News in Brief
Grants announced
Mt Pirongia. Photo: Hamilton and Waikato Tourism.
Waikato Regional Council has $1.34 million from its Natural Heritage Fund towards four landscape scale environmental projects including mounts Pirongia and Karioi. Te Whakaoranga o Karioi – The Karioi Project – gets almost $400,000 over four years for pest control, a seabird/coastal ranger and volunteer coordinator, cultural health monitoring and health and safety. Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society gets $303,023 over three years towards its Kia Mau Tonu Kaitiakitanga o Pirongia project and money will over labour, material, maintenance and monitoring costs.
Band plays on
Rowdy’s Rose – aka Blair and Rosie Shaw – performing at the Cambridge Autumn Festival. Photo by Viv Posselt
Te Awamutu husband and wife duo Rowdy’s Rose – Rosie and Blair Shaw – are touring New Zealand performing at major festivals including the Cambridge Autumn Festival next month. Their new single Burning Brighter will debut and more new music is in the works
Standing again
New councillor Mike Montgomerie was right at home in front of his maunga Maungatautari when he was sworn in three years ago. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Mike Montgomerie has announced he is standing in the Waipā District Council Maungatautari ward for his second term as a councillor. Montgomerie who gets $62,508 a year now tops elected members’ salaries – with the exception of mayor Susan O’Regan – after his promotion to chair of the Finance and Corporate committee.
Scam alert
An old scam offering large amounts of money for little work is doing the rounds again. Text messages arrive from unusual addresses and the author claims to work as a recruiter for “Trademe Jobs”. The offer suggests immediate payment for one hour’s work a day of up to $2378. The scam is an attempt to lure victims into providing confidential banking details.
