Local Opinion

Life and times of Josef Sittauer

It was only a splinter of tawa wood but after five days the tetanus bacteria it introduced into 13-year-old Vincent Sittauer’s bloodstream took his life. It was December 1885 and New Zealand had not been…

It’s when, not if

New Zealand has experienced many more eruptions in our relatively recent history than most of us remember. Many may have memories of the Ruapehu 1995 and 1996 eruptions, some may remember the many eruptions of…

The Importance of Hospitality

It was a real thrill for me to learn how successful the Year 12 and 13 Te Awamutu College food tech and hospo students had been in the regional competitions. As a relief teacher there,…

What you hope for…

As I sit here in my office writing, I can feel the warmth of the sun on my back as the glorious day beams in from the outside. I’m hoping spring has sprung early this…

Faith, education and elections

Kihikihi was now able to support three hotels, five stores, two blacksmiths, one wheelwright, one saddler, two shoemakers, and one nurseryman along with a butchery, bakery and creamery. Faith was also flourishing – the Reverend…

Detecting warning signs

The ability to monitor volcanoes comes from a solid mix of technology, research, time, and experience. Thankfully, here in New Zealand we have these things. Before an eruption occurs – which is where magmatic material…

Helped by CCTV, DNA

Monday – Gas bottles were stolen from the side of a dwelling, males seen looking into vehicles (nothing reported stolen), and a male was arrested for assaulting his partner in front of police. Police received…

Coffee and cake in Kihikihi

Many of you will have read before that I am a mother of five children – all now independent adults, and to the delight of my husband and I, all living in New Zealand. Even…

Pets and disasters

Last weekend I was having breakfast with friends who experienced Cyclone Gabrielle in the Hawkes Bay area. As is natural for many conversations in my life, it started out talking about eruptions, then moved on…

Death of an aristocrat

When a mystery horse came back from the Punui River in November 1888 without a rider it was taken into Kihikihi where it was identified as that of Sir Willoughby Dixon. He had last been…

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