Five die in crash
Five people have died following a head-on crash on State Highway 3/Ōhaupō Road last night. Emergency services were called to the scene just before 4:45pm. Police say three occupants of one vehicle, and two occupants of the other vehicle all died at the scene.
A crash in which five people died yesterday involved one vehicle crossing the centre line, police say. Road conditions were dry and clear.
State Highway 3 in Ōhaupō has reopened after the crash between Jary Rd and Ngaroto Rd.
Inspector Jeff Penno, Waikato Road Policing Manager said formal identification would take some time.
He also warned road users, police would be out in force on Waikato roads over the King’s Birthday Holiday weekend and would stop people who were offending.
Gary Edge dies
Former champion jockey Gary Edge of Cambridge has died aged 84. In recent years Edge ran an agistment farm in St Kilda Road. He rode 740 winners in New Zealand with his first win coming in 1955 at Te Aroha on Sweet Wren. He went onto name his farm after her. Edge’s group one victories came in 1964 on Auckland Cup winner Senor and in 1972 at the Australian Cup on Jan’s Beau. The first horse Edge ever sat on was Foxbridge when he was only 4 when his father took him to Trewlaney Stud to see the champion. English-bred Foxbridge became New Zealand’s champion sire and champion broodmare sire for 11 straight years, back in the late 1930s and 1940s.
More to come
$6m to upgrade
The now closed Te Awamutu Museum building in Roche Street. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Seismic strengthening of Waipā District Council’s building at 135 Roche Street – formerly home to Te Awamutu Museum and some council staff – has been costed at nearly $6 million. Work could be completed by July next year, the council heard this week. The building closed in October 2022 after a seismic assessment deemed it an earthquake risk.
Airport all go
Hamilton Airport precinct.
Mediation in the Environment Court has resulted in the resolution of an appeal by the Royal Forest and Bird Society to a plan change in Hamilton Airport’s northern precinct. Gone are rules relating to bat habitat in the zone and the inclusion of new provisions relating to compensation land outside the plan change area.
New reps
Te Kiiri Tauta, Poto Davies, Helen Hughes and Bruce Clarkson have been appointed to the Maungatautari Reserve committee. Waipā councillor Mike Montgomerie remains as chair with consultant Geoff Canham on the committee. Appointments are still to be made by Ngāti Hauā and the Conservation Department.
Interim CEO
Ken Morris
Ken Morris has been appointed interim chief executive when outgoing chief executive Garry Dyet retires at the end of next month. New CEO Steph O’Sullivan – who met Waipā senior staff last week – is expected to start on August 26 on a five-year contract. She is chief executive at Whakatāne District Council.
SH1B to go
Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency’s SH1B from Cambridge to Taupiri will become a local road and revert to Waipā and Waikato district councils’ control. The date is subject to legal processes. Before handover the agency will plan work which includes replacement of a culvert under the state highway outside the Hautapu Dairy Factory.
Safety work
Pedestrian safety improvements have begun at the Cook Street and Shakespeare Street roundabout in Leamington. The work involves widening the footpath along Cook St from the High Level Bridge to Shakespeare St and installing a raised safety platform. The work is expected to take six weeks.
Street face lift
A series of improvements are underway in Cambridge’s historic Hall Street. The work aims to reduce the flooding and fix road surfaces as well as improving pedestrian safety at key intersections. Arborists recommended the council start work in the autumn months as that is the optimum time to ensure the protection of the street’s impressive trees.
Residents honoured
Peter Carr with Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro.
Waipā residents Megan Balks and Peter Carr were honoured last week. Cambridge’s Peter Carr, a columnist in The News, received a Queen’s Service Medal for services to the community and Balks, of Te Awamutu, the New Zealand Antarctic Medal for services to Antarctic soil science.
Megan Balks with Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro.
Pirongia changes
Elizabeth Eden is the new Te Pahu and Tai Huata the Purekireki Marae committee representatives on the Pirongia ward committee. They replace Allan Rawlings and Haupai Puke on the committee chaired by Waipā councillor Clare St Pierre. Other representatives include Andrew Reymer, Ruth Webb, Jan Thomas and Janet Williams.
