King Country
History down the river?
By Chris Gardner
A historic First World War artillery gun could be rotting away beside the Mangaokewa River in Te Kuiti.
The restoration of a trench mortar to Ōtorohanga Memorial Park in April prompted Te Kūiti historian Ross O’Halloran to remember the story of a buried gun told to him by his late father Jim who died in 2017.
“The gun stood beside the World War I cenotaph in King Street, but it was put into a hole by the river and buried,” O’Halloran, also Waitomo Caves Museum and Discovery Centre education officer, said.
“As a kid I had wanted to go dig it up being mad keen on archaeology but as my father explained it wouldn’t be that easy, as it was on public land and he couldn’t quite remember where the hole was it was put in.”
O’Halloran has never been able to corroborate the story but has discovered Te Kūiti Borough Council may have been ordered to bury the gun after the fall of Singapore in 1942.
“With the British Naval base there being lost to the Japanese the big fear was they were coming south as well as the Japanese invasion of New Guinea and the western Pacific Islands,” O’Halloran said.
“The gun could have been buried earlier due to a thought that the Germans could invade, they had certainly been laying sea mines off the coast and surface raiders had been attacking ships as they left New Zealand waters. But I lean more towards the threat of
Japanese invasion.”
Jim O’Halloran was born in Te Kuiti in 1934 and educated at St Joseph’s Catholic School until he went to St Peter’s School. Cambridge, around 1943.
“The gun may have been a memory from his early childhood,” his son said.
He can only speculate at its vintage.
“It was probably a British and empire piece unlike the two pieces in Otorohanga. It could possibly have been an 18-pounder field gun, or maybe either a 4.5-inch or 6-inch
howitzers,” he said.
“Dad served as a gunner during the Compulsory Military Training (CMT) scheme from 1954-58. Te Kuiti had a battery (42 Bty) in the 4 Medium Regiment Royal NZ Artillery from circa 1949 to at least the early 1960s. But I doubt the gun was from that period. Te Kuiti had an army hall from circa 1911, I believe it was last on King Street but it was gone by the 70s or there about but the main units were 16th Waikato infantry up until the 1950s & 4th (Waikato) Mounted Rifles.”
O’Halloran is a Lance Corporal
and a section 2IC of the Hamilton Platoon, Hauraki Company, 3/6 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR) and vice president of the Te Kuiti and District RSA He is also North Island President of the House of Gordon of which his mother Glenyss was convenor for about 30 years. The News has asked Waitomo District Council whether it has any records of the gun burial. Contemporary records are unlikely for fear of them also falling into enemy hands.
The restoration of Otorohanga’s Krupp Howitzer reminded Te Kuiti historian Ross O’Halloran of the tale of Te Kuiti’s buried gun.
Jim O’Halloran when he served.
Te Kuiti
historian Ross O’Halloran.
St John Health Shuttle
Popcorn and food banks
A free movie and a food drive will be Te Kūiti’s Fourth of July moment.
Waitomo District Council’s Manager Community Development Sarah McElroy said the community would be invited to an evening of fun, connection and entertainment, and to help foodbanks.
“Te Kūiti community movie night brings people together for a good cause,” she said.
People would get to see A Minecraft Movie at the Les Munro Centre while helping
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support local families by making donations to the foodbank.
“The event is designed to be accessible to everyone –there’s no cost to attend and no booking required. However, attendees are encouraged to arrive early, as capacity is limited and entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis.” McElroy said.
“We’re asking guests to bring non-perishable food items such as canned goods, rice, pasta, or other shelf-stable items. Every
donation will go directly to helping local families who are doing it tough this winter.
“She said “even just one can of food” could make a difference to a family in need.
Te Kuiti Lions, The Valley Foodtruck, and Doubl’n Up Donuts and Ice Cream would also be serving food and Te Kūiti High School students would run their own food stall to fundraise for their planned trip to the Hillary Outdoor Centre.
In the New Year when The
News spoke to the Te Kūiti Foodbank in Rora Street the need was evident.
It reported delivering about 20 parcels a week. Journey Church senior pastor Terry Bradley said some of the people “who really need it tend not to come and get help”. The foodbank is mostly funded by the Ministry of Social Development, with some community donations, including $30,000 worth of parcels distributed just before Christmas.
Questions on omissions
By Chris Gardner
The chair of the board of inquiry into plans to build a waste to energy plant in Te Awamutu asked the applicant why they had not addressed social effects.
Environment Court Judge Brian Dwyer asked applicant Global Contracting Solutions counsel Bronwyn Carruthers about the omission as the threeweek hearing got underway at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton last week.
“You haven’t addressed anywhere in your comments on effects, the matter of social effects which will form quite a bit of the case for a couple of the parties,” Judge Dwyer said. “Is there a reason for that?”
“I am always reluctant to address in submissions a point to be made through crossexamination of a witness in advance, would be the short answer to that, sir,” Carruthers replied.
“Well, I’m quite interested in this aspect. It seems to me looking at it with a degree of simplicity that if the board was convinced to view that the effects of the discharges were no more than minor, then it can’t be the case that we turn an application down,” he said.
Carruthers agreed.
“Mis-founded, or unfounded feelings about a project don’t provide a basis for declining it,
is where you’re coming from,” he said.
The proposal has attracted more than 1000 submissions with the vast majority opposed, including objections from mana whenua, DairyNZ, Fonterra, Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board and Waipā District Council.
About 64 per cent of submissions expressed concerns about pollutants, including dioxins and nanoparticles, and there were concerns about the lack of a health impact assessment.
Nicholas Manukau and Myles McCauley are sitting alongside Judge Dwyer on the panel.
Global Contracting Solutions director and principal shareholder Craig Tuhoro told the board he had two reasons for making the application.
“One was I don’t like the current toolbox with regards to
treatment of waste, and I wanted to create product with that waste, so that product would be energy,” he said.
Environmental Defence Society and Zero Waste Network counsel Dhilum Nightingale had Tuhoro read an excerpt from a 2023 Te Awamutu News article in which he was quoted as saying GMS sends approximately 18,000 tonne of floc, a waste product produced by the scrap metal recycling process, to landfill each year.
“That’s too much,” he said in the article. “So, I began searching for a solution. That’s how I came across thermal waste conversion, a successfully used process across Europe.”
Tuhoro told the hearing:
Tuhoro said Racecourse Road was one of two Te Awamutu sites his company had considered for the plant.
“The council introduced us to the site, said it was an industrial zone and would be appropriate for us to develop,” Tuhoro said.
“We made it clear to the people that we were working with we needed to find an industrially zoned site or certain sites. We can’t go putting a facility like this on residential property. We can’t put a facility like this on a farm. This is industrially zoned property. It was for sale. The council took us to the site, so we assumed that the council was considering the community when they took us there.”
Don’t Burn Waipā spokesman Eoin Fitzpatrick said the pressure group was surprised that the hearing is not being held in Te Awamutu.
“I think that they could have found something. I guess they’d taken the easy option for them for a number of factors, but it does make it a little bit inaccessible. We did get a small win in that they are now streaming via zoom - a request we made at one of the initial meetings.
The hearing is expected to end on July 4.
“I’m confident that we can get enough material to run this plant. We’re not saying that all material shouldn’t go into landfill. We’re saying that the waste system itself, that this is an important upgrade for the toolkit and we think that this is where the material needs to go.”
Lobby group Don’t Burn Waipā has been vocal in its opposition in Te Awamutu.
Hato Hone St John’s purpose: To make life-changing differences with our communities
Ka whai tātou i te pikinga o te ora
Candidates’ nights
Ōtorohanga District
Council will host candidate information evenings as part of the build up to October’s local body elections. The council has set aside July 7 in Kāwhia and July 8 in Ōtorohanga. Nominations open on July 4.
New firefighter
Sash Montgomery, who joined the Ōtorohanga Volunteer Fire Brigade at the end of last year, completed her recruit firefighting course this month to qualify for her yellow helmet.
School hols
The second term for most schools ends tomorrow. Students will be off school until July 14.
Class and a calf
Farmers are helping young minds grow at Kio Kio School. Through the Donate a Calf fundraiser, famers rear and gift calves to the school –proceeds from their sale, in November, are then put towards teaching resources.
Breast checks
The Breast Screen Midland mobile unit, which was to leave Te Kūiti on July 11, is now leaving on Friday July 4. Anyone who has received an invitation is encouraged to get in smartly.
Stock takes
Calves and bulls have drawn record prices at stock sales across the King Country. Kevin Mortensen, from PGG Wrightson said prices were good with a lot of full clearances. However, as many farmers sent lambs away from the region due to drought, a “dearth of sheep” has hit hard, affecting meat processing plants.
Correction
The cost of the Hamilton Airport terminal upgrade is about $7 million, not $75 million as reported in The News last week. The error occurred in the sub editing process and corrected online.
Water fears addressed
By Chris Gardner
Waitomo District Council addressed concerns over water services privatisation before deciding to hand its drinking and waste water services over to a multi council-controlled water organisation.
Piopio resident and former Tauranga mayoral candidate Chudleigh Haggett told a council hearing in May joining Waikato Water Done Well would result in private ownership run for “rich listers and greedy wealthy people who have no regard for the ratepayer only profit”.
The council reconvened this month to deliberate on
submissions.
“There are concerns about potential privatisation,” said rural councillor Janette Osborne. “The Heads of Agreement does address that. There’s some safeguards.”
Privatisation of water services is explicitly prohibited under the Local Water Done Well framework. The government has committed to keeping water services in public ownership. New water service entities established under water done well will not be able to privatise, enter into franchise agreements, or dispose of significant infrastructure necessary for providing water services,
councllors were told. Each council signing up to the organisation becomes a shareholder.
Councillors voted to include joining the councilcontrolled Waikato Water Done Well organisation in its annual plan for 2025-26.
Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Waipā, South Waikato, and Ōtorohanga district councils are all following a similar process, while Taupō District Council has opted to wait and see how the organisation goes.
Councillor Janene New was cognisant of futureproofing water services delivery to ratepayers.
“For a whole lot of reasons, it’s not feasible to try and go it alone,” said Waitomo deputy mayor Allan Goddard. “The only feasible option is a councilcontrolled organisation.”
“It’s not for the here and now, it’s what’s happening in 30 years’ time,” she said.
“I’m a bit nervous about it, knowing my name might be attached to it,” said
Dan Tasker.
Joining Waikato Water Done Well will be formally adopted at the council’s June 30 meeting.
Gate to Hot Water Beach remains open
By Chris Gardner
Kāwhia Community Board has been told the gate to the road leading to Hot Water Beach cannot be locked at night but it can expect a new bobby on the town beat.
Board member Richard Harpur suggested forestry operator Tainui Kāwhia Incorporation be approached to lock the gate to prevent boy racers congregating at Tom French Grove.
The organisation’s Hano Ormsby has previously told The News he was tired of cleaning up after boy racers doing burnouts in the car park.
“Ask them to close the gate at 4 at night and open it at 6 in the morning,” Harpur said.
Ōtorohanga District Council regulatory and growth manager Tony Quickfall said the council had limited ability to close roads.
“Boy racers is not one of them,” he said.
“That’s a damn shame,” was Harpur’s response.
Quickfall said police were in the process of appointing a new officer to the village and encouraged the board to advocate for a greater police presence through the local commander.
After the meeting officer in charge of Ōtorohanga Police Station, Sergeant Heyden Nunn, said he was working with the council to support a collaborative approach in dealing with the issues at Kāwhia.
“There has been an officer appointed to the permanent position who will be starting in the role soon - dates still being organised) - but I hope the community will get behind him,” he said.
“I know it’s been disheartening without an officer over there, but hopefully this will be welcome news to locals. Once a permanent, stable presence is established in and around Kāwhia I’m confident the community will notice a positive impact.”
Councillor
Chudleigh Haggett Janette Osborne
Tainui Kāwhia Incorporation’s Hano Ormsby is tired of cleaning up after boy racers at Tom French Grove.
Photo: Chris Gardner
AGE OF REASON
I really enjoyed being able to spend some time with my Youth MP, Tamorangi recently. We delivered pyjamas to the Maru trust as part of their Be warm, Be healthy campaign.
A time of
loathing
By Richard Steele
Far be it for me to worry too much about our political leaders, but I’m becoming concerned about how we treat them, and that’s a worry not so much because we don’t give them enough respect, but because we seem to be swinging from loathing one, to two minutes later, to be loathing another.
I have a basic faith in the good nature of people, and I’m not generally disappointed, though I’m well aware of lurking drongos.
those who are trying hard to remove us from a desperate situation.
My first reaction should be: stuff the polls. And I’m sure that’s right but going back to my first suggestion. What are we thinking? I believe at this stage we can dismiss the usefulness of the Māori party as being too angry, too immature, and not representative enough.
Recently I was delighted to be able welcome Tamorangi onto my team as my Youth MP. Tamorangi represents everything I love about my electorate. Her passion and zest for life is inspiring. She is a credit to her family and will be an influential young person to watch out for. The below was written by Tamarangi in her own words and has not been edited.
Contract Milkers
I don’t think much of the Labour Party’s fiscal or money management, but that doesn’t make me loathe Jacinda Ardern. It just makes me cautious of Labour Party thinking when it comes to managing the country’s economy through an unprecedented global pandemic. Did anybody, anywhere in the world, get it all right? I don’t think so.
We can dismiss the Green Party, because even with the best intentions in the world, ecological ideals must work alongside the practical ways in which world trade can continue. Closing down our coal mines and importing dirty coal is not an answer.
Deserve Greater Protection
Kia ora, ko Tamorangi taku ingoa. Or some may know me as Amazon. I spent my first early years growing up in Wellington and Paraparaumu, but always knew home was far up the road. When I was six, my mum and I moved home because she wanted me to reconnect back to my roots. Pukenui was my first primary school in Te Kūiti. This was where I met Whaea Aroha, she was my year four and five teacher, but not only did she educate me on literacy and numeracy, she taught me not to take those who I love for granted, and that was something 8-year-old me truly needed to understand. Especially after my 8th birthday discovered my mum had stage four lung cancer.
In 2019, my Mum sadly passed away, and a part of me died. I started having trouble with the teachers at school because I couldn't cope with my feelings. But as time went by, a voice started getting louder, “You can sit here and feel sorry for yourself, or you can make a change”.
Sharemilkers Consultants’ Contract Milkers Experience Survey makes for disturbing reading. The survey, which took place in December 2024, analysed the responses of 276 individuals working in the milking sector, 201 of whom are current contract milkers, equating to 12.8% of the New Zealand total. What those contract milkers told the survey is deeply concerning. 43% of respondents report abusive behaviour from a farm owner. 72.7% reported having had a contract milking experience that caused a mental and/or financial setback, including withheld payments. 82.5% of respondents reported this impacted their family situation or relationships, and 38.4% said they stayed in this situation because they were worried about where they would live if they left.
Why is this? Is this some hidden issue? Some deep malaise that the industry is too frightened to talk about? Is it that respondents are often in remote situations and feel alone, isolated and vulnerable? If so, this survey has done the milking industry a great service in bringing this issue to light and should be applauded for that.
In 2021, I moved to Te Wharekura ō Maniapoto with the support of my Aunty Doris, who took me under her care to start my journey of Te Reo Māori. In my first year, I spoke rarely because I was whakamā of not knowing, whilst I was in a class full of students who did know. But I now know it’s okay not knowing, but it’s not okay not to ask. After growing confidence in my Reo, I started speaking amongst my teachers and peers, but my confidence as a human started shrinking. I stopped attending school for three terms. During those three terms, I desperately wanted to leave school and take a course, but that voice came back and said, “School is temporary, the knowledge is everlasting,” so I decided to move to TKHS. It was scary coming back to mainstream, fearing I couldn’t fit back in academically. I thought the pākeha teachers were always working against me, but truly, it was my mind working against my better self.
But I want to know more. I’ll be working with the lead author of the survey, Louise Gibson, to try to get to the core of the issue. Once there, I’ll see what scope the Government, through Law, has to improve the legal protection of contract milkers. They deserve it—just about every employee sector has substantial legal protection and welfare agencies looking after their interests—contract milkers should have the same.
So now I see that the polls are showing Prime Minister Luxon’s popularity has slipped to a new low while he is battling with the Chinese, to get our little country onto a better trade relationship with them, our biggest trading partners.
So what do we want? A government that doesn’t do fiscal policy that well, even though, they are by and large, very well intended, and committed leaders? Or a government that is trying hard , it seems to me, to return us to a stronger economic situation in which everybody is better off?
The polls are showing that those who failed at fiscal management, are ahead of
New Zealand First and ACT are going well but need to concentrate less on school lunches and more on supporting a stable government. They need to be focused on the stability of the government we need in these uncertain times worldwide, and we, the voters, need to grow a sense of maturity, a sense in where we don’t swing from hating one leader, to hating the next one just because neither one can pull rabbits out of hats, and keep us all happy all of the time. We all need to take a deep breath and just grow up.
I’m not defending politicians as much as pointing out our responsibility, as electors. Really folks, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Look around, and say after me, we don’t know how lucky we are.
ON SHAKY GROUND
Indonesia, land of volcanoes
By Janine Krippner
Every now and then, an eruption in Indonesia captures global headlines—and for good reason.
One of the most recent is Lewotobi Laki-laki, but it won’t be long before another volcano makes the news.
both beauty and risk.
While many small eruptions occur regularly, larger ones are not uncommon.
In the interim, what can we do? Well, Farm Advisors—and most farms have access to them—may be one source of help. Another is an approach to the Rural Support Trust (0800 787 254) which is set up explicitly to look after those working in the retail sector. Sadly, the survey indicated that less than a quarter of respondents had used this service. It’s there, please use it. I encourage each of you to collaborate with the relevant authorities to pave the way for substantial reform. Together, let’s ensure that no contract milker feels isolated or vulnerable again. The time for change is now. If you are affected by this issue and would like to read the survey in full, feel free to contact my office, Kuriger.Inglewood@Parliament.govt.nz, and I’ll send you a copy.
After realizing the teachers of TKHS were here to help provide tools for my future, I grew a need to work towards it. I am now a proud student of TKHS who has successfully achieved all my NCEA levels on merits and excellence and am currently trying my hardest to put myself out there to shape a future full of opportunities and possibilities. As young as I am, I’ve grown a passion towards helping youth believe they can succeed no matter their background. I am also enthusiastic about Broadway Media and travelling the world to learn about different cultures. By coming out of this experience, I hope to have a deep understanding of leadership and a growth in confidence towards being able to speak about important issues in professional spaces. The main thing I'd like to achieve out of this campaign is hope in my peers that they can make the same achievements, no matter where or when you start. As long as you start somewhere.
Rural and Provincial
Indonesia has one of the highest numbers of active volcanoes—defined as those that have erupted within the past 12,000 years and are therefore likely to erupt again.
According to the Global Volcanism Program (GVP, where I used to work), Indonesia ranks fourth globally, behind the United States, Japan, and Russia, with 108 active volcanoes. I recommend exploring the GVP website with numerous eruption descriptions and photographs.
The Indonesian archipelago is a nation of islands —13,558, according to a 2022 satellitebased study.
This region is shaped by the Sunda Arc, a subduction zone where the Indo-Australian tectonic plate dives beneath the Eurasian plate. As the plate subducts, it undergoes intense pressure and heating, which releases water into the overlying mantle.
This lowers the melting point of the hot rock, generating magma.
These can produce high ash plumes, deadly pyroclastic flows, and—when eruption deposits combine with rainfall—dangerous lahars. Visitors should always check for exclusion zones and follow local guidance.
Indonesia has produced some of the world’s most significant eruptions.
The 1883 eruption of Krakatau (often misspelled as Krakatoa) and its resulting tsunami is one such example, as well as the more recent collapse of the cone and tsunami in 2018.
The colossal eruption of Toba around 75,000 years ago is another.
Tambora produced one of the world’s largest historical eruptions in 1815, with the right conditions to impact the climate and cause “The year without summer”.
Inglewood Office 80 Rata St, PO Box 124, Inglewood 06 756 6032 • Kuriger.Inglewood@parliament.govt.nz
Te Awamutu Office 196 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu 07 870 1005 • Kuriger.Teawamutu@parliament.govt.nz
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This “magma kitchen” fuels the country’s abundant volcanic activity. But Indonesia’s geological hazards don’t stop there. Its tectonic setting also brings frequent earthquakes—and, as we saw on Boxing Day 2004, tsunamis. Landslides, floods, and severe weather events are common, too.
People often ask why locals don’t “just” move away from the volcanoes. But with hazards widespread and options limited—not to mention the cultural, spiritual, economic, and personal ties to place—the answer isn’t so simple. It deserves compassion, not judgment.
Volcanoes also help shape the islands’ rich ecosystems, fertile soils, stunning landscapes, and tourism opportunities.
Living in a volcanically active nation brings
Many eruptions have tragically resulted in fatalities, brutally changing the lives of the nearby inhabitants—and, unfortunately, this will likely happen again.
Indonesian volcanoes have even shaped my own life.
The 2017 unrest and eruption at Mount Agung catapulted me into science and crisis communication, eventually leading to this very newspaper column.
If you’re planning to visit, it’s essential to rely on accurate, trusted information. I’ve seen firsthand how misleading clickbait headlines can distort the facts.
A good place to start is the ‘Magma Indonesia’ website, run by local experts and the country’s official monitoring agency. Volcanic ash-related flight disruptions aren’t uncommon in the region, so be sure your travel insurance covers such events.
By Jon Rawlinson
A card from King Charles is among the best wishes sent to Queen’s Service Medal recipient, June Douglas.
In addition, prime minister, Chris Luxon, Casey Costello (minister for seniors) and governor-general Dame Cindy Kiro sent cards to June to mark her 100th birthday.
“It was a great honour to receive these cards and to be visited by Barbara Kuriger, Taranaki-King Country MP, and representatives of the Ōtorohanga Lyceum Club,” June said.
“They joined us for morning tea at Beattie Home. I had many lovely flowers and a beautiful cake.”
The morning tea followed a celebration with her friends and family at St David’s Presbyterian Church, Ōtorohanga.
The mother of four, grandmother of 10 and greatgrandmother to 20 was surrounded by her nearest and dearest.
“Friends and family came from overseas and all over New Zealand.
It was wonderful to see everyone and talk to some family members I hadn’t seen for a long time.
I want to thank everyone for making my birthday so special.”
Born in Ōtorohanga on June 17, 1925, June was raised on her parent’s farm.
After attending Kio Kio School and New Plymouth Girls High School, she worked at a chemist’s in Ōtorohanga while studying to become a pharmacist.
At a dance during the Second World War, June met a dapper young soldier, Basil Douglas.
A few years later, the couple married and worked together on a farm at Te Kawa Crossroads.
June and Basil later moved home to her family’s farm – now in her family’s hands for more than a century – where they raised four children, Ann, Robyn, Gabrielle and Grant.
Paint the towns
Young Āria and Piopio artists are helping brighten their townships following a painting contest. Children from Curious Keas, Āria and Piopio Primary Schools as well as Piopio College students produced paintings depicting what they like most about living in the district. Now that prize-givings have taken place, artworks are being placed throughout the towns.
Time extended
The deadline for entries for the 2025 Waikato Business Awards has been extended by one week to July 7.
Water company
Waikato’s first publiclyowned water company will be called IAWAI Flowing Waters and its three person establishment board chaired by Kevin Lavery with Tim Manukau and Dave Chambers as directors. The company’s shareholders are Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils in partnership with Waikato-Tainui.
June Douglas with her four children, from left, Ann Roberts Crocombe, Robyn Brickland, Grant Douglas and Gabrielle Emery
JUNE 2025 ISSUE
I SEE RED, I SEE RED, I SEE RED... AND SO SHOULD YOUR DOG
That’s right- this year’s dog registration tags are RED, and it’s time to make sure your pup is proudly sporting one!
Registering your dog isn’t just a legal requirement - it helps keep our community safe and supports services like reuniting lost dogs with their humans, running the pound, and animal control. In short: your rego fee does a lot of good!
Ōtorohanga dog owners - now’s the time to register your dogs for the 2025/26 year.
Registration reminders were sent out on 30 May. Haven’t received yours? Get in touch!
Key dates and details:
Due by: 31 July 2025
Avoid a late fee: Don’t let that 50% penalty sneak up on you!
Fees and online rego: www.otodc.govt.nz or pop into the Council office.
Let’s keep tails wagging and communities safe - thanks for doing your part, Ōtorohanga!
FINANCE REMINDERS
Rates Reminder
Just a heads up that rates for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 are due by 30 June 2025, unless you’ve already made a payment arrangement with our Rates team. If you’re unsure, feel free to get in touch - we’re here to help.
Water Invoice Reminder - Ōtorohanga Community Water invoices were due on 30 May 2025. If you haven’t received yours yet or have any questions, please contact our Customer Experience Team - they’ll be happy to assist you.
YOUTH VOICES AMPLIFIED
We’re proud to be supporting local rangatahi through the launch of College Comment - a brandnew monthly column in the King Country News, written by students from Ōtorohanga College. This exciting initiative gives students the opportunity to build their journalism skills as they research, write, edit, and photograph stories that matter to them and their peers. It’s all about amplifying youth voices and connecting generations through storytelling.
BETTER PLACES TOGETHER
WHAT’S ON AT THE LIBRARY?
TERRIFIC TALES - WINTER READING CHALLENGE
Check out the photo of our Terrific Tales Tree - it’s growing fast with all the amazing entries we’ve received so far!
Our Winter Reading Challenge is off to a great start, and there’s still plenty of time to join in the fun. Terrific Tales runs until 31 August 2025, and it’s open to all ages!
Here’s how to take part:
• Pick up a Terrific Tales postcard from the Ōtorohanga District Library, Kāwhia War Memorial Library, or Waitomo District Library.
• Complete three challenges of your choice.
• Return your postcard and pop it into the entry box to go in the draw for cool prizes.
It’s a great way to beat the winter blues and celebrate storytelling - so come on in and be part of the tale.
To register phone (07) 873 7175, email library@otodc.govt.nz, or message us on Facebook www.facebook.com/otolib
UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS
Kāwhia Community Board Thursday 3 July 4.00 pm
Ōtorohanga Community Board Monday 7 July 4:00 PM
Council Extra-Ordinary
The Better Places Together – Kāwhia and Aotea project is gaining great momentum, with exciting plans underway to enhance Aotea Beach, Omimiti Reserve, and Kāwhia township-including a major upgrade to Jervois Street. We’ve already held two highly successful open days, with around 80 people attending to share their thoughts, ideas, and aspirations for the area. These community voices are helping shape concept designs focused on improving recreation spaces, ecological restoration, and creating safer, more connected and inclusive environments. We’re thrilled with the strong engagement so far and are continuing to work closely with mana whenua, the community board, and local organisations to ensure the project reflects the vision of the people who live, work, and play here. Plans are progressing well, and we’re also excited to support a community-led proposal for a Kāwhia Fitness Trail to promote health and wellbeing in the area. Keep an eye out for more updates as this inspiring project continues to grow! engage.otodc.govt.nz/better-places-togetherkawhia-and-aotea
TECH EXPO
EXPANDING RANGATAHI HORIZONS THROUGH TECH
We were thrilled to support nearly 100 Ōtorohanga College students to attend the 2025 TechStep event, hosted by our awesome whānau at Waitomo District Council. Organised through the Ōtorohanga Employment Hub in collaboration with College staff, the initiative gave our tech-hungry rangatahi the chance to dive into immersive digital experiences, hear from inspiring guest speakers, and explore a range of future-focused, tech-based career pathways. A big thank you to our neighbours in Waitomo for putting on such a fantastic and motivating event!
TLC – new team switches on
Te Kūiti based The Lines Company (TLC) has expanded its service by bringing power back to the people of Ohakune. The move is expected to improve service across the network.
“We’re really pleased to have the Ohakune depot open again,” said Jared Murell, TLC’s general manager service delivery. “With people minutes away, the wait time for our customers is dramatically reduced.” Due to a lack of staff in the area, the
Ohakune site has relied on teams travelling from Taumarunui for several years.
Now, with a team of three based on site, response times in the area have improved already, line foreman Te Maire Hawira said.
“We had one job recently where we got the power back on in just 45 minutes. One of the customers affected by the outage was really surprised and pleased, telling us that they were thinking their electricity would be off for at least two to three hours. It’s pretty awesome hearing feedback like that.”
Exposing cyberspace danger
By Steph Bell-Jenkins
Cyber safety and risk assessment consultant John Parsons, whose services are in demand around New Zealand, says a significant issue he sees is children lying about their age.
Parsons, who has completed two visits of multiples schools in Waipā recently, said an eight-year-old who lied and said they were 13 years old to access a social media platform such as TikTok, would be exposed to content which assumed they were a teenager.
His comments came as schools across the country deal with increasing and more complex challenges to keeping children safe online.
Parsons worked directly with children and teachers in classrooms and held seven public information evenings across his two visits.
Goodwood Primary principal David Graham said another problem was the separation between parents and children occurring in the virtual world.
“John made a really good point… we take such good care of our children’s brains – when we put them on a bike they have a helmet, when they jump in a car they have a seatbelt – but when you put them online their brains are at incredible risk of seeing material or connecting with people that’s harmful to their brain, and parents sometimes have no idea of what’s happening in their online life,” Graham said.
He said children in every school were accessing R18 games such as Grand Theft Auto.
“In that game, you can use a car as a weapon to run into people, you can drown people by holding them underwater – so all of those really horrible adult themes… if you’re an eight or nine-year-old with a developing brain, seeing those images, it can
have long-lasting effects on their wellbeing.”
Graham said Parsons recommended children stay off social media until they were at least 16 years old.
He said algorithms were targeting children with products such as pimple cream if they changed their profile picture – which could be a signal they were unhappy about the way they looked.
“When children are bombarded with images of what success looks like, or what the correct body image looks like, it has longlasting emotional stress on the developing brain.”
The new Ohakune team, from left, Carl Barrow, Te Maire Hawira and Aaron Wilson
Cyber safety expert John Parsons works with Karāpiro School students during a visit last week.
Living icon has big plans
By Chris Gardner
Waikato-Maniapoto’s Te Taka Keegan says he was surprised at being named a living icon for his work weaving Te Reo Māori into technology.
Keegan, a University of Waikato Department of Software Engineering associate professor who lives in Ngāhinapōuri with his wife Ari, has worked with both Microsoft and Google on several hardware and software projects and is co-director of the university’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Māori.
Te Hapori Matihiko, a global community for Māori working in the digital and technology industries, recognised a lifetime achievement in service to Māori and the digital tech sector by presenting Keegan, also Associate Dean of Māori, with the Living Icon award in Christchurch.
“I was a little bit surprised,” Keegan told The News after receiving the award.
He felt there were other people in the room more deserving of the organisation’s top award
“I did not prepare a speech,” he said.
Keegan, 59, who is also of Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Whakaue descent, worked with Microsoft from 2000 to 2004 enable computer keyboards to produce the special markings needed in typing te reo Māori and joined a Microsoft team that created te reo versions of the Windows operating system and Office productivity suite now called Microsoft 365. In 2009, Keegan spent six months at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California as a visiting scientist where he helped integrate te reo Māori into the Google
Translator Toolkit laying the groundwork for its inclusion in Google Translate.
His role was cultural as well as technical, ensuring the translation tools respected the nuances of te reo, empowering Māori speakers to use digital tools in their own language.
He has also been involved in ensuring a te reo Māori newspaper collection of 180,000 pages from the 1830s to the 1940s is available via Google search.
Keegan received the University of Waikato’s Māori/Indigenous Excellence Award for Research in 2013 and Prime Minister Bill English’s Supreme Award in 2017 for weaving his love for te reo Māori with computers.
Keegan may have won a lifetime achievement award, but he has much more he wishes to achieve.
“With the recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence, numerous opportunities are arising where these new technologies can support indigenous languages and in particular, te reo Māori,” he said.
“Some of the latest AI converse in te reo Māori very well, but these tools are built on data where consent wasn’t given for AI use. Consequently, it is a breach of Māori Data Sovereignty, and a significant misappropriation of a Māori language data.
But opportunities exist say Te Taka, where authorised Māori language data can be used to build sovereign AI systems that have complete iwi Māori autonomy. That’s where I want to concentrate my efforts over the next few years, working with organisations like Te Kāhui Raraunga and Te Whare
managed to ground progress in something meaningful: our language, our stories.
Waikato software specialist Company-X co-founder David Hallett said he had always admired how Keegan has brought together deep cultural knowledge and technical skill.
“In an industry that often races ahead, he’s
“His work hasn’t just opened doors for te reo Māori in tech, it’s also influenced the way many of us think about what meaningful innovation actually looks like.”
Te Awamutu based Te Wananga o Aotearoa chief executive Evie O’Brien said Keegan’s work looked really interesting.
From 1 July 2025
Wānanga o Waikato, to build intelligent knowledge systems that encompass mana motuhake, for the benefit of future generations.”
Te Hapori Matihiko Living Icon award winner Te Taka Keegan says he has more work to in the Māori data sovereignty field.
A tragedy out shooting
By Meghan Hawkes
After their evening meal on a Sunday in early March 1923, 28-year-old Te Mapara farmer Raymond Sefton told his wife Ethel he would have a shot at some rabbits while going to muster the cows. He asked for the cartridges then left, taking a shotgun. It was routine for Raymond, a returned soldier, to do this when bringing in the cows to be milked.
But after an hour Ethel had heard no shooting and as he hadn’t returned, she went out to look for him. She called repeatedly but received no answer. Then, in the distance she saw him. He was lying beside a fence; the gun against the bank, the muzzle pointing towards him.
of identifying Raymond. He had chatted with him about an hour before the shooting and found him in his usual cheerful spirits. The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to the accidental discharge of a shot gun.
Raymond was born at OKains Bay, Christchurch, one of six siblings. He lost both his parents when he was fairly young - his mother when he was 12, his father when he was 18.
He enlisted with the Main Expeditionary Force during World War One, in 1915 when he
was 20. While in training camp he was injured by a kick from a horse which caused Periotitis tibia - a painful inflammation of the membrane covering the shinbone. In early 1916 he left with the Ninth Reinforcements for Egypt but he broke down and was returned from the front during April and discharged from the military.
He found employment with the Christchurch tramway service and in June 1916 married Ethel Hearfield. They would go on to have four children.
After a lapse in judgement, a
short time after getting married, he was charged with forgery while paying incidental expenses connected with his marriage. He had intended to make restitution but Drayton’s department store had put the matter in the hands of the police before he could. Thomas Wilkins, of Akaroa, gave evidence as to Raymond’s general good character. The court, aware of the effect the war had had on him, was lenient, ordering only that the money be returned and court costs paid.
The past behind them, the
Sefton’s came to Te Mapara but luck was not to be found there either. Raymond was buried at Piopio cemetery, his headstone inscription saying he was “accidentally killed on his farm at Te Mapara... So loved, so mourned.”
Waharoa’s Matariki opening
By Mary Anne Gill
Founding trustee Kiri Gray and committee member Rowena Maxwell cut the ribbon to open the new waharoa at Ngā Hau e Whā Marae on Matariki day. Behind them marae chair
Tania Simpson quietly wiped away tears as the gateway to Cambridge Community Marae opened.
It had taken decades.
Since 1966, the marae had been built on dreams, determination and aroha, overcoming years of obstacles. Now, at last, it had a waharoa — a symbolic entrance built with the same love, labour, and resilience that shaped the marae itself.
“Without her we would never have had this and that’s the truth,” Gray said of Simpson’s leadership and perseverance.
The marae has consistently lived up to its name Ngā Hau e Whā - the four winds - a reference to it being a place for everybody. That was obvious during the Covid pandemic when it served as a vaccination centre.
Simpson hopes the focus can now shift.
“I really hope that people can now talk about the
waharoa and the structure. There’s been so much work gone into this. It’s a very emotional day,” she said.
The community was warmly invited, and more than 250 people responded.
Among those who attended were Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, Māori ward councillor Dale-Maree Morgan and councillors Philip Coles, Mike Pettit and Clare St Pierre.
Funders, supporters, neighbours, committee members and Leamington Primary School kapa haka group also joined the 9.30am ceremony.
But for the marae whānau, the day began much earlier — just after 5am, when they lit the fire for the hāngī. By 7am, broken iron railway sleepers were in place, ready to support two large baskets of food.
The hāngī included one pig, three sheep, 25 chickens, 20kg potatoes, 10kg kūmara, six pumpkins and stuffing, all carefully placed in two baskets lined with cabbage leaves and wrapped in sacks.
Marae trustee Bert Tuhi, a butcher who once ran a hāngī business in South Africa, oversaw the preparation. He returned to Cambridge four
years ago after 33 years in Durban, where he married Wendy Lynne and raised a daughter.
Often mistaken for a Boer or Afrikaner due to his height and colouring, Tuhi admitted he barely slept the night before due to nerves.
He need not have worried — the food was perfectly cooked, and no one went hungry after it was served just before midday – a testament to the care and preparation which went into the feast.
Women bag semi spot
By Jesse Wood
Two wins and a loss came the way of the Ōtorohanga Sports teams in Waikato Club Rugby during Matariki weekend.
The premier and women’s teams defeated Melville and Hautapu respectively at their home grounds, while the premier B side lost to Melville B.
The golds premier side were victorious 31-7 at Collins Road in Hamilton.
Ethan McCarthy scored Melville’s sole try, while number eight Sivaniolo Turuva Lumelume picked up three tries and Manaaki Rewi-Wetini scored 11 points for the visitors. Reserve Isoa Dobui was the other Ōtorohanga try scorer.
The blues development team lost 30-24 to Melville B after drubbing them 68-21 earlier in the season. Melville tallied up six unconverted tries at their home field. Dobui,
also playing for Ōtorohanga B, scored two tries in the loss. Fellow blues teammates to cross the chalk were Inia Titoko and Vereti Peceli. Halfback Liam Fox added two conversions off the tee.
In the women’s premiership, Ōtorohanga beat Hautapu 37-17 at Cambridge Memorial Park.
Rina Paraone, Koiatarau Edwards and Kura Edwards grabbed two tries each. Fullback Libby Kearins-Te Whare scored the visiting team’s seventh and kicked a conversion.
In her speech, O’Regan said the opening represented an opening of arms, a welcoming embrace and a powerful symbol of unity and belonging.
“(It is) a spiritual threshold - the place where we leave behind the everyday world and step into the sacred space of the marae.”
Ngā Hau e Whā is centrally positioned with the rohe of Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Hauā and Ngāti Wairere though it is not an iwi marae. “This marae
stands proudly supported by mana whenua and embraced by the wider community,” said O’Regan.
“It is a taonga – a treasure – for our community and our future generations.”
Construction of the marae began in 1995 with the wharekai (dining room) five years after the first sod was turned on the corner of Pope Terrace and Bracken Street in Leamington. A Te Kōhanga Reo building occupied space from 1991.
The wharenui – a
transportable building –arrived in 2003 and the last significant work finished in 2008.
Simpson told The News there was more to do and this was shown by the aspirations’ board guests contributed to with suggestions for the future on sticky notes. The marae’s journey continues — grounded in history, guided by community, and open to all who come through the waharoa.
The Ōtorohanga men will host United Matamata Sports this weekend, while the women will play in a semi-final clash. Kio Kio United Cattle Dogs had a weekend off in the combined Waikato-Counties Manukau Under-85kg rugby competition. They will face Morrinsville Sports Majestic Pukekos in the Waikato under-85kg semi-final this Saturday.
Applications closing soon
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Waiting to go through the new waharoa at Cambridge Community Marae, from left Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, founding trustee Kiri Gray, marae chair Tania Simpson and committee member Rowena Maxwell.
August rep games on It’s tight at the top
By Norris Woodbine
Three points separate the top three in the King Country club premiership Tongariro United sat out the bye and Taupo Marist beat Waitete 2219 at Owen Delany Park last weekend.
Although Waitete picked up a losing bonus point, the loss dents their hopes for a home semifinal as they now sit out a bye and must hope for an upset this week to keep their rivals anchored below them.
The game in Taupō on Saturday offered an intensity not seen for some time and
the first half developed into a real arm wrestle as the solid Waitete pack exerted some dominance and the Marist backline continually looked the threaten.
With just 10 minutes left in the half it was Waitete who blew the game open when second five Carlos Karaitiana used deception and a beautiful short pass to put Jared Crosland in a yawning gap 30 metres out and he powered away to score under the posts.
Almost immediately Marist struck back when they drove Saxon Hunter over from a maul and Josh White levelled the scores with the conversion
7-7 at halftime.
After the break Marist speedster Apete Matai put Marist ahead finishing a sweeping back move for White to again convert and the home side was ahead 14-7.
Then Waitete put on the play of the day when Phayzen Marshall fielded a well-placed clearing kick before setting off on a counter attacking run beating several defenders with his speed and guile before timing a long pass to perfection and sending Riddick Rangitonga off on a 40-metre run to the corner.
Callum Hedley missed the conversion from wide out and soon after White slotted a penalty and Marist appeared secure soon after when Aporosa Duwai sped in for a touch down and a 22-12 lead with 20 to go.
Waitete thrive on a challenge and the last 20 minutes saw them take complete control but try as they might the defence proved impenetrable until with time on the clock the referee lost patience with constant infringements and awarded a penalty try.
Out at Piopio saw a real game of two halves with the home side up 24 nil at half time only to cling on for a 24–19 victory as the Taumarunui
Eels stormed back.
At Taumarunui the struggling Waitomo again conceded over 50 points losing to Taumarunui Districts 54 – 8.
On Thursday night last week the Waitete women’s side enjoyed a 55–5 over Hinuera and remain on track for a top four finish.
This week Waitomo will host Taumarunui Eels as they look to snare their first win for 2 years, Taupo Marist host Taumarunui Districts in a Hetet Shield match while Tongariro United play Piopio down at Turangi.
Supporters and players can eye an August window with some excitement with the confirmation a Maniapoto representative team has been entered in the 2025 Peace Cup rugby competition.
At a recent meeting held in Cambridge delegates from Hamilton, the current holders of the cup, Piako - a combined Matamata/Morrinsville side - Central Bay of Plenty, based in Rotorua, joined Maniapoto with confirmed entries while Te Awamutu requested time to confirm.
The Peace Cup final will be played at Rotorua International Stadium as curtain raiser for the Pacific Cup test match between Fiji and Manu Samoa.
“To have players from the local clubs provided this exposure is hopefully a boon for the struggling community game in the North King Country area,” Peace Cup chairman Neil Macrae said.
The group organising the Maniapoto entry are finalising their coaching and management team and a pre-competition match in Te Kuiti against Counties Manukau Māori is confirmed for August 2.
The team will then have three or four qualifying games hoping to qualify for the big final in Rotorua.
Rugby picks
Peter Hurley (27) Taupo Marist Tongariro Taumarunui Eels
Carlos Cressy (30) Taupo Marist Tongariro Taumarunui Eels
Craig McKellar (33) Taupo Marist Tongariro Taumarunui Eels
Christen Dimond (25) Taupo Marist Tongariro Waitomo
Christen Dimond gambles again and opts for a Waitomo celebration this week – will he pick up a point on his three rivals?
Sam Wilson looks to offload for Waitete against Taupō Marist
Positively PIOPIO
Bull’s Jack is back in black
By Jon Rawlinson
Former Piopio midfield back Jack Wiseman is gearing up to take on some of his sport’s brightest rising stars at the World Rugby Under 20 Championship.
Effectively a junior world cup, the tournament opens next week when Wiseman, 18, and the ‘Baby Blacks’ play host nation, Italy.
“I
“It’s not every day I get to go to Europe, so I’m just going to soak it up and enjoy myself for the first little bit,” he told The News.
“The competition is a stepping stone towards playing professional rugby, but we’re definitely going there to try and win it too.”
Last month, New Zealand secured Under-20 Rugby Championship. After a win against Argentina and a draw with Australia, the Under-20s beat South African 48-45 –having trailed 19-0 after 14 minutes.
Wiseman was born in Rotorua and attended Āria School and Piopio College before heading to New Plymouth Boys’ High to pursue his rugby goals.
“I enjoyed playing with my mates and created plenty of memories in Piopio. I moved down to New Plymouth in 2020 because the rugby was more competitive and the competition pushed me further.”
Now in his first year at Waikato University, he is taking his studies seriously too, aware that sporting careers can be cut short and retirement comes early.
“It’s important to have another plan these days because you never really know when your last game’s going to be. Studying also takes my mind off footy for a while as well.”
Wiseman’s cousin is Hurricanes and
Manawatū U20 halfback Jai Tamati.
“Yeah, it’s been pretty good playing alongside him. I didn’t really know him well until we went to South Africa but we’re pretty close now. He’s a good fella.”
“Because we’ve played together for the last wee while, it would be good to go against each other if we get the opportunity. But, yeah, I’d have to make the team first.”
“After winning The Rugby Championship, we’re now confident heading over to Italy, but we know the challenge the World Cup will hold,” Wiseman said. “All the teams will be tough to beat and there will be no easy games.”
His provincial debut certainly wasn’t easy an easy game for some – he was in the Taranaki team which beat the King Country Rams 78-7 in a Ranfurly Shield challenge earlier this month. Wiseman also collected a try.
“It felt weird playing against King Country because I grew up there. I have plenty of respect for the province and a lot of people there have helped me in my rugby journey,” he said.
“But Taranaki has taken me in and nurtured my skills further and I’ve been enjoying my time down here.”
Wiseman was named the 2025 Chiefs Under 20s Player of the Year and credited with a ‘standout performance’ at the Super Rugby U20s tournament.
Jack Wiseman in action against King Country this month.
Photo: NZ Rugby
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Farewell, Mons Joe
By Mary Anne Gill
We
Te Awamutu’s Catholic community is in mourning following the death of their much-loved former parish priest, Monsignor Joe Stack.
The 76-year-old monsignor retired to Te Puke last year but regularly returned for mass at St Patrick’s Church and visit prisoners at Waikeria Prison.
Parish Council members said some of his most impactful work was done at the prison. One member noted Stack’s unique ability to blend humour with empathy and compassion endeared him to everyone he met.
Nick Prendergast said Stack would be watching with interest tomorrow (Friday), when a requiem Mass will be held in Te Awamutu.
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“His forte was funerals,” he said. “He had a way of combining humour with reverence that made them truly special for families and friends.”
Hamilton Diocese bishop Richard Laurenson told The News Stack had a particular heart for those at the margins.
“Just last week he was visiting Waikeria as part of his ongoing ministry as a priest.
“Mons Joe was never an official prison chaplain, but like many priests, he had a supernatural ability to engage with those who suffer confinement and like many of those priests, it was such a natural part of them that no one really noticed, and they never advertised the fact.”
When Stack missed his regular visit last week, concerned friends raised the alarm. He was later found at his home in Te Puke, having died of natural causes.
“Joe’s love and care for his fellow priests is legendary. His passing has deeply touched many of us,” Laurenson said. One of his closest friendships was with former Cambridge parish priest Mons Len Danvers.
The two were like brothers, recalled The News senior writer Viv Posselt, who interviewed them for their joint 50th anniversary as priests.
“Once they warmed up, they were very amusing,” she said. “Their banter was easy and familiar — clearly the product of many years of friendship.”
Their resemblance — both with grey beards and receding hairlines —often led to confusion among Waipā parishioners.
Retired Anglican deacon Norris Hall said Stack had been his spiritual leader for many years.
“He was a humble person with a delightful sense of humour and we enjoyed each other’s company.”
With Jewish heritage through his mother, Hall also shared customs with Stack.
“If anyone didn’t get on with Joe, they had a problem.”
290 Cattle Comprising of 30 Cows
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Parishioner Betsy Reymer, now in her 90s has seen priests come and go but rated Stack among the best.
“No fancy frills with him. He was always very friendly and remembered people’s names.”
His sermons were meaningful and always had a strong core message, she said.
Parish councillor Cass Sutton, who knew Stack during her time as deputy principal at St Patrick’s Catholic School described him as “kind, gentle, non judgemental and always with a twinkle in his eye.”
Prendergast said parish priests play a critical role in families’ lives – from baptism through to burial.
“Joe was always sincere. He would take people as they were and look after them. He’s certainly going to be a loss.”
Words like empathy, sincerity, sense of humour and compassion summed up Stack, he said.
Stack was born in Auckland and ordained a priest in 1974. He was a founding member of the Hamilton Diocese and looked after parishes in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti. But it was Te Awamutu where he spent most of his time as a parish priest.
“Joe had a quiet way of encouraging us, and being there whenever we needed him,” said Laurenson.
“Priests live an extroverted life, but most of us are very introverted and private people. We love our space, and our quiet. We spend much time in prayer with the Lord which feeds our ability to be public facing.”
A Vigil Funeral Mass is to be held tonight (Thursday) at St Mary’s in Tauranga with a requiem mass in Te Awamutu tomorrow followed by his burial at the Ōhaupō Catholic Cemetery.
STOCK SALES
Early Arrival of Mobile Screening Unit Enables
Te Kūiti Wahine to Access Vital Health Checks
Final Days finishes July 4
We are pleased to announce that the mobile screening unit arrived ahead of schedule, allowing us to respond promptly to the proactive engagement from the Te Kuiti community. Thanks to this early arrival and enthusiastic participation, we have already screened 488 wahine
Looking ahead, a further 142 wahine have booked appointments over the next 10 days, with 120 additional slots still available for those who wish to participate in this important screening programme. Due to the overwhelming positive response and the early deployment of the unit, we are now planning to move the mobile screening unit out early to Tokoroa, to continue providing vital health services to wahine in that community.
We encourage all wahine who have not yet booked an appointment to take advantage of this opportunity while spaces remain.
For more information on how to book your appointment, please phone 0800270200
Grounds
Caretaker Wanted Part-Time (25 Hours/Week)
Ōtorohanga College is seeking a reliable and proactive Grounds Caretaker to join our team. This part-time role (25 hours per week) involves maintaining the College grounds to a high standard, including lawn care, general tidying, garden maintenance and minor repairs.
We are looking for someone who:
• Has experience in groundskeeping or outdoor maintenance
• Is practical, self-motivated and takes pride in their work
• Demonstrates good attention to health and safety procedures
• Can work independently and as part of a small team
Start Date: July 14, 2025 Join a friendly, supportive College community and help keep our grounds looking great all year round.
To apply or for more information, please contact: The Principal Ōtorohanga College phone: 07 873 8029
Email your cover letter and CV to: kurthl@otocoll.school.nz Applications close: July 3
Buildings Caretaker Wanted Part-Time (25 Hours/Week)
Ōtorohanga College seeks a reliable and proactive Buildings Caretaker to join our team. This part-time role (25 hours per week) involves the day-to-day upkeep and security of the College’s buildings, including minor repairs and preventative maintenance, opening/closing and securing buildings, monitoring heating, lighting and alarm systems and liaising with external contractors as required.
We are looking for someone who:
• Has experience in building maintenance or property services
• Is practical, self-motivated and takes pride in their work
• Demonstrates good attention to health and safety procedures
• Can work independently and as part of a small team
Start Date: July 14, 2025 Become part of a supportive College community and help ensure our facilities remain safe, clean and inviting.
Monday to Thursday 9.00am - 3.00pm
Best way to contact us:
Advertising:
Janine 027 287 0005
Editorial: Roy 027 450 0115
Email: admin@goodlocal.nz
PROPOSED BYLAW REVIEWS
Pursuant to Sections 83, 86 and 156 of the Local Government Act 2002; public notice is given that the Ōtorohanga District Council resolved at its meeting on 24 June 2025 to invite submissions on the proposal to review the following 2 bylaws:
• Structures and Works in Public Places 2015
• Keeping of Stock, Poultry and Bees 2009 (as reviewed 2015)
The Statements of Proposal including a copy of the proposed changes to the bylaws will be available for public inspection from 30 June 2025 from:
• Ōtorohanga District Council O ce at 17 Maniapoto St Ōtorohanga
• Any Council library/service centre within the Ōtorohanga District.
• The Council engagement website – https://engage. otodc.govt.nz/
Submissions on the Statements of Proposal will be received up until 5pm on 8th August 2025. All submissions must be in writing and emailed or addressed to: info@otodc.govt.nz
Ōtorohanga District Council
17 Maniapoto St PO Box 11
Ōtorohanga
Submissions may also be made electronically on the council engagement website https://engage.otodc.govt.nz/
To apply or for more information, please contact: The Principal Ōtorohanga College phone: 07 873 8029
Email your cover letter and CV to: kurthl@otocoll.school.nz - Applications close: July 3
TE KUMI MARAE AGM
When: July 12, 2025 commencing at 10am. Where: Te Kumi Whare, Main Rd SH3, Te Kūiti.
Who: For the descendants of Kiritahanga Te Kaama Totorewa and Te Manukura Mahuki and members of Ngāti Kinohaku hapū who affiliate to Te Kumi Marae. Also, the Trustees of the land block Te Kumi A27.
Agenda:
Annual Financial Report
Chairperson's Report
Appointment of Trustees
General Business
Any nominations for trustees or items for general business to be sent to secretary@tekumipaa.co.nz
Quota Club Inc
Taupiri St, Te Kūiti Notice to all members AGM 12
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Doors will be locked at 11:50am
AGENDA: Apologies
Minutes of 2024 AGM
Consideration of President’s report
Financial statement for the year ending March 31, 2025
Election of life members
Election of auditor
General business
Courtesy van available from 11.15 am – Please pre-register
A light lunch will be provided after the conclusion of the meeting.
PLEASE NOTE: No vote is required for the committee as the committee now stands for a 2-year term. (Please refer to Section 12.3, Term of office, part a) page 16 of the current Quota Club Constitution adopted June 2023: Remain in office for a two-year term running from the time of election until the conclusion.
Notice of aerial herbicide spraying
Waikato Regional Council advises that pursuant to section 114A of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and the Waikato Regional Plan, relating to Widespread Application of Agrichemicals (Permitted Activity Rule 6.2.4.9), spraying of pest plants will occur between 10 July 2025 and 1 September 2025. Application will be by helicopter.
Pest plants to be sprayed are listed in the Waikato Regional Pest Management Plan 2022-2032 and include (but are not limited to) variegated thistle (Silybum marianum).
A spray plan has been prepared in accordance with condition (f)(i), of rule 6.2.4.9 and is available for viewing.
Herbicide to be used is picloram, triclopyr and aminopyralid (Tordon Brushkiller XT) and organomodified polydimethyl siloxane (Pulse Penetrant).
The area of operation is private properties on Fraser Smith Road, Manganui Road, Mangatoa Road, Waikauwau Road and Te Marama Road.
Spraying is weather dependent and will occur during daylight hours on any day, including weekends but excluding public holidays.
For more information, call Waikato Regional Council’s biosecurity pest plants team on 0800 800 401.
Occupiers adjacent to treated areas will be contacted prior to spraying.
CDA McLay Chief Executive
EEKL SCHEDULE ON OUR EBSI E
In loving memory of Michael Wi & Tuti Wi. Brothers gone but never forgotten. Mike was a beacon of love, strength, and resilience. His stubborn but gentle spirit touched the lives of all who crossed his path. He was a devoted hubby, a loving dad, and a cherished papa. I see you every day in our children and grandchildren. You are dearly missed beyond words.
Tuti, you left us so suddenly it broke our hearts. Tuti’s passion for helping others knew no bounds. He touched countless lives. He lived his life to the fullest. We miss you deeply, but we find solace in knowing that his legacy lives on. through your children and grandchildren. Your memory will be cherished eternally.
A memorial service will be held for family and friends on Saturday the 5th of July.at 11.00am at Te Kūiti Pa.
TREGOWETH, Shirley
PIRONGIA MARKET
Pirongia Community Centre, Crozier St Sunday, June 29, 9am - 1pm
Last Sunday of every month
Email jim1@xtra.co.nz or ph Jim 027 366 5842
ONE bedroom flat for rent
Otorohanga. Must be tidy and quiet. $345 per week. Landlord will pay for water. Text Mike 021 1569 887.
TO LET WORK WANTED
955 6243
Experienced farmer available for relief work, calving, milking, general farm work, GST registered Ph 022 0844349
“Rest in love, Mike & Tuti. Your love will forever be a guiding light in our lives.”
Leeann, Deb and whānau
Eleanor – Peacefully at Hillview Rest Home, Te Kūiti, on Thursday, June 19, 2025, with her caring and loving family at her side. Aged 97 years. Beloved wife of the late Owen. Dearly loved and cherished mother and mother-in-law of Sheryl and the late Ian; Kevin and Sue. Adored and loved nana to Kelly and Mark; Stacy and Pete; Cameron and Josh; Travis and Jody; Aaron and Liezel; Janelle and Glenn. Special great nana to her thirteen great grandchildren. Daughter of George and Girlie Disher. Many thanks to Hillview Home for their wonderful care of Shirley over the past two years. A celebration of Shirley’s life will be held at VJ Williams and Sons Chapel, 33 King Street West, Te Kūiti on Saturday, June 28,at 11am. All communications to Tregoweth Family C/- PO Box 241, Te Kūiti 3941. VJ Williams & Sons, Funeral Directors Association of NZ
TREGOWETH, Shirley –
Passed away Thursday, June 19, 2025. A friend of St John Te Kūiti. Our condolences to Shirley’s family.
BAKER, Anthony David (Butch) – Aged 70 years, peacefully at home. Younger brother of Ron and Jenny (Karaka), Joy (dec) and Rex Kyle (Te Kūiti), Fay and Joe (dec), Pascoe (Te Kūiti), Gae and Terry (dec) O’Leary, (Taradale), Laurie (dec), Bob and Alida (Otorohanga), Jim (dec) and Stan (dec). A good friend and flatmate of Rodney. A service to farewell Butch will be held on Friday, June 27 at 1pm at the Waitomo Club. Forever in our thoughts and hearts.
SWANN, Robert James (Bob) – Peacefully at Hillview Rest Home, Te Kūiti on Friday, June 20, 2025. In his 103rd year and now in peace. Father of Glenda. Grandfather of Justin and Wade. Special friend to all his extended family and mates. A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at St Luke’s Anglican Church, Te Kūiti on Monday, June 30, at 1pm, followed by interment at the Te Kūiti Cemetery. All communications to Swann Family C/- PO Box 241, Te Kūiti 3941. In the care of VJ Williams & Sons, Funeral Directors Association of NZ
SWANN, Bob 102 years. My good mate for over 70 years, honest as the day is long, you have earnt your rest. We will miss our catchups. Another good bugger gone. Rex & girls.
Teri Keir Funeral Director
