Tai Huata led the karakia at the unveiling of the new signage
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Our Briefs column was the top news story on our teawamutunews.nz website last month.
The story contained tributes to former Waipā mayor Alan Livingston and follow ups to the State of Emergency declared after Cyclone Vaianu which happened after The News went to press.
Our home and e-Editions pages – with full pdf versions of the newspaper – came in first and second overall.
The Anzac Day coverage from Te Awamutu and Kihikihi was second in the news list followed by the story of Thomas Wrightson, who loves lifts and lift engineering, the death of former mayor Alan Livingston, our front page coverage on Waipā’s water worries at the Te Tahi rural water reservoir and photos from Livingston’s memorial service rounded out the top six.
Alan Livingston with wife Janet.
Happy birthday
Te Awamutu Regent Theatre operations manager Lindenberg “Linden” Gomes celebrated his 45th birthday surrounded by the community on Sunday afternoon. A packed Cinema One of Gomes’ “new and old friends” watched the 1984 movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at the regent. The event was dedicated to former Waipā District mayor and Allan Webb Theatre Trust chair Alan Livingston who died suddenly last month.
Driving on
The next phase of work addressing Waipā’s traffic issues progressed this week. Waipā councillors at an extraordinary Strategic Planning and Policy Committee meeting on Monday accepted a report assessing the 68 ideas, from the public, technical work and earlier studies. A report to the committee by council executive director Katie Mayes included ideas for road network changes, freight routes, and major infrastructure like a new river crossing.
Walkway closed
Newstead Walkway is closed between Morrinsville and Vaile roads due to damage to both footbridges from erosion and recent weather. Work will be completed by late this month (weather dependent).
Waste fund
Applications have opened for Waikato district’s Waste Minimisation Fund, supporting projects that reduce waste to landfill and encourage long‑term behaviour change. A total of $100,000 is available for initiatives such as food waste reduction, reuse and repair, education programmes and waste‑treduction rials. Applications close later this month.
Gorge opens
Convoys of vehicles are being allowed through a single lane of the storm-hit Awakino Gorge, restoring the most direct link from Waikato to Taranaki. Waka Kotahi is allowing vehicles a total of nine five half hour windows to get through the gorge north and south.
Season starts
Fish and Game has given a positive report on the opening weekend of the duck shooting season in Waikato. Auckland-Waikato chief executive Dave Klee said rangers in Waikato found a few instances of people bagging more birds than they were allowed, “though hunters have largely been playing by the rules and doing the right thing”.
Council stays put
Noel Smith
Waikato regional councillors have rejected a call to withdraw for local Government New Zealand.
A notice of motion from councillor Noel Smith, seconded by Chris Hughes, called for the end of the council’s $91,500 membership – but only Waipā-King Country councillor Garry Reymer voted with them.
In favour of staying were Robbie Cookson, Mich’eal Downard, Ben Dunbar-Smith, Keith Holmes, Kataraina Hodge, Warren Maher, Gary McGuire, Jennifer Nickel, Liz Stolwyk and Angela Strange.
Early delivery
Peacocke development
Peacocke subdivision on the northern outskirts of Waipā has been delivered early and under budget, marking one of Hamilton city’s most significant infrastructure investments. Roads, bridges, pipes and services are all in place to support more than 7000 new homes over the coming decades.
It’s back
After a successful return last year, the Cambridge half marathon will be held again later this year. The event – with a half and quarter marathon, 5kms and kids 2km dash – will follow the same format and courses as last year through Cambridge East and St Kilda and finishing at Cambridge High School. The event took a hiatus in 2024.
Rural help
Funding applications for Waikato district’s Rural Ward Fund close tomorrow (Friday) for grassroots projects that strengthen rural wellbeing and connectivity. The fund supports rural communities that fall outside standard Community Board funding, ensuring fair access for all. Chair Lisa Thomson says the fund exists to help rural communities thrive in ways that matter most to them.
Tūrātā name unveiled
Council, mana whenua and the Kihikihi community came together to mark the unveiling of new Tūrātā signage at this significant site
New signage at Tūrātā was unveiled last week. In the heart of Kihikihi, it now reflects the area’s original name – a long-awaited restoration acknowledged alongside mana whenua. Waipā District Council elected members and staff, mana whenua and the local community gathered for karakia to unveil the new signage, formally marking the change from Rata-Tu back to Tūrātā.
The site is rich in culture and history, with strong connections to the New Zealand Wars and Ngāti Maniapoto chief and warrior, Rewi Maniapoto. Given its significance, restoring the original name was an important step in recognising and honouring the history of the area.
Tai Huata led the karakia at the unveiling of the new signage
