Yellow lines
Waipā road safety staff have distributed signs to various schools pointing out the issues parents parking on yellow lines cause outside the schools. They are put out in the morning and at the end of the school day and are working well, a report to the council’s Service Delivery committee confirmed last week.
Upston’s roles
Taupō MP Louise Upston has picked up Social Development and Employment and Child Poverty reduction in the new coalition cabinet announced by incoming Prime Minister Chris Luxon.
Taupo MP Louise Upston, second right, second front row with the rest of the new ministry and Governor General Cindy Kiro. Photo: Supplied.
Bus travel
Regional bus statistics for last month are mixed – Te Awamutu services are trending upwards while Cambridge ones are static. There were 9431 passengers on the 24 Te Awamutu service – up on September but just over 1000 shy of March’s 10,565 record. Meanwhile the 20 Cambridge service had 7828 patrons, just under 2000 short of the March record of 9586. Passengers on the Tokoroa and Te Kūiti connectors, which stop in the Waipā towns of Kihikihi, Ōhaupō, Cambridge and Te Awamutu, have nose-dived to 336 and 351 respectively.
Town explosion
A person who suffered minor injuries when the contents of a 200 litre drum exploded outside the Cambridge Stihl Shop early last Thursday was back at work the following day.
Camping bylaw
Waikato District Council mayor Jacqui Church says a newly adopted Freedom Camping Bylaw gives people the right to freedom camp and protects the environmental, social, cultural and economic values of district communities.
Window repairs
The historic stained-glass window at St Paul’s Church at Rangiaowhia was removed and replaced with a plastic replica on Tuesday ahead of planned restoration work. Specialists from a Christchurch company were on site for two hours completing the removal.
Free showers
Public showers in Cambridge at the Superloo and in Te Awamutu on Arawata Street have been upgraded and now offer free five-minute timed showers.
Window repairs
The historic stained-glass window at St Paul’s Church at Rangiaowhia was removed and replaced by a plastic replica on Tuesday ahead of planned restoration work. Specialists from a Christchurch company were on site for about two hours completing the removal. See: Cora’s a gala veteran, Page 13.
Dog case
Te Awamutu police were justified in using a dog to catch a youth following an incident in January, the Independent Police Complaints Authority has ruled. A 12-year-old youth was bitten on the leg after police were called to an incident at a pharmacy. A car subsequently sped off and two people were later seen running away from it. They did not stop when told to by a dog handler, police said.
Bug off
Toilets at Hicks Road (Maungatautari), Karāpiro, Waipuke and Ngā Roto have been treated for an ongoing bug problem. Warmer weather enticed the bugs back.
Review delayed
A report on lease models for Waipā sports’ fields has been delayed to allow for additional information. Several council leases are up for renewal giving the council an opportunity to look at the planning and development of reserve grounds.
St Kilda refresh
Gardens and groundcover in the St Kilda subdivision have been tidied up by council staff to improve aesthetics and provide easier maintenance. The first stage of a garden renewal at a stormwater site on Kaniera Terrace has started and will be finished next year.
Entranceway
Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā representatives and council staff are discussing the design and implementation of a new gateway at the Albert Street entrance to Lake Te Koo Utu.
Dyet announces end date
Garry Dyet in his office at Waipā District Council. Photo: Roy Pilott
Waipā District Council chief Garry Dyet will leave the organisation – after 45 years’ service – next June, mayor Susan O’Regan announced today.
“I appreciate Garry being so upfront with me and certainly the whole of council appreciates Garry’s commitment to putting Waipā first. He has given council seven months to find a replacement, only leaving once the 2024-2034 Long-Term Plan has been adopted,” she said.
Dyet said his decision to leave after 15 years as chief executive would give him time to focus on other projects. Over his tenure, Dyet had worked under mayors Alan Livingston, Jim Mylchreest and O’Regan.
The News’ Roy Pilott sat down with Dyet to discuss his work as chief executive, and what the future holds – read the story in tomorrow’s editions of the Cambridge News and Te Awamutu News.
Colossal squid
The Colossal Squid tentacle.
Te Papa’s popular Colossal Squid, Te Ngū Tipua, exhibition is coming to the Te Awamutu Museum Education and Research Centre this summer. The exhibition, opening Saturday, December 2, will showcase pieces of the Colossal Squid. Waipā residents and visitors will be able to learn about some of the fascinating science and wonderful secrets of one of New Zealand’s most significant natural history specimens. The exhibition will run until Sunday, March 31.
Digital parking
Paying for parking tickets in Waipā has become much easier thanks to new ticketing technology. The new digital ticketing system replaces a decades-old process of putting chalk on tyres and handwriting paper tickets that needed to be manually loaded to an online platform. Since October 30, Waipā District Council parking enforcement officers have been able to scan the vehicle number plate of an infringing vehicle and issue a printed ticket on the spot.
Bridge award
Cambridge’s Victoria Street (High Level) bridge repair and repainting project has picked up the Job of the Year award in the Scaffolding, Access and Rigging NZ national awards as well as winning the best commercial project over $200,000 category. Painting is finished but two steel bracing elements will be replaced as scaffolding comes down on the town side.
Top students
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- Spencer Cleland
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- Esme MacGillivray
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- Georgie-Rose Boyd
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- Hayden Waddell
Esme MacGillivray and Spencer Cleland have been named St Peter’s School, Cambridge duxes for 2023. Esme MacGillivray was named International Baccalaureate (IB) dux and Spencer Cleland National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) dux. The school has also named its head boy and girl for 2024 – Murdoch Dawe and Keana Woodfield.
Plane launch
NZ Aero launches Superpac plane in Hamilton.
A new multi-million dollar aircraft designed by Waipā-based aeronautical engineers and to be used by governments and humanitarian organisations to save lives during natural disasters was launched at Hamilton Airport yesterday (Wednesday). The SuperPac aircraft designed by NZ Aero, the country’s only commercial aircraft maker, cost more than $10 million and took seven years to develop.
Sleeping rough
Police and council staff are working closely to solve the problem of people sleeping rough at the Cambridge Superloo in Victoria Square.
Still blocked
Ongoing plumbing issues with the Hally’s Lane toilets continue to challenge cleaning contractors who have to unblock the pans most days. The toilet block is on the renewal list for the next financial year.
Bug off
Toilets at Hicks Road (Maungatautari), Karāpiro, Waipuke and Ngā Roto have been treated for an ongoing bug problem. Warmer weather enticed the bugs back.
Review delayed
A report on lease models for Waipā sports’ fields has been delayed a fortnight to allow for additional information. Several council leases are up for renewal giving the council an opportunity to look at the planning and development of reserve grounds.
Bus travel
The regional bus stops at the Velodrome to pick up a student for Cambridge.
Regional bus statistics for last month are mixed – Te Awamutu services are trending upwards while Cambridge ones are static. There were 9431 passengers on the 24 Te Awamutu service – up on September but just over 1000 shy of March’s 10,565 record. Meanwhile the 20 Cambridge service had 7828 patrons, just under 2000 short of the March record of 9586. Passengers on the Tokoroa and Te Kūiti connectors, which stop in the Waipā towns of Kihikihi, Ōhaupō, Cambridge and Te Awamutu, have nose-dived to 336 and 351 respectively.
Back next week
Janine Krippner
Janine Krippner’s On Shaky Ground column will be back next week.
CCTV in
New security cameras are to be installed in Kihikihi, Leamington and Tirau Road with a new camera recently installed at the Pukemako (formerly Gudex) Reserve in Te Miro for Waipā District Council’s Parks and Reserves team. Police report that cameras are being used regularly to help with their investigations including the one at Te Awamutu Cemetery which resulted in an arrest following a break in and theft from the sexton shed.
Price increase
The price for the Cambridge Wastewater Treatment Plan inlet works equipment and peripherals has gone up $652,400 to $4.863 million. Contractor Spirac Pty Ltd’s extra work included design and supply of a channel system, odour management ports and increased automation. The additional amount is budgeted in the council’s Long Term Plan.
Resthaven survey
Cambridge Resthaven Trust Board chairman, Kevin Monks.
The not-for-profit Cambridge Resthaven Trust is conducting an online public survey to get a better understanding of how it is perceived. Chief David Hall said the survey would help shape the future Resthaven by ensuring its service aligned with community needs and expectations.
Columnist praised
Peter Nicholl
The News’ economic columnist Peter Nicholl was invited to attend the Cambridge Community Board meeting last week following his column about Waipā District Council’s annual report. Nicholl said questions asked by board members were “pertinent” and he enjoyed the experience. “I felt they had actually listened and understood the points I tried to make.” See Nicholl’s column
Croquet results
Players from Leamington, Matamata, Ōtorohanga, Te Awamutu, Hamilton East and Claudelands took part a November 14 tournament at Leamington Croquet Club. Results: Division 1, Nancy Strybosch and Chris Lewendon (Claudelands), 1 Rebecca Mobey (Hamilton East) and Yvonne Hamilton (Te Awamutu) 2. Division 2 Jeni Van Driel and Fiona Hicks (Matamata) 1, Charlie Lyes (Leamington) and Don Lockart (Hamilton East) 2.
