News in brief
Out in force
Mayors, from left Mike Pettit (Waipā), Tim Macindoe (Hamilton), Aksel Bech (Waikato) and Gary Petley (South Waikato) were at the Waikato Business Awards in Hamilton last week. Photo: Mike Walen
The Waikato Business Awards – held in Hamilton last week – comprised the gala dinner, attended by nearly 800 business and civic leaders. It is now the country’s most successful awards event and was a spectacular night of glitz and glam at Claudelands Arena. Hamilton’s RML Machinery was named Supreme Award winner, capping off a night in which they also took home the Innovation Award for their pioneering work in automated guided vehicles. Other major winners included Fiona Michel of Braemar Hospital (Chief Executive of the Year) and Claire Williamson of My Mortgage (Emerging Leader of the Year).
Big bangs
A further search of reports of mysterious loud noises in Cambridge by Waipā District Council has established two were made on July 23 this year. The council says one may have been related to road works along Pope Terrace but the other – like many reported to the Cambridge News in recent months – remains unexplained.
Person of the Year
Good Local Media will complete its publication year on December 18 by announcing our Person of the Year awards in Cambridge and Te Awamutu. Can you think of someone deserving of recognition? Email [email protected] and put the words Person of the Year in the subject line.
Jared Milbank in Bryce Street where the road for the new bridge was to be built. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Te Awamutu Person of the Year for 2024 Phil Strong
Marae games
Whakamārama Marae won the Whānau Ki Waenganui Games at Te Awamutu College last weekend. Maungatautari Marae came second and Rāwhitiroa and Parawera Marae joint third. Aotearoa, Pōhara, Mangatoatoa and Te Kōpua Marae also participated in the long-running event.
Just the ticket
Te Awamutu will celebrate its annual Rose Sunday, with picnics and family entertainment unfolding in the morning the Te Awamutu Rose Gardens. The event is run by the Te Awamutu Rose Society each final Sunday in November.
Another round
The New Zealand Transport Agency says construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and SH28 east of Tīrau is well underway and it will be open next March.
Raising funds
Rosetown’s Lions are in the midst of one their major community fundraisers – their Christmas Sleigh Raffle – which last year raised about $8000. It is the third time the club has run the raffle since taking it over from Te Awamutu Pakeke Lions who ran it successfully for many years. Secretary Jenny Elers said the recipients of last year’s fundraisers were all community groups, including Te Awamutu Health Shuttle, Te Awamutu Wheelchair Wagon, Sanctuary Mountain, Te Awamutu District Schools Attendance Officer, the Citizens Advice Bureau, iSite, Talos, Te Awamutu Little Theatre, Life Education, Te Awamutu Brass Band and the Te Awamutu Community Cadet Unit.
In the picture
Te Awamutu photographer Lisa Jones won the portrait category at the recent Waikato A and P Show – then went on to win the supreme champion exhibit award.
Z raided
Z Service Station, Cambridge
Robbers made off with a till despite a fog cannon being activated by staff during a raid at Z Cambridge on Tuesday morning. Police say four people entered the station around 6.35am and jumped over the counter. One was described as a male with a skinny build, wearing a black face covering, black hoodie and black pants. Police want like to hear from anyone who could help us identify the four.
Cat attack
Conservation Minister and Hamilton East MP Tama Potaka’s announcement that feral cats will now join possums, rats, stoats, weasels, and ferrets on the national target species list has been welcomed by Waipā District Council. District growth and regulatory services group manager Wayne Allan said at present there is no national law for cat management and that limited councils’ ability to respond to public concerns.
Carrying on…
Zane Beckett
Businessman Zane Beckett says it’s “business as usual” at ZB Homes. “We have been doing a tidy up with our accountants, winding up non trading entities, such as Zane Beckett Construction,” he said. “…it did trigger the standard “in liquidation” adverts in the newspaper classifieds. We can assure you it is business as usual here and there is no change to our ZB Homes business at all.”
