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Letters…
Arbitrage follow
On August 14, 2024, the Waipa District Council borrowed $50 million from the Local Government Funding Agency at 4.67 and placed it on Term Deposits with ANZ bank and BNZ bank until April 14, 2025, when it would be used to repay other debt.
The council announced in the Cambridge News that this “arbitrage arrangement” would make a profit of $384,000 by the time it matured.
What the WDC failed to state was that the $50 million was borrowed from the LGFA at 4.67 per cent until April 2029.
Any homeowner with a mortgage would know not to borrow long term when interest rates are falling and predicted to fall, as they have.
In reply to my queries WDC state that the “arbitrage suggestion was identified by Bancorp as council’s treasury advisor”, and that Bancorp, a merchant bank, are paid around $30,000 per annum for advice.
Councillors were “pre-notified” by council
staff of the intention to do this deal on “Bancorp’s recommendation as treasury advisors”.
No councillor raised any objections to or made any comment on this transaction of borrowing and speculation that was highly likely to cost extra money over the four years term it is actually needed for. Incredible. Why is the council dealing with Bancorp if they provide advice like this? And what is the point of council Risk and Audit staff if they did not flag this transaction?
I calculate that the current LGFA lending rate of 4.41 per cent for this arbitrage arrangement will cost the WDC a net loss of $136,000 by April 2029. It could have been worse.
Why can council staff do a $50 million deal like this without seeking formal approval at a meeting of the full council?
Because “the Treasury Management Policy enables arbitrage arrangements to be entered into at officer discretion”. $50 million worth? However, “our practice has always been,
On the beat with Constable Ryan Fleming
Fending off the scammers
In an age where our phones are practically extensions of our hands, it’s no wonder scammers have found a direct line into our lives via text messages.
These scams, often cloaked in urgency or familiarity, are growing more sophisticated by the day. And among the most dangerous are those that contain links to cloned websites - near-perfect replicas of legitimate sites designed to steal your personal data. It usually starts innocently: a text or an email claiming your parcel is delayed, a security alert from your bank, or even a “missed” payment notice from a utility provider. The message includes a link that looks convincingly real. But click it, and you’re redirected to a counterfeit site that asks you to log in or provide sensitive information. Before you know it, your details are in the hands of criminals.
What’s particularly alarming is how authentic these fake sites can look. Logos, fonts, layouts - they mimic everything down to the smallest detail. Some even use domain names that look just a few characters off from the real thing. It’s phishing, yes - but weaponised through social engineering and a growing sense of digital fatigue.
So how do we protect ourselves?
First, be sceptical - always. No legitimate organisation will threaten you or demand immediate action via text. If you receive such a message, don’t click the link. Instead,
open a browser and go directly to the company’s official website or app to check for messages or updates.
Second, verify the sender. Scammers can spoof numbers to appear as though they’re from trusted sources. If something feels off, trust your instinct and double-check through another channel.
Third, check the URL. If you do click a link, scrutinise the website address carefully. Look for small inconsistencies or spelling errors. Better yet, avoid clicking links in texts altogether - especially when money or personal info is involved. It is far better to not click the link. An effective way to check is to go to your search engine and look the website up directly. Often you can contact them via the site to confirm there is an outstanding payment.
Finally, use security tools. Most phones and providers offer spam filters and fraud alerts. Enabling these, along with a reliable password manager, can add another layer of protection by warning you when a site isn’t what it claims to be.
Text scams aren’t going away - they’re evolving. But so can we. A little vigilance goes a long way, and the more we talk about these scams openly, the harder we make it for criminals to succeed.
Don’t let urgency override caution. In the digital world, patience and scepticism are powerful tools.
and was in this case, to pre-notify councillors of the intended transactions before the transactions are locked in place”. Also “... transactions of this nature are only entered on the advice of our Treasury Advisors, Bancorp New Zealand Limited”. It is obvious that policy must be changed so that proposals like this “arbitrage arrangement” are brought up at a council meeting where newspapers can bring it to the notice of ratepayers.
Why did no councillor raise the alarm to put a stop to this speculation that is going to cost ratepayers more than what it would have cost if they had borrowed this month when actually needed?
Peter Clapham
Cambridge
We put the points raised to Waipā District Council, which responds: Waipā District Council actively manages approximately $300 million of debt within a Treasury Policy framework that complies with legislation and is independently advised by treasury specialists. The transaction in question was not speculative, it formed part of the broader interest rate risk management strategy in place (one that is regularly reviewed) to maintain policy compliance and protect the Council from ongoing interest rate volatility. Expert advice from the Council’s advisors confirmed that the approach taken met overall risk management goals and had the bonus of offering a modest financial benefit compared to other hedging options, while keeping the Council fully compliant with its Treasury Policy. Waipā District Council manages its risk in line with best practice and this is reflected in its external credit rating of AA.
More letters page 10
Briefs…
Library launch
A programme called Paws and Pages for children to practice reading aloud to friendly, trained dogs has launched at the Cambridge Library. The goal is to boost the confidence of young readers in a stress-free environment. Meanwhile, Te Awamutu Library is flipping the script on traditional lending with its new Library of Things. Members can borrow everything from sewing machines and spinning wheels to guitars and a digital drum kit for a small fee.
Bikes return
Bike racks are back in use on Waikato regional bus services from Cambridge, Te Kūiti and Te Awamutu-Kihikihi this week. Tokoroa and Taupō bus services will be ready to go from next month once some modifications have been made. The Bus and Coach Association (BCA) and its members who operate contracted bus services in the Waikato region, issued a national notice to temporarily withdraw the use of bicycle racks on buses last November.
Sunday concert
Sunday afternoon’s Te Awamutu Concerts Alive presentation at St John’s Church will feature one of the town’s own talents. Te Awamutu pianist Carlee Hanna will join fellow Waikato Chamber Collective members (pianist Fergus Byett and flautists Matthew Burns and Jacque McPherson) to perform music by Debussy, Chopin, Faure, Reinecke and Doppler. All four have recently completed their studies and are launching their musical careers by performing and accompanying.
Pick up time
Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board will stage its third town clean-up day in Te Awamutu this weekend. Members of the public are being invited to don gloves, collect bin bags and pick up litter in the town. “We provide the gloves and bags and invite people to join us after for a morning tea,” deputy chair Kane Titchener said. The event starts at the Te Awamutu Rugby and Sports club carpark on Saturday morning
Council, Audit NZ at odds
By Mary Anne Gill
An adverse Audit New Zealand report on Waipā District Council’s Long Term Plan was withheld from the public watching online until the following day but mentioned several times during an extraordinary council meeting last week.
The News requested a copy after reading the agenda and watching the two-hour long meeting and then hearing Audit and Risk chair Bruce Robertson say the Audit NZ opinion was the worst one he had ever received.
“I suspect it is the worst you’ve ever given,” he said to the office which acts on behalf of the Auditor General.
The council decided to ignore the opinion - which they pay thousands of dollars for - and go to the public with its nine year Long Term Plan.
The disagreement
between council and the Audit Office comes down to Waipā’s decision to establish a joint Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) with other councils to manage water.
Waipā has gone out to the public with a balance sheet showing the retention of water services in house rather than its preferred option of transferring the services from July 1 next year.
Water accounts for about 40 per cent of Waipā’s balance sheet and under its Local Water Done Well consultation programme – held alongside the Long Term Plan discussions – has said it does not want to retain the services.
Audit NZ’s René van Zyl said she expected Waipā’s 2024-35 Long Term Plan consultation to be prepared using the best information available.
“We consider the assumption unreasonable because the council’s
preferred option is to establish a separate (CCO),” she said.
And in a covering letter to mayor Susan O’Regan, the office said the Long Term Plan consultation document did not provide an effective basis for public participation in the council’s decision-making process.
Both the letter and report were put online
Van Zyl was at the meeting with other Audit NZ staffers.
“It’s not an ideal position we are in as auditors today,” she said. “It’s not lightly issued.”
The office had hoped to issue an opinion in March which would have given plenty of time for community consultation and had assumed the modelling would have been done with waters taken out of the long term budget.
She was also concerned growth applied in the financial model was “overly optimistic” especially in
years four to nine.
“Our opinion has to be based on nine years, we need to incorporate all nine years. It makes it quite difficult for us,” she said.
At this point in the meeting, O’Regan said the report and letter were in the councillors’ digital system but she was unable to find them herself.
Robertson is an independent member of the Waipā council and of many other local authorities around the country including Wellington and Auckland.
“You have been consistent you have the community in mind with your call,” he said to the councillors.
“That does put us in a bind with the professional position which I agree with by the way with the auditors around best information.”
Keep the community in your mind and at the centre of your attention as you go about this, he said.
The consultation document and supporting information for the draft plan opened this week with O’Regan saying in a statement she could not wait to get out and hear from the people of Waipā. The average rates increase over the nine years of the plan is 5.9 percent. The highest average increase is in the financial year starting July 1 with a 15.5 percent increase easing back to 2.3 percent in later years.
Mayoral race confirmed
By Mary Anne Gill
When Mike Pettit wants to reconnect with what he loves about Waipā, he hikes to the top of Pukemako Scenic Reserve behind his Cambridge home.
It was there at Maungakawa, alongside his wife Nicola and knowing he had the support of their blended family of six children, that he decided to run for mayor.
“There’s never a perfect time,” says Pettit, “but this feels right.”
He’s all in, choosing not to seek re-election as a councillor – a move which mirrors that of sitting mayor Susan O’Regan when she ran three years ago.
Pettit, 57, and the first to announce he will challenge the sitting mayor, was born in Kawakawa and once dreamed of becoming an Air Force photographer before pursuing a career in education.
After graduating from Auckland College of Education, he taught and was principal at several schools
before eventually becoming principal of Cambridge Primary School in 2008 - a role he still holds today.
Pettit’s journey into local politics began in 2010 when he was elected to the Cambridge Community Board. Though he briefly considered national politics, he quickly realised his passion lay closer to home.
“I was more interested in local stuff,” he says.
He served three terms on the board, including two as chair, before being elected to Waipā District
Council in 2019 representing the Cambridge ward.
Pettit says he’s proud of the relationships he built and the visibility he brought to the board.
“Relationships are everything,” he says. “That’s how we’ve built our school, and it’s how I live my life.”
He dismisses any suggestion of a rift with mayor O’Regan after not being appointed to chair a committee following her election three years ago. He did have a leadership position as deputy chair of Service Delivery committee, he says.
“I think we can be doing better as a district,” he says. “If elected, I’m ready and able to lead change for the better across our community.”
That change would start with strengthening the council itself.
Pettit believes elected members should receive immediate training in financial literacy, strategic thinking, critical questioning, and communication. He even proposes a speed-reading course to help councillors manage the often 1000-
page agendas.
“Everyone has to have a basic understanding of the finances and in my opinion, it needs to be far higher as a group than what we collectively have now.”
He also wants to overhaul how subcommittee chairs are appointed -moving to a skills-based application process to ensure the right people. He is concerned too many projects rely on asset sales and unrealistic funding expectations citing Lake Te Koo Utu as “a lot of hui but not much doey”.
“The funding allocation from nonrates income needs to be realistic - or nothing happens.”
Pettit also wants Cambridge Connections – the transport blueprint for the town - to have a clear purpose and is keen to see a community stakeholder group formed and local voices heard.
Part of Pettit’s platform is building stronger partnerships - especially with mana whenua - and growing the Māori economy.
The Rosetown Funerals team L to R: Jim Goddin, Teri Keir and Jordan Goss
Bruce Robertson
Mike Pettit
Heliworx Waikato focuses on diversification
The drive to operate his own business has always been at the forefront of helicopter pilot Allan Bodman’s plans.
And from the time he first started work as an agricultural pilot in Dannevirke nearly 20 years ago, the ambition hasn’t changed. He was living in Ireland with Irish partner Lydia when they made the decision to return to New Zealand with their two sons Caleb and Harvey. The heat was starting to come o Covid and though he found work in New Zealand, he yearned for something he could build as a foundation for his family. Enter Heliworx Waikato.
“Lydia and I had been looking at business options for some time, but progress wasn’t happening.
“So in 2021 while still living in Ireland and touring to Indonesia month on, month o for work, we started planning how to start our own business back home. Then when back in New Zealand and on night shift flying the police helicopter, a mate in the industry happened to flick me a text and let me know Heliworx Waikato was for sale.
Allan brings considerable experience to the role as chief pilot for Heliworx.
With the first 9 years of his career in NZ covering most of the north island and the next 9 years overseas.
That includes fighting bush fires in Australia, Canada and Sumatra Indonesia, covering the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, high altitude powerline construction in British Columbia and Alaska, jungle operations in West Papua Indonesia, seismic survey work in Timor Leste, seismic heli-drilling in New Zealand and Australia and flying in Antarctica.
“Diversity is really where we want to focus, especially when we take into account the often seasonal work which is our mainstay.”
“So we began investigating and 10 months later, we bought it,” he says. That purchase date was the last business day of 2023 and since then, the pair haven’t looked back.
“We are able to provide a diverse set of services, from agricultural spraying and topdressing, through to charter work, film crews, government agency and local council work, seismic helidrilling, lifting, aerial culling, frost protection and whatever else might be required,” he says.
He’s also spent 18 months flying the police helicopter:
“The introduction to night flying under night vision googles was a great skill to gain while there, you get a great appreciation on just how dark it is in remote areas where there are no lights.”
The company holds two Civil Aviation Authority certificates (CAA) P137 that allows it to conduct agricultural spraying and topdressing, and P135 for air transport operations.
“I guess agricultural flying is my main love; it’s where I started from,” he says.
The work he does is from the seat of a Bell Jet Ranger 206, with all the accoutrements required to perform the di erent types of agricultural work the company gets asked to do.
“As well as ag-spraying and topdressing, we also do the horticultural crops like grapes and kiwifruit. Many of these are covered by a white shelter cloth, for example,
which can have the required UV light dimmed because of growing algae,”
Allan says.
“So we spray the cloth that protects against pests and frosts to make sure the algae doesn’t stop the UV light.”
Then there is the charter work, something that he says is becoming more popular as tourists, both domestic and international, look to have a great experience as part of their itinerary.
“We do a range of package deals that are on our website – these could be anything from lunch at Raglan – or Waiheke Island for example, through to chartered flights from those who are into hunting and fishing or other pursuits.”
He mentions one being a couple of international tourists who came in on a private jet and chartered Heliworx Waikato to fly them from Auckland International Airport to an east coast destination where they went charter fishing for several days before being flown back to the airport.
Film charters that includes ferrying film crews who require aerial work, is another area that Heliworx Waikato is involved with.
Allan grew up in the Franklin area where he still has family and friend ties that include farming, hunting and fishing.
Allan takes a lot of pride in the business and he and Lydia are ambitious. They want to see its operations increase and are implementing strategies for that.
“Diversity is really where we want to focus, especially when we take into account the often seasonal work which is our mainstay.”
The area Heliworx Waikato covers is central and North Waikato and the Franklin district.
• Aerial spraying
• Pasture
• Crops
• Liquid fertiliser
• Brush weed
• Silviculture
• Horticulture
• Aerial top dressing - fertiliser application
• Apiculture (lifting beehives into remote locations)
• Fertiliser transport - bulk or bags
• Frost protection
• Lifting
• Tourism flights and package deals
We see him here, we see him there
By Mary Anne Gill
Waipā sculptor and arts
icon Fred Graham has left pieces of public art around the district which will ensure he is not forgotten.
Graham, 96, who died last week, was born in Arapuni, raised in Horahora and was a Tainui kaumatua of Ngāti Korokī Kahukura descent. His work includes the newly installed Te Manu Rangimaarie (bird of peace) at the State Highway 1 and 29 Piarere roundabout, Le Quesnoy statue opposite
St Andrew’s Church in Cambridge and Waka Tu outside the Don Rowlands Centre in Mighty River Domain.
His work around Te Awamutu includes the carved stone manu with three hatchlings in Sculpture Park and the Lamp Post and Fountain of Birds in the Rose Gardens.
He also created a wooden piece entitled Water Water Everywhere which inside the council chambers.
Cambridge Community Board member Sue Milner was involved when the Armistice in Cambridge commissioned the Le Quesnoy statute which depicts ferns in the shape of ladders. Ladders were used to mount the French town’s walls in the last days of World War I.
“Fred donated his artistic contribution, for which we are very grateful, and it is a wonderful gift from him to the community,” she said. He would be remembered for his art, as a teacher, a rugby player and as a gentleman, she said.
The 12-metre high $609,000 sculpture in Piarere, which weighs about 12.5 tonnes, celebrates the connection
mythical manu (bird).
Made of weathered steel, Te Manu Rangimaarie presents a story of heritage, unity, and peace and reflects the deep connection between ngā hapū o Waikato (the sub-tribes of Waikato), the land, and the many waterways that run through the region.
Te Manu Rangimaarie is a tribute to Wiremu Tamihana Tarapiipipi Te Waharoa of Ngāti Haua, a key figure in the establishment of the Kīngitanga movement. He dedicated his life to seeking justice and
peaceful solutions.
Positioned to face Taupiri maunga Te Manu Rangimaarie also acknowledges a shift in the Waikato River’s course - when it turned from the Hauraki Gulf to Taupiri before flowing west to the sea.
Te Manu Rangimaarie was built in the Hamilton yard of Longveld who worked with mana whenua on several of the large sculptures on the Waikato Expressway, including the Cambridge section and on Hamilton’s Resolution Interchange.
Te Manu Rangimaarie is put in place at the Piarere Roundabout in March.
Fountain of Birds in the Te Awamutu Rose Gardens.
Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Fred Graham with Te Manu Rangimaarie at the Longveld yard in Hamilton. Photo: Supplied
Fred Graham, left, looks up at his Le Quesnoy sculpture in Cambridge at its unveiling in 2019 with then Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin and Brigadier Jon Broadley. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
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Time to go down the line?
By Jon Rawlinson
KiwiRail
could be asked to consider extending the Te Huia train service south.
The idea is being pushed by Ōtorohanga identity Bill Miller, whose rail successes include ensuring the Northern Explorer tourist train continued to stop in his town.
He believed taking Te Huia south – it presently runs between Frankton and Auckland central - would bring in more tourists and their dollars.
“I wouldn’t expect it to run every day, but you’d have a hell of a lot of people coming down from Auckland. There would be quite a demand because people want to get out of the city.”
Such a move would be welcome by Taranaki-King Country MP Barbara Kuriger.
“I love driving around the King Country, but if I was going into Hamilton, I would definitely use it,”
said Kuriger.
“I would like to see the community rally around the idea. We could then take it to New Zealand Transport Agency and KiwiRail. If the local councils also backed the idea, and they had the local MP in behind them, then everyone would be heading in the same direction.”
Te Huia, set up four year ago, had set an example, showing how an increase in passenger rail services can encourage an increase in demand.
“Te Huia started off very slowly and it wasn’t a great success in the early days, but they seem to have picked it up, getting a lot more passengers,” Kuriger said.
“I wouldn’t like to take a stab in the dark, because a cost benefit analysis would have to be done, but I think it’s worth investigating.”
Such a service would require little capital investment and enable more people to live locally while working in Hamilton or even further afield.
“The trains go past, the stations are there, so if there was a good business case for it, it would be a great idea,” Kuriger said. “I think it would be extremely beneficial as long as the public is willing to use it, and it is affordable.”
Regional Transport connections director Phil King said consideration of extending passenger rail services across the region was part of the council’s future vision after successful completion of the Te Huia trial.
“Over the next 12 months we will be developing a business case to identify and consider options and staging. Specific station and route concepts will come from that work.”
King, regional council chair Pamela Storey and chief executive, Chris McLay, met Rail Minister Winston Peters in Wellington earlier this month.
The council recently suggested adding a Sunday service and getting Auckland Council to help with funding.
Taupō out of the pool
By Chris Gardner
Taupō District Council has decided not to join Waipā and five other district councils in handing its water services over to Waikato Water Done Well.
Taupō councillors decided their preferred option was to keep water services in house and revisit the decision again in 2027 and are taking their decision to consultation.
They are also consulting ratepayers on joining other councils in establishing a single Taupō District Council controlled organisation or handing up to 25 per cent of their operations to Waikato Water Done Well.
“It’s no surprise,” said Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan. “I would be lying if I said I was not a little disappointed.
“Realistically if they decided to come on board in 2027, it’s not the end of the world.
Hauraki and MatamataPiako district councils recently picked Waikato Water Done Well as their preferred method, alongside Ōtorohanga, South Waikato, Waipā and Waitomo districts.
“We tested the waters with five different options initially, and Waikato Water Done Well - the collaboration with up to six other Waikato councils, kept surfacing as the most effective and efficient long-term solution for our communities,” said Hauraki mayor Toby Adams.
Taupō deputy mayor Kevin Taylor said his council was responding to uncertainty with caution.
In a statement he said “our proposed preferred option of keeping water services with council for now is the result of a thorough evaluation of key factors, including long-term financial stability, service quality, governance, and potential improvements”.
Choosing one option doesn’t rule out changing to another option later, he said.
“By participating in the initial design phase of Waikato Water, council has ensured that transitioning to a regional entity remains a viable option if it proves best for ratepayers in the future.”
Hamilton City and Waikato district councils are proceeding to form their own council-controlled water organisation
Should Te Huia go further south?
Letters…
Science wins
In response to Peter Finch on fluoride misinformation (Letters May 1), a great journalist gives both sides of the argument thereby allowing the reader to make an informed decision. Science is ongoing and never finished because every discovery leads to more questions, new mysteries, and something else that needs explaining. It is a team effort, and scientists share their ideas with peers and submit conclusions to the scrutiny of others. To rely on 70 year old data about fluoride is nothing more than short sighted and ignorant. With respect, Peter from Nelson, open your eyes.
Brenda Malan
Cambridge
Rate take
A double digit Waipā District Council rate hike? Why? There is plenty of evidence to believe the increase is due to irresponsible expenditure, extremely poor project management, with little or no regard to public inconvenience. $40 million dollars in consultancy fees... do we not have qualified experienced staff able to do this work? We have a lean council according to reports in the paper. We have yet to experience increased costs with this Water done Better, (More on this later) with another layer of administration.
Stu Barnett
Cambridge
In reply – Barbara Linton (Te Awamutu), Angela Hair (Hastings) – points noted.
Know your area
Wasn’t Te Awamutu’s last Christmas parade fabulous?
If you remember it was a very busy day, bright and sunny. Parking was a premium, especially with the street closed off. People parked wherever they could and many parked in places they shouldn’t.
I was distressed that people parked on the grassed area surrounding the monument out the front of St John’s Anglican Church.
After I realised the first car was there, I stationed myself outside and asked people to move on.
Many did willingly, but there were enough who cared not a whit that the area ended up covered in cars and I had spent the morning being abused. Not a great feeling when the day is meant to be about good cheer!
Why am I so upset that people park on that area?
Because if you read the monument, it specifically states that it is a burial site. “Erected by the New Zealand Government... In Memory of the Maori Heroes... Who fell in the Battles of
By Julie Guest
Hairini and Orakau 1864... many of whom lie buried beneath or near this stone.”
Just because there are no gravestones in this area does not mean there is noone buried beneath. This area is in fact, one of the most significant in the whole of St John’s graveyard.
We believe that this monument is the only government erected monument for fallen Maori warriors that stands on land that was considered as Pakeha land.
This site is regularly visited by the descendants of those buried, particularly on the dates of the battles at Rangiaowhia and Orakau when the warriors were killed.
We at St John’s consider it sacred, but for the people of Ngati Apakura and Maniapoto this is the site of their tupuna. A place of remembering and pain. A place that should be honoured by all.
On the day of the Christmas parade, even when I explained all this, people still parked there. Many told me they’d never heard that it was a burial
AGE OF REASON
There’s golf, and a gulf…
site-by their voice indicating that because they’d never heard about it, it wasn’t true. I remain amazed that people who have lived in Te Awamutu all their lives, know soooo little about their own area.
May I encourage you to explore your own area and become aware of the history.
The library is a rich resource of reading material. Waipa council has created Te Ara Wai journeys which combines a physical journey with an app that provides maps, directions and background information at each site.
We at St John’s parish offer a pilgrimage through our parish, encompassing the origins in Pirongia (then Alexandria) and the two Category one churches and their histories. Christ told us to love our neighbours as ourselves.
Treating sacred burial sites with honour is loving our neighbour. Come on Te Awamutu. Let’s do that better.
By Peter Carr
opened in 1927 on 20 acres of waterside property. It is a highly exclusive club which was purchased by Trump 40 years ago and (hugely expensive) membership there gives reciprocal rights at 19 Trump-owned golf clubs. It is built in a Hispanic -Moroccan style some of which will bring tears to old boys of Auckland Grammar. Mr and Mrs Trump have used it as their principal home for many years, and it is five minutes’ drive to the President’s favourite golf club.
discussion regarding the source of this national alienation. Trump. My newfound friend – at least that is how he appeared to me at that introductory point – looked me in the eye and very quietly told me two key things. Firstly, that he lived in West Palm Beach. Second that he had been, for 20 years, a member at Mar-a-Lago. Naturally the small amount of common sense that remains in me sounded a warning light that perhaps trouncing Trump was not going to lengthen the conversation with my new dining companion. So, sensibly for once, I changed course and we discussed more mutually beneficial matters but still danced around the edge of the current international, mainly financial, crisis.
On one of the last evenings on our very recent cruise I sat at dinner with a well-dressed, quietly spoken, American who never uttered a word unless addressed directly. Strangely his wife, at the other end of the table, openly revealed that they were divorced, lived apart but travelled together. Getting your head around that mix will conjure up all manner of strange thoughts. But putting aside their nonmatrimonial personal arrangements my early discussion revealed that he was 81 and lived in West Palm Beach, Florida. Several years ago, I visited a family friend there (who had previously worked at Waikato Hospital) and I was given the grand tour of Palm Beach. Essentially it is a strip of land on a semi-island that protects an inland waterway. Many houses (including where I stayed) have their own boat berth at the foot of the garden. It’s an overall aura of sickening abundance of wealth.
In an earlier opinion piece, I mentioned that many Americans on the cruise were distancing themselves from the Stars & Stripes (even claiming to be Canadians), So I launched into a
His key point was this. He did not like the manner by which the US president was going about setting the good ship USA on a proper and straighter course. But he made it abundantly clear that those who voted for him should not complain – for he is carrying out the current changes running through a list that he made abundantly clear prior the election.
Mar-a-Lago (‘Sea to Lake’) was
So, if you are a struggling, lowly paid, car manufacturing linedominated employee in the Rust Belt , how do you ever think that ‘your’ president is going to get a hands-on feel for your personal situation when your key man rushes every weekend to his gilt-laden beachside, poolenwrapped paradise with its 20,000 square foot ballroom? I’m not sure that the acronym MAGA could not be put to more practical uses.
Sarge’s finger was on the button
The Ōhaupō School 70th jubilee committee had their expectations more than realised when the largest crowd ever seen in the Ōhaupō district assembled to revisit the scenes of their schooldays.
More than 1200 men, women and children were congregated round the school buildings. Thanks to the efficient efforts of the committee and a band of voluntary helpers, the proceedings ran without a hitch. Tables were laid in the two biggest school rooms and decorated with flowers and the school colours, black, royal blue and silver. Continuous supplies of tea and light refreshments were available and the improvised buffet was kept busy until the late afternoon. There was a picnic and sports gathering for the children, exhibitions of trick cycling on the school tennis courts, and the Te Awamutu Band were in attendance.
A display of old photographs provided almost a continuous pictorial record of pupils from the earliest times. The remark, “Do you
remember?” was frequently overheard. The more formal part of the day began with the ringing of the school bell by the school’s first pupil, Mr Andrew Karl, who carried his 78 years very well. The roll call of ex-pupils was a procedure which took several minutes, well known local characters being loudly applauded. The birthday cake, two-tiered and two feet in diameter, was then produced and Annie O’Connor (nee Empen), who had attended the school in its second year, lit the 70 candles. The celebrations continued in the evening at a dance held in the Ōhaupō Hall, which was so crowded that no more than half the floor space was available for the dancers. Altogether Ōhaupō School Jubilee was an outstanding success.
A decision to close the Paterangi Casein Factory for a year was reached with regret at a meeting of suppliers. Owing to the Sino-Japanese war and the closing of the main market for casein, the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company decided to cease operations
in its casein departments until the market for the product recovered. The company had a casein factory at Frankton and a number of casein precipitating stations throughout the district. Most of the stations would be converted into cheese factories, while the Paterangi station would be shut down.
A man was apprehended at Pirongia following a smart arrest by Sergeant Clist, of Te Awamutu. The sergeant had noticed that the butcher’s shop at Pirongia had been burgled, interrogated the man and placed him in the cells, from which he promptly escaped. Four months later the man was arrested in Whangarei and returned to the district. At court he was charged with stealing £29 from the butcher’s shop and escaping from custody. It was disclosed in court that Constable Clist’s clue was a button found in the butcher’s shop which matched one missing from the accused’s overcoat.
Giants of the deep
By Janine Krippner
It can be a challenge to grasp the scale of geologic processes on land, and I’m finding this even more true in the marine environment. Part of the difficulty lies in the lack of information — we’re often working with sparse datasets until the entire seafloor is mapped. When we do examine the deep seafloor, it’s usually from afar (from the ocean surface), and there aren’t the usual human-scale reference points we rely on to quickly sense size, like a car, building, or city.
I’m fascinated by landslides on land and below the sea, especially the large ones. On volcanoes, we call these debris avalanche deposits. The most famous one was produced by Mount St Helens during its catastrophic 1980 eruption — an event that happened this week, 44 years ago.
As landslides move, the material involved (soil, rock, and whatever else is dragged along) behaves like a fluid. This allows it to travel enormous distances. The Mount St Helens deposit extends 24 km from its source. That’s small compared to many seafloor deposits.
Understanding submarine landslides is not only key to understanding the forces that shape our planet, but also crucial because they can damage seafloor infrastructure — including communication cables that carry our internet. And they can trigger tsunamis.
When there’s more water mixed with the sediment, we call these flows turbidity currents, which are known for the impressive distances they can cover. The first time we recognised one was in 1929, when the transAtlantic telegraph cable was severed. The cause was a landslide triggered by the Grand Banks earthquake, which also generated a tsunami that killed 28 people in Canada.
The largest known submarine landslides are the Storegga Slides offshore Norway, which transported sediment over 800km from the continental shelf — roughly the length of the North Island. The affected area was about 95,000 square kilometres, not far off the area of the North Island.
The continental shelf is the relatively shallow zone surrounding a landmass, compared to the deep ocean. To produce these massive slides, around 300km of the Norwegian continental shelf collapsed — roughly the distance from Cape Reinga to Auckland.
The Storegga deposits show that several major collapse events occurred. Around 8150 years ago, one of these slides triggered a tsunami that inundated coastlines across northern Europe. It remains the largest known tsunami in the North Sea and northeastern Atlantic during the last 12,000 years. Waves exceeded 20 metres.
As with many geologic processes I write about, there are typically far more small events than large ones. But it’s important to understand both the likely and the worstcase scenarios. Smaller submarine landslides are quite common — we just don’t always know they’ve happened.
These hidden movements beneath the waves may seem distant, but they shape our coastlines, affect global communications, and remind us that Earth is never truly still. Submarine landslides are not just dramatic geological events, they’re part of the shaping of our planet, quietly sculpting the seafloor far below the surface.
Gastro mystery continues
By Mary Anne Gill
Mystery surrounds the cause of a gastroenteritis outbreak which hit nearly 100 people following the Waipā Business Awards at Mystery Creek.
The National Public Health Service is
investigating the event attended by 350 people to celebrate business success in the district.
But within hours of the last award being handed out, attendees were experiencing symptoms in varying forms including diarrhoea, nausea, cramping and vomiting.
High praise for art work
By Viv Posselt
A collection of works done by Waipā artists linked to Te Awamutu’s Enrich Plus community went on show last Tuesday at the IHC Art Awards viewing at the town’s Gallery on Teasdale. Of those on show 10 pieces were selected as finalists by a panel of judges, and three as gallery finalists. They were shipped to Wellington earlier this week for inclusion in the IHC Art Awards 2025 in Wellington.
Te Awamutu Enrich Plus team manager Ngawai Hamblin told those at the showing that the standard of work was very high, and that work done by those who hadn’t made it through as a finalist was also “absolutely amazing”.
Twenty-two entries were received this year, two more
than in 2024.
“This is our second public showing of the works entered into the IHC Art Awards,” she said. “Before we started having a public viewing, the artwork was sent to Wellington without there being an opportunity for anyone, including the artists’ families, to see the work. This public viewing gives them an opportunity to show people what they’ve been doing.”
Hamblin said the artists were able choose their preferred medium and topic, but they must have created the work themselves with minimal outside support.
Judging was done on the day before the public viewing by interim Enrich Plus chief executive Janne Nottage, Te Awamutu assistant team manager Kim Potroz, and Waipā District Council fleet and travel
co-ordinators Claire Vincent and Frances Spooner.
Hamblin said Vincent and Spooner were the competition’s external judges. “We have different opportunities with the council for our clients, one being the car-washing of their fleet cars every week.”
The gallery finalists were chosen by Hamblin and Theresa Siemonek, art facilitator at Enrich Plus Te Awamutu. They will be entered into the event’s Holdsworth Charitable Trust Scholarship Awards.
The national IHC Art Awards, which were first held in 2004, have become a major annual event aimed at providing a platform for New Zealand artists with an intellectual disability to showcase their creativity, gain recognition and sell their work.
The top prize is $5000.
Some took to their beds while others soldiered on.
Medical Officer of Health Dr Geoff Crump said the service was still investigating helped by the organisers Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, who emailed all attendees last week to give them the heads up and to urge them to report whether or not they got sick.
Outbreaks of gastroenteritis can be due to a variety of bacterial and viral and other causes but it is unknown what has caused this illness and Public Health are in the process of finding out.
People become infected when they swallow the bug either through food or
touching contaminated objects or surfaces. It can also be transferred by a sick person.
“There is no ongoing risk to the public health however anyone who is unwell with gastroenteritis can pass it on to other people and so good hand hygiene is advised,” said Cramp.
The public health service had hoped to know by the weekend what had caused it but when The News went to press on Tuesday, there was still no indication of what or who was the culprit.
Attendees included mayors Susan O’Regan and Paula Southgate from Waipā and Hamilton as well as Waikato Regional Council chair Pamela Storey.
Artist Paul Morriss, who delivers the Te Awamutu News when not painting, standing with his painting, entitled ‘Evening Sun’. Paul is a keen follower of Monet. His painting was also a finalist. Photo: Viv Posselt
Getting attached
Tiny green leaves are the first signs of success from last year’s mistletoe translocation to Mt Pirongia in Waikato.
Restoration efforts began at Pirongia in the early 2000s, and since then the Department of Conservation’s Waikato team has worked with Pirongia Te Aroaro ō Kahu Restoration Society, Te Pahū Landcare, and local iwi to restore the maunga and reintroduce native species.
DoC Waikato Biodiversity Ranger Cara Hansen says the mistletoe species was found on the maunga, but the introduction of possums to New Zealand completely wiped the plants out. Possums were the main culprits.
Beginning in 2023, DoC staff and volunteers attached pirita/mistletoe seeds to dozens of host trees at Kaniwhaniwha and Pirongia Lodge on the edge of Pirongia Forest Park. Each host tree received between 10 and 20
mistletoe seeds, which were sourced from a property near Maungatautari.
Recent monitoring of 18 host trees at Kaniwhaniwha showed 53 individual mistletoe plants had germinated, and after one year they had between two and four leaves each.
The plants can be a little slow to get going, so they’re still pretty tiny,” Hansen said.
“Once they germinate, they can take a while to attach successfully to the host tree and will reach maturity in about five years. By then, they’ll have grown to the size of a basketball and will have started producing fruit.”
She said continued control of possums and rats would be a key to the project’s success.
Pirongia is part of DoC’s National Predator Control Programme, which uses aerially applied toxins to control possums and rats.
The two community groups have also contributed with extensive ground control efforts.
Rural post hit
By Chris Gardner
Mail thieves are allegedly taking advantage of inconsistent delivery patterns in the RD3 Tamahere district.
Resident and Agbiz Consultants director Peter Nation said there has been a problem since NZ Post ended the contract of Te Awamutu couple Danny and Ian Kennedy in November 2023.
The couple used to arrive at a predictable time and deliver courier packages to the door, but their replacement is unpredictable and leaves packages at the mailbox, Nation said.
The Kennedys were three years into their contract with NZ Post to deliver “all mail” in the RD3 Tamahere district in November 2023 when it was cancelled after they complained of a breach. Nation, who shared photographs of mail theft in action with The News, said he had complained to NZ Post about the inconsistent delivery and the thefts and was told the contractor was only required to deliver daily and there was no set time or process.
He has taken to having courier parcels delivered to another address.
“We are not sure what we have had stolen, but there is stuff that has not arrived, and I have asked for replacements,” Nation said.
Time for a Contract Health Check Before 1 June
As 1 June approaches — the traditional date for changes in farming roles — it is a timely reminder to review your employment agreements and farming contracts. Whether you’re a farm owner, lower order sharemilker, contract milker, sharemilker, or farm employee, it pays to ensure your agreements are properly tailored to your specific situation.
Thefts are happening with no set patterns, and different vehicles and drivers are involved.
“If this continues and people look for alternatives, we risk losing the service as volumes will no doubt fall. There seems to be many issues at play here.”
Nation, chair of Waikato Chamber of Commerce, and former chief executive of the National Fieldays Society, said postal services were government owned, and mail was sacrosanct.
“Why do the police not spend some time focusing on this?”
NZ Post said it was aware of some instances of mail theft in the Tamahere area.
Too often, we see people relying on standard templates, such as Federated Farmers or LIC contracts, without making the necessary changes to reflect the actual arrangement on the ground. While these templates are a great starting point, they are not one-size-fitsall. If your contract doesn’t reflect your true working relationship, you could be exposed to misunderstandings or legal issues down the track.
Even if you are not moving farms this season, it pays to check your agreement still matches what’s happening on-farm. Sorting out any gaps or uncertainties now is far easier — and cheaper — than trying to untangle them later when issues arise.
For peace of mind, get in touch with your friendly rural law experts at Edmonds Judd. We are always happy to help you review your agreements and make sure they work for you and your situation.
Fiona Jack
Leaves of hope; first signs of mistletoe success at Pirongia.
Photo: Department of Conservation.
Getting into drone zone
By Chris Gardner
A gorse-busting drone
will soon benefit outgoing National Fieldays Society board chair Jenni Vernon’s 224-hectare Te Akatea farm.
Hill country farmers use drones to spray weeds in areas that are hard to reach with traditional equipment.
“We have got a contractor coming up to spray our gorse with a drone,” Vernon said.
“That’s just fascinating, isn’t it? The fact that a drone can have enough water. It’s really targeted. We’re not going to have spray drift on our neighbour. It’s cost effective.”
She and her husband
Gordon lease a dry stock unit near Glen Massey to their son Simon and his wife Nicola. Vernon works for the Ministry of Primary Industries, and works on the farm as and when required,
“My son is hoping that one day we might have a drone that might open the gates of the back paddock for him and shift the stock, or check the water troughs, and that’s not beyond the realms of possibility really, is it?”
Such on-farm uses of drones have led to the Agricultural Drone Association supporting the inaugural Fieldays Drone Zone where industry experts
will share knowledge on how drones are revolutionising farm management.
Drones equipped with multispectral cameras can help farmers analyse crop health, detect pest infestations, and optimise irrigation schedules.
Farmers can use drones to track and locate animals across large paddocks, reducing labour and improving response times during lambing season.
Specialised drones apply pesticides and fertilisers with remarkable accuracy, reducing chemical use and minimizing environmental impact. Drones help farmers document environmental compliance, monitor soil health, and assess water management.
“People like to see, and touch and investigate, and eyeball new products,” Vernon said.
“That’s one of the attractions of Fieldays. You can see it, hear it, experience it, share ideas, and chew the fat with people.”
Vernon will also be busy running the Fieldays kitchen where she and her team feed volunteers, staff and emergency services.
Punters are given the option of adding a $5 donation to the Rural Support Trust which
supports farmers when times are tough.
“We haven’t done that before, it will be interesting to see how it gets for a really good cause, and an opportunity for us to give back to the community directly. They do an amazing job. All of it’s voluntary.”
“The drought, as you would expect, has been quite tough, but there is a quiet feeling of optimism,” Vernon said.
Dairy giant Fonterra is forecasting between $9.70 and $10.30 per kilogram of milksolids, a record, for the current dairy season.
“You will notice when you go to the supermarket that
butter, cheese, milk, and meat price have gone up. That not only reflects the costs of producing that product, and the price we are getting in export dollars.
“I have been in farming all my life, and it’s nothing new that costs go up. It is what it is. At least we’re not paying interest rates of 22 per cent, like we were when we first started out in farming. Interest rates are definitely going down.
Vernon has served on the society board for 10 years and will relinquish the chair in December, but her involvement with the society is expected to continue after that.
Sir William Gallagher has been award a National Fieldays Life Membership
Sir William has been a part of Fieldays since its inception and played a pivotal role in its foundation.
When he attended the first Fieldays in Te Rapa in 1969 Gallaghers was emerging as a leader in farm technology and export markets.
He and brother John had been exhibiting at agricultural field days in Australia before 1968.
Sir William has used Fieldays as a platform to introduce world-first products.
“Fieldays has been an important part of Gallagher’s journey,” he said. “It has always been a place for us to connect with farmers, showcase new developments, and contribute to the growth of our farming sector.
Receiving this recognition from the Fieldays Society is truly an honour.
“It’s a place and a community of people dedicated to fostering new ideas, supporting the primary sector, and shaping the future of farming in New Zealand. It is something truly special.”
National Fieldays Society Chair Jenni Vernon said having the support of an innovative company like Gallagher from the very beginning played a key role in laying a strong foundation for Fieldays.
“Sir William has consistently demonstrated visionary leadership—bringing together talented teams and maintaining a clear focus on progress within the industry. This life membership is a modest but heartfelt tribute to Sir William’s profound impact in helping shape Fieldays into the world-class event it is today.”
National Fieldays Society chair Jenni Vernon is looking forward to visiting the drone zone at Fieldays.
Sir William Gallagher has been with Fieldays from the start.
Across 1. Food regime (4) 4. Churchman (6) 8. Slow-moving ice mass (7) 9. Bush (5)
Hautapu premiers demolished Morrinsville 64-20 scoring 10 tries in front of home fans at Memorial Park in Cambridge in Waikato club rugby on Saturday.
With the green machine Hamilton Marist being beaten by University, Hautapu went top of the table on points difference.
There are only six points in it and both teams are on 25 competition points.
Fellow Waipā premier team, Te Awamutu Sports were held to a 16-all deadlock by Ōtorohanga at Island Reserve.
Queyst Michael-Tapu and Zealin Prime were the try scorers for Sports. First five-eighth Leo Scott added two penalty goals.
In the earlier games, Hautapu B beat Morrinsville B 43-31, while Te Awamutu’s development side fell 36-22 to Ōtorohanga B.
This weekend, Hautapu travel to Albert Park in Te Awamutu for the battle of Waipā.
Leamington and Pirongia both banked wins in Division 1, while Ōhaupō had a week six bye. Pirongia beat Taupiri 33-24 under the mountain and Leamington pipped Te Rapa 30-27 in front of a home crowd.
Their Division 1B teams won in similar fashion. Pirongia B got up against Taupiri B, 34-15, and Leamington B were 24-17 victors against their Te Rapa opposition.
In the women’s premiership, Hautapu fell 31-12 in the hands of University and Kihikihi lost 41-14 to Ōtorohanga.
Both sides head into Hamilton this Saturday. Hautapu will face Melville, while Kihikihi are tasked with the Hamilton Old Boys Huskiez. In the women’s championship division, Waitete beat Pirongia 75-0 in Te Kūiti.
Leamington, Hautapu and Pirongia all had wins in the under-21 competition, while Te Awamutu
lost 54-12 to Hamilton Marist colts.
The Hautapu under-21 team beat Thames Valley United 48-20, Leamington beat University 20-17 and Pirongia held out Fraser Tech 31-29.
After leading part of the match at Maihihi, the Kio Kio United Cattle Dogs lost 30-20 against the visiting Patumahoe under-85kg team.
This week the Cattle Dogs face Beachlands
Maraetai at Te Puru Park in Counties ManukauWaikato under-85kg rugby.
The four Waipā presidents’ teams kicked off their golden oldies’ rugby season on Friday evening.
In results to hand, the Te Awamutu Marist Bushpigs drew 25-all against the Te Rapa Clydesdales and Pirongia Mountain men defeated the Suburbs Stirrers 29-17 at Flagstaff Park.
A win to savour
Te Awamutu’s top men’s football team has finally celebrated victory – and a resounding one in a derby.
Joe Gifford’s side saw off Ōtorohanga 4-0 on Saturday in a Waikato Division 1 match at the Stadium thanks to goals from Nicolas King-McRae, Joe Roil, Jack Edgar and a Logan Allen own goal.
Having gone through last season’s Southern Conference league with a record of four draws from 21 outings, Te Awamutu has looked a good match for teams in the Waikato competition this season. It was held to a goalless draw by Tokoroa and lost by the odd goal against two Claudelands Rovers teams in its previous outings.
Ōtorohanga, Southern Conference championship winners last season, continue to struggle through a rebuilding phase. It has collected a point from a 1-1 draw with Wanderers.
put you first
being
Te Awamutu Sports back Zealin Prime looks to dart past an Ōtorohanga player. Photo: Justin Miezenbeek
TOPLESS, Bruce Barnard
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– Passed away peacefully on 8 May 2025. Loved father of James, Kate, and Susan, father-in-law of Abby, Tauia, and Bruce, and grandfather of Hunter, Maddy, Jack, Maggie, Tessa and Lachlan. Now walking in the fresh air with Ann. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cancer Society. A memorial will be held at the Te Awamutu College Pavilion, Sunday 18 May, 1pm.
DENIZE, Glenda Kinnear (formerly Scobie) – Passed away peacefully on 16 April 2025 in Te Awamutu, aged 90 years. Loved wife of Neil. Cherished and loved mother and mother-in-law of Catherine & Michael Hanks, Sheryl Irving and Alex & Marie Scobie. Treasured grandmother of Neal & Amanda, Kristy, Brendon, Sara & Andy, and adored great-grandmother of five. A memorial service will be held at Alexandra House Chapel, 570 Alexandra St, Te Awamutu on Friday, 16th May at 1pm.
TE AWAMUTU RSA, WOMEN’S SECTION
Notice of AGM & Election of Committee to be held at the RSA Clubrooms
381 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu on
WEDNESDAY 14TH
MAY 2025 AT 1.30pm AGENDA
Notice of Proposed Reserve Revocation and Disposal Section 24(2) Reserves Act 1977
Waipā District Council intends to notify the Department of Conservation under section 24(1) (b) of the Reserves Act 1977 that it considers that the following reserve should have its reserve status revoked to enable its disposal, as it is not required for its stated purpose:
48 Goodfellow Street, Te Awamutu, Allotment 391 Mangapiko Parish, held in Record of Title 457210, has an area of approximately 5,506m² and is a rear lot located on the western fringe of Te Awamutu with direct access from Goodfellow Street.
Any person a ected by this proposal has the right to provide written notice of any objection to the proposal, including the grounds for that objection, any time before 24th July 2025 to the Waipā District Council. Written objections should be addressed to: Reserve Revocation, Waipa District Council, 101 Banks Street, Te Awamutu.
Commencing with our Monthly General Meeting, followed shortly after by the AGM
Notices of Motion must be in the hands of the Secretary by Wednesday 14th May 2025
Raewyn Adams Secretary Te Awamutu RSA Women’s Section Email: rca23654@gmail.com
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LAWLOR, Gwynneth Edmee (nee Hunt) – Passed away peacefully at Arvida Cascades Rest Home, Hamilton on 10th May 2025 approaching 99 years of age. An amazing wife to the late Frank (Buck), mum and mother in law to Jean and Peter, Rita and John, and Bruce (dec), much loved nana to their families. “ We will all miss you dearly.”
Thank you to the wonderful staff at Cascades for the care and love you gave to Edmee over the last few months. A funeral service to celebrate Edmee’s life will be held at Alexandra House Chapel, 570 Alexandra St, Te Awamutu on Saturday, 17th May at 11am followed by private cremation. All communications please to the Lawlor family, PO Box 137, Te Awamutu 3840.
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