Te Awamutu Rural Neville Kemp Licensee Salesperson 027 271 9801 07 871 9801 www.nevillekemp.co.nz CourierPublished Tuesday & Thursday TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013 Rosetown Realty Ltd Licensed (REAA 2008) YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR OVER 100 YEARS CIRCULATED FREE TO 12,109 HOMES THROUGHOUT TE AWAMUTU AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. EXTRA COPIES 40c. WINNERS Not in our town! BY DEAN TAYLOR THE FACTS People of Te Awamutu have their chance to learn more ■ The active contents are not contained in plant material, but are synthetic substances sprayed onto about legal synthetic drugs at a inert plant material. There is nothing natural or safe about them. public awareness meeting ■ The bans apply to synthetic cannabis formulas, not specific brands. tomorrow night. ■ The list of contents is constantly being added to but the industry tweaks the formula to remain legal. Concerned agencies have Offences: banded together to join in the ■ Sale or supply to an under 18-year-old — Smokefree Environments Act 1990. nation-wide action opposing the ■ sale and use of synthetic Sale or supply of a banned product — Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. cannabinoids. Te Awamutu Community TE AWAMUTU COURIER Constable Richard Hurrell says manager Alan Price accepts the presentation will include the award for Community speakers from Police, Accident Newspaper Sales Manager of and Emergency, St John Ambu- the Year from APN NZ CEO lance and Child and Adolescent Martin Simons during the Mental Health Services — each APN Regional Awards Dinner. speaker relaying personal Last week APN Regional experiences of working with managers and editors came legal drug users. together for their annual The evening will open with a presentation on the facts and conference and awards. risks of using synthetic drugs, Te Awamutu Courier including video footage of users. manager Alan Price was Mr Hurrell says a number of awarded the top individual communities have been spurred Community Premier award into action around Waikato and when he was named the country. Community Newspaper Sales He says the synthetic Manager for the Year - 2012. cannabinoids are generally sold The award recognises the by dairies, superettes and mini- newspaper judged to have had marts. the most successful year in The drug is not illegal, but 2012. Judges said Mr Price selling or supplying to under delivered a solid revenue result 18-year-olds is illegal. which was above the company Mr Hurrell says Police have budget. Mr Price says the award had information, but no formal also recognises the efforts of the complaints, about teenagers encouraged to display a poster manufacturers show no con- Intelligence Bureau. entire sales team to maintain the approaching people on the advertising the fact. science simply changing one or Mr Hurrell says hopefully position of the Courier in the street to buy the product for Mr Hurrell says the drug is two components each time the tomorrow night’s meeting will them. an expansive habit and there Government outlaws an ingredi- raise even more awareness and media market. He says information is that have been burglaries targeting ent. public pressure could result in The editorial team (Dean there are just three dairies in K2. He has also visited all the more retailers choosing ‘not to Taylor, Colin Thorsen, Cathy the immediate area are not sell- The group of local agencies outlets and asked owners if they sell’ the drug. Asplin) won the award for ing the product and he doesn’t want all outlets to choose not to are selling the legal drugs. Most Effectively Connecting believe it is being sold in sell the products. If they answer yes, or he ■ Awareness and Risks of Legal with its Community in 2012. Pirongia or Ohaupo. Mr Hurrell says he believes believes the are selling it, they Highs, Te Awamutu College Hall, Judges said intensive Dairies choosing not to sell the facts about the dangers are given an awareness sheet Wednesday, May 29, 7pm. coverage of local affairs kept Te synthetic cannabinoids are speak for themselves and the prepared by the National Drug MP Shane Ardern’s view — Page 3. Awamutu Courier at the forefront of community newspaper achievement year-in, year-out. ‘‘The paper has a good Dairy takes ‘citizen’ view over drug understanding of the needs of its readership — and is firmly on their side.’ Judges were presented with One shop owner who does not them and which don’t. He says he and his business profitable to stock and sell legal sell legal cannabinoids says his He says he and his family are well respected and he doesn’t cannabis, but he doesn’t believe coverage of ratepayer issues, choice is based on being a good have been in business in Te want to jeopardise the goodwill it is good for business in the long the Jehovah’s Witness ‘five day citizen. Awamutu for a number of years of his regular customers by term, nor is it good for the build’, Anzac Day coverage and The owner doesn’t want to be and his long term view is it is attracting the wrong clientele, community. He also believes the the plight of young survivor identified, but says the people in better for the community not to just for the sake of easy money. public can make their feelings Malachi Agnew. the community who buy the have the legal drug — so he The shop owner acknow- known and effect change on the product know which dairies sell doesn’t sell it. ledges that it is both legal and business owners that do sell. Winter 2013 Kawasaki Mule 9229310AA Warm Up 610XC Bigfoot Deals $10,000+GST * Carry Case with selected FREE Chainsaws valued 9229340AA at $99* *Offer effective 1st April - 31st July 2013, or while stocks last, at participating Dealers only. Applicable to Husqvarna chainsaw models; 435e, 440e, 445e,445e, 450e, 455R, 460, 555AT, 346XP, 550XP, 570AT, 562XP & 576XP only. 9237341AA 462 Ohaupo Rd LAWNMOWER & CHAINSAW CENTRE Ph 871 7317 Ph: 07 871 8838 | 221 Mahoe Street, Te Awamutu www.thehondashop.co.nz 2 TE AWAMUTU COURIER, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013 Salt Water Sports Fishing LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 9227711AA KAWHIA HIGH TIDES ADD FIVE MINUTES FOR RAGLAN HARBOUR TUESDAY: 12.21pm WEDNESDAY: 12.45am & 1.16pm Swimming club has always backed pool project THURSDAY: 1.39am & 2.12pm FRIDAY: 2.37am & 3.11pm Mr Carlyle claims the Cam- Swimming Club. and that they now state that the Editor’s note: Mr SATURDAY: 3.38am & 4.12pm SUNDAY: 4.40am & 5.16pm bridge Swimming Club was not Furthermore the president of pool is in sound condition, con- Scaramuzza provided the MONDAY: 5.42am & 6.20pm supportive of the Cambridge the club was a fundraising com- trary to their original report. Courier with copies of a let- pool project. mittee member. The club also I doubt that very much. ter of support for the Cam- This is not the case. The made a substantial financial However, I presume he can bridge Covered Pool Com- It’s the long weekend... Swimming Club has always contribution to the fund raising provide the written report plex signed by Cambridge Give your tacklebox been supportive as shown in campaign. confirming that, as I would Masters Swimming chair- letters of support to the fund Mr Carlyle also claims that dearly love to see it and I am man John Overwater and the Royal Treatment! raising committee from the he has been in contacted with sure so would the ratepayers. Cambridge Amateur Swim- Cambridge Master Swimmers the engineers who originally JOE SCARAMUZZA ming Club president Graeme STOCK UP HERE and the Cambridge Amateur reported on the pool conditions Waipa District Councillor Martin. Heaps of Mike’s Specials to choose from instore Are pensioners really a priority? Options for a Kawhia Boating & Angling Club Waipa District Council’s no explanation as it is more lors more important than Queen’s Birthday Fishing Competition community relations mana- than likely that the council funding programs for pen- library site Tickets available from: Kawhia Boat Club, Kawhia Motors ger’s response to ‘protecting will never give up these sioners and seniors and the and Oparau Roadhouse pensioners’ is both interest- powers because it is the vulnerable in our commun- I have to admit to not following ing and alarming. ultimate weapon to force ity. all the arguments for and against a It is interesting in that ratepayers into submission. Are pushbikes more new library for the town. while he provides much If this sounds farfetched, important than pensioners? The present building is very detail on what we are paying just stop paying your rates Why is a velodrome more cramped and not conducive to the council to do for pen- and see what happens. important than the vulner- quiet contemplation. In these con- sioners, he fails to acknow- The council is a bureau- able in the community? Is strained times, ratepayers should ledge the behaviour by cracy and it’s main priority council suggesting that not be asked to fund a major 166 Cambridge Rd, Te Awamutu Ph: 871 6793 council towards the most above all else is to survive, there is more social value in investment. vulnerable members of our sustain itself and grow. a pushbike stadium than There is an empty building that community. I know of one other affordable housing? ticks most of the boxes. There was no response to organism that has a similar I am also told my criti- At the Cambridge Road develop- the matters raised by me: rapacious appetite for its cism is unqualified. ment there are a couple of large • Council charging double host. May I suggest that I have units, I submit, are most suitable.