Cambridge News | September 25, 2025

Running costs boom

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā event organisers say they’re being forced to rethink traditional routes, shifting away from public roads and footpaths to avoid escalating traffic management costs.

The latest example is the Cambridge Harriers and Athletic Club, which hosted its popular half marathon on Sunday using a flat, two-lap route that was almost entirely off-road.

Despite the changes, traffic management still cost $6800 - half the previous amount - thanks to the support of club stalwarts and volunteers, said race organiser Rob Archibald.

“The previous course had some potential hazards,” Archibald said. “Runners wanted a fast course - and they got it.”

Whakatāne’s Chris Lines won the half marathon in 1:11:52, while Cambridge’s Jenny Gater claimed victory in the quarter marathon with a time of 41:19 - beating all male entrants.

The old course ran through lowuse traffic routes – the mainly flat Flume, Aspin, and Maungakawa roads north and east of the townstarting and finishing at Cambridge High School.

The new less hazardous course passed through the Town Belt and along some shared footpaths in St Kilda, starting and finishing at Tom Voyle Park. It had only four major road crossings and half marathoners went around the course twice.

While the new route sacrificed some scenic charm, it allowed the club to retain profits - supporting

young athletes like Cambridge High School’s Bronwen ReesJones, 18, who is competing in the World Mountain Running Championships in Spain this weekend.

Events Collective director Janette Douglas, who organises several Waipā events, said delivering sustainable events was becoming increasingly challenging as

organisers juggled entry fees and commercial opportunities against rising essential costs like traffic management.

”Recent legislative changes enabling councils to adopt a riskbased model give organisers the chance to create fit-for-purpose responses to risk,” she said.

Both Archibald and Douglas say they want their events to be safe.

“We can’t afford to have any accidents. We don’t want an issue with cars and people,” he said.

“At the heart of every event, our priority is ensuring participants, volunteers, and the public return home safely - but this comes at a cost,” said Douglas.

“For community events, the challenge is even greater, with pressure to keep entry fees low

and fewer volunteers available, increasing the workload on organisers.”

Lake Karāpiro Domain site manager Liz Stolwyk said events like the North Island secondary school cycling championships on roads around Maungatautari had faced increasing road management costs.

Off they go: Johnny Zhang (449) and Nicolas Kury (452) head off in the Cambridge Half Marathon with from left Jenny Gater (402), Rory Fennessy (883), Richard Conyngham (894), Rob Townsend (521), Jacob Taylor (898), Mel O’Brien (436) and Mike Woodd (891).

Photo: Michael Jeans.

Continued on page 2

Running costs boom

Continued from page 1

She no longer uses traffic management plans for events within the domain, instead adopting the risk-based model with fewer road cones and bureaucracy.

Cambridge Chamber of Commerce chief executive Kelly Bouzaid said traffic management fees for the Illuminate event which the chamber ran two years ago were “insane”.

“There has to be a better way. People have to reskin it.”

Chamber members are often able to help out particularly if they had facilities off road clubs could use to avoid traffic management costs.

“Events can be reimagined - without just going round in circles,” she said, hinting at creative alternatives to traditional formats. Essential to saving money on traffic

management are volunteers and partnerships, said Archibald.

The club used 50 volunteers in a number of roles including marshalling, car parking and handing out medals to the 630 entrants.

“We have a large number of (club) stalwarts and they were shoulder tapped by one of the life members and he’s got them out on the course helping.

“We’ve encouraged other sporting bodies to work with us so they can benefit.”

Tom Voyle Park Sports Club needs a new roof for its pavilion and to upgrade facilities so it used the half marathon to raise funds as did St Peter’s Catholic School Parent Teacher Association.

• Garden & landscape maintenance

• Landscape design & construction

• Planting, edging, mulching, and more

• Custom features and outdoor enhancements

CONTACTS

News/Editorial

Roy Pilott editor@goodlocal.nz

027 450 0115

Mary Anne Gill maryanne@goodlocal.nz

021 705 213

Viv Posselt viv@goodlocal.nz

027 233 7686

Chris Gardner chris@goodlocal.nz

027 231 7007

Advertising Director

Janine Davy janine@goodlocal.nz

027 287 0005

Owner/Publisher

David Mackenzie david@goodlocal.nz

Office/Missed Deliveries

07 827 0005 admin@goodlocal.nz

Cambridge Harrier and Athletics Club applied for $1000 from the Waipā District Council promotions fund but The News understands it was among several who missed out when the money was allocated on Monday.

As we are midway through the school holidays, I wanted to highlight a concern around our tamariki (children). School community officers work with local schools to deliver programmes such as “Loves Me Not” and “Keeping Ourselves Safe” as well as facilitating Road Patrol.

These work to educate and actively engage students with police. Such connection is often started at a young age through kindergarten and daycare visits by officers like me and our Youth Aid officer Dani.

Part of our messaging, especially with young children, is that police officers are safe adults, there to help people and approachable. When walking around in the community however, we regularly see adults pointing us out and telling children things like, “you’d better behave or the police officer will arrest you!” . This approach while undoubtedly well meaning, can back-fire. In a recent situation, a very young child was spotted biking unaccompanied alongside a main road.

When an officer stopped and tried to speak to him, he immediately turned tail and pedalled away on his bike in the opposite direction. When approached again, he dumped his wee bike and continued to run away on foot. While officers managed to catch up with him (and his parent), in such

situations, we want children to run towards us, not away, where they risk putting themselves in further danger.

I would ask that as a community when interacting with police, we keep the narrative with our younger children positive.

In catches this week, a male who fled police in Ōhaupō was subsequently located in Leamington, not far from where he had dumped his car. He was arrested and breath alcohol procedures were undertaken. He was found to be driving with excess breath alcohol and contrary to an alcohol interlock requirement. A subsequent search of his vehicle located drug paraphernalia and a knife. He has appeared in court on related charges.

On the topic of alcohol again, further to my recent column about drunk driving, I see that our Impairment Prevention team caught six more people driving with excess breath/blood alcohol last weekend. No trip, no matter how short, is worth the risk if you have been drinking. Thank you to those who do plan ahead before a night out, be it with a sober driver, taxi or simply a walk home.

With daylight savings starting this weekend, I know we will all be looking forward to the socialising of summer evenings. Let’s make it a safe one.

Despite the challenges, Cambridge Harriers and Athletic Club – which celebrated its 75th anniversary earlier this year - continues to uphold a proud tradition - bringing people together, supporting youth, and adapting with resilience.

As costs rise, so too does its commitment to keeping events like the half marathon alive.

• See: Fund money pie is sliced, page 20 and Bronwen has a mountain to climb, page 29.

with Senior Constable DEB HANN

Traffic management costs for the Cambridge Cycling Festival, held earlier this year, come in at around about $15,000.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Clocks forward

Daylight Saving commences on Sunday – when our clocks go forward 60 minutes. Daylight saving starts each year at 2am on the last Sunday in September and ends at 3am on the first Sunday in April.

Express delivery

The Environmental Protection Authority has approved the Cambridge to Piarere extension of the Waikato Expressway and work will start late next year. The expressway will track north of the existing State Highway One from Cambridge and join up with the just-completed Piarere roundabout which links highways 1 and 29. The four-lane project is expected to be completed by 2033.

Pro bono work

Legal firm Harkness Henry has celebrated 150 years of legal service with 150 hours of community volunteering over the spring months, supporting Kids in Need Cambridge, Goldfields School Paeroa, and Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. Harkness Henry operates from four offices across the region in Hamilton, Cambridge, Paeroa and Matamata.

New director

Waipā Networks has added Alex Ball to its board of directors. Ball has more than 30 years of commercial leadership experience in infrastructure, technology, telecommunications, and financial services, including senior executive roles at Vector, Transpower and TelstraClear. Jen Crawford also joined the board this month.

Lily again

Waipā teenager Lily Greenough completed an outstanding debut season in under-23 UCI BMX Racing with a podium finish for the season-long championship finalised in Argentina on Monday. The Cambridge rider won the under-23 women’s world title in Denmark last month.

Oli lifts the fundraising bar

Kaipaki School made such a significant contribution to the recent Cancer Society appeal Waikato Bay of Plenty official Heather Connolly attended the end of school assembly to say thank you.

And one pupil, Oli Schick was recognised as the top individual fund raiser in the Waikato Bay of Plenty region for raising $23,155.

The son of Gina and Rodney Schick’s fundraising will fund a Cancer Care Nurse Navigator for four months, enabling support for over 100 people living with cancer.

“The fact that you can do this is utterly outstanding,” Connolly the society’s head of philanthropy said at the prizegiving. “Oli, and the Kaipaki senior students are making a huge difference to our community.”

Principal Kim Budd said rural Kaipaki School –which celebrates its 150th anniversary next year - was immensely proud of its senior student leaders for their compassion, initiative,

and commitment to service in the community.

“They have demonstrated outstanding leadership, generosity, and community spirit, raising significant funds for the Cancer Society Waikato Bay of Plenty through their annual school cross country event,” she said.

As part of the event, senior learners organised a bake sale, face painting, and other activities and raised more than $700.

Ten senior leaders completed a sponsored run, far exceeding the distances of their age groups. Each lap of the cross-country course attracted pledged donations, and contributions continue to come in.

“Your kindness and generosity make a world of difference,” said Dr Connolly. You are helping nurse navigators who go out into the community, ensuring people are not alone on their journey, funding research to better understand cancer, and providing vital support across our region. You have shown kindness, courage, and leadership.”

The society receives strong support in the Waikato – in July a team of 40 Fonterra Lichfield volunteers planted 3000

The Media Council…

Inside today on page 23 we publish two findings by the Media Council.

They have ruled that I have not upheld their principles as editor of Good Local Media.

In January I celebrated the 50th anniversary of my start as a reporter at the South Waikato News. For 46 of the following years, I can think of only one instance where work I was involved with was reviewed by a media overseer as a result of a complaint.

When a complaint went to the Media Council three years ago, it was the first I had encountered for more than two decades. But in recent months there has been an avalanche of complaints or threats of complaints.

Greyhound racing, election coverage, cyclists on footpaths… they are the latest. Complaints are frequently up to 1000 words long and make ridiculous allegations and demands. I understand complaints to the council are up 30 per cent. Every one can take hours to deal with and there comes a point where the allegations become so toxic I don’t bother reading on. We are in esteemed company – our little community offerings and the two business news titles in Waikato and Bay of Plenty are lined up by the council for scrutiny

daffodil bulbs at the site entrance to have them ready for harvest in time for Daffodil Day at the end of August.

Meanwhile, more than 90 sites around the country – including Tirau and Te

By Roy Pilott, Good Local Editor

alongside Radio New Zealand and Stuff and NZME dailies.

Last week came a complaint that we didn’t interview children who rode on the footpath in the Cambridge town centre. In response to my answer, the author fired back: “maybe next week’s headline should be “Cambridge News reporters taken to the Media Council, no comment from the Cambridge News, just one side of the story…”

Hamilton mayoral candidates Rudi du Plooy is upset that we have not profiled all 12 candidates. We ran a story in the Waikato Business News about four Hamilton mayoral candidates, following the lead shown by Waikato Chamber of Commerce whose members said those four were the only ones they wanted to hear from at a public forum this month.

He now wants me to provide “clarification on… any editorial ties to the Waikato Times or Chamber” because I once worked for the Times and he suggests a potential conflict of interest.

I expect the Media Council will accept two more complaints.

I believe most communities want robust community papers rather than ones which simply regurgitate press releases. With other

companies closing mastheads because they are not viable, Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Te KūitiŌtorohanga have weekly community papers only because of the passion of publisher David Mackenzie. He has kept the model financially viable in the face of huge price rises in newsprint and delivery costs and we continue to publish wonderful papers full of everything from parish pump to national stories. Our small team, including pensioners working part time, produced 70 editorial pages across three community pages last week. I’m proud of that dedication and effort and we are admired by our peers.

Our election coverage is second to noneparticularly in Waipā where it’s no surprise the candidates line up to advertise with us even if the district council itself snubs Good Local Media readers.

I am stumped as to why there is such a strong desire among some to take us down. Is it tall poppy syndrome?

We don’t always get it right, but regardless of the decisions on Page 23 and my view of them, we will continue to produce the last community papers standing in Waipā and the northern King Country - without fear or favour.

Jono Gibson Funeral Director

Aroha in the greater Waikato - will light up in pink as part of a global illuminations campaign to promote the Breast Cancer Foundation’s annual appeal on October 17 and 18.

Going bananas: pictured from left, Dallas Pope, Ollie Wakeling and Oli Schick dressed in daffodil colours for the cross-country event.

Crashes put the lights out

A rise in vehicle crashes into power poles across the Waipā district has prompted Waipā Networks to issue a public safety reminder: slow down, drive to the conditions, and stay alert.

Over the weekend of September 13-14 there were two “car versus pole” incidents resulting in power cuts across Te Awamutu and Cambridge areas. In both cases, the damage caused to the lines was significant and cost tens of thousands of dollars in repairs.

This added to a busy weekend with multiple weather-related incidents, including more than 10 “outages” caused by trees falling on power lines, two of which caused significant damage to network equipment.

Ninety per cent of Waipā Networks field crews were working over that weekend to respond to power loss and restore service to the community.

In Waipā Networks’ last financial year ending March 31 there were 17 car-v-pole incidents, affecting 13 feeders and causing power outages for almost 8000 customers.

Since April this year, there have already been 16 incidents impacting around 10 feeders and resulting in more than 8500 customers losing power.

Wet roads, fog and fatigue are just some of the factors contributing to the spike. In one case, the pole had only been replaced a week earlier.

Tom Bromfield, general manager of delivery at Waipā Networks, says each crash not only poses serious risks to drivers and passengers but also disrupts power supply and places significant strain on emergency and repair services.

“These incidents are dangerous, put lives at risk, have a significant financial cost, and can leave entire neighbourhoods without power for hours,” Bromfield explains.

“Replacing a damaged pole can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000, depending on the type and location. If a transformer is involved or multiple poles are affected, the cost and complexity increase dramatically.”

Repairs typically require a team of overhead line workers, traffic management, and sometimes underground crews, and can take anywhere from five to 10 hours to restore power.

Waipā Networks says all customers should have a backup plan if their power goes out. This includes essentials like a torch, a charged mobile phone, warm clothing and

blankets, and basic knowledge of what to do during an outage.

Drivers are also being reminded that they may be held financially responsible for any damage caused, especially if they are uninsured or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“If you hit a pole, stay in your vehicle and call 111 to avoid an electric shock. Downed lines can be deadly, and your car is usually the safest place to be until we’ve turned the power off,” says Bromfield.

“If you’re a bystander or first at the scene, stay at least 10 metres away and don’t approach the vehicle until it’s safe. Our crews are trained to respond safely, but we need the public’s help to prevent these incidents in the first place.”

Waipā Networks has strengthened its partnerships with fire brigades in recent years to support emergency response.

In 2023, Waipā Networks provided $10,000 to the Kawhia Fire Brigade to purchase an emergency response vehicle. In 2024, a former Waikato Tree Services vehicle was donated to the Pirongia Fire Station. In February Waipā Networks sponsored $10,000 to the Te Awamutu Fire Brigade for an emergency response vehicle.

Authorised by Stu Kneebone, 271 Baker Road, RD4 Cambridge

“No

As

politics – just common sense”

Another day, another power pole down – this one in Cambridge Road.

VOTE CAMSON

GROWTH IS HERE LET’S MAKE IT WORK FOR CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge doesn’t need vague promises or angry rants. We need practical solutions that protect the town’s character while planning for the future.

Heritage Reuse

Support owners and community groups to give old buildings a new lease of life — as shops, galleries, and businesses that keep our town centre vibrant.

Lake Te Koo Utu

Secure proper restoration and long-term protection, with creative funding and community partnerships.

Forward Works Pipeline

Publish a clear, regularly updated plan showing upcoming infrastructure work and community amenities, so residents know what’s coming, when, and how it will be paid for.

Protect our character. Plan our future.

Four years on

By Janine Krippner

Our planet has the incredible ability to create new parts of itself. Volcanic eruptions occur when material from deep within the Earth rises and forms new landscapes. Islands are built this way, layer by layer, over timescales difficult to grasp.

We can watch rock flow. Molten rock that creeps, or races, across the ground, then cools and solidifies into new forms. When this happens near the coast, lava deltas stretch the land into the ocean. The Earth is constantly reshaping itself.

For many of us, volcanic eruptions are mesmerizing, exciting, and beautiful. The raw power and destructive beauty can be captivating. But what happens when it unfolds right above our communities?

It is now four years since the start of the La Palma (Tajogaite) eruption, and for three years this has been one of my research focuses.

On September 19, 2021, a new vent opened uphill of populated areas. In the first moments it was just a small ash plume as the forces blasted rock into the air. New vents rapidly opened, forming a fissure.

Then the lava came.

I’ve spent countless hours watching footage of the eruption, seeing how the lava carved its path across the landscape. I’ve watched it consume homes - people’s homes. Family homes containing children’s bedrooms and precious abandoned toys. I have walked around those damaged or destroyed along the boundaries. No one knew their lives would flip upside down in a matter of minutes. Some had 15 minutes to grab what they could before leaving, many never to return.

Our world faces many natural hazards. Here, we’re familiar with floods, cyclones, tornadoes, earthquakes, and the threat of

Ingredients for every taste

Tastes and textures, di erent cultures and traditional dishes - whether for health reasons or just for preference – when it comes to food, the world is just about everyone’s oyster in today’s times.

For Cambridge couple

John and Katrina Weller, it makes sense to open a shop reflecting that versatility along with the ability to source-hard-to-find, or artisan New Zealand products.

And that’s how their new shop Cambridge Wholefoods has come about.

There quite literally is something for everyone in the shop opposite Five Stags.

“We’ll try to find everything people ask us to source,” Katrina says.

“And that’s a lot. The centre of the store holds 180 di erent bins of everyday staples, and another area where people can come in and refill their own containers with Ecostore products.

“We believe in sustainability –for example, we have peanut and almond butter machines and people are encouraged to bring in their own clean jars.”

She says a lot of people travel to all sorts of places out of the region to source the

foodstu s they are looking for – one she knows even going as far as Auckland.

“Or they buy online if they can’t find it locally,” she says.

John and Katrina say Cambridge was lacking in an outlet with such a wide range of products, and decided to fulfil the need they knew was there.

“We have a variety of sections around the perimeter of the shop –gluten-free, keto, vegan and this includes refrigerated and frozen foods,” Katrina says.

“We are particularly keen on sourcing New Zealand produced products; you often see people at expos who are making fantastic things and need a landing space, such a shop as this provides to market what they do.

“We are big believers in sustainable and local production and always keen to look at what’s out there.”

What people look for are as wide ranging as the cultures that create di erent recipes themselves.

“It could be as mundane as a specific brand of sardines, or to the extreme where say Thermomix, for example, often uses ingredients you won’t find in a supermarket, like fresh yeast.

“Our policy is, if we haven’t got it, we will certainly do our best to source it.”

This goes as far as creating a suggestion blackboard at the rear corner of the store, where if a customer can’t find what they want, they can leave a request and the Wellers’ will do their best to source it for them.

One of the aspects that Katrina believes is a blessing in stores like theirs is the ability to buy as little – or as much – as someone wants.

“Whether it’s a small amount for a specific recipe or buying in bulk as a way to save money, we cater to that,” she says.

“We’ll also look at viral trends and stock what we can of those too.”

From the mundane to the unusual, from artisan to unique, and backed by the belief that sustainability and recycling are a great way to live, the Wellers say the response to the shop opening soon has so far been “overwhelmingly positive”.

To underline their thanks for the positivity, they will be putting everyone who spends more than $40 in the draw to win a goodie hamper of combined Ecostore and Chantal products, drawn on October 31.

tsunamis. But there’s something distinctly different about this eruption style.

Lava flows don’t just damage or destroy. Lava cools into rock, sometimes reaching tens of metres thick. Floods may take a house, but they don’t leave the landscape itself unrecognisable. In La Palma, entire communities were buried.

The evacuation and loss of home is just one part of the struggle. The road to rebuilding a life after such a disaster can stretch over years. The mental toll can be immense. The human side of these events, the pain, the grief, the trauma, is something most of us can’t fully understand unless we live through it. And yet, it is the most important aspect for us to grasp.

On this fourth anniversary of the eruption, I am thinking of those people. This kind of disaster will happen again. Those who will one day lose their homes and communities are most likely unaware of the risks they face or at least can’t truly grasp that it could happen to them.

As a volcanologist and science communicator, I constantly wonder what I can do to help those who will be affected. What lessons, however agonising, need to be passed on to mitigate the pain? How can we prepare not just with science, but with humanity, to help people not only survive but rebuild their lives after the ground beneath them is forever changed?

It is up to us how we prepare to face the human cost when the ground beneath us shifts, and how we ensure that, in the aftermath, no one is left behind.

Authorised by Aidhean Camson

Jets return, Waikato soars

By Mary Anne Gill

The last time an Air New Zealand jet flew commercially from Hamilton Airport, Russ Rimmington and John Hewitt were mayors of Hamilton and Waipā.

A quarter of a century later, their successors Paula Southgate and Susan O’Regan welcomed the airline back – and farewelled Air NZ’s chief executive, hometown boy Greg Foran.

Flight NZ324 from Christchurch touched down in Hamilton at 4.20pm last Thursday, marking the city’s first domestic jet service in 25 years.

The new A320 jet services will contribute around 18,000 extra seats annually and a further 7000 seats will be added through enhancements to the ATR 72 schedule - delivering around 25,000 additional seats in total.

Several Waikato business identities were on the old ATR which travelled to Christchurch. Among them were Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate, Hamilton Airport chair Barry Harris, Nicola Greenwell (Hamilton and Waikato Tourism), Don Good (Waikato Chamber of Commerce), Russell Alexander (Hobbiton), Richard Lindroos (Fieldays), Sacha Coburn (Coffee Culture) and Todd Charteris (Rabobank).

They joined Christchurch deputy mayor Pauline Cotter and airport company chief executive Justin Watson for a ceremony in the Koru

Lounge.

Hamilton’s Steven Holloway and Seamus Marten, the event’s MCs, noted that two of their most popular podcasts featured Christchurch pair Simon Barnett and Jason Gunn.

They also revealed that Foran, who appeared on their podcast earlier this year and retires next month, received 3000 emails afterward - a result of a dare to personally reply to every message.

“It’s been a little bit challenging

with a few engine troubles and tourism not quite where we want to be but to actually be able to now get some growth on some of these routes is a big deal for all of us,” said Foran at the Christchurch ceremony. He called it “terrific” to see two powerhouse regions coming together.

thousands of more opportunities for business, for events, for tourism and for people to be able to connect with all their loved ones.”

that makes it all so easy and stress free.

“This fantastic new service will make it easier to bring you closer to the people, the places and the opportunities that matter most to you,” she said.

In Hamilton, Foran said the onehour A320 trip was “so quick” that airline staff struggled to complete the Koru in-flight service.

“And that’s not because I’m a novice. I’m pretty efficient out there but we were scurrying at the end to get it done.”

Harris highlighted the significant opportunities and high demand for travel between the two regions, thanking airport shareholders represented by Southgate and O’Regan.

“What you represent today is your support for what we’re doing and making sure that we have an absolutely fantastic small but perfectly formed regional airport that’s now an international airport punching above its weight.”

House and Land Package CAMBRIDGE

O’Regan, reminding everyone the airport was in Waipā district, called it a vital piece of Waikato infrastructure.

Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing or just getting started, this property ticks all the boxes for comfort, style, and convenience. Newly completed, this beautifully finished home is your turnkey dream!

Cotter said the WaikatoCanterbury route was about more than just flights.

This house and land package includes – three spacious bedrooms, two modern bathrooms, ducted air conditioning, a double garage and is fully landscaped at just $1,149,000!

“The jet is going to join the existing ATR services so that’s an extra 25,000 seats. That’s a decent amount going of this route,

“It’s about strengthening the ties between two of New Zealand’s most vibrant, dynamic and fasting growing cities.

“We’re large enough to be exciting and we offer plenty of action and things to do but of a size

“It’s creating jobs, attracting investment, and showing real confidence in our future. With jets back in the skies, our region is really going to soar.”

93a Thompson Street, Leamington, Cambridge.

• Mary Anne Gill travelled from Hamilton to Christchurch and back and had a two-hour city cycle tour courtesy of Air New Zealand and Chill Explore.

Contact Kirsty Johnson, 021 371 347 kirsty@downey.co.nz or Kim Rutz, 021 567 005 kim@downey.co.nz to find out more.

DINING

93a Thompson Street, Leamington, Cambridge. Contact Kirsty Johnson, 021 371 347 kirsty@downey.co.nz or Kim Rutz, 021

House and Land Package CAMBRIDGE Available NOW for immediate possession

Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing or just getting started, this property ticks all boxes for comfort, style, and convenience. Newly completed, this beautifully finished home is your turnkey dream! house and land package includes – three spacious bedrooms, two modern bathrooms, ducted air conditioning, a double garage and is fully landscaped at just $1,149,000!

Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing or just getting started, this property ticks all the boxes for comfort, style, and convenience. Newly completed, this beautifully finished home is your turnkey dream!

93a Thompson Street, Leamington, Cambridge.

Contact Kirsty Johnson, 021 371 347 kirsty@downey.co.nz or Kim Rutz, 021 567 005 kim@downey.co.nz to find out more.

Contact Kirsty Johnson, 021 371 347 kirsty@downey.co.nz or Kim Rutz, 021 567 005 kim@downey.co.nz to find out more. 93a Thompson Street, Leamington, Cambridge. downey.co.nz

Hamilton Airport staff with Air NZ’s departing chief executive Greg Foran who they presented with a Chiefs jersey reflecting his Waikato upbringing. From left, Glen MacWilliam, Ben Langley, Andrew Hugill, Greg Foran, Barry Harris, Lauren Patterson, Angela Beardsmore, Karen Wilson, Karen Lovegrove. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Emma casts spell on judges

Seven-year-old Emma Nicholson and her Bellbird Speech and Drama classmates conjured up some magic at the Te Awamutu Performing Arts Competition on Saturday.

The five Leamington School students teamed up to perform an original mini-play, The Witches of Cambridge’, taking on competitors ranging in age from primary schoolers to teenagers, and came third.

“The adjudicator praised their performance, saying it was so entertaining and very funny,” said their teacher, Jessie Bell.

Emma had an outstanding day on stage, winning first place for her action poem in costume and her New Zealand poem. She also won the Emerging Talent award.

“Emma really impressed the adjudicator with her confidence, clarity of voice and awesome stage presence,” Jessie said.

“Overall, the girls came away with a range of awards, including the Quirky Cup for improvisation, Most Promising Competitor under

12, and an assortment of commended and very highly commended prizes.

“It was a great effort and I was really proud of them,” she said. “Leamington School

has definitely got talent!”

The annual competition, which will celebrate its 75th birthday next year, is run by the Te Awamutu Society of the Arts.

Finding treasure…

By Murray Smith, Bridges Church

Some astonishing and valuable treasures have often been uncovered purely by chance. One such incident occurred near a village in Suffolk, England in 1992. Eric Lawes had recently retired and was gifted with a metal detector for the occasion. A farmer friend of Lawes had dropped a hammer somewhere in a field, so Lawes headed to his mate’s farm thinking he would help to locate the lost hammer. He was completely unaware that his ‘mission’ would uncover the biggest cache of Roman treasure ever found in Britain.

The metal detector soon picked up a strong signal in the earth, leading Lawes to start digging. After bringing up a few shovel-fulls of silver spoons and gold coins it quickly became apparent that he had unearthed significant treasure. He stopped digging and called both police and a local archaeological society. The next day, the archaeologists carefully excavated the area containing the treasure. By the time everything had been removed from the dirt, the archaeologists had nearly 60 pounds of gold and silver objects, including 15,234 Roman coins, dozens of silver spoons and 200 gold objects.

The discovery of this 1200-year-old Roman hoard was of extraordinary historical importance. It also proved to be an extraordinary windfall for Eric Lawes. He received £1.75 million from the British government for finding the gold and leaving it intact, which he split with the farmer on whose land the treasure haul was uncovered. He also eventually found the hammer, which became an exhibit in the British Museum.

This interesting account reminds me of

a story in the Bible. It’s known as, “The Parable of the Hidden Treasure.” Jesus is speaking: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44) How, we might imagine, could a treasure end up being buried in a field? Perhaps back in history, invading enemies were sweeping through the region and someone afraid of losing their possessions hastily buried their riches planning to recover them at a later stage. Who knows what happened next? Maybe that owner was swept off by invaders, never getting to return - leaving the treasure buried in the field. Years later another man comes along and discovers the treasure. Telling no one, he goes and buys the field as if it were just an ordinary property. Possessing the field, he owned its riches.

There’s various ways of understanding parables. One way I’d suggest is that the man who bought the field is Jesus. A ‘field’ in parables is always indicative of the ‘world’. Jesus paid the price for the whole world - but it’s not the world He wants primarily but the treasure in the field. That treasure is people. Jesus was willing to pay the price in order to get the treasure, which is you and me. He ‘sold’ everything, laying aside divine privilege, reputation and His glory, He died on a cross paying the price for us by His sacrifice. You are the treasure God gave everything to secure - it’s your move how you’ll respond to this.

Whatever

Whatever your ACC funding level, Resonate offers you our top of the range hearing aids ReSound Vivia 9™ at no additional cost.

offers

Leamington School student Emma Nicholson celebrates her prize haul. Photo – Ben Nicholson

Voters could scupper plan

By Chris Gardner

Farmers could halt the implementation of a Waikato Regional Council water quality plan change by voting in the “right people”, Waipā-King Country candidate Garry Reymer says.

The Environment Court is yet to rule on Plan Change One which proposes a widesweeping set of rules for agricultural land use to improve freshwater quality in the Waikato and Waipā river catchments.

“Plan change one is not a given,” Reymer said at Thursday’s Federated Farmers candidate meeting in Te Awamutu.

“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.

“The government has also asked that regional councils park any further work until the new Resource Management Act comes out. We shouldn’t be progressing it before that time.

“Regional council needs to become the educator and not the policeman. If they can start getting alongside farmers and say this is how you do things, and this is how you do it better, rather than just walking in there and slapping you with a fine, you would get far better progress.”

Stu Kneebone, one of the two sitting councillors, said arguments to make farming a controlled activity over the last few months had received council push back.

“The government made a legislation change because we simply don’t have the resources to make all farming activities a controlled activity in the next couple of years,” he said.

“One of the things that came out of this

was if you planted tree, we’d all be fine,”

Stolwyk said.

“It raised major red flags about what could actually occur. A strong economy and a healthy environment aren’t mutually exclusive. We have to achieve both. Our rural communities cannot suffer. We have to find our way through it.”

Kneebone and Reymer talked about the main water quality issue or contaminants in the area.

“The one that has been mostly unregulated has been agricultural discharges,” Kneebone said.

“The challenge is trying to manage allocating the rights to discharge contaminants in an equitable way, and that’s been the guts of the issues we’re dealing with Plan Change One.

The issue of co-governance

It’s a touchy issue, but it needs to be publicly debated and democratically determined. Is the co-governance of public assets the best model for all of New Zealand? Maori make up 18% of the population, but have 50% of decision-making power over public assets in a cogovernance arrangement. Unelected, decision-making power over assets to which we all contribute. Regional Council is currently introducing co-governance by stealth, enabling the transitioning of co-management committees into co-governance committees. I stand for an inclusive Waikato, where all people are equal under one law, and where any person can achieve great things - based on experience, quali cations, and merit - not race.

Vote Clyde Graf for Waikato Regional Council.

Achievements while in Council

“It’s not easy but we have to acknowledge that there’s a whole bunch of other industries that discharge that have been on numerical limits for 10 or 20 plus years and the agricultural sector hasn’t, and we have somehow got to address that.”

Reymer responded: “Boy, I don’t agree with what I’ve just heard”.

“I don’t think agricultural discharges are the biggest thing. When you look at farmers and what we have done around riparian, planting and setting aside land I think our water quality has improved immensely and continues to do so.

“The biggest challenge to our water quality are probably things like koi carp, who do massive damage, birdlife unabated onto our lakes and ponds. If you look at Maungatautari, our inland island, the e-coli

VOTE Clyde Graf for Waikato Regional Council

Yes to - zero rates rises

Yes to - environmental monitoring Yes to - supporting primary industry

Yes to - public ownership of water

No to - reckless spending No to - polluting air, land and water No to - RMA red tape No to - co-governance of water www.ratescontrolteam.co.nz

During my rst term as a Waikato Regional Councillor, I was a member of the Rates Control Team. Our decisions returned a rates reduction of -3%, unlike the excessive increases we see today. (During this current term I also voted against rates increases). We formed the Coromandel Aquaculture Forum, increased regional funding for surf life-saving, delivered increased funding for rural weather-bomb events, and removed council-collected TB rates. I also led the working group for a successful ood management project. In this recent term, we’ve provided funding for Maungatautari, streamlined public transport, and introduced improved monitoring for water quality, soils, marine areas, biodiversity, and biosecurity. I opposed Three Waters, and the Te Awamutu waste-to-energy plant, and continue to do so.

In response to the skyrocketing rates we’re all facing, we’ve re-formed the Rates Control Team. We’re a group of prudent councillors who are keenly aware of the cost-of-living crisis facing us all.

Visit www.ratescontrolteam.co.nz for policies and to meet our candidates.

coming out of there, and it’s increasing as birdlife is improving there. Some of the standards and requirements around water quality are absolute BS.”

Stolwyk was on the same page as Reymer, citing water quality issues at Lake Te Koo Utu, Lake Ngā Roto and Lake Parangi and golden clam invasion at Lake Karāpiro.

“It’s a whole heap of things, it’s not one thing, there needs to be a multi prong approach because it’s going to take a really long time for any improvements to happen,” she said.”

“The load to come is horrendous. We have got 50 years of load to come through nitrogen, and other contaminants that have been occurring over a long period.” • 1080 and more, regional council candidates, pages 15 and 16.

Clyde Graf - A bit about me

I have lived in the Waikato for the last 30 years. I grew up in and around Te Urewera National Park, where I learned bush craft and about our environment.

1995 - 2025 - Owner of business in building industry

1997 - Started lming and producing outdoors DVDs and TV series under The Graf Boys’ brand. Gone on to lm and produce dozens of short lms and documentaries.

2004 - Commissioned by NZ Police & NZ Mountain Safety Council to produce a featurelength rearms and outdoors safety DVD titled On Target (released in 2004).

2009 - Released our 4 x international award-winning documentary Poisoning Paradise.

2013 - 2016 & 2022 - 2025 Elected to Waikato Regional Council. Chaired EPC. What I stand for - I support farming and primary industry. I am focused on ensuring regional council sticks to its core business and that it operates within budgets. To counter the reckless spending in Council, we’ve reformed the Rates Control Team. We’re a group of concerned councillors who are driving change, and are dedicated to bringing your rates down.

I respectfully ask for your vote, and to represent you in council once again.

Vote Clyde Graf for Waikato Regional Council Visit

Garry Reymer

Stu Kneebone

Liz Stolwyk

A dangerous delusion

By Peter Nicholl

Two significant items of economic news came out last week. Food price inflation had risen by 5 per cent over the past year. That would have surprised nobody. Gross domestic product fell by 0.9 per cent in the June quarter, and on a per capita basis fell even more. That surprised almost everyone. Most were expecting a decline but not by that much.

While the gross domestic product fall was alarming, what has alarmed me more is the political and media response to the fall. The Minister of Finance said, “this has been a very hard-fought economic recovery after a very difficult few years of sky-high inflation and soaring interest rates”.

While inflation and interest rates did rise over the past few years, to describe them as ‘sky-high’ and ‘soaring’ is a stretch. Even more of a stretch is to think that they’re the main reasons for our poor growth performance. It is due to our abysmal productivity. The policies that need to change that rest with the Government, not the Reserve Bank.

when food prices are rising at five per cent, rates and insurance prices are rising at over 10 per cent and we have many people leaving for Australia because wages in New Zealand are too low?

Also, the Reserve Bank has cut its cash rate more strongly than Australia, Canada, the UK and US over the past year yet gross domestic product is rising more strongly in all those countries than here. People need to start realising that lower interest rates are not going to solve any of our fundamental economic problems. It may mask them for a while but when the temporary impact of the lower interest rates wears off, our fundamental problem of poor productivity will stall our economic growth once again.

Red-tape and stifling regulation impose enormous costs on every business. This Government said they were going to light a bonfire under all our unnecessary or overburdensome rules and regulations. While a few things have been done, it certainly hasn’t been a bonfire - and a bonfire is what New Zealand needs.

But the only policy response talked about in the media is the Reserve Bank cutting interest rate more aggressively. One bank economist said, “the Reserve Bank can now cut the official cash rate strongly because there is confidence that inflation will be lower later down the track”.

Really? How can anyone be confident that inflation will be lower ‘later down the track’

When I first started working as an economist way back in the 1970s, we had a very similar economic debate. The difference then was that the policy panacea was lowering the exchange rate. We devalued, things looked a little better for a short time, then the old problems that hadn’t been solved started impacting again, so we devalued again – and so it went on for over a decade, a decade during which New Zealand steadily slid down the global table of gross domestic product per capita.

The debate in the media since the poor gross domestic product data came out last week has taken me back to the 1970s. We look for a simple answer for a complex problem. I don’t actually object to the Reserve Bank lowering interest rates a little more.

What worries me is that many people, including some of our politicians, seem to think that is all we need to do get the New Zealand economy purring along again. That is a very dangerous delusion.

On the Hustings – with

Mary Anne Gill

Waipā council’s last stand

It was the last Waipā District Council meeting of the term yesterday, and the 284-page agenda offered a mix of controversy and some tantalising publicexcluded items.

Staff advised councillors not to approve a notice of motion from Roger Gordon, who called for a “no right turn” from Newcombe Rd into Tīrau Rd.

The aim: to prevent heavy quarry traffic from passing through the Cambridge CBD.

Staff argued there was no rush to consider the motion, as an appeal is still pending on the decision to grant the quarry operation.

Gordon, however, was reportedly well-armed with evidence supporting the ban on heavy trucks. He even included a rebuttal to the claim of “ultra vires” - the legal term for a council acting beyond its powers - which staff said would be the case if the motion passed.

Behind closed doors, councillors were set to consider chief executive Steph O’Sullivan’s end-of-year performance and review her remuneration. Before leaving Whakatāne District Council last year, O’Sullivan was on $317,099, while Garry Dyet was earning $363,604 in Waipā.

How much O’Sullivan earned after she started in August last year will be revealed when the Annual Report is released soon.

It only seems like yesterday the council finalised the Long Term Plan, and now it’s back - this time with an amendment to recognise Waipā’s transfer of water operations to a council-controlled

organisation.

Mayor Susan O’Regan recently warned there was to be no politicking at meetings, and she was expected to repeat that message. Fat chance!

Of the councillors at the table, we know Mike Montgomerie - elected unopposed in Maungatautari - will return after the elections. Andrew Brown, Liz Stolwyk, and Bruce Thomas, however, will not. Brown and Thomas are stepping down, while Stolwyk is running for Waikato Regional Council.

The mayoral race permutations are intriguing:

• If Clare St Pierre wins, Susan O’Regan and Mike Pettit will not return.

• If O’Regan wins, Pettit is out, and vice versa.

It’s odds-on that St Pierre will be back as a councillor - she’s virtually a shoo-in for the Pirongia-Kakepuku ward.

In Te Awamutu-Kihikihi, Lou Brown and Marcus Gower face tough competition. If Graham Jull ousts Gower, history will almost repeat itself - Gower did the same to Jull in 2010.

The Waipā Māori ward is a two-way battle for one spot, with both candidates urging voters to retain the ward rather than for personal appeals.

Philip Coles and Roger Gordon are among a crowded field in the Cambridge ward. Gordon’s recent populist actions are expected to secure him a third term, meaning at least two, possibly three new councillors will sit at the table.

Several readers contacted The News after our advice a few weeks ago, saying

voters only need to vote for one candidate in the ward, not four. The voting papers say to “tick the circle next to up to four candidates.”

In a field of 14 for four spots, casting just one vote can be more effective for your favourite candidate than spreading your votes among others you’re less keen on.

It’s a little too early to call who has run the best campaign, but O’Regan’s “tiki tour” video of the district - filmed in front of signs in Pirongia, Te Pahu, Maungatautari, Puahue, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Kihikihi, Pokuru, Te Rore, Hora Hora, Paterangi, Ngāhinapōuri, Rukuhia, Ōhaupō, Karāpiro, Pukekura, Whitehall, Te Miro, and Pukeatua - looks set to win the “most viewed” title.

By Monday, the John Hayward-filmed reel had 26,000 unpaid organic views in six days, meaning she didn’t have to pay to boost it.

Pettit and St Pierre are also using reels and stories for their campaigns - St Pierre hit 12,800 views for one video, while Mike Pettit had 7500 for a reel.

On social media, Gower’s Facebook posts have attracted both positive and negative responses. He doesn’t hesitate to hit back but told The News that some comments have crossed the line into personal attacks.

Most candidates are putting themselves forward because they want to serve the community - not to be on the receiving end of continual serves from the community, he says.

Hear, hear.

Clare St Pierre for Waipa’s Mayor

Fix the finances

I’m proudly standing for Mayor of Waipā. My eyes are on the future of this wonderful district, but we need solid foundations to get us there. This starts with our finances – they need fixing, and we need a plan to tackle our ever-increasing debt. With these foundations in place, I commit to helping build a vibrant, inclusive, affordable and diverse community. One we can all be proud of.

Feds unveil 10 priorities

By Chris Gardner

Federated Farmers’ Cambridge and Te Awamutu presented electoral candidates with a gift pack that included the organisation’s priorities for incoming farmers.

Waipā dairy farmer Chris Lewis, who chaired the organisation’s candidates meeting in Te Awamutu last week, urged the three Waipā mayoral candidates and three regional council candidates who showed up to “please read the guide”.

“It’s like a bible to us at Federated Farmers,” Lewis said.

Waikato Regional Council Waipā-King Country candidates Stu Kneebone, Garry Reymer and Liz Stolwyk all received the pack alongside Waipā mayoral candidates Susan O’Regan, Mike Pettit and Clare St Pierre.

Regional council candidate Clyde Graf sent his apologies to the meeting.

Federated Farmers priorities for incoming councillors are keeping rates in check, controlling pests and weeds, giving ratepayers a say on big spending, a fairer funding system, rates relief for protected land, streamlining planning and environmental rules, not wasting ratepayer dollars by setting climate policies, having rural representation in emergency operations centres, using fuel excise and road user charges to cover 90 per cent of ‘local” roading costs, and a lower registration for for working dogs.

Gower backs O’Regan

By Jesse Wood

Long serving Waipā District councillor Marcus Gower has thrown his support behind Susan O’Regan as mayor.

Gower, first elected in 2010 for Te Awamutu, said under O’Regan’s leadership, many tough decisions had been made to improve the district.

Speaking to more than 100 people at the Grey Power Te Awamutu ‘meet the candidates’ event held at Waipā Workingmen’s Club last week, Gower described the past three years as “pretty hard”.

“But under Susan’s leadership we’ve managed some very difficult decisions. We’ve landed our long term plan and we have our waters company that’s about to be started.

“Council is going to be a completely different beast in the next three years,” he said. “It’s going to be exciting change. We need people who are going to support our leaders and work constructively together.

Candidates for Waipā mayor, Te AwamutuKihikihi, Pirongia-Kakepuku and Waipā Māori wards, Waikato Regional Council, and the Te Awamutu-

Kihikihi Community Board were invited to the Michael Cullen-chaired meeting.

Former Waikato Regional councillor Andrew MacPherson, who stood down three years ago and is not re-standing, took the microphone and criticised the Rates Control team - a ticket of eight candidates including Garry Reymer and Clyde Graf in Waipā-King Country.

“I served on the regional council, and I’ve had to listen to the rates control group tell you a load of nonsense,” MacPherson said.

“I was part of the council where we decided to have zero rates increase during the Covid pandemic and that caused damage.

“The rates control group is being fast and furious with the truth.”

Pirongia and Kakepuku candidate Les Bennett asked if a member of the team would like a right of reply to MacPherson, which Reymer accepted.

“It’s very disappointing that was allowed to happen. It’s straight up politicking, we can look at these numbers ourselves,” Reymer said.

“I’m part of the rates control team. You can take

us, or you can leave us as you like. We’re like any group; we don’t agree on everything that each one of us stand for. We can have our own minds and our own opinions.

“But the fact of the matter is, it depends how you want

to look at the numbers. I’ve got the numbers in front of me here. These figures came from the chief executive.”

Māori Ward candidate Dale-Maree Morgan then lifted the mood, leading the audience in a rendition of Tūtira mai ngā iwi.

Chris Lewis. Photo: Chris Gardner

Marcus Gower has backed Waipā’s sitting mayor. Photo: Jesse Wood

.co.nz

SAVOUR MOMENTS THAT MATTER WITH RYMAN

Some of the best moments are shared over food. Swiping biscuit dough when Grandma’s not looking, trying to master Dad’s famous cheese toasties, or laughing with friends at Sunday brunch – these are the memories that last.

That’s why, we’re giving you 10,000 New World Dollars when you sign up to an independent apartment or townhouse by 30 September 2025.*

We’ll cover the grocery bills, so you can spend less time worrying about what’s in the trolley and more time enjoying who’s around the table.

And because life at Ryman means less home maintenance, you’ll have even more time for the things you love.

IAN, JO, AND FAMILY Ryman Residents

Another 11% rates

Debt $400m

$80m in DCs owed

CEO salary

$400,000 consultants last year

25% increase on water rates this quarter

$100m debt increase expecting results - Albert Einstein

www.BetterWaipa.co.nz in 2025 rise next year

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different

$2m for Bunnings

$14m paid to building in 2024

BETTER WAIPA is a team of new councillors, with the right skills and experience, working together for commonsense solutions. is is the only way to x the system.

1. Rebuild trust through transparency and honesty.

2. Replace predetermined “consultation” with genuine listening.

3. Cap rates, Back to Basics, and cut consultants.

4. No more speed bumps, x potholes instead.

5. Stop the waste so we can maintain community services.

Waipa Ratepayers and Residents Group and CityWatchNZ.org have good articles on council issues. 15.5% rates rise

Our rates are shooting up, council debt is exploding, red tape is blocking business, our roads are a mess, and we’ve lost control of our water supply. If you want a better Waipa District Council, don’t keep voting for the same people. Vote smart. It’s what Einstein would do.

6. Practical and cost‐e ective solutions.

7. Financial responsibility and accountability.

Endorsed by GROUNDSWELL local coordinators

Recommended by Te Awamutu Residents and Ratepayers Association

More information: Facebook: Better Waipa

Waikato Regional Council manages and protects natural and physical resources, such as water, land, air, and coasts.

The Waipā-King Country constituency has a population of 70,700 and takes in the Waipā, Ōtorohanga and Waitomo district council areas. The council is responsible for providing regional transport for Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Ōtorohanga and Te Kūiti and for biodiversity and biosecurity, flood protection infrastructure, and providing scientific and technical expertise to support the sustainable management of the region's resources.

Regional councillors are responsible for setting the priorities and adopting policies that direct the council’s work programmes and activities. They, with their other regional council colleagues, monitor performance against the council’s objectives and policies, and manage the council’s resources, including setting financial and infrastructure strategies.

Four candidates – Clyde Graf, Stu Kneebone, Garry Reymer and Liz Stolwykl - are vying for the two Waipā-King Country seats.

We asked them a series of questions - here are their answers. Go to www. cambridgenews.nz for more responses

Q: Do you support the use of 1080 to combat pests?

Clyde Graf - 1080 (Sodium Fluoroacetate) is one of the deadliest poisons in existence. It kills every living thing that eats a lethal dose, including insects and birds, deer, dogs and livestock.

It’s inhumane, and without antidote.

New Zealand claims to be clean, green, and compassionate - a contradiction to the use of this poison. No, I don’t support it.

Stu Kneebone - Yes – it is currently our only cost effective option for difficult terrain at scale.

Garry Reymer - Yes I do.

Liz Stolwyk - Whilst I would prefer not to use 1080, it has proven effective in controlling pests in native bush and reducing TB in livestock, vital to Waikato’s economy. Strict controls are essential, alongside a long-term strategy to reduce reliance on 1080 while promoting sustainable, alternative pest management solutions.

Q: What is the biggest threat to our native flora and fauna, and how should the regional council tackle it?

Clyde Graf - The loss of habitat, and the broad-scale use of poisons like 1080 are significant threats to native fauna. Like most other countries, New Zealand should ban 1080, and be more targeted in pest control, using bounties and employing locals, rather than filling the pockets of corporates.

Stu Kneebone - Biggest threats are introduced plant and animal pests. Everyone has a role – it’s about working together in partnership. Waikato Regional Council needs to be out in front, demonstrating leadership, supporting communities and undertaking its responsibilities effectively under the Biosecurity Act.

Garry Reymer - Ferral animals such as deer goats pigs wallabies and possums are a major problem from a flora fauna perspective but if we could eliminate them we would meet our greenhouse gas emissions targets without any other action. I

would have a two-pronged approach of 1080 as well as bounty.

Liz Stolwyk - Introduced pests like rats, stoats, and possums are the biggest threat to our native birds, insects, and forests. The council should continue to support 1080 and trapping. Working with locals and community groups will give wider protection to keep our environment strong long term whilst ensuring ongoing respectful discussion.

Q: Do you support Plan Change One?

Clyde Graf - No, I don’t support PC1 in its current form.

Stu Kneebone - Yes, but not the drawn out Resource Management Act process. It’s hopelessly frustrating and costly. We need affordable and workable regulations to support good farmers. However, the original intent of PC1 has been undermined by litigious processes. Both the regional council and farmers are now bound by the Environment Court’s eventual decision.

Garry Reymer - No. It is wrong that food production has to be a consented activity. Water quality and farm management have improved immensely over the last 20 years with no draconian laws. Food production is

fundamental to the region’s GDP and that needs to grow.

Liz Stolwyk - I was part of the original Collaborative Stakeholder Group set up by Waikato Regional Council, one of only two candidates involved with PC1 from the start. Like many, I’m disappointed by the time and more than $30 million spent, with progress hindered by unnecessary complexity added along the way.

Q: Several district councils and Hamilton city are growth councils. How can the regional council balance the need for urban growth with the protection of highly productive land?

Clyde Graf - We need to protect highly productive soils, but we also need to be very careful about squeezing people too closely together with infill housing. Urban living needs to cater to people’s wellbeing, so we need to provide good quality living spaces with access to nature.

Stu Kneebone - It’s about ensuring Waikato Regional Council’s policies that seek to protect highly productive land are developed alongside constructive dialogue with the district councils in order

Liz Stolwyk Garry Reymer Clyde Graf Stuart Kneebone

Our regional Q and A…

Continued page 16

that both organisations understand each other’s respective obligations and growth predictions/needs. Good forward planning is essential, complemented by modern urban planning and design.

Garry Reymer - This is an ongoing debate. Many parts of the productive land have already been destroyed with the 10 acre block. These are mostly unproductive and councils can look to further subdivision of these before we allow the productive land to get further development. Combine that with infill housing and build up where practical is the solution.

Liz Stolwyk - I’ve had a front row seat on this issue through 12 years on Waipā District Council’s Regulatory and Future Proof committee. Balancing growth with protecting productive soils is never easy. The regional council must guide expansion, support district councils, and manage farmland loss fairly. With smart planning, we can achieve both goals.

Q: Climate change resulting in extreme weather events increases fire risk, rising tides and impacts on our flora and fauna. Is the regional council doing enough to manage and prepare for this?

Clyde Graf - Climate will always change, and funds will always be limited. We need to focus on core services like flood protection, drainage, and stormwater systems, and focus on the highest risk areas in weather events. We need to involve communities in creating cost-effective solutions, as they are the ones who pay for it.

Stu Kneebone - It’s an ongoing work programme to integrate climate adaptation planning into our various workstreams. The

impacts of climate change affect everyone so the council needs to be front footing this work, and working with territorial authorities, the agriculture sector and the community to ensure our adaptation approaches are planned and effective.

Garry Reymer - Mitigation is not something Waikato Regional Council should engage in. Management of the effects of climate change is firmly in the council space. The council needs to do much more here. Flood protection, drainage, energy initiatives and sensible water allocation are areas that can be addressed. Also promoting science at the Waikato University.

Liz Stolwyk - Extreme weather impacts both rural and urban communities. The regional council must use reliable data to understand risks and invest in smart infrastructure like stop banks, drainage, and flood protection. Preparing now with strong planning and practical action is the best way to keep people, property, and farmland safe.

Q: What more could the regional council be doing to manage the region’s waste?

Clyde Graf - Some waste to energy initiatives have been successful, but others haven’t. For example, it's better to re-use tyres, in the form of roading materials and playground surfaces, than to burn them. I support industries that take responsibility for their waste streams by recycling. I don't support the Te Awamutu waste-to-energy proposal.

Stu Kneebone - Nearly 60 per cent of household waste sent to landfill could be recycled or composted. We need to encourage the community and promote opportunities to avoid waste in the first place. The concept of a “circular economy”

where resources are kept in use as long as possible is fundamental to minimising waste.

Garry Reymer - I don’t know a lot about the technology, but we have an opportunity to harness the energy from waste. This makes far more sense than putting it into landfill but I would need to see and understand the business case for such things.

Liz Stolwyk - The regional council should partner with recycling groups i.e. Urban Miners and service clubs and also expand stewardship schemes such as Ag-recovery, and support innovations like FuturePost that turn farm plastics into fence posts. By working with communities and industries, we can recycle more, cut landfill waste, and create smarter, sustainable ways to reuse materials.

Q: What is your view on (a) rates capping and (b) linking rates to an inflation index?

Clyde Graf - I’ve supported keeping rates under the CPI since I was first elected under the Rates Control Team banner in 2013, but you need a majority of Rates Control people around the council table to keep rates down. Unfortunately, a lot of current councillors have been happy to be frivolous with ratepayers’ money.

Stu Kneebone - Both are blunt tools I don’t support. Inflation indexes don’t always correlate to stuff councils do. There is a real risk that rates capping would severely impact our ability to fund critical work such as flood protection, natural hazard management, biosecurity, pest control and other important responsibilities that in my view we can’t afford to skimp on. We’d be better served by some transparent dialogue

with government and community about what they want/expect from councils, along with an honest and frank discussion about realistic, fair and fit for purpose funding mechanisms.

Garry Reymer - Rates capping is a poor term. We could just as easily say project capping or wish list capping. What is needed is prudent financial management that delivers improved performance and productivity. In a year like the one we are entering I think it was entirely possible for the Waikato Regional Council to have had a zero percentage increase. But they have chosen to sit on unallocated cash ($2.5 mil) that belongs to ratepayers. They have also had another five per cent increase in staff with no evidence that we have improved service and they have failed to lift the cost recovery of public transport in line with the government directive.

Liz Stolwyk - Rates capping or linking rates to an inflation index sets the wrong mindset and becomes a target rather than a tool. That doesn’t mean I oppose reducing rates - quite the opposite. Councils must take stronger control of management teams and thoroughly scrutinise budgets and spending. Too often, the tail is wagging the dog with elected members sidelined from real fiscal oversight. Ratepayers deserve councils that actively challenge costs, demand efficiencies, and make every dollar count. Elected representatives must have the access and authority to deliver the financial responsibility their communities expect when they place trust in them.

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

Candidates in their own words

We put a series of questions to TamahereWoodlands ward candidates as voting started in the local body elections.

In random name order, here’s how they responded three questions…

A: Will you vote yes or no to Māori wards?

B: What is the biggest issue specific to Tamahere you are campaigning on in this election?

C: How would you rate the collective performance of the elected councillors over this current term out of 10, and why?

Read the full set of questions and answer at cambridgenews.nz

Peter Mayall

A: I will vote no to Māori wards.

Council represents all ratepayers delivering services and infrastructure.

Dividing communities by ethnicity doesn’t improve outcomes.

We must value and listen to everyone equally.

B: Value for money and genuine consultation. Too often Tamahere suffers from “council knows best” decisions –chicanes, anti-car measures, dog restrictions. Our community is busy living productive lives, not monitoring every council move. I’ll serve the silent majority by eliminating waste, improving efficiency, and ensuring proper consultation before decisions affecting our community are made.

C: We have quality people serving, but change is needed. Working hard isn’t enough – we need smarter governance and protected democracy. CCOs like IAWAI Ltd

represent expensive co-governance models that prioritise ideology over efficient service delivery. This “Treaty gravy train” approach wastes ratepayer money. I rate current performance 6.5/10 – good intentions, poor execution on fiscal responsibility.

Mike Keir

A: Yes, they are democratic in that Māori only get one vote and their voice should be heard on council as per article two of the treaty.

B: Management of growth which includes consenting and zoning regulations.

C: 2.5. They have not been prepared to tackle the big issues like wage growth and inefficiency. WDC submissions on Resource Management and Local Government reform have been weak. Processes have been poor including the LTP and salary setting for the new CEO. Management accountability has been poor around wastage and bad decision making. The executive leadership team have been left to manage the council unchecked.

Crystal Beavis

A: Yes, because so many Maaori voters have registered on the Maaori roll making it democratically clear they want to vote for someone they believe can best represent them. Established via a widely-consultative representation review in 2021, the two Maaori wards serve a

population of 15,140. Waikato district is 26 per cent Maaori. Two Maaori seats out of 14 help bring a Maaori voice and representative diversity of thinking into the council chamber.

B: To advance and find means to fulfil the aspirations expressed by local communities in their own community plans and blueprints. To do that we must manage core services and infrastructure development efficiently, as planned, to “lock in” a budgeted reduction in general rates rises to three per cent and below, starting next year, as laid out in the Long Term Plan 2025-34.

C: Probably 8/10 in reading council papers, constructively debating the issues, establishing new roading contracts, constraining rates rises compared with other councils, maintaining an AA+ credit rating, and being first to establish a council-owned waters company with Hamilton City. Maybe 7/10 in being confidently on top of all the issues (9 out of 14 councillors were new in 2022) but worked hard to be so.

Mark Manson

A: I believe in democracy, one person – one vote. I am against separatism and apartheid and as Maōri have the same opportunity for representation as all New Zealanders, I will be voting no.

B: Financial accountability and responsibility within council. There have been a number of projects in Tamahere, notably Birchwood Lane ‚traffic calming’ and the original layout of the Tamahere car park, that have been an absolute waste of

Column by Barry Quayle

Request to resolve this key issue for Cambridge

Alarm bells should be ringing at Council.

Or maybe they are blind to the consequences of their actions.

The long term plan (LTP) has significant sustainability issues as well as very high risks as reported to a council committee back in March. In July the full Council went on to unanimously adopt the LTP despite still containing very high-risk elements. The Auditor General who undertakes a detailed examination of all Council plans and finances, called it out. Just 4 councils (5%) received an adverse opinion from the Auditor General. Our Council is bench marked at the lowest level of management and governance in NZ.

Our rates levels in the last 3 years have had an over 40% increase which is in the highest quartile for Councils in NZ. The rapid growth

ratepayers (your) money; what repercussions have there been? I believe there should be open accountability of all projects and an audit trail of expenditure against budget.

C: Rating 4 – although the rates increase in the current year has some semblance of control, during the last 3 years the increases have been excessive. Additionally, a number of projects, in the local area, have been mismanaged, without apparent repercussions, at significant cost; this is waste. Further, the consenting process is an abomination.

Anne Cao-Oulton A: I’m open to Māori wards if they strengthen representation and reflect the community’s wishes.

B: I have been doorknocking and talking with our community.

The biggest issue is the high cost of rates. Next, is core services and then it is resource consents. In the past five years the New Zealand economy is tough for many. Seniors and pensioners said to me that they do not know how they are going to pay the rates.

C: 3/10. The rates rises have been excessive. The target rate with water and wastewater increased nearly 40 per cent for those households. Core services could have been done better. Residents say there are potholes everywhere; their trickle feed is not enough; their drain is blocked by a dumped washing machine. Resource consent is difficult to obtain and overly timeconsuming and expensive, which holds the economy back.

planned by Council is likely to result in ongoing high rate rises, because of the risks and further deterioration of Council’s balance sheet. If growth predictions aren’t matched by developers’ ability to get the construction done, they may potentially fall into default on Council’s development levies. This has now happened with two developers in default of their development levies payable to Council.

The lawyers have been called in.

We need urgent examination of the implications of our planning and growth forecasts along with the finances.

Competency needed.

Barry QUAYLE

for WAIPA DISTRICT COUNCIL

Sunday 12 October — 10am to 2pm

Fund money pie is sliced

By Mary Anne Gill

So what’s Club 83 about?

As part of our journey towards sustainability, Cambridge Lifeskills has introduced the Lifeskills Club 83, an initiative where businesses or individuals can choose to support the service by donating at one of three membership levels: Gold ($150), Silver ($100), or Bronze ($83).

Waipā District Council staff have recommended 17 organisations receive funding from this year’s District Promotion Fund, which was halved to $75,000, down from $150,000 last year.

A total of 48 applications requesting $425,643 in funding were received

The final decision was to be made by the District Promotions Sub-Committee, chaired by councillor Marcus Gower, on Monday. The outcome was unavailable when The News went to press.

Other members were deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, councillors Clare St Pierre and Roger Gordon and community representatives Merv Gyde and Kevin Burgess.

A report from Event and Engagement Delivery team leader Amber Diprose recommended the BMX New Zealand National Championships, to be held in Te Awamutu in March 2026, receive $20,000 due to the strong economic and social benefits it is expected to bring to the wider district.

The Te Awamutu BMX Club successfully bid to host the event for the first time since

You can choose to contribute monthly, bi-monthly, annually, or in a way that works best for you, for 12 months or longer, and it’s tax deductible.

What’s in it for you?

We believe that it takes a village to raise a child and your financial support is helping a Cambridge young person’s future. You’ll be provided with a tax donation certificate at the end of the financial year. Your business logo/or name will be on Cambridge Lifeskill’s website under our ‘Lifeskills Club 83’ page.

If you would like to get behind Lifeskills you can either: Phone Sandy on 021 190 1760 Visit www.cambridgelifeskills.co.nz or Donate direct into ANZ Bank: 06-0301-0229802-000 with your name or business name as a reference.

2017.

Overall, 70 per cent of the recommended funding is allocated to events in Cambridge and Karāpiro. The remaining 30 per cent was expected to go to events in Te Awamutu, Kihikihi, Pirongia, and Wharepapa South.

The purpose of the fund is to support events that drive economic activity and promote Waipā.

The recommended events and the suggested grants were:

BMX National Championship $20,000, The Great Waikato Picnic $7500, Waka Ama National Sprint Championships 2026 $6000, New Zealand Dragon Boat Nationals $6000, Ocean Swim Series - Lake Karāpiro $5000, CrossFit New Zealand Team Nationals $5000, Cambridge Cycling Festival (Cambridge Street Festival) $3500, Oceania Track Championships $3500, KRI Christmas Regatta $3500, New Zealand National Rowing Championships $3500, Canoe Racing NZ National Sprint Championships 2026 $3500, Boys Lake Tournament Water Polo Tournament $3000, Cambridge Autumn Festival $3000, Kihikihi Waikato Eventing $2000.

The Waka Ama champs at Lake Karāpiro attracts thousands of visitors from around the country.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Rural women unite

By Chris Gardner

Rural Women New Zealand members and invited guests have celebrated 100 years of the movement at Mystery Creek.

Around 200 members and guests arose to their feet in the Bledisloe Building on Friday to recite the Rural Women New Zealand Creed, asking God to keep them from pettiness and help them to be large in thought, word, and deed.

National president Sandra Matthews highlighted some of the organisation’s achievements since its first members came together for afternoon tea a century ago, including sending nurses on horseback into the bush and raising the equivalent of $1 million in a month to buy a spitfire in 1946.

“All the way throughout history there’s been a focus on charitable work,” she said.

“Each generation has responded to the challenges of the time.

New Zealand Fieldays Society chair Jenni Vernon told the crowd the day held special significance for her.

Vernon’s great grandmother had been a founding member.

“She was a woman of grace who believed in her

own vision to lead, organise and uplift her community.”

Vernon had received the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993.

Member of honour Janet Jenson described Kate Shepherd as a woman of heart who campaigned for the vote, not for a picture in the paper.

Rural Women New Zealand patron Dame Patsy Reddy spoke of the organisation’s early days when rural women needed to support each other.

“That’s not really changed,” said the former governor general. “You are the glue that binds and support our communities,

and I thoroughly enjoy working with you all,” she added.

As chair of the New Zealand Climate Change Commission, she challenged the crowd.

“What legacy will you leave for the next 100 years? Climate change is the greatest challenge to our future.”

The event concluded with the donation of $2500 to Young Farmers for use in events that will encourage membership.

Friday’s event followed Waipā King Country Provincial branch’s centenary lunch at Te Awamutu Bible Chapel.

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

MIKE PETTIT 4 WAIPĀ MAYOR

“We can’t keep adding 10% to last year’s budget and call it a plan. It’s time to be brave, start fresh, make savings first and spend smarter.“

RELATIONSHIPS

Builds strong, respectful relationships with residents, iwi, businesses, staff and councillors

Champions authentic engagement - listening first, acting with purpose

Proposes youth and senior councils to give all generations a voice

Advocating for collaboration across communities and sectors

REALISM

Commitment to financial transparency and zero-based budgeting

Exploring alternative funding models to take pressure off rates

Supports councillor training in financial literacy, strategic planning and governance

Understands the realities of growth and infrastructure needs

RESULTS

Proven leadership across education, council, and community boards

Plans for a Te Awamutu CBD upgrade and Cambridge transport improvements

Supports cost-effective delivery of amenities; libraries, sports facilities and rural village improvements

Focused on tangible, timely outcomes for all of Waipā

Rural Women New Zealand Waikato provincial branch vice president Janet Williams with Dame Patsy Reddy at the centennial.

‘Perfect step’ for Sahara

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Ōhaupō musician Sahara Stanton’s reward at the 2025 Smokefree Rockquest National Finals for winning the Solo-Duo category comes with $11,000 worth of prizes.

The year 13 Cambridge High School student is heading to Wellington next year to study.

“I feel like these past few months I’ve been given recognition for all the music I’ve been working on for years – it feels like such a breakthrough and a perfect first step into the industry I wasn’t sure I could crack. I’m so ecstatic.”

She is only the second Cambridge High School student in the competition’s 37-year-history to have won a national Rockquest title.

The first was Harry Parson, who took out the Solo-Duo category in 2013, publicist Georgia Parker said.

Other past winners Marlon Williams, Fazerdaze, Aldous Harding, Troy Kingi, Drax Project, Six60, Brooke Fraser, Kimbra and Bic Runga.

MONDAY

7:12am, Cardiac arrest, Bryce Street

This year’s event attracted over 3300 young people, entered in more than 1000 acts.

Sahara performed two original songs at the national final at Auckland’s Big Fan music venue, ‘Become You’ and ‘Just Like You’, both written this year.

“I actually just completed the ending of ‘Just Like You’ a week before the final,” she said.

Musician and event judge Priya Sami described her guitar playing as “really impressive – flawless and tasteful”.

“She was doing her own thing and she really held it down…her performance was haunting and drew you in.”

Ōtūmoetai College act Aisha and Bebe came second in the SoloDuo category, and Levol Y from Manurewa High School was third.

Sahara said the experience had generated exposure beyond anything she could achieve alone.

“It’s also really awesome because not only have I met musicians, but

also journalists, which is what I want to do alongside music.”

The talented musician will head to Victoria University of Wellington next year to tackle a double degree in songwriting and journalism.

“I love, love, love Wellington,” she said. “That little crazy weathered city has my heart. If it couldn’t get any better, I’ve been offered residence at my first pick for halls… it’s going to be a good few years.”

She won $3000 worth of musical equipment and an $8000 grant from NZ On Air to record a single, film a music video and promote the release. She said she was grateful to her music teachers, Lisa Norman and Daniel Peters, who had pushed her to enter.

“They’ve provided me with so many opportunities and have been a constant support through my schooling.

“And my family has always believed I’d make it. I’m blessed they are the kind of people to never hold back telling me how proud they are.”

10:15am, Assist ambulance, Te Mara Drive

2:35pm, Tree fire, Taylor Street

7:59pm, Power plynth on fire, Victoria Street

9:55am, Cardiac Arrest, Bryce Street

4:53am, Cardiac arrest, Vogel Street

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

3:53am, Powerline arcing, Oliver Road 8:46am, Cardiac arrest, Vogel Street

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

INVESTING IN YOUR PLOT

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

6:07pm, Trailer fire, Tirau Road SUNDAY

10:59am, Tree fire, Hooker Road

MONDAY

3:53am, Medical assistance, Karapiro Road

11:01am, Building alarm and evacuation, Victoria Road 1:18pm, Cardiac arrest, Carnachan Street

www.floridaltd.co.nz

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

We’ve

Sahara Stanton performs at the Smokefree Rockquest.

NZ Media Council Upholds Complaint Over Headline Referencing Mayoral Candidate’s Ethnicity Media Council Upholds Complaint Over Greyhound Racing Coverage

The NZ Media Council has upheld a complaint against the Cambridge News over a headline that placed undue emphasis on a mayoral candidate’s ethnicity, ruling it breached journalistic standards on discrimination and diversity.

The article, published on 12 June 2025 and headlined “A Zulu for mayor?”, profiled 19-year-old Fabio Rodrigues, a candidate for the Waikato mayoralty and Tuakau-Pōkeno ward councillor. Rodrigues, originally from Durban, South Africa, was adopted by a family in South Africa and moved to New Zealand as a child. The article outlined his personal journey and political motivations, including concerns about council spending and infrastructure.

Complainant Carmen Kay argued that the headline was inappropriate and unprofessional, reducing Mr Rodrigues to his ethnicity and implying that his Zulu heritage was a reason to question his suitability for office. She said the framing of the question perpetuated harmful stereotypes and failed to highlight his qualifications or policy positions.

In response, the editor of the Cambridge News defended the headline, arguing that ethnicity is often referenced in the Media and that Mr Rodrigues’ heritage was central to the story. He rejected claims of stereotyping and said the headline was not

intended to be discriminatory.

While the Media Council found the article itself to be fair and accurate, it ruled that the headline breached Principle (7) of its code, which prohibits gratuitous emphasis on race. The Council said the question mark in the headline “A Zulu for mayor?” invited readers to doubt Mr Rodrigues’ candidacy based solely on his ethnicity. It concluded that this framing was discriminatory and gave undue prominence to his race in a negative context.

The Council acknowledged that Mr Rodrigues’ background was newsworthy and that he had openly discussed his heritage. However, it said the headline’s phrasing implied that being Zulu was a reason to question his fitness for leadership, which amounted to a breach of ethical standards.

The Council did not uphold the complaint under Principle (1) Accuracy, Fairness and Balance or Principle (6) Headlines and Captions, stating that the article itself was accurate and the headline reflected the subject matter. However, it ruled that the headline’s tone and framing breached Principle (7).

The full Media Council ruling can be found Media Council - Carmen Kay against the Cambridge News

The NZ Media Council has upheld a complaint against the Cambridge News over its article titled “The killing of an industry”, published on 29 May 2025, finding it breached journalistic standards of balance.

The article focused on greyhound trainer Corey Steele’s involvement in the sport, his views of the industry and his reaction to the Government banning it – including his claims about a lack of contact from Racing Minister Winston Peters. It also detailed how greyhound racing was part of his life and had been in his family for several generations.

Kelly Bold, representing the Greyhound Protection League of New Zealand, lodged the complaint, arguing the article failed to include opposing perspectives from animal welfare organisations, veterinarians, or critics of the industry. She said the article gave disproportionate space to proindustry voices and failed to mention the Government’s stated reasons for the ban, including high injury rates and poor welfare outcomes.

The Cambridge News, in response, said it was a community newspaper that reported on issues that impacted its community and lobby groups were within their rights to encourage the media to write stories that suit their agenda. That ban was well publicised at the time.

The Media Council agreed with the complainant, ruling that the article breached Principle (1) Accuracy, Fairness and Balance. It found that while the article was factually

accurate, it lacked balance and failed to offer a right of reply to the Minister, despite direct criticism. The Council noted that the greyhound racing ban is a contentious issue, and coverage must reflect a range of views, especially when new claims are made.

The termination of greyhound racing was a long-running issue and so there was an element of balance over time, but in this article new matters of fact were put forward, and opposing comment should have been sought.

The Council did not uphold the complaint under Principle (4) Comment and Fact, stating that while some statements were presented as unattributed fact, they were clearly comments and did not meet the threshold for a breach.

The Media Council also upheld a second article Ms Bold complained about, published in the Waikato Business News (owned by the same company as the Cambridge News) on June 4 and headlined, “The cost of canning greyhound racing” published on June 4.

The rulings emphasise the importance of balanced reporting on controversial topics and said the article should have included voices from outside the industry to provide a fuller picture.

The Media Council concluded that the lack of balance in both articles amounted to a failure of editorial responsibility.

The full Media Council ruling can be found Media Council - Kelly Bold against the Cambridge News and Waikato Business News

New trust chief

The Cambridge Resthaven Community Trust has appointed Michael Martin as its new chief executive.

The appointment, which will be effective from December 1, was announced last week by Cambridge Resthaven Board chairman, Greg Liddy. Martin will lead the team at the 50-yearold community-owned retirement village and aged care provider, which is home to 250 residents.

The search for a new chief executive has been on since David Hall announced in July that he would step down in late 2025 after 23 years at the facility.

Liddy said Martin’s combination of operational leadership experience and community focus align well with Cambridge

Resthaven.

“He brings strong leadership experience in aged care and retirement villages, has managed long-term property development projects, and served for four years as chief executive of a charitable trust. His commercial, clinical, and management experience equips him well for the breadth and complexity of the chief executive role.”

Liddy said this was an ‘important chapter’ for Cambridge Resthaven.

“We have recently completed the first stage of our supported living apartments in Vogel Street, and planning is well underway for the second stage. Construction is programmed for the end of this year, and Michael is stepping into the chief

ENGINEERING SUPPLIES

executive role at the perfect time.”

He said the planned leadership transition will see current chief executive David Hall move into a part-time business advisory role to provide continuity during the transition.

Martin, who grew up on a Taranaki dairy farm and has been based in Auckland for some time, is fulfilling a long-held wish to return to the regions by moving to Cambridge.

On the big stage…

By Jesse Wood

Waipā siblings David and Sarah Tasker were not among the winners but are celebrating getting on the World of Wearable Art stage as 2025 finalists.

“… we didn’t take home any awards, but just getting onto that stage is a huge win. Our category was huge, with 17 other finalists,” David Tasker said.

Across three categories – New Zealand, avant-garde and neon – 100 designers from 17 countries put in 86 entries.

The siblings are part of four generations living in Te Awamutu and the whole family pitched in. They learned their fate at the TSB Arena, Wellington last Friday.

David has been creating garments for six years, but this was the first project alongside Sarah.

Their garment, titled A Sight for Sore Eyes, was in the neon category.

“This piece is inspired by home - Te Awamutu, family, the Rainbow Community and of course neon lights,” David said.

“We have the Waikato River running down the front of the garment in pink stones.

“Inside the cape, I embroidered roses with yarn and LEDs, to give the vibe of neon lights with a nod to Te Awamutu, our hometown, and the Rose Town of New Zealand."

Get Gardening

October means it’s go time in the garden. Now is the perfect time to start planting a variety of crops. From delicious spring vegetables to vibrant colourful flowers, the options are endless. Zucchinis, cucumbers, capsicums and tomatoes are all coming available. A great way to save money is by growing your own herbs, you cant beat picking them fresh when you need them. No garden is complete without beautiful blooms, they bring in pollinators and beneficial insects, which can make all the difference in the success of an edible garden. Now is the time to plant lavender, scabiosa, delphiniums, sunflowers, daisies, zinnias, cosmos, dianthus, sweet peas, the list goes on. Come in and see our large range of perennial 4 packs. Our “Pick Me“ range is amazing.

Michael Martin

How the Taskers’ entry looked.

Shooting a hat trick

Cambridge High School’s shooting team has won the Inter-Secondary Schools Inter Island match for the third time in a row.

The school’s top team, Annabel Goodrich, Zach Wood and Chelsea Bau, delivered a commanding performance in Palmerston North, comfortably claiming the trophy and reaffirming their status as New Zealand’s top school shooting squad.

secondary school shooting for seniors, and Goodrich, Zac Wood and Gerrand ended their tenure on a high. All three, along with Bau, earned selection for the North Island Team, a squad of 12 who won their match against the South Island.

Cambridge Tree Trust

Cambridge Tree Trust

Both Goodrich and Bau achieved perfect 100s in the nationwide competition of more than 20 teams.

A second Cambridge High team comprising of Elena Wood, Isla Gerrand and Rylan van der Loo finished 11th in their first major school level competition. Gerrand delivered a standout performance, achieving a personal best of 99.7.

This season marks the final chapter of

Zac Wood, Goodrich and Bau were also selected to represent New Zealand against top British School’s Teams. Results for this competition will be known at the conclusion of the British school shooting season.

Cambridge High shooters also dominated in the Secondary School’s Postal Competition, with Goodrich ranked as the top overall girl. Alongside Bau and Elena Wood, the trio took first place in the girls’ team event, rounding off an incredible season.

Next year’s Inter-Island competition will be in Christchurch.

www.treetrust.org.nz

www.treetrust.org.nz

Five-finger (Neopanax/ Pseudopanax arboreum)

Five-finger (Neopanax/ Pseudopanax arboreum)

AI pricked up my ears recently when I heard an interview on RNZ with Professor Justin Morganroth of Canterbury University, talking about ‘filling New Zealand streets with trees’. He and his team have been measuring the tree canopy in 75 of our largest cities and towns. These include trees in streets, parks and reserves, but well over half are in private gardens. The canopy cover is assessed by randomly scattering 1000 points over the latest aerial imagery and lidar data for each town, and then assessing how many of those sample points landed on a tree or not. The canopy cover is then expressed as a percentage of land area. What are the benefits of tree canopy cover? Besides aesthetics they include climate change mitigation (by sequestering carbon dioxide) and adaptation (by reducing land surface and air temperature), reducing air pollution (particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide), reducing stormwater runoff, providing habitat for wildlife, improving mental and physical health for people, and even enhancing property values. It has been shown that for every $1 invested in urban trees,

there is a $3.39 return to residents and businesses alike. That is a 339% return on investment!

New Zealand’s towns have canopy cover ranging from 7.5% (Hawera) to nearly 59% (Picton). Each town has been sent a free report giving a baseline assessment of its canopy cover. Cambridge has 17.5% tree canopy cover, 33rd highest of all the assessed towns and cities. It is higher than Hamilton (14.5%), Matamata (11.7%), or Te Awamutu (12.6%), but lower than Te Kuiti (22.6%), Havelock North (27.7%), or Whangarei (37.4%). The average across the motu is 19.3%. The ideal is thought to be 30-40%, the minimum 20%, so New Zealand does not do well.

So what can Cambridge do with this report? The authors say it is a first step in managing and strategically enhancing the urban forest. Knowing the current tree cover we can calculate the ecosystem services provided by our urban forest, establish a canopy cover target and urban forest plan, justify a budget allocation to parks and trees, and catalyse further investment in urban forestry. rsga.co.nz

Rep hockey

By Steph Bell-Jenkins

Cambridge Tree Trust would like to thank Mitre 10 for their support for these monthly articles which are intended to raise interest and awareness of trees in Cambridge.

Cambridge Tree Trust would like to thank Mitre 10 for their support for these monthly articles which are intended to raise interest and awareness of trees in Cambridge.

Waikato Hockey Association’s U16A boys’ and girls’ representative teams took on Bay of Plenty sides at Gallagher Hockey Centre on Sunday.

proud

Five Cambridge High School players –Jules Brabants, Lily Cameron, Trista Cowley, Maggie Davis and Izzy Tregoweth – made the 18-strong girls’ squad, which lost 4-3. It was an impressive first outing for Cowley, who scored a hat-trick for Waikato.

The warm-up matches were a chance for the newly selected teams to test their skills ahead of inter-regional age group tournaments to be held these school holidays.

Andrew Coutts, Winter Froger, Theodore Goodwin, Flynn Jenkins, Riley Jenkins and Heath Rogerson represented Cambridge High School in the boys’ squad, which lost 3-0.

Top shots - from left, Rylan van der Loo, Chelsea Bau, Isla Gerrand, Elena Wood, Zach Wood and Annabel Goodrich.

Theo Goodwin takes on Bay of Plenty’s goalie during penalty shootout practice.

329 Benson Road, Te Awamutu P: 07 870 1091

E: teawamutu@flooringxtra.co.nz

OTOROHANGA

329 Benson Road, Te Awamutu P: 07 870 1091

63 Maniapoto Street, Otorohanga P: 07 873 8640

E: teawamutu@flooringxtra.co.nz

E: flooringxtra@murrayhuntfurnishers.co.nz

We’re proud to be supporting ‘Blue September’ helping the more than 4,000 Kiwi men who will be diagnosed with prostrate cancer this year.

Caring for Waipa families since 1972

Caring for Waipa families since 1972

We’re proud to be supporting ‘Blue September’ helping the more than 4,000 Kiwi men who will be diagnosed with prostrate cancer this year.

We’re proud to be supporting helping the more than 4,000 Kiwi men who with prostrate cancer this year. 07 870 2137

We’re proud to be supporting ‘Blue September’ helping the more than 4,000 Kiwi men who will be diagnosed with prostrate cancer this year.

07 870 2137

262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu o ce@rosetown.co.nz www.rosetown.co.nz

Supporting cancer research and recovery

Caring for Waipa families since 1972 Supporting cancer research and recovery

220 Bank St. Ph 872 0300 www.tamc.co.nz

63 Maniapoto Street, Otorohanga

07 870 2137

E: flooringxtra@murrayhuntfurnishers.co.nz

262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu o ce@rosetown.co.nz www.rosetown.co.nz

262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu o ce@rosetown.co.nz www.rosetown.co.nz

07 870 2137

220 Bank St. Ph 872 0300 www.tamc.co.nz

220 Bank St. Ph 872 0300 www.tamc.co.nz

262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu o ce@rosetown.co.nz www.rosetown.co.nz

Water plan approved

The councils with shares in Waikato Waters Ltd have received backing for their water services delivery plans from the secretary for local government.

The independent chair of the Shareholders Representative Forum, Don McLeod, said the seven councils to clarify how they would proceed to deliver water and wastewater services under Local Water Done Well.

The district councils are Waipā, Ōtorohanga, Waitomo, Matamata-Piako, South Waikato Taupo and Hauraki.

“The plans are a signal of the shift from council delivery of water and wastewater services as part of a range of things they do, to being a member of a shared entity that is entirely focused on water and wastewater service delivery as its one and only core business,” he said.

Waipā, Waitomo and South Waikato will transfer their water and wastewater assets and services to Waikato Waters Ltd from next July 2026, Matamata-Piako in October 2026 and Ōtorohanga and Hauraki in July 2027.

Taupō District Council will establish a stand-alone business unit under its plan and remain a shareholder of Waikato Waters Ltd. Its plan will be reviewed in two years.

Bronwen has a mountain to climb

Cambridge runner Bronwen Rees-Jones has been hard at work in England training in the woods around her aunt’s home in Shiplake, preparing for the World Mountain Running Championships this weekend.

The 18-year-old Cambridge High School student will compete as part of the New Zealand under 20 team at Spain’s Aragonese Pyrenees in CanfrancPirineos, near the French border.

The route features a steep climb and descent, 2.5 km of mountain trail switchbacks, sections of road, and a flat finish. She’s been exploring the altitude profiles – she will be competing at an altitude of 1500 metres.

An award-winning member of the Cambridge Athletics and Harrier Club and an orienteer, Rees-Jones took up mountain running earlier this year and has

already won the national under-20 title.

Upon her selection, her coach and father Steve designed a six-week training block. He is a multiple national masters athletics champion and holder of a PhD in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science.

Additional coaching came from Cambridge physio Lauren Shelley, who previously represented Australia in the marathon at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Bronwen Rees-Jones’ training included sessions on the Kakepuku Summit Track, southwest of Te Awamutu, as well as hill intervals, gymbased strength training, and mid-distance runs of 7–8 km with her running club.

Her 2025 season has seen her notch up personal bests in the 400m – winning the Auckland champs at Mt Smart Stadium in the process - mile and five kilometres.

Know YourBarista

Adie Capper has been perfecting coffee since 2011,

as a barista, and barista trainer. Recently joining Arvida Lauriston Park’s café in Cambridge, Adie has worked at various cafes and enjoys coffee and interacting with customers.

“Some customers aren’t sure what coffee they want, so you guide them,” she notes. While some baristas focus on coffee art, Adie insists: “The most important thing is great taste, not the design on top.” Her friendly service and tempting cabinet treats, like Louise cake and ginger crunch, have earned her regular return coffee drinkers.

Arvida Lauriston Park Café and Care Centre Entrance 33 Thompson Street, Cambridge 3432 07 827 0793 | info@arvida.co.nz

LOVE COFFEE? YOU’LL LOVE TE AWA LIFECARE CAFÉ!

Your Local Barista’s Got Your Perfect Brew Waiting

Whether you’re after a smooth flat white, a bold long black, or something sweet and creamy, our skilled barista Maddison crafts every cup with care. Located right in the heart of the Te Awa Lifecare community, our café is open to everyone, residents, visitors, and locals. Enjoy great coffee, warm hospitality, and your 10th coffee FREE with our loyalty cards!

1866 Cambridge Road, Cambridge, 3434 | 07 827 6103

With

available.

Bronwen Rees-Jones running through the woods near Shiplake in the United Kingdom in preparation for the world champs

On your bike –safety

Always looking to extend the best service, repair - and adventure environment they can, Cambridge’s Automotive Solutions have a new motorbike service that means your entire family eet can be cared for under one roof.

Jayne Verhoeven says it’s a relatively new addition to what the business o ers, but one that is already gaining traction.

“We can do WOFs and repairs, having a speci c inspector who is licensed to do that,” she says.

“It means it’s easier for families to get all their vehicles looked after by us, from motorbikes through to their big SUVs – and this family eet service also extends to company vehicles.”

Now, she says, is an important time to think about the safety of your bike as we ease out of winter and into the wet, windy and often woolly time of spring.

“It’s a good time to make sure your bike – and any other vehicle you own for that matter – is

geared up and ready for the busy summer season ahead, and getting in early means you are ready to go, no surprises, when you need it to be at its optimum performance-wise.

At Automotive Solutions, adventure is their second name and it’s here you’ll nd not only the ability to give WOFs and pre-COF checks, as well as repairs on most vehicles; they also have a full retail side for those who like to get out on the real adventures New Zealand o ers.

“We stock a whole range of products aimed at adventure, from rooftop tents through to camp fridges and just about everything in between.

“We are adventure lovers ourselves, so we know what people want and can recommend

products and services that will help them enjoy their experiences,” she says.

With daylight saving having just started, the time frame for enjoying the great outdoors has expanded, so it’s a great time to be looking at new ideas and products.

And don’t forget, if you have an SUV that will be asked to cover some of the rugged terrain out there, talk to Automotive Solutions about environment speci c shocks and other services designed to get the very best performance from your fun vehicles.

The business o ers a very experienced team across the board, with good parts service and much more.

Call in and talk to the team, open ve days a week at 16 Cook St, Cambridge.

Spotlight on Cambridge

Where every bite is a delight!

PIZZAS

MARGHERITA POMODORO, MOZZARELLA, BASIL $20

SPUTA FUOCO (FIRE BREATHING)

POMODORO, MOZZARELLA, SPICY SALAMI, NDUJA, MASCARPONE $25

WAIKATO STONECRAFT

Restaurant, Café, and Gathering Place –

TARTUFOSA MOZZARELLA, MUSHROOM, TRUFFLE PASTE, ROCKET, TRUFFLE OIL $25

VERDUROSA POMODORO, MOZZARELLA, SEASONAL VEGES, EVO $22

PORCA POMODORO, MOZZARELLA, SALAME, HAM, SAUSAGE, EVO $26

Joe’s Garage Feels Like Home

ORTO DI MARE MOZZARELLA, ZUCCHINI, GARLIC PRAWNS, ROCKET, PARMESAN $25

PIEDINA ROMAGNOLA

PROVOLONE, PARMESAN, ROCKET, PARMA, HOT HONEY, GORGONZOLA $26

It’s an early weekday morning, the suns not long up and Joe’s is bustling. There’s a business meeting in the function room and a steady stream of people collecting takeaway co ees. The chef is busy at the grill, plates of bacon and eggs are being carried over to a group of tradies, and fresh scones have just come out of the oven.

SMALL SHARE

PUFFY BREAD EVO, FLAKY SALT $13

MARINARA BURNT BUTTER, POMODORO, ANCHOVIES, OREGANO $17

GARLIC BREAD GARLIC GINGER CHILLI, BUTTER, MOZZARELLA, PARMESAN, EVO $17

BOOK AND ORDER ONLINE 07 390 0800

I’m chatting with Megan, Joe’s owner. When she opened Joe’s four years ago, she set out to create a gathering space with a warm, welcoming atmosphere—and it

OPEN HOURS

Wednesday - Sunday 11am - 9:30pm Credit card/contactless payment surcharge applies 9 ALBERT STREET, CAMBRIDGE 3434

shows. The sta are open and generous, the mood relaxed and convivial.

The menu is homestyle and includes burritos, rolls, salads, burgers, schnitzels, pizza, chips, fried chicken, and dessert - but it’s the breakfast menu that catches my eye. There’s pikelets with jam, fruit crumble, mushrooms on toast, granola, and a substantial plate of bacon, eggs, and fried potato called Gorgeous George but it’s the New York cheesecake that’s caught my attention and I’m thinking it would go nicely with a at white. I ask Megan

what she likes for breakfast. “I like the José Breakfast Burrito with a margarita!” she laughs. “We’re famous for our cocktails!” Joe’s also does catering. “From the menu?” I ask. “We’ll do anything anyone wants,” says Megan.

Joe’s has something for everyone including three screens for the rugby and options for vegans, vegetarians and people with allergies. The co ee is good, the prices a ordable and there’s parking. The last stop out on Swayne Road is really something quite special. It feels like home.

Friendly sta Jack Whittall and Zara Welford

Across 1. Give temporarily (4) 4. Knickers (6) 8. Anti (7) 9. Vitality (5) 10. Endearingly pretty (4) 11. Appetisers (8) 13. Capable (9) 17. Angelic (8) 19. At no cost (4) 21. Brandish (5)

Last week

22.

St John Cambridge Health Shuttle

Providing

Across: 1. Crook, 4. Select, 8. Awesome, 9. Choir, 10. Henna, 11. Psychic, 12. Nestle, 14. Tattoo, 17. Brusque, 19. Draft, 21. Rogue, 22. Provoke, 23. Secret, 24. Swept. Down: 1. Crash and burn, 2. Ocean, 3. Know-all, 4. Sleepy, 5. Lucky, 6. Crochet, 7. Trick or treat, 13. Smuggle, 15. Arduous, 16. Despot, 18. Queer, 20. Alone.

PRINT PROSE PUBLISH PUNCTUATION SCRIPT SENTENCE STORY SUBJECT SYNTAX TERM TOPIC TYPE VERSE VOLUME WORD WRITE WRITING YARN

Elegant and Timeless

25 Hall Street, Cambridge

- Lower level features a modern kitchen, dining, living and a guest bedroom and bathroom successfully used as a lucrative Aribnb.

- Upper level features two bedrooms, bathroom & office/study nook. Open Home Sunday 12.00 - 12.30pm

Your Private Family Haven at Number 51

$1,149,000

51 Taylor Street, Cambridge

- Spacious, welcoming kitchen , a separate dining room, and three generous living areas with seamless flow to tranquil outdoor living. - 3 well-appointed bedrooms, including a master with ensuite, plus a separate office. third living area could be used as a fourth bedroom. Open Home Sunday 11.00 - 11.30am

Charming, Amazing Location

- Seamless indoor-outdoor living with your choice of 2 patios, one enhanced by remote louvres. Second adjoining the master bedroom also can be enjoyed under the comfort of an Archgola. Open Home Sunday 1.00 - 1.30pm

Sought After On Bronte

Bronte Place, Leamington

- Welcoming open plan living enjoys a large portico for alfresco dining.

- Triple garage with attic storage and insulated ceiling and doors. - Master bedroom has walk-in robe with ensuite offering a large shower and double vanity. Open Homes Saturday 11 - 11.30am & Sunday 2 - 2.30pm

the other with two.

- Step outdoors to your own private resort, a sparkling inground pool. Viewing By Appointment

- A kitchen of epic size and epicurean delight.

Spacious bedroom and living areas with endless views over the greenbelt.

- Absolutely delightful gardens to explore and enjoy. Open Homes Saturday & Sunday 1.00 - 1.30pm

Tauwhare 1032 Tauwhare Road

4

Centrally located between Cambridge, Hamilton, and Morrinsville, and set well back from the road at the end of a long, sealed driveway, this 2.1-hectare property is purpose-built for horse enthusiasts. Everything’s here: a sand arena, seven well-fenced paddocks for horses or stock, secure covered yards, a tack room, and extensive shedding - ready to go from day one.

Step inside and feel right at home in this

tidy 3-bedroom gem. With

Cambridge 331 Athlone Drive

Cassie Emmett M 027 215 9334

Rebekah Bloodworth M 022 361 9879

2/120 Pilot Drive

$499

$598

$635

$635

$699

$775

$785

$829,000

Contact Paulette

Contact

Contact

Contact Lenie

Contact Rachael

Contact Rachael

Contact Eilish Amy or Kevin

Contact Paulette

Contact Paulette

Contact Paulette

Contact Kevin, Eilish or Amy

Contact Paulette

Contact Paulette

Contact Paulette

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Rachael

Contact Rachael

Contact Marisa

Contact Paulette

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Graham

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin Sold by Marisa

Contact Paulette

Contact Debbie or Trevor

or Kevin

Contact Eilish,

Contact Rachael

Contact Graham

Contact Debbie or Trevor

Sold by Lenie

Contact Debbie or Trevor

Contact Paulette

Contact Paulette

Contact Eilish Amy or Kevin

Contact Debbie or Trevor

Contact Paulette

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Graham

Contact Graham

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Graham

Contact Graham

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Paulette

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Paulette

Contact Paulette

Contact Paulette

Contact Graham

Contact Eilish, Amy or Kevin

Contact Paulette

Contact Paulette

Market Appraisal

Heat Pump Specialists

•

•

•

Youngsters on a roll up

By Viv Posselt

Young people in Te Awamutu are taking to bowling with unaccustomed zeal - and the man largely responsible is former Te Awamutu News Person of the Year Paul Walker.

He’s had his eye on bringing through a new generation of indoor bowlers for a while. That was at the nub of an interview The News did with him when he won our Person of the Year title in 2023.

Roll on two years, and with a little help from some friends, it seems he is well on his way to succeeding. Growing alongside the numbers of competitors is the respect now being shown Te Awamutu’s young players as they compete around the region, and the increasing willingness of seasoned players to pass on their knowhow.

Walker organised an event at Te Awamutu Bowling Club last Friday, a first gathering of its kind that brought together members of several of the town’s bowling groups, with the outdoor bowlers on hand to help with guidance and equipment.

His initial plan was to put on an end-of-year (indoor bowling season) event for members of the Te Awamutu Junior Bowls Club, with a meal thrown in for good measure. He then invited bowlers with

the Te Awamutu Special Olympics group to join in; Walker coaches a small group of those players at Te Rahu Hall on Thursday afternoons, among them two from Cambridge.

“I wanted this event to give them an opportunity to experience outdoor bowls and demonstrate their ability at indoor bowls to the

members and parents of the Junior Club,” he said. The upshot was an afternoon spent testing their mettle on the outdoor green then moving inside for a meal followed by some fun competition on the indoor mats. Also there were players who are now at Te Awamutu College. Walker’s move to attract

more young people to indoor bowls – and thereby ensure its longevity – has been made possible due to his and various helpers being able to work with Te Awamutu Intermediate School pupils regularly. The arrival of Margaret Taylor from Tauranga three years ago led to the establishment of a Junior Club at the school,

and the club’s subsequent involvement with the Aims Games.

Marlene Walker said: “We ended up taking 10 to the Aims Games this year, two more than last year. Out of those 10, two got through to the last eight, which is great given there were 241 bowlers competing. None of our kids disappointed.”

Supporting the Special Olympic bowlers last Friday, as she does throughout the year, was Trish Lapthorn. Her daughter Kate has been playing for 18 months and told The News she ‘really loves’ the sport.

Lapthorn described the support Walker gives the group as ‘amazing’.

Nellie Harris was there supporting her granddaughter Mackenzie Harris. She said many of the youngsters involved don’t play other sports, and some are now even entering tournaments around the region.

Brendon Hand, who is president of the Te Awamutu Indoor Bowling Club and a member of Te Awamutu Lions Club, said his Lions club had given $1500 towards Walker’s efforts to grow the sport.

That money has gone towards funding venue costs for Junior Bowling Club members to be able to play indoor bowls outside of the Intermediate School. It covers those costs at the Te Awamutu Bowling Club.

“It is because of that grant that we are able to use this facility,” Walker said, “and we’re very grateful for that.” He said the Junior Club will continue meeting on Tuesday afternoons and urged any young people keen to give it a try to come along.

Enjoying their first crack at lawn bowls are youngsters, Mackenzie Harris and Marie Wing, both 12, Presley Saunders, 11, and Anne Burrows, 10. Behind them are Mackenzie’s nan Nellie Harris and Marlene Walker.

Photo: Viv Posselt

HAYWARD-MALINS,

Nancy Mary – Passed away peacefully on Monday, 8th September 2025, aged 91. She is now at peace with her beloved late husband Barry Malins and late son Jonathan. Mother of Tansy and dear friend of Stephanie. Messages to the ‘HaywardMalins Family’ can be sent c/- Grinter’s Funeral Home, 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434 or in Nancy’s online tribute book at www.grinters. co.nz. As per Nancy’s wishes a private cremation has been held.

LUXTON, David Kerry –Passed away peacefully on Thursday, 18th September 2025, aged 81 years. Much loved father of Vanessa and Rowena. A service for David has been held. Messages to the Luxton Family may be sent c/- 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434, or left in David’s online tribute book at www.grinters.co.nz

RALPH, Paul Andrew –Suddenly on Monday, 15 September 2025 surrounded by his family, aged 58. Treasured husband of Cherie. Devoted father and best friend of George and Jonathan. Loved son of Harold and Gladys (both dec). Messages to the 'Ralph Family' can be sent c/- Grinter’s Funeral Home, 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434 or in Paul’s online tribute book at www.grinters. co.nz. A celebration of Paul's life has been held.

STEVENSON, Denise

Janet – On Tuesday, 16th September 2025 at Waikato Hospital, surrounded by her family. Beloved wife of the late Roger. Mother of Janice, Tina, Jeff and Rachael. Sister of Billy, Karen, Chris and Dale. Loved grandmother and great-grandmother of many. Messages to the 'Stevenson Family' can be sent c/- Grinter’s Funeral Home, 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434 or in Denise’s online tribute book at www.grinters.co.nz. A celebration of Denise's life has been held.

TIDD, Barry Phillip – Passed away peacefully and no longer suffering in pain at Waikato Hospital on 14th September 2025. Aged 65 years. Dearly loved partner of Sandra for 30 years. Loved father to Phillip & Emily, Kirsty & Scott, Hayley, Makayla & Joshua, Rebecca and Kaleb. Special Poppy to Ava, Kayden, Grace and Billie. Loving brother, brother-in-law, uncle and friend to so many. 'Fly high and keep racing with the angels' Messages to the ‘Tidd Family’ can be sent c/Grinter’s Funeral Home, 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434 or in Barry’s online tribute book at www.grinters. co.nz A service for Barry has been held.

TUFFERY, Douglas George – Passed peacefully on Wednesday, 17th September 2025, at Resthaven on Burns Street. It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Doug. Beloved husband of Kyra. Loving father of Grant and Leigh. Brother of Brian, Norma, John and the late Russel. Loved father in law of Christine. Loved grandfather of Kaitlin, Mathew, Nikki, Kori, Shaun and Shea and great-grandfather of many. Messages to the ‘Tuffery Family’ can be sent c/Grinter’s Funeral Home, 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434 or in Douglas’s online tribute book at www.grinters.co.nz. Doug was farewelled at a private celebration followed by a private cremation on 18th September 2025.

CAMBRIDGE

• Engagements • Weddings • Births • Bereavements • In Memoriam etc

Call Janine 027 287 0005 or email janine@goodlocal.nz

Jono Gibson Funeral Director

The details of this meeting including the subject matter and resolutions can be found on the council website under the Meetings and Agendas page.

The following meetings will be held in October 2025: Monday, October 6, 2025 Audit and Risk Committee 9.10am

All meeting information and electronic copies of Council agendas are available at waipadc.govt.nz/agendasandminutes

Steph O’Sullivan Chief Executive