speed bumps
Briefs top website stats
Our briefs columns nabbed two of the top five places in our online visits to cambridgenews.nz last month.
Cambridge News website
In first place were briefs containing late-breaking stories about a fire at the ResourceCo demolition waste recycling facility in Leamington and damage to greens at Cambridge Golf Club which happened after The News went to press.
Third place went to briefs containing tributes to former Waipā mayor Alan Livingston and follow ups to the State of Emergency declared after Cyclone Vaianu.
Sandwiched between them was our home page. Visits to the site were up 58 per cent on the same month last year and 92 per cent on 2024.
In fourth was our e-Editions page with full pdf versions of the newspaper while our Anzac Day coverage came in fifth.
Driving on
The next phase of work addressing Waipā’s traffic issues progressed this week. Waipā councillors at an extraordinary Strategic Planning and Policy Committee meeting on Monday accepted a report assessing the 68 ideas, from the public, technical work and earlier studies. A report to the committee by council executive director Katie Mayes included ideas for road network changes, freight routes, and major infrastructure like a new river crossing.
Walkway closed
Newstead Walkway is closed between Morrinsville and Vaile roads due to damage to both footbridges from erosion and recent weather. Work will be completed by late this month (weather dependent).
Waste fund
Applications have opened for Waikato district’s Waste Minimisation Fund, supporting projects that reduce waste to landfill and encourage long‑term behaviour change. A total of $100,000 is available for initiatives such as food waste reduction, reuse and repair, education programmes and waste‑treduction rials. Applications close later this month.
Road closures
Southbound traffic will not be able to use the Victoria Road interchange on the Waikato Expressway from May 17 to early July as a major asphalt renewal programme continues. And once that work is done, the northbound lanes will also close for the same maintenance work. It is expected there will be considerable congestion at the Victoria Road-Cambridge Road roundabout beside St Andrews Church, and at the Albert Street-Achillies Avenue and Shakespeare Street-Tīrau Road intersections.
Gorge opens
Convoys of vehicles are being allowed through a single lane of the storm-hit Awakino Gorge, restoring the most direct link from Waikato to Taranaki. Waka Kotahi is allowing vehicles a total of nine five half hour windows to get through the gorge north and south.
Season starts
Fish and Game has given a positive report on the opening weekend of the duck shooting season in Waikato. Auckland-Waikato chief executive Dave Klee said rangers in Waikato found a few instances of people bagging more birds than they were allowed, “though hunters have largely been playing by the rules and doing the right thing”.
Council stays put
Noel Smith
Waikato regional councillors have rejected a call to withdraw for local Government New Zealand.
A notice of motion from councillor Noel Smith, seconded by Chris Hughes, called for the end of the council’s $91,500 membership – but only Waipā-King Country councillor Garry Reymer voted with them.
In favour of staying were Robbie Cookson, Mich’eal Downard, Ben Dunbar-Smith, Keith Holmes, Kataraina Hodge, Warren Maher, Gary McGuire, Jennifer Nickel, Liz Stolwyk and Angela Strange.
Early delivery
Peacocke development
Peacocke subdivision on the northern outskirts of Waipā has been delivered early and under budget, marking one of Hamilton city’s most significant infrastructure investments. Roads, bridges, pipes and services are all in place to support more than 7000 new homes over the coming decades.
It’s back
The Cambridge Half Marathon gets underway. From left David Martin, Joel Stansloski, winner Chris Lines, Rachel O’Brien, Bill Moore and Jess Jennings. Photo: Michael Jeans
After a successful return last year, the Cambridge half marathon will be held again later this year. The event – with a half and quarter marathon, 5kms and kids 2km dash – will follow the same format and courses as last year through Cambridge East and St Kilda and finishing at Cambridge High School. The event took a hiatus in 2024.
Rural help
Funding applications for Waikato district’s Rural Ward Fund close tomorrow (Friday) for grassroots projects that strengthen rural wellbeing and connectivity. The fund supports rural communities that fall outside standard Community Board funding, ensuring fair access for all. Chair Lisa Thomson says the fund exists to help rural communities thrive in ways that matter most to them.
Speed bumps under review
Pip Kempthorne
Waipā District Council staff have explained why they can’t speed up a review of Cambridge speed bumps.
The council is reviewing the humps, also known as safety platforms, in Cambridge. It’s looking at whether the level of speed humps is appropriate on specific streets, including Wilson, Duke, Victoria by the Town Hall and Alpha streets.
Cambridge Volunteer Fire Brigade has previously raised concerns, saying the humps slow its response and it avoids the CBD whenever possible when responding to calls.
A council report updating the speed hump review is due back in August, the Cambridge Community Board meeting was told last month.
However, councillor Pip Kempthorne asked if the report could be finished sooner, given the impact some speed bumps were having on emergency services.
“Why August – it seems quite a long way out,” he said at the community board meeting.
Staff, at the meeting, said the process had been delayed due to the severe storm event in February.
Tūrātā name unveiled
Council, mana whenua and the Kihikihi community came together to mark the unveiling of new Tūrātā signage at this significant site
New signage at Tūrātā was unveiled last week. In the heart of Kihikihi, it now reflects the area’s original name – a long-awaited restoration acknowledged alongside mana whenua. Waipā District Council elected members and staff, mana whenua and the local community gathered for karakia to unveil the new signage, formally marking the change from Rata-Tu back to Tūrātā.
The site is rich in culture and history, with strong connections to the New Zealand Wars and Ngāti Maniapoto chief and warrior, Rewi Maniapoto. Given its significance, restoring the original name was an important step in recognising and honouring the history of the area.
