Local Opinion

What we’ve been up to

A look back on the week at the Te Awamutu police station. Monday – Police attended a disorder incident in Te Awamutu.  A person had left prior to our arrival and was spoken to by…

It’s all the rage

Do I sometimes wish I was driving James Bond’s Aston Martin? I mean the classic, grey model with all the gadgets designed to wipe out the… other driver … Imagine how satisfying it would be…

Viewing misinformation

‘…documentaries and tv shows can also be surprisingly inaccurate.’ Over the years I have responded to eruptions by giving information through social media and over 200 media interviews around the world. This has meant that…

Trains, choirs, and rabbits

A large crowd gathered at the Te Awamutu train station to farewell their popular stationmaster, Mr J T Long, who was moving on to Feilding.  As the train moved out three hearty cheers were given for Mr…

The Bukowskys

Anna Bukowsky was a spritely 69-year-old, up early on an April morning in 1906.  As the day began at the family farm at Ōhaupō her son left for the creamery and Anna told daughter, Bertha,…

A what-if situation

If disaster struck, what would you take with you? As part of my preparation to go to the Canary Islands in a few months to work in an area that was decimated by lava flows…

Full of fear and doing it anyway

I clearly remember my last night before I moved out of home to Hamilton for the start of my university education. I was terrified and struggled to get to sleep. Having lived in the same…

Being inspired

Some years ago I attended a history conference in Wellington. I wasn’t and still am not a historian, but I have always enjoyed reading history and biographies. The keynote speaker was a Professor of History…

Ferrets, fighting and wet feet

A ferocious ferret found its way into the Pirongia hotel, having escaped its owner.  It promptly attacked Mrs Finch, landlady, who ran into a room and perched upon a chair for safety. The ferret then…

Fire cost could top $1 million

Police had a busy week last week – here’s how it went day by day. Monday – police attended a ram raid in Cambridge and six family harm incidents with one of them resulting in…

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