Scholarship gets backing
Mitch Braun
A Te Awamutu engineer has given his backing to a scholarship information evening. Year 13 students considering tertiary studies towards a career in the construction and property sector are being invited to meeting in Tauranga on February 13.
The Keystone Trust scholarships are worth $16,500 for up to three years. Te Awamutu’s Mitch Braun was an award recipient in 2014 – he studied engineering at the University of Canterbury and worked for several years as a structural engineer before moving into project management. He returned to the Waikato as a project manager for The Building Intelligence Group, a Keystone Trust key scholarship partner.
“Being able to re-engage with the trust has given me the opportunity to give back after all they have helped me with,” he said. “What I didn’t realise with a Keystone scholarship is that it wasn’t just about the financial assistance, the trust provided me with access to incredible industry mentors and connections, site visits, work experience, and pastoral support.”
The information evening is being staged at the University of Waikato city centre campus in Durham Street, Tauranga. The trust has helped more than 200 students over 30 years, providing $2 million in scholarship funding.
The Kenworth bug …
Kenworth convoy. Photo: Rod Simmonds.
It was a day for owners of Kenworths last Saturday as almost 900 went on display at the Mystery Creek Events Centre and owners celebrated the start of the American company’s second 100 years. Waipā civil mining contractors C&R Developments displayed four Kenworths from their heavy haul fleet.
Balloons back
Balloons over Waikato.
Balloons over Waikato will celebrate its 25th anniversary by visiting the domain at Lake Karapiro on March 22. The balloons have previously visited Te Awamutu, Cambridge and Karāpiro – but weather and Covid have marred the past few years.
Ingham purchase
Ingham Motors, which started in Ōtorohanga 55 years ago and expanded into Te Awamutu, Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga, Taupō and Hawke’s Bay, has purchased Windsor Nissan Motors in Cambridge. Principal Ross Dodds will remain with the dealership. The company purchased the former Bunnings site next door two years ago,
Clam show
Clams in a resin block
Auckland Council is planning to update residents in the city about golden clams – which are being contained after they were found in the Waikato River. Check Clean Dry ambassadors at Lake Karāpiro show river and lake users jars of dried clams and now Auckland is getting resin blocks holding clams to show off at events like a community open day at Lake Pupuke, Takapuna.
MPI at Lake Karapiro during the waka ama.
CEO wanted
Garry Dyet
The task to find a successor to Waipā District Council chief executive Garry Dyet is underway.
Dyet announced at the end of November he would be leaving the role in middle of this year after 45 years at the council.
District councillors approved the wording of a job advert yesterday.
Dyet is scheduled to finish on June 30 but there is some flexibility as a contingency to accommodate a brief handover period.
Bus fares up
A packed regional bus.
Waikato Regional Council has announced a 20 per cent increase in fares for buses. Councillors, who were told during a workshop that 15 per cent of their $1.2 billion infrastructure assets were in poor or very poor condition, have also proposed a 10-year budget starting with a six per cent rates rise in 2024-25.
Alexanders’ ripper catch
Te Awamutu trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander reckon they played their cards right at the Karaka thoroughbred sales. They paid $140,000 for an Ace High colt out of a half-sister to the champion Singapore galloper Better Than Ever.
“I thought he was an absolute ripper,” Simon Alexander said. “I didn’t think we could afford him to be fair, but we’re really happy to get him.”
Alexander also revealed progressive stayer Sleeper had been sold to Australia.
He said New Zealand’s recent prize-money boosts “give you a bit of confidence to move forward with these horses, especially like him — when they are three and four.” – NZ Racing Desk
Money available
Waipā community groups can now apply for funding to support their projects or events from the council’s Community Discretionary Fund. Cambridge Community Board has $29,595, Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board $8452 and Pirongia ward committee $10,130. Community clubs, groups and organisations are eligible, with one-off projects and fundraising events prioritised. Applications close on March 1.
Plan out
The draft Waikato Regional Land Transport Plan for the next 30 years has gone out for public feedback. The plan is updated every three years and the Regional Transport Committee comprises representatives from Waikato councils, Waka Kotahi and KiwiRail.
Road works
Work is continuing for the mid-year addition of a State Highway 1 median barrier between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road, Karāpiro. At nearby Gorton Rd work is also continuing on a turnaround bay at Gorton Rd, and another will follow across the road at Tunakawa Rd.
