TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1
THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2023
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1978
Since 1978 Bailey Ingham has been a one stop shop for
Bailey Ingham
Experts in providing is farmers and businesses a one stop quality professional advice in all aspects of accounting and shop taxation planning for all your - including GST, FBT, Individual/Employer company, PAYE,
and - Succession planningfarming and family guidance personal - Trust administration and advice
Carolyn Dew, financial needs. Business administration including Companies Offi- ce Manager
Kelly Bair Director
Office requirements
Contact the team for a
- Windups including company liquidations FREE NO OBLIGATION INTERVIEW Supporters of local community events
It’s a real newspaper
FREE
41 Bank St, Te Awamutu 3800 Carolyn Perre P: 07 870 1888 | E: ta@baileyingham.co.nz
AUGUST 31, 2023
Contact the team for a FREE NO OBLIGATION INTERVIEW to discuss 41 Bank St Te Awamutu 3800 Ph 07 870 1888 Email: ta@
Pensioner rent review
Thieves hit cemetery
Pensioner housing in Te Awamutu on Churchill Street . By Mary Anne Gill
Councillors went behind closed doors this week to discuss rents for tenants living in Waipā District pensioner houses. The likelihood of their rents rising is high because superannuation payments rose by more than seven per cent on April 1 to catch up with the cost of living. The council caps pensioner housing rents at 30 per cent of national superannuation, after taking the maximum accommodation supplement into account. Councillors held their full meeting on Tuesday – the rent debate was one of 10 items listed in the public excluded segment. The public part of the meeting was completed in less than 30 minutes
while the public excluded lasted about 85 minutes. The News has raised questions about the amount of time councillors spend discussing issues in committee and in public excluded workshops/briefings and challenged the justification for discussing the rent issue in secret. Council said it was to protect the privacy of residents who would be informed of any decision before it was made public. The News argues the public has a right to see councillors debate issues of such interest to ratepayers. The council owns 93 houses for 107 people in seven complexes in Cambridge, Kihikihi and Te Awamutu, according to the council’s website. Pensioner housing rent at Sherwin Village in Kihikihi is $266
GET YOUR BIKES BOOKED IN FOR SERVICE WE SERVICE ALL MAKES AND MODELS
Loan bike available
for a single person and $280-$345 for a couple. In Te Awamutu’s Churchill Street, where there are seven one bedroom units, and Mangapiko Street, with three one bedroom units, costs are $266 for a single person and $310 for a couple. At Dallinger Court, Wallace Court, Dr Tod Court and Vaile Court in Cambridge residents pay $266 a week for a single person and between $285-$385 for a couple. A total of 65 people are on a waiting list. A further 10 onebedroom units are being built in Cambridge at Vaile Court and there are also plans to build more units in Te Awamutu. The council’s housing for the elderly units are self-funded, not subsidised by rates, and market
rental rates for the units are reviewed independently each year. Couples over 65 now get an extra $102.84 in superannuation taking payments each fortnight to a net $1527.28, while individuals living alone receive $992.74, $66.86 more than before. The payments are taxed. Pensioners also get a tax free Winter Energy Payment between May 1 and October 1 of $20.46 a week for single people and $31.82 for couples. Waipā is one of few councils in New Zealand which still provides housing for older people in the community. The council reviewed its pensioner housing policy in 2017 and recommitted to providing and growing its housing for the elderly stock.
Closed circuit television camera footage could help identify thieves and vandals responsible for an attack on Te Awamutu Cemetery. They broke into the cemetery early on Sunday to steal tools valued at $3000 and caused $4000 in damage to sexton James Krippner’s shed. Waipā District Council community services manager Brad Ward said public access by vehicle to the cemetery was closed on Sunday while the extent of the damage was calculated – and checks made to ensure no graves were affected. The road was later opened and it was confirmed there was no damage to graves – but a roller door on the sexton shed has been written off. “This incident is extremely disappointing. Our cemeteries are sacred places that are valued by our community and the tools stolen are vital to ensuring it is well maintained,” Ward said. Council staff were working with police this week to review CCTV footage.
Waipā's park operations team leader Matt Johnston pictured with sexton James Krippner, right.
Sale
Pick up and Delivery service
homewares *
TERMS and conditions APPLY.
4 Cambridge Road, Te Awamutu Ph: 07 871 6422 | www.carpetcourt.nz
furniture
gifts
2 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu
décor
phone: 07 870 1991 email: shop@nicandmeta.co.nz www.nicandmeteawamutu.co.nz