King Country News | April 30, 2026

Anzac: it’s personal

By Dan Tasker

Messages of service, community and the Anzac spirit were at the fore as locals paid their respects at services across the district on Saturday.

Other services across the district were held in Piopio – where about 250 people turned outŌtorohanga, Awakino and Kāwhia.

A crowd of around 200 people braved the chilly dawn service at Te Kūiti Pā, where visitors were welcomed before a short service led by Isaiah Wallace, which included the Last Post and Reveille, the Anzac dedication, laying of wreaths, karakia and

waiata.

Then it was off to King St East, where the Te Kūiti & District Highland Pipe Band led a parade of service personnel from The Lines Company building to the Les Munro Centre for the Ceremony of Remembrance.

The service, led by Waitomo district mayor John Robertson, included several speakers, the Ode, the Last Post and Reveille, the Anzac dedication, prayer, hymns and the national anthems of New Zealand and Australia.

Guest speaker and former Te Kūiti High School student Sergeant Michelle Paterson spoke to the gathering of around 300 people

about her 14-year army career and how it taught her to value resilience and service.

“Standing here this morning back where it all began for me, I feel proud to serve and grateful to come home. Grateful for those who went before us and their sacrifice, and conscious of the responsibility we carry because of their sacrifice,” she said.

“It’s no longer just history; it’s personal. It’s about recognising that service begins in places like Te Kūiti, and the values learnt at home are carried wherever we’re called to serve.”

With the on-going wars in Iran and Ukraine front of mind for the

global community, Sgt Paterson highlighted the importance of the next generation of servicemen and women continuing the Anzac spirit.

“As the second world war generation passes, the responsibility to carry forward their commitment falls increasingly on young New Zealanders – those still serving and those yet to step forward. That responsibility means now more than it has for many years. The world has become more dangerous and more unpredictable and the values previous

generations defended cannot be taken for granted,” Sergeant Paterson said.

“As the day breaks, we remember the past, we honour the present and we commit ourselves to the future.”

Te Wharekura o Maniapoto student Pikirangi Rangiwha joined the Te Awamutu Community Cadets Unit four years ago and issued a call to arms for his generation to keep the values of the Anzac spirit alive.

“I’ve realised the Anzac spirit

Continued on page 11

Season shows promise

Well before dawn this Saturday morning, alarms will go off in tens of thousands of homes around the country as hunters kick off another game bird season.

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Fish and Game New Zealand Chief Operating Officer Richie Cosgrove said the season was shaping up to be a good one.

“We know hunters across the country have been closely watching conditions, and the picture heading into opening weekend is encouraging for the season ahead,” Cosgrove said.

While storms have caused havoc across the country, they have left plenty of water across the landscape, which benefits ducks.

“The increased rainfall has replenished wetlands, ponds and waterways across many regions, giving waterfowl more habitat to feed and roost.

“Every year, we see hunters come from all walks of life heading out for opening weekend and the excitement in communities up and down the country is definitely building.

“There is nothing quite like getting out into the wild with people you care about and coming home with wild kai for the table.”

He encouraged hunters to factor in the wider distribution of birds when planning their weekend.

“With more standing water around, ducks have more options for where they settle. We’d encourage hunters to do their scouting well beforehand and have a few back-up spots in mind if birds aren’t coming into their chosen location on opening morning.”

We encourage hunters to get out often

The past week has been a busy one for King Country Police, with staff responding to incidents, progressing active investigations, and making several arrests across the district.

A significant investigation spanning several months has recently been brought to a conclusion out of district. Police had been responding to a series of daytime burglaries targeting well-kept properties, primarily occupied by elderly residents. In several instances, the offender entered homes while occupants were present. After being identified by local staff, the offender left the district and continued offending in Auckland.

Police later located and arrested the 45-year-old male at an Auckland address. During the arrest, the male became aggressive towards police and, after attempts at communication were unsuccessful, other tactical options were utilised to apprehend

throughout winter and make the most of their game bird licence.”

Opening weekend is expected to draw approximately 60,000 hunters nationwide.

Cosgrove urged hunters to make sure they had their game bird licence and were familiar with the regulations and bag limits for their region.

Roimata books in

School principals visited the Maniapoto Building in Te Kūiti last week to collect gifts of books written by home-grown author Roimata Smail.

Around 29 schools were represented, mostly by principals.

Understanding Te Tiriti and Understanding Hauora are designed as handbooks that can be read in a single sitting, offering knowledge about the treaty, colonisation and contemporary issues in health and wellbeing.

Te Nehenehenui has financially supported the distribution of the books across the rohe, ensuring every kura receives has access to the resources.

Smail spoke to thank Maniapoto for their support and acknowledged her own family’s connection to teaching.

It was also noted that this was a valuable opportunity to strengthen connections across the district, particularly given Te Nehenehenui’s focus on education. Further resources will come later this year.

the male. The offender has since been remanded in custody and now faces 43 active charges before the courts, mostly relating to burglaries and assaults.

Police staff attended Anzac Day parades across the Waikato District last week. It was encouraging to see strong community turnout as people came together to remember and honour the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

In Te Kuiti, police arrested a 45-yearold male who was wanted in relation to a domestic assault that occurred near Te Awamutu the previous week.

Following a vehicle stop in Te Kuiti, police summonsed a female driver for driving while disqualified. The vehicle was also impounded without incident.

Police assisted with a failing to stop incident north of Ōtorohanga involving a motorcycle. The bike was later seen in Te Awamutu, and the rider was identified.

A search warrant was executed the following day, resulting in the rider being charged with breach of bail and failing to stop.

In sadder news, Police were called to assist with a sudden death in Kāwhia, where a male had passed away while fishing. After contact was made with a doctor, police attendance was no longer required. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the male who passed on.

Also in Te Kūiti, police located and arrested a 58-year-old male from out of the area who had an outstanding warrant after failing to return to court in Hamilton during a trial. The male was found guilty of four indecent assault charges and has been remanded in custody pending sentencing.

As always, we encourage the community to continue reporting suspicious behaviour, crime, and antisocial or unsafe driving.

Tracing thieves

A post on Facebook following the theft of documents from a car in Te Kūiti could help find the culprits. Bam Beverly posted about the loss of Philippines identification, a driver’s licence and bank card – and noted someone had used it to make a purchase from an online outlet. Responders to the post suggested Bam check on the address provided for the fraudulent transaction.

Maher to chair

Waikato Regional Council chair Warren Maher has been confirmed as cochair of the Hauraki Gulf Forum joining tangata whenua cochair Nicola RataMacDonald. The forum brings together central and local government, mana whenua and key agencies to coordinate management of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Shearing charges

Radio New Zealand has reported that more than 20 animal welfare charges have been laid against four shearers after an animal rights group gathered undercover footage of their work. RNZ said the charges are part of an investigation by the Ministry for Primary Industries and stemmed from video footage from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) as part of an exposé into more than 30 farms and shearing sheds.

New president

Taupiri dairy farmer Chris Woolerton has succeeded Phil Sherwood as president of Federated Farmers Waikato. The former Waikato district councillor leads the largest of the organisation’s 24 provinces.

Money issues

Funding pressure on Civil Defence is emerging as an issue for Waikato Regional Council as it works within tighter rates constraints. Councillors have been told expectations around emergency preparedness and response are growing, but Civil Defence must compete with other core services at a time when councillors are signalling caution over further rates increases.

Kuriger: It wasn’t me

By Dan Tasker

Taranaki–King

Country

MP Barbara Kuriger is denying rumours she is one of five National MPs leaking information about Prime Minister Chris Luxon to the media.

Last week Luxon put his National Party leadership to the test with a motion of confidence vote at a caucus meeting in Wellington, which he survived.

But later in the week, Newstalk ZB named Kuriger along with Joseph Mooney, Andrew Bayly, Sam Uffindell and Tim van de Molen as the National culprits leaking information to the media.

Kuriger, who attended Tuesday’s meeting, told The News she denies any part in the leaking allegations and is fully supportive of Luxon continuing as National’s leader.

“(Luxon’s) the leader and we’ve chosen him as the leader and he’s gone

through the confidence vote the other day, so absolutely I support him. We’re all there for the same reason; we have a leader and we support him on the way through,” Kuriger said.

“I was really disappointed with Newstalk to put my name up there without first asking me. I’ve had a couple of mainstream journalists ask me in Wellington and I’ve just said categorically no. I only talk openly to the media, I don’t go round little corners.

“I went back to the Hosking Show and said, ‘You should have asked me before you published my name, because I don’t know who your source was, but they’ve got it wrong. It’s misinformation,” she said.

National has steadily been on the slide in the polls, with most having them under the 30 percent threshold, which Kuriger believes is driving the uneasiness in the party as it moves towards the November 7 election.

Setting a benchmark

Work remains on track to reopen the Awakino Gorge road late next week – weather permitting.

The New Zealand Transport Agency says the volume of a slip in the gorge this month was enough to fill 1400 standard rubbish trucks.

Since the slip the weekend before last crews have been working to clear material from the road –about 16,000 cubic metres of material came down.

On Sunday crews carried out a controlled blast within the closed work zone to dislodge unstable material.

As a result of the blast, about 1500 cubic metres of additional material came down from the hillside.

That will allow the focus to shift over the weekend to excavating what’s called a ‘bench’ on the hillside to ensure any further slip material is caught by the bench.

The bench will be shaped in response to the ground conditions, with its length and depth varying as work progresses. It will be angled back into the hillside to capture falling debris.

“I won’t talk about what happened in the caucus room, but I would say it was a pretty tense time. It’s public knowledge that the PM put himself up for a vote of confidence, that’s always going to be tense,” Kuriger said.

“There’s a lot of people in caucus who look at the polls and everybody’s worried, everyone wants to be back in government. There’s a lot of people that are on the list and on tight seats and there’s a lot of concern.”

As she draws to end of her fourth term as an MP after being first elected in 2014, Kuriger has not been spared from the controversy and drama that often comes with politics.

In 2020, she publicly defended her son Tony after he was found guilty of ill-treating cows while managing a farm in Eketahuna three years earlier.

This led to Kuriger contesting a personal

dispute connected to her son’s case with the Ministry for Primary Industries, which was identified as a conflict of interest and resulted in her resigning from her agriculture, biosecurity and food safety portfolios.

She was also in parliament following the golden years under former Prime Minister John Key, when National’s popularity tanked as leaders Simon Bridges, Todd Muller and Judith Collins came and went.

“I was actually the senior whip in the party when Simon Bridges was up for a challenge and I know how all of those things run, and the last thing I would do is run to the media and be someone who causes trouble along the way,” Kuriger said.

“Some of the experienced people have seen these things happen before and know how damaging it is to a party when we start talking about ourselves

instead of talking about the people of New Zealand.

“We’ve got a lot of new MPs as well and with the predictions of the polls currently, if they don’t improve, we’re going to lose 12 MPs. You can imagine people embarking on a big political career and then being really concerned about how long will it last?,” she said.

• Candidates selected - see Page 7.

Amio

APRIL 2026 ISSUE

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Kia ora koutou,

This month we paused to remember and honour those who served our country at our ANZAC Day commemorations across the district.

Thank you to everyone who attended services in Ōtorohanga and Kāwhia, to our RSA members, volunteers, schools, service personnel, and community groups who helped make these occasions so meaningful.

ANZAC Day reminds us of the values of courage, service, sacrifice, and community spirit - values that continue to shape our district today.

It was heartening to see people of all ages standing together in remembrance. These moments matter, and they help keep the legacy of those who came before us alive.

Thank you also to everyone continuing to contribute to our district in big and small ways each day.

Ngā mihi nui,

Rodney Dow Mayor of Ōtorohanga District

A GREAT START FOR OUR LITTLEST LEARNERS

A new initiative in Ōtorohanga is helping give the district’s youngest residents a strong start in life - one book at a time.

Te Puna Pukapuka - Babies Need Books is a programme led by Ōtorohanga District Library, supporting whānau from the very beginning of their child’s reading journey. Through the initiative, every new baby in the district will receive a free book, along with helpful information about library services and early childhood programmes. The programme is made possible thanks to the generous support of Ōtorohanga Rotary Club, who have funded the initiative, alongside a strong local partnership with Plunket. Packs are provided to whānau through Plunket visits, helping connect families with books right from the start.

Library staff say the programme reflects a shared community goal - supporting tamariki and their whānau from the earliest stages of life.

“Reading, talking and singing with babies helps build strong foundations for language, learning and connection,” they say. “It’s something simple that can make a big difference, and it’s never too early to start.” Ōtorohanga District Library is a welcoming space for babies, children and whānau, and the team is looking forward to meeting families as they begin their reading journey.

“This is a real community effort,” staff say. “We’re proud to be working alongside Plunket and grateful to Ōtorohanga Rotary Club for making this possible.”

Check out what you can do at the library today! Visit: www.otodc.govt.nz/our-district/libraries

LEADERS CONNECT WITH LOCALS AFFECTED BY THE ŌTOROHANGA FLOODS

It was a special day at Ōtorohanga Kiwi House, where locals affected by the February floods shared their stories with Leader of the Opposition Chris Hipkins and Mayor Rodney Dow.

Chris said it was important to hear people’s personal stories, and to let them know the community hasn’t been forgotten. Rodney said it was valuable to listen to people share their experiences. The Kiwi House brought a special guest, Remy the kiwi. He was a little shy, but brought a quiet sense of hope – just like the resilience we’re seeing across our community.

The Minister met with some of the Ōtorohanga District Council staff who worked alongside Waipā District Council staff and hundreds of other people, including from other councils, in the Western Waikato Emergency Operations Centre. The centre supported the Ōtorohanga and Waipā communities over 11 days during the severe weather event. The centre was a collaborative effort across many councils, Māori Wardens, emergency services, community groups, iwi and hapū, marae, the Rural Support Trust, NZ Response Teams, National Emergency Management Agency, Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Fisheries NZ, and many more organisations and people.

Ōtorohanga District Council is now coordinating a recovery programme across our district, working with Waipā District Council and alongside iwi and hapū, agencies, lifeline utilities, community organisations and industry partners. Together, we’re focused on helping our communities reconnect and rebuild.

The Road to

ROADING & RECOVERY UPDATE

Work continues across the district to repair and strengthen roads and infrastructure impacted by earlier severe weather.

Thank you for your patience as crews continue this important mahi. Please take care around work sites, follow signage, and allow extra travel time where needed.

For the latest updates, visit engage.otodc.govt.nz/our-road-to-recovery

UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS

Members of the public are welcome to attend Council and Community Board meetings.

Ōtorohanga Community Board Council Chambers, 17 Maniapoto Street, Ōtorohanga

Kāwhia Community Board Kāwhia Community Hall, 141 Jervois Street, Kāwhia

Monday 4 May –4.00pm

Chambers, 17 Maniapoto Street, Ōtorohanga

Agendas and meeting information are available on our website closer to each meeting date.

STRONG RESPONSE DURING CYCLONE VAIANU

Earlier this month, Cyclone Vaianu brought wet weather across parts of the upper North Island. We’re pleased to report impacts across the Western Waikato were minor and localised. Ōtorohanga worked closely with neighbouring councils and partner agencies through a joint Emergency Operations Centre to monitor conditions and respond where needed.

Thank you to staff, contractors, emergency services, and community partners who helped keep our communities safe.

Debate over power future

By Mary Anne Gill

Waikato Regional Council is poised to adopt a new energy strategy today (Thursday) that could shape the region’s economic and environmental direction for decades and position Waikato as a national leader in the transition to renewable energy.

The strategy is coming forward as national energy settings continue to evolve and sets out how the region could move toward a low-emissions, affordable and resilient energy system.

Waikato is already New Zealand’s leading electricity generation region, and the strategy positions it as an important contributor as the country transitions its energy mix.

Huntly, Tokoroa and the Taupō/Wairakei area are identified as priority locations for renewable energy development, reflecting existing assets and infrastructure.

The strategy points to the region’s long-established hydro and geothermal generation, alongside

growing interest in solar and wind projects.

It also highlights emerging technologies such as hydrogen and battery storage and calls for better coordination around infrastructure investment and workforce skills. Electrification of transport and industrial energy use, including the decarbonisation of process heat, features prominently.

A central proposal is for the council to take a convening role rather than a delivery one, bringing iwi, industry, government and major energy users together through a

proposed regional energy forum to help align effort and track progress.

Council chair Warren Maher has described the strategy as being about enabling and promoting a productive region that delivers prosperity, profitability and security. However, councillors are expected to scrutinise what that role would mean in practice. While the strategy is non-statutory, establishing and maintaining a regional energy forum would require staff time and coordination, and debate is likely to focus

on what work can be absorbed within existing budgets and what might require new funding.

There is also likely to be some political caution about stepping too far ahead of central government while national energy policy is still being settled.

Supporters argue given the scale of Waikato’s generation and industrial base the region cannot afford to wait, while others may want clearer lines of accountability, cost certainty and leadership before endorsing the approach.

Safety lessons for council

By Mary Anne Gill

The death of a young worker in Ōtorohanga has prompted Waikato Regional Council to reflect on its own health and safety responsibilities and a council report points to the tragedy as a reminder of the consequences of workplace failures.

The case, involving engineering firm Peter Gray Engineering, was referenced in a health and safety report to councillors today (Thursday) as a learning example rather than as a criticism of council operations.

The company was sentenced in Te Kūiti District Court earlier this year after a 31-year-old worker was fatally crushed by a nearly two-tonne press brake while it was being moved at the firm’s Ōtorohanga site.

WorkSafe found the task had not been properly planned. It involved improvised methods and equipment that was not fit for purpose. No task-specific risk assessment had been carried out, and the machine became unstable during the move, resulting in fatal injuries.

In its report, Waikato Regional Council said it was using the prosecution as a governance reminder that experience and good intentions are not substitutes for clear systems, planning and controls. The report drew

councillors’ attention to the types of risks organisations need to remain alert to, even when incidents occur outside their own workplaces.

Alongside the reference to the fatality, the report outlined health and safety trends within the council, including vehicle-related incidents, increasing reports of aggressive behaviour towards staff and sick leave levels that remain above benchmark levels for the sector.

Councillors are being asked to assure themselves that the council’s frameworks, reporting and leadership are strong enough to identify risks early and prevent harm, particularly as staff work across field-based, regulatory and public-facing roles.

The report stops short of recommending major changes but reinforces the need for ongoing vigilance, regular reporting and a culture in which staff are supported to raise concerns. It also highlights the broader challenge for councils balancing operational demands, wellbeing and safety expectations at a time when resources are under pressure.

The Ōtorohanga case has been cited by WorkSafe as a reminder that non-routine tasks can carry significant risk if not properly planned, particularly in workplaces relying on experience rather than formal controls.

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AGE OF REASON

A berry big problem

By Richard Steele

To demonstrate how my mind is not always screwing over the vagaries of local and worldwide political shenanigans, this week I’m going to write about blackberry, and invasion of it, and of how, thus far, I’m losing the battle.

We consider ourselves to be farming conservationists, yet the very birds we are striving to protect are loving the blackberries and are spreading them into every area of the property we retire, or that we graze more lightly than we did under previous rotational grazing regimes.

To put that into my perspective, last summer, I sprayed 30 200 litre containers of weed killer on to patches of the prickly weed and thought I was making a difference.

This season, because of age, weather, a general slowing of the bones, and other work commitments, I’ve only done 16 200 litre loads, and I’m definitely losing the battle. It’s popping up everywhere.

I thought a drone spraying may be the answer, but my three attempts so far to contact a company advertising such equipment have been most unsuccessful.

Someone may discover a blackberry weevil I could introduce, if I should be lucky enough to live long enough, though my botanist sister points out that such a biological control, would or could, take out a whole heap of desirable plants, which might not go down that well with, for instance, rose growers.

Goats are good at controlling blackberry, as they actually seem to like eating the stuff. The trick there of course, is contain the goats to where the plant pests are.

Goats are great at making their own

arrangements, on steep hill country like ours, so where we can farm them, they have potential, but that’s not on our class of country.

One grandson suggested that it’s another sign of climate change, and I think he’s on to something.

You see, from my observations, moths are disappearing, and while that may not appear to be that significant, it probably is, as the birds will have lost a traditional food source, of either the moths or their larvae.

And they have replaced that food source with ripe berries, so the birds we on one hand, are working to protect, are becoming unwittingly, our enemies.

I’d love to be able to find an answer. I’ve met farmers in my life, who spent too long on a crusade to beat a particular plant pest, and I’m not going to join anybody on a campaign, you can’t pragmatically win. But I would like to succeed on this one all the same.

Another example is the banks of the Whanganui River.

The Department of Conversation had contractors keep on top of the blackberry on the riverbanks for decades.

Then, then the last big flood we had before last week’s effort, was in March 2018, when the berries were ripe. From that one flood, there’s now miles of blackberry on the riverbanks.

So, if anyone has a practical solution, I’d love to hear about it. Otherwise, I’m just going to keep plugging away. After another cup of tea.

TREES AND POWERLINES

TREE TRIMMING DANGERS

Trimming trees near power lines can be extremely dangerous, and even deadly.

Contact with a power line can cause:

• Injury or death to yourself, family, community members or livestock

• Damage to property

• Damage to power supply facilities and electrical appliances

• Damage to third parties.

Before attempting to clear tree foliage near live conductors you should contact us for advice.

Branch movement: Although tree foliage can sometimes appear to be at a safe distance from the lines, once you begin the work, the tree may move due to pressure placed on branches, random gusts of wind and other external factors.

Be aware of any tree branches that may flick up as they are trimmed or as surrounding branches are cleared.

Wet weather: Branches often hang lower when the leaves are wet, so if it starts to rain, or if the leaves are already wet you should expect some movement.

Debris: Ensure there is clear space to allow for debris when tree trimming.

ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS

The Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003 set out the responsibilities of tree owners and lines companies in relation to trees and power lines. Waipā Networks has developed procedures to meet these regulations, summarised below:

• If we become aware of a tree that you are responsible for within the Notice Zone, you may be issued with a Hazard Warning Notice.

Surprise storms

By Janine Krippner

Last week I woke up to find a set of MetService weather alerts on my phone. Safe in my Wellington apartment, I was unaware of the chaos that had erupted nearby. Residents woke in the dark to flood waters through their homes. The saturated landscape was under pressure and landslides were occurring, one through a home.

More than 70mm of rain within an hour fell on one part of Wellington. Homes, cars, belongings, and businesses were damaged. Tragically, a life was also lost. Real lives, real impacts.

Early damage estimates are within the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars.

This damaging storm hit two days after flooding in the nearby Hutt Valley. That was not long after Cyclone Vaianu. That was not long after devastating fatalities resulted from storm-related landslides and flooding across the region, including the landslide at Mount Maunganui. Our own Waipā district saw the gut-wrenching loss of Brent Knowles. And that was not long after we saw damaging landslides across the Waitomo District last October.

I think it is safe to say that flooding and landslides are processes we should all be very aware of. Broadly speaking, are they really surprise storms at this point? We know there will be more.

A key message of this column has been a reminder that events strike with little to no warning and turn upside down. We are not powerless.

On every level there are actions we can take, from our national government to our local councils, businesses to households, and us – the individuals.

• If we become aware of a tree you are responsible for within the Growth Limit Zone, you will be issued with a Cut or Trim Notice.

• You must have the tree trimmed so that it no longer encroaches the Notice Zone or Growth Limit Zone. Dispensation can be applied for if there is a valid reason for the tree to be allowed to grow within the Notice or Growth Limit Zones.

• We’ll trim a tree free of charge provided it is the first trim. Any further trimming is the responsibility of the owner.

• At any stage, you can declare ‘No Interest’ in a tree on our network and we will meet the costs of any future trimming, or may decide to remove the tree altogether.

• Where we become aware of a tree close to the lines and likely to cause danger to the public or property we have the ability to remove the tree or branch causing the hazard.

THERE ARE RULES ABOUT SAFE DISTANCES BETWEEN TREES AND POWER LINES In the Zone

The regulations define four zones:

Growth Limit Zone: This is the minimum distance that trees must be kept clear of overhead power lines.

Cut-Back Zone: This zone ensures vegetation is trimmed back far enough to prevent it from quickly growing into the Growth Limit Zone.

Notice Zone: We will issue a notice if vegetation is in this zone to give property owners time to address the risk earlier before it becomes urgent.

Clear to the Sky: This is the area above 33kv and high voltage lines that must be kept clear.

Fall Hazard Zone: Trees present

One theme of events here and around the world is how communities come together to support those who are impacted. We see friends and strangers unite for the clean-up, some with shovels, others bringing food.

One story of someone getting help to evacuate their elderly neighbour from her flooded home last week exemplifies this. It’s a powerful reminder that getting to know our neighbours can make a difference – it can even be lifesaving.

Something we can all do now is remind ourselves of landslide warning signs. Along with others, I have recently shared what to watch out for.

Check to see if you live in a flood-prone area, especially if you have recently moved. In times of flooding water and debris may be contaminated, so take care to protect yourself during and afterwards.

Have a plan. Talk with your household about what you would do if you were separated, such as if an event strikes during the work/school day.

What do you do if something hits in the middle of the night? Where can you evacuate to? Do you have neighbours who might need assistance?

Simple conversations, planning, and preparation done now can make a huge difference later.

All my love to those who have lost family members, homes, belongings, animals, or businesses in these recent storms. If you want to help with the Wellington storm recovery, the Mayoral Relief Fund has been set up to support those who were impacted.

The Notice and Growth Limit Zone requirements increase if the adjacent power line span is greater than 150m. In these cases, we will notify you of your obligations. For further information contact our Vegetation Team 07 872 0745 or trees@waipānetworks.co.nz

It’s Kuriger v Pattemore

By Dan Tasker

National and Labour have confirmed their candidates for the Taranaki–King Country seat.

Incumbent Barbara Kuriger was confirmed as National’s candidate last week to contest the seat in her fifth election race.

Her nearest competition is likely to come from Labour’s recently-confirmed candidate David Pattemore.

Former list MP Angela Roberts, who has previously contested Taranaki-King Country will fight for Labour in Whanganui.

Pattemore, a 46-year-old ecologist from Tauwhare, has a background in conservation work with Forest and Bird, and a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from his time at Princeton University in the United States.

His grounding in conservation and interest in indigenous people goes back to his upbringing in India and Thailand through the 1980s and early 1990s.

His father was born to missionary parents in India and returned there to teach just before Pattemore was born, before moving to live with his mother’s missionary parents on Thailand’s

Andaman coast where he was raised with the indigenous Urak Lawoi tribe.

After moving to New Zealand in 1995, he studied and worked for Forest and Bird. His first exposure to politics came while volunteering for Labour’s Waikato candidate Jamie Toko at the last election.

“I’ve had the privilege of doing quite a bit of work through that whole area from Te Kūiti down through Pureora – places like that. It’s really neat to now get the

opportunity to get to know it even more and the people in the towns,” Pattemore said.

Pattemore said he wanted to contribute to pushing back against a division that has been sown and believes the traditional National stronghold he is standing in is open to change.

“People have pitched it as being farmers for National and city folk for Labour. The reality is when I go around the farmers I know, it’s not like they’re just going to vote blue no matter what. They’re

really engaged and want to know what the parties have to offer for them.”

History is against him as he seeks to overcome the National stronghold, which has been blue since well before the election system went to MMP in 1996. Former Prime Minister the late Jim Bolger, then Shane Ardern and now Kuriger have had the seat under lock and key.

Kuriger said she continued to be driven to be a rural voice in Wellington, hopeful of retaining her deputy

speaker’s role and a receiving a ministerial portfolio all things going well.

“I love the electorate; I just think rural people are fantastic and to be able to go there and be the representative of people in Taranaki-King Country is something I really enjoy.

“When I went there, I wondered how much Wellington understood rural people. I hope I’ve played some part in bringing attention to rural New Zealand,” she said.

Sam’s five church role

The newly installed vicar at Te Awamutu’s St John’s Anglican parish, Rev Sam Pullenger, knows he is facing an unusual challenge as Anglican parishes go.

Most Anglican parishes have one church. St John’s has five ... the Old St John’s Church and St John’s in Te Awamutu, St Paul’s Church in Rangiaowhia, and churches in Pirongia and Kihikihi.

“That means we have five congregations, some of which may feel on the margins,” he said. “One of my hopes is for us to see ourselves as a more unified parish, so we are all together, simply St John’s.” Sam was installed as St John’s

vicar on April 19. It was a solemn event, overseen jointly by his predecessor, Archdeacon Rev Julie Guest, and the Archdeacon Rev Andrew Evans.

He has stepped into Julie Guest’s shoes – she is now focusing on her role as Archdeacon of Waitomo.

The strain she encountered trying to juggle her role as St John’s vicar and that of Archdeacon of Waitomo is what saw her step down and is, in part, what Sam alludes to in addressing the topic of unifying five churches and five congregations.

Acknowledging the whole while embracing the differences within each is what he wants to do … so

is the management of trying to physically get to services across the district with very little time between each.

“I would like to be fully present at, and after, both services without having to rush in between. I’m looking at ways I can adjust that.”

There is a youthful zeal that sits alongside Sam’s seriousness. He is a young dad whose wife Josie teaches at Cambridge Primary School. Family time is all-important, and he intends guarding it closely.

Sam was born in Te Awamutu, grew up and went to school in Cambridge, a lad who always enjoyed studying the Bible.

After marrying in 2016, the Pullengers moved to Tauranga for Josie’s work, and he decided to add to his undergraduate degree with a Masters in Applied Theology.

Keen to travel before settling down, they went to Al Ain in Abu Dhabi, from where they hoped to see a bit of the world. “Then Covid hit… we spent two years there and saw very little else!”

When they came home in 2021, the couple settled in Te Awamutu and Sam joined St John’s as ministry assistant to Julie. Last year, he was ordained deacon, then priested to St John’s last November.

Gardening

Designing with Purpose

Thriller, Filler, Spiller

When I’m designing gardens around our district, I often come back to a simple framework: thriller, filler, spiller.

It’s a concept many people associate with pots, but it works just as well in full garden beds — particularly when using New Zealand natives. Layering plants this way gives structure, texture, and softness, all while keeping the design balanced and purposeful.

The Thriller — Structure and Presence

Your thriller is the anchor. It provides height and creates a focal point.

In a native scheme, this could be:

A bold Phormium (flax) with strong upright form

A sculptural Cordyline australis

A well-shaped Pittosporum for evergreen structure

These plants give the garden its backbone. Repeated thoughtfully, they create rhythm and confidence in a space.

The Filler — Texture, Form and Character

For filler, I often turn to Muehlenbeckia astonii.

Its distinctive wiry, zig-zag structure adds architectural interest without heaviness. It creates movement and texture between stronger structural plants, particularly in winter when its form really stands out. Alongside this, I love incorporating Libertia for its strappy foliage and seasonal white flowers. It provides year-round structure while adding a softness in spring when in bloom.

Compact Coprosma varieties also make excellent fillers. Their glossy foliage brings colour and density — whether lime, bronze, or deep green — helping to knit a planting scheme together and reduce visible gaps.

The Spiller — Softening the Edges

Spillers prevent a garden from feeling rigid. They soften retaining walls, spill gently over edging, and ease the transition to lawns or paths.

New Zealand natives are ideal here:

Prostrate Coprosma varieties that gently spread

— A

Native Approach

Muehlenbeckia axillaris cascading over edges

Low-growing carex weaving through planting

These plants relax the lines and create a sense of flow.

Designing with Balance

The key is restraint. Too many thrillers can make a garden feel crowded. Too little filler leaves it sparse. No spiller and it can feel abrupt.

When designing — whether it’s a showhome frontage or a family garden — think in layers:

Height for structure

Mid-layer for texture and density

Ground-hugging plants to soften the edges

Our native plants are beautifully suited to our conditions and, when layered thoughtfully, create gardens that feel grounded in place. Good design isn’t about planting more. It’s about planting with intention. When thriller, filler, and spiller work together, the result feels cohesive, balanced, and distinctly ours.

Council could walk away

By Mary Anne Gill

Waikato Regional Council is set for another finely balanced debate today (Thursday) when councillors consider whether to remain a member of Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), a decision that could again come down to the chair’s casting vote.

LGNZ representatives will appear before councillors at the start of the meeting as a deputation, signalling the importance attached to the issue.

Their presentation precedes a notice of motion, lodged by councillor Noel Smith and listed late in the agenda, calling for a rethink of the council’s membership.

The discussion will reopen a fault line that has divided the council since the 2022 elections, pitting those who see LGNZ membership as essential for collective advocacy against a group focused on cutting costs and reining in rates.

That latter group - known as the Rates Control Team - has made fiscal restraint a central plank of its platform. Members of the team argue LGNZ membership fees, estimated at about $120,000 a year, represent discretionary spending at a time when ratepayers are facing ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

Withdrawing from LGNZ, they say, is a tangible way to show the council is serious about trimming expenditure.

The Rates Control Team consists of councillors Gary McGuire, Chris Hughes, Ben Dunbar-Smith, Garry Reymer, Robert Cookson, Mich’eal Downard and council chair Warren Maher. The group has also promoted other measures, including capping rate increases below CPI and returning a $2.5 million surplus to ratepayers.

Reymer is one of two Waipā-King Country councillors. The other is Liz Stolwyk who is understood to favour staying in LGNZ.

Those opposed to leaving argue the annual fee delivers value well beyond its cost. They point to LGNZ’s role in coordinating sector-wide submissions to government, providing training and governance support, and giving councils a stronger, unified voice on national policy issues such as water reform, climate adaptation funding and central government mandates.

The Waikato Regional Council has 14 elected members - 12 from general constituencies and two Māori seats. If all councillors were at the meeting and seven voted for and seven against, Maher would have

to exercise a casting vote, like his predecessor Pamela Storey did last year before the local body elections.

LGNZ’s decision to seek time on the agenda underscores what is at stake. The organisation has been actively engaging with councils considering withdrawal, emphasising the benefits of collective representation at a time of significant reform across local government.

The concern is that Waikato could lose influence at the national table by stepping away.

For those backing withdrawal, the issue is chiefly one of principle and perception - demonstrating to ratepayers that no line of expenditure is beyond review.

Council papers provide no staff recommendation on the notice of motion, leaving the decision squarely in councillors’ hands.

Maihiihi hunt is back

After a six-year break, a Maihiihi School tradition is returning.

The Maihiihi School and Playcentre HuntingPhotography Competition will run at the end of May and organisers say it will give children a chance to get outdoors, get their hands dirty, and discover exactly where their kai comes from.

The event previously ran for five years until 2019, as a cornerstone event on Maihiihi School’s calendar.

The competition is open to Maihiihi School and playcentre children and their siblings and features

a range of events. The “Big 4” challenges hunters to bag possums, rabbits or hares, magpies, and rats –all introduced pest species that wreak havoc on native habitats.

Large game hunters can pit their skills against boar, goat, deer, or trout, while the Heaviest Small Animal category gives younger competitors a fair crack at the prize table. For budding photographers, the Photo 4 challenge asks entrants to capture a rock formation, a cow or sheep, a stream or river scene, a favourite flower, and one

wildcard shot.

Maihiihi School principal Lisa Smith says the key objectives are to help children understand where food comes from, learn food safety and preparation, appreciate the sustainability of our food sources, and understand the ethics and responsibility that come with hunting.

“In a region where rural values run deep, it’s a chance to pass those values on to the next generation and for people to enjoy good old fashioned outdoor living and time together as a family,” she said.

Waitete keeps the shield

By Dan Tasker

The JR Shield will stay locked away at Blue HQ after a feverish Waitete rolled, bowled and rissoled a fresh-faced Piopio 76-7 at the Rukuhia Domain on Saturday.

In Waitete’s performance of the season so far and their biggest win over their North King Country rivals in recent memory, the blue bellies out-played and outenergised a Piopio team with few answers.

Young 19-year-old winger Ivan Reid’s hat-trick topped the try-scoring count in the 12-try blitz, with Piopio captain Jackson Hurley’s 48th-minute touchdown

the green-and-golds’ only respite on a balmy midAutumn afternoon.

Trailing 43-0 at the break, Piopio slightly stemmed the flow, but stoic efforts from the likes of straight-running Hurley in his 50th game for the club and lock Isaac Griffin were not enough in a tough day at the office.

Piopio will be better for the experience as coach Jeff Davis continues to rebuild the playing stocks, most notably through the likes of Hunters Rogers, Piripi James, Keanu Edkins and Corey Mason, who are all in their rookie senior season after joining from last year’s Piopio College’s championship-winning U16

team.

Leading the charge for Waitete was loose forward Isaac Wana, the former Bush United man’s work-rate and effort turning plenty of heads alongside Kees Muller, Finn Hahn and wily veteran Shaun Burr.

The game also marked the surprise return of flanker Rico Bell off the Waitete bench – last year’s King Country Rams’ most promising player has opted to return home after originally starting the season at Ōtorohanga.

In his 60th game for Waitete, lock-turned-prop Sam Wilson also celebrated his blazer to go with the JR Shield’s return to Waitete

Rd.

The win sees Waitete sitting in third (20) just off the pace but still in touch with unbeaten King Country premier club leaders Taumarunui Districts (24) and Taupō Marist (23) after five rounds.

Piopio drop out of the top four to fifth (10) behind Taumarunui Eels (14), but still ahead of Taupō Sports (7) and Waitomo (0).

It provides the perfect lead-in for Waitete ahead

of their Hetet Shield match against a weakened Taupō Marist this Saturday, who remain without key personnel like injured halfback Kristian Standen and suspended midfielder Josevata Malimoce.

Even so, the James Whitecoached Marist continue on their merry way after beating Waitomo at the caves on Saturday, and they will back themselves to get the job done on their home track of Owen Delany Park

this week.

It doesn’t get any easier for Piopio, who host competition frontrunners Districts at the Rukuhia Domain on Saturday, following the 2024 champions’ 49-19 win against Taupō Sports in Taupo last weekend.

Eels will be confident of retaining their place in the top four as they take on Waitomo at Cherry Grove to round out week six, with Taupō Sports on the bye.

Dobui grabs double at home

By Jesse Wood

Tough Anzac Day battles came the way of the three Ōtorohanga Sports senior rugby sides on Saturday.

The premier side fell 62-12 to Hamilton Marist, premier development lost 57-10 against Hamilton Marist B at Island Reserve and the Hamilton Old Boys Huskiez beat the women’s team 74-20 at Willoughby Park in Hamilton.

Reserve Ondrej Bejcek and captain Ryan McNeil were the sole scorers for the premier golds side. Number 10 Manaaki Rewi-Wetini added a conversion off the tee.

The stacked Hamilton Marist side saw Canadian international Spencer Jones help himself to a double, as did former King Country reps Leigh Bristowe and Josh Balme.

Recent recruit from Taumarunui Districts,

19-game Rams prop Dennis Andrews-Peters also crossed the chalk for the visitors – as did former Thames Valley prop Mosese Mafi and 2024 New Zealand Māori XV flanker Adrein Wharawhara.

In the earlier premier development blues clash, Isoa Dobui was once again on the scoresheet.

The Ōtorohanga B winger scored two tries, his team’s only points.

Campbell Park will host the Ōtorohanga men’s teams this Saturday as they take on Morrinsville Sports.

Waikato halfback Klee Begbie helped herself to two tries against Old Boys for the Ōtorohanga women.

Keighley Brough scored the third try for the visitors, while Tayla Toa added a conversion and a penalty to the tally.

This weekend’s draw sees the women host Fraser Tech at Island Reserve.

High five for young Case

By Dan Tasker

Case Wilson is a young man in a hurry and he’s not planning on slowing down.

The 10-year-old Piopio motocross maestro recorded a clean sweep at the recent New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships in Leeston near Christchurch, winning all five races on his Yamaha to become national champion in the 8 to 11-year-old 85cc grade.

After finishing sixth in qualifying, Wilson went on to blitz the field of 18 riders to sit on top of the podium with a maximum 125 points, ahead of Harlen Shore (86 points) and Mason Nicholls (84 points).

“I was a bit nervous, but I knew I could win,” Case said.

“I try to get out early to get the hole shot and stay consistent, not fall off, and just go hard the whole race; just get out in front and go. If you’re not in first, you’ve just got to not back off, and stay with that first rider, and once you get a chance, you pass them.”

Case’s pace quickened as the meet went on, race one clocking in at 14:59 minutes and race five – his fastest and final race – stopping the clock at 14:11 minutes.

“I just thought to myself since I had won all my races, I just wanted to win the last one too so I could get the placing and just try not to crash.”

To add to the spoils, he picked up a bronze medal in the 8 to 11-year-olds 65cc competition, notching a second, three thirds and a fourth to finish third overall with 100 points behind 65cc class

winner Kobe Carroll (122 points) and Jai Gibson (107 points).

The Piopio College student has been riding since he was three. He has raced for the last three years and is coached by New Zealand motocross number two Josiah Natzki, who he attributes to helping him win his first national title.

“He’s helped me learn technique and says don’t push yourself to the limit to where you’re going to crash; just stay consistent the whole time and stand up and ease the power around corners, don’t keep tapping your throttle,” Case said.

Motocross is in the blood for the young Piopio rider, whose dad Paul Wilson won nine national cross-country titles as well as the legendary Tarawera 100 cross-country marathon in 1998.

Paul said he and his wife Kim were proud of their son’s motocross feats at such a young age and acknowledged their family and the community for supporting local riders fundraise for these events.

“I just love motocross and having a 10-year-old child that loves it now is the best thing ever. We’ve been all over New Zealand and now Case’s got his first national title,” Paul said.

“He knows where he’s going; he’s got goals. We are stoked as parents and he’s happy. He’s got a national title at 10-years-old, so we’re rapt for that.”

The Junior Motocross Championships has long been a launchpad for future champions, with past competitors including Shayne King, Darryll King, Josh Coppins, Ben Townley and Courtney Duncan.

SALES

| PARTS | SERVICE

on for wool drives Piopio doyen Positively PIOPIO

Anzac: it’s personal

Continued from page 1

isn’t a museum piece, it isn’t something you just talk about once a year, it is a set of tools for how to live our lives in 2026,” Rangiwha said.

“The Anzacs weren’t superhuman; they were ordinary people from New Zealand and Australia who chose to put others before themselves.

“To my generation, lest we forget is more than a tribute to the fallen; it is a promise to keep their values alive.

“Every time we choose courage over comfort or look after a mate who is struggling, we are keeping the Anzac flame burning,” he said.

Te Kūiti & District RSA president Barry Batley noted the RSA’s 110th anniversary and encouraged veterans to stay connected with each other.

“You are valued, you are seen, you belong. Veterans remain at the heart of our parades, remembrance and memories, RSA’s and communities. You are always there when New Zealand needs you – from disaster, relief and aid to deployments abroad,” Batley said.

“You are not invisible and your service is valued.”

The ceremony then moved to the nearby cenotaph, where Batley, mayor Robertson and kaumatua Kingi Turner laid wreaths, before the public were invited to lay their own.

In Ōtorohanga Anzac Day commemorations included a dawn service at the village green, before a mid-morning parade made its way to Memorial Park, where the civic service was held.

Speakers included mayor Rodney Dow, deputy mayor Katrina Christensen, Ōtorohanga Community Board chair Bronwyn Tubman, RSA representative Shane Carr, and Ōtorohanga College head students Corey Hobbs and Jamie Fare.

Across 1. Assumed name (5)

4. Position (6)

8. Overcome (7)

9. Daft (5)

10.

21. Crucial (5) 22. Italian dumplings (7) 23. Funeral vehicle (6)

Loud warning device (5)

(12)

(5)

(5-2)

(6)

Stroll (5)

Last week

Restrict (7)

High blood pressure (12)

Across: 1. Stiff, 4. Dilute, 7. Ire, 8. Propel, 9. Theory, 10. Well thought of, 14. Remix, 15. Blame, 18. Hit the jackpot, 23. Meteor, 24. Artist, 25. Bun, 26. Sleazy, 27. Abyss. Down: 1. Spree, 2. Impel, 3. Filthy, 4. Detour, 5. Leech, 6. Torso, 10. Worth, 11. Limit, 12. Tramp, 13. Fleet, 16. Nearby, 17. Banana, 19. Ideal, 20. Theta, 21. Kitty, 22. Oasis.

TENOR THEME TONE

TREBLE VARIATION VOCALIST

3

Otorohanga, 685sqm,

44 Thomson Ave, Otorohanga, 686sqm, power, water, fibre,

9 Sunset Close, Otorohanga, 750sqm in Westridge

Lot 1, 52 Old Te Kuiti Road, Otorohanga, 1876sqm, power, water at gate, no covenants. Ph John P $285,000

Lot 2, 0 Old Te Kuiti Road, Otorohanga, 2716sqm, power, water at gate, no covenants. Ph John P. $285,000

149A Old Te Kuiti Road, Lot 1, 5517sqm, easy covenants. Phone Lorraine Offers over $250,000

Lot 1, 627 Waitomo Valley Road, Otorohanga, 8105sqm rural lifestyle section. Phone Julie $298,000

Lots 90-108 Harpers Avenue, 486sqm to 962sqm, Westridge II subdivision. Phone John From $220,000ea 576C Mangawhero Road, Otorohanga, 1ha, fenced, sensible covenants. Ph Noldy Offers over $385,000

Te Kūiti sections (sizes are approximate)

35 Robin Azariah Place, Te Kuiti, 1084sqm, handy to schools and hospital. Phone Buzz $250,000

Other sections (sizes are approximate)

214 Okapu Place, Aotea Harbour, 700sqm, borders farmland, ocean views, covenants apply. Julie $290,000 171 Ngahape Road, Te Kawa, 5001sqm. Phone Cherie

0 Raglan Road, Kawhia, 2648sqm lifestyle section, no covenants, completely off grid. Ph

with Jan Bilton

Dishes with love

Mother’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to show Mum your appreciation with delicious food. Preparing a meal at home adds a personal touch that a restaurant meal can’t quite capture. Breakfast in bed remains a timeless favourite — think eggs benedict, or fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit and maple syrup — a caring and comforting start to her day. And don’t forget the card. Handmade is perfect; it doesn’t need to be flawless. Trust me, I keep a box of cards from my children that I open once a year and treasure the memories they hold.

Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March or May. In the UK, Mother’s Day is always celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent – three weeks before Easter Sunday. Centuries ago, people who had moved away would return to their hometowns to visit the churches where they had been baptised or once worshipped. This tradition became known as Mothering Sunday, a time of homecoming, reflection, and connection with family and community.

Mother’s Day in New Zealand, the USA, Australia and Japan is celebrated on the second Sunday of May to honour mothers, grandmothers and maternal figures.

Ruby red lamingtons

New-ish Ruby Red kiwifruit are available from your supermarket or greengrocer. Use store-bought lamington sponge or homemade. Don’t like red? Then use lime jelly and green kiwifruit or lemon jelly and gold kiwifruit.

trifle sponge about 20cm x 20cm square and 5cm deep

85g packet strawberry jelly crystals

1 cup boiling water

1 cup desiccated coconut

1/2 cup cream

1 tablespoon icing sugar

1/2 cup thick custard

2 Ruby Red kiwifruit, peeled and sliced

Using a flexible, thin, serrated knife, cut the sponge into 12 even pieces. Carefully remove any brown edges. You should have about 12 squares.

Place the jelly crystals in a bowl. Stir in the boiling water until the crystals are dissolved. Pour into a shallow dish and chill until cold but not set. Spread the coconut on a dinner-sized plate.

Carefully dip each edge of the sponge squares briefly in the jelly. Handle gently as the sponge is soft. Once one square is coated, dip it into the coconut. Repeat until all squares are coated. Place in the fridge to set, about 30 minutes. Whip the cream and icing sugar in a bowl until thick. To serve, slice the lamington from the top to the base until almost sliced through.

Insert a teaspoon of custard at the bottom of each cut, then top with whipped cream.

Filled lamingtons will keep in the fridge for 1-2 days. Add the kiwifruit slices just before serving. Makes about 12.

Eggs Benedict with spinach & salmon

I used a stick blender to make the Hollandaise.

Blender Hollandaise Sauce: 1 large egg yolk

1 tablespoon lemon juice, warmed

pinch salt

100g butter

Eggs: 2 muffin splits

100g spinach, washed and finely chopped

4 eggs

1/2 medium avocado, stoned and thinly sliced

50g sliced smoked salmon

To prepare the sauce, place the egg yolk in a small food

Potential plus

Located just 36 kilometres from Taumarunui, this 101 hectare property offers an excellent opportunity for those seeking their first farm or looking to expand an existing operation. The land comprises predominantly volcanic ash soils and features easy hill country with a favourable north-facing aspect. Currently subdivided into approximately 16 paddocks, the property has an abundance of natural water. Around 80 hectares are in productive pasture, with the balance in healthy native regrowth providing shelter and aesthetic value. Infrastructure includes a tidy two-stand woolshed, sheep and cattle yards, and load-out facilities suitable for all classes of livestock.

processor or blender. Add the lemon juice and salt. Blend until smooth. Melt the butter over low heat or in the microwave. With the blender motor running, gradually pour in the butter in a thin, steady stream. Keep the sauce warm by standing the container in warm water or pouring it into a warmed vacuum flask.

Halve the muffins, then toast. Microwave or steam the spinach until limp. Squeeze dry and chop again. Poach the eggs in simmering water.

To serve, top the muffin halves with the spinach, avocado and salmon. Top with the poached eggs and the Hollandaise Sauce. Serves 2.

Baked Brie

Excellent served as a starter to dinner or for brunch.

125g round brie

1 tablespoon butter, softened

2 tablespoons flaked almonds

Place the cheese on an oven-proof plate. Spread the butter over the top and sides of the cheese. Pat the almonds on top. Refrigerate until required.

Preheat the air fryer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Place the brie and the oven-proof plate in the air fryer and cook at 180°C for 3-5 minutes until just beginning to melt. Or preheat the conventional oven to 180°C and bake for about 10 minutes.

Serve with warm crusty bread and a selection of olives, sundried tomatoes and/or quince paste. Serves 2-4.

insertions, 12 insertions etc. chosen allows ad sizes to vary within the rate bracket. If the number of insertions chosen is not

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STOCK MANAGER / GENERAL FARM POSITION

We’re looking for a reliable, hard-working Stockperson to take the reins of our 340ha dry stock farm in Waimiha. If you enjoy working independently and getting stuck into all aspects of farm life, this is the spot for you.

What the job looks like:

You’ll be handling the day-to-day running of the farm—everything from sheep and cattle work to the usual general maintenance like fencing, weed control, feeding out, and crutching. It’s a sole-charge role, so you’ll need to be someone who can manage their own time (with some weekend work in the mix).

What you’ll need:

• Rotational Grazing and Pasture Management experience

• Stock management (drenching, weighing stock etc)

• A solid background working with sheep and beef

• A good team of working dogs

• To be physically fit and a straight shooter when it comes to communication.

Strong organisational skills to keep the place humming.

• Crutching and shearing skills

• Tractor driving experience

• Current and full NZ driver

Two Bedroom Accommodation can be provided (More suited to a single person or a couple)

Please email a CV with referees to: tbfwaimiha@gmail.com

To be eligible for this role, you must be available for an in-person interview

QUARRY OPERATOR – FIXED PLANT RORISONS LIMESTONE QUARRY

Rorisons RMD are looking for a reliable, handson person to operate our quarry fixed crushing and screening plant.

No fixed plant experience? We can train the right person.

What matters is attitude, reliability, and a willingness to learn.

Full-time, permanent role

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If this sounds like you and you have a great sense of humour, build strong relationships and are a team player, join us at Rorisons and help shape the future of our quarry operations!

For full job details head online to Seek or Trade Me. Just search for Rorisons

Or send your CV or a short note about yourself and your work background to Grayden Haine at jobvacancy@rorisons.co.nz

We are more interested in finding the right person than the perfect CV. Drug & alcohol testing applies.

Cleaning

Movie this Wednesday, for the 'young at heart'

‘Radio’

movie 10.30am All seniors welcome

DAY

50th Anniversary of Piopio College –Reunion Planning Meeting

A meeting will be held to gauge support and interest in organising a reunion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Piopio College over Labour Weekend 2026.

Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 Time: 7:30pm Location: Piopio College Staffroom

All interested past and present students, staff, and community members are warmly invited to attend.

For expressions of interest or enquiries, please contact: Brian Tegg –brimar4042@outlook.com

DAIRY grazing available for R1 and R2 heifers. Call

Aaron on 027 388 3881

TO LET

HOUSE TO RENT –

3-bedroom, 1 bathroom. Otorohanga township. No pets. $550 per week. Available now. Ph 0210 2928140

SELF-CONTAINED unit to let. Studio room with ensuite and kitchenette. Rural views, 5 mins south of Otorohanga. Heat pump. $300p/w including power, gas & hot water. Suit single person. Ph 021 796 300.

TWO BEDROOM flat, very tidy. Handy to Te Kuiti town centre. Ideal for couple, not suitable for children. Email murdalziel@hotmail.com

WANTED TO BUY

WANTED TO BUY. Any ute, van, 4WD, truck or car. Any condition doesn’t have to be going. Cash paid. Ph/txt Kevin 027 299 6165

WANTED

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THANKS

On behalf of Allan, Pam, and Laurie, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all the workers, helpers, speakers, and those who travelled from near and afar. Your kindness, presence, and support during the sad passing of Sandra Drummond on 13.4.26 meant more to us than words can express.

We are truly thankful to everyone who offered comfort, shared memories, and stood beside us during this difficult time. Your compassion has helped carry us through our loss

We would especially like to acknowledge Maketu Marae and Manaaki Funerals in Hamilton for the outstanding care and professionalism shown in preparing Sandra for her next journey. Your support and attention to detail brought us great comfort. Please accept this as a personal thank you for your love, support, and kindness.

Harvest Church Ōtorohanga

Sunday Service @ 10.30am 5 Tuhoro Street, Ōtorohanga Ph 07 873 8890 Mob 027 493 0117 Email harvest.pc@xtra.co.nz ALL WELCOME. Pastors Peter & Carole Coventry (An Assemblies of God Church)

PIOPIO

Support when you need it most

Saying goodbye is never easy. Our local, professional, and compassionate team is here 24/7, guiding you with care and respect every step of the way.

Call us anytime – we’re here for you.

870 2137

Will

Jason P: 021 2666 021 E: jason@perfectlawn.co.nz

St Bride's Anglican Church Haerehuka St Ōtorohanga

Sunday morning service 10am

Ph 07 873 7006

St David's Presbyterian Church Ranfurly St, Ōtorohanga

Services – Sunday 10am

Session clerk

Ph Dawn 07 873 8735 Room bookings Ph Claire 027 276 6624

ARIA MŌKAU CO-OPERATING PARISH

All Saints Piopio, 22 Moa St Sunday 10am

St Peter’s by the Sea 25 Aria Tce, Mōkau 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sunday 2pm

Piopio contact: 07 877 8097

Mokau contact: 06 752 9123

We welcome you to our 10.30am Sunday service. www.journeychurch.org.nz 10 Sheridan St, Te Kūiti An Assemblies of God church 10:30am Sunday 10 Sheridan St, Te Kuiti

10:30am Sunday 10 Sheridan St, Te Kuiti

Pastor Terry & Rowena Bradley 07 878 8694 021 703 008

Pastor Terry & Rowena Bradley 07 878 8694 021 703 008

An Assemblies of God Church

An Assemblies of God Church

King Country Christians meet every Sunday in the Piopio Senior Citizens Hall, Weka Street, Piopio, at 10.30am

Phone Judy 021135946

Everyone is welcome! Phone 0211359346