King Country
King Country News | 1
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
Residential • Rural Commercial • Tennis Courts
FREE
469 Bond Road Te Awamutu 07 870 6328
kingcountrynews.nz FEBRUARY 20, 2025
Ambo heading north? By Jon Rawlinson
The alarm has been sounded, with full lights and sirens, but it appears Te Kūiti’s ambulance service will survive, albeit operating from a new base of operations. As this edition went to press, St John was poised to deliver its prognosis at a meeting scheduled for yesterday (Wednesday). The fate of the service had been in doubt with a plan touted to move the town’s only ambulance to Te Awamutu. It would then be driven to Te Kūiti each morning. Although Mark Quin from the NZ Ambulance Association concedes that it’s impossible to predict, he argues against such a move. “Having worked in the service for 25 years, I think the community may suffer,” he said. “I’ve put a submission in and told them my thoughts – not to [relocate] because it’s another resource out of the community, it’s another resource gone that you’ll never get back.” Waitomo mayor John Robertson
said St John had promised him that whatever changes were made would not decrease the service level in the district. “The way they described it to me was that it will be driven down from Te Awamutu each morning, first thing. That was a proposal, which I suspect they’ve been consulting on.” St John staff members were notified of the proposal last month with a timeline for consultation and feedback. A document sent to staff outlines the plan which suggests changes from March 31. “With the proposed move to start and finish the Te Kūiti vehicle from Te Awamutu station, the vehicle will immediately travel to Te Kūiti to be based there,’ it says. “Forty-five minutes from the end of the shift it will… travel back to Te Awamutu station to end its shift.” Difficulty recruiting people to be based in Te Kūiti is given by St John as the reason behind the move. ‘Recruiting is harder to achieve in the more geographically remote areas… Historically and typically,
the majority of staff who cover the Te Kūiti roster do not live in, or near, Te Kuiti and they are travelling considerable distances to commence their shift[s]”. ‘We believe this change will greatly enhance recruitment and retention for this roster which serves and benefits the Te Kūiti community… Te Awamutu will be more accessible/attractive to a greater number of staff to provide additional shift cover during roster gaps.” Keith Buswell, from Te Kūiti Medical Centre, has previously substantiated claims that St John has struggled to fill roles locally. But he contends that relocating the ambulance is not the answer. “We know there are issues around recruiting staff who are willing to live in rural areas like Te Kūiti, but we would be very concerned if the regular ambulance service was removed from town,” he said at the time. “It would have a significant impact on response times from the ambulance and would compromise patient care.”
SPRING SPECIAL
E S U HO H S A W Valentine’s Day + parade, with a difference R E $449 T T GU N A E CL JUMP THE QUEUE AND BOOK YOUR SPRING St John CLEAN says it’s difficult to findWASH staff to work in Te Kuiti.
FROM
Speedy assistance ensured a fleeing duo ran out of road on Valentine’s Day. A man and woman from New Plymouth who were in car spotted driving dangerously in Te Kuiti were eventually brought to a halt… 80km away in central Hamilton. But only after a lengthy case of police playing follow the leader. The driver of the car ignored requests to stop after being reported in Te Kūiti, drove over several sets of road spikes in Ōhaupō
and Glenview, Hamilton, then led police on a low speed parade before stopping in central Hamilton. “A Subaru vehicle was driving dangerously and overtaking vehicles through roadworks in Te Kūiti,” Senior Sergeant Leo Belay from Waikato Police said. “After being located and signalled to stop, the vehicle fled but was not pursued. It continued to drive in a dangerous manner towards Hamilton, where more members of
Tristram Street where two people, both from the public called to report erratic driving.” After being spotted by police in Te New Plymouth, were taken into custody. Awamutu, an unmarked car followed. Road A 30-year-old woman was reportedly spikes (TDDs), used in Ōhaupō, punctured G e t S u m m e r R e“assisting a d y w i t hwith y o u renquiries” L o c a l S o fwhile t W a sah33-yearExperts! any hopes of a clean getaway. old man faces charges including dangerous “The vehicle continued toward Glenview driving, aggravated failure to stop and driving in Hamilton, where TDDs were successfully while disqualified, Sgt Belay said. deployed a further four times in quick “This event demonstrates the importance succession. Police then “engaged” in a lowof reporting dangerous driving behaviour and speed pursuit of the vehicle into Hamilton.” The vehicle was eventually stopped on the assistance it provides to police,” he said * PREQUALIFYING CONDITIONS APPLY. PRICING APPLIES TO HOMES UP TO 160M2 IN THE WKING e ho are s COUNTRY, WAITOMO & OTOROHANGA DISTRICTS m o
+GST
f e OFFERHouse Wash with Book SUMMER your Summer , to t on on sSoftex u
0277702333
Book your House Wash with us, mention this ad & get a FREE Exterior Window Clean on us! Offer ends March 30, 2025
2 Oliver Street Cambridge
(opposite Mitre 10 Mega)
Ph 07 834 3553
Mon– Fri 9am – 5pm Sat 9-4pm | Sun 10-3pm
@HuntingandFishingCambridge www.huntingandfishing.co.nz
MAKUCH ROOFING provides a full range of roofing services across the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Auckland regions. From large scale commercial buildings to new homes, roof replacements and guttering. No job is too big or too small jonathan@makuchroofing.co.nz | 0274 284 027 www.makuchroofing.co.nz
oft We’re s , es m on ho on h g u to grime!
gr
im
e!
gh
We Clean: Homes WE CLEAN Gutters • HOMES Roofs • GUTTERSDriveways • ROOFS Decks and more...!
• DRIVEWAYS • DECKS AND MORE...!
Be one of the first to secure your team and for your Pest bookingAsk for our February, receive * one of 10 $30 Prezzy Cards! Control quote to tackle spiders,
*Mention this ad to qualify, limited to first 10 confirmed bookings only, one Prezzy Card per flies, cockroaches and more! client/booking, to be redeemed upon completion of service, not redeemable for cash.
www.softex.co.nz
027 770 2333