Local Opinion

A council in control

Waipā District Council revealed the size of a proposed rate increase last week. The News’ Mary Anne Gill, the only journalist who follows the council’s work, reflects on a process which enabled councillors to formulate…

Christmas message from Norris Hall

Let there be Light. In today’s world there seems to be an absence of light, that warm glow that pierces and drives away the darkness; we read and hear of and see the news of…

Christmas message from Rev Julie Guest

Have you ever had a calamitous Christmas? One where things went very wrong, or were not at all what you planned or hoped for?  hat immediately comes to mind for me was the time someone…

Christmas message from Bruce Judd

Last Friday afternoon folk of all ages gathered to enjoy singing joyous Christmas carols in the Church-yard outside the Presbyterian church, in celebration of the birth of Jesus our Lord and Saviour. It certainly felt…

Christmas message from Phil Strong

Each week in the news we read about local stories, some of which are positive, and others are challenging to process. Sadly, I recently read online about a family who had lost their son’s bike…

Christmas message from Christine Bryant

A generous friend phoned me yesterday to ask if she could help prepare food for one of our Christmas services.  We got to talking about who she and her husband would celebrate Christmas with. “The…

Christmas message from Monsignor Joe Stack

God’s Blessings and Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all people of good will. Christmas is the one holiday that so uniquely offers a brief moment of hope that peace and human…

A burning issue

Work has been underway by Waikato Regional Council (WRC) for much of the past year preparing for our 2024–34 Long Term Plan budget. We are looking to go out to the public with our formal…

Watching a crisis unfold

I arrived at my desk on Tuesday last week to find my concerns from yesterday confirmed. Gunung (Mount) Marapi erupted in Sumatra, Indonesia, he day before, producing an ash plume – not smoke – made…

Rest and recreation

The Waipā Racing club’s last meeting before Christmas 1938 was held at Te Rapa in showery weather but had a good attendance. The event was described as a ‘full on dress rehearsal for the Ellerslie…

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