Patrick over the past six years. A private family farewell has been held. Messages to the McGrath Family can be sent c/- 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434 or in Patrick's online tribute book at www.grinters. co.nz
STEEL, Kevin Jackson –Passed away peacefully at Waikato Hospital on Thursday 22 May 2025, aged 88 years. Much loved and loving husband of the late Joye. Loved brother of Rod. Beloved dad of Wendy, Brent, Debbie, Colin and Melanie. Adored grandpa and great-grandpa. In accordance with Kevin’s wishes, a private burial has taken place at Waihi Cemetery. A celebration of Kevin’s life will be announced at a later date.
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355 Rickit Road
Te Awamutu
June 5-8
Thurs-Sat 9am-5pm
Sun - $10 a box day 10am-2pm
PANELBEATER available for onsite repairs. Accident damage – rust repairs –motorbike tank and plastic fairings – welding. No insurance work. Ph Geoff 021 464 687
CAMBRIDGE
Next Meeting Wednesday
JUNE 4
1:30pm Start
TAYLOR MADE
22a Taylor Street, Cambridge
Speaker: Menz Shed including Ladyz
For enquiries:
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Visitors aged 50+ keen to become Greypower members are welcome to attend
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A BIG THANK YOU to the courier couple that picked me up after I tripped over outside the bus stop by the park and took me down the road to the appointment I had in town to get to. I had a badly cut lip and a bruised knee. I tripped on a pair of jandals covered in leaves and didn’t see them. Also, three stitches. To the owners of the jandals, they are still there covered on the ground by the bicycle rack and bus stop. Thank you again. I can’t thank you enough. It could have been worse. Everything has healed and is feeling much better. Jill Slaney, Cambridge.
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