ISSN 1170-1099 120TC049/04 Published Tuesday and Thursday THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2005 Circulated FREE to all households throughout Te Awamutu and surrounding districts. Extra copies 35c. BRIEFLY Magic prizes Popping off to join ‘Bash’ Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic netball franchise is keen to get By Cathy Asplin the public of Te Awamutu right A 1967 Chev Impala has become behind the Waipa Weekend the pride of the Pop ‘n’ Good fl eet. 2005. The car actually belongs to Ge- A big crowd at the Pre-Na- off Burgess from Hamilton and tional Bank Cup Tournament on has been on the fundraising Vari- March 26-27 should ensure oth- ety Club Bash (under a different er big netball games are held guise) for a number of years. at Trust Waikato Te Awamutu Pop ‘n’ Good was initially ap- Events Centre. proached to sponsor the car, but Magic has offered Courier after looking at the wide-ranging readers the chance to win prize benefi ts of the Bash, decided to packages in conjunction with enter a three year sponsorship the weekend. agreement with the children’s Adults can go in the draw charity Variety Club. to win one of four corporate The resulting ‘Two Heart’ spon- hospitality packages for them- sorship allowed them to enter a selves and nine friends, enjoy- car into this year’s 15th anniver- ing brunch or lunch. sary Bash, which kicks off in New School students can go in Plymouth on Saturday. the draw to have a Magic player The Chevrolet has been given a train their netball team twice facelift by local fi rms - new colours in May. See entry form for both by Fleet Panel and Paint, fi nished draws inside today on page 20. with signwriting by Devoy Signs. With some fl ags, fl ashing lights, Ear clinic a popcorn canon and music blar- The Health Waikato Free ing from the speakers, the car will Mobile Ear Clinic will be in this certainly make its mark as it trav- area during March and April. els around the North Island. It will be situated at Kihikihi On board will be some Pop ‘n’ Primary School on March 16-17 Good staff and the car owner. They will be joined by guests at differ- (9am-1pm) and Te Awamutu POP ‘N’ GOOD staff check out their newly painted car which will be joining the Variety Club Bash that Primary School on April 12-13 ent stages during the Bash. Pop ‘n’ Good sales administrator kicks off in New Plymouth this weekend. The bash travels the North Island (stopping in Te Awamutu to (9am-1pm). visit schools next week) before finishing with a parade in Hamilton. 05505!AD The clinic helps with glue ear Nita Tyson says the event pro- management, grommet checks, vides a fantastic opportunity for increase our brand value and and the funds raised will benefi t day of the Bash (Friday, March 4). treatment of ear discharge and Pop ‘n’ Good to interact with their distribute our merchandise in a many disadvantaged children.” To celebrate Pop ‘n’ Good’s role wax/foreign body removal from customers in a number of commu- unique way. Variety Club will be making a in the Variety Club Bash a special ears. Contact ear nurse Suzie nities around the North Island. “Best of all thousands of chil- special grant to a Te Awamutu discount coupon is available for Cairns for further enquiries “We will be able to communi- dren will have the opportunity to student when the convoy stops Te Awamutu Courier readers (see (phone 021 930 463). cate directly with our customers, meet the celebrities taking part at several schools here on the last page 24.) Twilight tours Te Awamutu Museum is run- ning heritage tours on March 8 Lake water proves lethal and 16 (the March 8 tour is fully booked, as was one yesterday). By Grant Johnston years and never had cattle deaths from lake Most algae are harmless but high levels of The tours visit key sites from The death of cattle after they drank water water before. blue-green algae are toxic to both people and the 1860s New Zealand Wars in from an algae-contaminated Waikato lake The lake is fairly inaccessible but is used by animals. Te Awamutu area. underlines the serious concerns over our own families in the area. Parents should ensure that they and their Highlights include St John’s Lake Ngaroto in recent years. The cattle deaths are also a reminder that children are not exposed to the toxins as they Church, Rangiaowhia, Oraka, Nine cattle died after drinking water from stock should be prevented from accessing risk skin infections and serious intestinal Matakitaki and Pirongia re- Lake Rotongaro near Huntly. waterways, both to ensure they do not con- illness. doubts. While the latest sample at Ngaroto showed taminate water and to prevent them drinking Environment Waikato routinely monitors The tours are free to teachers algae levels in the lake water were fi ve times contaminated water. lakes and rivers in the region, and reports and $5 for anyone else. higher than the recommended level for rec- Several lakes in the Waikato are currently algal levels on its website www.ew.govt.nz They run from 4.30pm to reational use, the Lake Rotongaro levels are contaminated with algal blooms, with levels Waipa District Council and Environment 7.30pm with an option to book eight times those of Ngaroto. well above the guidelines for swimming, boat- Waikato are part of a Waipa Peat Lakes Ac- a meal at Alexandra Hotel. Environment Waikato staff sampled Lake ing or jetskiing. cord, which has attempting to improve water You will need your own trans- Rotongaro on Thursday after the cattle were High algal counts mean that health warn- quality as one of its priorities. port, but car pooling may be found and measured very high levels of the ings are in place for lakes Hakanoa, Kainui, And late last year a Lake Ngaroto Care arranged. blue-green alga Microcystis and the algal Ngaroto, Waahi and Whangape. Group was formed, meaning a community Bookings are essential. toxin microcystin. Environment Waikato water scientist Bill commitment to looking after the lake. Phone 871 4326 to join the Levels of algae at the edge of the lake were Vant says algae occur naturally in rivers, Environment Waikato spokesperson Viv March 16 tour. 40 times higher than stock drinking water lakes and streams and fl ourish during hot, Smith said Waipa District Council had made Contact: Elizabeth Hamil, Te standards and toxin levels were 760 times fi ne conditions. signifi cant efforts to try to help arrest the de- Awamutu Museum educator higher. Algal blooms can be worsened by other fac- cline in water quality at Lake Ngaroto. for further details on the above Environment Waikato has advised both tors, such as the amount of available plant But avenues for improving water quality number of email education@ta MAF and the Medical Offi cer of Health. nutrients, phosphorus and nitrogen within were limited and there would be no quick fi x, museum.org.nz The farmer had farmed the area for 34 a lake. she warned. Super Liquor Phone 871 4009 TE AWAMUTU Steer into here Offer concludes close John’s OPEN 7 DAYS of trade 7/03/05 while John’s Super Deal is Cash and Carry Only – Payment of John’s Super Deal must be stocks last PICK OF THE WEEK by cash, Eftpos or cheque, otherwise charge price applies. TRADE NOT SUPPLIED. for rear gear VVooddkkaa TTwwiisstteerrss Asti IInnnneerr CCiirrccllee RRuumm 4 Pack 6 for Riccadonna 5% $$ 0000 $$ 0000 Sparkling 55 66 9% $$ 0000 $ 00 66 15 ALEXANDRA STREET, TE AWAMUTU and get a free Buy 2 packs and PHONE 871 6307 Bangle key ring get a free radio or glasses 055TC015-05 055TC056-05 15 HOMESAFES Bloomin’ rosy convention By Dean Taylor HOME SAFE Lions District Convention organ- $ SENTRY 150 SAFE iser Melva Carter and her team $295 have taken a well deserved rest this week following a successful event last weekend. The Rosetown Lions hosted the ‘Bloomin’ Roses’ Convention with assistance from all Zone 6 clubs: Te Safe Wise 16.3 Litres $125.00 Awamutu, Ohaupo-Ngahinapouri, Kihikihi, Mount Pirongia and Pa- Safe Wise 26.8 Litres $150.00 keke. Friday night’s gala opening fea- Sentry 11.8 Litres $150.00 tured a Parade of Flags with a naval Sentry 15.1 Litres $295.00 theme conceived and MC’d by Peter Knox of Tokoroa. Sentry Fire Safe $450.00 The theme was in honour of District Governor Mike Smith of Otorohanga who has a Navy back- VERN WILSON LOCKSMITH ground. Many fl ag bearers had strong links 419 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu to the fl ag they presented, including Phone: 07 871 5530, PROUDLY parading the Union Jack International Director Howard Lee Mobile: 0274 795 138 Fax: 07 870 4973 was International Director Howard Lee and his wife Claire, who fl ew into 253TC039/04 and his wife Claire who had flown in the country especially for two dis- from England for the 202C convention, trict conventions being held in Te and this weekend’s 202I convention Awamutu and Rotorua on consecu- in Rotorua. 055052AD tive weekends. Organiser Melva Carter carried end of the fl ag of Switzerland, her mother’s season home country. SALE Keeping the naval theme alive was keynote speaker Michael Cox, a former Merchant navy sailor and politician. % Waipa Mayor Alan Livingstone welcomed all the delegates to Te Awamutu and formally opened the 5 OFF convention.