Festival organiser and President of the NZCBA James Bevin conducts the Bay Cities’ Symphonic Band
4pm
Kakepuku Mountain reopens
Hikers and walkers can return to Kakepuku Mountain, with the popular track reopening today following extensive repair and clean-up work costing $14,500.
The track was closed in February after a one-in-250-year storm caused significant damage, including tension cracking along the path, unstable ground, multiple landslides, and access routes blocked by rock and fallen tree debris. While repairs were nearing completion, Cyclone Vaianu in early April brought further damage.
Contractors have since restored the track to a safe, walkable condition. However, visitors are reminded to stay on marked tracks, avoid entering the area during or immediately after heavy rain, and that phone reception can be patchy.
The 7.2km return track, set on an ancient volcanic cone, is a popular destination for walkers and hikers, offering panoramic summit views and attracting nearly 33,000 visitors last year.
Kakepuku Mountain Conservation Society members Adrian Black and Emily Empson with Waipā District Council community services manager Brad Ward.
18 June 8am
Signed, sealed, delivered
Bruce Polglase on his new mobility scooter.
Bruce Polglase’s Cambridge News delivery run – he was pictured during it last week – has become a much smoother operation. A fundraising effort to replace his ageing scooter and clear a debt on its repair bill raised $9000 – enough for a new scooter and a year’s insurance on top. Bruce was born with spina bifida and relies on his scooter to get around Cambridge … his home for almost four decades.
Rural voice to be heard
Cambridge Community Board member Andrew Myers and his dog Pippa, with chair Jo Davies-Colley. Photo: Sylvie Davies-Colley.
Dairy farmer Andrew Myers says he understands the importance of having the rural sector heard and engaged with Waipā District Council.
The Cambridge Community Board rural representative says the board’s rural tour next week provides an opportunity for farmers, growers and rural residents to meet in their community and discuss issues with mayor Mike Pettit.
Next Tuesday Myers will host one event at his farm hay barn on the south side of town in Roto-o-Rangi, then mayor Pettit and councillors will travel to a Fencourt farm for a second session.
“Rural people play a big part in driving the economy of Waipā and like to talk about issues affecting their livelihoods,” Myers said. “These include rates, zoning of land, road and bridge infrastructure, plan changes affecting use of rural zone, and services like drainage and water supply.”
He said recent plan change processes to change kiwifruit shelter heights and setbacks had significant effects on growers’ usable land area, and shading on neighbourhoods.
He said the government pushed move to merging local authorities would also be top of mind in the rural sector given in any new entity, rural would be in the minority.
Schools on track
More than 185 students from across the Waikato are taking on a challenge, the Battle of the Schools track cycling series at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome.
The event has attracted students ranging from years 5 to 13 from more than 25 schools. Over a six-week lead-up, teams have trained together on the track, ahead of a final race day on Sunday.
For many of these riders it has been their first time on a track bike – riding with no brakes on a steep surface.
The programme also includes rider accreditation, enabling participants to continue attending track cycling sessions after the event and stay involved in the sport if they choose.
Med sites revealed
Professor Jo Lane
Twelve clinical learning centres covering five regions will support the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine when it opens at Waikato University.
They include four in the Waikato – covering north Waikato, Hauraki-Thames-Coromandel, South Waikato and Waipā-King Country.
The sites were announced last week and the first placements are expected to be made in 2029.
Students will complete their first year in the graduate entry programme at the university campus before starting a three-year clinical placement in one of five regions.
The regions are Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki-Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay and Nelson-Marlborough. The programme is designed to address the country’s biggest doctor shortages, which are in primary care specialities, and in regional and rural communities.
Plan changes
The Environment Court has told Waikato Regional Council to make 20 changes to its proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1. The plan change, 14 years in the making, aims to reduce discharges of nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and microbial pathogens from farming activities and is part of a broader effort to improve water quality in the region. Federated Farmers, which has raised concerns about the impact on farmers, said the court’s interim decision released last week appeared measured and balanced.
Bold as brass
Mami Koizumi (17) plays Euphonium with the Bay Cities’ Symphonic Band.
About 1000 wind, brass and percussion players will perform in Cambridge at the country’s biggest concert band festival. A total of 28 bands, 40 soloists, and 37 small ensembles have registered for the event at St Peters School on June 27 and 28.
Waiting for Matariki
A series of creative workshops for adults, running across June and July 2026, will be held at Whare Hau Tutū in Hamilton’s Pembroke St. Organisers say the series “creates space for adults to slow down, remember, reflect, reconnect, and look ahead through toi Māori, storytelling, whenua, taiao, and contemporary creative practice”. The Matariki public holiday will be on July 10.
Cats on show
More than 140 cats representing 15 breeds ranging from ragdolls, British shorthairs, Persians, Abyssinians and Burmese to companion cats will be on show in the Tamahere Community Centre on July 5 at the 2026 Hamilton Cat Show.
Correction
Inside Arapuni’s hidden past in The News (11 June) we said Karāpiro was upstream from Arapuni when it is in fact downstream. Thanks to our eagle-eyed readers for spotting that error.
