Cambridge News | October 2, 2025

Room for a little one?

By Viv Posselt

A detailed 1:24 replica of Cambridge’s St Andrew’s Church is looking for a home.

Roger Dean’s Lilliputian version of the iconic church has popped up in several places since he completed it in late 2017. More recently it has been displayed in a

glass cabinet in the café at Metlifecare St Andrew’s Moxon Centre, but Dean was recently asked to remove it.

“I understand they’re doing a re-vamp of the space,” he said. “They gave me no indication they might want it back, so it’s now in my garage. I’m not sure where it will end up next,

but I hope it is displayed in a place where the public will be better able to see it.”

Dean could be right. The intricate model he crafted with dexterity and patience is a real triumph and warrants being more visible in Cambridge.

The Dorset native began work on the model over 14 years ago. The stop-start labour of love took about four years to finish – he reckons it would likely have taken a full year to complete had he been working at it fulltime.

Long attracted to shapes that define good craftsmanship, Dean has enjoyed model-making and woodwork for decades, slowly honing his maths skills as he went. Soon after settling in Cambridge, he put together a kitset model of the 1869 clipper, the Cutty Sark. It was after he completed that that his eye fell upon St Andrew’s Church.

In 2017 he was quoted as saying, with a measure of understatement: “I have long admired that building. I always thought it would make a good model … but I knew I was letting myself in for a massive task.”

Those maths skills became all important as the numbers involved in the project were staggering.

Dean started by taking thousands of measurements

and almost 680 photographs of the church’s interior and exterior. Without old plans to reference, he measured the weatherboards and counted them in photographs to determine the height.

He managed to fit in 1376 of around 2000 pipes channelling sound from the church’s pipe organ. The main altar is made up of 238 pieces and most of more than 24 pews have 49 pieces each. Extraordinary detail went into replicating the carved wood around the pulpit; his tiny piano, miniature bishop’s chair, soaring roof beams and tiny working chandeliers are genius.

The carpet was replicated in Cambridge, and Dean’s talented son-in-law scaled down the stained-glass windows. Dean also etched as many original names or initials into the two rolls of honour commemorating both world wars. His hinged roof, allowing people to see inside, posed one of the greatest challenges.

“I tried copper shim but it was too heavy, I couldn’t get it to crimp,” he said at the time. “On and off it went, then I tried lemonade cans but they didn’t curve properly.”

In the end, he used the lemonade cans for the vestibule roofing, and brass shim for the main roof and

spire, shaped to look the part using a paper crimper he found on Google.

In 2019, Dean took second place at the National Woodskills Competition, WoodFest, for his handcrafted wooden milking system. He had been inspired to make that after visiting the Agricultural Heritage Village at Mystery Creek and spotting a

milking system he used as a young man in the United Kingdom.

Now in his 80s Dean remains an active member of both the Hamilton and Cambridge Woodturners clubs. He is keen to know where to display the St Andrew’s Church model.

• Send your thoughts through to viv@goodlocal. nz

Roger Dean at this year’s Autumn festival in Cambridge.

The model from the front, now sitting in Dean’s garage. Photo: supplied

Letters…

Trash talk

Roy

027

editor@goodlocal.nz

maryanne@goodlocal.nz

Waipā district has over 400 rubbish bins. How many of these are dual rubbish and recycling bins? I would guess zero. Every small town I have been to recently, including around the South Island, have recycling bins attached. It shouldn’t be difficult for our council to embrace this concept. How about starting with a trial along Cambridge’s main road, and around both Lake Te Koo Utu and Victoria Square? Maybe council could even persuade the main fast-food perpetrators of rubbish to contribute to the cost.

Peter Russell Cambridge

I-site plea

As the seasons change so does our view of the town and countryside. Blossoms and bulbs aplenty to see and admire. Quite brightens our lives from the dullness of winter. Waipā Parks and reserves people from council have been busy with the town gardens. They look splendid, great variety of colours. I make a plea to those chosen to sit around the council table to give thought and consideration to allow funding to go to I-site. As vital to our town as the well-stocked and staffed library. Both appreciated. Many thanks Yours Sincerely

Janet Smith Te Pahu

On the beat with

Better or bankrupt?

As a retired Chartered Accountant, in my lifetime there have been two Prime Ministers, one National and one Labour, that had they carried on in office we would have seen Central Government heading towards bankruptcy, in other words, living beyond its means.

On the local scene in Waipā we are heading towards the same problem; if the rate ratio of debt to income continues the way it is now then by 2029 Waipā would reach its allowable debt ceiling, an equivalent to you and I having a 100 per cent mortgage and no longer having ownership of our home.

We need a council to have the financial knowledge and experience to arrest future rate increases greater than 15.5 per cent and decrease this increasing debt. The 2025-26 15.5 per cent rate rise in Waipā is the third highest in the country, whereas Whanganui, having realised their problem, has corrected their position, resulting in a 2.2 per cent increase, the lowest in the country.

So we need a high rate of voting and ensuring that we get the right councillors to tackle this serious problem and enable Waipa to move on with the region’s social and environmental issues and needs.

Market malarkey

Facebook Marketplace has become the go-to spot for locals looking to buy or sell everything from second-hand couches to kids’ bikes.

It’s convenient, free, and often full of great deals. But behind the friendly chat bubbles and bargain prices lurk scammers who are becoming increasingly sophisticated – and increasingly local.

In a recent case a victim, who listed a coat for $100. Within hours, she was contacted by a buyer who claimed to be out of town but offered to pay via e-transfer. The buyer sent her a link to complete the payment, which looked legitimate. But instead of depositing money, the link allowed the buyer to withdraw $700 from the victims account. By the time she realised what had happened, the buyer had deleted all messages and vanished.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Scammers are now impersonating trusted services like NZ Post, sending fake links that mimic official websites. Sellers are tricked into entering their bank details, believing they’re confirming a payment. In reality, they’re handing over access to their accounts.

As a Community Constable, I’ve seen the frustration and financial loss these scams cause. What’s worse is that many victims

feel embarrassed and don’t report it. But these scams are not your fault

– they’re calculated, manipulative, and designed to catch even the cautious off guard. So how do we protect ourselves?

• Meet in person in a public place –preferably during daylight hours.

• Use cash or secure payment methods like PayPal’s Goods and Services.

• Avoid clicking on payment links sent by buyers or sellers.

• Check profiles for signs of fake accounts –new profiles, no friends, or generic photos.

• Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.

• Buy the seller. This means doing some due diligence on the seller. Check their Facebook account. If it is a new account? Do they claim to be local but know anything about the area? If this is the case, walk away from the purchase.

Facebook Marketplace can still be a great tool for our community – but only if we stay informed and alert. If you’ve been scammed, report it to Police. Your story might help prevent the next one.

Pass call debated

By Jesse Wood

Sally Whitaker believes the requirement needing to hold a vaccine pass to enter public facilities during Covid times caused significant physical and emotional trauma to a wide range of Waipā ratepayers. She wants that acknowledged, but failed to get backing for a motion from Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board members last week.

Whitaker was elected to the board in 2022 after sharing disillusionment with central government’s reach into local government matters, and is not seeking re-election.

“Public facilities in the Waipā District between December 2, 2021 and April 5, 2022 were only accessible to the public with a pass. This pass did not prove absence of disease but a willingness to comply and consent to the rules,” Whitaker said.

Continued on page 16

Senior Constable Ryan Fleming

Peter Vonlanthen

Te Awamutu

Business News

Our latest edition of Waikato Business News is out this week and features an interview with outgoing Air NZ chief executive Greg Foran and former Cambridge primary school teacher Moira Haddrell. For more, go to goodlocal.nz

New plan

Waikato Regional Council has approved notification of a decisions version of a new coastal plan, which will have implications for the region’s 1150 kilometre-plus coastline including west coast harbours like Kāwhia, Aotea and Whāingaroa. The new coastal plan aims to protect the region’s coastlines, marine ecosystems and community values while enabling sustainable development.

Band on tour

Hamilton’s Big Band is doing a mini tour this month – and it will include a performance in Te Awamutu on October 11. The “Back to Basie” programme also includes Hamilton and Morrinsville.

Award winners

At the 2025 Dairy Industry Awards last weekend in Mount Maunganui, Putāruru’s Thomas and Fiona Langford were named the 2025 New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year, Martin Keegan from Taranaki the dairy manager and Pieter Van Beek from Hawke’s BayWairarapa dairy trainer of the year.

Book signing

Author Roimata Small will return to her marae, Te Koropatū Pa just north of Te Kūiti on Saturday to launch her book Hauoroa, and for a workshop based her first book, Understanding Te Tiriti.

Cancer appeal

The Breast Cancer Foundation is calling of people to volunteer for the charity’s Pink Ribbon Appeal which will be held on October 17 and 18.

Market problems

The deceptive behaviour of thieves preying on people who use the popular marker place site, part of Facebook, is highlighted this week on page 2 by senior constable Ryan Fleming in our weekly On the Beat column.

Candidates clash over plan

By Chris Gardner

A claim farmers could halt the implementation of a Waikato Regional Council water quality plan change by “voting in the right people” has been dismissed.

Plan Change One was developed by a 24-member collaborative stakeholder group more than a decade ago and is before the Environment Court with 24 appeals on more than 1000 points. A decision is due by the year’s end.

Waikato Regional Council Waipā-King Country candidate Garry Reymer suggested the plan could be stopped when he spoke at a Federated Farmers candidate meeting on September 18 in Te Awamutu.

“Plan change one is not a given,” Reymer said. “There is a chance to stop it, with the right people around the regional council. Farming should not be a consented process, it should be a permitted activity, and we

need to make sure it stays that way.”

Waipā deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, who is standing against Reymer, her brotherin-law, said he had got it wrong.

“It has now reached the Environment Court, so that’s not a process that councillors can be part of, or influence,” Stolwyk said. “Garry is incorrect and certainly giving out the wrong information.”

“Right now, it’s sat at a government and ministers level, and they should be talking to regional council staff and councillors.”

Earlier in the month council chair Pamela Storey used Facebook to say some of what was being said about Plan Change One was “simply incorrect”.

“One thing is clear: PC1 is before the court so no elected member or executive of Waikato Regional Council has the ability to influence the process,” Storey said.

“No councillor, including the chair, nor executive of WRC, nor candidates

that say they’ll stop it if elected, can stop it. Only the Government can halt proceedings at this point through legislative change. And despite what some might be saying, the recent legislation, which aimed to halt council planning processes, does not apply to PC1.

“As a dairy farmer in the PC1 area, I understand the frustration of this drawnout process and the angst of the unknown. But I’m committed to making sure that landowners and farmers hear honest information about where we are at in the process and will continue to enable WRC to work closely with our dedicated farmers and food producers as we navigate the next steps, on behalf of our industries, our communities, our region, and our environment.”

Storey’s post directed readers to a post on the council website “setting the record straight” on Plan Change One.

“The plan change cannot be withdrawn,” the post said.

Reymer said he was not surprised by Storey’s post.

“I see it as being defensive,” he said. “I would not expect anything different from her in her position. I am not surprised by it. There’s definitely truth on both sides.”

Reymer said if the majority of the next councils members were opposed to the plan change, they could approach the Government and ask it to step in.

Reymer said the Act Party, a coalition partner in the current government, was strongly opposed to

Plan Change One and had launched a campaign to stop it.

Act is promoting a petition calling on the council to immediately suspend work on the plan change and commission a full economic evaluation before proceeding.

At the time of going to press just over 200 signatures had been collected.

Reymer planned to meet Act Party MP and environment spokesman Simon Court yesterday (Wednesday) to discuss the next steps in stopping Plan Change One.

Plan Change One will impact how Waikato farms are managed.

Photo: Chris Gardner

Garry Reymer Liz Stolwyk

Mayors welcome shake up

By Roy Pilott

Mayors have greeted changes to how earthquake prone buildings are regulated – a move which will breathe new life into dozens of buildings in Waipā and King Country.

Across the country more than half of the quake-prone buildings will be removed from the Earthquake Prone Buildings register – about 2900 buildings. Around 1440 will face “more cost-effective remediation requirements” and 840 will require no remedial work Auckland, Northland and the Chatham Islands will be removed from the regime entirely “to reflect the low seismic risk in those areas”.

In Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan said a risk-based system made sense.

“It means we can focus attention and investment on buildings that genuinely put people at risk, rather than applying a blunt, one-size-fitsall rule,” she said.

Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter called it great news for all of New Zealand “especially for our small rural communities”. Waitomo mayor John Robertson told The News “at last some common sense has been applied”.

In 2022 The News reported the Earthquake Prone Buildings Register, held by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, listed 42 buildings in Cambridge, 19 in Te Awamutu,

three in Ōhaupō and one in Kihikihi.

Six of the most iconic were the Masonic Hotel, Museum and Water Tower in Cambridge, the Regent Theatre and Spindleys Building in Te Awamutu and the Clock Shop in Ōhaupō.

For Waipā, which sits in a medium seismic risk area, it could mean some older buildings – particularly in Cambridge and Te Awamutu town centres – may no longer be classed as earthquake-prone once the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment updates the

assessment criteria, O’Regan said.

“That could ease a real burden for private owners, many of whom have faced uncertainty and potentially crippling costs under the old system.

“As a Council, we’ve already completed seismic assessments on a small number of our own buildings, like the Cambridge Museum, Ōhaupō Memorial Hall and the Roche Street office and Museum building.

“These reforms won’t change our duty and responsibility to address genuine risks, but they should allow for more proportionate,

staged solutions that keep people safe without undue compliance costs.”

She said the priority must remain public safety, but the changes strike a better balance between cost and risk.

“It’s encouraging to see Government listening to Councils and communities and delivering a more balanced approach.

“What we need now is clear, practical guidance from MBIE so building owners - public and private - can make informed decisions with confidence. This is about protecting both people

and the places that give Waipā its character.”

In making the announcement Building and Construction Chris Penk said cities and regions were losing the businesses, churches, town halls and classrooms that were central to their local economies and community spirit.

“For many buildings, the price of strengthening runs from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars. As a result, these buildings are often left empty and become derelict, making them even more dangerous to bystanders in an earthquake.”

Authorised by Stu Kneebone, 271 Baker Road, RD4 Cambridge

The Masonic Hotel, built in 1866, is on the register – but is being restored.

EVERY DOLLAR STAYS LOCAL.

COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP KEEPS

LOCAL DOLLARS WORKING HARD FOR WAIPĀ

In a time when whānau are feeling the pinch and rising living costs are squeezing households and businesses, Waipā Networks is showing what being community-owned means, powering people, not profits, and returning value directly to its customers.

In the past financial year, Waipā Networks reported* more than $14 million returned to the community through discounts, sponsorships, payments to suppliers, and salaries and wages. This proves that local ownership delivers real value, not only in power reliability, but also in economic well-being and social impact.

PROFITS THAT FLOW BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Waipā Networks Trust Chair Sarah Matthews says many in the community still aren’t aware that Waipā Networks is owned by its customers through the Waipā Networks Trust, meaning a share of profits goes back to the community.

“We distributed $5.4 million in discounts to our customers via their electricity retailers in the last financial year, which is a direct benefit of our ownership model,” Matthews says.

BUILDING A STRONG NETWORK FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS

Waipā Networks chief executive Sean Horgan says investment in network upgrades, such as the new 33kV zone substation in Hautapu, delivers direct benefits to the Waipā community, increasing capacity to support local growth and strengthening reliability for existing customers.

“For households and businesses, it means greater confidence that the network can keep pace with future development,” Horgan says.

“While our network has historically operated as a low-cost 11kV system that served the community well for many years, the time has come to look ahead. Over the past 18 months, we’ve focused on future-proofing the network through targeted infrastructure projects and upgrades,” he adds.

KEEPING POWER AFFORDABLE FOR ALL

While Waipā Networks is investing to make the network stronger for the future, Horgan acknowledges affordability matters to every household and business.

“It’s not just about keeping the power on; it’s about keeping costs fair and supporting the communities we serve,” he says. “Customers can feel confident they’re receiving good value as well as a reliable service.”

The network’s commitment to supporting whānau experiencing energy hardship has also grown steadily over the past three years.

In 2022, the team partnered with Ecobulb to distribute over 65,000 energy-efficient LED light bulbs across Waipā, helping households reduce their power use and lower their bills. This was followed in 2023 by a free Home Energy Assessment programme, which reached 500 customers with personalised advice and practical tools, such as LED bulbs and efficient showerheads.

That same year, the Winter Warmer Pack Programme was introduced, including slow cookers, hearty ingredients, and vouchers for fresh produce to bring comfort and kai to local homes.

“More than 600 people have benefited from the Winter Warmer pack programme this year, more than doubling last year’s total, thanks to partnerships with Cambridge Community House, Kainga Aroha, Ko Wai Au, and the generosity of local sponsors and the Waipā community,” says Horgan.

SPONSORSHIP STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND DRIVES REGIONAL GROWTH

More than $100,000 in community sponsorships has already been invested this year, including two rounds of level one sponsorship to help grassroots groups access support for projects that matter.

Annual sponsorship programmes continue to support a wide range of local initiatives, from vehicle sponsorships for the Te Awamutu and Pirongia Volunteer Fire Brigades, Ko Wai Au and Cambridge Community House, to backing new events like the Te Awa Lights Festival, Farah Palmer Premier women’s rugby cup, and local Christmas parades.

Other initiatives championed safety, education, resilience, and future technologies, including support for CommSafe and Safer Cambridge – Neighbourhood Support groups, which provide neighbourhood safety services across the wider Waipā community.

As the platinum sponsor of the Waipā Business Awards for over 30 years, and an active member of both the Cambridge and Te Awamutu Chambers of Commerce, Waipā Networks plays a key role in regional economic development. By contracting with local suppliers and creating employment opportunities, the company is helping build a stronger, more resilient Waipā. With another round of customer discounts on the horizon in October, Matthews says Waipā Networks is reinforcing its commitment to value for money, community wellbeing, and fair pricing, all made possible by its community trust model where every dollar stays local.

Neuroscientist hails news

By Viv Posselt

One of New Zealand’s leading brain research scientists, Sir Richard Faull, told a Cambridge audience last week that he was ‘over the moon’ at news of a breakthrough in the treatment of Huntington’s disease.

Speaking to over 300 Cambridge U3A members, he said news that international researchers had discovered a new gene therapy that slows the disease’s progress by 75 per cent was ‘a dream come true’.

“The fact that it is working is incredible. This provides scientific hope for the future, not only for Huntington’s but also for other brain diseases caused by genes.”

One in three New Zealanders suffer from brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, motor neuron diseases, or damage from stroke and cancer. Brain health can be boosted by good diet, cognitive and physical activity, social interaction and looking after heart health, he said.

Huntington’s disease is caused by the mutation of a gene in our DNA – the huntingtin gene –which turns a normal protein in the brain into a killer of neurons. If one parent has Huntington’s disease, there is a 50 per cent chance their child will inherit the altered gene and develop

the disease, which resembles a combination of dementia, Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease.

The new treatment announced globally last week sees the surgical introduction into the brain of an altered safe virus that delivers a new piece of DNA to brain cells. This in turn intercepts and disables the mutant gene.

The therapy is a long way from approval – experts predict a date around mid-2027. Even then, treatment will be for those in the early stage of Huntington’s with delivery of the therapy limited to specialist surgical centres.

Faull was talking to Cambridge U3A on the challenges of Alzheimer’s and the ageing brain. He is founder and director of the Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank, Distinguished Professor of Anatomy, and director of the Centre for Brain Research, at the University of Auckland.

Transfixed by the human brain from his early days as a medical student, Faull described it as a marvellously complex organ that makes us who we are, gives us our conscious existence, our senses, intelligence, and personality.

He outlined the way it works, how growth and expansion was made possible by folds on its surface, how the left side affects the right and vice versa, and how its weight (usually around 1.5kg) correlates to body size. There

are some 90 billion brain cells in your head, about 10 times the number of people on earth; all continuously communicating.

“They connect to each other all the time … it’s like the United Nations, one that works well. They don’t go and create a big hoo-ha.”

Faull grew up as one of five sons raised on a Taranaki farm. His parents’ advice to all, to ‘go out and help the people’, has remained with him. He said the work being done by international researchers on brain diseases – in which Kiwi scientists play a significant part – validates the work he has done and honours the families who have donated their relatives’ brains for research.

He has worked closely with Kiwi geneticist Professor Russell Snell, whose talk to Cambridge U3A last October on Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases was covered by The News. Their work was instrumental in demonstrating that the human brain can make new brain cells – something previously considered impossible.

Brain health depends on heart health, he said, as with each heartbeat, some 20 to 25 per cent of blood goes directly to the brain.

Part of the miracle of the brain was its ability to override certain conditions and retrain itself. He cited stroke victims who may lose their speech ability only to regain it through singing.

Richard Faull speaking in Cambridge on the marvels of the human brain.

Photo: Supplied

ON SHAKY GROUND

A chain reaction at sea

By Janine Krippner

When a hazardous geologic process is triggered, the consequences can be felt far away and in seemingly unexpected ways. Cascading hazards are those that are related as part of a sequence of events across both natural and human systems. Because of the multi-faced nature of these, the resulting impacts can be more significant or severe that the initial trigger.

One striking example occurred on 18 November 1929 when the magnitude 7.2 Grand Banks Earthquake struck off the coast of Newfoundland in the western North Atlantic, along the continental shelf. The shaking was felt in parts of Canada and the United States. Because of where the earthquake occurred, along the relatively steep part of the seafloor made up of layers of sediments and huge channels and canyons, a large, underwater landslide occurred. The volume of failed material is estimated at about 200 cubic kilometres.

When landslides happen under or near large bodies of water, they can trigger tsunamis. And this one did. About 2.5 hours after the earthquake, the tsunami impacted Newfoundland and was also recorded as far away as Portugal.

Even with the current tsunami warning systems of today, when tsunamis are triggered nearshore, we very well may not get any warning. This is why we urge people to evacuate to higher ground if you feel a long or strong earthquake along our coastlines. Waiting for an official warning may cost lives.

The destruction was catastrophic for communities, with more than 40 villages being impacted.

“Dwelling houses were reduced to a condition reminiscent of wartime description

of the effects of heavy shell fire. Former sites of gardens and meadows now thickly strewn with boulders, some of them as large as casks thrown upon the shore by the devastating force of the tidal wave,” St. John’s The Daily News reported.

Remembering that tsunamis are a series of waves over hours, not one giant wall of water, tsunamis are a truly terrifying process. Water heights can be intensified along narrow bays along the coastline, and in this case, waves reached heights up to 27 metre in these areas as the water surged up the landscape.

A total of precious lives were lost, and many others severely disrupted. Homes, businesses, ships and fishing gear were destroyed, and livestock were killed. To make matters worse, it took more than three days for help to arrive.

The story of what happened was eventually figured out in part because the landslide took out 12 submarine transatlantic telegraph cables. This information helped scientists to understand how the landslide moved, and how the three processes involved were related.

This sort of devastation reminds us of the necessity of understanding how our planet works not just as one isolated hazard, and how the interactions between different hazards can make things much worse for us. This also helps us to prepare. From this knowledge, we can understand what signs to look out for and know what actions we need to take to protect our own lives, and the lives of those around us, especially when we cannot rely on an official warning.

Reappraising Jacinda

By Luke East

A new movie came out in cinemas this past week - about Jacinda Ardern. And I think you should go and see it.

Some friends and I went along to its opening night at the Regent in Te Awamutu on Friday and saw something few ever get to see but all should understand - the sheer all-consuming pressure of being in that office.

I’ve been involved in politics behind-thescenes for over a decade now, I’ve seen behind the curtain, and yet some of ‘Prime Minister’ surprised me.

I first met Jacinda just a few months before the resignation of Andrew Little catapulted her to the top. We were both at a function at The Helm in Hamilton, and as I recall she didn’t think twice about standing on a barstool to make a speech or taking the time to pore over an old newspaper about Michael Joseph Savage with a fan, or pose for a selfie with me.

But on a number of occasions since then I have been a vocal, and perhaps not always fair, critic of hers - to some extent that’s relatively bythe-by in politics today, but should it be?

I think it’s time we reappraise the premiership of Jacinda Ardern. The final months of Covid-19 still loom large in the minds of many but considered against many of her predecessors, she governed at a time of somewhat unparalleled turmoil.

I remember the terrible attacks on March 15 and recall the pride I felt when Jacinda called it what it was, an appalling terror attack driven by hate. And then the speed with which she worked with all parties to pass rapid legislative change to ban the sale of military-style weapons in our peaceful land. She unified our country amidst that shared national grief and again during the first lockdowns, in a way that I don’t think we’ve really been since.

I was part of the Team of Five Million who

stayed indoors and awaited the daily updates from the podium. After trying to crush Covid, the summer of 2020 was glorious… but then the vitriol began, and it hasn’t stopped since. That toxicity has spilled over into politics at all levels and has become a political cancer. Here was a Kiwi who had the courage to put her hand up and step into the arena, someone with a passion for people and a more servanthearted style of leadership - and yet in 2023 she left the arena (and the country), partly because all the hate and vitriol left her needing sleeping pills and combatting nightmares.

I only met her once while she was PM, despite being at several state occasions together, it was in a cafe. I was pondering what to order when I saw her protection squad encircle the room, and there she was stood directly behind me. She had far better things to do then wait behind me, so I let her go in front and she seemed so genuinely surprised - yet for me it was the most natural thing in the world. Our leaders deserve respect, sometimes that’s letting them go ahead in the queue but other times it means allowing them their privacy, ensuring our civil discourse remains civil (I regret the fact that I have sometimes fallen short of that mark), and ultimately never forgetting that they’re human too and are simply trying to do their best.

Go see the movie and that is what you’ll see, our Prime Minister (regardless of whether you voted for her or not - I didn’t) trying to do what is best for everyone and in times of crisis trying to unify us and protect us. And doing it in a way that is pretty uncommon in our politics.

‘Prime Minister’ may not change your mind, but it might just open your heart.

o ers

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The accent is on Māori

A te reo Māori voice will ensure future generations grow up hearing and connecting with their own dialects, an AI expert from the University of Waikato says.

In testing and soon to be ready for use, the AI voice, created by Associate Professor in the University of Waikato’s Department of Software Engineering Dr Te Taka Keegan, is the first that speaks in the WaikatoManiapoto dialect.

Dr Keegan (Waikato-Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaaue) believes the future of te reo Māori depends on rangatahi, the younger generation, and his commitment to supporting the normalisation of te reo Māori for them has driven him to take on this project.

“Ideally, we need them to grow up listening to voices and interacting with te reo Māori that they can readily identify with,” he said.

“While learning and being supported by dialects other than their own is better than no language support at all, rangatahi form a stronger and more personal connection when they can readily engage with their own dialect.”

Being from the region, Dr Keegan wanted to make a WaikatoManiapoto accent and says other iwi will be able to use it as a template for their dialects.

“I think my approach really is looking after my backyard first but setting an example for other people’s backyards.”

He says this is important because future computing interfaces will

be operated through voice rather than keyboards, which requires computers to respond with highquality language.

“What has been created is a generated or synthesised voice that will speak Māori language sentences with a pronunciation that has been tuned to the Māori ear.

“We worked with a well-known local authority on Māori language to record her speaking thousands of Māori sentences. The sound recordings were processed to create a language model that can generate spoken sentences from written text. The model produces speech so realistic that it’s difficult to distinguish from the original speaker.”

An email from Google one Saturday night, offering an unsolicited award with funding, enabled the development of this technology.

Keegan wondered if it was a hoax but Google offered him an unrestricted funding gift that was to be used for ‘Protocols for responsible Māori language technologies’.

“That’s a lot of faith to put in someone who is working primarily on languages that won’t affect their bottom line,” he said.

While the donation was welcome and he is very grateful, he also feels that Māori should take responsibility for building their own technologies.

“We can’t rely on a large international company to come and save our language. We’ve got no chance if that’s the case

because there are 8000 languages in the world, and ultimately the people that most care about the language are the language speakers themselves.

“To save indigenous languages, indigenous people need to be building indigenous language technologies themselves.”

The Waikato-Maniapoto voice is expected to be ready to go in a couple of months.

“I’ve had that idea in my head for a long time. But since the money came in, I was able to employ a student over the summer, and some Māori language experts, to really bring that dream to fruition.”

It’s not the first time he has worked with Google. Around 14 years ago he spent six months working in the Google head office on the Google Translator Toolkit.

He has spent countless hours developing the current directions forward for te reo Māori in technology.

“It’s not something I have ever questioned. It’s really exciting for me. It keeps me up at night, when I should go to bed earlier.

“Plenty of questions buzz around my brain like what do we need to get to this? What steps do we need to take to make this happen? I never look back counting the hours.”

Dr Keegan is also Co-Director of AI Institute Māori and Associate Dean of Māori.

In June he was awarded the Living Icon award at the Te Hāpori Matihiko Awards in Christchurch.

Chris Minnee’ A passionate spokesperson who has an eye for detail and will help share the concerns on behalf of the local Cambridge Community

Te Taka Keegan is looking after his backyard – and setting an example for other people’s backyards.”

Falcon first in race

By Jon Rawlinson

New Zealand’s latest “bird of the year” is not a common sight in our skies – but they can be seen at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari and the Ōtorohanga Kiwi House.

The kārearea – New Zealand’s only falcon – pipped the kea and karure or black robin to the 2025 title.

And readers might not have seen them in the flesh – but they have been in wallets since the second set of New Zealand decimal bank notes were issued in 1992. The kārearea is on the $20 note.

“You have five votes in Bird of the Year and the kārearea was definitely in my top five,” Tori Budd from Waipā’s Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari told The News.

Although not endangered, the bird is classified as threatened.

“There are enough birds so that the population is relatively safe, but they’re still at risk due to population declines from predation and loss of habitat, for example,” Budd said.

“We don’t know their exact numbers [at Maungatautari] because they reintroduced themselves – they found their own way here. They’re now happily breeding and

regularly seen by staff, visitors and volunteers.”

Nearby Ōtorohanga Kiwi House has a pair of kārearea in residence.

The kārearea, our native owl the ruru and the kāhu – the commonly seen harrier hawk – and the introduced barn owl are classed as New Zealand’s four birds of prey. The barn owl qualifies because it was not deliberately introduced.

The kārearea plays a role in pest control, feasting on such introduced quarry as rodents, sparrows, pigeons, ducks and rodents – though its diet before those pests were introduced was native species.

A high-speed hunter, it is capable of reaching speeds of 200 kilometres an hour when diving.

In its 20th year, the bird of the year poll has again helped raise awareness of the need to protect native species, Forest and Bird’s chief executive Nicola Toki said.

“Habitat destruction, climate change and introduced predators continue to push many species towards extinction – but public awareness can be powerful,” she said.

“People fall in love with these birds and once they know their stories, they care, they advocate and they act.”

Ramble date set

Tickets have gone on sale for Te Awamutu Altrusa’s 30th Home and Garden Ramble.

The event has been a significant fund raiser since 1995 - by 2014 the club had distributed $300,000 into the community and it has raised a further $231,527 in the last decade.

This year the ramble will feature a dozen venues and is a mix of garden sizes, in both new and renovated homes – and includes a chapel and a bush walk.

Robyn Atherton told The News the ramble will also feature stalls with crafts, ceramics, garden art and hand sewn little girl’s dresses and woollen coats.

“Also, this year we have a large number of vegetable plants, flower plants and bouquets of fresh flowers.”

She noted the November 2 Sunday event was well timed as the Te Awamutu Rose Society hosts its annual show on the Friday and Saturday of that weekend.

The Te Awamutu Health Shuttle, Life Education Trust and Te Awamutu Food Forests have been selected as major recipients of funds raised this year.

Money raised also goes to Club Literacy and other community projects, which this year includes books for newborn babies and books for Plunket, Kainga Aroha, Loving Arms and Women’s Refuge, and a day out for grandparents raising grandchildren.

Others

Monthly

The bird of the year – the kārearea.

Photo: Maddox Photography

Lions Club of Cambridge introduce the Albert Wallace Scholarship

This scholarship is designed to assist young people entering tertiary education or a trade qualification.

If you are:

• Under 20 years of age

• A New Zealand citizen or permanent resident

• Reside in the Cambridge/Leamington urban area or have a Cambridge Rural Post address

• Are intending to attend a university or other tertiary institution

• Or are entering an apprenticeship or trade qualification

You may apply for a scholarship to assist you with tertiary education or trade qualification costs in 2026. Conditions apply. Applications close on October 30th 2025

Application forms are available from:

Email - Secretary, cambridge@lionsclubs.org.nz

Or phone Pat Whyte – 027 212 8585

Isn’t life strange?

By Murray Smith, Bridges Church

No doubt there’ll be some readers who might recognise that the title for this article is the title for a 1972 hit song released by English progressive rock band ‘The Moody Blues’. In the early 70’s when this song’s haunting classical melody with rich orchestral backing came on the scene, I was going through a searching phase trying to figure out the meaning and purpose of life. The introspective nature of the song’s lyrical themes around the uncertainty and fragility of life, linked with its appealing musical arrangement, posed questions that I wanted answers for. As a ‘boomer’ like so many at that time, I felt lost and adrift, filled with melancholic feelings of pensive sadness and emptiness in life.

The song provided no answers. It only amplified inner longings and emptiness. Actually the song’s title, as presented on the original album never had a question mark. It imposed the contemplative lyrics as a statement of fact - that life is strange. I’ve since learned that while it can be… it needn’t be. Drawn into pondering imbedded meanings in this song’s words - such as, ‘Can we ask for more, As each day passes by…?’ I came to believe that there had to be more to my existence….

The futility and ‘hopeless’ message echoing from the lyrics of, “Isn’t life strange,” went further deploying imagery that is actually pretty depressing…. “Losing another a day to…The quicksand of time… You know it makes me want to cry cry, cry…”

It’s startling to compare living out our time on earth to being like trapped in ‘quicksand’. If you watched the Indiana Jones or Jumanji movies you may recall panicking characters slowly slipping helplessly deeper into

quicksand until becoming totally engulfed. The notion of being swallowed whole, though graphic, is apparently scientifically implausible - getting stuck in quicksand is survivable. Believing it’s not, is a common misunderstanding.

Speaking of misunderstandings, sadly there’s one that so many people commonly buy into… it’s the terribly mistaken belief that the Bible is irrelevant to our lives and that it’s got nothing in the way of answers for life’s big questions. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Book of Ecclesiastes, written by King Solomon appears at first glance to be about as hopeless as The Moody Blues, “Isn’t Life Strange.” Solomon starts out his book by stating four times that everything is “meaningless,” or “vanity,” as some translations might read. The word, ‘meaningless’, comes from the Hebrew word ‘hevel’ meaning “smoke” or “vapor.” Solomon’s point is that just seeking temporal, fleeting things of this world makes our life like a vapor or mist, devoid of lasting meaning because it lacks God’s eternal perspective. He observes that ‘living under the sun’ signifying living your life out of human effort without God, misses the very point of existence. Just pursuing the pleasures of life, power, fame and fortune or any goal that doesn’t have God at the centre, will cause life to slip through our grip and we’ll never apprehend our true purpose and meaning. I’m eternally grateful to Jesus for the day He lifted my gaze ‘above the sun’ to find lasting meaning for my existence.

P utting People F irst . Re - elect JACQUI CHURCH MAYOR

With a proven record of delivering for Waikato families and communities, I offer proven, informed and authentic leadership

Through tough economic times, we’ve focused on keeping Council costs down, improving core infrastructure, and modernising service delivery, because you deserve efficiencies. Implementing new road contractors after 10years, first equal partnership 3Waters CCO with Hamilton approved by DIA, and kept rates lower than our neighbours.

Actioned appointing our future -focused CEO, after 20+ years. A pproving restructuring council top to bottom, including reducing the senior team from 11 to 6. First Housing and first council- wide Communications Strategy to improve transparent engagement, across the business We’ve maint ained our AA+ financial credit rating. Led our first Rural, Lifestyle & Small Community Strategy and Rural Economic Advisory Panel for you 47% of citizens and 83% of roads that are rural We must finally recognise all our people and economic opportunities with our urban centres We’ve achieved a lot of momentum tog ether, but there’s more to do We need continuing steady, innovative, expe rienced, people-centred, business- orientated leadership and transparency

Games teach conservation

By Jesse Wood

A new tool in the form of games for students to learn about the Maungatautari to Pirongia ecological corridor has been created.

The Taiea te Taiao Education Box was launched last week at Pirongia Forest Park Lodge.

It was put together by the New Zealand Landcare Trust, the lodge, Enviroschools and Pūrekireki Marae.

“The games were a collaboration. We started the box more than a year ago. We’ve been trialling the games when we can, especially at conservation week events,” Landcare Trust Maungatautari to Pirongia ecological corridor project coordinator Bexie Towle said.

“Last week we went to an event in Cambridge with lots of schools, so it was great to test them there.

“It’s teaching kids the concepts of biodiversity in New Zealand and what an ecological corridor can do to help.”

Te Pahū School, Te Awamutu Primary School, St Patrick’s and a homeschool group from Pirongia attended the launch event at the Pirongia Lodge.

“The games are anything from field games, where the start line was Maungatautari and the finish line Pirongia.

“We had stepping stones, hula hoops, which were safe areas

and different games to cross the corridor, whether it was a beanbag race or what’s the time Mr. Weasel, tag type race.

“The students learnt the concept of having the safe areas, stepping stones for wildlife. They were native birds that were getting across from one mountain to the other.

“Then we’d replay the games and introduce things like predators. Some of the students were weasels, rats and possums or introduce things like trappers. They would help control the predators and make it easier to cross the corridor.”

Another funder and participator at the launch was residential aged

T&C’s apply.

care provider Bupa.

“We had a lot of fun with the Bupa residents that joined us and got amongst it in the games,” Towle said. “They brought a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm for environmental care.”

There are also indoor games including charades, bingo and others for learning the cultural

history of the area.

Pirongia Forest Park Lodge and Pūrekireki Marae will house a box, while Enviroschools will also have a copy for schools to borrow and the resources can be downloaded from online.

“There’s been a real, coownership of the box. I guess that’s the idea of the corridor project is it’s a community project,” Towle said.

“We’d love to see the games rolling out and getting popular in schools. Maybe the students could make their own games and feed them back to us.

“Our dream, the point of the box, is to bring this project to the next generation because it’s a generational project.

“We need to get the kids on board. They’re going to be a huge part of seeing this project through.

“It’s going to take more than one generation to create a really robust ecological corridor.

Towle said the Waikato catchment is 1.4 million hectares, the Waipā catchment is 310,000 ha and the corridor is about 51,200 ha.

“We’re actively working on about 15 per cent of the Waipā. But we encourage everyone to be a part of the corridor as we would like to see biodiversity thrive across the landscape and connectivity across the Waipā,” Towle said.

“The birds, bats and insects don’t observe the region and district boundaries we’ve created.”

St Patrick’s Catholic School student Jacob McKimmie reads a fact off one of the blocks.

Photo: Rebecca McDaid

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Where now for Incinerator plan?

By Chris Gardner

The company wants to burn rubbish to create energy – but the trail on Global Contracting Solutions’ plans has gone cold.

It has been six weeks since the Environmental Protection Authority revealed it had stalled a hearing into the Te Awamutu project because the company owed fees. And it has been almost that long since The News was able to make contact with Global Contracting Solutions.

Then, director Adam Fletcher told The News application costs had doubled one month before the inquiry and the company was working with the EPA to settle the matter.

Efforts to confirm the state of play with the EPA this week did not shed any more light – it repeated its statement that it was working with the company but did not respond to a question about when it and the company were last in contact.

The independent board of inquiry into the proposed plant was halted in midAugust when the EPA suspended the application.

Neither the authority or applicant have indicated

when the outstanding bill for the application and three-week hearing might be settled, and the suspension lifted.

University of Waikato Te Piringa Faculty of Law Professor Barry Barton said it was a difficult situation in terms of where the statutory process now goes.

Barton, a director of the Environmental Defence Society, submitted against the application on the grounds that adverse effects were real, quantifiable and serious.

“I can’t see anywhere in the act which allows the EPA to close the file for nonpayment after any particular period of suspension. The act does provide that if the payment is made, then the suspension is lifted, and processing will continue. But the act doesn’t say how long things can go on like that. One can only speculate. It leaves everybody in a state of suspense. One wonders how it could be brought to an end.

The authority received 2173 submissions on the plan. Nearly two thirds were concerned with the effects on air quality, emissions, and human health.

Don’t Burn Waipā spokesman Nick Cantlon said the pressure group was puzzled about the delay in the process two weeks

away from the hearing commissioners announcing a decision.

“We have asked the Environmental Protection Authority how long this pause could be in place, unfortunately we have not had a response that addresses our questions.

“The state of ‘limbo’ is very disconcerting and unsettling for our community, many of whom have put their lives on pause while we wait for a decision. People deserve to have this case closed so they can move forward with their lives and have confidence investing in Te Awamutu again.”

The company owes more than $100,000 to Waipā District Council and Waikato Regional Council, - who both submitted against the plan - but what it owes the Environmental Protection Authority has not been revealed.

Pass call debated

Continued from page 2

“The measures taken were discriminatory causing significant physical and emotional trauma to a wide range of Waipā ratepayers. Many other councils in New Zealand managed to safely keep public facilities open to all.

“Because decisions around access to public facilities have significant impact on the community, they must in future be treated with more gravity and consideration. I think that Waipā residents deserve much more than what was done in this instance.”

She hoped for a public acknowledgement of the hardships caused as well as a conversation about stopping the same circumstances repeating, to “learn from the past and collectively grow into the future”.

“This is not about mandates; it’s not about anything else. It’s about discrimination and divisive behaviour,” Whitaker said.

She wanted the community

board to recommend Waipā District Council adopt a policy to never discriminate on medical status again when it came to using public facilities.

But other councillors were reluctant to see a motion which was critical of the council leadership of the time.

Councillor Lou Brown said those in charge at the time were following written law from the director general of health.

A letter from chief ombudsman Peter Boshier addressed a complaint he received that the council’s decision to implement the vaccine mandate and the process followed in doing so was unreasonable.

“I disagree,” Boshier, who completed his tenure as chief ombudsman earlier this year had responded. “It is my final opinion that the council’ decision was made with the appropriate authority and following a robust risk assessment, which gave due consideration to impacts the

decision would have on the Waipā community.”

The board decided the motion should not proceed in its current form.

“I hear both sides,” board chair Ange Holt said. “I feel for the people that weren’t, couldn’t or didn’t want to be vaccinated.”

On the other side, she said the then chief executive Garry Dyet had to look after his staff.

“However, I really do like the idea of that public conversation about what happens [in the future].”

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University of Waikato Te Piringa Faculty of Law Professor Barry Barton.

Sally Whitaker.

I’m standing for re-election because I care deeply about Waipā - its people, its places, and its future.

This district isn’t just where I live - it’s part of who I am. Born and raised here, my strong family roots go back well over a century. I’ve farmed here, raised my children here, practiced law here, served my community here. I’d be grateful for your support so that I can continue serving and providing the leadership Waipā needs.

Susan O'Regan

Get involved - vote

By Peter Carr

The editor desires to keep me beavering on election-related opinion pieces until the last ballot box has been emptied. Not exactly an exciting gig for an open-minded octogenarian but I shall comply.

Firstly, have you voted yet? More importantly – are you voting at all? If you have not your time is running out – however, if you wish to be a part of the historically over-arching group hell-bent on complacency, then just sit tight. And possibly be landed with a local government governance group that you deserve.

Conversely if you want to be part of the architecture that designs progress then please put your voting envelope, as soon as possible, into one of many bright orange bins that are at your disposal throughout the district.

Which brings me to the Tchaikovsky-like Dying Swan, publicly open, final Waipā council meeting of the triennium. There were only two items for public consideration. Cambridge champion Roger Gordon attempted to bring reason, justice and public safety out onto the council table by way of a notice of motion regarding the planned sand quarry.

Sadly, the excellent work by Roger was quashed by a bureaucratic clobbering machine involving an expensive lawyer giving advice. But Roger stuck to his guns, read the tea leaves and ‘parked’ the motion until the new elected group commence their three-year term. Cambridge needs heroes like Roger and a pity that they are in short supply.

So, if you have not yet voted please think carefully. Our other hard working Cambridge member Liz Stolwyk is off to try her luck at the regional council. Therefore, there is a

need for fresh blood at the big table. Good local experience by the hitherto hard-working Community Board chair is available for your choice. And then it is out into the wilderness to complete the required four permitted candidates.

Perhaps a perusal of the booklet that arrived with your voting papers will help you. A couple stood out at the Town Hall candidates meeting with clear governance and management skills. They are not on a ‘ticket’ and appear to not have an axe to grind.

The Oxford Dictionary describes democracy as a form of government in which the people have a choice in the exercise of power typically through elected representatives. So there you have it. Mistakes have been made in the past (including recently) of putting inept people into that power spectrum. Please think wisely, and like the racing punter, possibly study the form. There are no formal odds at play here other than you supporting negative and poorly equipped representation.

Beware of those with badly judged ideals. Remember that once in, they cannot be unseated for another three years.

This is your community – you have chosen to seek improvement, wise counsel, improved safe access, freer flowing traffic and the preservation of the general beauty of this place we call home. Treasure it – but above all please exercise your right to take part by voting. By the afternoon of October 11, it will all be over and you will be aware of how successfully your vote counted.

Another complaint

handling of a Waikato Chamber of Commerce meet the candidates gathering where the business group invited four Hamilton mayoral candidates to speak.

One candidate who was not among the invited candidates has complained about a front page heading – Pick Three – referring to mayoral races in three local authorities, Hamilton, Waipā and Waikato.

A story inside teased to the meeting and questioned the four city candidates as well as three from Waipā and two from Waikato.

The complainant said the headline was misleading, risked creating false expectations and could unduly influence voter behaviour.

He said “concern arises from an apparent coordinated influence between the Waikato Business News, the Waikato Times and the Waikato Chamber of Commerce”.

And he said the fact editor Roy Pilott and senior writer Mary Anne Gill once worked for the Waikato Times suggested an editorial alignment.

Pilott told the Media Council “I elect not to waste my time responding to this nonsense”. He earlier told the complainant the fact a person chooses to seek election does not compel a news editor to provide him or her the same coverage as all other candidates. However, the Media Council has announced it thinks there are sufficient grounds for it to proceed and the matter will go before the next full council meeting. They will discuss the complainant’s request for “a correction clarifying the FPP voting system and the headline’s inaccuracy; balanced coverage acknowledging all 12 candidates and clarification on candidate selection and any editorial ties to the Waikato Times or Chamber”.

The New Zealand Media Council is investigating Good Local Media’s

On the Hustings – with Mary

Anne Gill

How votes are rolling in

All that effort, all those words, all the advertising, videos and social media posts and what do we have to show for it with a week to go?

When The News went to press, election returns were encouragingly up on the same time three years ago although there would have to be concerns at the low turnout in the Cambridge ward.

Perhaps voters are still confused by all the issues and all the candidates.

Tamahere-Woodlands’ return in the Waikato district – which includes Bruntwood, Mātangi and Tamahere in The News circulation area – was looking good which could be a sign hometown mayoral candidate Aksel Bech has a show.

But Hamilton was dragging the chain and hoping a Your Neighbourhood promotion in Garden Place where the public could meet the candidates and see what the council does in the community would help.

There’s been no shortage of political drama in Waipā that should have sent voters rushing to the post box.

Take Roger Gordon’s notice of motion - supported by fellow Cambridge ward councillors Mike Pettit, Philip Coles and Liz Stolwyk - proposing a no-right-turn from Newcombe Rd into Tīrau Rd.

He withdrew the motion at the final council meeting after legal advice, including from Simpson Grierson, warned of significant risk to the council.

“If I’m re-elected, I’ll be back,” Gordon said. “I knocked my head against a brick wall but I will keep trying.”

Marcus Gower, chair of the Regulatory committee, didn’t get the chance to respond publicly at the time but later told The News that Gordon was trying to solve a problem that doesn’t yet exist - and

risk committing the council to a costly judicial review.

“More importantly, we as councillors take an oath at the start of the triennium to make decisions in the best interests of the whole district,” Gower said.

He criticised Gordon for not consulting Karāpiro residents about increased traffic on Hydro Rd, nor the wider district about potential costs. He also accused Gordon of electioneering.

“We need to stop, take a breath and let due process prevail.”

Another issue that’s resurfaced is fluoride. Kane Titchener, elected unopposed in Pirongia-Kakepuku for the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board, is part of Fluoride Free NZ. Waipā was ordered by the Medical Officer of Health to add fluoride to Cambridge’s water supply.

The group polled all 48 Waipā candidates, asking whether they would support pressuring the government to return fluoridation decisions to local councils.

Those who responded “yes”

were: Charlotte FitzPatrick, Sharon Stirling, Ian Hayton, Roger Gordon, Lyn Hunt, Hope Spooner, Bernard Westerbaan, Don Sanders, Chris Minnee, Stewart Dromgool, Gerda Venter, Dean Taylor, Graeme Allen and Les Bennett.

“Nos” came from Marcus Gower, Shane Walsh, Andrew Myers and Clare St Pierre.

The other 30 candidatesincluding mayoral hopefuls Susan O’Regan and Mike Pettit - had not

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A heavy truck from a new Leamington waste recycling plant makes its way through Cambridge CBD.

How votes are rolling in

responded when The News went to press. Meanwhile, O’Regan stirred debate with a social media post stating she would not accept financial backing for her campaign

thereby allowing her, she said, to make decisions free of influence and favour.

An anonymous repost on another channel claimed her post was misleading, pointing to a declared donation from three years ago.

Belle PR - owned by former Waipā District Council communications manager Charlotte FitzPatrick - donated $4800 worth of communications advice during the 2022 elections.

FitzPatrick, now running for the Cambridge Community Board and backing Mike Pettit for mayor, responded on the post.

“I donated time to her campaign three years ago under my business name. But to be very clear, I did not post this anonymous post. It’s disappointing to see local politics coming to this. It would be nice to see the focus and energy put into the future, the big issues we are facing, and how our council will lead Waipā into a more positive situation.”

Candidates’ electoral donations and expenses will be made available after the election. O’Regan was clearly front-footing the issue.

Campaign expenditure limits - $40,000 for mayoral candidates - apply for the three months from July 11 to election day, October

Alys Antiques & Fine Art

Continued

11.

Candidates must declare any donations of money, goods or services after the election. Volunteer labour, goods or services under $300, and candidates’ own money do not have to be declared.

Finally, former Hamilton mayor Margaret Evans has joined three others in making a Code of Conduct submission to the Local Government Commission prompted by city councillor Andrew Bydder’s expletive-laden rant towards O’Regan last year.

After an investigation costing more than $20,000, the city council found there was a material breach of the council’s Code of

Conduct, censured Bydder and requested he apologise to O’Regan and to two disability organisations.

O’Regan and Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate, who lodged the conduct complaint against Bydder, both favour an independent arbiter.

Evans’ group has proposed a traditional oath or affirmation of office to allow mayors and councillors to be held accountable by colleagues and the public.

She had a simpler and less expensive option for the Bydder case though.

“If only Susan had invited Andrew in for a cup of tea! Or Paula had!”

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Hamilton City Council hosted a Your Neighbourhood event in Garden Place on Saturday to get to know the mayoral and council candidates.

Belle PR and Charlotte FitzPatrick now support Mike Pettit having helped out Susan O’Regan three years ago.

New group meets

A new Cambridge Connections Community Reference Group has held its first meeting.

The group will play a role in developing Cambridge Connections – Moving Forward Together, a 30-year transport plan for Cambridge.

The project has been the subject of considerable controversy as residents revolted over a proposed route for a new bridge over the Waikato River and objected to polka dots being painted at intersections, garden boxes and orange cones.

Waipā District Council reported 52 people applied to join the group.

It said members were selected to represent “the breadth of the Cambridge community,

from mana whenua and iwi, residents and ratepayers, to local businesses, social service and accessibility advocates, environmental groups, freight and transport operators, and developers and investors”.

The group, along with an Ideas Forum and wider public engagement, will help inform decisions made by elected members at key stages in the project, the council says.

Community Reference Group Members are Alan Garvin, Chris Flatt, David Cooney, Gabby Byrne, Graham Scott, Ian Wilson, Kelly Bouzaid, Kellie Pearson, Ngawai Hamblin, Peter Carr, Peter Pickett, Phil MacKay, Poto Davies and Sharon Cresswell. Andrew Myers has also joined to represent the Cambridge Community Board.

Members of the Community Reference Group (from left back): David Cooney, Alan Garvin, Chris Flatt, Phil MacKay, Kelly Bouzaid, Peter Pickett, Graham Scott. (From left front): Sharon Cresswell, Gabby Byrne, Poto Davies, Ngawai Hamblin, Ian Wilson, Peter Carr. (Kellie Pearson and Andrew Myers joined online)

105…just luck says Les

By Viv Posselt

The remarkable Leslie ‘Les’ Winslade QSM celebrated his 105th birthday last weekend, surrounded by family and friends, cards from luminaries and photographic memories of his life.

When asked by The News how he had managed to reach such an advanced age, he said simply: “It’s just luck, I think …”

The News first did a story on Les when he moved into Cambridge Resthaven in November 2022, joining daughter and son-in-law Alison and Wolf Hucke as the facility’s first ‘dad and daughter’ duo on campus. Les had just turned 100 then, and he brought with him a feast of information on his life. He was born in Birkenhead, England, and migrated to New Zealand in 1926. During his Lower Hutt childhood, he joined the Scouts and helped raise money by making soap. He left school at 15, becoming a telegraph boy and postman before World War Two, then ended up joining the RNZAF as a wireless operator. After the war, he joined National Mutual

where he remained for most of his working life.

Helping others was central to Les’ life. He was a foundation member of the Dunedin Budget Advisory Service. After moving to

Taupō in 1983 he joined the Lions and set up the local neighbourhood watch, got involved with the Taupō Hospital, raised more than $2 million for medical improvements in the district,

fundraised for the Tūrangi Community Health system and won plaudits for his advocacy around geothermal heating for Taupō Hospital and supporting the town’s arterial bypass.

He was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal in 2009 for community service and was given a memorable farewell by Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas when he left to come up to

Cambridge.

Les also received the Paul Harris Award through Rotary International and was declared a Melvin Jones Fellow through Lions International – to achieve both is rare.

His wartime experience, some of it spent in Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, was outlined in a television interview aired during the birthday celebration.

Among guests were Cambridge RSA president Tony Hill, who said his own grandfather also served at Guadalcanal. He is also district president for Waikato, King Country and Bay of Plenty, and told The News that as he understands it, Les is the oldest surviving veteran in the region.

Wearing his third hat – as one of two vice-presidents with the national RSA body, he commended Les for his service during the war and said that New Zealanders’ ability to live here had been built on the legacy of people like Les.

Aside from issues with his hearing aid, Les remains in good health and managed to stand for some while during Doug Rose’s performance of The Ode.

Cambridge RSA president Tony Hill with Les Winslade.

Photo: Viv Posselt

Sue signs off

Cambridge Resthaven’s longest-serving staff member, nurse Sue Crowe, retired recently after 34 years. She began work at Resthaven in April 1991 as senior staff nurse, then registered nurse, and at one stage was the quality co-ordinator. More recently, she has been the facility’s village nurse. At a farewell held in her honour, Resthaven chief executive David Hall said Sue had “touched the lives of many residents and their families” during that time. Sue said she had seen many changes to the facility during her tenure, but said it hadn’t been about bricks and mortar. “It’s the people that mean the most.” Sue was pictured receiving a bouquet from Cambridge Resthaven chief executive David Hall.

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Lions Club of Cambridge Charitable Trust

Lions Club of Cambridge Charitable Trust Lions

Opening hours: 8.30am - 12pm Thursday & Saturday

Lions Club of Cambridge Charitable Trust

The Lions Club of Cambridge Charitable Trust gives out Grants monthly to many organisations.

Lions Shed

We sell 2nd hand kitchenware, Bric a brac, clothing, hardware, whiteware, electrical appliances, furniture, gardening/outdoor equipment and much more at very reasonable prices.

Lions Shed

Opening hours 8.30am -12pm Thursday & Saturday kitchenware, Bric a brac Clothing, Hardware, Whiteware, Electrical appliances, Furniture, Gardening/outdoor equipment and much more at very reasonable prices. and visit us at 26 Vogel Street Cambridge or check our Facebook page for weekly specials.

Opening hours 8.30am -12pm Thursday & Saturday

We sell kitchenware, Bric a brac Clothing, Hardware, Whiteware, Electrical appliances, Furniture, Gardening/outdoor equipment and much more at very reasonable prices.

Come and visit us at 26 Vogel Street, Cambridge or check our Facebook page for weekly specials.

They include most charities, local schools, local sporting clubs, and individuals who are participating in sporting activities plus many more deserving people. We also give Grants to individuals who need special equipment to help lead their lives in comfort.

Come and visit us at 26 Vogel Street Cambridge or check our Facebook page for weekly specials.

We accept donations of goods in clean working condition, pick up of items can be arranged by calling 027-693-7953

We accept donations of goods in clean

Pick up times Tues, Thurs & Sat between 8.00am -12pm

Lions Club - Grants

Every 2nd Sunday of the month. Cambridge Memorial Park (Rugby Grounds) Open from 8.30am - 1pm

Lions Trash & Treasure Market

Lions Trash & Treasure Market

Every 2nd Sunday of the month. Cambridge Memorial Park (Rugby Grounds) Open from 8.30am-1pm

Every 2nd Sunday of the month.

Come along to enjoy the many market stalls selling a variety of goods. Food caravans and entertainment. For stall bookings contact: cambridge@lionsclubs.org.nz

Cambridge Memorial Park (Rugby Grounds) Open from 8.30am-1pm

Come along to

Last year the Lions Club of Cambridge Charitable Trust gave over $350,000 to many through our Projects - The Lions Shed, The Lions Caravan and T & T Market. Most of this money comes from locals who, with our volunteers, care for our community.

Stalls priced from $20

Come along to enjoy the many market stalls selling a variety of goods. Food caravans and entertainment. For stall bookings contact Cambridge@lionsclubs.org.nz Stalls priced from $20.00

To apply please email: cambridgegrants@lionsclubs.org.nz for an application form.

Lions Club Christmas Cakes

Club of Cambridge Charitable Trust gives out Grants monthly to organizations. They include most charities, local schools,

individuals who are participating in

We accept donations of goods in clean, working condition. Pick up of items can be arranged by calling 027 693 7953. Pick up times: Tues, Thurs & Sat between 8am - 12pm.

and

activities plus many deserving people. We also give Grants to individuals who need special equipment to help lead their lives in comfort.

Cake. And they come with a guaranteed shelf life of at least

Order on-line at www.lionschristmascakes.org.nz Cakes will be delivered to your

To Cambridge

Getting faster for France

By Lizzy Crouch

The velodrome hums with energy as the team preparing for the World Masters in Roubaix, France gathers for another training session.

The sound of wheels on tape, click, click, mixes with the low rush of air. Beneath it all is the determination of riders who refuse to let age define them.

Conventional wisdom says sport gets harder as you get older. But for this group, the opposite is proving true. “We’re all getting older, but year by year we are getting faster,” says Leigh Mikkelsen. Teammate Tim Pawson nods: “We’re supposed to be going slower, but instead we’re getting faster.”

That doesn’t mean it’s easy. The riders speak candidly about the physical changes that come with age and the stereotypes that come with them. “All the menopausal talk, ‘isn’t it about time you slowed down?’ I’m like, what? No. It does get harder though. But it doesn’t mean you fight any less,” says Mikkelsen.

Instead of easing off, they all talk about how important it is to double down on recovery, sleep and smarter training.

If performance is one motivator, community is the other heartbeat of the team. “Community is a big one for me, it’s everything,” one rider says. Another adds, “We’re not just riding, we’re part of something bigger.” For Tim Pawson, that sense of togetherness extends off the track too: “It’s super motivating to do this in a team [with wife Penny] and as a family that loves riding.”

Family and legacy surface again and again in the conversation.

“I’ve got three girls, and for me it’s about setting a good example, for them, and for women in sport,” says Monique Brake.

Tony Wilkinson shares a similar drive: “I’ve got three young boys who are 13, 11 and 9. I’ve always been keen to lead from the front

and motivate them.”

Respect, they all agree, is the true equalizer. “It doesn’t matter what level any of us are at, the mutual respect comes from knowing how hard everyone has worked to get where they are,” says Brake. “Just because someone is faster doesn’t

make them a better human being. If you get to the start line of any race, everyone knows how hard it was just to get there.”

The drive for challenge is another common thread. “I’ve always loved pushing myself, something new, something different. If there’s no challenge to overcome, there’s no satisfaction in achieving it,” says Chris Allington. He sums up his approach in two words: “Community and challenge.” Gary Mikkelsen shares his motivation: “I think mine is, it’s been a dream, but it’s also a massive personal overcoming of challenges.”

And then there’s the simple joy of riding. “Work can be stressful and I come here and the sound of the wheels over the tape – click, click - and the smell, and the wind rushes in my ears. It’s my happy place,” says Penny Pawson.

Together, these athletes are proving that the story of aging in sport doesn’t have to be one of decline. It was a privilege to sit among their chats about aging well and staying motivated, and to witness the way they share their experiences with one another and the wider cycling community.

The team will be lining up at the World Championships in Roubaix, France from Saturday until October 11 – we’ll all be cheering them on. • Lizzy Crouch is the Marketing and Events Manager at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome.

New heights for Mahonri

By Jesse Wood

In just his second year involved, Te Awamutu 17-year-old Mahonri Sunnex is chasing his volleyball dreams in the USA.

The 1.95 former Pekapekarau Primary School, Te Awamutu Intermediate and Te Awamutu College student is finishing his schooling in Arlington, Washington and staying with his grandparents.

As a dual citizen there’s the option of playing for the United States or New Zealand if he heads down the Olympic route.

“It all happened so fast,” mum Kira Krieg said “This humble, gentle giant child of mine is out there chasing his dreams. All of this is him.”

“I’m incredibly proud of him. Not because of just volleyball, but because he is chasing dreams and watching them unfold before his eyes. The kid just stepped off the plane and within a matter of a few weeks is now signed to a travelling club team – Blue Royals.”

Kira said Mahonri had sworn off sports, so she was taken back when he came home one day saying he was going to play volleyball.

“Volleyball is what brought him out of his shell and made him stay in school. It really brought him to life. He found his passion,” Kira said. “I fully supported him wanting to play. It’s been full steam ahead since then. He played for Te Awamutu College for two years.

“He also coached a junior team last year along with a teammate Sterling Te Huia. The team went undefeated and won their Waikato provincial division.”

This year Mahonri made the Waikato Representative reserve under-19 team.

Kira, Mahonri and younger brother Zion arrived in the US on July 17.

“The following day, we went to an open gym at the local high school. The organisers questioned the boys’ ability to play,” Kira said.

“I just said ‘They will be fine’. Within a few minutes, Mahonri jumped up with height and hit the ball down hard. There was a collective ‘woah’ in the gym.

“Next thing we knew, we were getting phone numbers and emails and wondering where Mahonri came from. We received an invite to an exclusive invite only play night.”

On July 23, Mahonri attended the event with his mum and grandfather.

“The invite only night was with professional, university and high-level club players. A coach excitedly ran over to Mahonri and asked, ‘where do you live?’,” Kira said.

“Mahonri turned and looked at us with a panic and said, ‘I don’t know’, pointing to my dad and I.”

The coach’s team was based a few hours away from Kira’s parents’ place.

“The coach broke down the different teams in the area for us and who might be a good fit. He introduced Mahonri to one of the young men from Blue Royals and wished him luck,” Kira said.

“Mahonri got followed that night by other Blue Royals players and coach Tommy Sudiartate before receiving an invite to trial for their team.”

Six days later, Mahonri attended a Blue Royals open gym night, meeting the rest of the squad.

He trialled the next day and was picked for their travelling side.

“One of the tournaments will be right by his dream university, Long Beach,” Kira said.

“He will be travelling to California twice, around Washington State, Salt Lake City, nationals in Florida and possibly other tournaments such as Chicago.

“Had we arrived a few weeks later, this opportunity would not have been available.

The family is helping the youngster by raising funds towards through a garage sale this month. Funds will go towards Mahonri’s tournament fees and costs for the September 2025 to June 2026 season.

“We thought as he was Year 13 here, he would do a senior year there. With the credit transfers confirmed at the beginning of September, he’s come in as a junior at Arlington High School, allowing him to play for two years and potential to be scouted for a university team,” Kira said.

“If he grows another inch to 6-foot-5, the division one universities could put him on their recruitment roster for class of 2026.

“The best part for me, was when I said to Mahonri, ‘do you know how big this is?’, he responded ‘no, I just want to play volleyball’.”

Riding high - back row, from left, Manager Mel Allington, Monique Brake, Leigh Mikkelsen, Penny Pawson, Tim Pawson, Tony Wilkinson, Gary Mikkelsen and coach Hamish Ferguson. Front, Chris Allington, Wayne Mason, Dean Litolff and Colin Claxton.

Mahonri Sunnex is excelling in the US.

Here comes the Targa

By Jon Rawlinson

The rally season is not over – ‘NZ’s ultimate road race’ is yet to be run.

After town and country in King Country hosted rounds in the Northern Rallysprint (August 17) and the North Island Rally Series (September 21), the Targa is coming.

Beginning in Pukekohe, the five-day tarmac

rally features stages in Waikato and northern King Country (October 15-16) before heading to Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay.

Among this year’s entrants is rally veteran Charlie Evans from Hamilton Car Club.

“I won at Targa in 2005,” he said. “I haven’t been in it since, but as it’s the 30th anniversary, I thought I would. There is a two-day and a fiveday event – I won a two-day one and I’ll be in that

CAMBRIDGE

It’s time to vote!

Check out who’s standing waikatoregion.govt.nz/candidates

Return your voting papers by post (before 7 October) or ballot box. Voting closes midday 11 October.

WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY

again this year. I have two cars, including one I’ve been preparing just for the Targa.”

Although it’s a serious competition featuring some of the latest, high-tech rally cars, the Targa includes a wider field than dirt road rallies across four competitions and three classes in each.

Two-wheel-drives can be more competitive on tarmac against four-wheel-drives. Last year’s winner, Marcus van Klink (Canterbury), is proof of this – he will be back, driving a two-wheel drive Mazda RX-8.

Named after the Italian for license plate, the first Targa was held in Florio, Sicily, in 1906. The New Zealand incarnation is a little younger – set to be run for the 30th time – but it is rich in tradition.

Vintage cars are par for the course too. The Targa includes a Retro category intended to allow a little friendly competition without the cars without thrashing them to within an inch of their lives.

In addition, the Targa Tour sees sports cars run as they were intended – on closed roads they can reach speeds well beyond posted limits.

Although it is held in various locations throughout New Zealand, the 2024 Targa sets off from Ōtorohanga and, this year, King Country roads will again feature strongly.

Spectators can view the action and many of the cars will be on display when the day’s racing is done.

Charity football event

Kick for a Cause, a charity football event, will be staged at Cambridge’s John Kerkhof Park in November. The event will see more than 50 people from across Waikato step out of their comfort zones and onto the pitch to battle it out in a couple of friendly football matches and raising funds and awareness for the Cambridge Salvation Army. Organisers have confirmed 21 players to date including the first female chief executive Waikato Rugby, Amy Marfell. Others include Kayak Cross World Champion Nick Collier, and turf manager Karl Johnson. Team will field 13 players, with support from three footballers from Cambridge, Launched in Rotorua in 2023, Kick for a Cause has raised more than $30,000.

8:27am, Cardiac arrest, French Pass Road

9:55am, Cardiac Arrest, Bryce Street

2:18pm, Cardiac arrest, Ringer Road

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

FRIDAY

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

3:14am, Single car MVA, Roto-O-Rangi Road

SUNDAY

FRIDAY

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

1:56pm, Animal rescue, Racecourse Road 2:38pm, 2 car MVA, Victoria Road

MONDAY

SUNDAY

3:53am, Medical assistance, Karapiro Road

10:32am, Building alarm and evacuation, Lamb Street

Defending champ, Marcus van Klink in action during Targa last year.

Photo Geoff Ridder

Across 1. Infected (6) 4. Deed (6) 9. Muffled (5) 10. Put into order (7) 11. Unstressed

Passage (5)

Intensify (6)

Last week

Across: 1. Lend, 4. Undies, 8. Against, 9. Verve, 10. Cute, 11. Starters, 13. Competent, 17. Cherubic, 19. Free, 21. Wield, 22. Uniform, 23. Starve, 24. Poll. Down: 2. Elastic, 3. Dent, 4. Up-to-the-minute, 5. Divorced, 6. Eerie, 7. Feast, 8. Arch, 12. Smoulder, 14. Turmoil, 15. Scowl, 16. Seam, 18. Event, 20. Limp.

SEER STARS

TAURUS

THERAM TWINS VIRGO ZODIAC

Dads, sons and All Blacks

By Jesse Wood

Two former Hautapu hookers caught up following the All Blacks game in Auckland on Saturday night.

Chris Carter and David Roigard watched their sons, Leroy and Cam, represent their country at Eden Park.

A year apart at Cambridge High School, the fathers both went on to represent Hautapu.

“Who would have thought, two hookers from Hautapu would have sons in the All Blacks? It’s a bit bizarre, isn’t it? It’s a bit random,” David said.

“Cam was obviously talking to Leroy, not really knowing that I knew his dad.

“He said, oh he sounds just like you Dad - follows most games, always talking to somebody and can’t get him away because

he’s talking to somebody. Very similar.

“I met up with Stumpy, Chris, when Hautapu had a past players day last year and we were talking about it then. I’d seen him a couple of years before, Cam was playing for Counties and Leroy was playing for Bay of Plenty, a pre-season game.

“We sat in the grandstand and chatted that day up in Pukekohe.”

Leroy donned the number 14 jersey while Cam started at halfback in Saturday’s 33-24 Bledisloe Cup victory against Australia.

It was the pairs’ first match together. Leroy’s second for New Zealand overall and Cam’s first since returning from injury.

They both know their way to the tryline well. Leroy scored one try and Cam crossed the chalk twice.

David said it’s also neat to see the St Peter’s

connections in the All Blacks team.

“Simon Parker came from St Peter’s; Cam played with him in the first XV. It’s quite a tie up there, which is pretty cool,” David said. “There’s four from St Peter’s in the squad [including Samipeni Finau and Ollie Norris].”

Chris echoed David’s remarks and said it was great to see his old clubmate again.

“It was good to catch up with him again. David and I played colts and seniors together,” Chris said.

“I played every grade there. I played 18s through to seniors – 1986-1987 – then I did my OE and came back to play in 1991.”

Following his son’s All Blacks début against South Africa on September 13, Chris said the family are “super proud”.

“It’s huge. He’s still pinching himself that he’s made the All Blacks. It was a special moment for the whole family,” Chris said.

“He’s worked hard for a long time to get

there. It’s pretty exciting.”

Like Cam, Leroy started his professional career as a halfback.

“When he came back from [the All Blacks Sevens] to go to Bay of Plenty, they threw him on the wing and he stuck there. Then he got the opportunity at the Chiefs.”

On début, Leroy beat seven defenders, more than any All Black previously in 2025.

“The great thing about sport is it often throws up these types of interesting coincidences, and if nothing more – makes for great conversation around clubs, bars leaners and at home, around the kitchen table,” Hautapu president Dave Simes.

“Of course, we are proud that there is a connection with Leroy and Cam back to Hautapu Sports through their dads, Chris and Dave, but we also think it’s fantastic that two current All Blacks can progress to the highest level of rugby from families linked to a great club rugby heritage.”

Cam and David Roigard (left) hold the Bledisloe Cup with Chris and Leroy Carter. Photo: Supplied

The 1987 Hautapu team - winners of the Rickitt Cup (Cambridge championship) and Pinex Shield (Waikato senior division championships first round) - containing Chris Carter (third row, right end) and David Roigard (front row, right end).

Lacrosse talent on display

The future of lacrosse was on display at Albert Park in Te Awamutu last weekend.

Top youth talent from across the North Island was brought together by the under-15 and under-18 girls’ national championships and boys nationals’ series.

Te Awamutu and Cambridge continue to lead the way in the competition.

In the under-15 Girls division, the Waikato Sirens claimed the national title in a roundrobin contest, followed by the Waikato Rapids and Auckland.

The Sirens impressed with a full-

team dynamic, blending defensive grit, attacking flair, and relentless ball control - a foundation they aim to build on at the Australian National Tournament in Perth which is running through to Monday.

Several standout athletes from St. Peter’s School Cambridge were in the Sirens squad.

They were looking for redemption from a second-place finish to Epsom Girls’ Grammar School at the New Zealand Secondary School Tournament in August.

Meg Cannon, Zoe Hannah and Jemma Burke each averaged five points across the tournament.

On the other side of the field, Auckland’s under-15 goalkeeper Sharaya Naidu delivered a standout performance under pressure, recording a 50 per cent save rate despite facing a barrage of shots from the Sirens.

The under-18 girls featured four teams. Waikato Gold edged Auckland Blue in a thrilling final, while Waikato White took bronze over Auckland Maroon.

Waikato Gold’s success was driven by standout performances including Annelies Banks and Ava Gatie, who tied as the tournament’s top point scorers.

Gatie’s sharp finishing and drive kept Auckland Blue in contention throughout the final, while Banks anchored Waikato Gold’s attack with precision and poise.

Amelia Rettkowicz added composed ball control and exceptional stick skills to Waikato’s midline, though Auckland’s defensive unit deserved credit for reducing her shot percentage.

Tournament MVP honours went to two defenders from Cambridge, Maisey Butler (Waikato Sirens, under-15) and Piper Russell (Waikato Gold, under-18).

Tauwhare 1032

The boys’ divisions added further excitement, with Auckland and Waikato facing off in three-game series at both under-15 and under-18 levels.

The under-15 boys showcased the Sixes format — a fast-paced, high-scoring version of lacrosse comparable to rugby sevens.

With Sixes set to feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, its presence in Te Awamutu offered a glimpse of the sport’s future and the athleticism it demands.

The Hollands sisters, Makayla (Sirens) and Nicole (Waikato Gold), recently selected respectively for the Waikato under-16 and

New Zealand under-18 hockey teams, exemplifies this versatility.

Several under-18 athletes at the event recently competed at the Australian Nationals and others represented the country at the World under-20 Championships in South Korea.

The national men’s programme now turns its focus to the Asia Pacific Qualifier for the World Championships.

New Zealand Lacrosse has also launched an inaugural Sixes Women’s team for its first test in Hong Kong - December 26 to January 4.

Tauwhare 80 Scotsman Valley Road

Maisey Butler and Piper Russell from Cambridge.

Makayla Hollands of Waikato under-18 Gold.

Photo: Jackie Tye Photo

- Open-plan kitchen, dining and living areas flow seamlessly, complemented by a separate family room.

- The master suite, with walk-in robe and ensuite, is cleverly positioned away from the other bedrooms for a true retreat.

- Ranch sliders open to a concrete patio, creating an ideal space for outdoor dining and entertaining.

- Featuring ducted air conditioning throughout, plus a heat pump in the family room for efficient heating and cooling.

- This endearing 3 bedroom townhouse offers a superb floorplan: the master bedroom with ensuite and another guest wing where the family bathroom becomes an ensuite with the simple closing of a door. The third bedroom is of generous size.

- A fenced and gated section (lockable).

- Raised gardens, patio area and not too much to do.

- The kitchen is well appointed and top end chattels.

- Attractive window dressing add to the premium ambience.

- A tremendous lock and leave, investment or retreat!

- Fully fenced and hedged for privacy, it sits on a generous 1012m² site (more or less).

- Spacious, welcoming kitchen with lovely views, a separate dining room, and three generous living areas (could be used as a fourth bedroom) with seamless flow to tranquil outdoor living zones.

- Feature lighting and pitched high ceilings enhance the sense of space, while double glazing ensures warmth & comfort year-round.

- Separate office ideal for working or studying from home.

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- Master retreat features a walk-in wardrobe, ensuite, and a sun-filled conservatory. Dedicated study makes working from home a breeze.

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BRODIE, Edward Bruce, (Bruce)

– Passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, 20th September 2025 in his 90th Year. Devoted husband of Marie. Loving dad to Gwyn, Jane, Gaye, Kristie, Amanda and Claire. Much loved grandfather of Enoka, Tahuwaka, Hunter, Pearl, Archie and Austin. Loved great grandfather of Erangi, Enoka and Waimea. In line with Bruce’s wishes a private burial has taken place. Many thanks to family and friends for the love and support. Messages to the "Brodie" Family can be sent c/- 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434 or in Bruce's online tribute book at www.grinters. co.nz

SAVIC, Petar (1934-2025)

– Passed away peacefully at Waikato Hospital on the 3rd of September, aged 91 years, after a brief illness. Loving brother, uncle, son, and friend. Petar will be remembered for his kindness, love of gardening, and for never doing anything by halves.

"Non vivere sed valere vita est."

Life is not merely to live, but to live well.

Messages to the ‘Savic Family’ can be sent c/Grinter’s Funeral Home, 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434 or in Petar’s online tribute book at www.grinters. co.nz. A private service has been held.

MAUNGATAUTARI ECOLOGICAL ISLAND TRUST

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Trust’s Annual General Meeting is to be held on Tuesday 21st October 2025 in Te Manu Korokii Profile Group Education Centre at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Pukeatua commencing at 3.00pm.

Attendees are invited to join the Trustees for afternoon tea (from 4.00pm) at the conclusion of the meeting. Please RSVP via the QR code Enquiries by email to: secretary@maungatrust.org

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES

Schedule 10, Local Government Act 1974

Waipā District Council will close the following road(s) at the following period(s) to ordinary vehicular traffic for Targa NZ 2025:

Road(s): Waterworks Rd - from Waipa District Boundary to Te Miro Rd Te Miro Rd - from Waterworks Rd to Brunskill Rd Brunskill Rd - from Te Miro Rd to French Pass Rd French Pass Rd - from Brunskill Rd to 300m before intersection with Maungakawa Rd

No exit roads Hopehill Lane, Oliver Rd, Baker Rd, Lovells Rd and Smart Rd will be affected by closures.

Date: Wednesday, 15 October 2025

Time: 12:50pm - 5:20pm

Road(s): Mangare Rd - 250m from Rotongata Rd to Waipa District Boundary

Date: Thursday, 16 October 2025

Time: 10:05am - 2:35pm

There will be no detours in place during the temporary road closure. Emergency vehicles will have priority access in the event of an emergency.

Steph O’Sullivan Chief Executive

Section 101, Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

PUBLIC NOTICE

Of an application for On Licence Monavale Blueberries Ltd, 109 Tuwharetoa St, Taupo has made application to the Waipa District Licensing Committee for the renewal and variation of a on-licence in respect of the premises at 156 Turkington Road, Monavale, Cambridge known as Cafe Irresistiblue.

The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is cafe. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is sold under the licence are: Monday to Sunday, 9am to midnight. The application may be inspected during ordinary office hours at the office of the Waipa District Licensing Committee, 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu or 23 Wilson Street, Cambridge.

Any person who is entitled to object and who wishes to object to the issue of the licence may, not later than 15 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at: Waipa District Council, Private Bag 2402, Te Awamutu 3840.

No objection to the issue of a renewal licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in section 131 o f the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

This is the only publication of this notice.

GARAGE SALES

ASSORTED tools, crafting products, mosaic tiles, books, clothing, plants, pots, saucers, camping gear, lots more. Saturday 4 October. 574 Victoria Road, RD1 Cambridge. Start 8.30am.

BRIC & BRAC, toys, children/adult clothing, golf equipment. 8am –noon. Saturday 4 October. 2 Woodstock Cres, Cambridge

Notice of AGM

CAMBRIDGE TOWN HALL COMMUNITY TRUST

The Annual General Meeting of the Cambridge Town Hall Community Trust will be held as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 21 October 2025

Time: 7pm

Place: Victorian Room, Cambridge Town Hall – entrance off Victoria Street

All welcome

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Hales has high hopes

By Joshua Smith, Loveracing News Desk

Blue Sky At Night collected a couple of Cups last season and trainer Shelley Hale is hoping she can add to her haul when she heads to Matamata on Saturday to contest the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m).

The eight-year-old daughter of Shamexpress was victorious in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa in December before winning the Gr.3 Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie in February, and Hale is pleased with the way she is coming up this time in.

“She had a great season last year, so it is good to have her back and ready to go again,” Hale said.

Blue Sky At Night had her first public hit-out of the season when comfortably taking out her 1300m trial at Cambridge on Tuesday, giving Hale plenty of confidence heading into the mile first-up this weekend.

“It was a lovely trial,” Hale said. “She was just out there for a pipe-opener and she seemed to do it very comfortably and happily.

“She is working up really nicely. She got out in the birdcage today, pricked the ears and still looks like she loves being out there, so that is the main thing.”

Blue Sky At Night holds a nomination for next month’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie, and Hale said her first-up performance will dictate whether she continues towards that goal or they change tack towards further Cups targets.

“She is a natural stayer, so we will just leave her in there at the moment,” Hale said. “She is going to run on Saturday in the Matamata Cup and we will just see how she measures up there and how she comes through it.

“In past years, the Livamol has sometimes dropped off a little but I don’t think it is going to this year. There will be plenty of other options, she can switch back and get ready for the Counties (Gr.3, 2100m) and Waikato Cups.”

Hale is looking forward to her stable star resuming this weekend and said the mile first-up poses no concerns.

“She had about six weeks off and she is pretty easy to get fit, so I don’t think the mile first-up will prove any challenges,” she said. “Being fresh she will have a bit of ping in her legs.”

Blue Sky At Night will resume in the Matamata Cup on Saturday at Matamata.

Photo: Kenton Wright