DEDICATED ONLY THE LOCAL PAPER IN THE SOUTH WAIKATO theprattler.org.nzThe Prattlerprideinputaruru.com Pride in Putaruru Community Newspaper SEPTEMBER 2020 Issue 154 Incorporating Arapuni, Tirau and associated Rural Communities...

INSIDE THIS ISSUE • Taupo Electorate Candidate Statements • Community Service Award • Local News • School & Puzzle Pages 4 5 11 19 25 WATER PARK UPGRADE CONSULTATION

A new theme is being developed for the Waterpark upgrade and all will be revealed during Māori Language Week - Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, starting 14 September. The South Waikato District Council, Pride in Putaruru and Putaruru Moving Forward are running public consultation meetings on the redevelopment of the Putaruru Waterpark. Evening general public session Putaruru Plaza: Monday 14 September 7:00pm-9:00pm Daytime general public sessions Putaruru Plaza: Wednesday 16 September 10:00am and 2:00pm The theme draws on the whakapapa of rivers and streams in Māori mythology, which trace their origin to Matariki, through Matariki's daughters, Waitī and Waitā. The Raukawa Charitable Trust will help us draw local stories and legends from local hapū about Matariki and her whānau, so we can recount these in the design and storytelling features of the Waterpark. Our district is blessed with abundant water - it is this abundance of water that enables forestry, tourism, dairying and other agriculture to thrive here. Putaruru sits atop two major watersheds - the Waikato and the Waihou, with numerous local springs and streams contributing to these great river systems. The Waterpark will shift from focusing solely on the Waihou and will celebrate the Waikato, the Waihou and all their local tributaries. We intend to redesign the watercourse to name the awa - the streams and rivers that flow around Putaruru: the Pokaiwhenua, Little Waipa, Opouaru, Waioraka, Otawaiema, Waimakariri, Waiomou, Oraka, Waihirere, Waihou and Waikato - just to name a few. We want visitors and residents alike to realise the richness and diversity of our local awa. Matariki is a star cluster, also known as the Pleiades. The reappearance of Matariki in the skies during winter heralds the start of the Māori new year. Matariki is a time of celebration and preparation, representing natural abundance, particularly around cultivated food. For this reason it fits very well with the theme of food in this area of Putaruru. Because Matariki is a celestial element resident in the cosmos, the theme will balance the entities of Ranginui - the heavens - with Papatūānuku - the Earth, using our district's water as the connection between the two. There are many stories to be told to support this theme and we look forward to discovering and sharing them with you. The initial Water Park Public Consultation evening at The Plaza. Supporting Your Community

07 883 7309 www.vandyks.co.nz Putaruru 2 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 VOTING MATTERS: NOT ALL ABOUT “ME MYSELF I” has many variables. Once you’re in power, it becomes a lot harder to deliver on promises - not because you lied to the electorate, but because it’s beyond your Having a system of government where ordinary people have a say in how they ability to make that change. are governed and express their ideas and preferences is not automatic. Not all Our children or youth depend on us to represent their voices too! When we vote, we are countries employ such a practice. looking out for our kids, and their futures. Voting is for their future as well as our own. We cast our Parliamentary vote once every three years and in many ways it’s the least Voting is the great equalizer since every citizen gets the right of an equal say. It we can do because if everyone opted out, we would be handing national decisions to equalizes poor and rich, liberal and conservative, young or old. Diversity matters. a small group and that’s not the best use of our citizenship rights and obligations. Different voices and experiences and backgrounds help shape our country. Our individual vote is how we participate in something bigger than ourselves. If you believe in democracy, voting is what you can do to preserve that. Democracy When we vote, we’re reaching beyond our own interests toward those of New breaks if nobody votes. If personal independence is important to you, then voting Zealand as a whole. should be too. Go to pages 17 - 18 for details of Taupo Electorate candidates. An electoral manifesto is generally produced by each party that details a On Monday 17 August the Prime Minister announced new dates for the 2020 declaration of party intentions, future motives, or views seen as important to the General Election. Below is a snapshot of the new election process time-line. particular party. Sunday 6 September Dissolution of Parliament Sunday 13 September Writ Day Governor General issues formal direction to the Electoral Commission to hold the election. Electoral rolls close for printing. Voters enrolled after this date cast special declaration votes. Candidate and party television and radio advertising may start. Thursday 17 September Party nominations due Noon Deadline for registered political parties to bulk nominate their electorate candidates and submit their party lists to the Electoral Commission. Friday 18 September Noon Individual nominations due One of the many clusters of hoardings around Putaruru. Deadline for individual nominations of electorate candidates People are often motivated to vote because they want to ‘fit in’ and be seen as to Returning Officers. regular citizens. Some see voting as a form of altruism, the selfless concern for the well-being of others. For some it’s an habitual behaviour cued by political Saturday 22 September Candidate information published hoardings and the media items. 2.00pm target Names of all electorate and list candidates released by the Electoral Commission. Media can request contact details Why don’t people vote? including e-mail addresses and phone numbers for candidates. Lack of interest is often the reason given for not wanting to vote. Many non-voters believe they don’t have enough understanding about government, the election Wednesday 30 September Overseas voting starts process or individual party policies. Overseas voters can download voting paper www.vote.nz vote by post or vote in person at many overseas posts. Some express disillusionment or lack of trust with parties, the breaking of manifesto pledges and the immoral unacceptable behaviour of some Saturday 3 October Voting opens in New Zealand parliamentarians. Voters can enrol and vote at an advance voting place. Many people who don’t vote are nonetheless interested in politics and even Friday 16 October midnight Regulated period ends at midnight support a political party, but don’t vote because they feel it would be wasted. All election advertising must end and signs must be taken These are often those who live within parliamentary constituencies with safe down before midnight. Advance voting ends. seats. If these seats experience a strong majority for a party they do not support, Friday 17 October Election day they may feel there is little point in voting. Voting places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm. No campaigning To enrol and vote, you need to be 18 years or older, a New Zealand citizen or is allowed on election day. Preliminary results released permanent resident, and have lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or progressively from 7.00pm on www.electionresults.govt.nz more at some time in your life.[Source: Vote NZ] Friday 30 October Preliminary referendum results released As New Zealand residents we should be adequately informed about the parliamentary candidates and issues around the country. Our voting lets us tell the Friday 6 November Official results government what we want them to do. Non-voters who make complaints about Official Results for General Election and referendums declared the government are being hypocritical. including special declaration votes and overseas votes In the 2017 general election, 79.01% per cent of the NZ enrolled voters turned Thursday 12 November Return of Writ up at the polls. If you don’t vote, you’re letting others decide who wins and what If there have been no judicial recounts, the writ will be issues matter. Not voting is the one thing guaranteed to make no difference. returned on this date showing the successful electorate candidates, and list members will be declared. Two types of voter are often identified, election-specific voters, who are motivated by a particular candidate or issue, and habitual voters, who consistently show up Chief Electoral Officer Alicia Wright says after Parliament is dissolved on to vote in every election. Habitual voters are much more likely to have lived at the September 6, if there is a region that is considered unsafe to physically vote, she same address over several elections and possess a ‘stable context’ for voting. has the power to adjourn polling until that area is safe. But she would have to As we build towards an election, party manifesto statements are released and consult with the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition. these documents are generally aspirational. We need to let go of the idea that a She says there are measures in place to ensure that people will be able to party can do everything. vote in person at alert level 2, and protective gear will be available for staff if New Zealand isn’t a closed system. We function on an international stage that necessary.

Support your locally owned and operated travel agent. September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 3 4 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 PUTARURU LIBRARY STARS Children receive a sticker and a token for each activity completed and reported on. The holiday activity sessions also provide an opportunity to earn bonus tokens. The STARS, (South Waikato Tamariki: Achievers, Role-Models, Superstars) school holiday programme was in action at the Putaruru Library recently. This programme comprises 25 activities that can take place over term breaks. The Prattler caught up with STARS in the last week of the July school holidays and those attending were busily involved with Matariki themed weaving.

This year the programme finishes on Saturday 10 October. To learn more about STARS visit the Putaruru Library or 07 883 1202 by phone. September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 5 CENTRAL KIDS DEVELOP EMERGENCY HOUSING SERVICES PUTARURU FIBRE CRAFTERS A new motto has emerged: “Because it Matters,” affirmed by Central Kids’ new Leeanne Field, Pam partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Education. Paine, Pauline Goodwin, Born from the needs identified amongst our communities, Central Kids Carol Daigity, Savanah launched Mãtauranga Ake, More than Education, and its Navigation Services at Forsyth-Palmer, Berta the end of June. Kytsers, Tracy-Lee Wright, Helen Baldwin This service will support families in emergency housing in Rotorua and South and Janet McKay of the Waikato, to help identify and manage barriers to wellbeing in all domains of Te Putaruru Fibre Crafters Whare Tapa Wha, and to access stable, long term housing. Central Kids holds Group were at the Cow a vision for an Aotearoa without homelessness, and to achieve that will walk Cafe on Saturday 13 June alongside providing coaching, mentoring, and practical support and connections to celebrate World Wide for people who are in emergency housing. Knitting Day. This service is specific to families, and includes assisting tamariki to access early It was a lovely day and education and primary school. The work includes case management services, public were interested advocacy and coaching, as well as connection and referral to other specialist services. in what the ladies were Services are free, voluntary, and are delivered by professional, committed staff. knitting. World Wide Knitting Day at the Cow Cafe. “Our philosophy is that every person The Putaruru Fibre Crafters, a group of ladies meet each week on a Wednesday deserves dignity and respect, and access to 10am to 12 noon at the Baptist Church Hall on Arapuni Street. warm and dry housing,” says Central Kids CEO, Donovan Clarke. “The wellbeing of our communities is under pressure and we believe this service will make a powerful impact where it is delivered.” To enact this service, Central Kids Clinical Lead, Angela Hunt will work closely with her team of Navigators. “I’m excited to join CEO Donovan Clarke with Clinical Lead Angela Hunt. Central Kids to help deliver this unique initiative - this is where early intervention can lead to prevention of homelessness for our tamariki as they grow up.” The team are implementing a strengths-based approach to ensure whanau are able to develop aspirational yet achievable goals for their families. These goals cover all domains of wellbeing and also include employment, education, and even home ownership. Because it matters. Matauranga Ake was welcomed to Rotorua at Tamatekapua marae in Rotorua on Everything Fibre - spinning, crochet, 29 June and started working from offices at Te Waiariki Purea Trust; 1274 Fenton felting, weaving, or if you would like Street, Rotorua. to come and have a cuppa and chat with a friendly group. We can have NEEDLESS DAMAGE TO RUGBY CLUB GROUNDS extensions that can be held at private homes to learn more of a topic that you might like to explore. This is a group started by two of our ladies chatting in the back yard and both found that they had the same interest, Fibre. It did not take long before the group was up and running. Putaruru Fibre Crafters gather at the Baptist Church Hall.

We enjoy meeting in public with our knitting needles and crotchet hooks. We have a wonderful time chatting. Every one welcome. 6 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR THREE WATERS Although we find ourselves back to adjusting to restrictions on our lives, we are Over the past three years central and local government have been looking for incredibly lucky to be living in New Zealand and particularly the South Waikato and answers to the challenges facing the regulation and delivery of the three water I remember that every day. services (storm water, waste water and drinking water). The country’s single cluster resurgence has shaken New legislation has been developed and a new Water Services Regulator, Taumata people, but we can only do as the Ministry of Arowai created who will oversee and enforce a new drinking water regulatory Health advise. We were unlucky to have two framework, with an additional oversight role for wastewater and stormwater networks. people in Tokoroa test positive for Covid 19. They Our council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Government to came forward very quickly when they became be part of a reform programme on how drinking, waste and stormwater services symptomatic and were put into quarantine and are delivered in future and, we will receive funding of $3.8 million initially plus the extended family swiftly went into isolation. My a portion of regional funding. This funding will go towards operating or capital thanks, support and care go to the family and I wish expenditure on the three waters delivery that will support economic recovery and them a speedy recovery. either maintain or increase investment in our core water infrastructure. The impact has been significant on the district and I COUNCIL SERVICES have heard that businesses in Putaruru and Tokoroa Keep an eye out for the next issue of In Touch to learn a little more about what have suffered as people driving through just keep council does and how we fund all the activities and services that we provide to our driving through. I urge everyone to support spend communities. There’s 20 all up! local and support your local businesses - as we need them! Our services cover a wide and varied range, from animal control and compliance SWDC Mayor Jenny Shattock. to libraries, from water supply to roading, from economic development to Please remember to governance, and many more. • Wash your hands, wear a mask in public, stay home if you’re sick, keep to the 2 metre rule, download the tracing app and if you are worried call Healthline PUTARURU GARDENS on 0800 358 5453. The Putaruru Community Garden is now well established in the Grey Street Reserve. Council staff and community volunteers are working hard to keep the • The Ministry of Health’s website will give you all the information. gardens growing and looking good, weeding, tidying and making sure the garden is • Above all be kind. attractive to users. PUTARURU VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE HONOURS NIGHT 2020 The members wanted to specifically mention the mown grass and weed eating I had the privilege recently of attending the Honours night of the Putaruru that was done by an anonymous volunteer; a huge thank you to that person! Volunteer Fire Brigade. I helped present some of the service awards and was The garden provides fresh vegetables to needy people - this is a great there to see Chief Fire Officer Nathan Bennetto presented with the gold star community initiative. medal for 25 years of service to the Brigade. Congratulations Nathan and to all the award winners, and to the 34 current volunteers who make sacrifices to The garden continues to be maintained during the current Covid-19 recovery respond to emergency situations. Our volunteers provide a generous service in our period, and is considered an essential service by the Ministry of Social community, and I would like to thank Nathan and all our other brigade volunteers Development, so it will continue to operate through any potential escalation of and their families for your dedicated service to others. It is much appreciated. Alert Levels. My thanks extend to this wonderful group of volunteers.

LONG TERM PLANNING DEVELOPMENT IN PUTARURU – WATERPARK, SKATEPARK Councillors have started down the journey of discussions and workshops for our The Waterpark concept development is nearing completion and will be open for district’s Long-Term Plan. It’s a huge piece of work and updates and sets our direction public consultation in September/October. as a district for the next ten years. We’ve already identified significant pieces of work It is an exciting concept that has been developed with Raukawa and tells of that we will be doing including upgrading our waste water systems, completing the the connection of Te Waihou (river) to Matariki’s twins (daughters), Whaitī and Water Park and Skate Park for Putaruru, the Domain for Tīrau, the completion of Whaitā, the great taonga of this district is water - not just the Waihou, but the Leith Place and further development of the Tokoroa CBD for Tokoroa and the traffic abundance of streams and rivers that begin and flow through here. issues for Arapuni plus the projects that have been identified in the Concept plans for each town. We’ll keep you updated as we move through the workshops. I am looking forward to this project starting and although it has been on the books for some time, I remind myself that good things take time! RECYCLING Council business is sizeable and covers a vast range of activities. One of the The skatepark development is also underway. activities that is getting a lot of attention at the moment is recycling, and the REPRESENTATION REVIEW contamination of that recycling. Every six years Council’s must go out to our communities and seek feedback as to The cost of dealing with contaminated recycling is currently a big concern to whether you want to change the format of how your council represents you. council. Contamination of recycling cost ratepayers over $100,000 last year and that is money that could have been spent elsewhere! This includes looking at the number of elected members, the make-up and number of Wards and whether we have separate Māori seats/Ward. Recycling markets - over which Council has no control - have changed. Dirty, unwashed product is no longer acceptable. Plastics 3 to 7 cannot be recycled and Council has made the decision to keep with the status quo however you are able lids, tops, caps need to be removed and put in the rubbish. to change that and resolve to have a poll by March next year, the result of which will be binding for the next two elections. You’ll be hearing more very soon. So, to be able to continue recycling we must change our ways and a new stricter Take care everyone, please keep safe and keep an eye on your neighbours. stickering regime is now underway. Kind regards - Mayor Jenny. Council has undertaken an education programme and there is a wealth of information out there. It’s on our website, in flyers, South Waikato News and on social media. We don’t want to not empty your crates, but we can’t continue to collect heavily contaminated recycling material. Please take time to sort your recycling! Recycling efforts are wasted if contaminated household recycling is added to the truck, as it contaminates the entire load that must then be dumped into the landfill! Both Putaruru and Tirau drop off recycling zones unfortunately are not good and at a recent council meeting elected members unanimously agreed to the following hours for recycling in Putaruru to Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9am - 4pm and Tīrau to Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 1pm - 5pm plus give the rural drop off points at Te Waotu and Kurunui six months to improve the recycling or have the rural bins removed. These hours in Putaruru and Tīrau will be supervised and EnviroWastes Recycling Education Officer will also be out and about at these drop off zones helping with crate education. We are also looking at securing both sites. So, the key messages are: • Plastics 3 - 7 in the rubbish. Only plastics 1 and 2 can be recycled. Look for the symbol on the bottom. Plastics 3 - 7 can no longer be sold on the recycling market, so we can’t collect them. • Remove lids, caps and tops and put these in your rubbish. They are too small for processing. • Recycling material must be clean. Wash, rinse, clean. Dirty products like milk bottles and tins contaminate recycling. https://www.southwaikato.govt.nz/our-services/rubbish-and-recycling

September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 7

THANK YOU PUTARURU What an incredible show of community spirit on display! Anzac Day 2020 will be remembered as one of New Zealand’s most memorable days in recent history - with the whole country rallying together to Stand At Dawn. Although we all needed to distance ourselves from one another under lockdown rules, there was a national sense of unity as we remembered and honoured our veterans and service personnel - those who came home and those who did not.

Leading up to the day, we witnessed families decorate homes, letterboxes, gardens, and even vehicles with poppies, flags, and remembrance themes. Kiwis were learning about their family’s military history, creating poems, music, and even a few paintings too. It was an Anzac Day like no other. And we couldn’t have done it without you.

So Thank You for coming along with us to help make Anzac Day 2020 a unique and very special event. Lest we forget - our work is never done.

We would especially like to thank: • Hazel Egan and her team of Putaruru florists, for kindly donating the wreaths and placing them at the War Memorial in the Garden of Memories. • A local putaruru community trust for presenting us with a cheque for a generous amount. This will go a long way to ensure we can continue to assist our returned and service community in their welfare needs. 8 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 PUTARURU TOY LIBRARY RECYCLING CONTAMINATION CLEAN UP Life at the toy library is finally back to normal! We are welcoming back our families Contaminated recycling in the South Waikato both from recycling drop off zones and seeing many excited little faces arriving to pick out their next set of toys after a and household crates is costing too much! long time away. It has been a perfect time for children to rediscover what toys we “We need to clean up our recycling behaviour,” said Phil Burt, Council’s have available and become acquainted with them once again while they test them Infrastructure and Maintenance Manager. “Contamination levels in our collection all out before committing to which ones they would like to take home. trucks are too high to take to the Croad Place recycling facility, so much of our recycling is going to landfill. This is not sustainable long term.” Council will be clamping down on poor behaviour at the recycling drop off zones through the introduction of improved signage, recycling education to householders, increased infringement regime and a rostered on-site presence to assist users. Mr Burt also said that Council’s contractor has been instructed to no longer empty contaminated urban household recycling crates from mid-July. “Council is rolling out an extensive education campaign, including adverts, social media, flyers, displays in our public venues,” he continued. “We encourage every householder to read and understand this information flyer.” There are three key changes we need to make to clean up our recycling - only plastics 1 and 2 can be recycled, all items must be cleaned, washed or rinsed, and all lids, caps or tops need to go into the rubbish because regardless of material they are made from they are too small to sort efficiently. “Due to changing world markets, only plastics 1 and 2 can be recycled. Plastics 3 to 7 must be put in the rubbish bin,” said Mr Burt. “Besides incorrect plastics, we find other non-recyclable items out in our recycling, including polystyrene, soft plastic bags, fabric, dirty nappies, fast-food bags (with or without left-overs) and broken household items (chairs, buckets etc). These items need to go in your rubbish.” Above and Bottom: The recent Toy Library garage sale - Middle: toys in action! Another key contamination issue is dirty, un-rinsed, unwashed items or items that have food waste on them. Recycling product needs to be clean. “Unwashed items such as milk bottles or dog food cans contaminate clean recycling,” he continued. “Pizza boxes with food sticking to the cardboard and fast-food packaging that is greasy and has food scraps on it need to go in the bin.” Lids, caps and tops can be a confusing issue. Some of these items are made from plastics 1 and 2, but are too small to be processed efficiently. Lids, caps and tops need to go in the rubbish. We remind everyone that our recycling drop off zones are not rubbish dumps! Recent behaviour may result in these facilities being removed. Council - and the ratepayer - can simply not continue to pay to clean up after people who are behaving poorly and not taking responsibility for their own rubbish.

Enjoying the toys. We have also welcomed some new members to our toy library family since lockdown and look forward to sharing our range of toys with them over the coming months. With winter well and truly upon us we have been seeing a lot more JENNIE BURNEY indoor toys being hired to keep ______everyone busy inside during the cooler months. Some that have proved popular are YOUR the magnetic tiles, our new Pikler climbing frame, WOW toys and our LOCAL range of Duplo sets. LEGAL If you feel that this is something that would help keep your little EXPERT people busy at home then we would love to see on Tuesdays 9 - 11am or Fridays 12 - 2:00pm.

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• Trusts AN ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT LEGAL PRACTICES Call us today to discuss your requirements. Ph: 07 883 8096 16 Princes St, Putaruru www.lepine.co.nz September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 9 BOSSY LEAVES AND BEGINS… Thank you to all those volunteer helpers at our sporting clubs, coaches, managers, administrators and committees. Your support and hard work in the background To those of you who don't know, Bossy finished her role as Kiwisport officer at the has enabled our children the opportunities to play sport, meet new friends and end of Term 2, to take up a teacher aide job at Putaruru College. “I would like to learn some skills. You are the backbone to our community and we thank you so say thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout the 7 not quite 8 very much! Please support and help out our new kiwi sport officer to transition years in the role,” she said. Bossy describes her journey like this: into the kiwi sport role, teamwork matters! More opportunities! More Kids! Fun! “Things started from here 2012. I was in the process of looking for a job as my I wish everyone well and no doubt will see you out and about in the community. youngest child of 4 was due to start school and I was ready to get back into the workforce. Jobs I looked at were petrol attendant to health care support, then CHANGES TO RECYCLING DROP-OFF ZONES bang, advertised in the local paper was a sports officer position. My heart raced Council has four unmanned recycling drop-off facilities for urban and rural when I read the job description because everything in there was me to a T so customers that are available 24/7. There is also one unsupervised recycling drop- quickly I applied. off facility located within the fenced area of the Tokoroa landfill which is only I can remember clearly back in 2012 the interview day sitting in the office with available during landfill opening hours. Ongoing and escalating problems with 3 principals, my voice quivered the whole interview, I didn’t know if it was the illegal dumping at the unmanned recycling drop-off facilities are an environmental, thought of sitting in with 3 principals that scared me or the thought of am I saying health and safety and financial problem. the right things? When asked my name I said Caroline but everyone calls me Bossy, “The 24/7 rural facilities are magnets for illegal dumping, as they are accessible one of them said nope can’t call you Bossy, (ye right that didn't happen,lol). 24/7, are unmanned, and unfenced. The clean-up of illegal dumping is funded by I started in 2012 term 4 and was given a laptop and I had never used a pad, all ratepayers,” said Phil Burt, Council’s Infrastructure and Maintenance Manager. where’s the mouse? I got a cold sore which I never had before, (stress of a new As a result of continued abuse of these facilities several changes are underway. job), and progressed forward from there. I can say I was scared as hell the day A Recycling Education Officer will have a presence at the drop-off facilities on a I had to speak and do a prize giving at junior football, I couldn’t sleep and was rotation basis across the facilities to assist with on-site education. freaking out, but can say today I have built the confidence to get out there and run a prize giving and am not too bad at it. Changes to the Putaruru Recycling drop-off zone will include new fences, gates, improved layout and aesthetics and restricted and supervised operating hours as I have enjoyed all aspects of the job role which has kept me busy and run off my per the Putaruru Transfer Station opening hours. This work to be undertaken by 31 feet many a time. From organizing draws and updates, cleaning sports gear, kitting October 2020. The clothing bin at the Putaruru facility has already been removed. rep touch teams, organizing inter-school events, “Give It A Go Days,” linking with local clubs, involvement with college leaders, kiwi sport taster sessions in schools, The Tīrau Recycling Drop-off facility will be relocated to a secure fenced site on Energize, Sport Waikato, Kiwi sport links and supporting schools. I have thoroughly Paterere Street during September. Further communication will come out on enjoyed the involvement with the inter school events and particularly the winter this. Once relocated, this facility will be open for 12 hours each week, Monday, sports day which involved every single student aged 8 years old up to year 8. Wednesday, Saturday from 1pm to 5pm. These hours are restricted so that the site can be supervised when it is open. This will assist our recycling education messages. At these events students were able to meet new friends, participate and play a sport mixed in with students from other school for whatever reason. This day is also The two rural recycling drop-off zones at Kuranui and Te Waotu are being abused supported and run by the college students who show amazing leadership on the day. on a regular basis. Some people in our community are using these facilities as rubbish dumps and this cannot continue. It costs money to clean up the area and all I wish to thank the principals group for their support, teachers, clubs, Sylvia, of the recycling is redirected to the landfill because it is too heavily contaminated. college leaders, TC and Annie who worked at the college and Kura in the beginning years, Sport Waikato for the funding, Gilly and Lisa - DC Sport Waikato, Energize, Signage will very soon be installed at each of the rural sites. Council will monitor Brendan, Lee and Olivia, all the office ladies at our schools with their wonderful contamination levels until mid-October. If these facilities continue to be abused, helpfulness, outside providers and volunteers, local sponsors, countdown, Quality they will be removed. Water, Coca-Cola water and anyone else I may have missed off the list. These changes are consistent with neighbouring council’s operations. 10 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 OUT AND ABOUT IN PUTARURU The Prattler was at Glenshea Park for Saturday morning sport, the Timber Museum for Wednesday music sessions as well as the Pink Breakfast hosted by The Wooden Farmer and Steinies Hairmasters.

Glenshea Park action.

Jam and sing-along group at the Timber Museum. POTENTIAL NEED FOR ADDITIONAL JP’S Above: at the Wooden Farmer for the Pink Breakfast. The Putaruru/Tirau area in common with most other areas in the NATIONAL PARTY FRIENDLY FORUM AT THE PLAZA Waikato is facing a need for additional JP’s who live and work in the 4 term parliamentarian area and are of a younger age profile from the current appointments. for Hamilton West MP Due to historical reasons the majority of our present coterie of JP’s are of Tim Macindoe at the Plaza retirement age and not always available to serve the public either in their homes or based Friendly Forum stood on the service desk at the Putaruru Library on a Friday between 10am and 12noon. in for Taupo Electorate MP Several of our JP’s have also of recent times retired from the role. The office of JP Louise Upston who had is an ancient and honourable one dating back to the reign of Edward III almost 800 sadly just lost her father years ago. Nowadays although the role has a certain status the position involves earlier in the week. serious duties and responsibilities and the need for training and keeping up to date. Louise and Tim both The usual route to appointment is that the local JP Committee makes a entered parliament at the recommendation to the local Member of Parliament who then forwards a same time in 2008. recommendation to the Secretary of Justice who follows quite a detailed process Tim spoke about the ending about a year later with the new JP, after passing an online training module, success of the party with being sworn in by a District Court Judge. The various duties of a JP are covered by the Waikato 110kph statute but primarily consist of being of service to their local community. express way and the “poor results” of the Labour Party Kiwi Build scheme. With reference to the Covid pandemic here he said that Tim Macindoe speaking at the Plaza. “we did not go hard and early,” and that the measures put in place by Labour were “chaotic and cruel.” Some of the topics raised by members of the audience were: Why can’t we return to the first past the post-election system in New Zealand? Would National rescind the abortion act? What help would there be for small tourism operators? Tim said that Labour had failed to manage all the systems involving people coming into the country and that National had been calling for these to be implemented weeks before the government had done so. There was also discussion about the hardship of bringing family members into New Zealand and the cost involved. “Who earns the sort of money to do this?” an audience member asked. Tim urged anyone with concerns or points of view to contact Louise Upston directly. September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 11 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD PRESENTED TO STU EDMEADES change the district plan and open up the growth cells and 600 sections in Putaruru. On 18 June at the South Waikato District Council meeting a Community Service And finally, Stu was elected to the Putaruru Rangiura Trust in 2014 and is still a Award was presented to Stu Edmeades by Mayor Jenny Shattock. Her recognition current serving Trustee. address is presented here. I’m here to honour you today Stu for your selfless volunteering… because everything that I’ve mentioned that you’ve been involved with has been and still is in a volunteering capacity. That’s superb… not many people give back as you have and you have made a huge difference to the Putaruru Community. It hasn’t mattered how big or how small you have always stepped up, sometimes to the detriment of your health. Stu your passion is infectious and you are worth your weight in gold. You’ve shared your talents without any compensation so I want you to know that you are valued.

Mayor Jenny Shattock presenting the award to Stu Edmeades. “I have a very special job that I want to do today one that I had planned to do earlier this year but Covid lockdown got in the way… so today is the day. Today I want to recognise and celebrate a person in our district who has contributed so much to the Putaruru community over many many years as a volunteer. Stu Edmeades I’d like to thank you on behalf of the South Waikato District and the Putaruru community for the years of voluntary work and your time that you have Mayor Jenny Shattock poses with Stu Edmeades. given to the Putaruru community. Thank you for everything and I’d like you to stay and have morning tea with us and I don’t think Stu knows what sitting down and relaxing with his feet up means accept this certificate of thanks for your voluntary contribution to Putaruru and because his contribution to the social and economic development of Putaruru has our district. been huge over the years. This is only the second Community Service Award that I have given out in my time I’m going to share with you some of the volunteer work that Stu has contributed as Mayor and I’m proud to recognise you and the work you’ve done.” to our district and I don’t think there many in our district that could match what he has given. PIP OBTAINS NEW CAMERA Funding from the Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate as well as funding from PiP, enabled the purchase of a new camera for Pride in Putaruru.

The award presentation at the SWDC chambers. Stu was first elected as a Parent Rep on the Putaruru Intermediate School Board of Trustees after the government formed ‘Tomorrows Schools’ around 1990. He was then elected as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and remained as Chairperson until the school was dissolved with the Labour government re- capitation of local schools in 2004. This was Stu’s contribution to the Education sector as his family was growing. Stu was instrumental in forming the Te Waihou Walkway Working Party and consequently the Te Waihou Walkway Trust around 1999, with the official opening of the walkway and Blue Spring in 2000 by the then Prime Minister, Helen Clarke. His contribution was more than forming the group, it was physical hands on work and convincing land-owners that it was a great idea to be part of the initiative. He was also a Trustee and subsequently Chairperson of the Waikato River Trails Trust from its inception in 2004 until retiring in 2018. Council still recognises the strength of that group and still supports them but also recognised the $3 million dollars that they received from the Government to make the walkway happen. Stu was a member of the Putaruru Lions group from 1980, retiring around 2006, and then he became a member of Tirau Lions group in 2010, retiring in 2019. He was elected to the Waihou/Piako Catchment Committee of the Waikato Regional Council in 2013 and is still a current serving member of the committee. He was elected to the Pride in Putaruru Trust in 2001, (19 years ago), as a member and then elected as Chairperson in 2005, before retiring in 2019 at the last AGM. But there’s more… Stu was instrumental in forming the Putaruru Moving Forward Trust in 2016, he was immediately elected Chairperson and is currently serving Chairperson and we all know the wonderful work that has been done on the Concept Plan and the push to 12 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 RECENT BUSINESS CHANGES IN THE AREA To appear in these FREE listings, please contact The Prattler.

KEBAB & PIZZA: New Business New Signage above Bella Pane 75 Princes Street, Putaruru: 07 882 1215 Corner Princes & Main Streets, Putaruru: 027 328 5612

07Paint4Me: New Location PAWS: new store near The Plaza Arapuni Street, Putaruru: 021 538 487 Kensington Street, Putaruru: Open 10am - 2pm Thursday & Friday

The Cow Cafe: New Owners AON Insurance Brokers: New Location 30 Tirau Street, Putaruru: 07 883 3241 7 Taupo Street, Putaruru: 07 883 3540 TECH CORNER: SOUTH WAIKATO SENIORNET members attending. There was also a speaker, Bryce Adams, who talked about ‘Using the Covid App and also On-line Shopping.’ This was followed by a light lunch. South Waikato SeniorNet started up again in June when the country emerged from At the meeting those Covid 19 L2. It has been a busy time with a variety of lessons under way or completed. attending were alerted to a There has been a class, held weekly, learning about Genealogy using DNA with problem that SeniorNet has five people attending. This class will be repeated again this year and extensions had for some time. Basically are being considered depending on need or interest. A card making course using fewer and fewer people computer and scrapbooking techniques has also been run. Lessons for people have are accessing the services been held for their individual tech needs. These have included ‘Windows 10’, Using that SeniorNet provides a Smart Phone, Specific Genealogy Enquiries and Making Spread sheets. and it is an increasing struggle to find committee Starting in August a group has been learning about how to make a photo book members and tutors to using an online provider. Students have been working on the process from support people wanting organising photographs, through arranging the photobook pages to writing the to learn. While SeniorNet accompanying text. Photobook themes have included, ‘Landscapes,’ ‘A Grandson is endeavouring to be at Age 13,’ ‘Special holidays in Africa’ and ‘India’ and ‘A Seamans Record 1939 - versatile and looking to emerging tech needs, lack of support means the group may 1961.’ Everyone in the class is enjoying the process which is ably led by tutor Gail. not be sustainable into the future and serious thought has to be given to its viability. One student, Helen, commented, “We all have so many photos in our phone or Future courses being offered include Scrapbooking, Making a PowerPoint camera which no one sees. I wanted to have something tangible to put on the Presentation, Genealogy using DNA, Photo Books, Writing a CV, Internet Banking coffee table to pick up from time to time and flick through; a book of my photos and On line Shopping. Anyone wishing to join one or more of these courses should for me, or anyone, to see and enjoy.” contact South Waikato SeniorNet or phone 07 883 3151. Leave a message and SeniorNet’s 2020 AGM was held on Thursday 20 August at 11.00am with 20 someone will get back to you. September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 13 CAROL EDMEADES RETIRES FROM PUTARURU PRIMARY Carol was on the Life Education Trust for many years and we all know what a great thing that was for the children. A presentation to Carol We thank Carol for her work over the years. We wish her all the best in her Edmeades, Putaruru retirement. Carol has been a pleasure to work with and we are going to miss her.” Primary School was made 11 June after reaching Covid Level 1 enabled it to take place although later than originally planned. Principal Trish Scown addressed the large number assembled and made these comments. “Carol has worked in the office at Putaruru Primary for 18 and a bit years since it was first established in 2004. Carol Edmeades sharing her office experiences. Before that, she worked with some of us next door at Putaruru West, starting there in 1987. Left and Above: Carol accepting and reacting to the presentations. That makes it 33 years and 4 months that she has Presentations were made and Carol related some of her memories while being been working in education here in Putaruru. Over associated with Putaruru Primary. The farewell concluded with refreshments, that time, she has worked with 5 different principals mingling and shared memories. - Jerry Walker, Judy Dixon, John Bullock, Colleen Ka nui taku aroha ki a koutou… Jaques and Trish Scown. WORD OF THE YEAR 2019 People often comment on the wonderful atmosphere in our school. Carol set the standard The Oxford Word of the Year is a word or expression shown through usage for this. When people walked into the office area evidence to reflect the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the passing year, and have lasting potential as a term of cultural significance. there was always a warm smile and greeting and she made people feel welcome. We couldn’t have had The Oxford Word of the Year 2019 is climate emergency. anyone more perfect to be the face of the school than Carol. Climate emergency is defined as ‘a situation in which urgent action is required to reduce or halt climate change and avoid potentially irreversible environmental Carol was a very experienced school office administrator. damage resulting from it.’ She was organised and efficient. Heightened public awareness of climate science and the myriad implications for The introduction of Novopay, the teachers’ pay system, was a huge challenge and communities around the world has generated enormous discussion of what the caused much frustration, but Carol navigated her way through it dealing with each UN Secretary-General has called ‘the defining issue of our time’. challenge in a calm and organised manner. But it is not just this upsurge in conversation that has caught the attention of Carol has always been very generous with her time and support. She would always people. Oxford research reveals a demonstrable escalation in the language people come along to productions to help out on the door and to support the children, are using to articulate information and ideas concerning the climate. This is most she helped out with fund raising and the like. clearly encapsulated by the rise of climate emergency in 2019. Waikato Real Estate Putaruru, reaches another mile stone... Welcome Steve Horsfall Congratulations Don MacKenzie

Steve is well known in the greater Putaruru/Tirau area, as he has lived in both Don classes himself as a true blue Putaruru boy and is proud of it. This August he towns over the past 40 years. Like Don he has a long history of building in has completed 40 years of real estate sales in the South Waikato area. He still gets Putaruru. Steve is also known for his involvement with St John Ambulance, as he a buzz handing over the keys to first home buyers. As he says you never forget has been with them for the last 25 years starting as a volunteer, then becoming your first home. Ironically, he still has all of his diaries (excluding the one that blew Putaruru station’s first full time paid paramedic 12 years ago. Steve also volunteers off the roof of his car somewhere between Arapuni and Putaruru many years ago). with the Tirau Fire Brigade, reinforcing his commitment to the community. Don served his carpentry apprenticeship with the late Peter de Nys, worked for 4 Recently Steve also became a qualified real estate salesperson and he is eager to years in Australia and returned home to start his building business. In 1973 he was get out there and assist you in getting the best results for your property needs. His inducted into the NZ Registered Master Builders Federation (Inc). honest, reliable and conscientious but relaxed attitude, will try to make buying or He has enjoyed many years with Jaycees and Kiwanis and has lots of interests, “to selling your home as stress free as possible. Good luck Steve! keep him sane!” Hang in there Don! 14 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 TE WAOTU SCHOOL: OFFICE ADMINISRATUS RETIRES Children are attracted to the school secretary. This may have something to do with the excessive amount of sweets offered for the completion of jobs or to ease the Office administratus, also commonly called the office lady or the school secretary, pain of injuries. This behaviour commonly results in excessive amounts of students is a species of worker common to schools. This particular species is endemic to the congregating in the office area to do jobs or faking sickness for a sweet treat. Waotu area of the North Island of New Zealand. While it is not the largest of its Despite school policies around healthy eating this practice persists. species, it is well renowned for its longevity in its role. The end of the year is a particularly busy time for the office lady. With stock takes, stationery orders, pool keys, and accounts to settle. This is also an occasion to bundle up yet more sweets for kids in centenary glasses, and to participate in the Year 8 leavers dinner as either a victim of toilet papering or as someone simply wanting a night off cooking. At the end of the workday it is routine for leftover sweets or food to be distributed amongst remaining workers. They appear Above, Right and Below: Chris listening to and accepting the presentations made. to appreciate the gesture and the resulting sugar fix that comes. Taxonomy This species was first described in 1886 by Edward Doubleday in the book Travels The school secretary is a migratory creature and may move about different places in New Zealand. before finally choosing its preferred work-site. At this point it remains until retirement. Life Cycle Description This particular species may last up to 18 years. Living this long does come with its risks The school secretary is easily identifiable through her booming laugh, colourful though, leaving it susceptible to pandemics such as Covid-19. This species did show its streaks to the hair and the wearing of practical clothing that allows for a variety of hardiness though through surviving both the bird flu and swine flu pandemics. roles to be performed during the day-except things like sprints and high jump at athletics day. For this species, younger years are spent grooming and looking smart. So smart in fact, that it is common to hear stories of red coats, and propositions from eager This species is commonly found in the hub of a school, usually seated at a desk men passing by on Karangahape Road in Auckland. This concludes the life cycle which is often strewn with paper. She has also been seen to leave half eaten section for obvious reasons! sandwiches and on occasions, pies, lying around in all sorts of places. Upon investigation of the local habitat, these food items have also been known to Host find their way into draws. These draws are also a stockpile of stickers, felt tips, She is named after the environment in which she works. It is a reciprocal colouring in pencils, magnets, fancy paper clips and drawing pins. As a result the relationship that exists because without a school secretary the school would not school secretary is mistakenly considered to be similar to the magpie - always survive. School secretaries are vital for supporting new principals in their role and going for the pretty things! teaching them all the tricks they need to know. They are fantastic at alerting the Principal to impending dangers, dealing with companies who fail to deliver their goods or act on their word, and treating injuries with an assortment of ointments and apparatus. This school secretary has the funny knack of knowing exactly what is going on and always being one step ahead of the game. Their departure is always one of sadness but they leave knowing they have truly made a difference. ON YOUR BOAT The Prattler snapped this large load as it travelled north and wondered if there were matching skis or maybe it’s an Americas Cup decoy.

Keith Grint. September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 15 ADAM MCLEAN ROTARY PUTARURU Putaruru raised Adam McLean follows in the family inspired love of music and theatre. Rotary Putaruru has had a quiet year to date due to Covid 19 but we are back up and running, meeting for breakfast on the 1st Thursday of the He began running his Bay Music School in 2019 with its philosophy of providing a month, followed by dinner on the 3rd Thursday. stepping stone to a lifelong passion for music. Here children, as well as parents, discover which instruments they enjoy. Some of our regular activities and programmes have been ‘Covid’ cancelled but we are ready to start presenting our wonderful Rotary dictionaries to Year 4 students in our local primary schools. This will get underway once we are back in Level 1. We recently had our Changeover evening at the Plaza. This was an excellent evening attended by 50 Rotarians and friends and catered for by the O’Rourke family, (delicious). The highlight of the evening of course being the handing over of the Presidential chain - outgoing President handed over to incoming President Malcolm Neil. Malcolm is underway, “Malcolm’s way.”

Counting the beat... Through percussion, cajon, ukulele, drums, guitar, bass and keyboard, Bay Music School students explore each instrument and learn together. Adam believes that singing, playing and jamming as a group develops this passion which builds confidence and begins an exciting musical pathway that incorporates discovery, collaboration and creativity. This approach includes wellbeing and can improve general attitude and behaviour - it’s the only one like it in New Zealand. The sessions themselves are school based and can take place before school, lunch time and after school. New Putaruru Rotary President is congratulated by outgoing President Derek Mossman. Adam is also involved with Bay Originals, a music community whose purpose he Following this we had a talk from guest speaker Raewyn Kirkman from Hamilton explains is “to build an appreciative audience for local original music while giving (a Tokoroa local in her childhood days). An ex District Governor ia a very involved musicians a platform to play.” and experienced Rotarian who shared her passion and knowledge. Raewyn ended her talk with a big surprise for 2 Putaruru members - on behalf of the club Martin Singing and playing has always been a feature of Adam’s life and when he reflected and Judith Bennett were awarded Paul Harris Fellows in recognition of service to on this Adam decided to put himself out there musically rather than wait for Rotary and the community. matters to happen. He began to create songs with real purpose, Putaruru songs, real life happenings. These are often written from the perspective of someone else and his Spotify listings are growing. An electronic EP, Coming Home has been recorded and released on 27 August. This coincides with a concert at The Plaza, Putaruru, on 26 September. The recording features Mates, The Water, Time Away, Chemistry Between Us, Better Now and The Bad and the Good.

Judith and Martin Bennett with their Paul Harris Fellow awards. We continue to collect batteries which can be dropped at Farm Source/Farmlands/ PGG Wrightson’s - the proceeds of these then going back in to the community. Please contact us on [email protected] or Judith 07 883 5630 if you would like to get involved with our community service group, ‘making a difference.’

CHOOK SHEDS

Kyle and Adam perform together. • Built to last At the Plaza concert a live version of PUT, a crowd favourite, will be recorded. Joining Adam will be his brother Kyle who enjoy a great partnership. Adam says, • Customised “there is beauty in imperfection and the feeding off each other.” modifications Adam enjoys great support from his wife Cayley. • Animal Shelters Influences include growing up with his family and great sing along parties, Ben Harper and Sublime. also available There are a few tickets left for Adam’s Coming Home to the PUT Plaza concert on 26 September and you can book online at: https://www.ticketfairy.com/event/ adam-mclean-coming-home-to-the-put-26sep2020/ 16 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 PUTARURU REAL ESTATE MARKET NEWS as landlord and how it affects your tenant? It is absolutely essential that you are up to date with this information. Hasn't 2020 been a challenging year for everyone? The Covid-19 crisis has caused havoc throughout the country and could be around for a long time. Luckily it has For a reasonable fee we will look after your property- regular inspections will be made little difference in the South Waikato at this stage with houses still selling reported back to you and we can guarantee that your full rent will be paid to you each and tenants still paying rent. month. No long term contracts - just rely on us to do the work and you can relax. LJ Hooker Putaruru, (or Putaruru Real Estate Limited which is our legal name) Do you know how much your house is worth? If you have owned it for a while, the has now been operating from our prominent corner location on SH1 by the big price may have changed drastically. Don't guess how much it is worth or rely on roundabout in town, for 18 years. family or friends for their opinion. Let us inspect your property and provide you with a written appraisal of it. This will provide you with details of recent sales and compare your property with others on the market now. We will let you know what commission you will pay and how we will market your property. Marketing has changed considerably over the years. It was not long ago that we would take photos, get them printed at the chemist and paste them onto a card which was placed in the window. We now have a digital camera, we take photos with a drone, can provide the services of a professional photographer, advertise on 3 web sites, have a listing in our booklet at the office which is also placed in the local Countdown supermarket and a large window card is inserted in our office window which is lit up 24/7. This will promote your property in many different ways with the aim to achieve the best price for you. Come in to our office for a no-obligation chat about your property or just the market in general. Since the start of 2020 we have given all our vendors a The LJ Hooker office in Putaruru. Since opening our office in July 2002, we have seen numerous changes to the discount of $2000 upon the sale of their property. real estate industry, both in the selling and buying of properties as well as the management of rental properties. Because of the state of the economy at present due to the What hasn't changed is our staff: Covid-19 crisis, we will extend this promotion till the end Fred Seidel - Owner and salesperson and involved in property management of the year. Diane Urbahn - Salesperson and Office Manager Rebekah Takao - Property Manager List your property exclusively with us and we will give you We all live locally and enjoy living in a friendly small town where they say “everyone a $2000 commission reduction. knows everyone.” We have a huge knowledge of all things to do with the property market - how prices have changed over the years, how marketing and the internet Also remember that any appraisal of your property will be have changed our business and are fully conversant with tenancy laws. If you own a rental property, do you know all the recent law changes and how that affects you in writing and is free. HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? We have a team of local, experienced salespeople, working together to meet your real estate needs. Your Local Agents Call us: 07 883 8810

Fred Seidel 027 474 5102 Diane Urbahn 027 290 8959 Rebekah Takao 021 154 0729 Sales Sales/Office Manager Rentals Putaruru Real Estate Ltd Phone: 07 883 8810 Email: [email protected] September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 17 Education has also become another area of concern as with the current situation TAUPO ELECTORATE - NEW ZEALAND ELECTIONS it will become necessary for people to retrain and seek new career paths. Acts The Prattler is pleased to offer readers, statements provided by candidates education policy also focuses on getting those who normally miss out on education from the Taupo electorate. Because the official candidate notifications to the opportunity to succeed. Vote NZ have not closed yet we have had to seek names from official party The aim of myself for my electorate is to provide a voice that can be heard by the secretary lists. government. That anyone that brings me their concerns or challenges will get a result. While one cannot promise to always get the result that is wanted it will not Candidates were offered an opportunity to provide information about be through lack of trying! themselves and party beliefs to The Prattler. There was no compulsion for canditates to provide a statement to The Prattler but we thank very much and We have been given the chance to have our say on two referendum. appreciate those that have. Legalizing Cannabis is one that I am having trouble deciding which way to go. The We will also report on candidates when/if they attend public meetings in pros and cons are compelling. My concern is relying on the government no matter our area Putaruru, Arapuni, Tirau, in the on-line Prattler. The statements that who it is to get the legislation right! follow are presented in random order. The End of Life referendum to me is much easier. I have seen too many people suffering horribly and believe that individuals should be allowed to decide their GREEN PARTY: DANNA GLENDINING own fate. The Green Party has selected long term activist, Danna Glendining, as its candidate It is amazing to me that we can decide to put a loved pet out of their suffering yet for Taupo in the October general election. our family are made to suffer on! Mrs Glendining said that she is standing NATIONAL PARTY: LOUISE UPSTON to support the Green Party’s campaign for Party votes. “It is essential that we We live in extraordinary times. Last year this time we could not have known what have a much larger Green presence in was to come when COVID-19 hit our shores and affected the world as we know it. government. With more Green MPs in As recently as earlier this month, the issue government, we can push for greater hit very close to home when the Tokoroa action on a wide range of environmental and Taupo communities, albeit shell shocked and social justice issues. This can only by the news that COVID-19 came knocking happen with a greater Green share of the on our town doors, banded together Party Vote. and showed the rest of the country what "Not everyone in Taupo has what they resilience under adversity looks like. need to thrive and our social safety net What is very clear is that what we do now is full of holes. We need to provide more as a community and a country will have an support for those on low and precarious impact on us and generations to come. incomes; those without jobs, those with substandard housing; and those with I’m excited and committed to being your mental health issues, especially in this Taupo electorate National Party candidate. post-COVID period. Over the past twelve years, it’s been a thrill working in the community as your MP and Louise Upston. Danna Glendining. “Our electorate has a beautiful we have celebrated many successes together. environment but is needs to be protected. The water in Lake Taupo is More importantly though, is what lies ahead of us and how we ensure that deteriorating. Our forests are infested with pests. Our farmers need support to the benefits of what we have achieved so far, are not lost but preserved for transition to more sustainable practices with essential ecological restoration. generations to come. “This election can be a positive turning point for an enduring and more equitable I’m planning to further expand on my work and service to our electorate, should future for New Zealand. The Greens have solid, practical policies which will you give me the opportunity later this year. address the issues. The government is already generating Green jobs. Those of you who have met or know me will know that the people of the Taupo With a bigger Green presence in government we will create a positive future for all Electorate is very important to me and at the heart of all I do. people in New Zealand not just an advantaged few.” I believe that everybody deserves the best opportunities in life to succeed and Mrs Glendining started her activism publicising the difficulties faced by people that our investment in our people and our businesses is essential to ensure strong, living in remote rural areas. She lobbied successfully for better mail, TV, and school resilient communities. bus services. My role as the Spokesperson for Social Development and Social Investment gives She has been very involved in issues relating to equal opportunities for women, me a good opportunity to drive policy thinking around how we support our people including pay equity. She was Chair of the Government’s National Advisory Council and communities to be safe and healthy while planning for resilience. on the Employment of Women (NACEW) and went to Australia on an ANZAC fellowship to study Equal Employment Opportunities. She was involved in the During the next parliamentary term, I’ll be increasing my focus on identifying establishment of a Women’s Refuge in the Wairarapa. more opportunities to connect the young people in our community with work and training opportunities. Danna has had a number of senior roles in the Green Party, including managing Of course, successful communities depend on a successful economy to thrive. their Parliamentary Office for four years and working as Executive Secretary for Green Leader, Rod Donald. National’s plan for 2020 and beyond includes opening up the economy as quickly as we can. We need to ensure we get people back to work as soon as we safely can. I Mrs Glendining has lived in Taupo fifteen months. She is an active member of believe that the primary driver for growth and jobs needs to be the private sector. Taupo’s Creative Fibre group and Te Puawai o Te Raranga Roopu/the flax weaving group at Waitahanui. Covid-19 has dealt us a big blow but if we focus on ensuring our private sector is a strong partner to Government, we have a much better chance of getting our ACT PARTY: DAVID FREEMAN economy moving again, through creating jobs and lifting incomes. Let me start by saying I consider myself a worker To do so successfully requires a disciplined Government that creates an rather than a politician. With the arrival of Covid 19 environment where businesses feel confident to invest and a mix of employment- we are entering a new era where our lives and our friendly policies that make it easier to take on new people. We have been future has changed like never before! fortunate in Putaruru that again a strong rural sector has cushioned some of the worst effects of the economic downturn. We are facing a situation that we have never experienced before, and this is going to require us to We need a strong focus on infrastructure so that we can get commerce and be both innovative and adaptive. This is the reason I freight moving again while reducing congestion on our roads through a strong am standing for the Act party. infrastructure plan. It is time for a change and the Act party and David I’ve been an avid fighter for infrastructure projects in our region. A critical, must-do Seymour have common-sense solutions for our project on my list is extending the time- and life-saving Waikato Expressway from country's current situation. Cambridge to Piarere. I’ll also continue to work with the Council and locals to get the housing developments underway which will ensure our community in Putaruru grows. Act has a lot of great policies but my favourite has to be their Mental health policy! As a sufferer of PTSD Infrastructure projects of course include school buildings and community facilities David Freeman. there is finally a political party that is putting the and I am in regular contact with the South Waikato District Council and the Waikato sufferer in control. Amazing. I see a great future for us. It is way past time that the DHB servicing Putaruru to stay up to date with key projects in their annual and stigma of mental illness was removed from our society! longer-term plans. [Continued on the next page.] 18 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 NATIONAL PARTY: LOUISE UPSTON CONTINUED WAOTU PUKETURUA GARDEN CIRCLE National’s core elements of our plan for New Zealand are: Since our last Prattler article in March, Garden Circle activities have been very • We will keep taxes and red tape low and grow incomes to help with your cost topsy turvy, along with the rest of our world! of living Due to Covid, March, April and May planned outings were cancelled. Once in Level • We will be responsible managers of the economy 1 we were able to have our 2 local get togethers - in June and July. • We will focus on growing the economy for all • We will invest more in core public services like health and education We are thankful to St Pauls Church for the use of their lounge in these winter • Finally, we will create more jobs and opportunities for all New Zealanders months. June was our 3rd annual Quiz - a fun competitive morning run by secretary Steph. It was great to have leader Hon Judith Collins in the South Waikato recently. She launched our Conservation Policy at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, had a walkabout (albeit in the rain) in Tirau and had a chat to locals at Enchanted Café. We managed to connect South Waikato locals who had been at school with Judith in Matamata and it was great to hear their stories. Over the coming months, there will still be opportunities for you to meet me while making sure we meet physical distancing requirements. Many of you will have already caught up with me at one of the many Coffee Catch ups, Friendly Forums and other events I regularly host. I’m committed to supporting you by continuing my engagement with you, listening to your views and taking those to Wellington to advocate for you. Details of engagement opportunities are in my fortnightly MP e-newsletter, my website and on social media like Facebook and Instagram. If you are not already receiving my newsletters, you can sign up on my website www.louiseupston.co.nz You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I know we can do better for Putaruru and I’ll continue to work hard and fight for you. July was our AGM followed by guest speaker Glyn Wooller from the Waikato River CENTRAL KIDS CHARLES KINDERGARTEN Trails. A very informative and motivating talk on the River trails - such a wonderful Ngā Mihi Mō Te Marama Nei. opportunity for small fitness outings to extensive and a fantastic resource to share with family and friends visiting. We then shared a pot luck lunch. Ko te kaupapa o Central Kids Charles Kindergarten, ki te whakapiki i te Ao Māori, ko te reo Māori, ko te tikanga Māori me te ahurea hoki. Kei raro mātou i te maru At the AGM we elected our committee to be co-led this year by Anne Cawte and o Te Pūtahi Kura Pūhou o Te Puku o Te Ika. He aha ngā rautaki kia whai mai? Ko Judith Bennett, along with another 6 others. te mea tuatahi, kei te mau i te wero ki te whakamomona tā mātou mōhiotanga i Now back in level 2! This has seen the postponement of a proposed movie roto i te rohe o Raukawa. Ko tēnei tā mātou wero i a mātou i tono mai. Ka taea e morning at the Plaza. This will be rescheduled and is open to anyone to join us. mātou ki te mahia, kua mau mātou katoa, ko ngā Kaiako, ko ngā Kaimahi katoa i te wero nei. Kua punga mātou tētehi Kaiako hou i tēnei marama, nō Whakatōhea a Fingers crossed we will be back on track for scheduled outings to Tokoroa Whaea Soraya. Kei kōnei tonu a Whaea Natline, nō Huri ia. Nō Ngāti Kahu a Whaea (September) and Taupo (October). Roseanne, nō Ngāi Tahu a Whaea Victoria, nō Ngāti Kōtarani a Teresa, ā ko Whaea Meanwhile spring is arriving and it’s time to get out into those gardens of our own. Pearl, nō T Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga ia. Kei te mahitahi mātou ki te haumāuiui te Visitors and new members always welcome. Phone Steph 07 883 7565. kaupapa nei. Ko te tumanako, ki te haere tonu te ara mātauranga ki te tuarangi. With the employment of our new Kaiako Whaea Soraya, from Whakatōhea, we have a team who will work together to uplift Te Ao Māori for Charles Kindergarten. We still have our team, Whaea Natline from Huri, Whaea Roseanne from Ngāti Kahu, Whaea Victoria from Ngāi Tahu, Teresa ancestry to Scotland, and Whaea Pearl from Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga. With the team complete we can work together to ako learn about Raukawa, Huri, and tautoko support tamariki mokopuna in their tino rangatiratanga to know about Māori and the unique ∙ All Maintenance place Māori have in Aotearoa New Zealand as indigenous peoples. ∙ Repairs & Renovations Last year we learnt about Māui, ∙ Blockages and all of his adventures. Tamariki ∙ Gasfitting mokopuna know Māui and his brothers and their stories, and also ∙ Drainage how they fit into those stories. This ∙ Hot Water Units year we have dived into Pūrākau or stories of our people, including ∙ Gas Fire Services Matariki, Raukawa, and Kupe ∙ Septic Tanks the great navigator, and look to strengthen our knowledge about ∙ Heating - Gas Fires & Woodburners Maramataka through our relationship with Pikitū Marae of Huri. ∙ Leaking Pipes We continue to explore these ∙ New Housing historic events of Aotearoa New ∙ Water Treatment Systems Zealand, and integrate these pūrākau into our programme here ∙ Natural & LPG Gas Installations for your tamariki mokopuna. It is 24 Hour & 7 Day Service a journey, a journey of discovery, and learning that we are all on. Together we will learn, teach and eventually know to enable us to pass on to another. Servicing the South Waikato & Extended Areas WATERPARK UPGRADE PUBLIC CONSULTATION Evening general public session Putaruru Plaza: Monday 14 September 7:00pm-9:00pm Daytime general public sessions Putaruru Plaza: Wednesday 16 September 10:00am and 2:00pm September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 19 OKINAWAN KARATE-DO NEW ZEALAND taught the style for over 11 years, but he still has a fond spot for his Putaruru and the Okinawan Karate-Do, New Zealand (OKDNZ) go back many years, old style. 33 to be precise. The OKDNZ Dojo was founded in September 1988 by Shihan Ken Buckley who, at that time, was graded Brown Belt 1st Kyu in the system. The Putaruru club did very well and attracted a large number of Ken had trained informally in Karate for many years prior to him joining his first students, boasting double the official club, the Shotokan Karate Centre in Stretford, Manchester, England, in number at the Hamilton club at one 1973. The organisation’s Chief Instructor was Sensei Jack Tilley, who held a 3rd Dan time, with over 76 students. Black Belt, and the Stretford club Instructor was Sensei Fred Chadd, who held a 1st Dan Black Belt. The club demonstrated at a major Martial Arts demonstration in The club was a member of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB), which was Tokoroa, organised by the Tokoroa founded in 1966 by the late Master Kanazawa, 7th Dan Black Belt, and the Japan Kung Fu Club, on Sunday 21st August Karate Association (JKA). 1988 and the club was featured in both of the photos printed by the South Waikato News In 1968 Master Kanazawa left the KUGB and formed his own association, Shotokan on Tuesday 23rd. Karate International, and the late Master K Enoeda, (known as “The Shotokan Putaruru Dojo hosted the 4th Annual Okinawan Karate Tournament in the 1990s, Tiger”), 7th Dan Black Belt, became Chief Instructor of KUGB. On the death which drew over 100 contestants in 14 divisions. Putaruru students carried home of Master Enoeda Sensei Andy Sherry, now 9th Dan Black Belt, became Chief the Lion’s share of the trophies from this tournament. Instructor of the KUGB. Ken had the good fortune to train with, or should I say under, all of these very talented instructors, plus Sensei Suzuki at his Wado-Ryu Sensei Leong graded Ken to 3rd Dan Black Belt in November 1999. The club was Dojo in Manchester. still using a 5 Dan system at this time. Sensei Leong retired from Karate at this time and promoted Ken to Chief Instructor, OKDNZ. Since coming to New Zealand Ken has attended seminars by such well known Martial Artists as Professor Rick Clark, founder and Chief Instructor of Ao Denkou Ken was inducted into the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall Of Fame in Taupo in June Jitsu, Hanshi Patrick McCarthy, founder and Chief Instructor of Koryu Uchinadi, 2002 and the Australasian Martial Arts Hall Of Fame and The World Karate Union and our own Professor Steve Hiriamia, 10 Degree Black Belt, Grandmaster of Black Hall Of Fame in Hobart, Tasmania, in June 2006. Dragon Jiu Jitsu Academy New Zealand and a personal friend. Ken was aware that the 5 Dan system was confusing students and prospective students, who couldn’t understand how the 5 Dan system compared with the 10 Dan system that most Karate organisations use. Hence Ken spoke with Sensei Richard, who gave him permission to convert to the 10 Dan system, providing that was done in a proper and professional way and maintained the quality and reputation of the system. After much thought and consultation with highly graded Martial Artists, the 10 Dan system was adopted. At this time Ken was awarded an interim grade of Godan (5th Dan Black Belt) in the 10 Dan system, and was promoted to Rokudan, 6th Dan Black Belt, on 7th November 2009. He was also awarded the title of Shihan by OKDNZ Technical Director, Shihan Dave Millar, 7th Dan Black Belt. Unfortunately, Shihan Dave, passed away two months ago. He had graded to 8th Dan prior to his death. Unfortunately, the club went into recession for a time, due mainly to Ken’s work commitments, and the reopening was delayed when Ken suffered a back injury. However, late last year, 2019, Sensei Lyall Taylor approached Ken and asked permission to open a club in Putaruru. Sensei Lyall joined OKDNZ in the 1990s and graded to 1st Kyu Brown Belt on 16th November 2002, 1st Dan Black Belt (Shodan) on 22nd November 2003 and 2nd Dan Black Belt (Nidan) on 29th November 2008. Ken was very happy to give his blessing to Sensei Lyall, has taken a keen interest in the club and is very much involved, attending almost every training night. Action from club night of the Okinawan Karate-Do New Zealand. Ken came to New Zealand as a Purple Belt in March 1975, and started his search for a Shotokan Dojo, but was informed, by many of the well-known NZ Karate Instructors at that time, that there was no Shotokan in the country. However, Ken found a Shotokan Nidan, 2nd Dan Black Belt, a Canadian name of Gary Swann, who was running Shotokan clubs in Rotorua and Tauranga, and he went to train at both clubs. One night, whilst training, Sensei Gary whispered into his ear, “You are now a Brown Belt, first Kyu.” Shortly after this Sensei Gary suggested that Ken start a club in Putaruru, and said that he would help by providing training and gradings. The Putaruru club, named the Shotokan Karate Centre Putaruru, opened around June 1975 and ran, all up with a few breaks, for about 8 years. Unfortunately, Sensei Gary never got to see the club, as he returned to Canada for personal reasons and passed away whilst he was there. So Ken was left with a new club but no Black Belt, until a few years later when the Good Lord sent him Sean Patrick ‘Red’ Loghan, another Shotokan Nidan, from Napier. This gave the Putaruru club their first chance to have their students graded. Some had been training for over two years and we joked that we had the best White Belts in the country, possibly the world. Ken underwent a Brown Belt grading, and was confirmed as 1st Kyu. Karate is a dynamic Martial Art. It begins and ends training with a show of respect Sensei Loghan had to return to Napier for work and the Putaruru club eventually and helps to develop self-confidence and self-respect. The ideal of “Karate Ni Sente folded, as we were unable get students graded, but Ken continued to self-train and Nashi”, “There is no first attack in Karate” is of up-most importance for OKDNZ. train ex-students when possible. It is very important in OKDNZ that students are of good character and are When Ken’s son, Michael, asked him to teach him Karate, Ken said that he would encouraged to develop, both in their art and within themselves by: prefer him to join a club, so a search began for a suitable one. Ken and Michael • Knowing Right from Wrong • Doing the Right Thing joined the OKDNZ in Hamilton in January 1985. The club had a 5 Dan system and • Being Sincere • Having Courage in times of Trouble the Chief Instructor was Richard Leong, a 3rd Dan Black Belt. Ken and his son • Having Honour • Being Loyal to Yourself and Others travelled to Hamilton twice a week to train. Within a couple of months two of • Having Compassion for Your Fellow Mankind Ken’s former students, Sefton Mosen and Jon Taylor, asked if he would take them The club philosophy is “Self-improvement through the Martial Arts” and the most to training as well, so two became four. rewarding thing is seeing students develop and the rewarding moment when you Ken was accepted as a 1st Kyu, after some close surveillance, and in 1987 he was see a student “get it.” approached by a number of his former students, who asked him to open a club We train Monday and Thursday at the Putaruru Gospel Chapel Hall on Kensington in Putaruru, so Ken approached Sensei Richard to seek permission, which was Street, Putaruru, from 6.30pm until 8.00pm. granted. The Putaruru Dojo opened on 17th September 1987 and Ken underwent a four and a half hour Shodan Grading in November 1988, and was promoted to 1st New Students, returning students and students from other clubs and styles are Dan Black Belt, some 14 years after he first joined a club. Ken’s only regret is that he welcome. New students, wear suitable loose fitting clothing. was never able to grade for a Black Belt in Shotokan, even though he trained in and The first two lessons are free. All welcome. 20 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020

CONTRIBUTE TO THE PRATTLER advertise - write - subscribe for free to the on-line Prattler Simply email: [email protected] September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 21 TRANSFORM AOTEAROA REPORT FOR TERM 2 The HT Class 2 truck licence course was heavy going for Progress in Putaruru some individuals as getting Even with the slow start to the brain into learning motion the term, Transform has can be tricky when it’s been been extremely busy running a number of years since they programmes for our locals. did any kind of study. The women’s personal One gentleman quit his job on development and leadership the Friday before, did the HT programme had a lovely Class - passed and is starting graduation with two classes his new truck job on the combining for the event. following Monday. Talk about Margaret Elliot was the guest Transform Heavy Transport course. determination. speaker and spoke on the The mens programme had their graduation and the changes happening in our local power of words. men are heart-warming they realise they can’t change the past but their future is all up to them to make wise choices and decisions if they want to move forward. The growth in these women Lehi Hohaia spoke to the men about making right choices. He talked about the ups has been astounding and Transform Building Awesome Whānau . and downs of his life but if you put the hard yards in you get the benefits. The men watching them blossom is a privilege. Some comments from the ladies were: shared about their personal journey and gratitude for the programme at Transform. “I walked in with my head down, now I hold my head high.” “I am doing my vision board and my husband supports me.” Comments “I found myself at Transform because I was lost.” were: “I have connections and friendships here.” “This is the “I’ve been coming a couple of years and I learn something every time. Forgiveness place to be has been huge for me moving forward.” when life is “Both my partner and I come to TA and we are communicating better, and we are closer.” tough!” “I love the programme and Building Awesome whanau has helped me so much “Great support especially during lock down. Whatever I put my mind to I can do it. I am going to here that I’ve start my business.” never had The Parenting course had 6 before.” graduates and all of them said “I now have that what they learnt before tools for lockdown helped them to me and my survive the weeks confined at family.” home. They course finished Transform Men’s Facilitators. off once we opened our doors “Thanks for the support in this place, I will be back.” and many said how they feel like better parents as a result of Since the lockdown we have seen some enormous changes in our people, and what they learnt. we are so proud of their development and achievements. We know it has been a process as they journey the trials and tribulations that life throws at them. Our learner licence programme Te Reo at Transform. for youth was a huge success with 100% passing the AA test. The tutor said this But they are determined to do things differently and make the necessary changes. group was the best yet and made his job so much easier. The determination of this Clients are gaining confidence, applying for jobs, choosing to study or taking an group has paid off as they begin their licensing journey. We wish them all the best. apprenticeship more than what we have seen in the past. Watch this space! 22 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 PUTARURU CROQUET PINK WALK The Putaruru Croquet club had their new club rooms finished and the invitations sent Join us in October for the Putaruru Pink Walk hosted by Breast out to all contractors and their sub-contractors, to the usual dignitaries and also to the Cancer Research, Sports Waikato and Pride in Putaruru. club's past members inviting them to attend the official opening of the Club Rooms on the 19 April. The invitations all went out just before the Covid 19 lock down came We hope to be joined by local walkers, some of our elderly in. The opening was, understandably, instantly cancelled by the Club's Committee. residents and school groups. Everyone is welcome. Contact then had to be made to all the invitees that the opening was cancelled. By the A mid October date will be advised. time the lock-down was lifted it was felt that a new opening date would be a pointless exercise. Disappointing, but such is life in these Covid difficult times. TOKOROA WASTEWATER DIGESTER PROJECT Council’s largest single capital works project kicked off in July with a blessing, site clearing and initial earthworks at the existing Tokoroa Wastewater Treatment Plant site in Whakauru Street. At a budget of $9.6M, the digester is the largest component of a district wide $30 million wastewater upgrade project. The existing digester has served the Tokoroa community well since it was commissioned in 1979, but due to technology and engineering improvements and environmental requirements, it is due for replacement. Once the new digester is completed in August next year, the existing digester may be able to be upgraded as a back-up. “With cleaning up our waterways a primary focus of Government, resource consent requirements for wastewater discharges have become more stringent. In order to meet our obligations and consent conditions, improvements are necessary,” said Paul White, Council’s Project Manager. “The new digester will address improved environmental protection, deliver a more effective and efficient service to our community and enable growth through these efficiencies.” What does a digester actually do? Well like the name suggests, it ‘digests’ Some of the members enjoying a fine Thursday at the club. material… human waste and other grey water solids; the nasty stuff we don’t like However Club Members, and the many visitors, are very impressed with what we to think about once we flush the toilet! have achieved. The extra space that we now have is a vast improvement over the single unlined garage that we survived in for over 10 years. The new club rooms, and Essentially it heats the contents, turning around 150 kilograms of solid waste into the two new lawns that are currently under construction, now leaves us with the about 30 kilograms. It reuses the gas produced to run the digester so is a very pleasure of being able to invite new players to join the club, or even just to try out clean and circular process. golf croquet. The game is easy to learn; it’s the tactics that can take a bit longer. Free The upgrade will also provide for improved telemetry, transfer of information, coaching and no green fees for a few weeks makes giving it a go even more enticing. central control, system diagnostics and monitoring. Playing days are Mondays and Thursdays; starting time for play is 9:30am with a mid-day finish. Coaching and the use of playing gear (mallets) is free. Flat soled SOME SPORT AT LEVEL 2 shoes are the only requirement. Contact Elaine on 07 883 7134, or Ron on 07 With spectators social distancing this game between Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o 883 3203 for any queries or information. We have an Open, Handicap Doubles Patetere and Te Kura Tuaroa o Tihipuke took place at the Putaruru Rugby Club grounds Tournament coming up on Sunday 13th September. This will be reported on in the on Saturday, 29 August. next Prattler.

WATERPARK UPGRADE PUBLIC CONSULTATION Evening general public session Putaruru Plaza: Monday 14 September 7:00pm-9:00pm Daytime general public sessions Putaruru Plaza: Wednesday 16 September 10:00am and 2:00pm September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 23

CONTRIBUTE TO THE PRATTLER advertise - write - subscribe for free to the on-line Prattler Simply email: [email protected] 24 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020

SANCTUARY LODGE Sanctuary Lodge is home cooking plus. They use fresh ingredients from their expanding vegetable beds. Group experiences are individually planned because Sanctuary Lodge is the new name for what was previously known as Out in the Styx. this is a lodge and not a casual café. New owners Sandy Nickalls and Paul Clark purchased the complex 2 weeks before “We love slow food, meaning our food doesn’t come from a packet or a tin. It’s Lockdown began in New Zealand! prepared with love and care for your enjoyment and pleasure,” said Sandy. “We Since then they haven’t looked back and wondered, but looked ahead and actively are fully licensed and showcase beautiful New Zealand wines and beers.” begun transforming the complex both physically and philosophically. Sandy and Paul lived and worked in Te Awamutu so they have shifted, but not far. Sandy previously worked for Fonterra and Paul is a registered builder. To add to the impact of taking over a new business was the fact that Sandy was made redundant at the beginning of the Covid lockdown.

One of the redecorated accommodation rooms Fully customisable wedding packages are available too after discussion with prospective brides and grooms. An extensive landscaping feature was created during lockdown thanks especially to their son who is a digger expert. A large flat area has been established and developed with a fire pit and thoughtful planting. In keeping with their desire for a healthy life-style, retreats are being planned that will be professionally led in this tranquil environment. A view towards the hills... Their strong vision for Sanctuary Lodge positively charged them through these “People who come, come here for an event,” says Sandy.” It may be for a special difficult times and it truly became their sanctuary too. birthday, anniversary, wedding, contemplation, cycling, walking, or the mountain itself. The new venture was inspired by the urge to do something that was more Already Sandy and Paul are looking ahead to summer events involving BBQ’s and music purposeful with their lives. Rather than respond with a “that’s sad” to events in life and the focus on updating the facilities keeps this couple very busy. They are buzzing. around them they started to look for ways to be helpful. Contact details: 2117 Arapuni Road RD 1 Pukeatua Phone 07 872 4505 So the vision of making connections, having time for people, time with nature, https://sanctuarylodgemaungatautari.co.nz began to form. Email: [email protected] September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 25 SPRING IS IN THE AIR AT THE COMMUNITY GARDEN special mention for facilitating bringing large quantities of fruit over the Kaimais helping us to maintain healthy balance to the diets in homes and from distribution points. Looking at the vegetable plants just sitting where they were planted up to 3 months ago it seems that like us they are waiting impatiently for the change from A plea was sent out through phone networking lists operating in Levels 3 and 4 for cold wet feet to warmer day time temperatures to get going. plants and seeds. The responses were generous and practical bringing deliveries of both and helping to turn the situation around. We felt the support! At PCG we are hooked on gardening. There is nothing like growing your own vegetables, picking them fresh as needed and then enjoying that sense of accomplishment as you savour the flavour. We would like others to experience that no matter what your age or gardening knowledge so we are beginning a “Home Garden Project.” We are looking for people who would like help in getting their own vegetable garden established. We will provide a small, framed garden plot plus soil, some fertiliser and plants to get started. One of the Community Garden members will act as a coach to guide and encourage the budding gardener. If you know of anyone who might be interested please phone John 07 883 3163 or 027 62 99 077. You could nominate yourself! RANGIURA DRAW FOR $4000 TRAVEL RAFFLE Recently at Rangiura, the draw for their $4000 travel raffle sponsored by Kay Humphries Travel, was made. Resident, Beryl Garnett made the draw under the Busy at the Community Gardens. Police supervision of Terry Garnett (her son). The quantity of produce we have been able to pick and deliver has continued to diminish as we got deeper into winter. As always we are very grateful for the substantial contributions from our members’ home gardens as well as individuals in the Community (some unknown), and local organisations which have helped us through. Donations of citrus, rhubarb, pumpkins and onions were very welcome. Transform Beryl draws out the lucky ticket officially watched by her son Terry. Aotearoa The draw went to ticket 30, held by Brenda Keir. Rangiura congratulates the winner deserves and thanks Kay Humphries Travel sincerely. 26 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020

WAIKATO RIVER TRAILS Waikato River Trails Trust are excited to again hold the Summer Sizzler event on Saturday 9 January 2021. For more details check out www.wrtsummersizzler.com

The Summer Sizzler is one of the first events of the new year, for many the first and best chance in 2021 to fully dust off the shoes for a stroll or dash along the beautiful Waikato River Trails. The family friendly event has three distances 6km, 11km and 22km. All distances can be run or walked - the 11 and 6km are 100% off road with the 22km crossing the Whakamaru Dam. The event finish is at the awesome Mangakino Lake-front reserve.

The courses are fun, the scenery is epic and the finish area provides the perfect setting for a post event picnic. There are plenty of food vendors on site with a variety of delicious options.

Every participant whether they be 5 or 85 gets a race number, a finishers medal and complimentary event photos. There are also a great number of spot prizes thanks to generous donations from businesses.

The event is all about bringing people together, celebrating the Mighty Waikato River and kick starting the new year.

Please come and enjoy this local event with your family and friends on your Waikato River Trails.

For all event information and to enter, www.wrtsummersizzler.com Your entry fee helps with Maintenance of the Waikato River Trails. ARMISTICE DAY COMMEMORATION: NOTICE FROM THE RSA The Putaruru RSA are planning an Armistice Day commemoration to honour the signing of an armistice between Germany and the Allies on 11 November 1918. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns fell silent. There will be a karakia and flag ceremony at the Garden of Memories on 11 November 2020. Details will follow in the November Prattler. September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 27 TIRAU TENNIS CLUB Michael Hurst, (NZOM), through courtesy of Arts on Tour NZ Trust, was superb as Danny Moffat, Irish born father but now living in New Zealand - that change of Tirau Tennis Club starts the new season on Tuesday 29 September at 6pm, Covid location is all part of the drama. and the weather both aligning to let this happen! As per every Tuesday night, a sausage sizzle will be held. New members are always welcome, no matter what This one man play ranges on an emotional roller coaster and Hurst was brilliant in your standard of play. Our annual subs are kept as low as possible and are probably his dishevelled bedroom setting that could easily have been a metaphor for what the best around. was going on in his head and the space Janet Frame calls the “room two inches behind the eyes.” If you are wanting to refresh your skills, then This was theatre at its finest and the standing ovation at the conclusion we have coaching for demonstrated the spell Michael Hurst had cast over the audience. Thank you you! This is a course Michael, Tom and The Plaza. Please can we have some more? of six lessons held at 5:30pm on Tuesdays for BUNNINGS CLOSES PUTARURU STORE adults or teenagers. For Was the inverted flag sending a message to the land from down-under? children the coaching is available on Tuesdays at either 3:30pm or 4:30pm - for six weeks. Coaching begins on 27 October, the Tuesday after Labour Day. We do not have a junior club as such, but if there is anyone keen to volunteer to run a junior club then we would welcome you with open arms. Similarly, if a volunteer would like to run a ladies’ day once a week, you would also receive a very warm and supportive welcome. The club has good facilities, with four AstroTurf courts, lights for night play, a volley board area, plenty of parking and a well equipped clubhouse. We have a ladies interclub team which is probably more famous for its lunches PRATTLER PUBLICATION DEADLINES than its tennis, but hey, it’s only a game. There is always room for more 5:00pm Friday October 23 for the November 4 issue interclub teams, for both men and women. We just 5:00pm Friday December 4 for the December 16 issue need numbers and maybe fresh input? You can check on the club’s activities on our website Tirautennis.org or on Facebook. Our AGM will be held at the clubrooms on Monday 14 September at 7pm. This is a good place to view your opinions on the running of the club or anything tennis related. Totally non-threatening and you won’t be late home - that’s a promise! Contact names and numbers: Bernard Werder 027 272 9834, Gary Baker 027 499 6499, Janet Palmer (coaching) 027 272 9835 or 07 883 1452. THE DAYLIGHT ATHEIST The Plaza Theatre kept faith with drama enthusiasts recently by hosting The Daylight Atheist by Tom Scott during a return to Covid Level 2 by offering seats for a koha. Tom Scott, (NZOM), is a comic legend and The Daylight Atheist written in 2001 is a semi-autobiographical stage play, about his father.

Michael Hurst in the one man play The Daylight Atheist performed recently at The Plaza. 28 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 THE COMMUNITY HEALTH SHUTTLE most of the funds held in the Branch accounts over to the SWCHT Inc. We are awaiting the Board’s decision on this. For over 50 years, the Putaruru Branch of Red Cross has been providing health transport for those in the community who have no other means of getting to We want to reassure the people in the South Waikato community that the medical appointments. Community Health Shuttle will continue its service. The same friendly coordinators will take your bookings, our same friendly, compassionate team of drivers will take With community you to your appointments in the same, (but re-branded), vehicles. There may be fundraising and drivers some hurdles and unforeseen costs, but with funding from the DHB, donations forgoing their petrol from our users and full support from the community and the South Waikato reimbursement between District Council, we will get there. 2014 and 2017, we managed to buy the first To make a booking, ring 07 883 6022. The phone is manned Monday to Friday, van in May 2017. With the 9am to 4pm with an answer phone for messages outside these hours. increased need for the RECYCLING BACK TO PROCESSING transport, we managed South Waikato District Council’s stricter stickering regime now means that our to buy a second vehicle, a good, clean uncontaminated recycling can again be sent for recycling processing. The Putaruru Community Health shuttle. Suzuki S Cross in October 2017. Both these vehicles are based in Putaruru and are well used by our pool of Since lockdown ended, contamination levels in the household crates have been 40 drivers and support persons. so bad that we have been unable process the plastic, tin and cardboard recycling. A generous donation by Tokoroa Host Lions and a grant from The Southern Trust saw These crates have been emptied into the same truck as the rubbish and taken the purchase of a second Suzuki S Cross in May 2019, which is based in Tokoroa. Mrs direct to landfill. Bonnie Pelikan donated a van in March 2020, which is also based in Tokoroa. “Because the team has started stickering contaminated crates, we are now able to again correctly process the plastic, tin and card recycling we do pick up, because We are very proud of the service we provide, the people who volunteer their time truck contamination levels have reduced drastically,” said Phil Burt, Council’s and of the community who support us so generously. Several organisations have Infrastructure and Maintenance Manager. “Glass has been collected and taken to made donations in various degrees, as well as the users of the service who often the recycling facility for several months now.” provide donations as a thank you. Council wants to thank those people in the community who are making the extra We received notification earlier this year that New Zealand Red Cross will be effort with their recycling. We know it has been upsetting for keen recyclers transitioning out of community transport in line with their long term strategy. watching their efforts go into the same truck as the rubbish. Unfortunately the At the Branch meeting where this decision was discussed, the immediate feeling large number of heavily contaminated crates ruins the good recycling efforts of by all members was, “This is not going to happen here” and “We won’t let the some people. Now that Council’s contractor is being very firm on contaminated people in our community down.” crates, the efforts of conscientious recyclers is no longer wasted effort. The Putaruru Branch of Red Cross initiated the formation of a subcommittee to “Households that have produced good recycling crates are being rewarded look at the way forward in order to provide an uninterrupted community health with a free rubbish bag,” continued Mr Burt. “We know it’s a small gesture of transport service in the South Waikato. appreciation. We would love to give some people a full pack of five because the crates are exceptional, but we need to be mindful of the promotion costs that we This has led to establishing the South Waikato Community Health Transport Inc. are funding through our waste education budget.” with the purpose of running the South Waikato Community Health Shuttle. There has been some concern from our community regarding Council asking A Special General meeting of the new SWCHT Inc was held on 17 July, with all people to separate cardboard out from plastics and tins and then it all goes in one Putaruru Red Cross members becoming members of the SWCHT Inc as well. The truck. All three of those products do go in the same truck, however there are two members of the Putaruru Branch of Red Cross voted unanimously to petition the compartments within the truck - one for cardboard and one for plastics and tins. National Board of New Zealand Red Cross to give ownership of the vehicles and Plastics and tins are further separated at the recycling centre. September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 29

Great with numbers. Even better with people.

PRATTLER CROSSWORD Across Clues: PRATTLER CROSSWORD 1. expert (6) 5. skill in dealing with people (4) 7. radio detection and ranging (5) 8. a distinctive company symbol (4) 9. a test (4) 10. make or become less in amount (5) 11. a visible manifestation or embodiment of an abstract concept (6) 13. a valved brass instrument of bass pitch (4) 14. to preserve or cherish the memory of (6) 18. supreme power; sovereignty (6) 21. relating to or situated near the anus (4) 22. a thick rectangular mat of woven straw - a standard to measure a Japanese room (6) 24. listlessness and general dissatisfaction (5) 25. a metal blank from which small forgings are worked (4) 26. something very small of its kind (4) 27. tall plants that grow in large groups in shallow water (5) 28. a device fastened over the fingerboard as of a guitar to shorten the strings uniformly (4) 29. an assistant or other subordinate to an official (6) Down Clues: 1. financial and other assistance given to people in need (7) 2. to choose and follow a plan (5) 3. poetic word for melancholy (5) 4. to go or bring forward in position (7) 5. the crown or highest branches of a tree (7) 6. an enclosure for a cartridge in the cylinder of a revolver (7) 12. a pointed hand tool with a fluted blade used for piercing (3) 15. strong brown paper, originally made from Manila hemp (7) 16. to be performed quickly in a brisk lively manner (7) 17. set up and ready for use (7) 19. large flightless bird now extinct (3) 20. the entire number of copies of a publication printed at one time (7) 22. slightly drunk (5) 23. rate or pace (5) SUDOKU PUZZLE

WORD WHEEL The aim is to create as many words as possible with the letters in the word wheel. You can only use each letter once when making a word and every word must have the letter in the centre of the wheel. For example, tuis. Can you find a 9 letter word too? PRATTLER MAZE Record your word wheel finds here...

FIND THE 10'S Find connecting numbers, horizontally, vertically or diagonally, that make a sum of 10. The connected numbers must be in a straight line. Some numbers may be used more than once when forming different solutions. Two starter finds are indicated in the puzzle. 30 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 SeniorNet Dust off your Computer! We have lots of fun things you can do using it... Phone: 07 883 3151 Email: [email protected] Facebook: South Waikato SeniorNet 3 Duke Street, Putaruru (above Unichem) QUICK QUIZ 2. This is the flag of which country? 1. This scene is from what classic film? Austria

Peru

Canada 3. This painting is by?

Stalker Rear Window The Shawshank Redemption SPOT THE DIFFERENCES Edvard Munch Edward Hopper Andy Warhol Can you spot the 6 changes that have been made to this scene in the bottom version? 4. These lines were written by? I grow old ... I grow old ... I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach? I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.

T S Eliot W B Yeats ` Wilfred Owen 5. The name associated with this invention is?

Francis Beaufort Robert Fulton Cyrus Hall McCormick

6. Word Meanings Which one of these terms means, “a word or phrase that contradicts itself?” oxymoron metaphor paradox September 2020 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz 31

Digital Transfer of Slides. Photos, Audio Tapes, 8mm Movies. VHS Tapes and Photo Negatives to modern digital format - also Photo Restoration. Our results have been great but investment in even higher pro-level technology allows us to set even higher standards. We have happy clients from all over NZ.

DIGITAL TRANSFERS, Phone Mike 0274 80 30 88 3 Junction Street - Putaruru

Answers to the original puzzles from pages 29 - 30 of The Prattler

6 WORD WHEEL: SOME POSSIBILITIES

stoics stoics situs situs cacti cacti ciao ciao

These original its

scotia scotia satis satis tuis tuis asci asci

puzzles are the iso

ocicat ocicat ostia ostia tics tics aits aits

copyright of cis

acoustics acoustics coitus coitus ossia suit suit ait

1 the Prattler editor,

3 caustics coatis coatis oasis oasis sits sits

September 2020. tui acoustic acoustic cistus cistus iotas iotas sati sati tis tis ti

oxymoron 5. ciscos ciscos ictus ictus tai tai si

Cyrus Hall McCormick Hall Cyrus 4.

scotias scotias cutis cutis otic otic sit sit oi

T S Eliot S T 3. 4

ocicats ocicats suits suits coati coati iota iota sis sis it it

Edward Hopper Hopper Edward 2.

caustic caustic stoic cists cists cits cits sic is is

5 The Shawshank Redemption Shawshank The 1. 2

casuist casuist stoai stoai cisco cisco cist cist cit ai ai QUICK QUIZ QUICK

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE AREA? READERS SUGGEST A CAPTION: SEPTEMBER Where in our region would you find this scene located? Because our focus is always local, these photographs will be from our area. Captions should be family friendly! Suggestions received for the May photo were:

the cone collector cone idle on the road again conduit Game of Cones conatosed draconian measures cononary artery The scene from our previous issue, below, was the St Aidan’s Church cross. cone only parking Coney Island where’s the Cone Ranger? walk on by Congratulations to those who identified this. To make a suggestion about a This is our September photo to suggest a caption for. Simply email you caption mystery object, simply email, the Prattler. suggestion to [email protected] 32 Read the daily Prattler on-line at: theprattler.org.nz September 2020 WHAT’S UP? ADVERTISERS WHO SUPPORTED THIS PRATTLER • Next consultation stage of the Water Park development comming up. Please support these businesses. • The PiP office is open again. The Prattler very much appreciates their advertising. • It’s spring! Without them there would be no Prattler. Abbey’s Place 10 Bible Baptist Church 2 BURMESTER Realty 25 Digital Transfers 31 WHAT’S DOWN? First Klass Pest Solutions Ltd 14 “I have become more and more frustrated with people in this Graham Brown & Co 29 town parking wherever they like, especially when it comes to disability parks. LJ HOOKER 16 The parks that are abused the most are at Countdown and the one Kay Humphries Travel 2 outside Kim’s Takeaway. People may not be aware that: Laser Electrical 27 • The person with a disability has to go to their GP (a cost) to get Laser Plumbing 18 a form completed. • The disabled parking permit card that they display in their car Le Pine & Co 8 costs on an annual basis. Lunn Builders Ltd 4 • There is a fine for parking in a disabled car-park without a permit. Nicholson Surveying Ltd 5 Last night I was buying Fish & Chips from Kim’s. I saw some of the Owlets Early Learning Centre 28 worst parking I have ever seen. I thought to myself, did everyone get Physio Direct 6 their license from a $2 shop. It was so bad it was funny. Four cars Plaza Theatre 7 took up 7 car spaces! A red vehicle took up 2 including 3/4 of the disabled park and I ended parking down by St Patricks Church.” Putaruru Electrical 21 [Contributed: Thank you for the sharing of your of frustration - Editor] Putaruru Tyres 30 PRIDE IN PUTARURU UPDATE South Waikato Dental Surgery 30 Pride in Putaruru and Putaruru Moving Forward have begun discussions to Spargo Plumbing 5 consider future development. STIHL Shop Putaruru 22 Stuart Edmeades - Silver Fern Farms 5 The Event Girl: Your Balloon Specialists 9 The Event Girl: A Night In Monte Carlo 21 The Event Girl: Electric Timber Vol 2 28 Tirau Earthmovers Ltd 14 Tirau Panelbeaters 11 Van Dyks 1 & 3 Waikato Real Estate Ltd 13 Waikato River Trails 26 Woodsy Engineering 15

The PiP Office now open again 10am to 2pm weekdays. Following a very constructive and positive debate regarding possible amalgamation the trustees of Pride in Putaruru are now looking to follow up with a meeting with members of Putaruru Moving Forward. Discussions will consider the forming of a new robust structure that will enable better community and business focus and could include sports and rural support. We are all enthusiastic about continuing to be involved in future growth opportunities for our district. After some changes to PiP staffing and having had no internet for a number of WATERPARK UPGRADE PUBLIC CONSULTATION weeks our office is now open 10am to 2pm weekdays with new staff familiarising Evening general public session themselves with their roles. It’s great to see people coming to the office again and Putaruru Plaza: Monday 14 September 7:00pm-9:00pm we appreciate those that have helped to get the door open and supported us in other ways while we were closed. Daytime general public sessions Due to Covid keeping us in level 2 we have agreed not to hold our annual business Putaruru Plaza: Wednesday 16 September 10:00am and 2:00pm awards in October. PRATTLER PUBLICATION DEADLINES Watch this space and other advertising as we hopefully get our Christmas celebrations underway. 5:00pm Friday October 23 for the November 4 issue Stu Edmeades - Interim Chairperson, PiP. 5:00pm Friday December 4 for the December 16 issue

EMAIL: [email protected] PRIDE IN PUTARURU ASSOCIATION PO BOX 155 PUTARURU 3443 Stu Edmeades: Interim Chairman (Rural Representative) PHONE: 07 883 7272 Linda Galbraith: Secretary (The Plaza) FAX: 07 883 7272 Murray Deas: Treasurer (Unichem Putaruru) On-line Daily Blog: theprattler.org.nz Tim Bayley: (Nicholson Surveying Limited) PiP Website: prideinputaruru.com Kimberly Crocker: (Graham Brown & Co) Media Editor: [email protected] Teri-Anne Petley-Rata: (Community/Youth) PiP TV Channel accessed from the Daily Blog and/or PiP website Sandra Wallace: (SWDC Representative) Views expressed in The Prattler are not necessarily those of Pride in Putaruru. Raewyn Whiteman-Thorne: (@Junction Services)