Lake Karapiro
More than 4000 scouts participated in the 23rd Aotearoa New Zealand Scout Jamboree at Mystery Creek with some Waipā moteliers reporting the full signs were up as parents and caregivers took the opportunity to holiday in and around the district while the jamboree was on. Several Waikato locations were used for abseiling, motorcycling, archery, digger driving and live action foosball. Lake Karāpiro hosted hundreds of scouts for paddleboarding, sailing, kayaking and rowing.
Chief reappointed
Otorohanga District Council chief executive Tanya Winters has signed a new five-year contract. Mayor Max Baxter said the reappointment for a second term was a testament to the council’s commitment to stability, excellence, and sustained growth.
Brigade busy
Te Awamutu firefighters were called out three times on Tuesday before noon – once to a structure fire and twice to assist with emergency medical issues.
Libraries open
Te Awamutu Library Source: Waipā District Council
Libraries in Te Awamutu and Cambridge and the Te Awamutu Museum reopened on Monday after closing for the holiday period. Waipā deputy chief executive Ken Morris said the closures were to allow staff to have a “well-earned” break and many members visited the libraries before Christmas to “stock up.” However, several The News readers contacted us to complain they needed their book and newspaper fix and were unhappy they could not get it. Libraries in Hamilton and Matamata only closed for the public holidays.
Miracle save
Will Fransen
Waipā resident Will Fransen has told a remarkable story after surviving a 24-hour ordeal in the sea of Whangamata after falling from his boat on January 2. The Cambridge man was rescued after being spotted from another boat near Mayor Island.
Write on
The theme for this year’s Cambridge Autumn Festival’s Short Story Competition is “The Dilemma”. The competition invites authors to present a fictional story of up to 1500 words. Entries close on January 31 and winners will be announced at the start of the March festival.
Fluoride work on hold
Kane Titchener
Horowhenua District Council has paused work on fluoridating the Levin and Ōhau town water supplies ahead of a High Court hearing next month. It follows a November 10 ruling that the Director-General of Health’s orders to 14 councils
to fluoridate some or all of their drinking water supplies – including Cambridge in Waipā – did not give specific consideration to the Bill of Rights.
Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board deputy chair Kane Titchener has suggested the planning for fluoride in Cambridge should also be on hold. Kane, who is also a member of Fluoride Free New Zealand, made the comments after the Health Ministry told councils work should continue as normal.
Waipā water has never been fluoridated and the order from the outgoing director general of health, Ashley Bloomfield, made last July, related solely to Cambridge – and no other Waipā water supply. See: Waipa ordered to add fluoride to water.
