Billie Brown-Wahanui, formerly of Te Awamutu College, recently graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Communication which she puts to good use in her role as marketing and campaign coordinator at Houston Technology. She organised a Chinese New Year ‘Yee Sang Ceremony’ in Hamilton last week for many of Waikato’s movers and shakers at the Canton Hong Kong restaurant.
Guests included Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate and deputy Angela O’Leary, MPs Ryan Hamilton and Tama Potaka, new city councillor and former MP Tim Macindoe and Waikato Regional Council chair Pamela Storey.
Billie Brown-Wahanui. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Driving south
Waipā roading engineer Paul Strange has been appointed roading manager at Ōtorohanga District Council. Strange contributed to many projects during his 17 years at the council; the more recent being the Victoria (High Level) Bridge revamp which had a full repaint and maintenance work.
Talks bear fruit
An agreement between Ōhaupō lifestylers Nick and Vanessa Jennings and Kiwifruit Investments Ltd over the landowner’s appeal to the Environment Court is close, according to Waipā Consents team leader Quentin Budd. The consent for artificial structures and shelterbelt plants at a kiwifruit orchard in Parallel Road, next to Jennings’ property, was granted in March last year.
Hazard collection
A household hazard collection in Te Awamutu recently collected 5.578 tonnes of waste including six kilograms of cyanide. Held annually – alternating between Cambridge and Te Awamutu – it provides residents with the opportunity to dispose of hazardous waste safely and free. Accepted materials include cleaners, poisons, paint, solvents, garden chemicals, brake fluid, motor oil, car batteries and pool chemicals.
Piggy backing
Waipā Networks has moved power poles to make way for the new paths and roundabouts in Kihikihi. Piggybacking on that work, contractors have formed indented parking bays on Rolleston Street, completed footpaths in Oliver and Whitaker streets and started the new roundabout at the intersection.
Double take
The sight of a double-decker bus around the streets of Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi was a trial undertaken by Waikato Regional Council staff to test the bus’s routes for low-lying trees and access issues before its introduction later this year.
Don’s Drive
Don Gerrand, by the sea
A collector road at the end of Hugo Shaw Drive in Bridleways Estate, Cambridge, which The News revealed last month was to be part of Taylor Street, will be named Don Gerrand Drive, Waipā District Council confirmed this week after the name secured support from Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā. Collector roads link local roads in the C2 growth cell development. Gerrand was the Cambridge fire chief and had served in the brigade for 53 years at the time of his death in May 2022.
See: Moving farewell for Cambridge
See: Council has it Taylor made
Cup winner dies
Verry Elleegant wins the Melbourne Cup with Cambridge jockey James McDonald on board.
Melbourne Cup winning jockey James McDonald is mourning the loss of the mare Verry Elleegant who died this week following complications giving birth. The jockey had been expecting a call with good news about a colt or a filly. “…to get that call she had lost her life, I couldn’t believe it at first. It brought tears to my eyes,” he said.
See: My son won the Cup
