TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1
THURSDAY JULY 20, 2023
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JULY 20, 2023
Go you good thing!
Time’s up on the clock, you’re 23-18 down and you need to punch a hole in the Marist defence. Step up Dillon Martin who had Te Awamutu Sports fans in raptures – and even found time to smile for The News camera on Saturday. His last gasp try at Marist Park on Saturday was just another part of the thrill in a cup final full of excitement and drama. Read about it today on Page 12. Photo: Roy Pilott
Vote cost calculated Return of the kākāpō
Waipā ratepayers paid nearly $74 for each vote cast in the by-election won by DaleMaree Morgan last month. The cost of running the election to replace Māori ward district councillor Takena Stirling was $22,932.33. A total of 311 votes were cast a 13.11 per cent return. Just over $20,000 went to Christchurch contractor ElectionNZ and the rest covered advertising, voting stickers and graphic design.
The local body election last year cost ratepayers $9.23 a vote when 39.65 percent of voters had their say. Significant changes are being considered on the local body scene, one which could lift voting rates. There are calls to lower the voting age to 16 – and that change is one of a raft which are likely to be put to the Government before the end of year. A second round of public consultation on changes ended this week.
Four kākāpō from Whenua Hou – Codfish Island near Stewart Island – were booked on a trip north this week to new surroundings in Waipā. The flightless parrots will be the first in four decades to reside on the North Island – on Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. They were scheduled to be heading north as this edition of The News went to press. It is a “translocation” of kākāpō from Ngāi Tahu to Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Raukawa, Ngāti Hauā, and Waikato.
The arrival ceremony was to include a signing of a memorandum of understanding at Pohara marae, Pukeatua. Preparation for the arrival of the latest in a long line native fauna back to Maungatautari has included an $800,000 parrot-proofing of the fence which protects the native wildlife and vegetation from introduced species. Kākāpō cannot fly – but they are adept climbers. • Read more about the unique birds today on Page 5.
Winter has arrived We have all your winter essentials in store
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