King’s Birthday honorees
Brendan Lindsay – Knight companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Brendan Lindsay at Cambridge Stud.
Brendan Lindsay, owner of Cambridge Stud owner and long-time supporter of Te Arawhata – the Zealand Liberation Museum in Le Quesnoy, France – has been knighted for his services to business and philanthropy.
Lindsay built Sistema Plastics into a recognised leading global food storage brand, producing sustainable and recyclable storage products stamped ‘Made in New Zealand’ and exported to 55 countries.
The many charitable organisations assisted include Pet Refuge, Starship National Air Ambulance Service, New Zealand Riding for the Disabled and Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust.
Sarah Walker – Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Sarah Walker. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Sarah Walker was in Switzerland for an International Olympic Committee meeting when it was announced she had become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s Birthday Honours list for her service to BMX cycling and sports governance.
She is a two time gold medallist at the world champs and became New Zealand’s first BMX medallist in 2012 at the London Olympics.
The 36-year-old mother of two lives in Cambridge but regularly travels overseas for her role on the Olympic Committee.
Peter Nation – Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Peter Nation. Photo: Roy Pilott
Tamahere businessman and Waikato Chamber of Commerce chair Peter Nation has received an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit gong for his services to the agricultural industry and governance.
Nation served on the Fieldays board from 2004 to 2016, and various other associated committees from 1995, having become involved through his ANZ Regional rural manager role as sponsor representative and banker, supporting capital investments such as the Mystery Creek Pavilion.
As chief executive, he oversaw the society’s annual organisation of the National Fieldays event at Mystery Creek, the biggest agricultural event in Australasia, and successfully steered the event business through the disruptions of the Covid pandemic.
Timothy Grant Southee (Tamahere) – Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Ellesse Mote Andrews (Cambridge) – Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Marilyn Yeoman (Hamilton) – Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Tony and Jenny Enderby – King’s Service Medal
Selfie underwater for Jenny and Tony Enderby.
Cambridge’s Tony and Jenny Enderby were awarded the KSM for services to conservation. Their joint citation speaks to them having volunteered for the Department of Conservation from the early 1990s to 2023, during which time they became two of only four honorary warranted officers based in Auckland.
They began as visitor guides for Tiritiri Matangi Island, then volunteered as Maui Dolphin observers, visitor supervisors for Little Barrier Island for more than 10 years and undertook diving surveys off Great Barrier Island.
Money raised
Nearly $300,000 has been raised for the Cambridge Fire Brigade, Hato Hone St John and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust by a fundraising campaign launched by Windsor Park Stud and the Schick family. Jimmy Shick, 10, died when an ATV rolled on a rural property near Cambridge while his father Rodney Schick, owner of the stud, was critically injured and remains in Waikato Hospital.
New executive
Eeva-Liisa Wright
Eeva-Liisa Wright has been appointed Waipā District Council’s new group manager Service Delivery from June 9.
Wright worked at Hamilton City Council for 15 years until December 2023.
She takes over from Dawn Inglis who leaves after 15 years, the last 5 ½ as group manager.
Liquor hearing
Applications for the renewal of the on licence and manager’s certificate for Five Stags Leamington were considered by the Waipā District Licensing Committee in Cambridge on Monday. The results were unavailable when The News went to press.
Jets return
General manager finance and commercial Scott Kendall, chief executive Mark Morgan and general manager, airport operations Ben Langley at Hamilton Airport
Air New Zealand has confirmed jets servicing a domestic route will return to Hamilton Airport in September. A 171-seat Airbus A320 will operate five days a week on the Hamilton–Christchurch route. The two slower and smaller ATR turboprop aircraft currently servicing the route will be redeployed. The jet will leave Christchurch at 3pm (arriving at 4.20pm) and return to Christchurch at 5.05pm, arriving at 6.25pm.
Jamboree announced
Mystery Creek Events Centre will once again host a scout jamboree. The 24th Aotearoa New Zealand Scout Jamboree will be held at the venue from December 27, 2026, until January 6, 2027, and is expected to attract thousands of scouts from across the country and all over the world. It is the third jamboree in a row to be held at Mystery Creek, the last being held over the 2024/25 summer break. The first New Zealand Scout Jamboree was held in Dunedin in 1926, just six years after the first world jamboree in London.
Breakfast protest
Protesters outside Onyx
About 40 protesters unhappy with the government’s pay equity measures gathered outside Onyx in Cambridge earlier this week while Taupō MP Louise Upston gave Cambridge Chamber of Commerce members a breakfast briefing on last week’s Budget.
Roundabout ready
Readying the site for the final pedestrian and cycle underpass
A roundabout outside Te Awa Lifecare Village west of Cambridge has opened and the road running alongside Bridleways Estate and Patrick Hogan Retirement Village on Cambridge Rd back to two-way after 21 months of construction. The next phase is the installation of an underpass for pedestrians and cyclists under the road.
Rest in peace
Eddie and Marie Bradley
Marie Bradley, who we featured with husband Eddie on their 70th wedding anniversary in January, has died aged 91. A service celebrating her life will be held in Cambridge today. The couple met in Belfast, Northern Ireland as teenagers, married and had six children, three of them born in Cambridge after the family emigrated.
Standing down
Tammee Wilson – Chamber of Commerce chair
Tammee Wilson has stood down as Cambridge Chamber of Commerce chair after five months. Deputy chair David Natzke will assume key responsibilities until an acting chair is appointed.
SPCA appeal
Collectors will be out in Cambridge tomorrow and Saturday for the SPCA’s Fill the Bucket fundraising campaign.
Pastor moves on
Te Awamutu Person of the Year for 2024 Phil Strong
Te Awamutu News person of the year Phil Strong has preached his last sermon as senior leader of Zion People church. Strong’s decade in ministry at the church in Racecourse Road and Churchill Street was celebrated with a meal on Sunday. He said he had resigned after coming to the realisation that “the Lord leads us in and out of seasons”.
Sisters launch creative fundraising
Briar (left) and Xanthe Paulussen – AKA the Two Flappy Sisters. Briar is wearing one of her own crocheted sweaters, while Xanthe is holding a flower she made out of pipecleaners.
Teenage sisters Briar (16) and Xanthe Paulussen (15) have come up with a creative way to raise funds to travel to the USA to celebrate Independence Day in 2026. Combining their knitting, crochet, tie dye and other crafting skills, Briar and Xanthe have launched their own online business, the Two Flappy Sisters, with all profits going directly into savings for their travels. Business is already booming, with orders flowing in for handmade slippers, faux flower bouquets, crocheted cardigans and more.
Book Fair
The Te Awamutu Rotary Club Book Fair will run from Thursday to Sunday, next week. The annual fair raises funds for several local charities and donates unsold books, DVDs and other items to children’s hospital wards and the Waikeria Prison library. Sunday is the $10 a banana-box full of books day.
