Songs for the saints
Paul Gough is confident his planned concert to raise funds for St John will be a success.
The Te Awamutu musician and the band he plays in, Early Daze, will perform at Te Rahu Hall – their regular venue – on Sunday afternoon and he is hoping the gold coin entry event open to the public will draw a good crowd.
Gough was inspired to promote a concert when he saw St John missing out on funding.
He says he owes his life to St John, who came to his aid three times in the last two years as he battled heart issues.
“If it wasn’t for them I’d be dead,” he said. “But it’s not about me.”
Early Daze has been playing for about five months and Gough says about 40 people regularly attend monthly music club gatherings – which encourages singer-songwriters to show their talents – at the hall.
Awards open
Entries for Waipā’s business awards, which recognise accomplishments, contributions and diversity in the business community, open tomorrow. (Friday).
Population up
Waipā’s population is 62,700, Census figures released by Statistics NZ last week show. It was 55,000 in 2018. Nearly a third are in the 40-64 age bracket and the median age is 40.6. A total of 12,400 people (19.2 per cent) are 65 years and older.
Roger that
Roger Gordon was again Waipā District Council’s lowest paid councillor receiving $41,280 for his efforts in the financial year ended June 30. Fellow Cambridge ward representative Mike Pettit earned $43,246 to be second lowest. Highest paid councillor was Claire St Pierre with $53,075 while deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk got $66,835 and mayor Susan O’Regan $145,391.
Boundary change
Frontier Estate in the Te Awamutu T1 growth cell will move from the Pirongia-Kakepuku rural ward into urban Te Awamutu-Kihikihi for next year’s local body elections to comply with the Local Electoral Act regulations. Pirongia growth had resulted in the ward’s two councillors each representing a population of 6175 this term compared with the 5100 the three Te Awamutu councillors represent.
Top engagement
Waikato District Council was overwhelmed by the nearly 2000 responses to its Long Term Plan prompted by the appeal to residents to tell councillors where savings could be made and which of its 33 community halls should remain ratepayer funded. The council was to consider the responses yesterday, after The News went to press.
Appointments made
Crs Dale Maree Morgan and Mike Montgomerie will join Cambridge Community Board member Andrew Myers as council appointments to the Karāpiro Domain Reserve Management Plan review which is taking place because there have been significant changes in the number and range of facilities, activities, events and visitors.
Surplus down
Waipa council made an operating surplus of $35.5 million – down on its $48.2 million budget – in the financial year ended June 30. Development and reserve contributions were down $21.5 million. Subsidies were $9.9 million higher because of additional fundings for the Cambridge and Kihikihi Pathway projects from New Zealand Transport Agency. The council completed just under $130 million of work across 160 projects and maintained its AA- Fitch credit rating.
Hall a finalist
Cambridge Town Hall has been named one of three finalists in the Entertainment Venues Association’s small venue of the year (under 1000 seats) awards. The Town Hall is up against the Globe Theatre (Palmerston North) and the Turner Centre (Kerikeri). General manager Simon Brew is also a finalist in the Team Leader of the Year award. The winners will be announced on December 4.
Award winner
Cambridge’s new wastewater treatment plant, a partnership between the district council and iwi over the design has won an award from Ace – a non-profit organisation for consultant engineering companies – for its commitment to collaborate, embrace indigenous knowledge and honour the principles of guardianship
Different spot
Cambridge Farmers’ Market has been using the northern end of Victoria Square while its more usual south home has been regrassed in time for the start of the cricket season on the square next month.
New cul de sac
Construction of a cul de sac in Grey St at the intersection with Hamilton Rd gets underway soon. Pedestrian crossings and footpaths will be upgraded on the street up to Clare St and a new walking and cycling path built to enable safer trips by Cambridge Middle School students. The work is part of the Cambridge Pathway project funded by New Zealand Transport Agency and Waipā council.
Mini nationals
The rain gods stayed away for the 175 minis and their owners who gathered at Lake Karāpiro from Invercargill to Northland and even one from Melbourne, Australia for the NZ Mini Nationals. Quite a few chose the camping out option with a mixture of swanky motorhomes to pup tents. Some even had special tents for their minis.
