Alan Livingston with wife Janet.
Former mayor dies
Alan Livingston
Alan Livingston, Waipa mayor for four terms and Waikato Regional Council chair for one, has died aged 74.
Mayor Mike Pettit said the news was being received with great sadness across the district.
“It is with a heavy heart that we acknowledge the passing of Alan, a respected leader, friend, and dedicated member of our community. Alan brought integrity, commitment, and a strong focus on the wellbeing of our community throughout his time as mayor.”
Regional council chief executive Chris McLay said Mr Livingston’s contribution to council and local governance was significant and enduring.
“Alan Livingston was a deeply respected councillor and chair who gave many years of dedicated service to our region. His leadership, integrity and commitment to public service left a lasting impact, and he will be remembered with great respect,” McLay said.
Current Ngā Hau e Whā councillor Tipa Mahuta, who was his Waikato Regional Council deputy chair, said a great tree from Pirongia had fallen.
“Alan brought a wealth of experience as Waipā mayor, but the strength of his leadership was bringing together a Waikato-wide conversation. He worked well with iwi and was held in high regard, strengthening partnerships at the time and leaving things in good stead for future leaders.”
As a mark of respect, flags at council offices will be flown at half-mast on the day of Alan’s funeral. Details have yet to be announced.
State of Emergency
Met Service situation Saturday 11 April
A pre-emptive region-wide State of Emergency has been declared across the Waikato this morning, with Waipā District Council moving into an elevated state of readiness ahead of the potential impacts of Cyclone Vaianu.
The declaration reflects ongoing uncertainty around the cyclone’s track, with the entire Waikato region remaining in scope for severe weather, including strong winds and heavy rain.
Mike Pettit
Waipā mayor Mike Pettit said the declaration was a practical step to ensure the district is ready to act quickly if conditions worsen.
The pre-emptive declaration allows councils to take precautionary steps during daylight hours and provides flexibility to respond quickly to emerging risks if the cyclone shifts direction or intensifies.
“This is not about panicking – it’s about being prepared and putting safety first,” he said. “There’s still uncertainty about exactly where the worst of this system will land, but we know parts of the region are already vulnerable.
“Declaring a State of Emergency gives us the ability to move early if we need to - whether that’s supporting precautionary evacuations, closing areas, or responding quickly to changing conditions.
“It’s really important to prepare now by clearing gutters and drains, securing loose outdoor items, checking emergency supplies and staying up to date with official information.”
Land in many parts of the wider Waikato is saturated from recent weather events, with land instability at a heightened level of risk. Further heavy rain could increase the likelihood of slips, particularly around the Pirongia maunga, and localised flooding.
Despite the region-wide declaration, the response remains locally led. Waipā will be establishing an Emergency Operations Centre based at Te Awamutu but operating for the entire Western Waikato area including Ōtorohanga District and Waitomo District, with decisions based on local conditions and community needs.
“This is still very much a local response for Waipā,” Pettit said.
“We know our communities, we understand the areas that may be more exposed, and we’re ready to make decisions that prioritise people’s safety.”
The region-wide approach allows resources to be coordinated efficiently across the Waikato and avoids the need for multiple individual State of Emergency declarations.
Petrol use
With increasing pressure on fuel prices, Police encourage residents and commercial entities to be extra vigilant with any stored fuel. In Ōtorohanga, Sgt Heyden Nunn said any feasible measures to secure fuel tanks or areas surrounding them should be considered now, “as trends are emerging of increased petrol and diesel thefts – especially in rural locations”.
Daylight Saving
Clocks went back on Sunday. Daylight saving officially starts again on Sunday, September 27 at 2am, when clocks move forward to 3am. New Zealand observes 27 weeks of daylight saving to maximise evening light.
Firefighters compete
More than 140 firefighters will converge on Havelock North this weekend to compete in the United Fire Brigades’ Association North Island Firefighter Challenge.
Dog Show
The Cambridge Kennel Association stages its annual pedigree this weekend at the Karapiro Domain. Club secretary-treasurer Sue Chaytor is encouraging the public to attend “but please do not bring your family pet”.
Owl Farm Day
St Peter’s School will host its annual Owl Farm Open Day on Saturday where the school’s working farm is opened to the public. The event attracted more than 800 people in 2025.
Chasing glory
Champion Aussie trotting mare Keayang Zahara is a key part of Australia’s record eight raiders chasing the two marquee races at Cambridge’s Night of Champions tomorrow (Friday) night. The $1 million main race has attracted 10 starters. Each slot is worth $60,000 and the winning will take home $420,000. One of the country’s most successful modern acts, Drax Project will be playing the Night of Champions after party.
Last serve
Karapiro Mobil
It’s served generations of drivers – and now it’s closed. The Karāpiro Mobil Service Station has pumped its last litre of fuel ahead of work starting on the Waikato Expressway extension south to the new Piarere roundabout. The closure has produced emotions ranging from sentiment to relief – social media posts noted the positioning of the station close to a bend was an issue – others lamented the loss of a conveniently placed State Highway One station and “no more lime thick shakes- best around”.
Web stats
Janine Krippner – top columnist
A News in Brief posting topped our Te Awamutu News website statistics last month.
The top page was e-Editions where we post full pdf versions of the newspaper for those who cannot wait for the printed version.
Coverage about new Te Awamutu RSA president Daniel van der Hulst, clearing up the Tokanui Hospital site, a temporary fix for Pirongia with news of a temporary bridge and a celebration by the Waipā King Country branch of Rural Women NZ rounded out the top five.
The top columnist for the month was Janine Krippner reflecting on paying back her student loan and her journey from her hometown of Te Awamutu, navigating Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and job cuts to the good news she has been headhunted for a remote role with a US company.
Rie hits 101 at pace
Rie de Haan takes pride of place for her 101st birthday photo with family. They are, from left, Steve and Sara Snookes, Jeff and Joanna Fitzgerald, Robert and Jackie Fitzgerald and Alex Fitzgerald.
Te Awamutu’s Rie de Haan celebrated her 101st birthday on March 27 with a schedule that would leave many far younger people in her wake.
The Te Ata Rest Home resident spent her birthday morning playing housie, then enjoyed an afternoon of high tea and music with family and rest-home residents. The following day, the celebrations continued on the farm with family and friends.
Rie remains impressively active. She is often out and about using her walker and joining in games. From time to time, she still pops into local creative fibre group meetings.
Rie was born in Holland in 1925. After studying nursing then marrying Joe de Haan in 1947, the couple migrated to New Zealand where Rie’s brother Pieter had settled. Their farming life took them around the region, and after Joe’s death in 1992, Rie finally learned to drive at age 65. She carried on farming for several years.
At her centenary celebration last year, she told The News that the secret to a long life was quite simple … “hard work”.
Rie de Haan celebrating her 101st birthday with a hug from daughter Joanna Fitzgerald.
