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TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1
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OCTOBER 15, 2026
Waste to energy sparks up
By Chris Gardner
The company behind a stalled bid to build a waste to energy plant in Te Awamutu has settled its bill with Waipā District Council. Global Contracting Solutions’ (GCS) application was put on ice by the Environmental Protection Authority in August last year because of unpaid accounts. It owed money to the district council, the Waikato Regional Council and the authority. The issue was clouded earlier this year when The News revealed GCS was on a list of companies which would cease to exist after July 15. GCS spokesperson Adam Fletcher said the notice related to the timing of the submitting of annual returns.
After enquiries by The News, which reported the return had been filed before the announcement, the National Manager of the Companies Office, Bolen Ng said the “removal action” had ceased. Now, Waipā District Council has confirmed GCS has squared up its account with a $26,899 payment. The sum was reduced by $13,766 after the company objected to charges incurred before then-environment minister Penny Simmonds called in the application for a board of inquiry to decide. The payment is the first tangible move on the project in more than a year. The company, which has been selective on responding to media questions, has been asked for comment. Waipā growth, strategy and planning director Katie Mayes said
the cost objection had now been resolved. Separate costs relating to the Environmental Protection Authority process and a Board of Inquiry’s decision are still being worked through.” Waikato Regional Council acting consents manager Diane Palmer said the company still owed charges for processing its resource consent application before it was called in by the minister and GCS had also objected to those charges. “The objection regarding the outstanding charges was heard by Independent Commissioner David Hill, who dismissed it. After accounting for deductions identified by Waikato Regional Council and costs already paid, including a deposit and one of the invoices that was objected to, GCS
A dragon in Amber By Holly O’Donnell
It started as a hobby to fill her time – and last week Amber Hamilton took the stage for her fourth theatre performance as Dragon in Shrek: The Musical Jr at the Woolshed Theatre. The junior theatre group show ran from Tuesday last week and the curtain came down on Sunday. Since starting at the Te Awamutu Light Operatic Society (Talos) to occupy her free time outside of school, the Te Awamutu 16-year-old has been a part of their performances of Boston Transit, Madagascar Jr, and Alice in Wonderland Jr and now Shrek. Earlier this year she also played Penny Pingleton in Te Awamutu College’s Hairspray
– having discovered she had landed on her birthday, March 5. With all seven performances of Shrek completely selling out, Hamilton said, it felt really good being on stage and performing in front of people, “and it’s nice to see that people still care about musical theatre”. Rehearsals for the show were her favourite part of the production, as she spent time with “like-minded people” and practiced her solo song Forever while getting her mind and body into the intimidating character that is Dragon. Hamilton hopes to continue her passion for theatre and has would like to study the theatre programme at Otago or Victoria university. • Holly O’Donnell is a Wintec journalism student
has $43,270.33 outstanding.” The company had until yesterday (October 14) to lodge an appeal. EPA senior communications adviser Jessica Rowley said the application’s status had not changed. Meanwhile, Biosecurity and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard, an ACT MP, told an audience in Cambridge his party were “believers” in the type of facility proposed for Te Awamutu. “They make a lot of sense… I believe it can be done quite effectively and efficiently, with minimal CO2, so I don’t see why we would be against doing any of that.” Hoggard said Resource Management Act reforms would reduce the grounds on which
Fonterra, or anyone else, could object. “In the future, it is likely that projects like that will have a much safer run to be approved,” he said. His comments did not impress Angie Barrowcliffe of the lobby group Don’t Burn Waipā. She had asked if Hoggard if he would stand with Fonterra in opposing the Racecourse Rd project. Barrowcliffe urged Hoggard to look into the science behind Fonterra’s objection. “This is a prime example of why community consultation on applications like this is so important,” she told The News. “If companies like Fonterra can’t oppose waste-to-energy incinerator applications to protect the future of the New Zealand dairy industry, we’re buggered.”
Amber Hamilton as Dragon
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THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
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Rugby on wheels returns By Jesse Wood
Waipā will host the national Low Point Wheelchair Rugby Championships - again – this weekend. It will be the 13th time since 2012 that the Te Awamutu Events Centre has hosted the tournament. The event provides revenue for the Waipā economy and an opportunity for spectators to witness the sport for free. “Most players and support crew stay in Te Awamutu overnight,” Parafed Waikato
sports officer and New Zealand Paralympian 163 David Klinkhamer said. “The Albert Park Motor Lodge will be packed. The players like to eat out in Te Awamutu after the games.” Four teams, including several New Zealand Wheel Blacks representatives, will contest the title. Teams involved are from Auckland, Canterbury, Waikato/Bay of Plenty and a Lower North Island side made up of players from Wellington, Manawatū and Taranaki. There will be two games on Saturday and
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Waikato wheelchair rugby players David Klinkhamer and Thomas Goodwin.
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I hope the first week of term four is going well for our families. Thanks to Sergeant Cook-Jones for filling in on the column while I enjoyed a break myself. Now that I am back, I have been catching up on recent events. After a lull, Cambridge has experienced a new spike in vehicle crime in the past week. Even with precautions taken, motivated offenders will continue to commit such crime. In those situations as I regularly mention, CCTV provides one of our best chances of identifying those involved. With technology becoming increasingly cost effective and footage accessible from your mobile phone, installation of residential CCTV is well worth consideration. On the flip side, if you come across a vehicle that appears randomly parked up, with damage to quarterlight window, ignition barrel or similar, it will certainly have been stolen and as such please report it to 111. If you have any relevant information or footage, or otherwise witness offenders dumping and walking away from such vehicles, similarly let Police know immediately it occurs. A group of offenders (often youth), will commit multiple thefts in one night. The sooner we can catch them, the less victimisation occurs. In the past week Cambridge has also had two incidents where a woman presented a
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counterfeit $100 note. I would like to remind people not to be complacent when accepting cash payments, particularly larger denominations. Some of the key features that show a note is legitimate include the following: a holographic window showing the outline of the kokako, a map o New Zealand and a silver fern when tilted, a green square that fluoresces under UV light on the front of the note showing the value of the banknote, crisp printing with no smudges or runs when wet, the banknote itself is made on polymer which should feel smooth and be hard to tear and raised ink for the words Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Putea Matua on the front and New Zealand and Aotearoa on the back. Looking ahead, Cambridge Neighbourhood Support have several meetings planned to connect different neighbourhoods with each other, provide crime prevention and emergency preparedness awareness. They have also been connecting the community with Civil Defence and Hato Hone St John’s Three Steps to Life programme. I look forward to joining NSG Community Engagement officers Eileen and Kathy in meeting locals at Horahora, Arnold street and Leamington Mews in the coming weeks.
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two on Sunday. “On behalf of Parafed Waikato and Waikato Wheelchair Rugby, I would like to welcome everybody to come along,” Klinkhamer said. “What makes the weekend truly special is the wheelchair rugby community spirit. “Sponsors, timekeepers, referees, supporters, caregivers and players all pitch in to make it the most enjoyable tournament of the season.” Klinkhamer said wheelchair rugby is the only team sport for people with quadriplegia or quad amputations. “We have seen first-hand how involvement in sport changes people’s lives – we see this particularly for people who play team sports,” Klinkhamer said. “Combining sheer physicality with strategy and focus, this sport demonstrates clearly how sport brings out the very best, even in the most challenging situations. “Low pointers is a variation of the game where the maximum number of points that can be on the court is 3.5 rather than the usual eight. It’s for players who are classified 1.5 and below. The points relate to levels of physical impairment. “It’s a great chance for low point players to play roles that they don’t normally do. They get the chance to carry the ball and attack the goal.” Klinkhamer said even though the games are competitive and it is very hard work; there are lots of laughs and it always feels relaxed. “If this is your first time watching wheelchair rugby live, strap yourself in and get ready to rumble. It’s going to be fierce.”
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TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 3
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
Briefs… Diesel theft
Forty Ngāhinapōuri School pupils were left without a ride on Monday after thieves made off with school bus diesel over the weekend. In an effort to deter further thefts, security cameras are being installed at the schoo.
Three cheers
Bush Bash, a new 6 per cent IPA beer by Garage Project in Wellington, will raise funds for Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. Each can of the limited edition beer sold will earn $2 for the sanctuary.
Myers reappointed
Maungatautari farmer and Cambridge Community Board deputy chair Andrew Myers has been re-elected unopposed as Fonterra Cooperative councillor for the Waipā ward. Paul Manion (Piako), Grant Coombes (Waikato West) and Kylie Leonard (Central Plateau) were also elected unopposed.
In the club
Cambridge jockey James McDonald has been added to the town’s walk of fame. A plaque has been installed, 40m from the TAB, acknowledging his extraordinary success. Australian based McDonald was nominated by The News – and has yet to see the plaque, but may be back in the country early in 2027.
Retirement risk
New granny flat reforms could leave older New Zealanders financially exposed, according to tiny house industry advocates. Many retirees are selling family homes and investing $200,000 to $300,000 in granny flats on their children’s properties, but without separate ownership rights. Industry leaders also want clearer national rules for relocatable homes. These issues will be discussed at the Tiny House Expo at Mystery Creek later this month.
Happy birthday
Te Awamutu’s croquet club, which is observing its 115th anniversary, holds a celebration featuring games, speeches and a cake cutting ceremony today.
Let’s clean up, group says By Jesse Wood
The Keep Te Awamutu Beautiful group is encouraging residents and business owners to go back to the days of being “Tidy Kiwis”. The group have been working on several projects around their beloved Waipā town. “Our main projects are painting over tagging, weeding in various public areas in town – specifically car parks – picking up litter and we’re hoping to start a beautification programme,” Keep Te Awamutu Beautiful convenor Paula Walsh said. “In recent weeks, a few of us picked up rubbish in the Warehouse car park. We were quite shocked about how much rubbish we ended up picking up. There were lots of cigarette butts, receipts and various bits of plastic. “Then we went to the service way between Wright Fishing & Outdoors and the Waipā Workingmen’s Club, and there was more rubbish behind a lot of the businesses there. “We picked up as much as we could but we couldn’t get to it all.” A suggestion was made that some businesses should ask customers if they want their receipts or not. “If they don’t, then they could put it in the bin then and there, rather than people dropping them outside. “The bins in that car park area get filled up quickly and they’re not the right shape or size for the need. “It’s a vicious circle there of too much rubbish and not enough, or not big enough, bins in those areas to
Nicky Wright and Aaran Karam are among the Keep Te Awamutu Beautiful group members who have been picking up litter
cope with the amount.” On a windy day, if the bins are full, the rubbish will blow all over the car park Walsh said. Earlier this month four volunteers also weeded the front of a carpark on Arawata St. “We picked up rubbish and planted sunflower seedlings along the fence line,” Walsh said. “We still have a huge area of that carpark to weed; it is in bad shape
and has a variety of unhygienic items strewn through it. “It will be important to wear safety gear, when we weed it – rubber gloves and masks. She said it was a shame property owners did not maintain the carpark. “It is well used and must help the businesses in that area attract customers.” Nicky Wright from Wright Fishing & Outdoors has grown up in Te
Awamutu and said it saddens her to see the rubbish and graffiti. “I am proud to be from Te Awamutu and live by the ‘just leave footprints’ ethos,” Wright said. “I would love to challenge everybody in town if they see a piece of rubbish to pick it up and put it in the bin so we can keep our town looking beautiful. We want to make it a place visitors want to visit stay and spend their money.”
Walsh questions case for bridge By Chris Gardner
Waipā councillor Shane Walsh says “doing nothing” must remain an option until the council can show Cambridge’s traffic problems justify a new Waikato River crossing costing as much as $214 million. Walsh challenged staff and contractors to define the scale of the problem and when it becomes serious enough to warrant major investment at last
Wednesday’s Cambridge Connections Transport Plan workshop. Councillors have signalled support for a new bridge in Cambridge’s mid-west, linking Matos Segedin Drive with Cambridge Road and potentially affecting up to 25 properties. A 30-year plan is being driven by traffic problems shaped through public consultation including the limited capacity and resilience of the river crossings linking Cambridge
and Leamington. Walsh asked: “Is the problem bad enough that we need to spend any money on it at all? When will it be bad enough that we should spend some money on it?” “Doing nothing is still a reasonable response,” he said. He also questioned putting competing intown and mid-west bridge corridors before the public, saying councillors should first identify the most affordable corridor.
Figures before councillors ranged from $140 million to an upper estimate of $214 million, depending on the option. Walsh compared Cambridge’s pressures with Te Awamutu’s, asking how councillors could prioritise one community’s major project without a clearer district-wide picture. The draft transport plan is due before the Growth, Strategy and Planning Committee on October 22. If approved, consultation
Shane Walsh
will run from October 27 to November 22, and a final plan expected in December.
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4 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
A DVE R TO R I A L
Meghan Hawkes looks at headline news in Waipā from 1936.
‘Utter desolation’
Politics: The Ultimate Tradie Interview By Barbara Kuriger
MP for Taranaki/King Country Youth Parliament is held every three years and gives young New Zealanders the chance to learn first-hand about our democracy, influence government decision-making, and ensure their voices are heard. They also have the opportunity to learn about politics, and politicians, first-hand. I genuinely believe more New Zealanders should have that opportunity. I don’t think everyone needs to sit in the Prime Minister’s chair in the House—or in mine, for that matter. But I do believe that the more we know about politics, the more we understand it and—most importantly— the more we engage with it, the better off we’ll all be. It really comes down to a simple idea. No matter if it’s central or local government, the hospital board, or the school board, when we vote for someone, we’re putting them in a position of power. We trust them to make decisions for us. Wouldn’t you want to know who they are and what they believe in? I know that can be tough, especially in local government, because it’s hard to know everyone running for election. Often, people rely on word of mouth
or name recognition, but honestly, those aren’t always the best guides. It’s much better to do your own research. Take some time to find out about the candidates: what their track record is, if they’ve worked in the community, and whether others recommend them. We’d do this if we were hiring a tradie, and in many ways, politicians are like tradies. They work for you and are paid to do what you want them to do. That’s politics at its best. It’s not some mysterious game played in Wellington or in council chambers by people in suits. Instead, it’s a long-running DIY project managed by five million demanding customers. We pick the team, set the plans, and every three years, we decide whether to keep them on or send them back to the depot. So next time the ballot papers arrive, don’t just shrug and guess. Make a cuppa, do your homework, and go to a public meeting. They’re not boring; they can be feisty, and fun for everyone except the candidates. Check out who you’re hiring. After all, if you wouldn’t let a stranger rewire your house in the dark, why let someone rewrite your future without at least a quick look at their references?
Barbara Kuriger
MP for Taranaki-King Country Inglewood Office 80 Rata St, PO Box 124, Inglewood 4330 06 756 6032 Kuriger.Inglewood@parliament.govt.nz Te Awamutu Office 196 Alexandra Street Te Awamutu, 3800 07 870 1005 Kuriger.Teawamutu@parliament.govt.nz King Country Virtual Office 021 815 017 Kuriger.Kingcountry@parliament.govt.nz Funded by the Parliamentary Service. Authorised by Barbara Kuriger, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.
There was havoc at Pirongia when water broke through a landslide blocking the river and sent a solid wall of water into the valleys below. Three bridges were carried off, two of them on the main highway to Kawhia. The scene was one of utter desolation. Hundreds of acres were covered with debris and silt. Crops and pastures were destroyed and fences levelled. The willows lining the normal watercourse bore evidence that the water level was at least twelve feet high. Huge logs and boulders were scattered over the country. One bridge lay in the middle of a paddock nearly half a mile away. It was impossible to reach the main highway as a huge slip blocked one end and bridgeless rivers made access impossible at the other. On an alternative road across the mountain a hillside had fallen into the valley carrying away several portions of the road leaving behind a tangled mass of logs and debris. Fortunately the approaching flood waters were heard - so settlers could get to higher ground. The table at a meeting of
the Te Awamutu Borough Council presented an unusual appearance when it was used to display a collection of historical relics and trophies. The collection had been in the charge of the Town Clerk for many years and was produced as a result of a letter from the Te Awamutu Historical Society, requesting the council hand over these relics for addition to the society’s own collection. The exhibits included rifles used by Major Jackson’s Forest Rangers. There was also a map of Auckland Province and part of Taranaki Province, prepared by Dr Ferdinand von Hochstetter in 1859, showing old Māori tracks, a collection of valuable carvings from the Māori War, and a rifleman’s prize belt which was shot for by volunteers in 1878. This belt was subsequently redeemed from a pawnshop in Sydney and returned to Te Awamutu. A Bible reputed to have been used by King Tāwhiao was also produced. The council decided to hand over the rifles and a number of Great War trophies to the historical society, but it was felt that
News
the more valuable relics should remain in the borough strong room, as the society’s premises were not fireproof. When Mr Hillhouse of Arohena noticed a young man on the roadway near his property busily engaged drying his clothing he invited him to come inside and have a cup of tea. The invitation was accepted, and while the clothes were drying a meal was eaten. Mr Hillhouse having to go to work, the men parted but the next afternoon he found that some of his clothing, a pair of boots, provisions and a cheque book had been stolen. His thoughts immediately turned to the man he had fed the day before as he was the only stranger in the neighbourhood. Constable Shaw, of Kihikihi, was notified and proceded to the scene. His inquiries led to the belief that the man was an escapee from the Waikeria Borstal Institution.
ON SHAKY GROUND
The story of Krakatau By Janine Krippner
Krakatau Volcano is one that has left its mark several times in recent history. On one hand, it is a fascinating volcano where we have witnessed the growth and collapse phases in real time. On the other, this has involved catastrophe and loss. In 1883, news of the disastrous eruption and tsunami rapidly spread around the world. This was a new phenomenon, thanks to the growing telegraph network. To have news reach places like London as it was unfolding was nearly unheard of. It also helped cement the “Krakatoa” spelling, which has stuck ever since. Since that enormous eruption altered the landscape, Anak Krakatau, meaning child of Krakatau, has been forming steadily. Mostly. In 2018, disaster struck again when a large portion of the cone collapsed into the Sunda Strait, triggering a tsunami that tragically resulted in the loss of more than 430 lives. An additional 31,942 people were reported injured. Neither of these numbers represents the trauma and suffering associated with such an event. Volcanic flank collapse is one of the most dangerous things a volcano can do. It can bury large areas, and when the collapsed material enters water, the displacement can trigger a tsunami. In this case, the cone that is visible above the water went from a summit elevation of 338m down to 110m. That is a big volume of rock, an estimated 150 to 180 million cubic metres, to slide suddenly into the sea. Thankfully, the Krakatau volcanic complex is relatively far from the mainland, but it remains hazardous. Quite quickly after the collapse, the volcano began regrowing. Anak Krakatau is a frequently active volcano where cone growth is
largely achieved through the emplacement of lava flows, and Anak Krakatau produces a lot of them. There are also volcanic ash and larger blocks (ballistics) that are thrown out of the vent during explosions. After a bit of a break, Anak Krakatau began erupting again earlier this year, with frequent small ash and gas plumes, sometimes with ballistics seen on webcams. When you see incandescent (glowing) specks ejected during explosions, those are hot ballistics large enough to see from a distance. In August, ashfall was reported at a village 20km away. In September, a larger ash plume disrupted airports and airspace, affecting around 3000 flights and showing how even more remote volcanoes can cause havoc. The ashfall was also experienced across dozens of villages. Fortunately, we now have monitoring systems that prevent aircraft from flying straight into the plume of pulverised rock and volcanic gases. This month the activity intensity increased again and it hit the news. A reminder for us all that this volcano is still there, still evolving. Among the many active volcanoes across the Indonesian archipelago, it remains one to keep a close eye on. The local Indonesian volcanologists do just that. Krakatau is an example of how a volcano can produce highly impactful eruptions, then quietly erupt in the background for years without the world taking any notice. With frequent small eruptions lasting months or years, it is often the large 1883 eruption that sticks with us, for good reason.
TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 5
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
Cullen calls for compassion Election nominations By Jesse Wood
Te Awamutu Grey Power president Michael Cullen is disappointed that the Waikato Regional Council have proposed axing free peak-hour bus services for SuperGold holders. The council consulted the community on the removal of free travel between 7am and 9am and 3pm and 6.30pm from Monday to Friday. The nationally funded SuperGold scheme covers off-peak times, weekends and public holidays, while the WRC have paid for peak-hour services since 2022 – the only region nationwide to do so. “More than 39 per cent of our Waipā and King Country community are SuperGold Card holders,” Cullen said. “Many rely on the bus service to enable them to attend appointments at Waikato Hospital. If this change occurs, if seniors have an early or late appointment, they are now going to be penalised.” “Seniors required centralised healthcare services in Hamilton and many seniors’ income was just New Zealand superannuation,” he said. He wondered what seniors would give up if they had to pay for three trips a week to Waikato Hospital from Te Awamutu or Te Kūiti or Cambridge. “This all encourages isolation and would lead to further health and wellbeing issues.” Cullen said the Waikato Regional Council’s budget was $228.3 million for the 2026 to 2027 financial year and $155,000 was a small price to pay to connect seniors with healthcare. “It is good to see that our elected representatives are looking at cost savings
Te Awamutu Grey Power president Michael Cullen says more than 39 per cent of Waipā and King Country community are SuperGold Card holders. Photo: Jesse Wood
where they can be made. “However with this suggested saving, the impact on seniors particularly in the outlying areas of the Waikato will be significant for those that need to visit the Waikato Hospital. Waipā King Country councillor
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OFF
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Garry Reymer told Cullen council was developing a long-term plan and in doing so, reviewing all costs. “We are also mindful that we have local government reform and rates capping in front of us as directed by central government.
The country goes to the polls in 23 days – and last Friday nominations for electorates closed. In the Good Local Media circulation area, and in Hamilton, National and Te Pati Māori dominated the 2023 election. National won all the general seats while Te Pati Māori took Hauraki-Waikato and Te Tai Hauāuru. Here is a snapshot of who was in when nominations closed: Taupō Louise Upston (National, sitting), Chris Flatt (Labour) Celine Kearney (Green), Gordon Wilson (NZ Loyal), Sam Plummer (Opportunity Party), Itania Nikolao (Independent). Taranaki-King Country Barbara Kuriger (National, sitting), David Pattemore (Labour) Ivana Jovčić (Act), Phil McCabe (Green), Lee Smith (NZ First). Hamilton East Ryan Hamilton (National, sitting), Georgie Dansey (Labour) Jacobus Gielen (Independent), Nicola Laboyrie (NZ First), Naomi Pocock (Opportunity Party). Hamilton West Tama Potaka (National, sitting), Myra Williamson (Labour) Louise Hutt (Green), Nathan Lee Couper (New World Order), Kevin Stone (NZ First), Donna Pokere-Phillips (NZ Outdoors and Freedom), Blair Smith (Opportunity Party) Steve Phelps (Independent). Waikato Tim van de Molen (National, sitting), Jamie Toko (Labour) Ash Parmar (Act), Brendan Richard Whyte (Independent), Turi Te Kamonga Robinson (Independent). Hauraki-Waikato Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke (Te Pāti Māori) Kingi Kiriona (Labour), Neil Denby (Independent). Te Tai Hauāuru Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (Te Pāti Māori) Te Pūoho Kātene (Labour), Coral Raukawa (National).
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6 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
School tackles mental health
By Holly O’Donnell
Te Awamutu College’s health committee decided to show students and teachers they belong by setting up four events for Mental Health Awareness week, Run by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, this year’s theme for the annual week-long initiative is “Belonging Matters”. The week runs through to Sunday. Counsellor Jan Walter-Kerr helped organise the events at the college for the week. They include a ‘Belonging Wall’ near the cafeteria where students can post sticky notes filled with drawings and writing about “what makes them feel like they belong”. “We wanted to get behind mental health week because it’s an important topic that many people don’t discuss out in the open,” chair of the health committee Rachel Xu said. Xu and last year’s chairperson Yasmeen Ibrahim hope that by making information on the school’s guidance counsellors accessible, and by letting students know they have a safe space within school, there will be less stigma around talking and reaching out for help with their mental health. “I also think mental health is important because everything you decide to do in your life has to start from your mind”, says Ibrahim. By letting the whole school
Pictured at the school, from left are Rachel Xu, Yasmeen Ibrahim and Jan Walter-Kere. Photo” Holly O’Donnell.
engage with Mental Health Awareness week activities, the health committee hopes students will be more likely to participate in school and have less stress surrounding everyday life. Walter-Kerr says, “sometimes mental health and physical health intersect”. Te Awamutu College’s mental health, nurses, and sex education services are confidential. With
Mental Health Awareness week starting up, the health committee, nurses, and guidance counsellors hope they can counter any shame surrounding the facilities, so more students feel welcome and safe. Walter-Kerr has counted 835 sessions with her counsellors so far this year from students coming to them and having teacher referrals, saying that each year group normally has the same issues as
each other that they worry and stress over, such as the year 13’s looking for advice on how to advance to university and work after high school. Walter-Kerr also noted while the school had confronted bullying allegations online and criticism over consideration for student’s mental health, they “can’t perform miracles overnight” despite wanting to.
She said bullying doesn’t necessarily start at high school. In her 35 years of experience helping others with mental health issues and concerns, she’s found that “every school has issues regarding bullying affecting student’s mental health”. “If kids are just coming to school trying to survive [the effects of bullying] then their academic potential isn’t going to be reached,” says Walter-Kerr. The college focuses on helping students continue with their learning while encouraging and guiding them through any situations they have come across while at school. “My job is to make sure a good service is provided for the student and work with the nurses and outside agencies, so the student gets the help they need in the right way.” Walter-Kerr helps refer students to organisations such as ICAMHS (Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) or the police for serious incidents when they need help beyond what their counsellors can provide. “Everyone can be negatively impacted by mental health, and what we really hope comes from this week is that students realise there is a safe space here. We may not be able to stop certain home situations or bullying, but we can try to talk them through it without shame”. • Holly O’Donnell is a Wintec journalism student.
TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 7
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
Rose grower will be missed A time
to give…
By Viv Posselt
Q
ua N lifi ew ca ti on
Long-time Te Awamutu resident and ardent rose grower, Anne Oliedam, will be missed at next month’s annual spring rose show. The 88-year-old, who died recently, was a true stalwart of the show. Passionate about roses for decades, she played an active part in the Te Awamutu Rose Society, in earlier years and when it started up again in 2020, taking on the role of treasurer and then president for a couple of years before ill health saw her reluctantly step down. She long advocated for Te Awamutu as the ‘Rose Town’ of New Zealand and was the society’s president when two top international rosarians, Michael Marriott and Paul Zimmerman, visited in late 2023 as part of a Botanica World Discoveries Tour. At the time, Anne described the visit to Te Awamutu by such prestigious international rosarians as a ‘big feather in our cap’. The society presented her with life membership at its 2026 annual meeting. Anne’s sister-in-law Diana Jones, who alongside fellow member Shirley Lord, received life membership to the society on the same day as Anne did, said Te Awamutu had been home for Anne for most of her adult life. She and her brother Bryan (Diana’s husband) were brought
By Mathew Pearce
Current Te Awamutu Rose Society president Linnie Jones, left, pictured a couple of years ago with former president and respected rosarian, Anne Olideam, who died recently. Photo: Viv Posselt
up in the New Plymouth area, and one of Anne’s first jobs after leaving school was working at a bank in Ōtorohanga. She later moved to Te Awamutu where she remained. Anne’s prized roses took out a few awards in their time, and she was known for having an extensive knowledge on roses and
her ready willingness to mentor novice growers. Her finger was on the pulse of everything the society was doing, said current president and another of Anne’s sisters-in-law, Linnie Jones. “Anne was always with us at Mitre 10, at other promotions and get-togethers, and always up for
selling raffle tickets. No-one got past her. Anne knew everyone and those she didn’t know, knew her. “Her presence will always be felt … in every rose that blooms, every rose I pick.” The Te Awamutu Rose Society’s 62nd annual spring rose show will take place on November 6 and 7.
“It is rewarding.” Those are the words of Kihikihi/Te Awamutu Community Board member Jill Taylor, who is the coordinator of this years’ Operation Christmas Hampers. The Operation, which started in 2016, is a community-lead organisation which supplies a Christmas Hamper to families in need throughout Te Awamutu, Kihikihi, Pirongia, and Parawera. Before Taylor, Kainga Aroha and previously Zion Church co-ordinated the Hampers. Hampers include Christmas food, a roast meal, sweets and “a gift for each child.” “It is rewarding knowing you can help someone celebrate Christmas….if we didn’t help them they may not have been able to.” Food can be dropped off from Monday until Friday at the Presbyterian church on Mutu Street until December 10 and Taylor is calling for volunteers. “(We’ve) only have five on (the) committee, we could do with more.” They need helpers to wrap gifts and making up the hampers, which are driven in vans by Commsafe, Lions and Rotary, then hand delivered to the houses. Taylor says that everyone should give something… “even if it’s a pack of jelly”. • Mathew Pearce is a Wintec journalism student.
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8 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
All hui and no doey? Petra’s a scholar distracted.” Walsh expressed disappointment that the public would not get to weigh in on the local draft, warning that replacing it with a Waikato-wide approach could trigger pushback from Waipā businesses and chambers of commerce focused on what happens in their immediate backyard. Pirongia and Kakepuku ward councillor Clare St Pierre described the regional strategy’s outputs as passive and overly general. “I thought the work we had done for the district had been really good,” St Pierre said. “I worry that by supporting this one we are actually losing the opportunity to get going on some of the other ones in our own patch. “We are waiting for something to actually happen and, by the sound of it, it’s been sidelined again. I’m really wanting to see some action.” Principal sustainability and climate change adviser Haven Walsh said the draft’s key actions would remain embedded in the council’s ongoing work programme. Council chief executive Steph O’Sullivan and Waikato Regional Council economic lead Tariq Ashraf reinforced that the regional framework is designed to complement, not replace, local execution. Waipā Māori ward councillor DaleMaree Morgan welcomed the crossboundary collaboration, suggesting it could provide “a kick up the bum” for the area and prepare councils for potential future amalgamation. Despite the hesitation, the motion
By Chris Gardner
Waipā District Council is shelving its own draft economic wellbeing strategy in favour of a regional framework, prompting pushback from councillors who questioned whether ratepayers are funding “beautifully well-bound reports” instead of delivering tangible results. The proposed local strategy was designed to target key district priorities, but council staff recommended elected members step back from progressing the draft as a standalone document, urging them to align district operations with the broader Waikato Regional Economic Development Strategy. The recommended shift sparked immediate debate at last week’s growth, strategy and planning meeting, where several councillors voiced frustration over the volume of policy documents produced compared to visible outcomes. “We’re spending all these resources building all these strategies, but what does it really do?” Cambridge ward councillor Pip Kempthorne said. “Aren’t we just running around producing beautifully well-bound reports?” Te Awamutu and Kihikihi ward councillor Shane Walsh said the council must keep its attention squarely on local priorities. “Waipā ratepayers want us to focus on Waipā,” Walsh said. “We have got limited funds. We need to focus on the things that Waipā people tell us we need to focus on and not get
to align with the regional strategy was passed. Councillor Kempthorne concluded: “We seem to be talking a lot and doing little.”
Pip Kempthorne
Clare St Pierre
Te Awamutu College student Petra Coleman has been named as one of four people to be awarded threeyear Inspiring Local Minds Scholarships to assist their studies. The scholarships from The Lines Company go to young people from communities across its network. Coleman, who lives in Ōtorohanga, is enrolled to study Law at Waikato University. The other winners were Ōtorohanga College student Aviva Mudge, who will begin a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours at Waikato, Kaani Trueman, a Whakamaru resident at St Paul’s Collegiate who will head to Canterbury University to begin a Bachelor of Commerce and Fleur Street, who lives in Taumarunui and attends Waikato Diocesan School for Girls. She is headed to Lincoln University to study Land and Property Management. A total of 12 applicants were received, and submissions assessed by TLC Acting Chief Executive Romay Rundgren and Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust Acting Chair Guy Whitaker. “These scholarship recipients have already
Petra Coleman
demonstrated academic excellence, leadership and a real commitment to the communities they call home,” Rundgren said. “What stood out most was their ambition to use their skills and education to make a difference, whether that’s through engineering, law, finance or the rural sector. TLC launched the Inspiring Local Minds Scholarship in 2018 and, with this year’s recipients, will have supported 39 local rangatahi with tertiary study. The scholarship provides successful applicants with up to $2000 a year for three years to support study in fields aligned with careers at TLC.
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PICK UP LOCATIONS You can pick up a free Te Awamutu News from any of the following locations or view online our e-edition at www.teawamutunews.nz TE AWAMUTU Murray Hunt BedsRus Arawata Street PUBLIC AMENITIES Citizens Advice Bureau i-Site Te Awamutu Library Te Awamutu Te Awamutu Events Centre SUPERMARKETS Fresh Choice Pak n Save DAIRY’S Judes Dairy Top of the Town Dairy SB Superette Ltd
KIHIKIHI Kihikihi Bookshop/Lotto Outlet Kihikihi Supermarket Price Cutter Viands Brothers Bakery FRONTIER ESTATE Frontier Pharmacy PIRONGIA Four Square Heritage & Information Centre Pirongia Service Station OHAUPO Ohaupo Store
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
Stud stalwart We belong to each other mourned
TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 9
FAITH IN WAIPĀ
By Kayla Duckett, Senior Leader, Zion Church
Long-time Cambridge Stud employee and Waikato horsewoman Margaret Fife is being remembered for her extraordinary work ethic, loyalty and willingness to help others following her death on October 2. She spent a significant part of her working life alongside Sir Patrick Hogan at Cambridge Stud and Monarch Farm. During a storied career she also worked for Jeff McVean at Glen Oaks Stud, now known as The Oaks, as well as Highview Stud and Ascot Farm, while assisting with accounts for international clients with thoroughbred interests in New Zealand. In her earlier years at Cambridge Stud she was handson with the horses and regularly foaled mares alongside Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan. She worked largely behind the scenes and was renowned for her attention to detail. “She never stopped working. She was just one of those people who helped a lot of people,” former Cambridge Stud general manager Marcus Corban, who described her as one of a kind, said. “At the sales she would be the
Margaret Fife. Photo: Cambridge Stud
last person there cleaning up in the hospitality tent and then she would be back there first thing in the morning setting it all back up. Her contribution to the wider equestrian community was equally significant, particularly through her association with the Waikato Hunt. She served as the Hunt’s secretary and treasurer for 39 years and was made a Life Member in 2003. She was also closely associated with the Taupo Hunt and remained a familiar presence at Hunt events, taking particular pride in the Waikato Hunt’s property and kennels at Tīrau. She is survived by her life partner Don, sisters Lynley and Nicoli, and her wider family.
It's Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year's theme is Belonging Matters. Part of how the organisers describe it is "when we create opportunities for people to belong, our communities and wellbeing grow stronger." hey've paired it with a whakataukī I really like, ko au ko koe, ko koe ko au. I am you, and you are me. I've been thinking about that alongside two stories this paper ran last week. One was Te Awamutu's first Seniors Expo, at the Presbyterian Community Centre. There were 41 exhibitors, everything from hospice and emergency services to the MenzShed, and 712 people came through. Michael Cullen, the Grey Power president who led it, said it was bigger than they could have dreamed of. Of the people who filled in the survey, 96 percent said they'd found a service, an activity or a contact they might use. The other was Jill Taylor. Seventeen years ago her grandson spent three months in the newborn intensive care unit at Waikato Hospital, and she noticed the mums who sat with their babies all day weren't being fed. So she asked the hospital what she could do, and came up with muffins. Muffins for Mums now sends more than 560 a week, baked by groups like the Te Kūiti Lions and Altrusa Te
OPEN DAYS 16-17 OCT 10AM-2PM
Awamutu, and by people like the Te Awamutu woman who has brought Jill muffins every Sunday for more than a year. What I like about Jill's story is that it works both ways. The mum who gets a muffin at reception knows somebody thought about her. The person baking it has somewhere they're needed. We often talk about belonging as being welcomed in, and that matters, but I think most people only really settle somewhere once they've been given something to do. The Bible gets to this very early on. Before anything has gone wrong in the world, God looks at Adam and says, "It is not good for the man to be alone." Later on, one of the Psalms says "God places the lonely in families." And when Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, he described them as one body: "We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." In the same breath he says each part has its own job to do. He didn't picture a church where a few people did everything and the rest watched. Loneliness isn't always easy to spot. I was a teen mum, and it was one of the loneliest times of my life, even with a baby who needed me every minute of the day. Then someone invited me along to
a young mums support group. Sitting in a room with other young mums who were working it out too made a real difference, and I wouldn't have walked in on my own. It might be the widower down your street who goes days without a proper conversation, or a young mum like I was. A group can help, but most people need someone to notice them and ask them along first. So for this week, think of one person who might be on the edge of things and ask them in, whether that's for a coffee or a meal at your place. Or find somewhere you can be useful. Jill says any group can bake for the mums, regularly or just as a one-off. There are many community groups who would be thankful for another pair of hands. Church is meant to be like that too, a family for people who don't have one close by. There are many churches in Te Awamutu, and if you're looking for somewhere to belong, any of them would be glad to see you on a Sunday. And if things feel heavy right now, please talk to someone. You can call or text 1737 any time, for free, and talk with a trained counsellor or peer support worker.
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10 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
Bowlers celebrate at 70
Friendship, community and “just the love of the sport” have brought back players to Te Awamutu Indoor Bowls for 70 years with no signs of stopping. The milestone was celebrated at a recent Triples Tournament at the clubhouse on Bank Street. A cake was cut and shared by members and guests. Te Awamutu Indoor Bowls secretary and long-time player Margaret Taylor says that the club sees all types of people that “come just curious.” “It’s a club where people can meet and have friendships and keep active,” she said. An ex-intermediate teacher, Taylor has been playing since 2007. It started as one night a week to go out
and socialise with some different people, then “you make lots of good friends”. Taylor said that you can go right though New Zealand if you “go to things like the nationals, which are held every June.” While they might not have the same numbers of young players that some of the bigger centres have, Taylor says they have a good amount in the Junior Indoor Bowls club which sends players to Tauranga to compete in the Aims games, held in September each year. While the club is a place people can have friendships, Taylor said that one relationship began here. One member, 93-year-old Christian Louw, who has been playing since 2022, was
introduced to his wife Janet through the sport. Gordon Cresswell, Betty Herbert and Owen Johnston have given over 25 years of service to the club, Johnston as president. Taylor says it’s a very easy game to learn, but hard to master. “You just don’t know till you try.” The Te Awamutu Indoor Bowls was formed on February 20, 1956, after a meeting of the Te Awamutu Men’s Bowling club. Originally called the Te Awamutu Indoor Bowling Club, the club changed its name in 2025, aligning with the NZ Indoor Bowls
and King Country Indoor Bowls Centre. Initially, for 25 shillings people could buy a subscription to play at the club throughout the year. Today its $60 – cheaper now, in terms of purchasing power. Taylor said the club provides everything from the mats, the bowls and padded matts so the player can kneel while bowling. Today’s bowls have changed from the traditional black and brown to bright coloured. “All you do, is wear casual clothes and soft soled shoes,” Taylor said. • Mathew Pearce is a Wintec journalism student.
Better Business, Together The Te Awamutu Business Chamber connects and supports local businesses, just like yours. Pictured from left are Gordon Cresswell, Margret Taylor, Christian Louw, Betty Herbert, Russell Vincent and, playing, Owen Johnston
Pirongia take the triples
www.teawamutuchamber.org.nz office@teawamutuchamber.org.nz
Pirongia took home the spoils from Kihikihi Bowling Club’s open triples tournament last week. Twenty-seven teams entered from Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga, Cambridge Central, Pirongia, Ngāruawāhia, Raglan, Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Claudelands, Frankton Junction, several composite ones plus teams from Kihikihi itself. The two greens were full, with games played on a sunny day – ideal for bowls. Pirongia’s team of Denise Te Momo, Lynda Bennett and Nevenka Drnasin took out first prize, while the composite team of Walter Ormsby, Haydon Ross and Ed Knox came in runners-ups. Third place went to Ngāruawāhia’s Matt Litt, Marcelle Waters and Jeff Waters.
The winning team from Pirongia comprised Denise Te Momo, Lynda Bennett and Nevenka Drnasin.
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TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 11
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
Thursday, October 15, 2026
Growth Strategy Refresh progressing We’re currently refreshing our Growth Strategy to set clear direction for how residential, commercial and industrial growth is managed over the next 30 years. On Thursday last week, Elected Members had a workshop with staff to discuss some key issues for future growth in our district.
Waipā remembers its New Zealand Wars history Rā Maumahara (A day of Remembrance observed annually on October 28), remembers those affected by the New Zealand Wars and recognises how their legacy continues to shape Aotearoa. This history is especially close to home for Waipā communities, where nationally significant events unfolded. The significance of the New Zealand Wars lies in how they fundamentally reshaped the land ownership, political governance, and cultural relationship between Māori and Pākehā (European settlers). Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum’s local programme brings together mana whenua perspectives, historical research, taonga, film and place-based learning. It creates opportunities to reflect and build a fuller understanding of this shared history. Community response has been strong, with all three guided bus trips to Rangiaowhia and Ōrākau and an evening talk by historian Dr Vincent O’Malley now sold out. Waiting lists are available in case places open up.
At Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum, costumes and images from Ka Whawhai Tonu connect the screen story with events that took place nearby. Exhibitions and collections add depth through taonga, photographs, maps and archives relating to the Waikato War, Kīngitanga, Rangiaowhia, Ōrākau and raupatu. Highlights include the historic Te Hokioi printing press, an example of Māori political communication and self-determination. Entry is free. Continue the experience with Te Ara Wai Journeys, a free, self-guided heritage experience sharing stories in English and te reo Māori through local voices, images, video and audio. Explore Rangiaowhia and Ōrākau at your own pace and encounter this history in the places where it happened. Book your film tickets, visit the Museum and start planning your Te Ara Wai journey today. Throughout October, look out for New Zealand Wars flags flying across Waipā as a visible reminder to pause, reflect and learn more. Whether through the flags, film, Museum exhibitions and collections, or journeys across Waipā, Rā Maumahara invites everyone in our community to connect with this history.
There are still plenty of free ways for the community to take part. A screening of Ka Whawhai Tonu will be held at the Regent Theatre at 6.30pm on Friday, October 23. Learn more on the Centred on Ōrākau in 1864, the drama is told Te Awamutu Museum website: largely in te reo Māori with English subtitles. https://tamuseum.org.nz/ Tickets can be booked through the Regent Theatre website from 1pm on Friday, October Find out more about the events and join the 16. The film is rated M and recommended for waiting lists using the link below: mature audiences aged 16 and over. bit.ly/4AUVCIf
Your Elected Members
Mike Pettit Mayor
Jo Davies-Colley
Deputy Mayor
0800 WAPADC (924 723)
Elected Members provided feedback on the timing of future growth areas and how to approach urban intensification and unanticipated growth. They also discussed housing affordability and the economic potential of the area around North Waipā and Southern Hamilton. The growth strategy refresh will help guide important long-term decisions about growth, infrastructure and investment. It will also help prepare Waipā for upcoming changes to how growth is planned at a regional level. You'll have your chance to have your say on this strategy when consultation opens in early 2027.
Pirongia Playground is getting a fresh new look There’s plenty of fun on the way for Pirongia tamariki (children), with work now underway to give the playground next to Pirongia Sports Club on Franklin Street a refresh. The existing equipment is getting tired, so the renewal will give local tamariki more opportunities to play, be active and have fun close to home. Feedback from the 2021–31 Long Term Plan consultation told us that more play and recreation options were needed for young people in Pirongia. The community helped shape this playground renewal from the start, including where it should go, what it would look like and the kinds of play it would offer. The playground will sit alongside the sports facilities and future skatepark, creating a more connected recreation space for Pirongia. While construction takes place, the playground is expected to be closed until mid-December. In the meantime, families can head to Rangimarie Playground on Franklin Street for a play.
Get in touch: waipadc.govt.nz/our-council/our-team/mayor-and-councillors
Dale-Maree Morgan
waipadc.govt.nz
Mike Montgomerie
Clare St Pierre
/WaipaDistrictCouncil
Marcus Gower
Aidhean Camson
Roger Gordon
Dean Taylor
Shane Walsh
Pip Kempthorne
Les Bennett
12 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
Boldly going to Waitomo By Chris Gardner
Anson Mount, who plays the captain of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, will swap outer space for inner space when he beams down to Waitomo. The 53-year-old actor, whose Captain Christopher Pike preceded James T. Kirk, is planning the caving trip during his first visit to New Zealand for the Armageddon Expo at Auckland Showgrounds at Labour Weekend. The Star Trek programme Strange New Worlds streams here on TVNZ On Demand. “There’s going to be some cave rappelling involved,” Mount told The News from his Nashville home. “There are a lot of caves in Tennessee, so I grew up caving with the boys here as well.” Mount has never been to New Zealand before, but has many Kiwi friends. Years ago, Te Awamutu loaned its name to a star system in a Star Trek comic, and Mount thinks it’s about time a Star Trek episode or film was made here. “I think that would be great because your locations are beautiful. Thanks to Peter Jackson, I would love to work in New Zealand.” Mount grew up watching Star Trek after his mother introduced him in 1980 to the original 1966-69 series, starring William Shatner as Captain Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Mr Spock and DeForest Kelley as Dr Leonard
Anson Mount, who plays USS Enterprise Captain Christopher Pike in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, is planning a caving trip in Waitomo. Photo: Supplied
“Bones” McCoy. Years later, Mount was considered for the role of Captain Gabriel Lorca in Star Trek: Discovery, but the part went to Jason Isaacs. “It never occurred to me that I could be on Star Trek, even once I was a professional actor,” he said. The following year, he was asked to audition for another captain. Mount recorded the tape with his wife and was offered the job the next
day. “That’s when I found out the role was actually Pike. I just about fell off my chair.” Jeffrey Hunter first played Pike in the 1964 Star Trek pilot, The Cage, which was rejected as “too cerebral”. William Shatner was brought in as Kirk for the more action-oriented second pilot, Where No Man Has Gone Before. Pike later returned in the original series and was played by Bruce Greenwood in J.J. Abrams’
first two Star Trek films. A fan-led campaign saw the studio create a new show with Mount playing Pike alongside a younger Spock, Uhura and Scotty. “I was completely appreciative and bowled over by it,” he said. “I’ve never had a response like that before.” Mount worked hard to portray a more human and less superhuman captain who was accessible to his crew.
“When a member of his crew comes to talk to him, the desk is cleared,” Mount said. “There’s nothing else in this world because he’s smart enough to know that his crew is the best tool and leadership is actually a service position.” Pike often cooks for his senior crew in his quarters, and Mount carried that team-building instinct into real life. “For the same reason, I would take everybody out every year, and we would do an axe throwing tournament.” So, what Kiwi dish would Pike tackle for his crew? “He would want to tackle the pavlova. That is a difficult dish to do, and most people over here have never heard of it.” Mount, like Pike, is also a practicing Christian. Although Pike’s faith is only hinted at on screen. “Pike was much more a practising man of faith in Discovery, and they cut it all out,” he said. “I wore a cross through the whole shoot. He’s a guy who’s very in touch with his own humility and his own foibles and tries to have a good moral compass.” Away from the bridge, Mount said he was spending much of his time as “Mr Mom” with his wife, Darah, and their children, aged one and four. He also co-hosts The Well, a podcast about creative inspiration, with long-time friend Branan Edgens.
Tender
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This picturesque 12.2-hectare grazing block, bordering the tranquil Punui River, is undoubtably one of the most attractive smaller grazing properties currently on the market. With numerous elevated building sites overlooking the river, this stunning property offers the perfect setting to create and exceptional lifestyle retreat. Recently subdivided into 13 well-fenced paddocks, the property features reticulated water to every paddock, quality cattle handling facilities and well-maintained fertilised pastures. Currently wintering 45 rising one-year cattle while also producing surplus silage for the vendors nearby farming operation, the property offers the opportunity to generate an income while enjoying the lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of. Whether you’re searching for a premium lifestyle block, a smaller support unit, or an investment in productive grazing land, this property delivers on every front.
12.2075ha A Tender Closes Thur 5 Nov 1pm (USP) View 20th, 27th Oct, 3rd Nov at 1.30pm sharp www.monarchsouthwest.co.nz/OH22878
Kerry Harty M 027 294 6215 P 07 873 8700 kjharty@harcourts.co.nz Monarch Southwest Real Estate Ltd / Licensed Agent REAA 2008
Our 34,290 local weekly readers may be interested buyers. Ask your local Real Estate Agent about advertising your property in the Te Awamutu News!
CountryLife THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 13
COUNTRYLIFE FEATURE
OCTOBER 2026
Creating future pathways Helping young people into farming, supporting women in agribusiness and building trusted relationships with rural clients are all part of the job for Grace Moscrip. Viv Posselt profiles the rural banker and industry advocate.
Discussing multi-milliondollar businesses and succession plans around farmers’ kitchen tables is all in a day’s work for Grace Moscrip. The 24-year-old rural relationship manager with ASB’s Te Awamutu team works with dairy, sheep and beef farmers, horticulturalists and sharemilkers from Hamilton to the King Country, helping customers navigate challenges and identify opportunities for growth. Away from banking, Moscrip is also Northland and Waikato regional lead for Women in Agribusiness New Zealand, an organisation focused on supporting the professional and personal
development of women working across the sector. “I think that’s where my passion lies,” she says, referring to helping younger farmers and sharemilkers. “I have a real interest in helping them build equity to have the ability to buy their own farm. The pathways for young people into farming can be tough, particularly if they haven’t come from a farming background. That’s an area that really interests me.” Moscrip knows all too well the difficulties many come up against. Her background gives her both credibility and empathy in an industry that remains largely male-dominated. On occasion, she comes up
Grace Moscrip on farm – her happy place.
against prejudicial views … “but usually because of my age, rather than my gender”. Raised on her parents’ 400cow dairy farm just north of Whangārei, Moscrip revelled in the farm tasks that she and her siblings grew up with. Her forebears – some of the earlier ones left Scotland and came to Waipu via Nova Scotia – were also farmers, so the land was in her blood. “You either love it or hate working on the farm … I loved it, particularly milking the cows,” she says. “When at school I started doing the Young Farmer of the Year Agri-Kids and TeenAg competitions, now the Junior Young Farmers of the Year competitions. That
Photo: DairyNZ
was what opened my eyes to the fact that there was so much more to farming than milking cows. I learned there was a depth to the sector that offered me a range of job opportunities.” After leaving school she did a Bachelor of Agriculture (Science) and a Masters of Management in Agribusiness, both at Lincoln University and completed while she worked part-time on dairy farms. The combination of skillsets gave her an invaluable suite of knowledge. Without that input from Young Farmers, Moscrip says she would likely not have taken the path she did. She doesn’t believe careers training for school-leavers adequately covers the range of opportunities linked to the agricultural sector. “I knew I wanted to understand the business side of farming, and having the background in science was a good starting point,” she says. “At the end of the day, farming is a business. You might have the most knowledge about farm systems and science, but if it’s not profitable, you simply can’t keep farming.” After leaving university, Moscrip heard about the ASB Future Me Graduate Programme. She researched it, applied and was accepted. It offers graduates a hands-on opportunity to gain exposure
Grace Moscrip juggles her job as relationship manager with ASB Te Awamutu with her role as Northland and Waikato lead for Women in Agribusiness NZ. Photo: Viv Posselt
to a range of farming operations and teaches the rural banking side. Moscrip completed that last year and is now in her element building partnerships with customers, understanding the uniqueness of each operation, and helping support the next generation into farm ownership. “The ASB grad programme was exceptional and has really set me up. Banking is so much more than numbers. You have
to be across the strategic goals of each customer, unlock opportunities, understand the compliance requirements, and so much more.” Moscrip still loves being on farm and hopes to have her own one day. She also loves sports, being outdoors and, in a nod to those Scottish forebears, has played the bagpipes since she was about nine. There is a possibility, she mused, that she might get back to that now.
14 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS
COUNTRYLIFE
Fields of lavender Mere mention of the word retirement sends farmer Roger Pratt, 78, scrambling for a shovel, paint brush, hammer and nails, wheelbarrow … anything to
keep busy. “I can’t sit down. I’ve got to be doing something,” he says. “Once you start looking at retirement you start doing nothing, and
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that’s not good for you.” Pratt might just agree with author Ernest Hemingway, who reckoned retirement was the filthiest word in the language. “To retire from what you do – and makes you what you are – is to back up into the grave,” wrote Hemingway. Pratt and wife Judy took over Alphra Lavender on Brotherhood Rd near Kihikihi after leaving their Northland bull-breeding operation. Over six years the couple have transformed the property into a thriving lavender business, with about 10,000 plants, an on-site shop and a steady stream of visitors each summer. “It had been run down, just limping along,” he said. “I did with it what I’ve been doing all my life, buying run-down properties and making improvements before selling them.” He and Judy took it over after farming near Kaikohe, where they bred Friesian bulls. “They are fast growing but they are like babies – they need specialist feeding and rearing.” The bulls, not the lavender. Around 40% of the two-hectare Te Awamutu property is planted in the
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evergreen, said to be a member of the mint family. The flowers are distilled into pure lavender oil – Pratts’ last yield produced 45 litres. “Some lavender is ideal for dried flower arrangements; some has culinary uses; some is better for oil. We turn all our lavender into oil.” The plant flowers once a year, a harvest season that runs from December 15 to the first week of February. Popular theory has it that there are three types of lavender: English, Spanish, and a Hybrid. “No,” says Roger, “there are more than 300 types. No point in going too deep into it. A woman on a tour group bus here said it best, that you can’t define where lavender comes from. “People say it’s from England or France, or here and there, and it’s this variety or that variety, but the woman said it came from the world and could have come from anywhere.” The farm is on the tourist trail. An average dozen or so tour groups in a season is not unusual, at times with as many as 45 people in a group. “It’s getting too much for me now,” says Pratt who had a triple-bypass
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
Ex bull farmers, Judy and Roger Pratt have traded in the cattle in Northland to tackle lavender in Kihikihi. Photos: Brianna Stewart
heart operation in 2025. He’s spotted a property on a couple of acres near Te Awamutu he quite likes. So you might finally retire? “No! I’ll find something to
keep me busy. I’ve done all sorts of things. I can build anything, I’m a keen gardener … I’m not going to be sitting still.” - Alastair Sloane
Roger Pratt runs a propagation programme on the farm with young plants available for sale
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TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 15
COUNTRYLIFE
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
Rugby, farming, family
From the Fieldays farm and Ōhaupō Rugby Club to Owl Farm and the stock industry, Keith Rodger left his mark across rural Waikato, writes Jesse Wood. When Dave Rodger renewed his family’s connection with Ōhaupō Rugby Sports Club, he uncovered fresh memories of a father whose life was deeply intertwined with the land. The renewed interest came last season, the year before former Waikato representative, farmer and stock agent Keith Rodger would have celebrated his 100th birthday. Although born in Fremantle, Western Australia, on April 19, 1926, Keith would spend most of his life in the Waikato and become well known throughout the district for his farming, rugby and involvement in rural communities. Much of his early adulthood was spent on what is now the Fieldays site at Mystery Creek, where he worked for his uncle Redvers Brownless. It was there he and cousin Vern forged a special relationship based around rugby. “They were pretty competitive, the two of
them. They used to run to Ōhaupō training.” Those training runs along Kaipaki Road reflected the determination that would take Keith to Waikato representative honours. A hard-running prop, Keith went on to become the 375th Waikato representative and one of the earliest Ōhaupō players to wear the famous Mooloo jersey. Former Waikato representative, referee and Ōhaupō Rugby Sports Club life member Evan Dela Rue remembers watching Keith play while growing up. “As a primary school player when Ōhaupō club played their home games on Retter’s paddock, we played in the morning and then were able to watch our top team which included Keith,” he said. “I admired his physical ability, his strength and his uncompromising manner in which he played the game. It was a pleasure to watch him play.” After moving to Hamilton and joining Marist, Keith continued his representative
rugby career and was recalled for Waikato trials in 1952 after captaining Marist to a Brennan Cup victory. But his playing days were cut short after a bout of meningitis contracted during a Waikato rugby tour to the East Coast. Son Dave Rodger said his father was known in rugby circles as “hard and strong.” Like many rural men of his generation, life then centred on work and family. Keith married Grace Rodger and together they raised five children: Dave, Glenda, Sandra, Mike and Craig. Farming was a constant throughout Keith’s life. He worked and lived across a number of Waikato districts including Ōhaupō, Pukerimu, Bruntwood, Morrinsville, Ōmokoroa and Cambridge. He later managed what is now Owl Farm at St Peter’s Cambridge before becoming involved in stud cattle and eventually working as a stock and stud agent. “In the latter years he got pretty tied up with stud
cattle,” Dave said. “He became a stock and stud agent, selling stock food, salt blocks, meal and the like.” Keith was just 11 when his mother died and his formal schooling ended at about 13. He soon found himself working on Waikato farms. “They gave him a pair of trousers, a pair of gumboots and he started work on a farm in Horotiu before moving to the Fieldays farm with the Brownless family,” Dave said. Even after his playing career ended, he remained connected to the game through occasional refereeing and lifelong friendships formed around rural rugby. One of the family’s proudest moments came in 1984 when Dave and wife Dianne became the first New Zealand married couple to compete at the Olympic Games. Today, nearly 80 years after Keith first pulled on an Ōhaupō jersey, the family’s connection to the club has been renewed. Almost two decades
after Keith’s death, Dave has been rediscovering the people and places that shaped his father’s life. Keith often spoke fondly of his years at Ōhaupō, and through reconnecting with the club, his family is gaining a deeper appreciation of the rural community that helped shape one of Waikato rugby’s tough early representatives.
Keith Rodger
Keith Rodger was in the 1947 Hamilton Rugby Union team.
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The 1944 Ōhaupō junior football team. Keith Rodger is back row third from left and his cousin Vern Brownless is third row fourth from left. They were winners of the Waipā junior championship shield and the knockout cup – winning 11 games and drawing one.
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16 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS
COUNTRYLIFE
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
REGIONAL COUNCILLOR’S VIEW
Reform and rates
Hedging your bets – different ways a contract can go wrong Contracts can go badly for a number of reasons. When a contract is breached or otherwise fails, the innocent party is generally entitled to remedies. The Contracts and Commercial Law Act 2017 provides a framework for dealing with contracts that go wrong. Let’s say you’ve entered a contract for someone to trim your hedge so it’s nice and tidy. Real simple – flat top and sides, no nonsense. You later discover that the contractor had a sudden stroke of artistic brilliance and trimmed your hedge into the unmistakeable shape of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. You now own a very cool hedge and are the envy of your neighbourhood, but that isn’t what you wanted and now you are upset. This is a textbook breach of contract, as the contractor has operated outside of the agreed terms. You could seek remedies, like the costs associated with restoring the hedge to what you originally wanted. This might involve trimming the hedge again or completely replanting it. Let’s say that the contractor did something slightly less ridiculous than creating a topiary terror. Perhaps they trimmed about halfway through the hedge and decided not to finish it. Once someone makes it clear that they do not intend to complete their obligations under the contract, you might be entitled to cancel the contract. But care should be taken, because the consequences of getting it wrong can be expensive. You could then look at claiming damages. In this scenario, the damage might be the additional reasonable costs incurred in hiring another contractor to finish the job. If the new contractor is more expensive than the original contractor, then you might be able to saddle the original contractor with that cost. A final scenario. The contractor turns up on the day to trim the hedge and finds it packed with tiny brown lizards, which turn out to be the critically endangered Kapiti skink. Trimming the hedge would destroy the lovable lizards, putting you and your contractor at risk of a hefty fine. If circumstances change so dramatically that the contract can no longer be carried out, and neither party caused the problem, the contract might come to an end and both parties are released from their obligations. Importantly, contracts often have clauses to deal with breaches, repudiation, and impossible terms, so always get legal advice if something goes wrong!
Jamie Graham
In this month’s column I would like to reflect on where we are at regarding the council’s long-term plan, but first I want to discuss the local government reform. The government has pushed pause on this and we have heard a few hysterical comments suggesting councils have done so much work under tight timelines, and it’s all been for nothing. This simply is not true. The discussion has been positive and has helped elected members get their heads around what needs to happen and why. It has also given many constituents a chance to submit their thoughts and better understand the different options. This progress will be picked up and continued in the new year when the new government is sworn in. The efficiencies that can be gained are significant and I don’t believe any new government will let the momentum of the work done to date
By Garry Reymer, Waipā-King Country regional councillor
be lost. The long-term plan is also something that needs to be well considered when it comes to local government reform. If the regional council is rolled into a unitary council what should our budgets look like? What would they cover? Some of you have sent me letters outlining your concerns about recent reports regarding transport. Transport covers everything from the Te Huia train to regional buses and community transport. These are all very different in terms of what they provide and who pays for them. One of our main focuses is to leave this council in the best possible shape to fit into any new structure and to ensure it is well resourced, but we may not be able to fund everything. The choice between what is mandated when it comes to catchment work, flood protection and public
Harvest hits record The North Island’s kiwifruit industry is proving once again why it remains one of the country’s economic heavyweights, with a record harvest delivering strong returns despite tougher trading conditions offshore. A record 225 million trays of kiwifruit have been harvested this season, reinforcing the sector's importance not only to growers but also to the wider economy, which relies heavily on orchard production, packing, storage, logistics and export activity. Zespri says returns are forecast to remain strong across most varieties, with
average per-hectare returns expected to exceed last year's record levels for all categories except Green and Organic Green. Chief executive Jason Te Brake says stronger yields and value secured across global markets have helped underpin grower returns.
transport and what is non-mandated is sometimes blurred. Public transport is a good example. It is mandated so we have to do it, but how much of the cost is recovered through fares is largely discretionary - there are minimums but not maximums. Then community transport is a discretionary spend but when you look at the work and the service that is provided by this investment it is a no brainer to continue funding. To some extent it is up to you, what is the level of service you want, and what do you want to pay for, and if not you, then who pays? One of the ideas I campaigned on was “rates control” and that is still front of mind when I go into these meetings. I still believe we can deliver the quality and quantity of service and balance the budget to a less than 4% increase as directed by the rates cap.
Briefs
Farming rules
Federated Farmers is urging all political parties to support 10 national farming standards to reduce red tape and create consistent rules across New Zealand. The organisation welcomed Act’s commitment to the proposal, saying streamlined regulations for activities such as water storage, drain maintenance and solar installations would lower costs for farmers and consumers.
Vet boost
The Government will fund 15 extra domestic veterinary science places at Massey University each year, increasing the annual intake from 125 to 140 from 2027. A $6 million grant will help offset reduced international student revenue, with the move aimed at strengthening New Zealand’s future veterinary workforce.
Water storage Jason Te Brake
Federated Farmers has welcomed National’s proposed $300 million water storage scheme, saying reliable access to water is essential for farm resilience, productivity and economic growth.
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WHERE COLOUR FINDS IT FLOW Interior & Exterior Specialists | 5 Year Workmanship Warranty Renovations & New Builds | Residential & Commercial FREE Quotes
022 544 6538
info@flowfxdecorating.co.nz SECURITY DOORS
Need a plumber?
WAIPA ALUMINIUM SECURITY DOORS AND FLYSCREENS
• Bathroom Renovations • Gas Hot Water • Repairs, Service, Installation
0800 PRATTS
FLOW FX DECORATING
• Locally owned & operated • Over 28 years experience in aluminium A division of Pratts
AVAILABLE FROM: 100 Roche Street, Te Awamutu 07 870 5020 | teawamutu@pratts.co.nz | www.pratts.co.nz
• Aluminum Window and Door Assessment and Repair Service
Other Showroom Locations: 6 Main North Road, Otorohanga | 10 Albert Street, Cambridge
Simon Whale 022 469 2423 waipaali@gmail.com | www.waipaaluminium.co.nz
WASTE REMOVAL
YOUR BUSINESS
Your local heating specialist
Invoicing and Payments
Effective from April 1, 2026, a $5.00 plus GST administration fee will be added to all Good Local Media Ltd invoices. For advertisers on a regular schedule, invoices will be sent at the end of the month and payment is due by the 20th of the following month, otherwise payment is required by end of day Tuesday in advance of publishing. Accounts in arrears +60 days may be subject to a $95 + GST late payment fee per month. Advertiser is responsible for all debt collection fees.
Rate Card
Rates are based on advertising space only and are over a 12-month period starting from the date the first ad publishes. Rate bracket e.g. 6 insertions, 12 insertions etc. chosen allows ad sizes to vary within the rate bracket. If the number of insertions chosen is not met then a bulk charge will be applied at the end/cancellation of your schedule based on correct rate reflective of the number of ads published e.g. if you have chosen the 12 insertion rate and only publish 6 insertions, the bulk charge will be the difference in price between the 6 insertion rate and 12 insertion rate multiplied by the number of ads published. You pay the rate reflective of the number of ads you published.
Advertising Deadlines
Cambridge News, King Country News and Te Awamutu News: Advertising booking deadline is one week prior to publication day. Copy deadline for ad-make up is noon Friday prior to publication day. Booking and Copy deadlines for Waikato Business News and Bay of Plenty Business News is on request. Advertiser is responsible to advise us of any copy changes before proofing deadline – anything not signed off by this time, ad prints as per the last proof sent. Advertising supplied in completed form (finished artwork or camera ready), deadline is Tuesday 11am prior to publication day. Public holiday weeks, all deadlines move forward one working day. Cancellation deadline is one week prior to publication. If cancellations are received after the cancellation deadline, then full charge applies. All other publications and products see separate booking and deadline sheet. Advertising setting incurs a production fee of $50 + GST for up to two proofs, further changes will incur additional production fees. Advertising copy set by Good Local Media Ltd is the property of Good Local Media Ltd and for use in Good Local Media Ltd publications only. If used elsewhere charges will apply, pricing available on request. If supplied ready to print, copy is owned by the advertiser. Publication day is Thursday for urban deliveries and Friday morning for rural deliveries. Acceptance of advertising and free productions services is at the discretion of the publisher. Acceptance of advertising for publication and free productions services is at the discretion of the publisher.
Specifications
ADVERTISE WITH THE EXPERTS YOUR LOCAL WASTE SERVICE SKIP BINS
• 9m3, 6m3, 3m3 bins. • Household, building and hazardous waste services
WHEELIE BINS
• 240L general and organic bins • 240, 600 & 1000L bins for commercial services
www.cambins.co.nz | info@cambins.co.nz | 07 827 3375
All images and advertisements to be 300 dpi. No crop marks or bleed. No spot colours. Fonts embedded or pathed. We prefer high resolution PDFs as the ad file format exported using the compatibility setting: Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3). Please do not use/include overprint. Ideally, 10pt is the standard point size; however, in some cases with bold fonts 9pt can be used, depending on background. Black text should be 100% black[k]. All artwork submitted needs a border. Specifications for photos and logos – CMYK, high resolution jpeg (minimum 200dpi) pdf attachments. If finished artwork ready to print (Camera Ready) provided does not meet our technical requirements, your advert will be technically fixed, a technical report will be provided, and a $50 + GST production fee will be incurred. No proof will be sent as no design changes will be made. File formats: We will not accept PDFs created from Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, Photoshop, and Canva. However, we can copy your design and proof for your approval. Any artwork received in these formats must adhere to the copy setting deadline as they are not finished artwork or technically compatible to newspaper printing specifications.
Limitation of Liability
Call Daniel on 020 4023 8018 or email daniel@goodlocal.nz
Good Local Media Limited (including its employees, officers, or agents) shall not be liable for a failure or breach arising from anything beyond their reasonable control e.g. an act of God, fire, earthquake, strike, explosion, or electrical supply failure, unavoidable accident or machine breakdown; and shall not be liable in tort, contract, or otherwise for loss of any kind (whether indirect loss, loss of profits, or consequential loss) to the Advertiser or any other person.
TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 19
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026
SITUATIONS VACANT
GARAGE SALE
PUBLIC NOTICES
DAIRY FARM 2 IC/ ASSISTANT REQUIRED – Halter cow management. 1000 cows. Rotary cowshed. Ph 0274 781783 Otorohanga
Garage Sale
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Starts 9am Saturday 31 October
The Waipa Community Facilities Trust is holding its Annual General Meeting at 6.00pm on the 27th October 2026 in the ASB Community Room at the Perry Aquatic Centre.
TO LET TO LET – 2 bdrm unit, excellent condition, very central, available Nov 11. $420pw. Ph 027 695 0248
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
CALF MILK WANTED Bocock’s Calf Rearing Pete 027 433 1440 Mark 0274746917
We buy milk!
Got reject or surplus milk? Call us today on 027 871 5075. We collect within 1.5 hours drive from Te Awamutu.
Christ Church Hall 16 Lyons Street, Kihikihi
PLANTS FOR SALE
PIRONGIA TOPIARY Open Fridays 10am-4pm 132 Sainsbury Rd Pirongia OR Phone Susan Ranstead
0274 176 379
PUBLIC NOTICES
TE AWAMUTU CONTINUING EDUCATION Wednesday 21 October 2026 10am Entry: $4 on arrival Waipa Workingmen’s Club
Change of Deadlines 29 October 2026 Issue Booking, copy setting & payment 5pm Friday, 23 October
*All classified advertising is prepaid prior to publication. *Late bookings after deadline are subject to space available.
Ruby McPhail - Secretary
WAIPA COMMUNITY FACILITIES TRUST
Topic: Enjoyment of Music Everybody Welcome More info phone 07 870 3223
Opening Night Friday 16th October 5pm Followed by a BBQ. Business House commences Thursday 15th October 6pm. Friday night mixed social tennis continues. Veterans Tuesday 9am. Junior coaching Thursday & Friday afternoons. New members welcome. Enquiries T Bayly 027 533 5106 or P Adam 07 871 6884
Missed Delivery? Phone 07 827 0005
CHURCH NOTICES
Family Notices Supporting our people for 25 years Supporting our people for 25 years Our all inclusive packages Our all inclusive package $5,990 FULL BURIAL PACKAGE $5,990 FULLCREMATION BURIAL $2,990 DIRECT PACKAGE PACKAGE NepiaFuneral funeral services SeeSee Nepia Services FB& & website website FB JackNepia Nepia 027 027 466 Jack 4668166 8166 Opposite Fresh Fresh Choice Opposite Choice Te TeAwamutu Awamutu
5 Whitmore St, Kihikihi
• Weddings • Births • Bereavements
Jim Goddin & Teri Keir - Funeral Directors
Guiding you with care In life’s hardest moments, you don’t have to be alone. We’re available 24/7 – call us when you need us.
• In Memoriam etc
SITUATIONS VACANT
Groomer/ Detailer Required
Giltrap AgriZone Otorohanga is looking for a keen, energetic person to join our team and support our busy workshop. This role involves washing and grooming tractors and agricultural equipment, preparing machines for workshop servicing and customer delivery, maintaining the branch yard, and ensuring our facilities are presented to a high standard. The successful applicant will: • Hold a clean full driver’s licence (a restricted licence may be considered) • Be confident driving a manual vehicle • Have a strong work ethic and take pride in their workmanship • Be willing to get stuck in and work as part of a team • Have an interest in agricultural machinery and equipment A forklift licence would be an advantage but is not essential. Tractor driving experience is beneficial, although training can be provided for the right person. This is a Monday to Friday position with occasional Saturday work required. If you’re reliable, hardworking, and want to be part of a great team in the agricultural industry, we’d love to hear from you. To apply, please email your CV to: bryan.ferguson@gaz.co.nz or call Bryan for a chat on 027 551 1621.
CHURCH NOTICES
Call Janine 027 287 0005 or email janine@goodlocal.nz Garth Williams Funeral Director, Owner
Pam & Ray Bestwick Locally owned and operated
Our team is caring and compassionate. We give the utmost attention to detail in all aspects of our service.
SERVICES
FOR TELEVISION REPAIRS & TUNING • Television Aerial Installations & Extensions • Satellite atellite Dish Installation • Stereo Repairs
WESTEND ELECTRONICS Since 1990 871 5193
Presbyterian Church All Welcome
• Engagements
• Anniversaries
Kihikihi
CHURCH SERVICES 10am 18th October Dr Terry Cowland
DEATH NOTICES
07 870 2137 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu www.rosetown.co.nz
Speaker: Hilary Nobes
Kihikihi Tennis Club
WEEKLY CLASSIFIED DEADLINES
Business of meeting: The annual general meeting shall carry out the following business: (a) Receive the minutes from the previous annual general meeting; and (b) Receive the Trust’s statement of accounts for year ending 30/06/2026; and (c) Receive report from the Chairman of the board and from the CEO; and (d) Announce retirement of current Trustee and the appointment of new Trustee; and (e) Appoint an auditor; and (f) Consider and decide any other matter which may properly be brought before the meeting.
FUNERAL SERVICES
Got a job to fill? ADVERTISE YOUR VACANCY WITH US Call Daniel 020 4023 8018 or email daniel@goodlocal.nz
www.qikstop.co.nz
www.qikstop.co.nz
20 | TE AWAMUTU NEWS
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026