Local Opinion

Why I voted ‘no’

Waikato Regional Council has just voted to retain its two Māori constituencies for another six years. Only councillor Chris Hughes and I voted against the retention of the constituencies, stating that we believed they were…

A violent past

“There was a violent roaring, lasting four or five minutes at a time… we saw a cloud gradually rising, black as ink… it was flashing with lightning in every direction, while occasionally fireballs, like rockets,…

The women check in

With men away fighting in World War Two, female herd testers began replacing them.  One of the pioneers in this new career for women, Miss Jo Gray, was appointed to the Te Awamutu district. There…

Lessons from St Francis

If I asked you who your favourite saint is, who would you say? Maybe you would name your wonderful neighbour or someone who is a local community hero like those who are recognised as Good…

Life and times of Josef Sittauer

It was only a splinter of tawa wood but after five days the tetanus bacteria it introduced into 13-year-old Vincent Sittauer’s bloodstream took his life. It was December 1885 and New Zealand had not been…

It’s when, not if

New Zealand has experienced many more eruptions in our relatively recent history than most of us remember. Many may have memories of the Ruapehu 1995 and 1996 eruptions, some may remember the many eruptions of…

The Importance of Hospitality

It was a real thrill for me to learn how successful the Year 12 and 13 Te Awamutu College food tech and hospo students had been in the regional competitions. As a relief teacher there,…

What you hope for…

As I sit here in my office writing, I can feel the warmth of the sun on my back as the glorious day beams in from the outside. I’m hoping spring has sprung early this…

Faith, education and elections

Kihikihi was now able to support three hotels, five stores, two blacksmiths, one wheelwright, one saddler, two shoemakers, and one nurseryman along with a butchery, bakery and creamery. Faith was also flourishing – the Reverend…

Detecting warning signs

The ability to monitor volcanoes comes from a solid mix of technology, research, time, and experience. Thankfully, here in New Zealand we have these things. Before an eruption occurs – which is where magmatic material…

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