Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan launched her re-election campaign this week, announcing that if elected, it would be her final term in office.
She revealed she nearly decided not to stand again due to the toll abuse and threats had taken on her and her family.
“I was frightened for them at times over the last three years,” she said, confirming she only made the final decision to run at the Local Government New Zealand conference in Christchurch last week.
“To contemplate going through that again really rocked my confidence. It affected me in ways I don’t think people fully appreciated.”
Despite those challenges, O’Regan has chosen to run again and will face longserving councillors Mike Pettit and Clare St Pierre in the mayoral race.
“I made a commitment to drive the change that’s needed, and I’ve started that work. There’s still more to do.”
She said she would not promise any “short term wins” during the campaign.
As mayor, she would continue to focus on making the right decisions to keep the district moving forward with “clarity, credibility and purpose”.
O’Regan, 53, is the daughter of the late National Party MP Katherine O’Regan. She was born and raised in Rukuhia, owns a dairy farm in Judge Valley with her husband John Hayward and they have a blended family of five children.
“I feel really deeply connected with the
Waipā community. I’ve been here my whole life. I felt I made a promise, a commitment. I feel like it’s only half done.
She was first elected to Waipā’s Kakepuku ward in 2016, re-elected unopposed three years later and appointed chair of the council’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee.
In 2022, she defeated Jim Mylchreest to become Waipā’s first female and fifth mayor.
“My first term as mayor was focussed on much needed, considerable change within council before we could make real progress. We’ve started making big strides in the right direction and there is more to do,”
O’Regan said in a media statement yesterday (Wednesday).
She said now was not the time for a change in leadership, a new direction or a different strategy.
“With once-in-a-generation reforms underway in water, planning, and infrastructure, plus all of the pressures that councils around New Zealand are facing, right now is not the time to risk instability or return to short-term thinking.”
She said the next three years under her leadership and with fresh talent and energy in some senior council roles – a reference to chief executive Steph O’Sullivan and an experienced leader for the Cambridge Connections reset - promised strong performance and positive change for the community.
O’Regan told The News she did not take the challenges from Pettit and St Pierre personally.
No doubt about it...
Alice Brier and mum Bronwyn plant a pukio at Pirongia’s Alexandra East Redoubt last week as part of a special day for the community. Residents fought before the turn of the century to save the site from sale by Waipā District Council – convincing then environment minister and current Nelson mayor Nick Smith to take action. See Jesse Wood’s story and photos on Page 7 today.
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Lights on at Te Awa
By Mary Anne Gill
The third edition of Te Awa River Ride’s Light Night will take place next month, as artists continue to add new sculptures along the popular trail.
Te Awa River Ride Charitable Trust trail
manager Sarah Ulmer said more than 1000 people attended last year’s ride, which runs from Cambridge’s Gaslight Theatre to the Velodrome.
“We want to give the community a great excuse to get out moving together in winter and experience Te Awa in a completely
unique way,” she said.
A Ngāruawāhia version – first held last year – will take place this weekend.
Participants are encouraged to walk, run, cycle, scoot, or use mobility scooters along the 2km Cambridge section of the trail.
At the Gaslight Theatre hub, attendees can enjoy food trucks, live music, and activities. A new addition this year will be Wag the Dog, a corten steel sculpture by artist James Wright, depicting a dog catching a frisbee. Originally located midway along the trail, it is being moved to the off-leash dog area near the theatre on Waipā District Council land.
Cycling events confirmed
Waipā will be centre stage when Cycling New Zealand signals the start of the campaign towards the 2026 Commonwealth Games with two key track events in December.
Cambridge’s Grassroots Trust Velodrome will host the Omnium and Madison National Championships on December 10 and 11 as standalone national events.
Organisers are hoping to also confirm a UCI Class 2 international track competition to follow on from the championships.
“With the omnium and madison to run as part of a standalone event, we thought it was an ideal opportunity for the Grassroots Trust Velodrome to play host,” said Craig Rodger, Grassroots Trust Velodrome Head of Programmes & Coaching.
“The omnium and madison races usually attract our best riders, especially at that time of year leading up to the international track season early in the year. Both track events are novel and exciting and we believe will prove popular with everyone in Cambridge.”
the beat with Senior Constable Ryan Fleming Our traffic team
Our dedicated traffic staff at Te Awamutu play a vital role in keeping our roads safe and our community protected. Their work goes far beyond issuing tickets — these officers are specialists in road policing, with a strong focus on education, prevention, and enforcement.
On any given day, our traffic team may be found monitoring high-risk areas for speed and impairment, checking vehicle safety, or engaging with schools and local groups to promote road safety awareness. They also respond to and investigate serious and fatal crashes, working closely with crash analysts to determine causes and help prevent future tragedies.
The trust has also commissioned artist Jeremy Shirley to paint a mural on the side of the theatre, part of its vision to make Te Awa one of New Zealand’s great bike rides.
More sculptures are in progress as part of the Art on Te Awa initiative. One existing piece, also by Wright - a sculpture of a longfin eel, New Zealand’s top freshwater predator— has been installed below the Velodrome for over a year.
The longfin eel has lived in New Zealand for 80 million years and plays a vital role in the biodiversity of the Waikato River. Conservationists warn that the species is under threat due to habitat loss and lack of awareness.
“The eel is hugely important to our waterways, but it’s been so undervalued that it may soon be extinct,” said Ulmer.
Letters…
Needs not wants
Waipa District Council has more than $330 million in largely capricious debt. We don’t need town clock renovations, new toilets, cycleways, town hall upgrades, to lose carparks to PC “traffic calming” or to replace park timber bollards with recycled plastic ones. Nor do we need a new library. Country town Cambridge didn’t ask to be grotesquely distorted through growth, in order to fund council spending addictions. Similarly, rate payers didn’t ask for the extra books that came with the traffic jams and a larger population. Simply sell/dispose of the 5000 least used books and make do - like the rest of us in the real world.
Shaun Robinson Cambridge
Their efforts are key in reducing harm on our roads and supporting safer journeys for everyone in the Waikato. Whether it’s early morning breath tests or late-night crash scenes, our Te Awamutu traffic team is always on the move — making a difference where it counts.
In our policing area, our traffic section is staffed from Te Awamutu and Cambridge covering the whole area.
A piece of road safety advice from me is to make sure you have your lights on during foggy mornings.
The stilt walkers were popular at the start last year along with the food trucks and stalls.
Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Briefs…
New officers
Chris Johnstone handed over the presidential chains to Nick Bartosiak at a change of officers function for Te Awamutu Lions last Sunday. Bartosiak’s incoming team comprises vice president Ken Huberts, secretary Alan Taylor, treasurer Robert Greenwood and directors Errol Carter, Russell Easton, Tristan Brown and Craig Holtz.
Medical passed
The Government has approved a business case and $83m in funding for a new Waikato University medical school as part of a plan to strengthen the health workforce. The medical school is expected to add 120 doctor training places annually from 2028.
Board Elections
Triennial School Board elections in September will come a month ahead of local body polls. Parents and caregivers at state and state-integrated schools vote for parent representatives to govern their schools and students at schools with pupils above year 9 will have student representatives.
Library rethink
Te Kuiti’s cramped library could be moved to the underused Les Munro Centre if a community facilities rethink spurs action. The Waitomo council would look to replicate what has been done in Takanini which blends traditional library services with community spaces, a kitchen, play area and meeting rooms. Cambridge has a similar space issue with its library.
Call for ramps
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce has intensified its support for on-off ramps at Tīrau Road, south of the town, and is urging Taupō MP Louise Upston to join the campaign. The ramps would reduce the burden on the town centre, the chamber says.
‘News’ prompts call for change
By Mary Anne Gill
A local government electoral reform group recommendationendorsed by councils nationwide - can be traced back to The News article published after the 2022 election, which revealed Waipā ratepayers paid a Christchurch company $9.23 for every vote cast.
ElectionNZ was paid $145,000 to run the election which, netted 15,703 votes for a 39.65 per cent return.
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, a member of the working group, helped present its final position and 20 recommendations at the Local Government New Zealand conference last week.
One key recommendation was that local government elections should be run and promoted by the Electoral Commission.
In the group’s early discussions, O’Regan shared a copy of The News’ December 15, 2022 article to highlight the cost of outsourcing elections.
Currently, local bodies are responsible for running their own elections, and most contract that work out to private firms.
The Public Service Association which represents more than 11,000 local government workers and has a total membership of more than 96,000 people agreed with the recommendation.
“Private companies should not be running local body elections, it is not appropriate for something so important to the functioning of local democracy,” said PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.
“The Electoral Commission is publicly accountable and already has a track record for delivering Parliamentary elections, we call
on central government to give the Electoral Commission this role, with the proper resourcing to do it.”
The working group’s main recommendation, outlined in the Refreshing Our Grassroots Democracy paper, was to return to polling-booth voting and move away from postal voting.
Group chair and Nelson mayor Nick Smith, a former MP, said it was inefficient for 78 councils to run their own elections.
“The current situation, where most councils contract out their election management to two private companies, is very unusual internationally,” he wrote in the paper’s foreword.
O’Regan agreed saying there was consensus within the group – including elected members from across the country and an Otago University academic – that outsourcing democratic services was inappropriate.
She told the News: “When we were talking about the costs per vote… I pulled out and shared with everybody the work your article did around the cost per vote in our area.”
That sparked further research into the cost of using the Electoral Commission’s “orange man” branding and services.
The commission’s orange man does not appear in adverts in Good Local Media’s Waipā publications – despite the fact the Cambridge News and Te Awamutu News are the only publications which provide independent coverage of local body politics.
O’Regan also presented at the conference on how local government could better communicate its value to voters and improve civic
engagement.
“I talked broadly about engagement that we do well or not well enough, through to civic education, how can we promote understanding and active citizenship,” she said.
The group also recommended retaining the Local Democracy Reporting scheme, noting that the decline of local media poses a threat to local democracy.
“While central government funding is no panacea, investment in the Local Democracy Reporting scheme has ensured those communities receive local government news,” the paper said.
“Local media could be supported in a range of ways, including initiatives that encourage other local media providers to start up or that directly support existing local media providers.”
O’Regan noted that the scheme had not benefited Waipā directly, as Good Local Media - publisher of Cambridge News, Te Awamutu News, and King Country News - was not part of it.
Two newspapers that were part of Stuff and NZME who were in the scheme - Te Awamutu Courier and Cambridge Edition - have closed or are in the process of closing.
Other recommendations to the council were four-year terms, greater engagement in schools and the community to understand how local government works and what it does and provide an outlet for candidates to promote themselves online and by video.
Ten go to conference
Waipā District Council told The News it was sending one staff member – chief executive Steph O’Sullivan - to last week’s local government conference in Christchurch.
But a day after The News was published, the council released a cropped photo showing two other staff members – Vanessa Honore and Kirsty Downey - at the conference awards’ ceremony where the council won the “Super Engaged Tū Hononga Award for its ‘Ahu Ake, Waipā Community Spatial Plan’ consultation.
The announcement caught The News by surprise and prompted a swift editing of its preview of the event which had quoted the council saying only one staff member was attending the conference.
In response, a communications spokesperson told The News it had limited its response on numbers to conference attendees.
“The staff members pictured did not attend the conference, just the awards dinner.”
However, the awards ceremony and a gala dinner were published in the conference programme on LGNZ’s website.
Cropped out of the council’s photo but seen in the same LGNZ version were councillors Dale-Maree Morgan and Marcus Gower, another iwi representative and the contracted communications staffer.
The cost of attendance for Morgan and Gower came from the budget allocated for elected members’ professional development and was approved by mayor Susan O’Regan.
The News asked who had paid for the other attendees. The council had not responded by the time we went to press.
The council recently revealed, through a Local Government and Official Information Meetings Act (LGOIMA) request, that Ahu Ake had cost more than $1.71 million, including almost $1.5 million in consultancy fees.
That did not include staff costs. The World Café workshops, which were instrumental in Waipā winning the award, cost $186,000.
Waipa Workingmens Club
Great people, great food, great atmosphere. Enjoy what the club has to offer!
The drowning of a newlywed
By Meghan Hawkes
Caroline Martin was in unusually good spirits on a February afternoon in 1924. The 40 year had only been married a few months and was the third wife of Thomas Martin, Mangapiko farmer. She and Martin had had a cup of tea about 4pm then he had gone to the milking shed. Around half an hour later Caroline decided to get some vegetables from the garden. She put on a Macintosh cape and left the house in drizzling rain.
Caroline had not been well and was being treated for goitre and heart trouble. The previous November she had been in a low state of health and Dr Hall advised a holiday. She went to Palmerston North early in December and had returned a few days ago very much brighter.
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Goitre, an enlargement of the thyroid gland, usually resulted in a painless swelling of the neck, and was often caused by iodine deficiency. The condition was sometimes called the ‘Derbyshire neck’ and the swelling could turn into a distressingly disfiguring enlargement. Its cause in the past
had not been understood. Pastry, scones, sweets, and aerated waters were named as culprits. One doctor whose practice treated mostly women observed that the pressure of life, nerve strain, and overwork among women and girls was very closely connected with goitre. Women, he said, were less able to stand the strain and worry of life than men, and thyroid activity being greater in females, cases of goitre were more common among them. By 1924 it was understood that the cause of goitre was a lack of iodine which hopefully spared Caroline any questionable diagnoses or quack remedies. When Thomas returned to the house after milking at 7pm he was informed by the maid that Caroline had gone to the garden at 4.30 and had not returned. He went in search of her, crossing a paddock toward a clump of ti tree, where he thought she might have been sheltering from the rain.
Instead he found her lying about 200 yards from the house with her head in a field drain. The drain bank was steep and slippery, and it appeared she had slipped and fell, losing consciousness and
drowning. Her Macintosh cape added to her difficulty in getting out of the drain. It was thought she had changed her mind about getting garden vegetables and went across the paddock to gather some mushrooms instead.
Many people learned with sincere regret of the death of Caroline in such a painfully tragic manner. The inquest established that Caroline at times became depressed about her health but never gave any indication of taking her life. The evidence showed that suicide was extremely improbable. The drain was almost waterless, while about 100 yards away and somewhat easier to reach was a large pond of comparatively deep water. The coroner recorded a verdict that she was accidentally drowned, there being no evidence as to exactly how she got into the drain.
The newlywed Caroline was privately interred at Te Awamutu cemetery.
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Removing and rehabilitating
By Rev Samuel Pullenger, St John’s Anglican Parish
A couple of weeks ago the Te Awamutu News published a story on their front page that, I thought, went a long way in showing the nuance of any community issue.
Waikeria Prison has had a long history of change and growth and recently has put into place big plans for reclaiming the title of New Zealand’s largest prison; a title that, I would suggest, should not instil pride in any community.
However, the article published was written from the perspective of the construction company that had been hired to build this extension and others.
This company clearly does a lot of good for the community by providing a significant amount of jobs as well as employment for several prisoners who are in rehabilitation.
I have spoken in previous articles about the need to be supporting the community and providing ways to enable others to flourish. It is vital that we have companies who are prepared to hire ex-prisoners to enable them to find a way back into the community.
Prisons, however, especially ones that have a majority of their inhabitants on remand, which seems to be able to be extended indefinitely, are not the future for any community to flourish.
In the Bible, one of the major themes running from beginning to end, is that God loves all people and all creation.
What follows along with this is that God desires for all people to be able to flourish. In fact, the life of Jesus, his death, resurrection and ascension back to God, was in order that all creation would be healed.
In one of the books of the Bible called 2 Corinthians, the author declares that since we have been healed by Jesus, we are given the responsibility to be people who heal with Jesus.
It is clear that prisons hold an important role in forming safe communities. In some instances people need to be removed from society for a period of time both for their own safety and for the safety of others.
However, simply removing a person from society should not be the goal, this would be to strip hope from both parties.
The goal must be healing; hope that one day, this person will be able to benefit society through their own flourishing.
Rehabilitation is the way for a prisoner who has confronted what they have done wrong and is paying or has paid the debt, to slowly re-enter society as a co-building member of that community.
So, we are left with a problem.
Prison does not often do a good job of rehabilitation, and building bigger prisons will only enable us to put more people inside.
But there are companies like the one hired to build this new extension who are helping in rehabilitation.
I wonder what it would look like for us here in the Waipā to find new ways of rehabilitating prisoners without using them to build bigger prisons, while providing other opportunities for these construction companies to flourish as well?
O’Regan’s last stand
Continue from page 1
“That’s democracy. When you do put your hand up, people will stand against you. You have a right to a different point of view. They will have their perspectives on things.”
She noted that all major decisions during the term were made unanimously by the council, which she said reflected strong collective decision-making.
“I helped lead work that got the single largest piece of reform across the line. There are mayors up and down the country that would be gagging for that.”
She praised the work of council staff in establishing the Waikato Water Done
Well council-controlled organisation (CCO), a collaboration between Waipā, Hauraki, MatamataPiako, Ōtorohanga, South Waikato, and Waitomo district councils.
The council confirmed its involvement last week and also adopted the 2025-34 Long Term Plan which includes an average rates increase of 15.5 per cent in year one.
“It’s not something we take any delight in doing,” she said.
“I’m a ratepayer too and so are (most of) our staff.”
Once the two waters
Susan O’Regan
– drinking and waste –transition to the CCO, she said the financial picture would change.
“So much of the financial pressure as a tier-one growth council rests in that water space. We’re hoping this will relieve some pressure from our organisation.
It was, she said in the statement, an affirming week for the district.
Waipā won a national award for Ahu Ake – the Waipā Community Spatial Plan.
“(I am) immensely proud of the council team for their exceptional work which saw us genuinely connecting with our communities in ways we had never done before. I’m humbled that we’ve achieved this under my leadership. We have a strong, innovative and appropriate plan for our future, and this can only be good for our district.”
Names trickle in
By Mary Anne Gill and Chris Gardner
With just over a week remaining before nominations close for the local body elections, returning officers are growing concerned about a potential shortage of candidates.
This comes despite recent reversals from three high-profile elected members: Waikato regional councillor Clyde Graf, Hamilton city councillor Andrew Bydder, and Te AwamutuKihikihi Community Board member Kane Titchener.
Graf and Titchener, who had previously told The News they would not restand, have now submitted their nominations.
Meanwhile, Bydder has opted not to stand in Cambridge, despite earlier indicating he would contest seats there and in Hamilton.
Gaylene Kanawa and Helen Williams, representing the Waikato and Ōtorohanga districts respectively, warned that a by-election - costing approximately $15,000 - would be required if there are insufficient candidates.
In Waikato’s Tamahere-Woodlands ward, there are no issues so far, with two nominations received at press time: incumbent Crystal Beavis and newcomer Gurpreet Bassan, filling the two available council seats.
However, in Waipā, only two nominations have been received for the Cambridge and Te AwamutuKihikihi community boards.
In Te Awamutu, the worst kept secret was confirmed on Monday in Te
Awamutu when veteran councillor Lou Brown lodged his nomination.
Rumours that Clare St Pierre would withdraw from the mayoral race were dispelled when she submitted her nomination.
St Pierre is also standing for one of two vacancies in the Pirongia and Kakepuku ward.
Ōtorohanga District Council had only four confirmed candidates for 18 council and community board seats.
Business enablement manager Graham Bunn said nominations were down on the same time last election.
“There are a number of people who said they are standing who haven’t put nominations in yet. A lot of candidates leave it to the last week, so it’s really hard to say where we will end up.”
Graf’s decision to restand follows three controversial council decisions:
voting against returning a $2.5 million surplus to ratepayers, shifting from co-management to co-governance, and withdrawing from Local Government New Zealand.
A notice of motion to reverse the latter was scheduled for consideration yesterday (Wednesday), after The News went to press.
Long time fellow Waipā-King Country representative Stu Kneebone has submitted his nomination, but as of Tuesday, Waipā deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk had not.
Meanwhile pre-election reports completed by chief executives for candidates in Waikato region, Waikato, Ōtorohanga, Waitomo and Waipā paint a challenging picture one that may discourage potential candidates from standing.
• See Whitaker out... P6, Ticking the Boxes by Peter Carr – P8
Andrew Bydder – out
Clyde Graf – in Stu Kneebone – in
Let’s grow together
Whitaker out... Titchener back in
By Chris Gardner
All but one member of Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board is standing for re-election.
Asked for examples, Titchener said he was concerned with sports ground leaseholders having control taken away by the council.
“Council staff asked the community board to gather information from the leaseholders which, I did,” he said.
Contract Milkers
Sally Whitaker, who was elected to the board in 2022 after sharing disillusionment with central government overreach into local government matters, told The News she will not be standing for re-election.
By Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki—King Country.
It is not new.
Deserve Greater Protection
In fact, the idea of sustainable food production is both inherent and intuitive within our farming community, yet it remains largely unknown to the broader public. This represents a missed opportunity for positive change.
“Having been on a seesaw for a while now, I will not be standing,” she said.
However, we can make progress by following the guidance of Catherine Miller from Kellog Rural Leadership.
Catherine has published an insightful study that serves as a blueprint for collaboration between governments and communities aimed at creating a sustainable local food supply. Her research highlights the personal experiences of individuals facing food insecurity and emphasises the importance of self-sufficiency skills, such as gardening and bartering, along with strong community networks.
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.
Whitaker’s comments come just months after board chair Ange Holt complained to the council’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee that the majority of the board’s advocacy had been “dismissed, delayed or just ignored”.
Holt had previously told The News that she was unsure about seeking re-election but has since confirmed she will stand for a fourth term.
“There was a large majority of leaseholders that wanted to maintain control. This appears to have been ignored by council staff with the push to take control still on their agenda.”
He listed the lack of consultation over artwork and design work at both the Te Awamutu Skate Park and Te Awamutu and Districts War Memorial Park which were completed without community board involvement.
“In one instance we were asked for our approval after the metal design work was created for the three bridges in the memorial park,” he said.
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.
But they can’t do it alone, or at least not without difficulty. And that’s where the Government could step in. There are regulatory barriers that could be addressed by the government to facilitate this development. Some initiatives we could pursue, as recommended in Catherine’s study, include:
1. Increasing access by modifying food safety regulations and reducing barriers for the cottage food industry.
2. Tightening regulations on processed foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fats to reduce their availability and marketing—especially to children.
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.
3. Establishing a national food strategy that enables and facilitates the development of local food systems.
Holt’s deputy, Kane Titchener, who had previously expressed frustration at the lack of council consultation and announced he was not standing, has changed his mind.
The board has also not been consulted on location and type of playground.
“We could have made suggestions to improve the outcomes for example, having a fenced playground at Kihikihi.”
4. Utilising Pamu farms to experiment with stacking enterprises that are suitable for the local area, identifying diversification opportunities for small landowners, and increasing participation in food production.
But it all still comes down to government (local and central), and communities working together to grow the concept. And I like to think we will, if we grow together.
If you would like to read Catherine’s study in its entirety, contact my office at barbara.kuriger@parliament.govt.nz, and I’ll send you a link to her site.
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.
“I believe that there will be a change of leadership within the council which, will hopefully lead to a more consultative approach where the community board will be listened to more,” Titchener told The News.
Letters to the Editor
The state of Te Awamutu signs is also a regular topic at board meetings but had not gained traction with council staff, Titchener said.
“The community board
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has requested the signage to be cleaned around the towns, particularly the entrances to the towns. This suggestion has been ignored.”
Titchener said there had been very little support or engagement from the council on the board’s clean-up day and concerns around fluoridation had not been dealt with.
Titchener said he was still waiting to see chief executive Steph O’Sullivan about the fluoridation issue.
“The election will deliver new people that will hopefully drive change through the council.”
Fellow board members Jill Taylor and John Wood also plan to stand for re-election.
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Kane Titchener
Preserving Pirongia history
By Jesse Wood
A golden sealed letter 27 years ago has helped Pirongia’s Alexandra East Redoubt become a preserved piece of history.
Built in about 1864 during the New Zealand Land Wars, the redoubt is one of many in the Pirongia area.
The historic reserve on Aubin Close, overlooking the Waipā River, is larger than the more well-known armed constabulary redoubt nearby.
There had once been about nine buildings on the site.
After a blessing on Friday morning by Nick Empson and Ngāti Apakura’s Tiaki Ormsby, Pirongia School students, parents and Pirongia Enviro Group members commenced planting on the escarpment.
Pirongia residents fought in 1998 to protect the land and save it from being sold by the Waipā District Council.
The management plan was written in 2002 and residents are ecstatic to see the planting planned then, taking place now.
Enviroschools Waikato facilitator Sara Taylor said it was great to see the children outside and taking in interest in Pirongia’s history.
Pukio and mountain flax, grown and provided by the council, were planted on the slopes.
Pirongia Historic Centre volunteer Marilyn Yeates was a teacher at Te Awamutu Primary School in 1998.
Yeates and fellow teacher Jock Ellis had their students wrote petition letters to the conservation minister Nick Smith
explaining why the land should be saved and preserved.
Smith responded with a golden sealed letter, leaving the petitioners in awe.
He promised to speak to the Waipā council and the site was saved as a reserve.
Nearly 30 years later, Pirongia School have taken the site onboard to preserve and look after for future generations.
Yeates was at the planting to see it come full circle.
“I’m thankful that they are appreciating what’s been saved and the history of the area,” Yeates said.
“For school children, that’s the best time to hone in and tell them our stories.
“We welcome Pirongia School students and Pirongia locals to come through the heritage centre. We have masses of history
about our area here.”
The planting was another chapter for Taiea Te Taiao, the Maungatautari to Pirongia ecological corridor project.
Enviro group member Faith Haakma said there has also been other behind the scenes preparations.
“Since 2023, Predator Free Pirongia volunteers have been trapping in that area, despatching over 280 predators. Backyard trappers in Aubin Close have also despatched over 100 predators,” Haakma said.
“The dedication and ongoing hard work of these volunteers and backyard trappers is why the planting was possible.
“Without protection from pests, the plants and the fauna that visit them will not survive.”
Pirongia School room 1 teacher Lauren Florence (back row, from left), Enviroschools Waikato facilitator Sara Taylor, Pirongia Enviro Group member Faith Haakma, Jess Archer, Bronwyn Brier and Waipā District Council biodiversity planner Olivia Adamson with students Joseph Cuttance, Lachie Archer, Thea Innis and Alice Brier.
Photo: Jesse Wood
Pirongia residents Brent Mealing (from left), Sue Mealing, Faith Haakma, Nick Empson, Jenny Hunt, Tiaki Ormsby and Marilyn Yeates are passionate about conservation. Photo: Jesse Wood
ON SHAKY GROUND
Preparing for a quake
By Janine Krippner
This week I have been driving across the island of Tenerife through a heatwave, for a project on volcanic resilience in the town of Garachico. The idyllic seaside town was devastated by an eruption in 1706. Lava flows changed the economy of the island by partly filling in the important port.
The Trevejo cone is now located far up the flanks above us, above sheer cliffs of exposed lava flows that construct most of Tenerife. The narrow roads are harrowing, with stunning views across the Atlantic Ocean, with a glance down the plunging cliffside making one grateful for the short concrete barriers.
The other aspect that stands out is the gorgeous colourful stone buildings with wooden balconies between beautiful old churches and town halls. They are built across steep volcanic flanks and old lava deltaswhere lava flows have created new land out into the sea.
Looking up at the cliffs, then down at the communities, I voice out loud to my colleague Javi Diaz Cabrera (who was thankfully driving like a pro) that this would be a mess if a large earthquake struck the area. Javi is a local, from the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria, and this week he defended his Master’s project on earthquake damage scenarios on Granada in mainland Spain.
Mainland Spain is an area of moderate seismic risk, so damage to infrastructure is an important topic. In order to prepare, we have to understand what might happen. The first step is understanding what the earthquakes might look like, then how the ground (soil and rock) may behave with the shaking.
The buildings themselves are an important
part of the equation. In Spain there is a variety of older large block homes, some made of dirt, all the way to newer reinforced concrete buildings and some steel structures. You would be hard-pressed to find a wooden home he has not studied.
His results show that during a moderateintensity earthquake, many buildings will experience cracks through the walls, and the orange ceramic roof tiles may fall. As we learned in Christchurch, this is a danger to those in the streets. The highest amount of damage is expected to occur in the beautiful downtown historical centres.
For a higher intensity scenario, the footings or piles that are built into the ground may crack and result in structural failures. In this case, most of the historical centres and more modern areas could experience severe damage, requiring a rebuild.
This then leads to the social questions of how we help people who are evacuated for an extended period.
We have seen how destructive earthquakes in Aotearoa are.
The challenges in these older European countries can look quite different. It takes just one tile to end a life as someone runs out of a building.
While Tenerife may not have the higher intensity tectonic earthquakes of mainland Spain, through my own work I have read about how intense precursory seismicity prior to an eruption can be here. The path to preparedness is complex and long, with each step along the way hopefully leading to more resilient communities.
A change of direction
By Peter Carr
The ever-patient editor of this worthy news sheet has asked me to pause my freely wandering opinion piece programme for several weeks to allow me to concentrate on matters pertaining to the forthcoming local body elections.
There are some who may feel that I have a critical bias towards council-like organisations but let me first declare that I experienced 12 years as an elected representative in Wellington in my thirties and forties.
I learned to live with, suffer from, become frustrated with etc etc the bureaucratic systems and historical prejudice that abounded at that time.
That is well behind me now, my hair is much thinner, totally grey and hopefully I have become wiser along the way. Perhaps the next few months will measure that!
The local bodies (for us Waipā district and Waikato region) are bound by very strict rules during the leadup to an election.
The first is that nominations for prospective candidates do not close until August 1. So, at this stage I will refrain from mentioning any one person – either elected or hoping to be elected – together with professional officers.
District, regional and city councils are at a crossroads. The current government appears to be rushing a bill through the House that waters down their main operational targets while capping their mainstream income. One can feel some sympathy for both governance and management currently.
Secondly most councils appear to be moving towards combining their waterrelated activities onto a group (shared)
basis. They will be able to markedly reduce their staff numbers and free up buildings for optional uses.
Thirdly there are public discussions relating to the professional governance inability of many elected members around the board tables.
In fact, one local (ex-MP) mayoral candidate for the nearby city suggesting a small (and apparently wiser) over-arching board sitting above a smaller number of councillors.
And lastly a growing number of councils are tearing themselves away from their advisory body - Local Government New Zealand - while questioning its effectiveness and cost.
Curiously as I write this that body’s annual conference is just concluding in Christchurch. More on them in the next opinion piece. In the minister’s conference speech (now known as ‘Bish’s Bash’) he was hugely critical of, in his view, the uncooperative and stultifying culture that prevails within councils.
Moving forward I will regularly beseech all our readers to take up their rightful place as voters. A voting number well on the south side of 40 per cent is not only abysmal - but reeks of lack of interest - until the council makes a decision that affects you directly. So… please vote. There is a very simple postal system that will land in your letterbox. Your views, your choice of candidate, your clear message to the council tables sets the scene for balanced and honest government.
Caught out at the death
The financial strain of burying loved ones is becoming more evident, two Waipā funeral directors say.
Waipā District Council has confirmed significant increases in burial-related fees for 2025-26 and 2026-27 in its 2025-2034 Long Term Plan.
A standard adult burial plot in Te Awamutu or Hautapu now costs $2783, rising to $3284 next year. The interment fee, which is the cost of actually burying a loved one, has also increased to $1271, with a further increase to $1460 expected in 2026/27.
These increases far exceed the Consumer Price Index and are putting pressure on families already struggling with rising household costs.
Jim Goddin, funeral director at Grinters Funeral Home in Cambridge and Rosetown. Funerals in Te Awamutu, says the financial strain is becoming more visible for families and loved ones.
“We’re seeing families caught off guard. The government’s funeral grant from Work and Income is
capped at $2,616.12, which doesn’t even cover the cost of a plot and burial in Waipā anymore,” said Goddin.
“People are having to make difficult choices, whether to cremate, delay services, or take on debt. It’s heartbreaking.
“For those that choose to pre-plan their funeral, about 70 per cent are opting for a cremation to lessen the financial burden on their loved ones once they’re no longer with us.”
While Goddin accepts that council fees and charges need to recover the true cost of cemetery services, including land use, maintenance, and staff time, he is concerned the gap between public support
and actual costs is widening.
A simple graveside service with only essential charges is now over $9000. A direct cremation through a provider like Waikato Cremations is a more affordable option, however it doesn’t provide the family with an opportunity to say goodbye in a way they choose to.
The cost difference between natural burials and full burials is very minimal.
Goddin is urging families to plan ahead and talk openly about their wishes.
“Pre-planning can ease the burden. But we also need a broader conversation about how we support people at the end of life, financially and emotionally.”
Kāwhia welcomes it new cop
By Chris Gardner
Kāwhia has welcomed a new full time police officer, after years without one.
Constable Dave Kraay, 33, began his first official day on the beat with a pōwhiri at Maketū Marae on Monday with his wife Alana and son Harley, three, at his side.
Residents have been asking for a permanent police presence in the small coastal township since the departure of Senior Constable Jono Moate about three years ago.
The most regular complaint has been about boy racers.
South African born Kraay swapped his career as an electrician for policing in Avondale, Auckland, seven years ago.
He said the New Zealand way of living had attracted him to move to the small coastal township away from the country’s largest city.
“I wanted to raise my boy in a more environmental way and let him get him into the Kiwi culture a bit more. It’s a good
opportunity for him and a good opportunity for me to develop my relationships with Māori.”
The powhiri was organised by Ngaati Hikairo’s Kāwhia Community Board deputy chair Hinga Whiu.
Horahaere Scott, who is fighting to protect inner Kāwhia Harbour from environmental damage from vehicles, told Kraay the community was sick of counting how many vehicles got stuck in the inner harbour.
“You will be welcome to work with us following up the vandals who are desecrating our beach. You coming here, and us powhiriing you, makes you one of us.”
Police officer in charge of Ōtorohanga Police Station, Heyden Nunn, said the last few years had been challenging.
“Dave is going to be very good for this community,” Nunn said.
“He’s here for the right reasons, he’s here for the long term and he will work well with the community.”
$455,000^
the
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Jim Goddin, left and Jordan Goss.
Constable Dave Kraay and his wife Alanah.
Photo: Chris Gardner
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Les Bleus’ Cambridge tribute
French rugby and political leaders honoured New Zealand’s wartime sacrifice in Cambridge, reports senior writer Mary Anne Gill
French politician Philippe Folliot paid tribute to New Zealand’s contributions to European war efforts during a visit to Cambridge on Saturday, ahead of the All Blacks v France rugby test in Hamilton.
Speaking at the Le Quesnoy Memorial Statue, Folliot acknowledged New Zealand’s enduring support for global peace, including its recent commitment of an additional $16 million in aid to Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, he laid a wreath at the Cambridge Cenotaph, honouring those from the region who lost their lives in the two world wars.
“War is knocking on our door again,” Folliot said, referencing the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the ongoing conflict.
Folliot chairs the French Sénat’s France New Zealand Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group and had visited Parliament earlier in the week.
He was accompanied in Cambridge by fellow senator and deputy chair Sébastien Pla, French ambassador to New Zealand Laurence Beau, French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill, team manager Raphaël Ibañez, and high performance manager Jean-Marc Lhermet.
The delegation was welcomed at a morning tea hosted by Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan and Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley. Folliot described the visit to Cambridge as one of the most meaningful parts of the group’s New Zealand itinerary.
Community board member Alana Mackay pulled the itinerary together after the French Embassy contacted her last month.
Cambridge has had a formal sister city relationship for 25 years with Le Quesnoy, the town in France liberated by New Zealand troops in the final days of World War I.
The poignant connection was renewed at a ceremony in northern France alongside Anzac Day commemorations in April at the New Zealand Liberation Museum - Te Arawhata in Le Quesnoy.
“It was an honour to host such an important group of people in Cambridge,” said Mackay. “That’s one of the benefits of our sister city relationship.”
O’Regan said the Le Quesnoy link was deeply moving.
“It’s a story of bravery, respect and enduring friendship.”
During the wreath-laying ceremony at the
Cenotaph, Ibañez -former French captain, hooker and current general managerpresented a signed Les Bleus jersey from the 2025 touring squad.
Among others present were Taupō MP Louise Upston, French Embassy staff, Heather Wellington of the CambridgeLe Quesnoy Friendship Association and community board members Philip Coles and Sue Milner.
The delegation also visited St Andrew’s Anglican Church to view a stained glass window depicting New Zealand soldiers liberating Le Quesnoy by scaling its walls with ladders. They then toured the French Garden, which commemorates Franco-New Zealand ties across both world wars and into modern times.
Another highlight of the visit was to the late Fred Graham’s six-metre high sculpture, inspired by the Eiffel Tower and the silver fern. Its 43 leaves represent the Rifle Brigade soldiers who lost their lives at Le Quesnoy.
The sculpture stands on a plinth shaped like the town’s historic fortifications.
“Thousands of men and women, across generations, lost their lives in both wars,” Folliot reflected at the sculpture.
“We hoped war would never happen again.”
The delegation wrapped up its tour with a visit to Cambridge Museum and later attended the test match in Hamilton won by the All Blacks 29-19.
Slowing to a walk...
By Chris Gardner
Kāwhia Community Board member Dave Walsh has complained bureaucracy has slowed the implementation of a communityled fitness trail in the coastal village.
Walsh complained after Kāwhia Fitness Trail Group representative Gaylene Kanawa raised concerns in the public forum of the Kāwhia Community Board’s July meeting.
Her group, which had identified five destinations for the trail route, was feeling disappointed and pushed to the side, she said.
The fitness trail, developed to support health, wellbeing, and an active lifestyle, featured in Ōtorohanga District Council’s proposed Aotea and Kāwhia Plan – Better Places Together.
Walsh said the plan was approved four years ago.
“It’s taken five years and nothing has happened. It’s happening too much around here.”
Board deputy chair Hinga Whiu promised to follow up with mana whenua, after hearing they needed to be involved in the conversation.
“I am a bit surprise myself that we need any approval to walk around town,” Walsh said. “We are not putting any structures up.”
The board was not asking for iwi approval but was being respectful of taonga, Whiu said.
“If there is a site of significance we will go back to mana whenua to ask,” she said. Walsh, a former board chair, told the board he did not plan to seek re-election in October.
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Former French captain and hooker Raphaël Ibañez, left, played 98 times for his country including the Rugby World Cup quarter final in 2007 with French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill at the Mare and Foal Statue in Cambridge.
When Olympic silver medallist Nicole Shields found a gap in her competition schedule, she saw an opportunity to pursue a long-held dream: a major cycling adventure.
Shields, 25, fresh off her podium finish in the team pursuit at the Paris Olympics, decided to step outside the high-performance bubble.
She graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Business this year and opted to take a break from competition until November. That break, however, will be anything but restful.
Together with fellow Olympian and kayaker Hamish Legarth, also 25, Shields is now cycling 5000 kilometres over 10 weeks through East Africa.
Their journey spans six countries where the charity World Bicycle Relief operates, distributing durable bicycles to rural communities to improve access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
Both athletes are part of a close-knit group of elite sportspeople who live, train, study, and work in Cambridge. Legarth had just completed his civil
engineering degree at Waikato and was competing in the Canoe Sprint World Cup in Poland when he saw Shields’ social media post about her plans.
“I was at a crossroads in my kayaking journey,” Legarth said. “I felt like I needed something different after the Olympics.”
Initially, he wished Shields luck but declined to join. However, the idea stuck. After some reflection - and a conversation with Canoeing New Zealand - he agreed to take part.
Kayaking builds upper body strength, which is why, he joked, kayakers tend to have ‘chicken legs’.
Shields had long wanted to do a “really big” bike ride and did not want to emerge from her sabbatical out of shape. She also wanted the journey to have impact.
That’s when she connected the dots with World Bicycle Relief.
She knew about the organisation, which helps to provide life-changing bicycles to rural communities and mobilises individuals and communities through the power of bicycles.
The charity distributes more than 810,000 bikes a year and research shows it helps increase school
attendance by up to 20 per cent.
“Right now, they (the charity) work in six countries in Africa so I looked at a map and wondered how far it is to ride between all of them and then I thought ‘that’s actually achievable in a couple of
preferably with a male.”
She reached out to everyone she knew including Legarth.
Legarth is aware of the physical toll. Kayaking builds upper body strength, and he expects to lose muscle mass in his arms and chest.
“My strength coach says it’ll come back quickly,” he said.
“Everyone says I’m crazy, I’m going to be so sore, it will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m up for it, I’m fine. I actually haven’t done any training on the bike at all.”
He has already taped up a knee, calling it his “excuse” if Shields pulls ahead.
World Bicycle Relief started 20 years ago after the Indian Ocean tsunami by Frederick (FK) Day the co-founder of Sram Corporation, a bicycle component manufacturer based in Chicago.
The company produces the ‘Sram Buffalo Bike” which Legarth and Shields will ride on the rough African rides.
months’.”
Her goal: raise NZ$30,000 - enough to donate 100 bicycles. She didn’t want to do it alone.
“That was the biggest challenge finding someone to do it with. I just didn’t want to do it alone... and
The bikes are designed for durability and take loads of up to 100kg.
They will use tubeless tyres and take their own camping gear with them.
They will not use backpacks. “I don’t want to deal with back problems. I’ll be getting sore enough,” said Shields.
When The News spoke to them, the pair revealed critical equipment was due in the country two days after they fly out to Africa via Qatar. Typical Kiwi ingenuity meant there were number eight wire solutions - a nod to New Zealand’s reputation for resourcefulness.
Shields grew up in Clyde in the South Island and attended Dunstan High School in Central Otago. Legarth grew up in Havelock North and attended the local secondary school. When he was 11, he lost half his right index finger in a boating accident. It has not affected his sporting ability.
Both obtained Sir Edmund Hillary and Prime Minister’s Scholarships in 2018 to attend university in Hamilton, flatting later in Cambridge to have access to high performance facilities. Both are also technically homeless - Legarth bouncing between Auckland and Hawke’s Bay, Shields back in the South Island and in between times preparing in Cambridge.
Legarth also serves as an Olympic ambassador, visiting schools to promote the values of respect, friendship, and excellence.
Olympians Hamish Legarth and Nicole Shields inside the Velodrome in Cambridge before their departure for Africa. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Te Awamutu Concerts Alive!
SUNDAY 27 JULY AT 2PM
Join us for an enjoyable and inspiring Sunday afternoon concert, performed by gifted musicians from the University of Waikato. Everyone welcome!
St John’s Anglican Church
Arawata Street, Te Awamutu $25 cash at the door. Students FREE.
2025 ELECTION OF KURA TAU TRUSTEES
- Candidate Nominations
Public and Private Notice
WAIPA DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING NOTICES
Nominations for the 2025 election of Trustees for Te Nehenehenui closed at 11.59pm, Sunday 13 July 2025. The following valid nominations were received where only the required number of nominations were received for the available vacancies:
Ngā Kura Tau - Te Whare ki Mōkau ki Runga (One vacancy)
HANCY Kim
As only one valid nomination was received for this position, Kim Alexandra HANCY will be declared elected unopposed as the Trustee for Te Whare ki Mōkau ki Runga.
Ngā Kura Tau - Te Whare ki Rereahu (One vacancy)
TAPU Mary
ADVERTISE WITH THE EXPERTS
As only one valid nomination was received for this position, Mary TAPU will be declared elected unopposed as the Trustee for Te Whare ki Rereahu. The following valid nominations were received where more than the required number of nominations were received for the available vacancies. Voting processes will therefore be required to determine the trustees for these elections and will be carried out by postal and online voting. Voter packs, together with information about the candidates, will be sent to all registered and veri ed adult members of the Trust from Friday 25 July 2025 and voting will close at 12 noon, Friday 5 September 2025.
Ngā Kura Tau - Te Whare ki Ngā Tai O Kāwhia (One vacancy)
FOSTER Foulis
ORMSBY Dion
Ngā Kura Tau - Te Whare O Waiwaiā (One vacancy)
GAGE Mellissa (Millie) Kuiahine
TĀNE Wikitōria
Ngā Kura Tau - Te Whare ki Hau-ā-uru ki Uta (One vacancy)
BARRETT-OHIA Orewa Missie
TEKEREI Ronald
Ngā Kura Tau - Te Whare ki Te Tokanganui a Noho (One vacancy)
ANDERSON Te Awhina
BURGESS Megan
MANAWAITI Shannon Tariki Manga
MULLIGAN-GREEN (Nee Wehi) Maardi
Ngā Kura Tau - Te Whare ki Tuhua Hikurangi (One vacancy)
TUWHANGAI Donna Hurapo
WINTER Georgina (Honey)
Pro les and further information about the candidates standing for election and the election processes can be viewed online at www.tenehenehenui.iwi.nz/panui/elections
Te Nehenehenui also give Public and Private Notice of the following:
(a) The term of the current Ngā Kura Tau Trustee members will end at the completion of the 2025 Annual General Meeting scheduled for September 20, 2025, or upon election of new members.
(b) All adult registered members that have selected the Whare o Te Nehenehenui for the relevant Ngā Kura Tau position as their primary whare are entitled to vote towards the relevant Ngā Kura Tau Trustee position. Any election enquiries are to be directed to the Returning O cer on the election helpline 0800 666 029.
Anthony Morton Returning O cer – Te Nehenehenui 0800 666 029 iro@electionz.com
Steph O’Sullivan Chief Executive
PIRONGIA MARKET
SEEKING A RETIRED FARMER
SMITH, Margaret Helen (nee Mills) – Passed away at Cascades Retirement Village on Sunday, 20th July 2025, in her 93rd year. Loved wife of the late Jack. Loved mother and mother inlaw to Mike (Dec) & Christl, Vicki, Cameron & Ngaire, Jacki & Hoody, Karen & Dean, and Jill. Nanna to 14 grandchildren, and great gran to 25. Now in heaven with Jack, Mike, and her special grandson Pauly. A celebration of Margaret's life will be held at the Te Awamutu Presbyterian Centre, Mutu Street, Te Awamutu on Friday, the 25th of July 2025 at 11:00 am followed by a private burial. Messages to the Smith Family can be sent c/- 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800 or in Margaret's online tribute book at www. rosetown.co.nz.
YATES, Glennis Riria (Del) – Passed away peacefully at Waikato Hospital surrounded by her loved ones on Wednesday, 16th July 2025, aged 68 years. Loved soul mate of Athol. Cherished mother of Stephen, Anahera (Rachel), and the late Edith. Adored Nanny to all her mokopuna and great-mokopuna. A celebration of Del’s life has been held. Messages to the Yates family may be sent c/- 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800, or left in Del’s online tribute book at www.rosetown.co.nz.
KEWISH, Valerie Margaret (nee Johnson-Whitley) –Passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, 13th July 2025 to be reunited with Robert and Tracey. Aged 85 years. Devoted and loving wife of the late Robert (Bob). Loving and caring mother and motherin-law of Jo-Anne & Bruce and Tracey (dec) & Doug. Loving Gran to Lara, Jeremy, Breanna, Tessa, and Jenna. A loved and respected sister, sister-in-law, and aunty to all her nieces & nephews. Dearly missed by us all, now in the arms of the Lord. Valerie’s family extends their special thanks to the staff at Resthaven on Burn Street, Cambridge for their compassion and care. A memorial service will be held at the Kihikihi Presbyterian Church at 1pm on Saturday 26th July, following this Robert and Valerie will be interred with Tracey at the Te Awamutu Cemetery. All communications to the Kewish family, PO Box 137, Te Awamutu 3840.
Te Awamutu Funeral Services, FDANZ
KENT, Michael Grey –Passed away on 20th July 2025, aged 84 years. Loved husband of Nel Kent. Cherished father and father in law to Frank, Timmy, Elliot and Heather. Devoted grandfather to Michael, Adam, Dana and Ella. Great grandfather to Lincoln, Amelia, Hugh and Zara. As per Michael’s wishes a private cremation has been held. A memorial service will be held at a later date. All communications to the Kent family, PO Box 137, Te Awamutu 3840.
Te Awamutu Funeral Services, FDANZ
REYNOLDS, Barbara Helen (nee Milne) – Passed away peacefully at CHT, Te Awamutu on 12th July 2025, aged 88. Loved wife of Richard for 66 years. Loved mother of Susanne, Geoffrey and Gavin. Grandmother of Emma, Antony, Matthew, Morgan, Hannah and Jacki. Great grandmother of four. A private family service has been held. All communications to the Reynolds family, PO Box 137, Te Awamutu 3840.
Te Awamutu Funeral Services, FDANZ
SKID
Anthony Hallmond
8 years ago you were taken, my heart was shattered, life has never been the same... Loved and missed beyond words...
Jim Goddin, Teri Keir & Jordan Goss - Funeral Directors
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