News in brief ….

Grants announced

Mt Pirongia. Photo: Hamilton and Waikato Tourism.

Waikato Regional Council has $1.34 million from its Natural Heritage Fund   towards four landscape scale environmental projects including mounts Pirongia and Karioi. Te Whakaoranga o Karioi – The Karioi Project – gets almost $400,000 over four years for  pest control, a seabird/coastal ranger and volunteer coordinator, cultural health monitoring and health and safety.  Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society gets $303,023 over three years towards its Kia Mau Tonu Kaitiakitanga o Pirongia project and money will over labour, material, maintenance and monitoring costs.

Band plays on

Rowdy’s Rose – aka Blair and Rosie Shaw – performing at the Cambridge Autumn Festival. Photo by Viv Posselt

Te Awamutu husband and wife duo Rowdy’s Rose – Rosie and Blair Shaw – are touring New Zealand performing at major festivals including the Cambridge Autumn Festival next month. Their new single Burning Brighter will debut and more new music is in the works

Standing again

New councillor Mike Montgomerie was right at home in front of his maunga Maungatautari when he was sworn in three years ago. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Mike Montgomerie has announced he is standing in the Waipā District Council Maungatautari ward for his second term as a councillor. Montgomerie who gets $62,508 a year now tops elected members’ salaries – with the exception of mayor Susan O’Regan – after his promotion to chair of the Finance and Corporate committee.

Scam alert

An old scam offering large amounts of money for little work is doing the rounds again. Text messages arrive from unusual addresses and the author claims to work as a recruiter for “Trademe Jobs”. The offer suggests immediate payment for one hour’s work a day of up to $2378. The scam is an attempt to lure victims into providing confidential banking details.

More Recent News

Building a champion

24 April 2025 The original article has been changed. Timmo’s ITM is still owned and operated by Clayton and Nicky Timmo and not Jack Mathis’ brother. Timmo’s joined ITM in 2004 and after nearly 40…

Kennedy fluoride move greeted

Anti-fluoride campaigners are claiming another victory as the United States administration takes an increasingly negative view of the use of the chemical. The latest move has seen US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy announcing plans to…

Board neutral on water option

The consultation process surrounding the formation of a seven-council controlled water authority has been described as a bitter pill to swallow. Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community board member Sally Whitaker said she felt like Waipā District Council’s…

Creativity on show

Te Awamutu Creative Fibre group members will show off their mastery in town next week. An array of products, many of them made from scratch using centuries-old skills, will be available for purchase, including a…