The crest of a wave

Cambridge Pathway outside Cambridge Primary School.

The community might be tired of seeing streets lined with cones – but Mary Anne Gill reports that a teenager’s bright nature has provided some light relief.

Tamati Katipa of Specialized TM of Piopio in action on the Cambridge Pathway project. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Motorists might have entered orange cone capital in Wilson and Duke streets in Cambridge unhappy at the weekend, but they left with smiles on their faces thanks to Tamati Katipa of Kawhia.

The 17-year-old’s version of the Mana Wave while guiding cars through the cones was a welcome respite for drivers as workers continued construction on the Cambridge Pathway.

Waipā council should consider recruiting Katipa full time as community outrage continued unabated last week.

Tamati Katipa in action on the Cambridge Pathway project. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Hamilton Road from Grey to Bryce St path is complete and work is now progressing in Bryce, Wilson and Duke streets.

The west-bound lane of Duke Street (travelling towards Victoria Street), between Dick and Wilson streets was closed for two days while workers completed the roadside kerb and channelling.

Another contractor will soon start building the raised boardwalk along the narrow section of Duke Street.

This will mean restricting traffic and creating detours for some traffic during the boardwalk build until mid-May.

Meanwhile results of an online survey which ended on Saturday run by the Waipā Ratepayers and Renters group has found dissatisfaction with the Cambridge Pathway project.

Sources say the scientific validity of the survey has been called into question by the council. Mayor Susan O’Regan, deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, some councillors and staff reportedly received emails saying they had completed it when they did not.

Organiser Brenda Stamp told group members everyone who submitted the survey would have their names kept private.

“Apart from myself only one other person will see the completed surveys as he is the person who will be collating the data,” she told the group.

Lack of consultation and usage are common themes running through the responses.

Contractors lay the cycling path along Wilson Street outside Cambridge Primary School. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Cambridge Pathway

More Recent News

It’s a top shot

Waikato photographer Lucy Schultz has been highly commended in this year’s Oceania photography contest run by The Nature Conservancy for a photo she took on Sanctuary Mountain. Her image ‘Moa Hunter’ shows Bodie Taylor (Ngāti…

Feral cat call gets support

Waipā has welcomed the announcement that feral cats will be added to New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 strategy. Last week conservation Minister Tama Potaka confirmed feral cats will join possums, rats, stoats, weasels and ferrets…

Message received

Cambridge Community Board chair Charlotte FitzPatrick and board member Chris Minneé took an early step towards explaining the board’s work to the wider public when they addressed last week’s final meeting for 2025 of the…

Fatigue: a killer on the road

Coroner Rachael Schmidt-McCleave has issued a warning to motorists ahead of the festive season about driver fatigue. Scania Rangi Te Whare of Te Kūiti died from injuries suffered in a crash at Ngāhinapōuri in November…