King Country
King Country News | 1
THURSDAY DECEMBER 19, 2024
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today. Legend says the local policeman had advised he would be out of town on the day – November 30 – and the job was done in just over four hours before noon. The story was recounted in the King Country News in August by Paul Charman in our regular Community Champions feature when he told Lupton’s remarkable story. The council has also voted to give the Otorohanga Kiwi House a short-term $30,000 loan to allow it to complete the Butchers Floor in the Animal Nutrition Centre. The Kiwi House Trust expects to raise the remaining $200,000 of a $2 million grant from the Infrastructure Reference Group early next year to complete the nutrition centre. The $30,000 will be repaid from that money. • Inside today: Kiwi House’s fear of starlings – see Page 3.
The museum has been at its Kakamutu Road home since 1974.
furnishers
DECEMBER 19, 2024
Museum gets six months
Ōtorohanga District Council will fund the town’s historical society to the end of June after it was turned down for a Lotteries Board grant – and it has also helped the town’s Kiwi House with a short term loan. The Ōtorohanga Historical Society has operated the town’s museum for half a century. The council has granted $29,000 for staff wages from January to June 2025, “ensuring the Museum meets community expectations and allows the Society time to refocus its funding efforts” It says support beyond June 2025 will be considered in the Annual Plan. Staff wages are the museum’s largest expense, and relying on volunteers has proven unsustainable so the society had made a funding application to New Zealand Lottery Grants Board to cover wages. The museum traces its history back to November 1974 when a group led by Darcy Lupton moved the 1913 Otorohanga Courthouse 650 metres from Ballance Street to Kakamutu Road, where it sits
murray hunt
Generosity abounds Once again, the King Country News Christmas Appeal has seen locals dig deep, with about 500 presents collected for children of all ages. Some folk came into the King Country News with a carefully wrapped single gift, others with boxes full of individually wrapped gifts. A former Te Kūiti man, visiting from overseas, gave $400 to family living in town to buy as many gifts as they could. He also spent the same on the Rotary Foodbank Drive a few days before. All were responding to our call on behalf of children who might not otherwise receive a gift over the festive
season. The toys are distributed by Te Kūiti Police iwi liaison officer Muffy Sheedy, who says this year’s response has been, “nothing short of awesome”. Muffy, who delivered the presents to social agencies in Te Kūiti this week, pointed out that the positive outcome of the toy appeal was in spite of a tough economic situation in town. “Many, including some who had given presents for others, are having a hard time financially right now. “What can you say? It just shows the level of caring in our wonderful community.” • Christmas message, see Page 4.
Constable Muffy Sheedy and daughter Abby, 17, with some of the gifts collected this year.
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