Waikato Regional Renal Centre was officially with a ceremony at Waikato Hospital, attended by representatives from Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora, Members of Parliament, including Tama Potaka, and the Māori Queen, Kuini Nga Wai Hono i te po. Kuini Nga Wai Hono i te po, alongside Potaka officially opened the facility, cutting a ribbon and unveiling a plaque.
Opening kept quiet
A good news health story was kept under wraps by Health NZ at the weekend. The opening of a regional renal centre by the Māori Queen Nga Wai Hono i te po was revealed in a statement to Good Local Media after the event. No media were invited to the opening.
Scholarship for Katie
Katie Hollands, from Cambridge is one of five students selected for the Meat Industry Association (MIA) scholarship programme this year. Katie is doing a Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing at Lincoln University. Every year, the MIA provides scholarships of $5,000 per annum for undergraduates and $10,000pa for post-graduate students. All are tertiary students, studying a subject relevant to the red meat processing industry and planning a career in the sector beyond the farm gate. As well as financial support, MIA scholars benefit from the organisation’s mentoring programme and participation in a range of industry events and networking opportunities. Assistance may also be provided to help them to secure vacation or part-time work in the meat processing industry.
Lake feedback
Discussion has opened on how to improve the health of Waipā’s Lake Ngā Roto. Water quality of the lake is a focal point of the plan.
Reports dropped
Waipā District Council says information-only reports to councillors which provided many stories for readers of The News have been canned. “Most of the information-only reports are no longer being produced, as our review showed the bulk of the information was retrospective, operational and/or had already been made public via media releases and social media,” the council told the News this week.
Piarere Roundabout
Piarere intersection before the roundabout went in.
The final permanent approach road towards Hamilton is expected to open at the Piarere roundabout, the intersection of highways 1 and 29 next Tuesday.
New Waipā names
Waipā has seven new road names including one named after Alex Boyd, a name synonymous with the asparagus industry, off Hautapu Rd in Cambridge. Other names approved by the district council are: Pukemako Lane (Te Miro), Whakatupu, Whakora and Raakaunui streets (Cambridge), Tumai and Walnut lanes (Kihikihi).
Southern Links
Aerial view of the old Narrows Golf Course which Southern Lakes will go through.
New Zealand Transport Agency officials were rebuked for referring to the $100 million transport network going through the district as Hamilton Southern Links when representatives gave an update at an elected members’ workshop last week. Work should be underway by 2027 but mayor Susan O’Regan said any references to south Hamilton should be changed to north Waipā and the project itself called Waipā Southern Links as most of it was in “our patch”, she said tongue in cheek.
Digital public art
‘Nurturing’ sculpture by Fred Graham, located at Sculpture Park, Te Awamutu.
Waipā’s extensive public art collection has gone online at Te Awamutu Museum and includes indoor and outdoor artworks such as murals, carvings, mosaics, paintings, sculptures, photographs and other art mediums. Notable works include the iconic bronze mare and foal sculpture outside Cambridge Town Hall, pieces in Te Awamutu’s Sculpture Park, and pou at Mātakitaki Pā in Pirongia. The outdoor collection also includes five pieces by acclaimed sculptor Fred Graham.
Sculptor Fred Graham explains how he arrived at the design for the sculpture in Cambridge.
Turf touted
A project team leading a hockey turf project at Cambridge High School has pulled in support from Sport Waikato to provide insights to Waikato Hockey on sustainable options and a supply and demand analysis driven by the results of a national hockey facilities strategy. Hockey has undergone huge growth in Cambridge with only one artificial turf – at St Peter’s in Cambridge – which is usually oversubscribed.
Maadi parade
The 2021 Maadi Cup parade reaches Cambridge’s Town Square after parading through the town. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Wilson, James and Victoria streets in Cambridge will be closed between 12.30pm and 1pm on Sunday March 23 for the Maadi Regatta when teams participating in the national school rowing championships at Lake Karāpiro march through the town. The teams will gather on Victoria Square for a civic welcome. Competition in the southern hemisphere’s largest school sports event starts the following day.
