Local Opinion

Looking back on our week

Ryan Fleming returns with a review of what kept Te Awamutu police busy last week. Monday – Police attended five burglaries, a shoplifting, a missing person/mental health incident who was subsequently located, a family harm…

A great sign of unity

The hui at Turangawaewae on January 20 was more than a celebration of Māoridom’s assertion of tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake. The strongest of signals was sent to all who might pay some attention to…

Inflation – it’s mixed news

Many people here and overseas are scrutinising inflation data closely trying to predict when central banks will start lowering their official interest rates. Late last year, most of the inflation news was positive. Though inflation…

The truth about diamonds

Have you seen the inspirational quote “a diamond is merely a lump of coal that did well under pressure”? While I agree with the sentiment of not giving up, to keep going, and that we…

The hazard in the hive

The sound of someone falling woke one of the grandchildren of Harry Turner, 71, around 3am on a Sunday in April 1911. On entering his room he found Harry on the ground in an agitated…

Love your neighbour

Did you read the marvellous story about Paihia in last week’s news about how the community resolved a tricky problem? They had problems with a reserve at the end of the town, around a headland,…

Looking with fresh eyes

At the beginning of each calendar year we hear cries of “New year, new me!” and commitments to resolutions of grandeur. We all know how that tracks, and how temporary this fervour often is. I…

Caterpillar carnage and anthrax

Meghan Hawkes looks at what was making news in Waipa in 1895. Captain Broun, a naturalist, who had been visiting orchards in the Waikato, arrived at Whatiwhatihoe, the settlement at the Māori King’s residence under Mt…

A place for mistakes

Today I made a mistake. I had just completed a comprehensive first aid course before heading out for more field work. I have done first aid training before including outdoors first aid, training in Australia…

Another beer, please

It’s been a long time between beers. The last edition of this column ran before the Covid lockdown. “I’ll get it up and running soon,” I have regularly told Gary and David between beers. You…

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