Te Awamutu News | March 5, 2026

A walk for Gaiah-Rose

By Jesse Wood

A bench seat in memory of Gaiah-Rose Maikuku, 10, will soon overlook Te Awamutu Primary School’s bike track from the hill on the school boundary.

The etching on a plaque will read “Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten”.

That was one of GaiahRose’s favourite quotes from the 2002 Disney film Lilo & Stitch.

Gaiah-Rose died in January after a short battle

with lymphoma cancer.

During her time receiving care at Starship Hospital in Auckland, Ronald McDonald House provided the Maikuku family with a place to stay for close to a month - a home away from home during an incredibly difficult time.

“Ronald McDonald House were awesome, without them we probably would’ve sunk,” dad Jason Maikuku said. “There’s no way we would have been able to afford accommodation while we were up there.

“I never knew what

Ronald McDonald House was all about. I suppose there’s only one way you really find out and that’s to be in that situation.”

Her school’s community wants to honour GaiahRose and acknowledge the support her family received by giving back in return. They are hosting a fundraising event for Ronald McDonald House starting at 8am next Tuesday. The event, 10-10-10, will be a 10-hour community walking baton relay, celebrating 10 years of life, held on March 10.

Instead of a baton, the walkers will use a colourful wand - something GaiahRose would have loved.

The wand will be passed from walker to walker throughout the day, showing collective support and aroha.

“We would love for members of our wider community to come along and join our Taps (Te Awamutu Primary School) whānau,” deputy principal Kim Tautari-Scott said. “We just need to keep the baton moving on the track for 10 hours.

Buckets on the course on the day will be provided to collect donations and the appeal also has a crowdfunding page online. It had raised more than $17,000 earlier this week.

School principal Sharon Griffiths said all staff members have had a part in designing the day, by posing ideas and voting on the outcome.

“It’s tragic. Especially because it occurred in the summer break, which is usually a time of whānau, holidays, Christmas and all the things that kids find exciting,” Griffiths said. “There was no chance for a farewell or goodbye. It was quite unexpected and sudden.

“The whānau have been so generous, in their darkest

times, sharing information with the community so that everybody could follow their journey.

“We wanted to do something to raise funds and decided that Ronald McDonald House not only helped the Maikuku whānau, but it’s also helped staff members who have had grandchildren in Starship or Middlemore, and other families in the community, who might have stayed there,” Griffiths said.

“They’ve had a big impact on Te Awamutu families, even though they’re in Auckland, and it would benefit future families.”

Mum Elsie van Tol said

when they had arrived at Ronald McDonald House, they looked in their library. The first book they saw was one written by Taps teacher Amy Harrop.

“We read that to Gaiah and I think she really liked it.”

The family remain part of Taps. Gaiah-Rose’s sister is a student there and another sister is due to start on March 9.

Elsie said they all have no words to describe how grateful they are for the community’s backing.

“The community support, whānau support, all the support has been unreal, unbelievable,” Jason said.

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Q&A SCREENING

REGENT THEATRE TE AWAMUTU MARCH 16, 6.30PM

JOINDIRECTOR LISA BURD AND

Screen gem Allan is 80

By Jesse Wood

Allan Webb was honoured at The Regent Theatre Te Awamutu – his longtime second home – last weekend.

The former owner-operator celebrated his 80th birthday with about 80 guests from the community - thanks to the Allan Webb Theatre Trust and Regent operations manager Linden Gomes.

“It was very good. I’m glad Allan accepted and the community showed up to celebrate with us,” Linden said.

He told Webb: “I have many things to say and many memories to share, but there is one in particular that [my wife] Vivian and I always come back to. In March 2017, when Vivian came here to watch the liveaction Beauty and the Beast, she bought a cappuccino - probably her third coffee that Wednesday morning.

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“A few days later, we came back to see another movie. While we were waiting for Cinema 3 to open, you walked over to Vivian, gave her three dollars, and explained

that on that morning the coffee machine had been broken and she had probably received a bad cappuccino. You said you wanted to refund her.

“Of course, Vivian hadn’t noticed anything wrong. She had never complained. But you remembered. You chose honesty.

“And what did she do with the refund? She went straight back to the candy bar and bought... another cappuccino.

“That day we realised something very special: you saw us. You respected us. You could have ignored it - she hadn’t complained, she might never have noticedbut instead, you chose integrity. That small gesture became a story we’ve shared ever since.”

Webb said he was grateful for the “many kind words” delivered

“If you love your job, you will never work a day in your life. I have been privileged to have loved my chosen profession. How lucky can a person be?

Projectionist Rohan Dolan shared some photos of theatres Allan had worked at,

On the beat with Senior Constable

DEB HANN

Getting the message across

Facilitating connection with police is a key part of the community liaison role; be that connection with neighbourhoods, government and local agencies, retailers or other community organisations.

Last Thursday afternoon I was invited to speak to residents at Cambridge Oaks retirement village. We talked about crime prevention, scams, 111 and 105, what to report and when. In the evening, I followed that with meeting locals from the Mystery Creek area, at the invitation of the Fieldays Society at their neighbourhood meeting. The take-away topic there was the importance of reporting crime and activity from an intelligence and information standpoint. Something you may think is insignificant, could provide us with the final piece of an investigation puzzle or could indicate a pattern of behaviour by a specific individual, vehicle or location.

Each week police can receive any number of information reports (“code 2I”) on a variety of matters. These often relate to criminal activity such as observations of drug dealing, movement of stolen goods or individuals who habitually drive while intoxicated or disqualified.

The Crimestoppers phone line (0500 555 111) is one avenue through which people can report anonymously where they fear identification by the individuals or addresses on which they are reporting. Others come

plus the Regent at various stages of its development.

Then a 1971 movie, Melody, chosen by Allan, was played for all to enjoy.

directly through the Police 105 system. However the information is received, it is important that we receive it. While you may not see action immediately, every piece of the puzzle is noted, helps build an overall picture and is appreciated. If it’s not reported, then we simply may not know about it and cannot address the activity.

So, what is suspicious? Signs of drug dealing may be different vehicles arriving for short term visits to an address, an individual going out to meet up with cars briefly and an exchange taking place or a strong chemical or cannabis odour emanating from an address. Burglars or dishonesty offenders may case out properties, driving slowly down a street or up driveways. The occupants often provide excuses about looking for a mate or a dog or having the wrong address if confronted. Individuals may walk around closed neighbourhoods asking residents to use the toilet or for a glass of water, looking for an opportunity to steal. You as neighbours are often the best ones to identify people and vehicles that look out of place for the street or road. If you see a vehicle or people acting in any of these ways, pay close attention to their appearance in addition to the registration of the car and report it as soon as possible. If it’s happening at the time, dial 111, if later, call 105.

Cemetery land sale

Waipa District Council will sell 5880m² of unused land at Puahue Cemetery, east of Kihikihi, and keep 1202m² to meet future burial needs. The proposed sale, expected to return $500,000 would take up to a year to complete. Ngāti Hikairo oppose any sale of cemetery land due to its tapu status.

Plan boost

An interim Environment Court decision released last week has been welcomed as “good news” for 2800 farmers in the Waikato Regional Council catchment by its chief executive Chris McLay. The decision, related to amendments to the Resource Management Act, supports the use of permitted activities for some activities covered by the council’s Plan Change 1 proposal which aims to improve Waikato and Waipā river water quality.

Travel winner

Te Awamutu’s Tania Wheeler has picked up the award as New Zealand’s highest volume consultant at an awards dinner in Sydney. The event attracted more than 250 travel industry leaders. Wheeler’s House of Travel outlet also placed second to its Hamilton branch in the highest volume sales race. House of Travel was the only network nominated for awards.

Film screening

The Regent Theatre Te Awamutu will host a screening of sports documentary No Tears on the Field and a Q&A session with director Lisa Burd and Southern Rugby Club (Hāwera) player Kate Thomson, in mid-March. The 93 minute documentary shines a light on the determination and resilience of women striving to break barriers in New Zealand rugby.

Pair attacked

Police are asking for help to identify three men who attacked two people who had earlier taken exception to a car being driven to perform burnouts in Marychurch Rd, Mātangi, on Saturday night. The two were taken to hospital and police have called the attacked cowardly.

A watertight deal signed

By Chris Gardner

Waipā District Council has confirmed it will hand over water services to Waikato Waters.

The council adopted its transfer agreement at last week’s meeting.

In Waikato Waters –previously Waikato Waters Done Well – Waipā joins Matamata-Piako, Hauraki, Ōtorohanga, Waitomo, South Waikato and Taupō district councils. It brings together the water and wastewater services of six councils and provides shared services to Taupo from July this year.

Significantly in light of recent flooding, a stormwater arrangement has still to be sorted. Waikato Water has indicated it could also include stormwater from July 2027.

Establishment board chair Elena Trout and directors Jon Lamonte and Jaydene Kana are overseeing the largest grouping of councils forming a waters entity in the country.

Hamilton City and Waikato district have teamed up to form a water entity under the Iawai - Flowing Waters moniker. Chartered accountant Kana also chairs the Flowing Waters establishment board.

The organisations are publicly owned and council controlled.

Waikato Waters will manage about 140,000 connections and Flowing Waters 97,000. The formation of water entities is designed to make cumulative savings of hundreds of millions of dollars over 20 years.

Waipā mayor Mike Pettit said, in a statement, joining Waikato Waters reflected the council’s responsibility to plan ahead as pressures on water infrastructure continued to grow.

“Across the country, councils are dealing with ageing pipes, rising costs, tighter regulations and more

frequent extreme weather. Recent events have shown how quickly water services and communities can be affected,” he said.

The transfer agreement came as staff entered recovery mode following the Valentine’s Day storm and floods in Waipā and northern King Country.

Waipā’s acting general manager of business support Georgina Knapp said additional attention, intervention or decision making was required to stay on track because of the recent weather.

“Due to the level of damage across the district additional work will be required to understand the status of assets transferring, impact on the capital delivery programme in regard to phasing and any financial implications,” Knapp said.

She flagged an amber alert as the council moved into recovery mode from

response mode. Amber indicates the programme is experiencing issues or emerging risks that could significantly affect timeframes if not actively managed.

“Emerging risks and programme pressures require active management. These are largely driven by compressed timeframes and complex interdependencies across workstreams,” she said. “Given council’s reliance on Waikato Waters Ltd to meet shared milestones, continued close collaboration and disciplined course correction by both parties is essential.”

Knapp’s comments came in the wake of significant storm damage at Pirongia’s Te Tahi Water Treatment Plant. It was taken out of operation, reducing water capacity across the district.

Pirongia’s water supply was strengthened last week with a new backup connection completed at the

Frontier Road reservoir.

Group manager service delivery Eeva-Liisa Wright said in a statement that thanks to Waipā’s early planning and investment in water network, teams did not have to start from scratch.

“The infrastructure upgrades done in previous years meant we were ready to act. This new connection will act as a safety net. It gives us flexibility while we continue testing the system and working through recovery.”

Emergency restriction in Pirongia will remain in place until testing shows it is safe to bring the new connection into full operation.

“Any easing of restrictions will happen step by step once we’re confident the system can handle it,” Wright said.

In response to Pirongia councillor Clare St Pierre’s concerns that staff involved in disaster recovery might

not have had time to apply for roles at Waikato Water, water transition team lead Kevan Scott said an extension had been granted.

Scott said South Waikato and Waitomo district councils, who are joining the organisation in the same tranche as Waipa, were on track to join in July.

The water services deal sets out the legal and governance framework for how services, infrastructure, assets and the workforce will move to the new council-controlled water organisation alongside other councils in the Waikato region.

Pettit said by working with those other councils, Waipā could share expertise, strengthen capability and manage costs more sustainably.

“This approach keeps ownership in community hands while giving us the scale needed to meet future challenges,” he said.

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Temporary fix for Pirongia

By Chris Gardner

Shereen Parker is breathing a sigh of relief following news a temporary bridge is expected to be built on State Highway 39 by the middle of the month.

Parker’s Franklin Street business in Pirongia, The Hive, experienced its worst day on Sunday, two weeks after the Mangati Bridge south of the township became a storm victim.

When traffic was diverted away from State Highway 39, Pirongia businesses saw takings plummet.

Transport minister Chris Bishop confirmed a timeline last week the day after Taranaki-King Country MP Barbara Kuriger inspected the damage across the Waipā and Ōtorohanga districts and

promised to advocate for the region.

NZTA plans to install a 40-metre Acrow (Bailey-style) steel-framed temporary bridge with a 50-tonne weight limit slightly upstream of the existing two-lane bridge.

“Crews have already cleared tonnes of debris from the site, allowing specialist teams to begin work on both the temporary bridge and the permanent replacement,” Bishop said in a statement.

“Council partners and landowners have recognised the urgency of this work and supported it every step of the way.”

“Work is also underway on accelerated design and procurement so construction of the new permanent twolane bridge can begin later

this year,” Bishop said.

Parker heard the news from Pirongia ward councillor Clare St Pierre who had had heard it from The News.

“It’s brilliant news,” Parker said.

She was heartened that the permanent bridge could be rebuilt while the temporary bridge was in operation.

Mountain Folk Café

Retreat owner Michelle Richardson described the news as positive and praised Waipā District Council for its advocacy and communication.

Waipā chief executive Steph O’Sullivan said the council hoped to establish a support hub in Pirongia to allow residents to access support from government agencies.

Kuriger was given a short list by Waipā mayor Mike Pettit and O’Sullivan when they met her at Pirongia Four Square last Wednesday.

“I will go up and down the corridors of the beehive and keep knocking on doors,” Kuriger said.

Receiving $100,000 from the Government for the Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund was a high priority, O’Sullivan said Kuriger also visited a

bridge on Mangauika Road where Downer Group’s Willy Chester and his team were working on restoring a bridge that had been unpassable since being submerged in a metre of water in the storm.

Kuriger said residents in need did not have to go it alone.

“Come to the council, come to the local MP. If you need something, just ask,” she said.

Pettit described the

AMAZING

IS IN SEASON

announcement as welcome news for the Pirongia community.

“Getting a temporary bridge in place so quickly means people can get back to their normal routines much sooner. We know the last couple of weeks have been tough, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as this work gets underway,” he said.

He acknowledged Minister Chris Bishop and the council’s government

partners “for moving so quickly on this”.

“Getting a temporary bridge in by mid-March is exactly what our Pirongia community needed. It means people can get back to normal much sooner, and we really appreciate the quick action.”

Ōtorohanga mayor Rodney Dow said it was pretty obvious a temporary bridge was required.

“The bridge was smashed,” he said.

ON SHAKY GROUND

Entering the time of

By Janine Krippner

Last year I shared signs to look out for when it comes to spotting if something has been generated by AI (Artificial Intelligence). That is now out of date.

Matt Shumer, who works in the AI space, recently wrote an essay “Something big is happening.” Some experts disagree with some of his thoughts, but he had important messages that we should all hear.

The essay has two sides: a serious warning, and excitement about the possibilities that AI brings.

As with any powerful tool, it depends on how we, as humanity, use it. It depends on our ethics, the questions we are exploring, and how we value and protect others.

Part of the warning is about AI replacing jobs. Will we form protections to prevent job loss? There are a lot of big questions. I remember when the iPhone first came out. I didn’t see why I would ever need a minicomputer in my pocket. A waste of money, right?

That is now laughable - it has become something that is difficult to live without. AI is this next big leap. It is here whether we like it or not, and it is rapidly evolving with what it can accomplish.

There are all the possibilities in improving aspects of life that will impact us, like medical treatments and cures. In science, AI can be used to work through enormous amounts of data and find new solutions. There are remarkable and very exciting possibilities.

There is the darker side. For years I have

AI

voiced my concerns about misinformation, and it is getting harder to spot. Using AI, people can now create realistic videos and create virtual people that are worryingly realistic. You can even create music. Starting with a few ideas, AI can return a song. Singers and all. It is increasingly important for us to have healthy scepticism and discernment, especially on social media. Unfortunately, there are people out there who will use this to try to trick us into giving them money and personal information. Fake websites exist where you can purchase something that doesn’t exist.

After regular internet security training, I never click on advertising links, and I always verify a new website by looking up reviews. If someone sends a message with a link I wasn’t expecting, I double-check that it is legitimate. There are quick and easy things we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Even if AI is something that scares or irritates you, I recommend learning about it. The speed at which it is improving is so rapid that if you used it a few months ago and decided it wasn’t very good, that is now out of date. F ree versions are not the same as the more powerful paid for versions.

There is much hope and optimism to be had, as long as we pair it with asking questions, educating ourselves, double checking what we see online, and taking a few seconds to think about how accurate something may be.

Slow down, look around

By Reverend Samuel Pullenger - St John’s Anglican Parish

I’m sure all of us will remember that a few weeks ago we had a massive storm come through.

The rivers rose over their banks, areas of Waipā were flooded, roads were blocked and some lives were changed forever.

As we read in the Te Awamutu News, the damage was widespread and affected a large portion of Waipā’s population.

Now a few weeks later, for many of us, time has moved on and the storm has been left in the past. For others, though, the aftermath will take months, if not years to truly work through.

I think we find it particularly easy in our modern context to move on when events are not directly related to us; there is always another news story, always another event to focus on.

However, when a big event happens in our lives, when we lose our livelihood, or are forced to relocate, when we lose somebody close to us, these events stop us. The world keeps moving on, but our world grinds to a halt.

It is often a really lonely space to be in, feeling like we are experiencing this all on our own. This feeling of loneliness is often reinforced when the expected time of “grieving” or “getting over it” comes and goes and yet the event still sits there in our soul.

I was heartened as I read The News, a couple weeks back, when small communities came together to support one another; even reading of the Pirongia Four Square

owner providing cheap, easy, hot chickens. These acts are small acts of generosity and compassion, but they go a long way to giving us a picture of what a flourishing community looks like.

Throughout the Bible, one of the recurring themes is to not forget the poor, the orphan, the oppressed, the stranger or the widow (Zechariah 7:10; Gal. 2:10).

The idea of this theme is not to single out any one member of society and label; rather, it is to recognise that a healthy community reaches out to care for those who need it.

More than this, a healthy community takes the time to look around, to listen to stories told by individuals, and to come alongside in friendship. Jesus showed us what this looks like throughout his life as he frequently made time to find those in need, those who were on the margins of society, giving each one a voice and a place.

As our community moves on from the storms of early February, there will be some who do not move on so quickly.

Many of us will have other events that have stopped our worlds as well. As a community, I encourage us to be people who slow down, who look around.

Rather than waiting for others to reach out, may we be people who listen carefully to the stories of others, recognising when another’s world has stopped.

I invite us, in those moments, to come alongside, in friendship, and journey together as you find a new way for the world to spin.

Forum missed Māori angle

By Mary Anne Gill

Waikato University has been criticised by Waipā District Council chief executive Steph O’Sullivan for failing to acknowledge the Māori Queen’s recent Economic Forum at its own event last month.

Writing in an exclusive column for Good Local Media’s March edition of Waikato Business News, O’Sullivan said the omission overlooked both indigenous economic leadership and the scale of Māori investment interests represented at Te Arikinui Kuini Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō’s Ōhanga ki te Ao summit.

Te Arikinui announced the multi-million-dollar Kotahitanga Fund at the conclusion of the summit in November last year, describing it as a platform to help grow the $126 billion Māori economy.

More than 200 iwi representatives, business leaders, sovereign wealth fund heads and other delegates attended the summit at Waikato University’s Te Pā, where discussions focused on

advancing indigenous economic initiatives and long-term investment strategies.

O’Sullivan said the university’s two-day Management School New Zealand Economics Forum, held at the same venue last month, made no reference to the Kotahitanga Fund or the indigenous economic leadership and investment scale represented at the earlier gathering.

“That absence matters,” she said in the column which also covered the local government response to the Valentine’s Weekend floods in Waipā and Ōtorohanga.

“If our economic conversations do not fully acknowledge iwi partnership and Māori economic leadership and innovation, they risk being incomplete. Because every time crisis hits, the reality is the same: local government shows up, and iwi open their doors,” said O’Sullivan.

• Read Waikato Business News and Bay of Plenty Business News online goodlocal.nz

Searching for 10 more men

By Viv Posselt

Ongoing research into the men behind the names on Te Awamutu’s World War One cenotaph has prompted a call for help from the New Zealand Society of Genealogists Te Awamutu Branch.

Aided by the public, members of the group have already researched 37 of the 58 fallen WW1 soldiers listed on the cenotaph at Anzac Green. Research is continuing into the remaining 21, as well as on four listed on the Roll of Honour at the Te Awamutu RSA.

Throughout the project, the genealogists have divided the names into groups of 10 to focus the research more effectively.

One of the group’s members, Linda Howarth, said stories on the 10 listed for 2026 had been completed and will be presented at a public meeting at the Te Awamutu library on April 29, a date selected for its proximity to Anzac Day.

The group now wants to gather information on the 10 names listed for 2027. Howarth said while they do have some detail on several of the soldiers, they are keen for living relatives of the men to come forward with

whatever information they may have.

“People might have material at home that will help us tell the stories of these men… certificates, documents or letters, photographs, medals, books,” she said. “It could be anything at all that might help us build a story around who they were, where they lived and what they did before going to war.”

The names being researched for 2027 are Leonard Davis (mother was from Te Awamutu), Percy De Ville (born in Te Awamutu, worked in Te Rahu and named on the St John’s Church plaque), Hugh Hansen and John Hastie (both with fathers from Te Awamutu), George Houghton (parents Te Awamutu and he worked in Te Awamutu), James Houston (father Te Awamutu), Robert Hunter (RSA information from Cambridge), William Johns (born Te Awamutu and on St John’s Church plaque), Keith Johnston (born Paterangi), and Theodore Marshall (lived Te Awamutu).

Howarth is asking anyone with information on these 10 men to come along to the April 29 meeting with whatever they have that

Repair Revolution Waipā

can be shared with the genealogists.

“The data could be from anywhere across the wider district. These men’s names are on the cenotaph because they were listed as having an association with Te Awamutu when they enlisted,” she said, “but they may have lived and worked elsewhere in the district, and their living relatives could also be living further afield.”

The group is also looking to swell its number of researchers and can help those new to the task by providing lists of websites to search.

“They don’t have to be members of the group – just people with an interest in

Online data

News in brief was the most popular post on the Te Awamutu News website while the home page was top, digital statistics for last month show. The second most popular page were our e-Editions and our next top posts were the online only stories of Barbara Kuriger’s inspection of the St Valentine’s Day storm damage, damage to the Department of Conservation’s Pirongia tracks and State of Emergency extended.

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Taylor Made Community Space 22A Taylor Street, Cambridge Saturday, March 21 | 2pm – 5.30pm Learn machine care, sewing basics, and create a zipper pouch.

Taylor Made Community Space 22A Taylor Street, Cambridge Tuesday, March 24 | 6pm – 8.30pm Restore broken ceramics with lacquer and gold.

EVERYDAY FIXES

Urban Miners, Leamington Saturday, March 28 | 2pm – 4pm

After the storm: the road to recovery

Waipā District is transitioning to a recovery phase after the State of Emergency response to a one-in-250-year weather event that caused severe flooding and slips in mid-February

Timeline of events:

Saturday, February 14: Mayor Mike Pettit declares a State of Emergency following damage to roads, reserves and infrastructure in the western side of the district

Friday, February 20: Declaration extended for another seven days

Wednesday, February 25: State of Emergency declaration lifted, transition to recovery begins

Council teams will continue assessing roads, water networks, and other critical infrastructure, while working closely with partner agencies to ensure support reaches those who need it most

Reconnecting Waipā

The mid-February storm caused significant damage to infrastructure across the western side of the district and Wharepapa South At its peak, 12 local roads were closed, along with more than six reserves and tracks In total, 133 people across Waipā and Ōtorohanga were displaced

The response from emergency services, iwi, contractors, volunteers, council staff and the community has been outstanding

At the time of print:

All Waipā residents have returned home, and only a small number of Ōtorohanga residents remain displaced

All local roads are open to residents - some restrictions remain in place Corcoran Road is open to residents only at particular times of the day

State Highway 39 remains closed between Te Tahi and Ngutunui Roads while repairs are underway on the damaged Mangati Bridge A temporary bridge is expected to be installed by mid-March

Some tracks and reserves remain closed while we continue to assess damage and address safety risks Pirongia Forest, Sainsbury Road Reserve, Kakepuku Mountain Track and Pirongia Mountain tracks are still closed, but Pirongia Esplanade Track and Mātakitaki Pā have now reopened

and you’ve been affected by the recent flooding and storm damage, we may be able to help

To find out more visit: waipadc govt nz/relieffund

Pick up a form from: Waipā District Council office (101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu), or Te Awamutu Library (Selwyn Lane)

Want to make a donation? Help our community get back on its feet

Waipā District Council – Mayoral Relief Fund Bank account: 12 3122 0084701 20

If you would like a receipt, please include your phone number as the payment reference

Clearing up Tokanui

Demolition and remediation work has begun at the former Tokanui Psychiatric Hospital south of Kihikihi.

The hospital at Te Māwhai – on land originally acquired under the Public Works Act - opened in 1912 and closed in 1998.

The work is expected to take several years to complete and the land will be restored, making it safe to live or work on again.

Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (Linz) is leading the project, which involves removing 74 buildings, a swimming pool, eight substations and 14 kilometres of underground services and roading. The work also includes upgrading a closed landfill and works to address contaminated land.

Once the project is complete, the land will be offered in stages to Ngāti Maniapoto through their post-settlement governance entity, Te Nehenehenui Trust, as part of their Treaty settlement.

The new owners will determine any future use of the land.

“After several years of investigations, including soil testing, hazardous building material surveys, and detailed planning, we’re pleased to begin physical work on site,” LINZ

leader project delivery Matt Bradley said.

“As part of the demolition, we expect to recycle a significant volume of materials such as untreated and native timber, and concrete.

“We’re also anticipating positive outcomes for the local community, with a drive to include local contractors and on-the-job training opportunities for young people to gain qualifications.

Julie Anne Panapa-Lockey worked in the long stay area, her father was head of nursing in the psychopaedic area and her mother was a nurse in the acute.

“I grew up there since I was 3,” PanapaLockey said. “I grew up with the owners of the land and I know that hospital like the back of my hand.

“Many of those living in Te Māwhai and not just owners, they also worked there -probably three generations.”

Panapa-Lockey believes it’s time for demolition, after slowly seeing the hospital deteriorate.

“I would like to see a clean handover of the land to the successors. I think the owners need to make choices for themselves for the first time since 1910.”

It’s 1945 – and Meghan Hawkes recounts news stories of bids for publicity, unwanted pines, a dance night – and a trio caught with liquor

More publicity for the camping ground at Te Awamutu was considered at a Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Some towns sought the co-operation of the Auckland Automobile Association in getting their officers to report on camping grounds and these were noted in the Association’s handbook. Te Awamutu had an asset in the history of the district, and there were great possibilities for after-war tourist traffic. Te Awamutu’s name on maps appeared in very small letters and this influenced people as to where they would stay when planning an itinerary. The Borough Council would be invited to consider asking the A A’s officers to visit Te Awamutu and report on the camping ground.

A petition to the Waipā County Council signed by 68 Pirongia residents asked that pine trees be removed. Their age and brittleness was a danger to motor traffic and pedestrians - especially children going to school - in windy weather. They were a growing menace to power lines and were old, untidy, a continual nuisance to property owners, and served no useful purpose. The petitioners suggested funds from the sale of the trees be used to replant the row as a living memorial to early settlers and to the men who had fallen in the past and present wars.

One of the most successful dances held in the Waipā was at the Kihikihi Town Hall. The orchestra of Royal Maka and his Syncopated Islanders played to a house packed to capacity. For five hours dancers enjoyed

Hawaiian music from a six-piece combination. Interspersed with the dancing were vocal items, a jitterbug exhibition and two hula dances. The hall was artistically decorated and from start to finish there was not a dull moment, the enthusiastic dancers repeatedly demanding encores.

Three Ōhaupō farmers were charged with having liquor in their possession in the vicinity of a dance hall. Sergeant Bisset and Constable Gordon were on duty near the Ōhaupō Hall, where a public dance was in progress. They saw a car on the roadway, and on investigation found five full bottles of beer and four empty bottles in the vehicle. There were no women in the car. All defendants were married men and had not been before the Court previously. The magistrate, in fining them, said they must have known what to expect.

At Mangapiko a ‘Welcome Home’ was held in the hall for local boys returned from the war. Dancing and musical items took up most of the evening, while a community sing was much enjoyed. Mr Dudley welcomed the boys home and said how proud the district was of their war service. Residents, he added, must not forget the boys that were still away and should also spare a kindly thought for the parents whose sons would not return. Prior to the function a farmer mowed the grass. But when the fire was lit for supper, it was found that the birds had filled the chimney with the clippings.

At Te Awamutu Funeral Services our dedicated team is passionate about providing valuable guidance and a personalised service at a time when you need it most. - Offering Generations of ExperienceCHAPEL & CATERING FACILITIES • PREPLANNED FUNERALS • THE FUNERAL TRUST PREPAID PLAN • HEADSTONES & BRONZE PLAQUES

Across 1. Unimportant information (6) 5. Breezily (6) 8. Tin (3) 9. Defeat though better thinking (6) 10. Refinement (6) 11. Henhouse (4) 13. Close thing (4,4) 14. Supplant (5)

15. Encourage a faster pace (3,2)

Last week

19. Highly unpleasant (8)

21. Side (4)

22. Hold together (6) 23. Overseas (6) 25. Long flat runner used on snow (3) 26. Agreement (6) 27. Rue (6) Down 2. Rowdy (7)

3. Solemn promise (3)

4. Playing a part (6) 5. Yearly (6) 6. Lying down (9) 7. Large water lily (5) 12. Keep trying (9) 16. Oblivious (7) 17. Unassuming (6) 18. Mend (6) 20. Origins (5) 24. Illegally fix an outcome (3)

Across: 1. Chirp, 4. Rustic, 7. Ace, 8. Broken, 9. Pantry, 10. Massacre, 12. Hope, 13. Engulf, 15. Settee, 16. Gasp, 17. Downcast, 19. Astute, 20. Grubby, 22. Tie, 23. Greedy, 24. Sieve.

Down: 1. Curtain-raiser, 2. Ilk, 3. Panic, 4. Repress, 5. Synthetic, 6. Irrepressible, 11. Sculpture, 14. Fidgety, 18. Wages, 21. Use.

ACES

AMATEUR BALL

BIRDIE

BOGEYS

BUNKER

CADDIE

CHIP CLUB

DRIVE

EAGLE

EIGHTEENTH FAIRWAY FEES FLAGS FORE

GOLFTOUR GRASS GREEN HANDICAP HOLEINONE IRONS

PAR PROFESSIONAL PUTTS RAIN RULES

RYDERCUP SANDTRAP SCORE SHORTS SPORT STANDREWS

STANCE SUNSHINE TEES THEMASTERS THEOPEN TOURNAMENTS TREES TURF WIND WOODS

COMMUNITY CARE GIVER

Everyday, clients entrust us to assist them with their daily living requirements in their own home.

If you are a mature, honest and empathetic person who has:

• The ability to work rostered shifts Monday to Sunday, and

• Have your own vehicle with a clean driver’s licence. You might be the person our team is looking for. Whilst care giving experience is preferable, full training will be offered to the right applicant.

DO YOU LOVE TO SING?

Rosetown Choristers welcome new members. We sing a variety of music, mainly in 3-part harmony. For more information call 021 0258 4628

TE AWAMUTU MAHJONG CLUB

We are a fun and social club who are holding 6 weekly lessons for anyone interested. Please contact for more information.

Robin 027 266 2259

Helen 027 330 1870

SIRCOMBE, Rosemary – A memorial for Rose will be held at Otorohanga Cemetery on the 20th March at 10am.

Followed by refreshments at the Otorohanga Club. All welcome

BAYLISS, John David –Passed away peacefully at home on 28th February 2026. Beloved son of John and Pam. Loved brother of Rocky and the late Linda. Loved uncle of Tanesha and Cobain. A service for John will be held at St Patrick's Catholic Church, 625 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu on Friday, 6th March at 11:00 am followed by burial at The Te Awamutu Cemetery. All communications to the Bayliss family, PO Box 137, Te Awamutu 3840.

Te Awamutu Funeral Services, FDANZ

Held at 1 Puriri Street Hamilton Sunday 15/3/26, 12pm

AGENDA:

MLC Clause All Executive Committee must be Trustees.

It’s time to add to our maintenance/gardening team at Te Awa Lifecare. Our staff are chosen for their skill and caring approach, and we aim to create strong connections and trust with them. We will choose the right person for their attitude and fit within our team. Our team is proud of the environment they work in and the part they play in making it look at its best for our residents and guests.

As part of the Te Awa team, you will have:

• An enjoyment of gardening, general knowledge and experience in various maintenance roles and helping people keep their homes in tip top condition.

• A passion for great customer service and respect for our resident’s personal space and village grounds.

• Have excellent communication skills, common sense and a solution focussed approach.

This role also has an element of minor building, and clinical equipment repairs, planned, preventive maintenance and audit compliances.

- Chairman George Smith has resignedReplacement Cecelia Te Wao.

- Secretary Anne Pereira resigned - Replacement Secretary Sefrosa Smith

- Secretary Sefrosa Smith resigned - Replacement (Nomination required, underlined)

- Treasurer Mike Wiparata assistant Accountant Katie Wiparata.

- MLC Forum must be five Trustees

GILLESPIE, June – Passed away on Tuesday, 24th February 2026 at Waikato Hospital. Aged 89 years. Cherished wife to Noel. Much loved mother and mother-in-law to Ken & Janette, Allan, the late Karen and Dean. Dearly loved nana of Kelsey, Brad, Matt, Tash, Amanda, Shane, Lucy, Liam, Shaun and their partners. Great grandmother of 21 and great-great grandmother of 1. Friend to many. ‘Will be sadly missed’ A private service has been held. Messages to the "Gillespie" family can be sent c/- 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800 or in June's online tribute book at www. rosetown.co.nz

This is a fantastic opportunity for a gardener/maintenance to make the most of working in beautiful surroundings with a team who really care.

Come and be part of the community, get to know our wonderful residents, support them to embrace life. Please send a cover letter explaining why you are interested along with your C.V. to employment@teawalifecare.nz.

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid work visa.

CHURCH SERVICES

Dr Terry Cowland

All Welcome

- Trustees Cecelia Te Wao, Anne Pereira, Christina O’Callaghan, Charmaine Te Wao, Phillipa Tapu Alma Norris voted as Trustee all agreed.

- Discussion with Lessor Justin Gold held 28/12/25 at his residence. Chairman Cecelia to inform/update progression to the Owners/ Representives.

of an application for Issue On Licence

TOP DECK CAFE & CULINARY SERVICES LIMITED, a Private Company, C/- 96 Ryburn Road, RD 3, Ohaupo, 3803, has made application to the Waipa District Licensing Committee for the issue of a onlicence in respect of the premises at 101 Great South Road Ohaupo 3803 known as TOP DECK CAFE & CULINARY SERVICES. The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is Restaurant & Function Centre. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is (or intended to be) sold under the licence are: Monday to Sunday 8am to 1am the following day

The application may be inspected during ordinary office hours at the office of the Waipa District Licensing Committee, 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu or 23 Wilson Street, Cambridge.

Any person who is entitled to object and who wishes to object to the issue of the licence may, not later than 25 working days after the date of the publication of this notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee at: Att: Secretary of the District Licensing Committee Waipa District Council, Private Bag 2402 Te Awamutu 3840 or info@waipadc.govt.nz.

No objection to the issue of this licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in section 105 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. This notice was first published on the 26th Feb 2026.