TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2025
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FEBRUARY 20, 2025
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St John plans move
By Jon Rawlinson
Te Kūiti’s loss could be Te Awamutu’s gain if a proposed change by Hato Hone St John goes to plan. Alarm bells have been sounding for some time in Te Kuiti over fears the town’s only ambulance will head north to Te Awamutu. St John was poised to deliver its prognosis at a meeting yesterday – after this edition went to press. A document sent to staff outlines a plan and changes to be applied 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,” the document 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 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.’ Mark Quin from the NZ Ambulance Association is arguing against the move. “Having worked in the service for 25 years, I think the community may suffer. 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 has been assured such changes will not prove costly. “They [St John] have promised me that whatever changes are made it will not decrease the service level in our district,” he said. “The way they described it to me was that it will be driven down from each morning, first thing. That was a proposal, which I suspect they’ve been consulting on.”
St John says it’s difficult to find staff to work in Te Kuiti.
Raceway faces licence fight By Mary Anne Gill
The tense relationship between police, liquor licensing officials and Cambridge Raceway over the drunken behaviour of patrons two years ago was laid bare at a hearing this week. At stake is the renewal of the trotting company’s on licence and its extension into a grassed area at its Taylor Street premises, something the police, Medical
Officer of Health and Waipa licensing inspectors oppose. Health officials were a no show at the two-day hearing, but senior sergeant David Hall used the Night of Champions event on April 14, 2023, to illustrate why police think the company was an unsuitable candidate. Two patrons were removed and 10 arrests made for fighting, disorderly and threatening behaviour.
Chief executive Dave Branch argued changes made by the Raceway last year, including boosted security and bringing in an independent company to run the general admission areas, demonstrated responsibility and supported a finding of suitability. The hearing was ongoing as The News went to press and a decision is not expected in time for a special licence hearing next week for the Night of Champions event on
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The licensing agency wants several conditions imposed if a new on license is granted. They include Raceway staff making daily swoops around the neighbourhood looking for rubbish, noise and alcohol management plans be added as conditions and the grandstand have a different designation depending on the type of activity. • Go to teawamutunews.nz for further updates from the hearing.
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April 4. Murray Branch, a consultant for Harkness Henry and Dave Branch’s father, criticised the police response to the 2023 event, arguing that penalising Cambridge Raceway by cancelling its license would put the business and community facility at risk. He suggested Waipā District Council inspectors sent “misinformation” to agencies like the police and Ministry of Health.
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