Te Awamutu Blue Ribbon Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008 www.harcourts.co.nz Combined Eff iciency Serving your Real Estate Needs for 16 years. Buying or selling contact ... Stuart Parker Mandy Lata Your community newspaper for over 100 years Thursday, February 28, 2019 Sales Consultant Sales Consultant C M 027 283 5928 M 027 679 2224 Blessing our Mission on speed community Former All Black Eroni Clarke is guest speaker at this year’s Day of Blessing. Changes don’t go far enough for Pirongia resident The annual event is at midday on Wednesday, BY BETHANY ROLSTON March6atTeAwamutu Rugby Sports & Recreation A Pirongia resident is on a mission to slash the village speed Club at 420 Albert Park Drive. Pirongia resident Susan Trodden During the event, local limit to 40km/h. Susan Trodden supports supports Waipa¯District Council’s churches come together to Waipa¯ District Council’s over- overhaul of speed limits, but says express positive words and haul of speed limits but says the the changes don’t go far enough. prayers over the community. changes don’t go far enough. Photo / Bethany Rolston Lunch is provided. Council has proposed over 200 changes to speed limits in Waipa¯. Charity ride They include 40 km/h areas in Waikato Branch of The Te Awamutu and Cambridge Ulysses Club is holding a town centres, 50 and 60km/h Child Cancer Foundation zones in urban areas, 60 and Charity Ride this Sunday. 80km/h zones in rural areas and Bikes, classic cars and hot lower speeds near schools. rods will meet at Selwyn Park Council is proposing all from 11am and head for a Pirongia streets will be 50km/hr cruise into the CBD and onto under the new bylaw. Po¯kuru, around Kakepuku But Susan, who is the Mountain, returning to Selwyn chairperson of tourism organisa- Park about noon. tion Explore Pirongia, says the The bikes and cars will be village should be 40km/h, especi- on show for the public, plus ally Kane St, which is currently 50km/h. there will be food for sale and “How someone hasn’t been prize draws for participants. killed on Kane St is just unbeliev- able,” Susan says. Swap until “During the rugby season there are hundreds of cars you drop parked on the street, and people Get a new set of free speed down it.” clothes at The Clothing Swap, Susan says there is confusion held at the Te Awamutu in the village around speed Baptist Church hall on limits. Thursday, March 14. “At the moment we have lots From 7pm-9pm you can of variances and people don’t swap clothes, shoes and know — or choose not to know — be considered. turning to 100km/h at the edge of “The programme will focus on accessories for free. where the 50 km/h and 70 km/h “We’re definitely open to low- the village. safe roads and roadsides, safe If you have items to zones begin and end. ering the speed further in “I don’t know the practicali- level crossings and safe and donate, please drop them off “One clear speed would make Pirongia but would look to do ties of that, but it would certainly appropriate speeds.” at the Baptist Church office all the difference.” Susan says this alongside other speed be my ideal,” she says. Kevin says Waikato is one of from Monday to Thursday she supports council’s efforts to calming measures like pedes- However, Council cannot the priority regions for the Safe between 9am and 2pm any drop speed limits. trian crossings. change the speed limits on SH39 Network Programme. week before the event. “Overall, we’re really happy “The proposed changes are as it is managed by NZ Transport “We are working closely with with the council’s commitment targeting our highest risk roads Agency (NZTA). Waipa¯ District Council to For more information to reducing speed limits, particu- in the district, including 10 roads NZTA system design acting develop a plan for the roads in contact Leila Dexter on larly in the middle of the village. in Pirongia where the current senior manager Kevin Reid says the area where we will review 0221012153. “But I don’t think it goes far speed is too high for the volume the agency is taking steps to speed limits, which will include enough. We think there’s oppor- of traffic and amount of hous- address the issue of speed limits SH39. Office shut tunity to do more. ing.” through the Safe Network Pro- “The majority of SH39 is in The Te Awamutu Courier “The ideal for me, would be The changes are the first steps gramme. the top 10 per cent of roads in the office on Sloane St will be that the entire village — from in a three-year programme look- “The Safe Network Pro- country that will result in the closed tomorrow morning due boundary to boundary — was a ing at speeds across the district. gramme aims to save up to 160 greatest reduction in death and to staff training. 40km/h zone.” Waipa¯ District Susan also wants SH39 deaths and serious injuries every serious injury through speed It will re-open at midday. Council welcomes Susan’s idea. through Pirongia to be lowered year by making New Zealand’s management. Road corridor manager Bryan to 40km/h. The speed currently highest risk local roads and state Hudson says the suggestion will ranges from 50km/h to 70km/h, highways safer,” Kevin says. ■ Continued page 3 The choice is yours with NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME Pratts for home heat 2 Te Awamutu Courier Thursday, February 28, 2019 Devices down Plenty of events for the children 14,045 New Zealand charity Save the Children celebrate children is encouraging parents and caregivers to put down their devices this Sunday for 14,045* Children’s Day. CIRCULATION 14,045* Children’s Day is on Sunday, March 3 encouraged to take a video or photo of Children’s Day celebrates children. It is and various events are taking place themselves linking arms and post it annually recognised on the first Sunday of around the district. online with #LinkArmsNZ or email to March, and was introduced by the first ■ Children are invited to watch a piece of [email protected]. The content Children’s Commissioner in 2000. free theatre. Sword Tail runs for about 30 will be used in the upcoming document- Save the Children CEO Heidi Coetzee minutes and there are sessions at 9.30am, ary Stop the Bus, which is on track to hit says the best thing parents can do is to give 10.30am and 11.30am — all at Te Awamutu the screens this year. children their time. Little Theatre on the corner of Vaile and ■ A Children’s Fair is in Pirongia from “We spend a lot of time on our phones Palmer Streets. Gold coin donation. 10am-1pm in the Community Hall, Crozier and devices,” she says. “But kids need our ■ Decorate a SafeSquare at Bunnings Te Street. The free, fun event aims to raise attention too. On Children’s Day, we’d like Awamutu from 10am-2pm. SafeSquare money for the Pirongia Community Play- to see parents and caregivers turn off the [email protected] pavers are a safe spot for children to stand ground. technology, put the phone down and inter- on while vehicles are in operating the ■ The Waikato Branch of The Ulysses act with the kids.” driveway. Aprons, gloves and paints Club is holding a Child Cancer Foun- Heidi suggests banning technology dur- [email protected] provided for children taking part. dation Charity Ride. Bikes, classic cars ing dinner times or when tucking the ■ Join in on a nationwide social media and hot rods meet at Selwyn Park at 11am children into bed. [email protected] campaign to make a stand against child and cruise into the CBD and onto Po¯kuru, “Make a start by putting the phone down abuse on Children’s Day. Residents are around Kakepuku Mountain. for a day and have some fun with the kids.” [email protected] [email protected] Wastewater upgrade in pipeline [email protected] A new 10km pipeline will carry the wastewater from the existing and new existing wastewater network in Te Awa- wastewater from Waikeria Prison to Kihi- prison facilities to council’s existing mutu between the Albert Park Pump kihi as part of a new wastewater con- wastewater treatment plant in Te Awa- Station and the treatment plant. nection for the facility. mutu. Council water services manager Tony The pipe, which will be the longest Corrections regional commissioner Hale said the upgrades will also provide wastewater pressure main in the Waipa¯ Terry Buffery said the project was a high for future projected growth within Te network, will improve the health of the priority. Awamutu. Pu¯niu River catchment as treated “During community consultation on Corrections will fund the new and wastewater from the existing prison treat- the expansion of Waikeria Prison, a upgraded infrastructure required. Coun- [email protected] ment plant will no longer discharge into consistent theme raised was the desire to cil’s contribution will cover the upgrade the Mangatutu Stream. avoid further discharges into the Pu¯niu costs to cater for future growth. In June 2018, the Government River. Once complete, all the assets (pipeline announced it will increase the capacity of “Connecting the prison to the Te and pump stations) will be owned by the existing Waikeria Prison site. A new Awamutu wastewater treatment plant is a council.