Te Awamutu News | April 17, 2025 by Cambridge News, King Country News, Te Awamutu News & Waikato Business News

Jo in line for award

By Chris Gardner

Pirongia’s Jo Sheridan is one of three finalists in the national Dairy Woman of the Year Award and is passionate about education both on the farm, and in the classroom.

She is currently demonstration manager at Owl Farm at St Peter’s School in Cambridge where she has been educating people about the dairy industry. “It’s been a really humbling process,” Sheridan said.

Sheridan, husband Carl and their two sons Sam and Jake have been involved at Pirongia School since 2013. She served on the board from 2019 until she joined the Te Awamutu College board three years ago.

Before she left the Pirongia board, she urged parents to get involved.

“To be accountable for student achievements means that as board members we are constantly growing and developing our skills and keeping up to date with information to make informed decisions,” she said.

Her nomination as one of three finalists in the dairy award is recognition for her part in future focus farming.

“It is a really rewarding thing to be recognised for, as it has been a great part of my life for 24 years.”

Future Focus Farming is an initiative designed to help farming businesses plan. It emphasises collaboration between spouses, siblings, or business associates to co-design a shared vision for their farm’s future. The programme includes setting goals, creating action plans, and identifying key financial and performance indicators.

Sheridan has welcomed around 2000 visitors on to the 140ha Owl Farm each year for the past six years; 40 per cent of who have never been on a dairy farm before.

Her focus is on sustainable practices, farmer education and youth engagement

which aims to inspire the next generation of farmers.

Small moments of connection with visitors who suddenly feel connection with the land or farm animals is what gets Sheridan out of bed. “Their eyes light up,” she said.

The farm held its annual open day earlier this month and Sheridan and her team saw

900 visitors over four hours.

“I love everything about this job.”

Born and raised in South Taranaki, Sheridan moved to Pirongia in 2001 when she became a DairyNZ consulting officer, later serving as DairyNZ regional leader for the Waikato.

Sheridan’s nomination for Dairy Woman of the Year recognises her passion for education, community engagement and sustainability.

Sheridan is one of two Waikato dairy farmers up for the award, the other being Lara Sutton who farms between Tīrau and Piarere off State Highway One.

• See: Lara to the rescue, page 11

Jo Sheridan at Owl Farm, St Peter’s School in Cambridge

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On the beat

with Constable Ryan Fleming

Great to be back

I’m back. After a six month hiatus working in Hamilton I have decided there is “no place like home” and I have returned to my substantive position as community constable for Te Awamutu.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that the extensive roadworks on State Highway 3 were completed the same day I finished my daily commute.

To those that live here in Te Awamutu and work in Hamilton, I take my hat off to you. I also enjoy the fact that my first column back is for both Te Awamutu and Cambridge and I would like to pay tribute to Deb Hann who has stepped in and been the voice for both communities in my absence.

Stepping away from my role has given me a renewed focus on what I do and how I do it. As they say, a change is as good as a holiday.

Early on March 23, Fresh Choice Cambridge

was subject to a robbery where four offenders arrived in a stolen vehicle and ran into the store with weapons (crowbar, hammer) and stolen cigarettes. They then drove to Te Awamutu where they did the same at the Chatsfield Dairy.

Waikato West Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) made enquiries and through an extensive intelligence network, four offenders were identified.

Police executed a series of search warrants across the Waikato and as a result three of the four offenders have been arrested and put before the court last week.

Members of the public observed a female going onto a commercial building site at the weekend and began removing items belonging to the builders. Police responded and arrested a female who has been put to court for burglary..

Holistic approach needed for maunga

By Chris Gardner

Kakepuku Mountain

Conservation Project spent 18 volunteer hours putting right a Waipā District Council drainage project

Te Awamutu-Kihikihi

Community Board chair Ange Holt said half a dozen members put things right after the council ignored offers of help.

“This is the perfect example of using a little bit of local knowledge that was ignored that could have done a better job of the job that was done,” she said.

“The digger has been up there and cleared out some of the water table,” Holt said.

“But they have plopped the dirt on the track. The dirt could have been spread out.

“A bunch of them have gone up the mountain and dug a whole lot of drains that run across the track,” she said.

Council community services manager Brad Ward said, in a statement,

Holt

there was a limited budget to undertake extensive earthworks adjacent to the track.

“Steps were installed as the volume of earth to be shaped would have been reasonably significant and the area had long been a site challenging to navigate when wet,” he said.

“We appreciate the work of the Kakepuku Mountain Conservation Society who have put in considerable effort to dig small trenches across the track to divert the water and continue to maintain them regularly.

Brad Ward

“There is a swale present on the inner side of the track (towards the mountain), which has been designed to channel water away from the track and mitigate erosion. Our contractor has undertaken spraying as required to help the swale function effectively to reduce scour or slips occurring.

“We look forward to working more with Te Kōpua Marae, members of the society and the Department of Conservation to plan a holistic approach to looking after the maunga for the longer term.”

Executive shuffle

Katie Mayes, who is currently NZ Transport Agency System Planning and Investment national manager will join Waipā District Council as Cambridge Connections executive director next month. Meanwhile the council has farewelled deputy chief executive Ken Morris and Human Resources group manager Stephanie Shores. Service Delivery group manager Dawn Inglis has also resigned from the executive. James Graham is filling in as acting chief financial officer.

Membership grows

The Te Awamutu Junior Indoor Bowls Club has moved into the Te Awamutu Bowls Club and expanded its membership options. It was previously at the intermediate school where it was limited to year seven and eight pupils but thanks to support from Te Awamutu Lions is now open to anyone under 18. There are a number of upcoming competitions members can play in including the King Country junior singles champs and secondary school events.

Owner a finalist

Good Local Media publisher David Mackenzie is one of six finalists in the Waipā Networks Business Leader of the Year Award joining David Hall (Cambridge Resthaven), Anita Crowe (Construction Advantage), Blair Paterson (Homebrew Coffee), Nadia Hauā (NZ Louvres) and Patricia Ross (Ross & Co Hair Design) at a gala dinner in Mystery Creek Events Centre on May 2 where the winner will be announced. Good Local Media publishes three community newspapers in Cambridge, Te Awamutu and King Country, the monthly Waikato Business News and runs the annual Waipā Home and Leisure Show at Lake Karāpiro.

Ange

Briefs…

Dirt jumping

Children in Pirongia, who have been using part of a road verge to dig out humps and hollows for their bike jumps, are about to get their own space to build and design dirt jumps safely. Waipā District Council has created a new dedicated dirt jump zone at the Pirongia skatepark site using dirt from council’s parks and reserves.

Weal in top job

Dressage rider and trainer Christine Weal has been appointed Equestrian Sport NZ’s new High Performance dressage manager. Weal, who lives and works at stables in Te Rahu Rd between Te Awamutu and Cambridge, breeds and produces young horses for both dressage and eventing. She replaces Penny Pearce of Pahiatua who died in February.

Five Stags unlisted

Pirongia’s pub is no longer up for sale, after owner Nora Fu failed to find a buyer.

The $1 million Five Stags Restaurant and Bar business was listed late last year after Fu, sole shareholder of Night Pearl Ltd, lost her alcohol licence. Five Stags is advertising the business as available for lease.

Festival a success

The Cambridge Autumn Festival Trust says the success of the latest festival - with four concerts and two workshops sold out and more than 5000 people attending the Te Awa Lifecare Main Street Carnival and Autumn Art Market – means they have already started work on next year’s event. Highlights included performances by new trio “La Voce o Rotorua”, pianist Michael Houstoun, and the three country artists – Rowdy’s Rose, James Ray, and The DCP. Organisers were also able to include musicians and performers from local high schools, dance schools and arts academies.

Students at climate summit

By Jesse Wood

Secondary school enviro leaders from across the Waikato, King Country and Thames Valley will attend Waikato Regional Council’s annual climate summit at Te Awamutu College’s O-Tāwhao Marae next month.

Tauhara College, Te Awamutu College and Te Wharekura Maniapoto (Te Kūiti) are among the secondary schools with students attending.

“Enviro schools has deep roots in the Waikato. It was actually piloted in the Waikato over 20 years ago.

The pilot schools in Hamilton are still going strong,” Enviro schools regional coordinator Michelle Daly said.

“Enviro schools is all about creating a healthy, peaceful sustainable world.

“Part of that summit is to engage young people in leadership conversations and build their communication skills so they can talk to their peers and teachers about climate change. We also engage nature connection.

“They go out and experience community projects. The best thing about this summit is for them to connect with others across the region.”

There are now more than 1600 New Zealand-based enviro schools, reaching about 400,100 students from Year 1-13.

In the Waipā region alone there are 25 schools (69 per cent in the district) involved in the programme.

Five Waipā kindergartens are also under the enviro umbrella.

Ōtorohanga district has three schools aligned and Waitomo nine.

At a recent Waipā District Council workshop, enviro leaders from Pāterangi and Pirongia schools explained what they’re doing to play their part.

They urged adults to make a positive environmental impact –“less packaging and more trees”.

The students’ work involves growing fruit trees, feeding food scraps to chickens, worm farming compost, native plantings for the Trees of Survival programme and setting up pest traps along the Taiea Te Taiao, Ecological Corridor (Maungatautari to Pirongia Ecological Corridor Project).

“We’ve set these traps so we can

be a safe space for native birds and bats to visit. Our school bird is the kōkako, and it would be great to see one at our school one day,”

Paterangi School student TorreeAnn Roa said.

“Each term, a class gets to participate in a weekly garden-totable session where half of the class will look after the garden, weed, plant, water, and harvest the food, and the other half will prepare a meal to enjoy together. It’s a great opportunity to learn how to grow and cook.”

Fellow Pāterangi student Jackson Murdoch explained how they surrounded their outdoor classroom with native trees.

“We installed a rain tank to collect rainwater off the roof of the outdoor classroom so that we can water out natives. Unfortunately, there has been very little rain this summer so our poor wee natives are struggling,” Jackson said.

“We also planted out the front

verge of the school with mountain flax, donated by a local nursery. These will help stabilise the bank.”

Jack Newlands told attendees about their bush school on a neighbouring farm.

“Throughout the year, we all get a chance to go over the road to bush school. This is a real highlight for lots of students,” Jack said.

“At bush school we like to climb trees, light the fire and cook something on it, make spears and go fishing in the pond.”

Pirongia enviro leaders Heidi Cuttance and Toby Rothery were also great informants.

Heidi said their enviro team had several exciting projects planned.

“These include a hot compost system for our school and community to put their food scraps in, which will biodegrade into compost that we can re-purpose and sprinkle on our gardens.”

Mayor Susan O’Regan was inspired to see the children sharing

their knowledge so confidently.

“They are the leaders of tomorrow, our next generation, and their passion for our environment is a powerful reminder that they are leading the way towards a better future.”

The list of Enviro schools are: Otorohanga District (3) Kio Kio, Ngutunui and Ōtorohanga schools.

Waipā District (30)

Cambridge High School, Cambridge Kindergarten, Cambridge Middle, Cambridge Primary schools, Central Kids Kindergartens – Hazelmere, Central Kids Kindergartens –Kihikihi, Goodwood, Hautapu, Horahora schools, James Gray Kindergarten, Karāpiro School, Leamington Kindergarten, Leamington, Ngāhinapōuri, Ōhaupō, Pāterangi, Pekapekarau, Pirongia, Pōkuru, Puahue, Pukeatua, St Patrick’s Catholic (Te Awamutu), St Peter’s Catholic (Cambridge), St Peter’s (Cambridge) schools, Te Awamutu College, Te Awamutu Primary, Te Miro, Te Pahū, Waipā Christian, and Wharepapa South schools.

Waitomo District (9) Benneydale, Centennial Park, Mōkau, Piopio Primary, Pukenui (Te Kūiti), Rangitoto, Te Kūiti High, Waitomo Caves and Whareorino schools.

Students Joana Dewei (from left), Connor Glenn and Lewis Vale amongst Pirongia School’s native bush with one of the bird houses encouraging native birds to roost.

Photo: Jesse Wood

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Clock ticks down to water decision

Waikato and King Country residents are making the most significant local government decision in a generation, and in most cases, they only have days, rather than weeks to decide. Senior writers Chris Gardner and Mary Anne Gill look at what’s involved.

Councillors have had their say, now it’s up to residents.

Should half a million people support a proposal to hand over their council’s water operations – up to 30 per cent of its annual operating expenditure – to a council-controlled water organisation?

Or should they stick with the status quo?

The issue is that New Zealand’s water infrastructure is in dire need of upgrades. Estimates suggest it will cost between $120 billion and $185 billion over the next 30 years to upgrade and maintain these systems.

Waikato’s portion of that has been conservatively estimated at $6 billion.

Hamilton city, Waikato and Waipā districts –all identified as experiencing high population growth and officially categorised as ‘growth councils’ - are struggling to fund infrastructure and the developer cash cow has dried up.

Ratepayers already face double digit rate increases and have no appetite for much more.

Something had to replace Labour’s controversial Three Waters plan which was consigned to a political graveyard last year. The coalition government came up with Local Water Done Well as its replacement and with it came some tough deadlines for councils already grappling with funding their Long Term and Annual plans.

Every city and district council in New Zealand must have developed a Water Services Delivery plan by September 3 after presenting two options to their communities, one the preferred one.

Forum, have been quick off the mark.

Hamilton and Waikato are already telling residents about their two options. The preferred one is to form a council-controlled organisation owned by the two councils to manage drinking and wastewater.

The second is an in-house business unit which they say is unsustainable. Their residents have until April 27 to have a say.

Stormwater services – the third of the Three Waters - remain with councils under the government’s direction as they are too linked to roading to split out at this stage.

Council-controlled organisations will give local authorities access to more lending opportunities and spread the debt out across generations, supporters say.

The other Waikato councils – Waipā, Matamata-Piako, Hauraki, Taupō, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga, Thames-Coromandel and South Waikato – are at different stages of the decision making but still a long way ahead of the rest of the country, according to Marlon Bridge from the Department of Internal Affairs.

Bridge is head of Strategy in the department’s Three Waters transition team and chief technical advisor for the government on Local Water Done Well.

Waipā did consider joining fellow growth councils Waikato and Hamilton but as mayor Susan O’Regan told a Waikato Chamber Grow Waikato forum last week, her council felt a level of responsibility to the broader region.

Long-term, she sees all Waikato councils in

couple of really good solutions that we are doing by choice because you told us you didn’t want to be told by Wellington.

“We pushed back on that,” said O’Regan, who was joined at the business forum by Southgate, Church and Bridge in a discussion moderated by Kelvyn Eglinton, a former general manager of growth at Hamilton City Council.

Waipā went with a seven-member regional model – eight if Thames-Coromandel comes on board - called Waikato Water Done Well.

South Waikato and Waitomo are at the same stage and like Waipā are out consulting residents already with an early May deadline.

Ōtorohanga and Thames-Coromandel went with their preferred options last week - forming a multi-council-controlled water organisation and gave residents until May 6.

Taupō was expected to choose its preferred

“This is probably one of the most significant decisions council’s elected members will make,” said Ōtorohanga Engineering and Assets group manager Mark Lewis.

There was a lone voice, Kio Kio-Korakonui ward councillor Rodney Dow, who favoured going it alone, an option most councils have rejected because it does not solve the huge financial costs water infrastructure requires.

“What you decide as a group is fine, and I will support it,” he said but then voted against adopting Waikato Water Done Well.

Thames Coromandel does want to join up with neighbouring councils. In its case that could be with Bay of Plenty, Hamilton and Waikato or Waikato Water Done Well.

Consultation on Thames-Coromandel District Council’s options opened last week and will run until May 15. They could join three council-controlled organisations -

Waikato mayor Jacqui Church, Department of Internal Affairs’ Marlon Bridge, Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate, Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, moderator Kelvyn Eglinton and Waikato Chamber chief executive Don Good at the Grow Waikato forum.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Building a champion

By Mary Anne Gill

Te Awamutu apprentice Jack Mathis may have been the youngest competing at the builders’ challenge event in Cambridge on Saturday, but his carpentry skills were the best on show.

Judges selected the 19-year-old as their winner in the Waikato heat of the New Zealand Certified Builders Apprentice (NZCBA) challenge held at Mitre 10, and he now advances to the national final in Hamilton.

Hamilton’s Warren Zarsuelo, 39, was second while Anam Farrant, 22, of Cambridge came in third.

But the big winner is arguably the Tokoroa playcentre that Jack’s two nieces attend which will get the planter box he made as part of the competition.

“I went in hoping not to come last, so I was pretty stoked to win,” he said.

“It was a great experience. I really enjoyed the more technical parts of the build and getting to meet other apprentices.”

Jack is into his third year of apprenticeship training with the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) and TOC Builders, owned by his brother Tom, who recently took over ownership of the Te Awamutu ITM.

Most of the family work in a trade or on a farm. “Having a trade under my belt is something I’ll be able to use in many aspects of my life,” said Jack.

“I can’t wait for the national final,” he said.

The competition tests apprentices’ carpentry skills under pressure.

Apprentices were given eight hours to construct a planter box, which were donated to their local community.

The finished boxes were assessed for workmanship, measuring, cutting, assembly, and attention to detail. Judges also evaluated each apprentice’s ability to follow a detailed plan and apply safe working techniques.

Jack won a $1000 Makita and Mitre10 Trade prize pack.

He will represent Waikato at the national final in June, where he will compete against 19 other regional winners for the prestigious Ken Read Memorial Trophy and a $10,000 prize pack.

Anam was homeschooled on Waiheke Island before moving to board at St Peter’s School in Cambridge. After finishing he stayed to play rugby for Hautapu Sports, turning out at first five for the premier team. On the look out for a job, he asked the builder renovating his parent’s home if he needed any labourers and was offered a job, progressing to an apprenticeship studying at Wintec.

Te Awamutu building apprentice Jack Mathis during the planter box build. Photo: Supplied

Delivering words, not babies

By Mary Anne Gill

Marie-ann Quin delivered more than 1200 babies in Waipā and King Country in the 25 years before she retired two years ago.

She covered thousands of kilometres in that time travelling to Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Kāwhia, Te Miro, Horahora, Arapuni, Arohena, Ōtorohanga and all the remote communities in between.

Quin, 68, who lives in Te Kawa between Ōtorohanga and Te Awamutu, launched her second novel Midwives and Men of War at the Te Awamutu RSA last week.

It is the second in a trilogy spanning midwifery from the time settlers came to New Zealand in the 1840s to the present day.

The first Emerald to Pounamu: A Midwife’s Odyssey sold well and had to be reprinted two weeks after its launch.

She gave an author’s talk and signed copies of the book to midwives, nurses, friends, relatives and patrons at a venue she described as appropriate as the love interest is a WW1 Gallipoli soldier.

Quin trained, worked and practised as a registered nurse at Waikato Hospital and then did her Plunket training when her children were little.

She covered the rural areas around Waipā while Nola Berney looked after Te Awamutu town.

“I had to work as there was a huge dairy downturn in the 80s and it was the only way to keep our heads above water. Most of the families I was caring for were in the same boat so I could really relate to their stresses and support them in the most compassionate way,” she told The News.

In 1990, she did her midwifery training

and set up as an independent midwife including shifts at Matariki Maternity.

“The doctors already knew me from Plunket, so they were very supportive and we worked alongside each other to give the women, their babies and their families the best possible care,” said Quin.

Two years ago, she retired, burnt out by the demanding and unsustainable caseload caused by too few midwives.

At one point she was travelling up to 1000kms a week to see families.

She had been unable to work for several years but navigated her way back to good

health, picking up casual work at Matariki, and then Te Awamutu Birthing.

A highlight in recent times was when she became a rural and remote rural locum travelling around New Zealand giving rural midwives a holiday break, which the government partly funded.

Before her retirement she was working casual 12 hour shifts at Tokoroa Birthing Unit.

“Covid meant that I was unable to reduce my hours, as the mandate took many of our midwives out of employment and I ended up doing four 12 hour shifts, not the best

way to ease into retirement.”

That experience she put into her first book and filled a void when she “finally and reluctantly left the career that I adored.”

Her daughter Kat Quin, who writes and illustrates the Kuwi the Kiwi and Flit the Fantail series helped design the book covers, set up a website and be a self-publishing mentor.

Another daughter Esther Harcourt, who lives in Wellington and who has a doctorate in English and German literature, gave some brutal, but necessary guidance with editing before Quin sent her manuscript to a professional editor.

Family history gave her ideas for the bystories of other characters, especially the love interests. Her grandfather Hubert Matson fought at Gallipoli.

The novel follows Louise, who is studying to become a midwife, while her mother and grandmother, from the first novel remain Class B midwives.

They can now only practice under the supervision of a doctor or a formally trained midwife. The hierarchical system challenges the practice of these women, who Louise has grown up with and admired for their skills and wisdom.

Quin has a busy life with her husband Pat, three daughters and 11 grandchildren, but she took some advice from Stephen King’s autobiography About Writing, to be selfdisciplined and sit down every day to write 2000 words.

She is travelling to Hanmer Springs for Anzac Day next week where she will wear her grandfather’s medals and attend the reopening of the newly renovated Queen Mary Soldiers Rehabilitation Hospital where some of the latest novel is set.

Marie-ann Quin with daughter Kat at her book launch at Te Awamutu RSA. Photo: Supplied.

Taking to the stage

One of Te Awamutu Little Theatre’s goals is to get more children involved in the theatre and they achieved that last week with a drama showcase of students from local schools.

Cenotaph names brought to life

By Viv Posselt

More stories about the men listed on the Te Awamutu Cenotaph were unveiled last week at a meeting of genealogists at the Te Awamutu Library.

three of the soldiers named on the Kihikihi cenotaph.

Tovah O’Neill, a drama teacher and vice president of the Little Theatre, took the students through after school programmes of drama, speech and drama and communication culminating in the showcase.

“It was a great event packed with family and friends,” she said.

“The drama showcase was the start of something beautiful for the Te Awamutu Little Theatre.”

Each year the theatre puts on a pantomime for children’s day which is an opportunity to celebrate performing arts with the community.

However, the drama club, comprising six to 13 years old, was able to have their own turn last week where they recited poetry and performed scripts and improvisations.

The presentation was another in an ongoing series highlighting findings by researchers on the lives of the 58 fallen World War One soldiers whose names are on the cenotaph at Te Awamutu’s Anzac Green.

The gathering was hosted by NZ Society of Genealogists Te Awamutu branch members Sandra Metcalfe and Linda Howarth. They and other members presented findings on 11 soldiers who had at some point in their lives been linked to the Te Awamutu area.

Included in Friday’s presentation were Alfred Bluck, Peter Sheffield, Cyril Daking, Francis Hatwell, Earnest Harris, William Dunwoodie, Frederick Barry, Evan Innes-Jones, Arthur White, Thomas Deeney and Frederick ‘Clarence’ Vile.

Metcalfe said not all were from Te Awamutu, but most had links to the area at some stage.

She said there will also be a talk at the Kihikihi Anzac Day service focusing on

TAKE THE KIDS TO EXPLORE OUR REGION THIS SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

“We’re living in uncertain times … we can all see how tenuous things are between war and peace. Sometimes we forget all the years of peace we have had since World War Two,” she told the gathering. “One of the reasons we do this is because it is important to tell the stories of those who have served, or given up their lives, for peace and for the life we enjoy today.”

One of the stories relates to Francis Hatwell, who died at the Somme in April 1918, aged just 24. He had married in 1915, and his widow Annette died in the Spanish influenza epidemic in late 1918. Their story was told by The News last year by Te Awamutu man Len Hatwell, who was Frances’ nephew.

Another story told of English-born Cyril Daking, who together with his partners opened House, Daking & Sindel’s in the Teasdale building in 1912, a draper’s business. Daking died of wounds sustained at the Somme on July 3, 1916, aged 30.

William Dunwoodie, also born in the UK, migrated aged 10 to New Zealand. He and his eight-year-old companion John Baske were

met at Auckland station in 1906 and taken to Dilworth School. Dunwoodie enlisted just before his 21st birthday and died of wounds sustained in Belgium on June 23, 1917.

Yet another, Frederick ‘Clarence’ Vile, died at the Somme on July 27, 1916. Born in Pahiatua, he was the grandson of the late Mr J Vile, who represented the Manawatu electorate in Parliament.

Also presenting their research findings were society members Alan Hall, Avis Steed, Anne Roberts, Rae Selby and Sharene Viles.

The society gave a presentation on 18 of the 58 soldiers in 2024, and Metcalfe said the project would continue next year with research on the remainder. She said plans were to have display posters on each available for public viewing.

Sandra Metcalfe

Tovah O’Neill with Royce on stage at the Little Theatre. Photo: Supplied.

Love and respect on social media

By Christine Bryant, Lay Minister, St John’s

There is no doubt that social media has become an integral part of life, especially for young people. These platforms certainly offer opportunities to connect, to build communities and to share news. However, over the last couple of weeks, the noxious effects of social media have been to the fore.

Firstly, Otago University published the results of a survey on the intimidating and humiliating posts to which women elected to public office are subjected. Female MPs, mayors and councillors are likely receive hate mail threatening violence, even rape and murder, because of statements they make as a function of their office. Such attacks not only endanger them, but they also send a chilling message to young women which may well deter them from seeking office or speaking out against injustice.

Secondly, Benjamin Doyle, a list MP for the Green Party, has recently been the target of a campaign of vitriolic mail. They describe their action in maintaining a dubious social media account as ‘politically naïve. On the contrary, the fact that they, as an inexperienced MP, ignored the wise advice of their leaders to take down the account shows how foolish, even reckless this action was, given that it also involved their child. That in no way excuses the hate mail but underscores the care one needs to take online.

Lastly, Netflix is currently showing Adolescence in New Zealand. All the reviews say this drama is a very powerful depiction of the negative influence which

social media can have on susceptible young minds. In the drama, the outcome of such harmful influences is nothing short of tragic.

Social media allows the writer to be anonymous and distant from the addressee so they may use language which they would never use face-to-face. It is easier to be abusive and ignore sensitivities because they don’t see the consequences of their words. It makes one wonder whether healthy disagreement is still possible. Can one criticise with logic? What does robust, but respectful debate look like now?

I believe St Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 gives us a clear idea of how to behave on social media. In writing about the nature of Christian love and relationships, he tells us what attitudes are acceptable: Love [or criticism or debate] is patient, kind and envies no one; [it] is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude, never selfish, not quick to take offence. It keeps no score of wrongs and does not gloat over the sins of others…

Social media trolls are often impatient, quick to overreact, arrogant and intolerant; they constantly look for shortcomings in public figures, so they may exploit them. This is not God’s way. As we come to Easter, Christians celebrate that Jesus died for our sins and that out of love for all humankind, God raised him from the dead. It is not necessary to be so vile on social media. I, for one, hold out hope that we may yet move to a time when we can disagree, criticise or debate robustly, but with love and respect.

Pirongia pipped Paul’s bowling bias revealed

The Pirongia women’s team lost to Burnside Canterbury in the quarter finals of the national interclub sevens event held in Wellington earlier this month.

It came down to the pairs event for Kim Bardsley, Rebecca Smith, Denise Te Momo, Lynda Bennett, Julia Lile, Vicki Coll, Lisa Mundell and Gaylene Kanawa.

Meanwhile Central Cambridge Bowling Club’s held a celebration for the team which came runner up in the men’s competition.

Gary Cotter, Brent Hawken, Taylor Horn, Jess Russell, Tony Fabling, Mohe Tausinga, Bryan Allen and

coach-manager John Filmer were pipped at the post by Paritutu of Taranaki in the final.

Cotter was defeated 21-11 by Dean Elgar in the singles, while Russell, Fabling, Tausinga and Allen beat John Zittersteijn, Kurt Smith, Daryl Read and Cameron Horo 20-7 in the fours.

It came down to the pairs match, as it did with Pirongia, which Horn and Hawken lost by one shot on the last bowl, having led 16-5 at one stage.

Meanwhile Heather Davison and Helen Kay of Cambridge Bowling Club took out the under five years Bowls Waikato ladies pairs competition in Putāruru earlier this month.

By Jon Rawlinson

Some may not know much about the sport of indoor bowls, but Paul Walker sure does.

The Ōtorohanga club will host some of the country’s best bowlers this weekend during the Clubs NZ North Island Indoor Bowls championships.

While Paul’s role is King Country district coach and publicity officer, he hopes to be on a roll when the first ends begin.

“I’ve been playing good bowls lately and I certainly hope to continue to do so,” he says.

“I finished third equal in the pairs at last year’s North Island Champs in Pukekohe, Auckland, and I’ve had other good results in recent years too.”

Hosting and administration duties will limit the number of Ōtorohanga players able to compete, but Paul says hometown competitors will still put on a good show.

The upcoming tournament is for members of social clubs, including Cosmopolitan clubs, working men’s clubs and the like. With 184 pairs and 57 triples (teams of three) competing across 44 rinks, the weekend will be a busy affair involving men and women aged in their twenties through to their eighties.

There will be 19 clubs, virtually every North Island club that has an indoor bowls section.

Most of the Ōtorohanga Club’s better bowlers began playing in their early teens and have now been playing close to 20 years. However, rural centres have had trouble retaining younger players who often move away for university or career opportunities.

Paul has been involved in setting up the new Te Awamutu Junior Indoor Bowls Club, intended to

EASTER CHURCH SERVICES

LEST WE FORGET

How important it is to honour our heritage and those in generations past who have served our right to freedom—many making the ultimate sacriﬁce of laying down their lives in battle. In particular, we in Australasia remember the soldiers who fell in the Great War (1914-1918) and The Second World War (1939-1945).

In remembering, we often humbly say, “Lest we forget.”

The phrase “Lest we forget” originated from Rudyard Kipling’s 1897 poem, Recessional, and has become a symbol of remembrance, particularly for Remembrance Day and Anzac Day, serving as a call to remember the sacrifices of those who served in wars and conflicts. In New Zealand, we wear red poppies to commemorate the flowers that grew on the graves of fallen soldiers in the foreign fields of the First World War.

PARISH OF ST JOHN

Kipling’s poem was written in a time of great power and grandeur of the British Empire under the rule of Queen Victoria. It was written as a prayer and was not directed at soldiers, nor Queen; it was written to keep the pride of men pared.

Kipling’s poem serves as a cautionary reminder against the arrogance that often follows imperial strength. It warns against forgetting God, neglecting humility and repentance, and ignoring the downfall of past empires brought low by divine judgment. It challenges the pride of godless boasting and urges us to place our trust not in military might, but in God.

Kipling repeats himself often; “Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, lest we forget, lest we forget!”

Passover is the oldest and most important religious festival in Judaism, commemorating God’s deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and His creation of the Israelite people. Passover begins at

Sacrament - St Saviours 9.15am

help grow the ranks of the young at the rinks.

“We have been struggling, but although it’s taken a lot of effort to try and ensure younger people take up the sport, progress is being made.”

The Waipā and King Country regions will be well represented at September’s AIMS Games in Tauranga, which will feature a wide range of sports contested by intermediate school-aged competitors.

“We are working very hard to attract younger people to the game,” said Paul.

“The AIMS Games has been the crucible in this respect with more than 300 children competing in indoor bowls this year.”

There are many similarities with outdoor (or lawn bowls), but the indoor game has some key differences.

“The principles are the same, but all the bowls are the same size, so no differential in weights, the rink is a much more restricted area, and the game isn’t affected by the weather.”

sunset on the 14th of Nisan and marks the beginning of a 7-day celebration, the highlight being the Seder meal to celebrate and rejoice in God’s deliverance.

Jesus and his disciples were celebrating Passover during the Last Supper, therefore many Christians celebrate Passover to remember the sacriﬁce of Jesus Christ.

I believe those who follow Jesus should do as Jesus did. I believe we should pause, turn our attention to God, and thank Him for His divine love expressed in His divine deliverance.

Moses received his instruction from the Lord and led the people to remember and celebrate the Lord in the Feast of Passover and remains an annual Feast on the Jewish calendar.

“Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you,

Kihikihi

‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacriﬁce to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped. The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. (Exodus 12:25-28)

Today, we remember Passover as the meal Jesus shared with His disciples in the upper room on the night he was betrayed. (1 Cor 11:23-26)

We pause to remember so that we testify to God’s goodness, instructing our children in the ways of God, and anticipating future deliverance through God’s mercy.

In the words of Kipling, “Still stands Thine ancient sacriﬁce, an humble and a contrite heart. Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, lest we forget, lest we forget!”

Ken Wall

The Pirongia team which finished in the quarter finals of the national interclub championships in Johnsonville, from left front row: Kim Bardsley, Rebecca Smith, Denise Te Momo, Lynda Bennett; front row: Julia Lile, Vicki Coll, Lisa Mundell, Gaylene Kanawa.

Age no barrier – Mahlia Ngarongo, of Pekapekarau Primary School, competing alongside Paul Walker. Photo: Supplied

Pastor Phil Strong Zion Church Te Awamutu

Lara to the rescue

By Chris Gardner

When Jeff Woolford broke a wrist after going over the handlebars of his farm bike last year, his partner Lara Sutton stepped into his gumboots.

“I would not have survived without her,” Woolford said. “It’s been pretty hard over the last eight months.

“Lara has really held the farm, her career, and everything together.”

Sutton, who was this month named one of three finalists in the 2025 Dairy Woman of the Year Award, ended up doing more on their State Highway One farm as Woolford healed.

“I was quite lucky to spend more time with the kids,” Woolford said.

Woolford had his hands full with Georgia, seven, and Logan, five, while Sutton focused on balancing milking 290ha Jersey cows on 100 hectares with her role as DairyNZ strategy and commercial partnership manager.

Working for the good of the dairy industry with the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand, the Dairy Women’s Network and Federated Farmers is all in a day’s work.

“It was definitely busy from July until December,” Sutton said.

The pressure came off as the farm moved to once-a-day milking in midDecember, and Woolford’s injury healed about two months ago.

Sutton also managed to find time to complete the 10-month Escalator programme through the AgriWomen’s Development Trust. The programme includes modules on understanding self, governance, leadership, communication and future direction.

The farm produced about 96,000 kilograms of milksolids this season, down about four per cent on its average 100,000 production thanks to the drought.

This is the couple’s fourth as a predominantly Jersey herd-owning

sharemilkers on the138-hectare dairy farm midway between Piarere and Tīrau.

“We have been all grass with hay,” Sutton said.

“This season we needed to buy in some palm kernel to fill the gap.”

“The farm owners have put in a shed feeder, which will change things a little bit.”

“We are also heading toward a cross bred herd to be able to cut down on bobby calves.”

Crossbreeding dairy cows with beef bulls can significantly reduce the number of bobby calves. By crossbreeding, these calves can be raised for beef production, which increases their market value and provides an alternative to early processing.

Woolford hails from Tuakau and began his working life as a farmhand on a farm near Pirongia.

Sutton comes from Te Kowhai and grew up in Hauturu near Kāwhia in the King Country and then Hamilton.

They both spent the 2009-10 season milking at Te Kawa in the King Country.

“Jeff and I are a real partnership, and we talk about every decision on farm,” she said. “I genuinely love working with Jeff.”

“It’s definitely a family business,” he said.

“I was very surprised and extremely humbled,” said Sutton of her placing as a finalist in the Dairy Woman of the Year competition

Sutton was nominated by a friend, and nearly didn’t complete the application form because she did not feel worthy.

Dairy Women’s Network trustee and award judge Jenna Smith said: “Lara left the judges with a clear sense of her ability to connect then lead. Her demonstrated ability to continue to challenge herself, has seen her seize opportunity and develop significant process and progress in the dairy industry.”

Dairy farmer Jeff Woolford says he would not have survived this dairy season without his partner Lara Sutton.

Photo: Chris Gardner

Water quality at risk

By Stuart Kneebone, Waipā-King Country Councillor

Waikato Regional Council (WRC) recently approved a submission on the government’s proposed new wastewater environmental performance standards that are intended to be rolled out across New Zealand.

Taumata Arowai is the water services regulator for NZ and is managing this consultation process on behalf of the government. Taumata Arowai was established by the government following the Havelock North campylobacter outbreak in 2016. District and city councils throughout NZ have consents to discharge treated wastewater and stormwater.

Regional councils are the authorities responsible for the consenting of wastewater and stormwater discharges. Regional councils and their communities have the authority to set limits for discharges to land and water via consent conditions that reflect the values of the local community and the values and attributes of the receiving environment. However, this change proposes changes that affect how wastewater standards are made and implemented. The amendments direct councils to implement any requirements imposed as part of a wastewater standard in a new consent, and concerningly, they mean that regional councils cannot include any conditions in a consent which are more or less restrictive than the new standards dictate.

Regional councils will still be the regulator but will have very little say on behalf of their communities on what these new standards are. Of real concern is that many of the existing consented municipal wastewater discharges in the Waikato have contaminant discharge standards that are of higher quality than what these new proposed standards will require.

Meaning that implementation of these new standards would see an increase in contaminants

being discharged into the environment, effectively undoing significant work and investment that has been made by councils and their communities upgrading their wastewater treatment plants across the region.

This also will have the effect of undoing the work that other sectors such as farming have been doing with riparian planting and other measures to improve water quality.

Meaning if we are to continue on our journey of improving water quality across the region, other sectors such as farming will have to take up the slack.

A good example of this is the Lake Taupō Protection Project that was initiated to maintain the water quality in Lake Taupō.

It imposed very restrictive requirements on farmers in the Taupō catchment, requiring them to reduce their stocking rates and associated production in order that a 20 per cent reduction in nitrogen discharge from both farming and industry could be made. Those reductions are now locked in place for 999 years.

To assist those farmers in making that transition, every ratepayer in the Waikato region contributed approximately $10/ratepayer/annum for 15 years; $81 million of public money was invested. These standards will in effect undo all of that work and investment. WRC has submitted strongly that it does not support what is proposed and explained why.

And for those interested, the Ministry for the Environment recently released its three yearly state of the environment report.

While the report contains some positive stories, it also highlights some concerning issues with regards to our environment, and the risks that these issues present to the quality of life for future generations.

‘Mullet’ Fieldays a success

By Chris Gardner

More punters visited Fieldays last year and spent more money on products and services, according to the University of Waikato economic impact report.

The four-day National Agricultural Fieldays attracted 106,000 people through the gates at Mystery Creek in 2024, creating $528 million worth of value to the New Zealand economy. That was 1000 people more than 2023 and a nearly 10 per cent increase in economic value from $482.

Last year’s visitors were more purposeful and focussed on good deals, purchasing products or services, or research, head of customer and strategic engagement Taryn Storey said at a media briefing.

“That’s a really exciting thing,” Storey said. The same survey in 2023 showed more people were coming for a day out.

Punters in 2024 came to buy the latest and greatest, connect on a family day out, watch competitions, learn from speaking events, and network.

Exhibitors attended Fieldays to sell products and services, connect with existing and new customers, collect customer insights, build brand awareness, educate the industry and showcase new product development.

The 2024 event attracted 49 international visitors from nine countries and 17 embassies were represented.

Storey said Fieldays had adopted a “mullet strategy” for 2025, balancing mainstream appeal with niche offerings.

“Business at the front, partying at the back,” she said.

“On Friday and Saturday, what can we put in place that supports that?”

Storey said Fieldays was experiencing a volunteer drought in 2025, having recruited only two thirds of the 150 volunteers needed to run the event from June 11 to 14.

The charitable organisation was still seeking 48 volunteers to help support the event. Volunteers are needed for every job from directing car parking and entry ticket scanning, to hosting guests and collecting

rubbish.

“It’s difficult to get people to take three days off work if they are working,”

Storey said.

Asked whether a volunteer shortage had been a problem before, Storey said it was not unusual.

“We do struggle every year,” she said.

But she had not spoken publicly of the struggle. The logistics of matching volunteers to jobs was also a challenge, she said. Storey said volunteering had been part of the fibre of the event since it started in 1968.

Fieldays plans to introduce a series of 20 or 40-minutes tent talks focussed on educating and informing visitors.

“It’s not a sales spiel,” said event producer Karina Missen. “They can’t talk about their product.”

Meanwhile, Richard Lindroos has begun his first week as Fieldays chief executive, after taking the mantle from Peter Nation who stepped down in December. Lindroos has extensive event management experience with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and Supercars NZ.

It comes back to water…

Tor Pedersen isn’t waiting for regulations to tell him how to be a better farmer.

The 27-year-old dairy farmer went as far as moving the main race to improve stream health and help freshwater mussels and koura thrive on the family farm.

His family has been farming 300 hectares on Broomore Farm in Waitetuna Valley Road near Raglan since 1967, so he feels a sense of responsibility as the agricultural sector awaits clarity of Waikato Regional Council’s Plan Change One.

“Everything we do comes back to the water,” he said after he was named Waikato Farm Environment Awards supreme winner this month.

Pedersen has fenced waterways to keep stock out and carried out riparian planting to protect and enhance the ecosystem.

Broomore Farm has an estimated four kilometres of major waterways, plus their tributaries.

“We need to keep the water as clean as we can. We have got so many waterways on the farm; we are just trying to look after them.”

Pedersen’s work also won him a water protection award as it aligns with Plan Change One’s goal of improving freshwater quality in the region.

“I was really happy with the water protection award,” Pedersen said. He is not worrying about the coming regulations.

“It is what it is,” he said. “We can’t do much about it. We have just got to work with it. All we are trying to do is future proof the farm so that we can are able to keep on farming into the future.”

He also won a biodiversity award, livestock farm award, and a sustainability and stewardship award.

Pedersen was raised on the farm and educated at Te Uku Primary School, Maeroa Intermediate School in Hamilton and St Paul’s Collegiate

School in Hamilton.

He worked for a brief time as a mechanic before returning to farming.

He has been involved in the dairy operation since 2018 and began contract milking in 2022.

The farm runs 250 dairy cows on 100 hectares and an additional 50 hectares is used as a support block. The remaining land is a mix of exotic and native trees, including significant areas of untouched or regenerating native bush.

Land restoration has been a priority, and vulnerable areas have been retired and more than 30,000 trees planted in five years.

Animal welfare is a top priority, with animal breeds carefully matched to the farm’s challenging topography. This is supported by a herd-breeding

policy focused on animal health and liveweight.

Farm Environment Award judges said Pedersen’s approach to farming was inspiring. They commended his deep understanding of livestock movement and his approach to adapting infrastructure and forest and land management practices to improve waterway protection. Judges recognised his strong understanding of cow health and production metrics, as well as his effective use of industry tools to guide decision-making. They were particularly impressed by his appreciation for his family and wider network, recognising his parents’ role in expanding his knowledge and enhancing farm management.

New test kit in the making

A new low-cost diagnostic tool could significantly improve food crop production in developing countries.

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) scientists are part of an international team developing a rapid test which uses a combination of chemistries to identify plant disease and will allow growers to remove unhealthy plants in the field early in their growing season. That will enable them to increase crop production of food sources such as maize.

Buying a house – Joint tenants or tenants in common?

In New Zealand, there are two options for property co-ownership – joint tenants or tenants in common.

Joint Tenants

This option allows buyers to own property together with no distinct shares. If one passes away, the whole property is then owned by the surviving owner/s.

Scenario

Bill and Jenny are married with two children. They purchase a home together as joint tenants, when Bill passes, Jenny does not have to wait for probate to be granted and now owns the whole property on her own as survivor.

Tenants in Common

This allows buyers to hold specific shares, sometimes proportionate to their contribution to the property. If one dies, their share does not automatically go to the surviving owner/s, but is instead distributed pursuant to their Will.

Scenario

Tim and Susan marry in their forties. Tim has two children to a previous partner and Susan has none. They purchase a home as tenants in common in half shares. They make wills with Tim leaving his estate to his two children, and Jenny to her two sisters. They give each other a life interest to occupy the property.

The aim of the project is to produce a test line read out system, like Covid Rat tests, that farmers can use in the field to test their crops for specific diseases.

Phel Team Manager Virology and Phytoplasmology, Jeremy Thompson, says early prototypes of the test were trialled in New Zealand for detecting virus infection in symptomless tomato plants.

“More recently the tests have been

MPI’s Plant Health and Environment Laboratory (Phel) scientists are working with researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois, to build the tool, which has shown positive results in field trials in New Zealand and Kenya.

trialled on food crops in Kenya’s Maseno area where beans, sweet potato and maize are some of the main staple crops.

The project is funded by a US$1 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Thompson says the test could also be used by farmers in New Zealand and other developed countries to improve crop production.

“The project is looking to make the technology available to New Zealand farmers and growers to test for specific viruses or diseases in crops.

Tim passes away and Susan remains living in the property. On her death, Tim’s half share is distributed to his two children, whilst Susans’ is distributed to her two sisters. In summary, there are many factors to be considered when deciding on types of ownership and it is important to discuss with your lawyer.

Macayla Brdanovic

Dairy farmer Tor Pedersen, 27, wants to do the right thing for the environment on the family dairy farm.

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16. Adept (4)

17. Inspiring (8)

19. Gambling venue (6)

20. Large snake (6)

22. Lament (3)

23. Decapitate (6)

24. Seaside golf courses (5) Down

1. Scapula (8,5)

2. Earlier (poetic) (3)

3. Range (5)

4. Esteem (7)

5. Unimportant people or things (colloq) (5,4)

6. Immediate (13)

11. Burn or sear, surgically (9) 14. Disharmony (7) 18. Urge on (5) 21. Hundred (colloq) (3)

Across: 1. Stamen, 4. Caring, 9. Aroma, 10. Arrange, 11. Suspect, 13. Each, 14. Predecessor, 17. Mess, 18. Parasol, 21. Radiant, 22. Titan, 24. Barred, 25. Loathe.

Down: 1. Sparse, 2. Ado, 3. Evade, 5. Airless, 6. Innocuous, 7. Glen, 8. Participate, 12. Surrender, 15. Disease, 16. Plunge, 19. Ratio, 20. Drab, 23. Tut.

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ON SHAKY GROUND

From whisper to roar

By Janine Krippner

I often say that part of a volcanologist’s job is to understand not just the obvious scenarios when a volcano stirs, but also the less predictable ones. Here’s a powerful example of how things can take an unexpected turn.

In late 2020—amidst a world full of distractions—you might have missed the eruption of La Soufrière, a volcano on the island nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean. This wasn’t an unknown volcano. Documented eruptions stretch back to 1718, with the most recent activity in 1979, so it was on the radar of the volcanology community.

On 27 December 2020, a new lava dome was spotted right beside the old one. A lava dome forms when near-solid lava squeezes out at the surface and grows into a large mound of hot, and potentially very dangerous rock. While active, the dome can be incredibly hot and unstable. Generally, this is not a good place to be.

This kind of activity, where lava steadily squeezes out like toothpaste from a tube, is known as an effusive eruption. There’s little to no explosive activity in this phase — no volcanic ash, no flying rock — at least, not yet.

Over the following months the lava dome continued to grow. By 19 March the dome was 105m tall, 921m long, and 243m wide. To put that in perspective, the Beehive in Wellington is 72m high and about nine times the length of a rugby field. An impressive structure so far!

Then, on 21 March, local volcanologists detected a shift. Changes in the pattern of seismicity hinted that more magma might be rising—a warning that something was changing beneath the surface.

By 5 April the seismicity was ramping up.

Just three days later, steam and gas were observed visibly venting from the top of the dome. The alert level was raised to Red, and evacuations began. The eruption was about to shift from slow and steady to something far more dangerous.

On 9 April the eruption turned explosive, with the magma violently fragmenting into ash that towered high above the vent. This new phase saw volcanic ash significantly impacting St. Vincent as well as Barbados to the east.

Over the following days, ash plumes reached up to 16km altitude as well as pyroclastic flows–fast and hot avalanches of gas and rock. The ash drifted around 3000km east, disrupting air traffic across the region. The weight of the ash caused some roofs to collapse in St. Vincent.

By 11 April, widespread power and water outages were affecting the island— compounding the challenges of an already difficult pandemic year.

Intermittent ash plumes and pyroclastic flows continued until the end of the eruption on 22 April.

In total, approximately 22,000 people were evacuated, 88 shelters were activated, and the cleanup cost more than $NZ17.8 million.

This eruption started out quietly—gently, even—and remained that way for months. That long, calm period can lead to a false sense of security.

But this example shows just how quickly a volcano’s behaviour can shift. What begins as an effusive eruption can evolve into something far more hazardous.

Tom the ostler

By Meghan Hawkes

Tom the ostler had caught a cold and although it knocked him round a bit for the next 10 days, by Sunday 19 December 1897, the 61-year-old was up and about his usual work. Tom was the Ōhaupō Hotel ostler – a groom who took care of traveller’s horses.

Ōhaupō had been a military post during the Waikato War and around 1865 was settled by the Bohemians and other nationalities that had been recruited to the Third Waikato Regiment on the promise of land grants for their service.

The land allotments, though, were swamp, and there was not a square yard on which a house could be built, or a man even sit down.

Despite this Hamlet Orum, a Danish military settler built the Ōhaupō Hotel on his 50 acres, originally calling it the Halfway House.

It was an unpretentious shanty built of slabs, but the traveller was always sure of a good feed for both man and beast, and a good nobbler – literally something that nobbled or got hold of you - of military rum.

On a board in front of this travellers’ rest written in large letters was ‘If you want rum, Cooee,’ and in answer to the call, up came the landlord from the swamp where he was working to attend to the travellers’ wants.

The hotel changed hands and appearance several times over the years, the ostler of its livery and bait stables a constant part of its service. Goods were carted by wagon, a laborious process and a long and weary journey for horse and man until 1880 when the railway from Ōhaupō to Te Awamutu was opened, signaling a change on the transport horizon.

In 1887 Matthew Laurie became the Ōhaupō Hotel publican and was a kindly employer to Tom. Now, despite attempting to work, Tom took a turn for the worse. The

next day he was taken to Waikato Hospital, his cold having developed into acute bronchitis which he succumbed to the following day.

“The many farmers and travellers who have frequented and stayed at the Ōhaupō Hotel will regret to hear of the death of poor old Tom, the ostler,” said the Waikato Argus, adding “Yes, old Tom will be missed. Those who handed over their horses to his care could be sure they would be well looked after.”

The funeral of Tom – whose name was Thomas Edwards – took place on a Wednesday evening at Ōhaupō cemetery. Very few people attended, due to an unfortunate rumour that the burial would take place at Hamilton. Matthew Laurie undertook the organising and expense and had his faithful servant laid to rest.

Tom’s final resting place, though, did not seem fitting to the Waikato Argus which observed “Poor old Tom, he now lies sleeping under a canopy of fern that is a disgrace to the people of Ōhaupō.”

A sad end for Tom, but perhaps he avoided something worse. The demise of another ostler was seen as a ‘tragedy of the motor age’. Horses were gradually replaced by motor vehicles and finally all that was left in his stable was one horse and one dog, which were lovingly tended by the aging ostler who had spent his life looking after animals. These too had to be sent away, and the poor old ostler pined from that day, took to his bed, and did not recover.

Vayle Hammond Ph 027 226 9532

Waipa Real Estate Ltd, MREINZ Licensed REAA 2008

Following two generations of careful custodianship plus the sale of the owners ’ adjoining dairy unit & kiwifruit orchard, an outstanding lifestyle property featuring the Mangahana Homestead is now available for sale. Situated on an elevated plateau of “gardeners’ delight” ash soils, north -facing to capture all -day sun, with superb panoramic views encompassing the iconic mountain group of Maungatautari to the north-east, Kakepuku and Pirongia to the west, it is an especially captivating environment.

• 143 Cruickshank Road, Te Mawhai / Tokanui district - 11 kms from Te Awamutu

• 9,688m² title, accessed by tarsealed driveway & enhanced by mature specimen trees.

• delightful executive -style 2 storied homestead with stained cedar cladding, copper spouting & downpipes, coloursteel roof, attached triple garaging.

• featuring 6 brms, spacious open plan kitchen / dining / living areas opening to the sheltered outdoor living areas; a separate lounge provides a quiet, peaceful area.

• quila decking at both the entranceway and the sunny outdoor living areas.

• an inground pool and an excellent all-weather tennis court cater for energetic exercise.

• downstairs contains 5 brms, bathroom, guest toilet, office/family room, laundry & small gym; above is the master brm & ensuite, with a north -facing balcony & a lovely rural outlook.

• separate spacious office suite & large storage area above the triple garage.

• ducted, diesel fuelled central heating plus 3 additional Jet Master open fires.

• self -contained water supply + additional garage / toolshed.

• an excellent district, handy to town with v.g. options for primary & secondary schooling.

Ph Brian Peacocke 021 373 113 TradeMe / Realestate.co.nz / OneRoof search # R1442 Sale by Deadline: Wed, 7 May 2025

PRL Enterprises Ltd t/a PRL Rural Licensed REAA2008 MREINZ 021 373 113

bjp@prl308.co.nz

Mangahana Homestead

Transfer station to close

By Chris Gardner

Te Awamutu’s only transfer station will close in August after the operators were unable to get a lease extension.

Waste Management New Zealand sustainability and communications manager Andrea Svendsen said the company had not been able to find another suitable site after the landlord did not renew the existing lease.

The company has operated from Daphne St for 20 years, handling approximately 300 tonnes of materials per month.

The company is reviewing options to re-deploy the two staff based at the site to other roles while it looks for something else.

Waipā transportation manager Bryan Hudson said the council was exploring other waste disposal options and would keep the community informed. The council had no contractual involvement with Waste Management.

Keepers star at The Stadium

Te Awamutu and Tokoroa battled out a goalless football draw at The Stadium in the Waikato men’s first division – and both sides had their number ones to thank.

Thomas Henry, constantly issuing instructions from the back, was quick off his line more than once while Tokoroa’s Zak Cosgrove pulled off a number of outstanding saves.

Te Awamutu’s neighbours Cambridge and Ōtorohanga played out a goalless draw at John Kerkhof Park –ensuring that at the end of the day only one team had two wins and only one had lost both.

Junior selection

Cruze Hardwidge, pictured, who won the King Country junior singles last year, has been named in the senior team to play at an annual quadrangular event in Mount Maunganui on Saturday.

The Te Awamutu player joins Kevin Marshall, Warren Davis, Lyn Martin, Yvonne Longman, Bruce Grace, Paul Walker, Pat Waghorn, John Whitehead, Eric Drabble, Marlene Walker, Margaret Taylor, Jim Parsons, Brendon Hand, Arthur Pitcher and Richard Beaumont in the event which sees teams from East Coast/Poverty Bay, Tauranga, King Country and Thames Valley compete for the “Hone” trophy. The Friendship Cup will also be played as a head-to-head contest between King Country and East Coast/Poverty Bay.

Te Awamutu Transfer Station.

Photo: Jesse Wood

Joe Roil looks to send the ball down the line under pressure from Ryan Meerkeek.

Te Awamutu Fish & Game ASSN INC

TE AWAMUTU FISH & GAME

ASSN INC

We wish to thank the following businesses and individuals for their generous support and sponsorship of the Lake Arapuni fishing Contest held 22 & 23 March 2025.

CALF MILK WANTED

ARAPUNI FISHING CONTEST

• Mercury • Wrights Fishing & Outdoors

• Harcourts Te Awamutu • The Meat Factory Ltd

• Brent’s Upholstery & Motor Trimming

• Pak n Save Te Awamutu • Burnsco

Bocock ’s Calf Rearing

Pete 027 433 1440 Mark 0274746917

20th & 21st March 2021 BULMERS LANDING

Calf Milk Wanted

START TIME: 6am Saturday 20th March. CLOSE/WEIGH IN: 2pm Sunday 21st March.

• Caltex- Super Service Station

• Steve Morton NZ Farmers Livestock

Ph Deb 027 490 1007 or Shay 027 373 3732

PRIZE GIVING: 2.30pm Sunday 21st March.

• Auckland Waikato Fish & Game

• Grant Annan Builder • Brad Gillespie

• John Spence • Mike & Loraine Flynn

ENTRY FEES: ADULTS - $25.00 JUNIORS (12 & Under) - $5.00

- Entries close 11am Sunday 21st March

ADULT SECTION

Rainbow or Brown Trout

NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO

CONSIDER TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES

The Heaviest Trout

2nd Heaviest

3rd Heaviest

4th Heaviest

JUNIOR SECTION

Rainbow or Brown Trout

The Heaviest Trout

2nd Heaviest

Waipa District Council will consider an application to close the following roads to ordinary vehicular traffic, to facilitate the New Zealand National Fieldays at Mystery Creek Events Centre on Wednesday, June 11 to Saturday, June 14 2025.

5th Heaviest

Between 5:45am to 11am each day:

6th Heaviest

• McEldownie Road – whole road

• Mystery Creek Road – between Mellow Road and McEldownie Road

• Mystery Creek Road – between Gate 2 and Gate 5 of Mystery Creek Events Centre

Between 1pm to 8pm each day:

3rd Heaviest

4th Heaviest

5th Heaviest

6th Heaviest

The Heaviest Rudd

Heaviest Bag of 5 Rudd

Heaviest Other Fish

Licenses Must Be Produced When Purchasing Tickets

• McEldownie Road – whole road

• Mystery Creek Road – between Mellow Road and McEldownie Road

• Mystery Creek Road – between Gate 2 and Gate 5 of Mystery Creek Events Centre

Sausage Sizzle - Spot Prizes - Lucky Ticket Draw Weekend Sponsors

Residents will have full access during road closures. The application will be considered under the Tenth Schedule of the Local Government Act 1974 Emergency Services will have complete right of way at all times during road closure.

ADLER, Steven John –Slipped away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Sunday, 13th April 2025. Cherished husband to Carmen. Very much loved dad and role model to Ethan, Brooke, and Pyper. At Steven's request a private farewell has taken place. Messages to the Adler Family can be sent c/- 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800 or in Steven’s online tribute book at www.rosetown. co.nz

Riding For The Disabled AGM

Mangapiko Hall Association Inc

Special General Meeting

29 April 2025 at 7pm Held at the Hall to discuss and vote on the new constitution.

- MERCURY - CALTEX-SUPER SERVICE STATION

- JOHN SPENCE MARINE - WRIGHTS FISHING & OUTDOORS

- HAMILLS WAIKATO

Any objections to the proposal must be lodged with Waipa District Council, in writing, to events@waipadc.govt.nz, before 4.00pm on Friday 2 May 2025. Please include the nature of the objection and the grounds for it.

See the Privacy Statement on the Council’s website for further information.

For more information, please contact Waipā District Council on 0800 924 723

Steph O’Sullivan

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

King St East, Te Kūiti

Secretary Manager

The Waitomo Club is seeking a hands-on Secretary Manager to lead our vibrant community hub.

We’re looking for someone with business or management experience (hospitality a bonus!) and skills in ﬁnancial, administrative, and operational processes. Key tasks include managing club operations, overseeing the restaurant, and growing membership.

A Bar Managers Certiﬁcate and gaming machine approval (or the ability to obtain them within three months) are essential.

If you’re ready to make a diﬀerence, send your CV and cover letter to waitomoclub@xtra.co.nz

• Interior painting • Wallpapering • Exterior painting • Spray painting

- HARCOURTS TE AWAMUTU - STEVE MORTON NZ. FARMERS LIVESTOCK

Amanda Johnson 027 275 9290

- GRANT ANNAN BUILDER - V.E. VETERINARY SERVICES

decorator@daverowe.co.nz www.daverowe.co.nz

PH 027 290 8776 decorator@daverowe.co.nz www.daverowe.co.nz

Local, caring

and here

for you in your time of need

Losing a loved one is never easy, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Our professional and compassionate team is available 24/7 to guide you through every step, ensuring a farewell that truly reflects their life. Call us anytime – we’re here when you need us.

ROWE, Ana Maria Queen –Pô pô e tangi ana te tini me te mano ki ônâ kai kua pau e. Hei a mai nei anô te pakake ki uta, katahi ki tai, hei wai u i te puna o Ranginui. E tô tâtou pou kuia, haere ki te hiku o te rangi, ki te kaha o te Poroporo ki Waiapu, e tamawahine e. Ana Kuini (Queenie) Maria Rowe (nee Taiapa) Mai te uranga o te râ i Tûranga-nui-a-Kiwa: 21/04/1952 ki te moenga o ngâ rangi i Te Rohe Pôtae: 08/04/2025 Life time partner and wife of Murray Rowe, mother of Nicholas, Clinton, Emma-Lee, Nathaniel, Keith, Kate, and Rex. Grandmother of Felix, Asher, Clio, Stevie Lee, and Fox. Daughter of Parekoihu Te-Kani-a-Takirau Taiapa and Tâkiri Taiapa (nee Paratene) Sister of Pare, Matekino, Anzac, Te Warihi, Ngoingoi, Tamati, Maraea, Turi, her twin sister Arihia, Ô-Rakaiapû, Piwi. Whângaituahine ki a Cilla, Takarâkau, and Annie. Daughter-in-law to Halsey Ngâhina Rowe and Nanny Mushy Rowe (nee Wallace/Te Tauranga). Sister to also Shirley, George, Colleen, June, Caroline and Irene. Mother of also many animals. Our mother, our sister, our cousin, our aunty, our Tipuna, has made her choice to take her greatest journey one can take, the journey to the gates of Heaven. As she would often say, to home. Although very sad, our mother still left us with her kind and loving smile and left us peacefully surrounded by her loved ones. Known as a famous golfer across the land and many courses, she has finished her final game which she played fabulously. We will miss you Mum, you will be forever etched in our hearts, minds and souls. Nâ Te Whânau Rowe me Te Whânau Taiapa. A service has been held.

Te Awamutu Funeral Services, FDANZ

07 870 2137

262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu www.rosetown.co.nz

Teri Keir Funeral Director

HUSQVARNA P525DX

See our Stunning Husqvarna P525DX kitted out with a front mounted brush, front headlights, rear lights and canopy. This is a high-capacity diesel-powered tractor o ering unbeatable manoeuvrability and productivity in complex and narrow environments as well as in larger-sized areas. The commercial graded transmission gives uncompromised traction and slope stability. The machine’s compact size and high transport speed makes it suitable both for all applications. Thanks to the front-mounted cutting deck the operator has perfect overview of the working area. The P525DX can be tted with either a 132 or 155 cm Combi cutting deck.

Kawasaki

Kawasaki FR Series V-Twin - 23.0hp - 48” Cutting Width - 2.5 Acres/hr

Kawasaki FR Series V-Twin - 24.0hp - 54” Cutting Width

Husqvarna Series™ Engine - 10.9hp - 38” Cutting Width

Husqvarna Series™ Engine - 10.9hp - 38”