News in brief
Appeal lodged
Waipa District Council
A $2.5 million damages claim against Waipā District Council for negligence has been dismissed by the High Court but it is now subject to appeal, the council’s Risk and Assurance committee heard on Monday. A second negligence claim for an unquantified amount in relation to the way council exercised its building control functions on a district dwelling is still before the court.
Information sought
Waipā staff have processed 1083 Local Government and Official Information Act requests in the seven months since the start of the current financial year on July 1.
Minister talks
Simeon Brown
Health Minister Simeon Brown will give a public talk tonight to the Cambridge Prostate Cancer Support Group at Cambridge Primary School. A representative of Waikato Urology will join the minister in speaking to what the coalition government is doing to tackle the rising incidence of prostate cancer in New Zealand. At current levels, one man in eight will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2026. Support group co-ordinator Ron Greenwood said information for men and their families will be available during the evening.
Body identified
Police have confirmed the remains of a person found off State Highway 3 between Te Awamutu and Ōtorohanga earlier this month were those of Colin Heath, a 47-year-old last seen in Te Kūiti in 2022. The death has been referred to the coroner and police say Heath’s family have asked for privacy.
Centre opens
Summerset says a new village centre it declared open last week at its Cambridge retirement centre is an $85 million investment in community, care and local employment. Summerset Cambridge is planned to eventually have 260 independent homes alongside serviced apartments and a range of care options.
