Urban/Rural/Property Management Te Awamutu Ray White Te Awamutu now on ‘SIX WEBSITES’ including Trade Me and RealEstate.co.nz Published Tuesday & Thursday THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014 Ph: 07 872 0927 Courier 9519566AA YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR OVER 100 YEARS EXTRA COPIES 40c Licensed REAA (2008) Ulysses Toy Hard luck ‘ace’ Run for CCF The annual Waikato branch BY CATHY ASPLIN of the Ulysses Club Toy Run is would have to be Stacey Kahika, who went just over a month away, but Golfers often come up close to claiming the big prize on the last donations are accepted now. with ‘hard luck stories’ day of the tournament. The run from Cambridge to when their round doesn’t Players say his shot on the 16th Hamilton takes place Sunday, go quite as well as hole at Stewart March 2 — the Te Awamutu planned. Alexander But two local golfers looked main street display and appeal genuinely do have hard like it is on Friday, February 28. luck stories to tell after was Donations of toys or games the weekend’s Waipa headed can be delivered to either the Golf Classic. for the Te Awamutu Courier office of The tournament (54 $20,000 Pak’n Save for collection by the holes) was played over hole but club next month. three days at Te Awa- didn’t All proceeds benefit the mutu, Pirongia and quite make Child Cancer Foundation. Stewart Alexander it. courses. For full details BMX open day A drawcard this from this year’s Te Awamutu BMX Club is year was $20,000 prize Waipa Golf Classic keen to recruit new members. money at stake for a see page 11. An open day is being held hole-in-one at any of on Sunday, February 2 from the designated 10am to 1pm for prospective holes on each members of all ages and course. abilities. Barry Bring your bike and wear a Murtagh was stunned to hit longed sleeve top and trousers. the perfect shot There will be a limited number with his five of bikes available to use for wood at the 14th those without bikes. on the Te Awa- For further details contact mutu course on Liz seager 871 9076. the first day of the tournament. Wires crossed ‘‘I’ve only been playing about six with names years and never Kihikihi Best Garden winner expected I’d sink a hole-in- Ross Signal isn’t vice-president one, much less see it go into the hole. of Kihikihi Rotary Club — he ‘‘All the same I didn’t really believe it isn’t even a member. And the until we found the ball, I thought it may have man presenting the award in just looked like it went in and had actually the photograph in Tuesday’s rolled behind it. edition, Ross Turner, isn’t club ‘‘We started celebrating once we saw it president, he’s the vice- had gone in — then kept going after we got president. into the clubrooms. President is Ruth ‘‘It was a great first day, but the celebrations probably didn’t help my golf — Cunningham. Sorry. I was doing well initially, but it fell apart after that!’’ Country Club Unfortunately for Mr Murtagh the hole- in-one wasn’t one of the $20,000 designated correct time holes. Starting time for this The feat did have a silver lining, how- Saturday’s Te Awamutu ever. TC300114CA01 Country Club concert, featuring Holes 3 and 14 at the Te Awamutu Golf YAHOO: Te special guest Lynda Mekalick, Course were nominated as ‘non-target holes’ Awamutu golfer is from 12.30pm at Te so he won a set of golf clubs from Legend Golf Barry Murtagh Awamutu Bible Chapel, not Gear. nailed a hole-in- 1.30pm as stated in Tuesday’s ‘‘I’m pretty happy about that. I’ve got a one at this article. ‘bitser’ set of clubs at the moment, so I’m year’s Waipa looking forward to getting the new ones.’’ Golf Classic. 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As a Waipa Councillor it is important to for the benefit of our residents. day for our future mothers if this was Circulated free to 12,216 homes through Te Awamutu get feedback from the public particularly on Two issues at that are topical at the allowed to happen. and surrounding districts. contentious issues that effect our residents. present are, psychoactive substances (party It is great to get feedback from women We get these from contact with the people pills) and the suggested closure of Matariki that have use the facility over recent years directly, emails received, reading Letters to Maternity ward. and those that hope to use it the near future. CIRCULATION 12,216* (6994 urban, 5272 rural) the Editor, even ‘What’s Hot, What’s Not’. Submission on the psychoactive sub- Bigger is not always better or even more Personally I attend the car boot the first stances have to be in the council office before efficient , and once we lose these services We welcome letters - preferably via email. They Saturday of the month weather permitting February 17. they may be gone forever. should be under 300 words and must have the and enjoy hearing peoples views. On the suggested closure of the maternity VERN WILSON sender’s name, address and phone number. No All of these give you a better balance in ward, I’ve heard conflicting points of view. Waipa District Councillor pseudonyms are accepted and names will only be making decisions, after all council is there Personally I believe it would be a very sad Te Awamutu withheld in special circumstances at the discretion of the editor. Letters are not usually acknowledged and may be edited, abridged or discarded. Cats not always to blame for native bird kills MANAGER Alan Price You cannot always blame beam in the haybarn, a hawk same fate is happening to birds ally when the Maungatautari [email protected] cats. There used to be white dived and scooped it up in its in that locality. Island Reserve is so close. EDITORIAL doves at the cowshed. The fate of claws and that is the closure of A falcon is a fierce and It seems to me that we are Dean Taylor (editor) the last one was observed the dove colony. fearless predator, preying feeding birds with one hand and [email protected] recently. With the release of the mostly upon birds.They should obliterating them with the other. ´ Cathy Asplin (journalist) While perching on a high falcons on Mt Kakepuku, the never have been released especi- CECILE BRAWN [email protected] Colin Thorsen (journalist) [email protected] ADVERTISING Rate rise, but less than forecast Dorinda Williams [email protected] Julie Jackson Waipa District Council is likely to pro- Costs driving a potential rates increase for Cambridge. [email protected] pose a total average rate increase for the include the requirement to fund deprecia- Mayor Jim Mychreest stressed the draft 2014-2015 year of around 2.9 percent after tion of $521,000, an estimated $335,000 proposals had yet to be formally discussed Bookings growth; significantly less than originally decrease in resource consent revenue, an and released for public consultation. But he [email protected] signalled in its 10-year plan. additional $220,000 in compliance costs was pleased with the general direction being CLASSIFIEDS The final proposed increase will not be driven by central government and an taken. Tania Cortesi-Western, formally discussed by full Council until additional $126,000 peryear in interest costs. ‘‘Waipa is very fortunate to be in a strong Rhonda Bird, Nicola Yuile February 25. However, a draft copy of the WDC has saved money on things like financial position, to have relatively low [email protected] annual plan, including any potential rates insurances, electricity and by sharing civil debt and to be a district enjoying growth increase, has been included in a committee defence services with other Councils. across the board. However, growth also POSTAL ADDRESS agenda for discussion next week. Council’s debt levels are projected to means that we have to invest in infra- 336 Alexandra Street, PO Box 1, Te Awamutu 3840 The 2013 revaluation of the district will reach $28.8 million by 30 June 2015; also structure and that doesn’t come cheap, OFFICE HOURS impact on the level of any rates increase for significantly lower than the $42.5 million particularly if we are to meet community Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm, Fri 8am-4.30pm individual properties. Current figures that had been forecast in the 10-Year Plan. expectations around levels of service.’’ suggest 66 percent of rateable properties are Key projects included in the draft plan The draft annual plan will be formally PHONE 07 871 5151 | FAX 07 871 3675 likely to have a rates increase of between 2-4 include a range of proposals to fund the new released for public consultation and com- percent for 2014-2015.