Published Tuesday and Thursday TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011 8012197AA Circulated FREE to all households throughout Te Awamutu and surrounding districts. Extra copies 40c. BRIEFLY All ages show support for ‘Cantabs’ Waipa Mayor’s maunga reply Freeman Court raises funds for Christchurch rest home Waipa Mayor Alan Livingston has provided a rare BY CATHY ASPLIN ‘Letter to the Editor’ in response to claims made by former It’s not often you’ll get Maungatautari Ecological Waikato people to willingly Island Trust chairman David wear Canterbury colours Wallace in a letter which during the rugby season. appeared in last Tuesday’s But there was a sea of Courier. ‘red and back’ around the Mr Livingston’s letter (page town last week to show 10) addresses issues raised by support for Christchurch residents following the Mr Wallace and at the public devastating earthquake on meeting in Cambridge called by February 22. the Save Maungatautari group. Like many, Freeman Court resident Keith Smith Coffee for was worried about how people were coping. chemo unit In particular he was Te Awamutu Breast Cancer thinking about his old mate Support Group is fundraising George Burnett who lives in for a new coffee machine to a Christchurch rest home. donate to the chemotherapy The pair went through unit at Waikato Hospital. some tough times together They are aiming to raise the as infantry platoon mates $3000 needed through car boot during the war and have sales, raffles, sausage sizzles kept in touch ever since. etc. ‘‘We meet up at reunions There will be a sausage like the one at Paterangi sizzle this Thursday from 10am four years ago and we outside The Warehouse in Te exchange letters and cards Awamutu. at Christmas time. He’s got TC081311CA02 a great sense of humour There will be a carboot sale FREEMAN COURT residents, including Keith Smith (front), join pianist Joy Carthy for a singalong. which will be helping.’’ on Saturday in the Council Thanks to Freeman carpark from 7.30am-noon. Any Court staff organising a donations of clean, saleable phone call, Mr Smith was items would be appreciated. Red, black is ‘choice’ for Baby Bears able to chat to Mr Burnett For more information phone during their ‘red and black Glenda on 870 6155. day’ last week ‘‘It’s been pretty hard for Stock sale him. He’s in one of the worst affected areas and they boosts cause were without power, water The sale of stock at and sewerage. He even lost Otorohanga Saleyards his television, which yesterday saw over $4,000 crashed onto the floor of his raised for the Christchurch room. earthquake appeal. ‘‘George tells me they’ve Steve and Bonnie Nikora, got power back now, but the former Te Awamutu they still have to go to residents who initiated the portaloos out by the road fundraiser, were delighted to and the liquefaction has wrecked their gardens and see their beast raise $810, clogged up the roads. while there were pigs and ‘‘Windsor House is a sheep donated along with other beautiful rest home, run by cattle. a trust in a similar way to Stephen Weck, of RD1 Freeman Court, but the which provided free auction aftermath of the earthquake services, says it was a has been difficult for them generous gesture by those who all.’’ donated stock, along with His concern for his old Otorohanga Transport which mate and fellow residents at provided cartage (and Kelvin Windsor House in Shirley Singh who carted the Nikoras’ became the focus for the beast). fundraiser at Freeman TC081311CA03 Court last week. BABY BEARS Early Childhood Learning Centre children and staff send their best wishes to Christchurch. To page 3. Working for you MOWERS 17 DIFFERENT and with you! from MOWERS $299.00 INCL IN STOCK JANE BURTENSHAW 8012243AA Postive, Energetic & Caring 2 YEAR WARRANTY + 1st SERVICE FREE M: 027 2286 282 FINANCE AVAILABLE (TAP) AH: 870 3939 TRADES WELCOME E: [email protected] 8012260AA 8012304AA CENTURY 21 TE AWAMUTU (07) 871 7189 WE ARE COMPETITIVE Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 Josh Edkins Howard Bright BEAMISH GEMTIME JEWELLER Layby & fi nance Available century21.co.nz/teawamutu 221 Mahoe Street, Te Awamutu. Ph: 07 871 8838 25 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu - Ph (07) 871 6797 www.beamishgemtime.co.nz 2 TE AWAMUTU COURIER, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011 YOUR LETTERS Salt Water Sports Fishing 8012172AA KAWHIA HIGH TIDES ADD FIVE MINUTES FOR RAGLAN HARBOUR Council CEO outlines report’s value TUESDAY: 11.47am & 12.56pm WEDNESDAY: 1.17am & 1.28pm • THURSDAY: 1.49am & 2.02pm Your correspondent Jim munity groups, collect and dis- year LESS in roading subsidies It was a huge and complex FRIDAY: 2.25am & 2.43pm Parlane raises a valid question tribute money, enforce a range and growth has dropped to just piece of work. In this second SATURDAY: 3.09am & 3.33pm when he asks whether the of bylaws and much more. 0.5%. That’s a completely dif- year of the 10 year plan alone, SUNDAY: 4.07am & 4.38pm report commissioned in In total, these services cost ferent environment. savings in operating costs MONDAY: 5.22am & 5.53pm relation to Council’s finances the average ratepayer around So what did the report do? amount to $3.3 Million. was worth $85,000. $5.50 a day — less than many • It identified all of the new The report paints a brand As part of its normal busi- people pay for their household project costs and operating new and somewhat sobering ness, Waipa District Council power bill. costs that we could strip away picture for our councillors who must maintain $1.2 Billion In the 2009/19 10-year plan, from the Council’s budgets are charged with making the A GREAT RANGE OF dollars worth of assets to the Council had planned to over the balance of the 10-year decisions on behalf of our com- CHILLY BINS INSTORE deliver core services; assets spend around $800 Million on plan. munity. like roads, water supplies, new projects and operating • It identified those costs that It also very clearly shows waste water treatment plants, costs. A year later, we were were absolutely critical for us the impact that projects like the kerbing, recycling, waste man- forecasting a $5 Million to keep our infrastructure oper- proposed Cambridge Pool and agement and sewage treatment. reduction in revenue on what ating. the proposed Te Awamutu We stock and service had been forecast for year two • It factored in the huge Museum would have on rates. libraries and museums, attend of that 10-year plan. That reduction in growth and I am as reluctant as anyone to drainage, maintain our equates to a drop of 7.2%. income following the global to spend ratepayer funds need- towns, plant and attend to The 10-year plan was based financial crisis. lessly, but it is not prudent to gardens and reserves, maintain on assumptions Government • It identified how much debt run a business the size of parks and halls, cemeteries and would continue to heavily sub- Waipa District could prudently Waipa District Council’s with- dog pounds, respond to noise sidise road maintenance, and sustain, and it identified out decision makers having and other complaints, plan for district growth would continue funding sources, other than accurate financial information. development, provide financial at 2.1%. However, Council now rates, that could be used to fund GARRY DYET support for events and com- receives around $1 Million a community projects. Chief Executive,WDC Silence not 166 Cambridge Rd, Te Awamutu, Ph 871 6793 Country awards night buzz observed HEAT PUMPS What a busy weekend February 25-27 was for day, and approximately 400 people in the Bible Last week’s two minutes Te Awamutu with lots of good cheer, laughter, Chapel on Saturday night, hotels and motels silence in Te Awamutu was frivolity, togetherness, music and song. What a were booked out and camper vans sighted at observed by some but not all. Get in early! Come and see us buzz. various parts of our town. We downed tools and I would personally like to acknowledge all What a great additional way to, again, put our observed with our clients two before the cold sets in for who sponsored and supported the Waikato town on the map. minutes at 12.51. We watched Country Music Awards annual event being held An additional bonus was having Mayor Alan people continue on down the NZ’s best low temperature here in Te Awamutu. Livingston opening the night’s events and main street walking, talking The word was that if this event was a success delivering the trophies and certificates to win- and shopping etc. performance. Guaranteed!! being held in our beautiful rosetown, it would ners and runners up in the juniors and Was it not possible for Te For full heat all the way down to 15°C continue on here annually. The whole weekend intermediates, with Mayoress Janet giving the Awamutu to come to a stop was a real boom. With the aid of Te Awamutu trophies and certificates out to the seniors, just to observe and respect Certifi ed installers of Bible Chapel as our venue, the regional could veterans and the silverettes. those who have lost their MITSUBISHI hold their event under one umbrella. The catering supplied for us on the day was lives or lost everything? The various bands, starting from 7pm Friday also very scrumptious with great variety and Could we have not Call now for a night to 3pm Sunday afternoon, with nights off of very affordable prices and we are looking sounded the fire siren once or course, played their hearts out to add to this forward to many more years of holding the twice to let people know it FREE Quote success.