Printing press. Photo: Pexels.com
Breaking News
Cambridge News 7 May 2026
A breakdown on the printing press means the Cambridge News will not be available on Thursday morning.
We are waiting for an estimated time of arrival but in the meanwhile, the pdf version will go online about 8am.
Printing Press. Photo: Wutthichai Charoenburi, pexels.com
Dahlia delight for seniors
Resthaven apartment resident Jan Schwarz was one of the lucky recipients of Grace, left, and Maddie Culph’s gorgeous dahlias when the twins dropped in recently.
Eleven-year-old Cambridge twins, Grace and Maddie Culph, are dab hands at growing beautiful dahlias – and they delight in giving them away.
One of their recent deliveries was to Cambridge Resthaven’s Vogel St care centre where they delivered bucket loads of their homegrown dahlias and handmade cards to residents.
The girls began growing dahlias five years ago, with help from mum Claire Culph. They now have 20 varieties in their garden, from the tiny pompom variety to massive blooms. The girls also sell them with an eye to the future, growing their own money pot for university.
The visit wasn’t their first to Resthaven – that initial dahlia visit was about two years ago. – Viv Posselt
Maher to chair
Waikato Regional Council chair Warren Maher has been confirmed as co chair of the Hauraki Gulf Forum joining tangata whenua co chair Nicola Rata MacDonald. The forum brings together central and local government, mana whenua and key agencies to coordinate management of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
Tea party
Cambridge Oaks Lifestyle Village will host a Mad Hatters Tea Party with a whimsical theme in early May.
On stage
Felix Rowe from Te Awamutu and Zara Thompson and Zac Clarke from Cambridge feature in the production of Next to Normal which goes on stage at the Meteor Theatre in Hamilton on May 1.
New president
Taupiri dairy farmer Chris Woolerton has succeeded Phil Sherwood as president of Federated Farmers Waikato. The former Waikato District councillor leads the largest of the organisation’s 24 provinces.
Money issues
Funding pressure on Civil Defence is emerging as an issue for Waikato Regional Council as it works within tighter rates constraints. Councillors have been told expectations around emergency preparedness and response are growing, but Civil Defence must compete with other core services at a time when councillors are signalling caution over further rates increases.
Sessions funded
The annual Gumboot Friday in March raised funds to provide 3400 counselling sessions for 2059 people aged five to 25.
Orewa success
Cambridge’s Matt Dunham won the Men’s Open Single ahead of Waikato’s Seb Fulton at the New Zealand Beach Sprint Championships at Orewa over the weekend. Olympic legend Emma Twigg – aiming to compete in a fifth Olympics – won the women’s section.
Pippa makes debate team
The 2026 Waikato regional debate team Pippa Owsley (Cambridge High School), Kanu Millward (Hamilton Boys’ High School) and Eva Walton (Te Awamutu College).
Cambridge High School’s Pippa Owsley has been selected in the 2026 Waikato regional debate team, while St Peter’s School Cambridge’s Anjana Kanchi has been named as a reserve.
Waipā students make up two thirds of the main team. Eva Walton (Te Awamutu College) and Kanu Millward (Hamilton Boys’ High School) are the other members, while St John’s College debater Nate Rastrick is the other reserve.
Teacher in charge of senior debate Gareth Manins said the school was proud to have a student from Cambridge High chosen “particularly as the trials are extremely competitive with only three students chosen,”
“Pippa’s achievement is even more impressive, as she is the only Year 12 student to have made the team in recent years.
Te Awamutu College Year 13 student Walton, 16, fell in love with debating in Year 9.
“This selection is something I’ve always aimed towards. I’m really grateful for the opportunity. I hope I’ll grow from it and make new friends,” she said.
In late February, 24 teams competed at the 2026 Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Championships were held at the University of Waikato.
In the junior final, Te Awamutu College “The Jury” beat Hamilton Girls’ High School Brownies and St. Peter’s School Cambridge Tutti Frutti beat Hamilton Boys’ High School Jianbing to be named winners of the 2026 Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Championships.
In early May, the Waikato side will compete against other upper North Island teams at the University of Auckland in preparation for nationals. The stage will then be set for May 22-25 in Wellington at Victoria University.
From there, the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team will be selected for the World Championships in Kenya.
St Peter’s School Cambridge’s Anjana Kanchi has been named as a reserve. Photo: New Zealand Schools’ Debating
Resthaven goes up a level
Cambridge Resthaven, (CR) Livingstone Building, and OCTA Project Management representatives from left: Jeff Simpson – CR independent living manager, Ash Burkhart – Livingstone interim CEO, Susan Brettschneider – CR management accountant, Hannah Lewis – Livingstone quantity surveyor, Mia Sonntag – OCTA project manager, Jason Russell – CR property and development manager, Samantha Blanken – Livingstone project manager, Kevin Burgess – CR board trustee, Sarah Livingstone – Livingstone director, Neville Davy – Livingstone project director, Mac Livingstone – Livingstone site manager, Greg Liddy – CR trust board chair and Michael Martin – CR chief executive. Photo: Catherine Fry
A recent site visit marked a milestone in Stage Two of Cambridge Resthaven’s apartment development in Vogel Street.
Cambridge Resthaven, opened in 1972, is already home to over 250 residents and employs a team of over 130.
Earlier last week, the Level One concrete floor had been poured, and the site visit provided an opportunity for representatives from Cambridge Resthaven, Livingstone Building, and OCTA Project Management to see the progress.
With hard hats and high vis on, the group took their first steps onto Level One.
Stage Two will deliver 21 two-bedroom apartments, in addition to the existing 33 apartments that were completed in 2024. Like the existing apartments, these new apartments are designed to provide residents with the comfort and convenience of supported living in retirement.
Cambridge Resthaven chief executive Michael Martin said the concrete pour was a significant structural milestone, “and we will now see continued visible progress with the Level One tilt panels to be installed next”.
He said having the opportunity to walk around on Level One provided a great vantage point to see how the new apartments were orientated in relation to the existing buildings, Payne Park next door, and the hills in the distance.
Cambridge Resthaven chairman Greg Liddy and Livingstone interim CEO Ash Burkhart acknowledged the working partnership of Cambridge Resthaven, Livingstone, and OCTA, which has seen them deliver a number of projects over the years.
Burkhart said Livingstone was looking forward to the coming months and to delivering a world-class complex for the community.
A drone’s eye view photo of the newly poured concrete of Level One of the apartment building, looking towards the existing apartments. Photo: Catherine Fry
