Te Awamutu Rural Your community newspaper for over 100 years Thursday, December 19, 2019 Farms and lifestyles C Nev 027 271 9801 and Noldy 027 255 3047 New ko¯kako chicks Merry Christmas Volunteers restore native birds Te Awamutu By PARVA ZAREIE As a gift to the community, Te Awamutu Courier editor A passionate group of Dean Taylor is making all his conservationists, working to photos from the Coresteel establish a healthy population of Rotary Te Awamutu Christmas ko¯kako on Mount Pirongia in Parade available for free. the Waikato, has just banded the Thanks to professional first two chicks of the season. Cambridge photographer The soon-to-be fledglings Michael Jeans, the photos can were banded on November 30 in be viewed and downloaded front of around 20 starstruck from michaeljeans.com or society members and volun- zenfolio.page.link/nJw7s teers. Thanks also goes to Coresteel And things are off to a great and Te Awamutu Rotary, start with four other active nests volunteers and participants for on the radar as well as a tomtit making Te Awamutu’s nest. Christmas an example of true A pair located near the community spirit and goodwill. Wharauroa lookout has built their nest at the top of a tower- Four lanes for ing tawa tree and are due to hatch next, prompting extra summer holiday monitoring work near their site Holiday makers who head to for the next few weeks. or from Auckland will be pleased The society translocated 44 to know all four lanes of the ko¯kako in 2017 and 2018 in the Longswamp section of the aim of re-establishing the Waikato Expressway will be open species on Mt Pirongia. to traffic later this week. And 14 of them are South-bound traffic will be at descendants of the original 100km/h, but north-bound will population from the area, so do have a speed restriction of 70km/h have Pirongia genes. until the final asphalt surfacing is Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu completed in the new year. Restoration Society chairperson To read the most recent Clare St Pierre says this chick update, and a graphic showing activity hasn’t just happened on the local road connections, visit its own. www.nzta.govt.nz/longswamp “It all comes down to the hard work of our volunteers who have been busy over the winter Report scams doing the prep work to protect Consumers are being urged the chicks,” she said. to tell their telecommunications As well as the usual bait provider about any scam calls or station filling over a 1000ha scam SMS (text messages) they managed area on the maunga receive this Christmas period in targeting rats and possums, vol- order to help combat them. unteers have been setting up a network of mustelid traps as an Last paper issue added line of defence for the This is the last issue of the Te chicks against stoats. Awamutu Courier for 2019. The Since then it has been an first issue for 2020 will be out ongoing experiment to see what on Thursday, January 9. entices them the most — bait We wish all our readers a trials have included eggs, rabbit Merry Christmas, Happy jerky and even dead rats, with New Year and safe holidays. some success. ■ Continued on Page 3 Pirongia ko¯kako photographed by Te Awamutu’s John Parker — Maddox Photography. Trade in your old claws and receive 20% off Waikato Milking Systems 320 cluster set complete Offer valid 1 December 2019 - 31 January 2020. Discount is applied to Recommended Retail Price. Te Awamutu Otorohanga Putaruru 2 Livingstone Brothers Ln 12 Progress Drive 89 Tirau Street P: 07 871 6781 P: 07 873 8500 P: 07 883 3423 2 Te Awamutu Courier Thursday, December 19, 2019 Driver pulled from his truck Motorists at the scene of a 14,045 truck crash on Cambridge Rd Tuesday afternoon pulled the injured driver from his cab 14,045* through the windscreen after CIRCULATION 14,045* it had popped out. The driver was taken to Waikato Hospital with moder- ate injuries, police said. Road Policing Unit Acting Sergeant Gary Anderson said the driver was travelling west on Cambridge Rd when he lost control of his truck and trailer, rolling the truck off the road Sarah Verran 021 345 951 [email protected]@nzme.co.nz and leaving the trailer [email protected] Verran blocking much of the road. [email protected]@[email protected] /021 345 951 Luckily no other vehicle [email protected] was involved. The truck appears to have [email protected]@nzme.co.nznzme.co.nz colin.thorsen@Caitlan Johnstonnzme.co.nz (reporter) Ext: 67710 veered off the narrow road to the left, causing the loss of [email protected]@[email protected] [email protected] control. [email protected] [email protected] The road was closed for [email protected]@nzme.co.nz some time as police completed Motorists at the scene of Tuesday’s crash freed the truck driver from his cab through the [email protected] their examination of the scene smashed windscreen. Photos / Dean Taylor and the truck and [email protected]@nzme.co.nzWayne Michell trailer was salv- Wayne Michell aged. Wayne027Pip 494 Jensen Michell 7770 Gary says the Maraea027027 494 569 Jamieson 7770 4317 police message for 021PipMaraea Jensen023 59612 Jamieson a safe summer on the roads is to [email protected] 569 023 4317 59612 [email protected] watch your speed, Maraea Jamieson drive to the 021 023 59612 conditions, stay in your lane and don’t drive while tired. [email protected] Cambridge Rd was closed for some We’re online at nzmecommunitynews.pressreader.com time to investigate and clear a truck 2016 and trailer crash. INTRODUCING OUR PROPERTY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TEAM RHONDA MCGUIRE 021 353 046 With extensive experience in Property Management, Rhonda is committed to providing an organised and effi cient service to both her owner and tenant clients. Exhibiting a high level of professionalism and strong communication skills, she will ensure you are getting the best return on your valuable investment. Rhonda has a sharp eye for detail and a vast knowledge of the local market. MICHELLE STORER 027 608 2451 Experienced in Property Management administration and armed with a comprehensive understanding of the Tenancy Act and its many implications, you can be rest assured that Michelle will dedicate herself to protecting your investment. She prides herself on offering excellent customer service thus ensuring peace of mind for all her clients Thursday, December 19, 2019 Te Awamutu Courier 3 No break for helpers The Vilagrad team would like to wish you all a safe and Happy Holiday Season WE ARE OPEN FOR SUNDAY LUNCHES FROM 12TH JANUARY 2020. Exquisite Mediterranean Cuisine & Award Winning Wines OPEN From 12pm 702 Rukuhia Rd, RD2, Ohaupo | 07 825 2893 or visit www.vilagradwines.co.nz Ko¯ kako chick ready for banding. Photo / Kathryn Jones New Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society life member Selwyn June, pictured with his wife Diane, the society’s PROVIDING TRUSTING GLAZING volunteer co-ordinator. SERVICES FOR TE AWAMUTU AND Photo / Clare St Pierre SURROUNDING REGIONS FOR ■ From Page 1 break, the Christmas and OVER 30 YEARS New Year period will be Each nest has its own no holiday for society array of ground-based members, especially traps, known as the ‘Ring those involved in nest of Steel’. monitoring. “Stoats are very cun- The need to be vigil- ning creatures and are ant against predators is definitely one of the at an all-time high dur- harder mammalian pests ing this vulnerable time to trap,” said Clare. “We for the ko¯kako and their are hoping to have a good chicks. news story at the end of The Society is putting summer on how many a call out for new volun- chicks have been success- teers as they are always fully fledged.” on the lookout for help- The group also had a ing hands. different sort of celebra- “You don’t have to be tion held on the same day super fit, as long as you as the banding. are enthusiastic,” said A Life Membership Clare. Broken Windows • Frameless Showers • Splashbacks was awarded to long- The group is a fun, Custom Mirrors • Table Tops • New Glazing • Pet Doors standing member Selwyn inclusive one and mem- June for his contribution bers from all to the vision of restoring backgrounds are wel- W www.waipaglass.co.nz Mount Pirongia. come — the only pre- After 14 years as a requisite is that you committee member Sel- enjoy and appreciate E [email protected] wyn has stepped down nature as much as they but remains a volunteer. do. SHOWROOM: Guests from as far You can volunteer as afield as Pureora and much or as little time as 274 Rickit Road, Te Awamutu Tiritiri Matangi Island you like and there are joined the festivities at plenty of different jobs to the base of the mountain, pick from. 24/7 CALL OUTS as well as locals, includ- PH 021 500 839 • PH 07 871 4621 ing the Pirongia School ■ To enquire email possum boys, who ser- volunteer co-ordinator vice a mustelid line with Dianne June at Ko¯ kako ecologist Dave Bryden watches on as Authorised Distributor: help from Selwyn. [email protected] or Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration society While most will be complete the form at chairperson Clare St Pierre holds a freshly banded Check us on looking forward to a mtpirongia.org.nz/join-us chick.