Here we go again – encouraging voters to take an interest in the running of their districts.
The candidates will be known tomorrow afternoon and after voting forms are posted from September 9, voting will continue to October 11.
From Waikato district in the north, south through Waipā and Ōtorohanga to Waitomo, and an overlay of a regional council, it is local body politicians – some would say their staff too – who have the heaviest influence on community life. It’s only when the service and services fall over that entire electorates get a real understanding of that.
Ask residents of Havelock North who have gone years without drinkable water. Ask the residents of Cambridge who became extremely animated about local body politics when The News revealed the “blue
blob” - a residential zone tagged to take traffic from a new bridge across the Waikato River.
Fact is, most councils are more than happy to fly under the radar for three years, save getting some input on the odd community project.
Good Local Media has always placed local body politics in the A-category of importance. It has been pretty much the solo media player doing so in Waipā and more recently in King Country, where our coverage – belated as it was – of a new Ōtorohanga council logo has prompted a petition.
Added to the election is a sword hanging over Māori wards. Their introduction to district councils was supported by The News three years ago but they are now under threat after central government ordered referenda in most councils to give all voters the say as to whether or not they stay.
It’s your call
With the fields set from tomorrow, Good Local Media will keep you updated on Waikato, Waipā, Ōtorohanga and Waitomo districts and the Waikato Regional Council elections.
Roy Pilott, Mary Anne Gill, Viv Posselt, Chris Gardner and Jesse Wood – whose combined experience of local body elections goes back to the 1970s - are being joined by regular columnists and former Fieldays president Peter Carr to make up the Good Local election team. Carr’s commentary on the elections will appear fortnightly under the moniker Ticking the Boxes.
The News will be the place to go to for election coverage – it’s also where candidates will take out advertising space promoting themselves. On the news pages, we will be asking questions of candidates, not taking statements.
There was a predictable lament in some areas earlier this month at the level of interest in the elections and councils were encouraged by Local Government New Zealand to contact their local media in an attempt to publicise the elections. Notably national organisations involved in local body elections rarely spend any of their advertising budget with us in print or online where we attract thousands of visits every week without a pay wall.
• See more on the elections, Page 3.
Good Local Media journalists will be following the elections. Pictured from left are Roy Pilott, Chris Gardner, Mary Anne Gill, Jesse Wood, Viv Posselt and Peter Carr. Gill will lead the team and her contact details are on page 2.
Three into one
So, three have put their hands up to be Mayor: the incumbent, Mike Pettit and Claire St-Pierre. I made the mistake of voting for the incumbent last time solely because she promised to improve communication with residents. And look how that turned out. Not this time. I was enthused reading Pettit’s pitch for the role but that quickly turned to scorn when I saw that he would, “prioritise partnerships with mana whenua to strengthen the Māori economy”. Since when has that been a core function of council? Pettit would be well advised to take a look at Tainui’s accounts over the last few years and the financial clout they have to expand and build the Māori economy here rather than use rates, most of which are paid by non-Māori So that rules him out.
St-Pierre’s pitch looks reasonable on the face of it but we have heard it all before. I might have to vote for her just because I reject the others. Not the best reason… but the alternative is not to vote at all.
Kelvin Dunn Cambridge
On the beat with
LGNZ decision
It is astounding that mayor Susan O’Regan has not even had a discussion with the council about leaving the LGNZ. (The News, July 17).
With council expenditure requiring a rate rise, and already having executive positions, one wonders how the council can justify also subscribing to LGNZ at a rate of supposed $122,000.
Furthermore, I thought it would be the people that the council represents that should influence policy, not a left-leaning agency that tells the council what to do. One of the roles of LGNZ, according to Google, is to provide policy advice and support to member councils. What input does the voter get on this policy advice? (Abridged)
Delwyn Smith Cambridge
A triumph indeed CONTACTS
News/Editorial
Roy Pilott editor@goodlocal.nz
027 450 0115
Mary Anne Gill maryanne@goodlocal.nz
viv@goodlocal.nz
Chris Gardner chris@goodlocal.nz 027 231 7007
Janine Davy janine@goodlocal.nz
Owner/Publisher
David Mackenzie david@goodlocal.nz
admin@goodlocal.nz
This week I would like to speak to some of the great work that has happened recently in Te Awamutu.
A few weeks ago there was a burglary at a rural property where a number of items were stolen including a distinctive Triumph Stag vehicle. The grapevine pages on Facebook became a tool for the family as they posted for information about them seeking its return. Thanks to an eagle eyed member of the public, police acting on the information received were able to locate the vehicle and return it in good condition to the owner. We are still making enquiries to hold the offenders accountable.
While on the subject of Facebook, I normally am pretty negative about social media and the hysteria that it can whip up but this week I feel I need to say that between the Stag information and information sought from the community about the loud motorbikes, we are making great progress.
Some time ago Commsafe requested information regarding the loud revving bikes that have been plaguing our town at night for several weeks. A flood of information came in which is being followed up. If you live next door to where these bikes reside. I urge you to contact us or Commsafe so we can follow up.
In a high profile matter a person from Te Awamutu who has been active across
Board elections
Get on board – that’s the theme for the upcoming triennial school board elections. Boards, formerly boards of trustees, play a critical role in the education system, said New Zealand School Boards Association president Meredith Kennett.
“They make decisions that affect students, teachers and whānau across the country.”
Nominations for Cambridge High School closed yesterday while Te Awamutu College, Te Kūiti High and Ōtorohanga College close next week.
Closing dates vary across Waipā and King Country for primary schools but voting closes on September 10 with boards taking office the following week.
St Peter’s School is an independent school and chooses its trust board – made up of between seven and nine trustees who serve three-year terms to a maximum of 12 years.
Eligible voters for state and state-integrated (former private) schools should have received details by post or by email.
the Waikato District was arrested after a fleeing driver incident in Hamilton. This person has been featured heavily on the grapevine pages and had been very resourceful in evading Police. It has been a great feeling being able to let the victims of offending know that a person will be held accountable.
In keeping with my recent writing about the various workgroups based at Te Awamutu, this week I’ll speak about the prosecutions sections.
We have two prosecutors based at Te Awamutu who between them argue the police case in the Te Awamutu and Te Kuiti District courts. Every arrest, every scrap of paperwork created during the arrest is dutifully attached to the court file and handed over to the Prosecution Service. The documents are collated by the Prosecutions Support Officer who keeps the organised chaos flowing.
People know that paperwork is a big part of our job but until you actually join, you don’t realise how vast the scale of it is.
My last word this week I would like to thank those who read my column from a few weeks ago and answered the call to join Community Patrol.
They are still seeking volunteers and if you would like to join or want more information, please contact them direct.
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Briefs…
Financial result
Waipā District Council’s expenditure for the financial year ended June 30 was $12.8 million more than budgeted mainly driven by non-cash adjustments for assets written off ahead of the revaluation of council’s assets for the annual report as well as a loss on investment properties and forestry assets. Operating income of $163.5 million came in at 99 per cent of forecast revenue.
Bronze winners
Waipā butcher Expleo collected a bronze medal for its dry cured streaky bacon at the national Bacon and Ham Awards announced last week. The Te Awamutu butcher was one of four from Waikato to collect medals on the night.
Who will stand?
There was a lack of community board nominations in Maungatautari, Cambridge and Te Awamutu/Kihikihi when The News went to press. There were no nominations for the one Maungatautari seat – although Andrew Myers previously confirmed he would restand – one in Te Awamutu and two in Cambridge for the four seats on each board. Elections are confirmed for the mayoralty and council positions in Cambridge and Te Awamutu/Kihikihi.
Money owed
Ratepayers owed $1.2 million at the end of Waipā’s financial year on June 30 and $183,000 from previous years. Water rates owing were $936,000 with 94 per cent collected.
Liquor bans
A temporary alcohol ban for specified events will again be in place at Lake Karāpiro during events from this month through to May next year. Before 2011, alcohol consumption at events caused a high level of disorder. Since then bans have mitigated this and alcohol-related disorders substantially reduced.
Gaylene drums up support
By Chris Gardner
Kāwhia’s Gaylene Kanawa is about to hit the local body elections’ campaign trail. Not as a nominee, but as deputy electoral officer for Waikato District Council.
Kanawa has spent the last few weeks checking nominee details, including whether they were in the same ward as candidates. If they were not, the candidates were asked to resubmit.
Nominations close tomorrow at noon.
Kanawa confessed to being concerned that both her home and work district could eventually call by-elections for the lack of enough candidates to fill every council and community board seat.
In Ōtorohanga, a byelection would cost around $15,000, while a Waikato byelection would cost around $30,000.
“Am I concerned?
Absolutely,” she said on Monday. “We don’t have candidates for half of our positions as yet in Waikato. We are doing as much as we can to get people to stand. I am not sure why it’s so slow.”
One reason could be low base councillor salaries - $25,777 in Ōtorohanga, Waitomo $37,754, Waipā $37,884 and Waikato $49,742. The average New Zealand salary is $65,853.
From next week Kanawa will hit the streets to promote enrolling and bust some common myths surrounding enrolment, continuing a promotion phase that started a year ago.
“A common myth is people believe that they are not eligible to vote because they are renting,” Kanawa said.
Not the case.
Kanawa will also join her counterparts at other councils in promoting enrolment on the electoral
roll at special events around the region and, for the first time, Waikato District Council will install ballot boxes in high schools across the district to ensure that they are more accessible to the community.
Election papers will have candidates for district and regional council, community boards, where applicable, and include a referendum on whether to keep or remove Māori wards. In Waikato, district voting papers will also include candidate profiles for Te Kauwhata Licensing Trust.
Waikato district recorded a voter turnout of 32 per cent in the 2022 election, below the national average of 40 per cent. Kanawa has a theory on why.
“People don’t realise the council is local government, they don’t link the council to their rates, they don’t put two and two together in terms of what councils do,” she said.
“If you don’t vote, you
can’t complain about rising rates,” she said.
She shared Kāwhia councillor Kit Jeffries’ concerns that a recent Ōtorohanga rate rise of $10.16 per cent could turn the township into a ghost town.
“It’s only people with significant income that could afford it,” she said. “Most of us work out of the district. That’s what we have to do.”
Kanawa’s concern is driven by a deep commitment to community.
She recently spoke to Kāwhia Community Board about the slow grind of the wheels of bureaucracy when it came to the development of the Kāwhia Fitness Trail proposed by GP John Burton five years ago.
Kanawa is also president of Pirongia Bowling Club where she is a standout competitor. She has represented the Aotearoa Māori team internationally and earned more than 35 centre titles.
Waipā Governance manager Jo Gread ran a stand with the Electoral Office at the recent Leamington Domain Playground reopening and at selected places around the district. In a media statement after The News went to press last week, she urged people not to leave it too late to get their nomination forms in.
Powering ahead at Arapuni
Mercury Energy is two weeks into a jet grouting trial at its Arapuni hydro dam, laying the groundwork for major remediation work scheduled to begin next year.
The trial is part of the electricity generator’s 26-year, $628 million programme to refurbish its nine hydro stations along the Waikato River.
Principal project manager Tom Newson said jet grouting is a soil improvement technique used to strengthen and stabilise the ground.
It is typically used in construction and geotechnical engineering to help improve poor soil conditions, water seepage, and to reinforce foundations.
Mercury staff presented at Waipā District Council earlier this month to provide councillors with a project update.
“Jet grouting has been used in several hydro dams around the world, and we want to run a trial to see how well it works with the geology at the Arapuni Hydro
Dam.”
An engineering study shows the dam is safe and fit for everyday use, but work needs to be done to improve the left abutment to protect it from the risk of water seepage.
“The jet grouting method will enable us to replace the original seepage cutoff wall with a new one.”
The jet grouting trial started mid-July and will take about three weeks, followed by a programme of verification tests over four-to-six weeks.
Residents may notice a specialised rig on site - originally from Hong Kong - along with new support buildings for the project team.
“We have limited public car parking on the crest of the dam and people will still have access to the walking paths towards Powerhouse Road,” said Newson.
Arapuni Dam was built in the 1920 and was the first governmentbuilt hydroelectric station on the Waikato River and the second after the now closed Horahora station.
Seepage was first identified at Arapuni as early as 1929. There have been a number of episodes of remedial work carried out over the years. From 2005 to 2006 a long term definitive programme was carried out to prevent further seepage.
Meanwhile Mercury is planning a community event for next month to celebrate the end of the $90 million Karāpiro Dam work.
Once finished, the Karāpiro station will generate an additional
16.5MW -boosting output from 96MW to 112.5MW - and increase average annual energy production by 32GWh to 537GWh. Karāpiro, the third power station built on the Waikato Hydro System, has been supplying electricity since 1947. Two of its three generation units have already been replaced and commissioned in 2023 and 2024. The final stage began in October and is on track for completion by September.
Celebrant David Natske
Kanawa chairs Kāwhia Education Trust too which governs Kāwhia Early Childhood Centre.
Project team members, from left: Mike Francis, Tom Newson, Peter Amos, Marco Lucchi, site manager Shaun Matthee, Jane Ganley and Giovanni Matassoni during a site visit to the toe of Arapuni Hydro Dam earlier this month. Photo: Supplied
Get Gardening
Fruit trees and deciduous ornamentals are all in plentiful supply now with new season stock having just arrived. These trees are best planted while completely dormant so ideally should be in the ground before the end of August. Evergreen trees, citrus, shrubs and natives can continue to be planted too, we have beautiful flowering two year old Daphne available, their fragrance is amazing. Get prepared for summer by planting strawberries and potatoes now. The shortest day is now behind us and this is when Winter really kicks in. Frost tender plants need protection. Don’t allow the cloth to touch the plant itself as during hard frosts the cloth may freeze to the plant, causing damage. Frost cloth available in store. Happy gardening!
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Matters of commerce
The chamber is discussing tourism – and Kihikihi gets a musical fit for a princess. Meghan Hawkes takes us back to 1912 to review the news in Waipā.
A great discussion regarding publishing a tourist book about Te Awamutu was one of many decisions before the Chamber of Commerce.
Other items included a letter from Mr Stewart, postmaster, concerned about the night mail service.
The Postal Department had approved a posting box for late letters being situated in the mail contractors’ stables at Te Awamutu, to be cleared at the last moment by the coach driver before meeting the Main Trunk night expresses. This meant the general letter writing public had the opportunity of their outgoing mail catching both night trains up till midnight, Sundays included.
Providing swimming baths for the school children was also considered.
The suggestion was made that the stream should be cleared for a distance and a
dressing shed built, ideally by the school committee and general public.
A sharp shock of earthquake was experienced throughout Waikato accompanied by a noise like rushing wind.
The direction appeared to be east to west, and the duration about a minute.
Telephone bells and hotel bells were set a-ringing, and a good deal of alarm was caused in many households.
At Ōhaupō it was felt as rather a violent tremor of the earth continuing for about 15 seconds.
Dishes rattled on the shelves, and houses creaked through the vibration.
Harapepe trembled for fully 30 seconds and at Te Awamutu buildings were violently shaken and crockery was thrown from the shelves.
At Cambridge it rang some of the bells of St. Andrew’s church, stopped several clocks and upset
things on shelves in several houses.
It frightened a good many of the inhabitants and caused them to quit their establishments in double quick time.
The Te Awamutu Philharmonic Society visited Kihikihi and staged the charming Japanese operetta, ‘Princess Chrysanthemum.’
The performance was thoroughly enjoyed by those present. The Town Hall was packed to its utmost limits and delight at the beauty of the scenery and costumes were universal.
Miss Vera Rickit gave a charming rendering of the title role, Princess Chrysanthemum, and there were several duets, catchy tunes, solos, humorous songs, and a chorus.
Mr Price Owen, the Society’s scenic artist, played the part of Saucer Eyes, the Wizard Cat. His grotesque makeup and
unearthly caterwauling added considerably to the effectiveness of the scene in the Cave of Inky Night. The Sprites of the Night had all the appearance of a band of mischievous elves, their dance grotesque and song being very effective. Four little fairies formed a dainty wee band of attendants on Fairy Moonbeam and sang a very pretty chorus. The umbrella dance charmed the audience, who received it with hearty applause.
The Philharmonic society’s finished style and excellent harmony showed that considerable pains must have been taken in attaining such a state of efficiency. Rarely if ever had Kihikihi experienced such a treat in the musical line.
The first Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce looked a lot different from the 2025 version.
Abuse a ‘stain on national character’
By Viv Posselt
The spectre of abuse in some New Zealand care institutions will remain unless those responsible are held accountable and a bipartisan government approach is taken to address the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into historic abuse in state and faith-based Institutions.
This was said last week by Judge Coral Shaw, who chaired what became the largest and most expensive Inquiry in New Zealand’s history.
Established in 2018 to investigate what happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in care between 1950 and 1999, the Inquiry finally ended last year. Its 139 recommendations were delivered to Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden in May 2024.
“I have no confidence that such events will not occur again,” she said. “Most of us are just one or two degrees away from the tragedy. We need to know and recognise that it was not a case of a few bad people working in good institutions but rather it was the institutions themselves that hid the violence and neglect, thus attracting the bad people to work in them.”
Shaw, who as a district court judge in Auckland introduced a first fast-track system for family violence cases, also served as a judge of the New Zealand Employment Court and a judge of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal. She was appointed to oversee the Royal Commission into abuse in 2019, taking over from Sir Anand Satyanand. She lives in Pirongia.
She spoke of being ‘haunted’ still by the face of a young woman who brought to the then new lawyer her own harrowing story of abuse in state care. Shaw reached out for information but couldn’t trace anything on the woman. The case faded away. It was her first brush with the mechanisms
Speaking to members of the Ōtorohanga Friendship Club, Shaw outlined the ‘staggering scale’ of the Inquiry, its findings revealing decades of sustained horrors, systemic failures, cover-ups and deflections. Many of those responsible for the abuse were never held accountable, she said, others had enjoyed the wider institutional cover-up of their crimes while some had gone on to fulfil similar roles abroad.
put in place to hide information and shield the perpetrators.
During the almost six-year Inquiry, Shaw presided over four commissioners and teams involving some 300 lawyers, researchers, policy analysts, experts and more. Over a million documents were gathered from faithbased institutions.
“The scale was staggering. We estimated that from 1950 to 2019 about 655,000 people were in care, and of these 256,000 (well over
a quarter) were abused or neglected – an indelible stain on the nation’s conscience,” she said. “We conducted 13 public hearings and countless private sessions, where survivors spoke with raw courage about the trauma they lived with.”
Some 64 per cent were Pākehā, 44 per cent Māori and five per cent Pacifica. Shaw said the imbalance in the number of Māori represented was disturbing given that at its peak they were 20 per cent of the
population.
With the final report, the Inquiry delivered seven case studies that focused on particular institutions where people had been abused. They were the Hokio Beach and Kohitere Boys’ Training Centre (a case study of the state’s role in creating gangs and criminals); the Kimberley Centre (an institution for people with learning disabilities); Van Asch College and Kelston School for the Deaf; Boot Camp – Te Whakapakari
Youth Programme; Jehovah’s Witnesses; the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust; and the Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit.
An imbalance of power within institutions and a fear-based reluctance of bystanders to report incidences was key to much of the abuse remaining hidden.
“Our findings were unequivocal and quite horrible,” Shaw said. “State and faith-based institutions were entrusted to care for many children, young people and vulnerable adults. New Zealanders held the leaders of those institutions in high esteem. They had a duty to care for people and help them flourish … they failed. Instead, those in their care were exposed to physical, mental and sexual abuse and severe neglect. The true number of those abused with never be fully known as records were never kept or were destroyed.
“This gross violation occurred at the same time as Aotearoa New Zealand held itself up as a bastion of human rights. If this injustice is not addressed, it will remain a stain on our national character for ever.”
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Judge Coral Shaw flanked by Ōtorohanga Friendship Club president Trish Neal, left, and club secretary Catherine Short.
Photo: Viv Posselt
Waipā greenlights new projects
By Mary Anne Gill
A new funeral home on the site of the now closed Lyceum Club site in Cambridge is among 87 approved land use consents issued by Waipā District Council in the first six months of the year.
Another 40 were pending a consent decision on June 30.
In the same period, the council issued 515 building consents.
The News sought the information from the council on July 3. On July 11 the Lgoima (Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act) response team responded acknowledging the request.
Until this year readers of The News have seen the figures in news stories after they appeared in quarterly activity reports presented to councillors by Growth and Regulatory services group manager Wayne Allan.
The reports no longer appear in council agendas and the council decided our request should be filed under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, which is designed to increase the availability of official information and provides for a 20-day time limit to provide answers. The council provided the information on July 15 and 16.
The News has sought comment from Allan.
The Lyceum Club closed in December after distributing thousands of dollars to five
Cambridge organisations from the proceeds of the $900,000 sale of its Dick Street property four years ago. The building was demolished earlier this year, and earthworks are now underway for the funeral home, located in the Cambridge A Character Precinct.
Other notable land use consents approved include:
• A specialist medical centre at 63 Shakespeare Street, Leamington (currently home to Pet Stock).
• The removal of a protected English oak tree outside Woolworths supermarket.
• Retrospective consent for 21 standalone cabins, ablution facilities, and a pole shed, with dining, kitchen, and laundry areas, for seasonal workers at Kaipaki Berries.
• Oversized illuminated signage and repainting at the Regent Theatre in Te Awamutu, as required in the Character Precinct.
• A digital sign at Te Awamutu Presbyterian Church on Mutu Street, despite breaches of site relevance and internal illumination standards.
• A healthcare facility in Rukuhia focused on rehabilitation and respite care for 10 patients, with three daytime and one nighttime staff.
Work on a high-profile corner site at Hamilton Road and Victoria Street in Cambridge - opposite St Andrew’s Anglican Church - is awaiting approval for subdividing and the construction of two duplex
houses under new mediumdensity residential zone rules. The site has previously been a popular location for local election billboards.
Among other developments yet to be approved are 15 terraced units at Hamilton Rd in Cambridge, retrospective consent for artificial crop protection structures and shelterbelts in 3693 Cambridge Rd, Leamington and a commercial development on the corner of Te Rerenga Tce and Cambridge Rd. Meanwhile two outstanding
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consent applications of interest for a quarry operation in Oreipunga Rd, Maungatautari and an Arvida retirement village at 151 Maungatautari Rd are both on hold awaiting further information. A new application for 96 villas and 20 apartments on the Maungatautari Rd site has recently been lodged The Maungatautari quarry has been under scrutiny since The News revealed in April 2022 it was operating without a resource consent and had been doing so for at least five years. The council suspended operations at the site –
the same month. At the time, Beacon Hill Contracting – the quarry operator – had four shareholders, including former Waipā councillor Elwyn Andree-Wiltens, who resigned due to a conflict of interest. She had not disclosed her involvement in the unconsented quarry. She and her husband Albert, who stepped down as director in December 2022, transferred their shares in March 2023 to their son’s family trust.
• See teawamutunews.nz for full list
Regent Theatre in Te Awamutu has been repainted and has illuminated signage.
By Mary Anne Gill
Storey keeps council in tent Conference costs revealed
Ratepayers paid just over $17,000 in airfares and accommodation for mayor Susan O’Regan, councillors Dale-Maree Morgan and Marcus Gower, chief executive Steph O’Sullivan, group manager Strategy Kirsty Downey, project lead Vanessa Honore and mana whenua representatives Gaylene Roberts and Poto Davies to attend the recent Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) conference and awards dinner in Christchurch.
Two representatives from Beca – Ahu Ake Spatial Plan contractors chief executive Amelia Linzey and engagement advisor Regan Powell – paid their own way to the dinner. According to a Waipā District Council communications’ spokesperson, their time and costs will not be billed to the council.
The elected members part of the total was $8674.50 for O’Regan, Morgan and Gower excluding incidental expenses such as airport transport and food.
This was funded from the elected members’ professional development budget and approved by O’Regan.
The council paid $2586.18 for O’Sullivan to attend. She was invited to speak on a
panel about organisational performance. O’Regan and O’Sullivan returned to Waipā before the conference dinner, in order to attend a council meeting the next day to adopt the Long Term Plan and confirm the future of water services.
It cost $5841.88 to send Downey, Honore, Davies and Roberts to the awards ceremony and gala dinner where Waipā received the Super Engaged Tū Hononga Award for its Ahu Ake-Spatial Plan engagement.
Waipā funded the mana whenua representatives’ costs “reflecting the strong partnership” that underpinned the project – recently revealed through a Local Government and Official Information Meetings Act (LGOIMA) request as costing $1.71 million, with nearly $1.5 million in consultancy fees.
A photo issued by Waipā District Council from the awards dinner cropped out elected members and the two Beca staffers. The spokesperson said this aligned with good
practice guidelines for communications during the pre-election period, helping ensure current elected members were not given any “perceived advantage” over other candidates.
The uncropped photo was made available by LGNZ.
The News was provided with an incorrect name for one of the people in the winners’ photo - used online - as Ngā Iwi Toopu o Waipā’s Maria Huata (Kirikiriroa Kaunihera) when it was in fact Amelia Linzey. We apologise for the error.
By Mary Anne Gill
Waikato Regional Council is back as a member of Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), following chair Pamela Storey’s casting vote to overturn last month’s decision to leave.
The motion to renew the council’s $80,375.55 LGNZ subscription for the new financial year was initially defeated 6-5, with one abstention.
Eight councillors, including Waipā-King Country representative Stu Kneebone, signed a notice of motion to reverse the decision. However, veteran Waikato constituency member Noel Smith - one of the original signatories - changed his stance, saying he now believed the council should leave LGNZ.
This led to a 7–7 deadlock, which Storey broke with her casting vote.
LGNZ is the nationwide representative body for local authorities. Operating as an incorporated society, it advocates for local government interests and supports councils through policy development, sector-wide collaboration, and governance training.
The vote was – for: Bruce Clarkson, Kataraina Hodge, Stu Kneebone, Tipa Mahuta, Jennifer Nickel, Pamela Storey, Angela Strange, against: Robbie Cookson, Mich’eal Downard, Ben Dunbar-Smith, Clyde Graf, Chris Hughes, Warren Maher, Noel Smith.
The News reported last week the decision would have meant the regional council was following Auckland – on mayor Wayne Brown’s casting vote, Kaipara District, Christchurch City, the West Coast Regional, Grey District, Westland District and Western Bay of Plenty District councils in quitting LGNZ.
Award presentation, from left: Beca chief executive Amelia Linzey, Waipā Māori ward councillor Dale-Maree Morgan, principal strategic planner Vanessa Honore, group manager Strategy Kirsty Downey, mana whenua representatives Poto Davies and Gaylene Roberts, Te Awamutu-Kihikihi councillor Marcus Gower, Beca communications advisor Regan Powell. Photo: Mark Tantrum
Run your race, not mine
By Phil Strong, Proprietor Chair, Waipa Christian School
If I had a dollar for every time someone told me what I should do… well… I’d be shouting everyone takeaways for tea next Friday night.
With the weekly News updates on local body elections, the posturing and politicking of candidates, and anticipated signs on fences, byways and hi-ways, you may not be surprised to hear that I’ve been told many times that I should stand for council or throw myself into the race for the Waipa mayoralty.
There’s one sure way to get me not to do something, and that’s to tell me to do it. How about you run your race, not mine?
It’s a human condition to impose one’s perceptions onto another person. With all my years of counselling couples, I can tell you it’s the primary reason for pressure or departure.
Jesus understood this well. Comments like, “What good could come from Nazareth?” and “Isn’t he the carpenter’s son?” only revealed ignorance and preference.
The Jewish people wanted freedom from their Roman oppressors and were slow to recognise the King that came on a donkey. Church leaders, despite their wealth of knowledge, lacked enlightenment.
Everyone had their view on the Messiah, but few had a grip on reality.
I love the Bible’s teaching on personal purpose. It’s clear to me that each one of us is uniquely and wonderfully made with purpose. Like a thumbprint, we each hold diversity and distinction - there’s not another one created like us.
One day, while wandering through the Tate Gallery in London, my wife and I
marvelled at the beauty of the art. Without an artist, there can be no majestic artwork. The Bible refers to us as a “masterpiece” with God being the artist. You, friend, are a masterpiece of God. The verse concludes that we would “carry out good works,” as God has determined in advance. This says to me we are created on purpose, for purpose.
It’s a sad thing to live your life without purpose, and yet many do. There’s an old saying that says the graveyard is full of unrealised potential.
Recently, my wife and I enjoyed dinner with long-time friends. Our hostess, herself an artist, showed us her recent work and we were blessed by her craftsmanship and passion. Each piece told the story of her life. Speaking with the artist allowed us to see the richness of meaning in the message she had painted.
We must find out who we are so we can determine why we are. The easiest way to discover who we are is to find out through the artist.
I did attend, at the behest of my wife, a meeting hosted by Waipa District Council for potential candidates to consider their calling. I sat and listened and became inspired by Steph O’Sullivan’s expounding of the vision of local serving.
I then became despondent as candidates revealed their motives through questions on parking, park benches and potholes. Seriously, is that the extent of vision people have? I came home dejected and yet determined to change the world a different way.
Never judged and was always very thoughtful.” Kahman and Mike
Learning about slides
By Janine Krippner
Geology tends to move very slowly, until it doesn’t.
Below our feet are enormous tectonic plates moving at around the speed fingernails grow. Depending on location, there may also be molten magma, faults that will one day produce earthquakes, and for those of us who live on slopes, soil and rock that may one day move downhill. As geologists, it is our collective job to understand these processes and how they might impact us.
Not long ago, we experienced Cyclone Gabrielle, which led to around 140,000 landslides. Landslides also happen to cause the most fatalities out of any geologic hazard in Aotearoa.
As with other hazards, understanding when and where they may happen is crucial in preparing ourselves so that we can move people out of the way, prevent injury or death, and recover faster. We have increasingly powerful computing technology to help us to.
After working with researcher Sergio Alfaya over the past month with the GeoTenerife programme, we will be heading into the field to hunt down what we call mass-wasting events.
This is a term that basically encompasses soil and rock moving downhill, whether it be a landslide or a rockfall, or any other process where terrain becomes unstable and shifts downslope.
His research has been using Machine Learning to work out which areas of the Canary Islands are most likely to experience these events. Important factors for when and where these processes may occur are the slope – how steep the land is - elevation, geology - the rocks - vegetation and rainfall.
In Machine Learning we create a type of AI
to work through large amounts of information, in this case, where past landslides match patterns in those five factors.
This is called model training, and in this case, he used a database of well over 1000 landslide events across the Canary Islands. After months of work, he managed to get this to around 90 per cent accurate, a great result especially given the complex terrain.
A surprising find was that elevation is an important factor here, when the assumption was that vegetation and rainfall would be. Through research like this, we understand more of the metaphorical puzzle that is the land we live on.
Over the next couple of weeks we will be going into the field to check out where more recent events have happened, mostly rockfalls in this case, to gather information that we can’t see on a computer screen. Combining computing power with human experience makes this research all the more powerful and will hopefully contribute to helping emergency management planning on the islands.
This is a great example of how new technology can help us work through so much more information to gain more insight into our planet, and guide smarter decisions on how we prepare, build, and respond to our changing landscapes.
As with any hazard, being prepared by understanding the hazards around our homes and having an emergency plan can make a huge difference when it matters most.
The National Emergency Management Agency Civil Defence is a good source of more information.
TALKING ECONOMICS
What will the bank do?
By Peter Nicholl
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand will announce its next Official Cash Rate decision on August 20.
Lots of people are giving them advise. Most expect the bank to lower the cash rate again by 25 basis points – and some are saying they should lower it by as much as one per cent - 100 basis points.
A lot of points being made in the debate are being misused and some important points are being left out altogether.
First, current interest rates are invariably described as high.
They are only high in relation to the very low interest rates that existed at the time of two recent crises: the global financial crisis and the Covid crisis. It is these rates that were unusually low.
The average interest rate on mortgages in New Zealand over the last 20 years was similar to the current interest rates.
People with longer memories, like me, will know that mortgage interest rates in the 1980s and 1990s were much higher.
We need to stop describing current interest rates as high – they are average.
Second, the discussion about the impact of lower interest rates on household disposable incomes focuses on only one side of the impact: the disposable income of mortgage borrowers. It does go up when interest rates come down.
I have not seen anyone do a calcualtion of what happens to the disposable incomes of savers when interest rates come down.
But clearly, their disposable income drops. Total household debt in New
Zealand is about $390 billion. Total savings and time deposits in banks is around $310 billion. So when the disposable incomes of mortgage holders goes up when interest rates fall, most of that is a transfer of disposable incomes from savers to borrowers.
Third, some are saying that the reserve bank has got interest rates wrong again by leaving them too high.
John Key for example made this claim and recommended the bank lower the cash rate by a full one per cent.
The implication is that the bank is dragging the chain compared with other Central Banks. That simply isn’t the case.
The bank has lowered the cash rate further this year than its peers in Australia, Canada, the UK and US.
Only Canada has a lower official interest rate than New Zealand and their inflation rate is also significantly lower.
Australian and US inflation rates are currently similar to New Zealand and their official interest rates are higher.
I see absolutely no scope for the reserve bank to lower its rate by one per cent on August 20.
If they do, the value of our dollar will sink. That might be good for exporters but it would be lousy for inflation.
I don’t think the bank should lower the cash rate at all - but they probably will by another 25 basis points to three per cent.
Celebrating the raucous kākā
Sally and Eric Fox spent 32 years working at the Ōtorohanga Kiwi House where Eric was curator. Since retiring they have been volunteering at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari in the aviary team. Today Sally discusses working with kākā – which come to Maungatautari from three areas, enabling the breeding programme to maintain a large genetic base.
For the past five years, we have been enjoying volunteering out at Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain assisting in the Aviary
team looking after the kākā and hihi in the Southern Enclosure with supplementary feeding and monitoring and also caring for rescued and captive-bred kākā housed in aviaries in the forest prior to being softreleased.
After working with the kākā at the Ōtorohanga Kiwi House for many years, we are well-acquainted with them and their incredible personalities.
Kākā have been breeding well over the years in the safety of the sanctuary since initially being released into the Southern Enclosure in 2007. We feel very lucky to be able to enjoy the vibrant group out there (a mixture of banded and unbanded kākā, with a ton of personality). They have such a funloving spirit enhanced by their wonderful array of melodic and raucous whistles and everything in between – such great entertainers and a highlight with visitors.
Presently we are enjoying watching a female kākā raising her delightful juvenile (a late nesting) teaching it meticulously the skills for survival and feeding. Kākā are excellent parents.
The other area we have very much enjoyed is helping with the care and feeding of the captive-reared kākā and rescued kākā who are housed for around a month in large aviaries within the forest which accustoms them to their new surrounding before being soft-released.
These kākā at different times have come from Hamilton Zoo (light purple band),
Prognosis positive on numbers
By Jon Rawlinson
A new medical school in Hamilton is expected to bolster the number of medical professionals in the King Country region.
For almost a decade, a new medical school has been touted as a treatment for lack of access to medical care in rural areas. Minister of health, Simeon Brown, has now given the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine (NZGSM) the green light.
The school will require its students undertake clinical placements which will help embed graduates where they are needed, including in the King Country, MP Barbara Kuriger said.
“I think it's fantastic. It's been a long time since the suggestion was first put up, and the benefits are not going to be immediate, but there'll be great opportunities coming to Te Kūiti, Kāwhia and the surrounding districts,” the Taranaki/ King Country MP said.
Based at the University of Waikato’s Hamilton campus, the school will prioritise clinical placements in regional communities. Kuriger expects people in more remote regions will have the most to gain.
“If we didn't have Dr John Burton out there in Kāwhia, for example, people in the area really would be struggling,” she said.
A long-serving GP, Burton has expressed support for a new medical school for many years.
Funding for the NZGSM was confirmed last week. The government has allocated $82.85 million and the University of Waikato, in partnership with ‘philanthropic investors,' will contribute more than $150 million.
“For such towns as Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga, and Piopio, this will mean more doctors who understand the needs of rural and farming communities,” Kuriger said. “It also opens doors for local students who want to serve where they’re from. This is an investment in the future of rural health in Taranaki-King
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre (light blue), and Ōtorohanga Kiwi House (light green). If these birds are sighted the different colours identify where they have come from, plus each individual bird will have a metal band numbered which is recorded in a studbook and two colours on the other leg which identifies the individual. If you do sight kākā in the wild, it is worthwhile reporting location and if possible, any bands seen to the Department of Conservation. It is great to hear about increasing
sightings of Kākā in the wild, and the ongoing research being done to help with their protection and welfare. It is lovely to have places like Maungatautari where you can enjoy these charismatic birds in such a natural and beautiful environment. I would also like to highlight the gorgeous pair of Kākā at the Ōtorohanga Kiwi House who have been breeding so successfully over the past few years and bringing important new genetic lines into the wild population.
Country.”
While there are no “hard and fast guarantees” that graduates will remain in rural areas, their placements should increase the chances that they will stay or, at least, return, Kuriger said.
“When someone’s spent three years in a community, hopefully some will have met a partner who lives locally, joined the local rugby club, or built other relationships giving them more incentive to stay.
“They may want to do an OE, for example, but often enough they'll come home when it's time to settle down.”
The university will be working with communities and primary healthcare providers to finalise where clinical placements will take place.
While the NZGSM will become the country’s third medical school, it will complement training already provided at the universities of Auckland and Otago, said University of Waikato vice-chancellor, Professor Neil Quigley.
“We will be offering a programme that selects and trains doctors in a fundamentally different way. It will be designed to produce more graduates who choose to become GPs and who want to work in regional and rural communities.”
As the school will run a graduate-entry medical programme, students will first need to obtain a bachelor’s degree. This approach has been successful overseas, health minister Simeon Brown said.
“It’s an innovative model that supports our focus on strengthening primary care, making it easier for people to see their doctor – helping Kiwis stay well and out of hospital.
“It also builds on the University’s recent additions of nursing, pharmacy, and midwifery programmes, demonstrating a strong and growing commitment to developing New Zealand’s health workforce.”
Construction will begin this year and the school is set to open in 2028.
A three and a half month old fledgling pictured at Maungatautari in June.
Mum – the fledgling’s banded female parent.
Eric and Sally Fox pictured recently at the Ōtorohanga Kiwi House.
Waipā riders set for worlds
Over 40 New Zealand riders – several from Waipā - have congregated in the cycling city of Copenhagen for the UCI BMX Racing World Championships. Eleven kiwis will contest the elite racing, which follows the Challenge (age group) competition for racing and cruiser classes which starts today.
The riders are at home in Copenhagen, a city where locals own more bikes than cars, and nearly half the population pedal to work.
In the modern era of UCI BMX Racing, it is just the third location to host the world championships for a second time, following Zolder in Netherlands and Rock Hill in South Carolina, USA.
History is on the side of the kiwis in Copenhagen, where New Zealand riders won four medals in the 2011 world contest with a silver to Sarah Cambridge based Walker, bronze to Marc Willers and two medals for junior Trent Woodcock in the racing and time trial.
Organisers have made significant upgrades to the 400m outdoor circuit near the heart of the city, with a new start ramp and ProGate system on the 5m ramp (for Challenge racing), with the corners rebuilt and resurfaced to account for the higher speeds of modern racers.
It is a championship stacked with talent including winners of 12 elite world titles led by threetime world champion and Paris Olympic gold medallist Joris Daudet (FRA) in the elite men and three-time world champion Alise Willoughby (USA) in the elite women.
New Zealand is led in the elite men by the North Harbour professional pair of Michael Bias and Rico Bearman, who was sixth in the Grand Final in USA last year.
New to the elite men’s division is Bennett Greenough. He leads the Greenough family from Cambridge who include Lily, the silver medallist in junior women last year, and on the podium in the recent UCI BMX Racing World Cup.
They are joined by younger brother Jack Greenough in under-23 men. He narrowly missed out on the podium last year in the same age group.
Paris Olympian Leila Walker – also from Cambridge - who had a late start to the year after injury, was seventh in last year’s final, and is joined in the elite competition by Rotorua’s Megan Williams.
Completing the kiwi females is Te Awamutu’s Brooke Penny in the under-23 class while the trio of Finn Cogan (Cambridge), Nicholas Cowie (Southland) and Cooper Richardson (North
Harbour) will contest the junior men.
Action begins with the Challenge (age group) classes where the New Zealand team is led by Waitakere Club’s outstanding Toni James, who will defend her women’s Masters 30Plus title in Copenhagen.
Fifteen riders are entered in
the Cruiser class and most will double up in a 27-strong New Zealand group for the Challenge World Championships, with racing from Monday until Thursday followed by the Elite racing next weekend.
Caption: Lily Greenough and Rico Bearman in action in the recent UCI BMX Racing World Cups. (Credit: Cole McOnie)
Stepping into the unknown
By Steph Bell-Jenkins
What careers will still be around in five years?
That was one of the questions on Alicia Smart’s mind as she visited a free Community Careers Expo at the Cambridge Town Hall last Thursday with daughter Chelsea (14) and son Zavier (13).
She wondered if AI might end up taking over jobs her children could potentially have trained for.
“People change and careers change, life evolves and changes, so have a look, be really broad is something we’re looking at,” she said.
Year 13 Cambridge High School student Rebecca Brocklebank, 17, went along
because her friends were going.
“And because I don’t know what to do with my life,” she said.
She had been planning to study software engineering, but took a university paper in the subject through a school extension programme this year and realised it wasn’t her cup of tea.
“I figured out I really, really don’t want to do that, so now I don’t know what,” she said. “I’m feeling very, very nervous and confused about it, because everyone has different opinions about it.”
Rebecca spent more than an hour browsing information at exhibitor stands and had “got good stuff out of it”.
“I heard about a forestry degree that could be quite interesting to look into,” she said.
“I didn’t even know that that could be something I’d be interested in, which I guess is the good things about days like this.”
Attendance at the expo, organised by Cambridge High School, St Peter’s School and Te Awamutu College, was up 50 per cent on last year – 1500 visitors were recorded.
Cambridge High School’s careers faculty head Karina Judson said she was “absolutely stoked” with the turnout. She said students from schools around the Waikato, including Te Awamutu College, Cambridge High School, St Peter’s School, Hamilton Girls High, Hamilton Boys High, Hillcrest High and Putaruru College attended.
Businesses discuss more eyes on crime
By Jon Rawlinson
Ōtorohanga and Kāwhia may soon be better prepared to prevent or tackle crime. Security improvements were discussed during a Business After Five meeting last week hosted by Ōtorohanga District Council’s development board, Elevate. It provided valuable feedback, security project team member and owner of Paper Plus Ōtorohanga, Grant Matthews, told The News.
“Overall it was a positive meeting. Everyone was pretty much on the same page. We’re trying to make our town safer; I don’t think anyone is against that.”
However, the cost effectiveness of a co-ordinated camera network needed to be considered, he said.
“Whether it’s going to be good bang for our buck is something we need to look into further. We have to get quotes and figure out the funding because, obviously, this will all have to be paid for.”
A spate of break-ins in Ōtorohanga earlier this year served as a catalyst for improving security. The security project team, including representatives from Elevate, council and police, was then formed.
The results of a recently conducted survey were discussed at the meeting last Thursday, Elevate board member Matthews said.
“A key finding from the survey was that the business community really wants to see licence plate reading cameras, an ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system.
“Police suggested this is the gold standard as a deterrent and as a tool to help catch offenders because, quite often, they’re coming into town in stolen vehicles.”
Covering roads entering Ōtorohanga and Kawhia, ANPR could notify police when stolen vehicles are spotted, Matthews said.
Installing more CCTV cameras is also under discussion. Cameras could then be connected as an integrated network, linking to police and ANPR through the VGrid cloud system.
While no council provided cameras are in place in Ōtorohanga, Kawhia has six, all monitored by police. In both towns, some businesses have their own cameras, but none of these are, as yet, connected through VGrid.
Although ANPR and VGrid would also involve council and police, the proportion of cost to be borne by businesses is yet to be confirmed.
“We’ve had some numbers thrown around but I wouldn’t want to quote them at this stage because they are very loose,” Matthews said.
“We’re now going to get some solid pricing and go back to the business community as soon as we can, certainly within the next couple of months.”
Security patrols, paid for through a targeted rate, were stepped up after the break-ins. In addition, some businesses have private agreements for extra security.
“We had a bit of a mixed response about the patrols at the meeting. Some people were happy with them and others had questions about their effectiveness, so council is going to follow up with the security company.”
Now that the ‘what’ has been discussed, the next step is to figure out the ‘how’, Matthews said.
“If we can make the town a safer and better place, it’s hard to be against that. We know what the community want, so now we need to do some more research about how we’re going to achieve it.”
Lily Greenough and Rico Bearman in action in the recent UCI BMX Racing World Cups.
Photo: Cole McOnie)
Gibbes follows Foster’s Chiefs lead
By Jesse Wood
In the Chiefs’ 30-year history, two former players have become head coach of the franchise - and Te Awamutu Sports has produced them both.
Chief #84 Jono Gibbes was named as Clayton McMillan’s successor last week and he has signed until the end of the 2027 season.
The former Māori All Blacks captain and All Black forward has added another chapter to the Gibbes brothers’ sporting legacy.
Ian Foster was the first Te Awamutu Sports alumni at the helm of the Chiefs, coaching the team from 2004 to 2011.
“Jono has done a decent apprenticeship overseas. It’s a good opportunity for him, he’s coached some highprofile clubs,” Te Awamutu Sports president Mark McNaughten said.
“He still hangs around here a bit like Ian - they’ll come back when asked, help coaching wise and a bit of resource at the club - which is always good. They don’t forget where they’ve come from.
“I think it’s great for Te Awamutu as a whole
that we’re putting out top coaches and players from our small community.
“It’s good for rugby in Te Awamutu and the Waikato. Jono’s blood is from here.”
As a player, Jono was a member and leader of Foster’s squads for many years.
He played 68 games between 2001 and 2008 and is one of the franchise,s longest serving captains, serving six seasons (20032008).
From player to captain, resource coach, assistant coach and now head honcho, Jono has almost done it all at the Chiefs franchise.
He said Foster, John Mitchell and the late Brian Clarke and Farrell Temata were among those who instilled in him the importance of showing up and fronting up.
Jono has been part of the Chiefs environment again for the past two seasons.
“I feel grateful for the opportunity to watch how Clayton operated his style of leadership. It was a great insight for me,” Jono said.
“I can really appreciate the quality of the assistant staff and just generally here in the Chiefs, the quality people
that we do have working in this organisation.”
Like his older brother Chris, Jono has an impressive coaching resume post playing professionally.
He has won titles across the globe but is hunting a Super Rugby trophy.
Although he has travelled the world, the Waikato region is home.
He’d love to lead the franchise to their first title since 2013.
After coaching and director of rugby roles in France and Ireland, he returned to Te Awamutu with his wife and three children two years ago.
“In my other life, when I was a player, it meant a hell of a lot for me to wear the colours, red, yellow and black,” Jono said.
“Being able to come back and work here - I had a very positive experience coaching Waikato in 2018 - the feeling is you that you’re back home.
“I also know the responsibility, the expectations of the region and it is a great opportunity, but you’re also aware of the responsibilities. It’s a very proud rugby region that we have here.”
The Gibbes brothers’ passion for the game comes through with good natured family competitiveness.
Chris is a forwards coach for the Fijian Drua, the same role Jono had in the Chiefs setup this season.
“It’s always a good experience coming up against Chris. He worked in Europe at the same time I was up there, so we’ve had
Marist crowned Waikato champs
By Jesse Wood
After an impressive regular season, Hautapu fell short 32-21 against Hamilton Marist in the Waikato premier club rugby Breweries Shield final on Saturday.
Both teams had only one loss a piece before heading into the final match on Marist’s artificial turf.
“Our winning run showed we had the confidence in ourselves. By the end of season, we had a real identity of how we wanted to play our games,” Hautapu head coach Jackson Willison said.
“The thing I was most proud of the boys for on Saturday was, we knew how we wanted to play the final.
“While we didn’t get the result, we didn’t go away from how we approached the season.”
The visitors were down 19-7 at the break and managed to add a further two tries in the second half.
Ultimately, the Marist “green machine” was too strong.
Hautapu halfback and captain Quintony Ngatai led from the front, while lock Dylan Eti had several barnstorming carries.
“We probably gave Marist too much of a head start. We came back with three nice tries and were within three points, but it wasn’t to be,” Willison said.
“Marist have been really good all season. It was quite an exciting challenge for our club.
“Without our supporters and certainly sponsors, there’s no club, so thank you. My sense is the club is in a good position moving forward.”
Hautapu under-21 also played in a final on Saturday, losing 41-18 to Hamilton Old Boys in the Elliott Shield match at Fred Jones Park.
Beau Wallis and Maraekiti Nepia scored Hautapu’s tries. Ned Collins added a conversion and two penalty goals.
“The under-21s can be really proud of their season. They had a few challenging games and people probably wrote them off,” Willison said.
“While they didn’t win the final, I do think that in time, the boys will reflect on the season and see their success.
“There’s a good bunch of lads now who will be ineligible for under-21s, so they will naturally move up into the senior squad.
“It’ll be quite exciting if we keep hold of all our depth.”
The year isn’t quite over for Hautapu. They’re well represented in Waikato sides this season.
Several Waikato NPC, New Zealand Harlequins and Waikato under-19 representatives have been selected out of the Cambridge-based club.
In the division 1 Mooloo Shield competition, Leamington and Pirongia also played their final games for the year on Saturday.
Pirongia finished on a high, beating Tokoroa-based Southern United 24-10 under the mountain.
Flynn Wuest, Lochie Bolstad, Daniel Belk and Callum Hall crossed the chalk for the home side.
The Pirongia B team have booked themselves a home final against Suburbs after beating Southern United B 17-12.
Backs Jake Pitcon and Sani Ramuwai scored tries, while Kingston Grant sealed the deal, adding two conversions and a penalty.
Leamington travelled south to Putāruru, and lost 43-7. Henry Drew was their sole try scorer.
In the division 1 championship, Ōhaupō had a bye week, as did their B side.
Both Ōhaupō teams have secured home finals against Taupiri this Saturday.
a number of battles over the years,” Jono said.
“Obviously it’s only the last performance that counts, so he’s ahead after our visit to the Drua this season.”
Jono appreciates having someone close to him in the coaching world.
They might not be at the same franchise, but they’re on the same team.
“The benefit for me is
someone that works in the same profession and does the same role with the forwards,” Jono said.
“He’s a great resource for me, to bounce some ideas off and share experiences that we’ve had.
“Sometimes coaching is a bit lonely, being able to talk to someone who really understands what you go through is of great benefit.”
Reps miss final
By Jesse Wood
Waikato rugby’s premier grand final on Saturday was robbed of seven players who were removed due to provincial rugby commitments.
Hamilton Marist hosted Cambridge-based Hautapu at Marist Park in the Breweries Shield final, and won 32-21.
Provincial rugby kicks off tonight when Waikato face Auckland in the opening match.
Rep players, who took part for most club games this season, ruled out of the club final.
Hautapu lost co-captain Mitch Jacobson, winger Waisake Salabiau, loose forwards Andrew Smith and Senita Lauaki – all capped by Waikato in 2024. Hamilton Marist were missing props Mason Tupaea and Gabe Robinson from their previous weekend’s line-up.
Marist was also without Tom Martin who has been named in the Counties Manukau team.
Waikato played a pre-season game on Friday against Hawke’s Bay, while Counties Manukau had a preseason fixture on Saturday.
Hautapu head coach Jackson Willison said clubs were given fair warning.
“We as a club, and every club, knew the situation well prior to the final. There was enough time for us to prepare for the situation that played out,” Willison said.
“It was gutting not to have the boys there but it’s not like I didn’t know. The information was there
early enough for clubs to plan.
“We had to get to the final first, so we put all our eggs into the basket of winning the semi.
“That was a cool result for the club, but it was certainly a funny feeling on Monday in the lead up to the week of the finals.”
The day was club rugby’s showpiece with finals across most grades.
Other finals were played under lights on Friday and others take place this coming Saturday.
Willison said they focused on developing depth in their squad.
This was to help the club’s future and safeguarding for a final without their NPC players.
“Naturally there was a bit of frustration within the squad because we were chopping and changing the team so often,” Willison said.
“But we were trying to create depth for the likelihood of being put in that situation.”
Jono Gibbes at a coaching clinic at Pirongia Rugby Sports Club earlier this year.
Photo: Julie Gibson
The home side seized seven tries to lift the shield in front of their fans.
Hautapu Waisake Salabiau was one of several players not named for the Breweries Shield final. Photo: Matt Gould
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Prosperous period continues
By Jess de Lautour Loverracing.NZ
Graeme Rogerson has watched on with pride as the progeny of Ferrando have begun to hit their straps of late, and even more so last week when his homebred filly, Prosper, powered to victory on debut at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting.
Rogerson, who trained and part-owns Ferrando, has been a strong supporter of the Group One-performing son of Fast ‘N’ Famous since his arrival at Westbury Stud, with Prosper among his second crop of juveniles to race.
Prosper trialled twice in heavy track conditions before stepping out in the Group One Turf Bar Maat Final 970, jumping a $15 hope with fellow juvenile Miss Moet All dominating the market at $1.50.
Miss Moet All had designs on the early lead, speeding up to join Catoca and Beau Luca, while jockey Samantha Collett sat patiently in behind the hot tempo aboard Prosper, and the filly was travelling well as the field compressed into the home turn. Miss Moet All held on gamely down much of the home straight, but Prosper was just winding up and she stormed over the top short of the line to score by three-quarters of a length.
Rogerson held the filly in high regard prior to her debut and was pleased to see that on display with a $27,500 mid-week
stake on offer.
“I think she’s a Classic filly, I really like her,” he said. “She’s trialled very well and has done everything we’ve asked of her.
“It was just getting to the end of the season and I thought, with the $25,000 Maat races on, I would run her against the older horses, and she was too good. The instructions were to let her find her feet and she’ll go to the line, which she did. They went hard in front, and it was a good result.
“I bred her and I’ve sold 10 percent of her today, I’ll let my friends come into her now and after her next start, she should have quite a few owners.
“I think she’ll make a lovely three-year-old filly, she’s always shown a bit.”
Prosper is out of a Duelled mare Nouvelle Reine, with her granddam a stakesperforming two-year-old in Deautche Express.
The result comes during a strong period for Prosper’s young sire, with El Vaquero’s victory at Oamaru on Sunday, and Spandeedo, an impressive last-start winner, currently sitting favourite for Saturday’s Listed Phils Electrical and Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
“She’s making Ferrando look good, and I hope another of his (Spandeedo) can win the Ryder Stakes on Saturday,” Rogerson said. “Pitman’s horse (El Vaquero) is running in the three-year-old race at Riccarton on Saturday week as well.
“He’s going well, and he’s got some nice horses for next season. Some of them need a little bit of time, but he’s certainly got enough good horses coming through.”
Among his older progeny is Skymax, a Team Rogerson-trained filly who finished fourth behind Leica Lucy in this year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), while she was also Group Three-placed earlier in the season.
“Skymax, who was fourth in the Oaks, will have her first run along this time in tomorrow morning (Thursday), I think she could be very good this season,” Rogerson said.
Family success rolls on for Bell
John Bell’s run of success with the family of star mare Fleur de Lune continued at Te Aroha on Sunday, with close relation Zenith delivering on debut.
A son of Time Test, Zenith was the second foal out of Reine de Lune, a daughter of the Group One-winning Stravinsky mare. Reine de Lune was herself unraced, but her younger brother Twain is right in the conversation for the upcoming spring features, having won six of his nine starts.
Similarly to Twain, Zenith has been carefully handled by Bell, starting his career as a late three-year-old with a tidy trial at Waipā before taking on the Great New Zealand Carnival 19-21 September 1150. Zenith started the second-elect behind Renaissa and the pair were first out of the barriers, with the former showing enough early speed to cross and eventually take up the pacemaking role. He was challenged near the home turn by Apollo Warrior, but after showing a decent kick at the top of the straight, Zenith was clear and cruised down to the line, albeit showing his inexperience when shying at the winning post.
Renaissa closed gamely down the outside to fill second position, with Crackbones also doing his best work late in a promising debut effort.
Bell has given Zenith the time he needed to mature before stepping out on raceday and was pleased to see his patience pay off.
“He’s a quality horse, he’s taken a bit of time to mature but he’s got a lovely pedigree and a wonderful stride,” Bell said.
“I expected him to be just outside the leader with Craig allowing him to do what he needed to do, but he took him to the front and away he went. He was still a bit green and shied at the winning post, so he’s still got a lot of improvement to come.”
While he handled the heavy surface on Sunday, Bell expects Zenith to appreciate better ground when that is on offer.
“I’ve had this horse since he was a baby, we’ve just taken our time with him,” he said. “We knew he could gallop, but we waited until he was ready to take the pressure that we went to the trials.
“He had no pressure whatsoever at Waipā and went nicely, so based on that, and what he’s shown us on the training track, we hoped to see him go well at Te Aroha.
“We’ll have a look for another race, he was down on the inside where no one had been in the jumps races, so he handled it. But he’s such a beautiful moving horse, he’ll go better on a better surface I would imagine.”
Bell was in the winner’s circle earlier in the week on the Cambridge Synthetic, with promising galloper Spanish Lad taking a comprehensive victory in the Rating 77 event over 1550m.
“All of these horses are owned by Elizabeth Martin and Peter Barton, they’ve got lovely pedigrees and are related in one way or another.”
Twain’s progression towards the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) on August 23 continued at Te Rapa on Saturday, stepping out in an exhibition gallop under Vinnie Colgan. To the delight of Bell, Colgan had plenty of praise for the rising five-year-old.
2025 ELECTION OF KURA TAU TRUSTEES
- Candidate Nominations
Public and Private Notice
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. *Please note the amended names for those candidates who have since withdrawn.
Ngā Kura Tau - Te Whare ki Hau-ā-uru ki Uta (One vacancy)
TAKEREI Ronald
BARRETT-OHIA Orewa Missie [Withdrawn]
As only one valid nomination was received for this position, Ronald TAKEREI will be declared elected unopposed as the Trustee for Te Whare Hau-ā-uru ki Uta. 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
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 Te Tokanganui a Noho (One vacancy)
ANDERSON Te Awhina [Withdrawn]
BURGESS Megan [Withdrawn]
MANAWAITI Shannon Tariki Mangu
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
Prosper winning at Cambridge on Wednesday.
Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
By Jess de Lautour LoveracingNZ
Te Awamutu Needs Your Help!
Citizens Advice Bureau Te Awamutu is looking for volunteers to join us in our mission to make a positive impact in our community.
Call us on (07) 871 4111 or pop in to our office in the Ray White Arcade 213 Alexandra Street to learn more about what we do.
Nominations for the Election of Trustee NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a call for nominations has been opened to appoint one (1) trustee to Ruapuha Uekaha Hapū Trust.
Nominations for the one (1) trustee position must be made on the Nomination Form available from the Returning Officer:
GHA P.O. Box 1712
ROTORUA Phone 07 348 3599
returningofficer@gha.co.nz
The nomination form may also be accessed from the Ruapuha Uekaha Hapū Trust website www.ruht.co.nz.
The Nomination Form is to be completed by the Nominee and countersigned by two registered adult beneficiaries of the Ruapuha Uekaha Hapū Trust. Nominations will close at 5pm on Friday 22 August 2025. Candidates are required to provide a copy of their curriculum vitae, a personal profile, and a photo along with their completed nomination form. Only registered adult members (18 Years +) of Ruapuha Uekaha Hapū Trust beneficiaries register will be eligible to vote.
Board of Trustees
Please
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