Local Opinion

Sticking with the real story

Unbelievable! Have you noticed the seemingly limitless choice of Christmas tree decorations available in stores? The pretty, glittery and sparkly decorating items for Christmas left me gobsmacked recently when buying a cute little Santa swinging…

Watching a crisis unfold

I arrived at my desk on Tuesday last week to find my concerns from yesterday confirmed. Gunung (Mount) Marapi erupted in Sumatra, Indonesia, he day before, producing an ash plume – not smoke – made…

Minding our language

Well, the eagle has landed – or to be more apposite the new government is installed onto the Treasury benches. And the axe is starting to fall on some icons hitherto cherished by the previous…

Quick calls, good results

This week we have more good news stories to share. Police were called to a rural Fencourt address because of a disorder issue.  Occupants called 111 early, enabling us to locate the offenders at the…

Tough calls begin

OPINION Waipā District Council’s decision last week to cut funding to the two i-Sites in Cambridge and Te Awamutu appears to be the first sign other tough financial decisions will follow. But The News’ attempts…

Audit: favourable, work to do

The annual Audit Report on Waipa District Council from Audit NZ has recently been publicly released. The overall conclusion is a favourable one: ‘the financial statements and statement of performance present fairly the Waipa’s activity…

Plane v volcano

“The roar of these gusts could be heard above the plane’s engines. As the aircraft went through the ash and the heat it heaved and buckled and those in the cabin closed their eyes against…

The funding squeeze continues

Following on from my fellow ward councillor, Crystal Beavis’s comments last month, I would like to reinforce her position.  I would also like to give her a vote of confidence as she works incredibly hard…

Trying to summarise a ‘journey’

Getting to the tail end of a six week journey encompassing seven European and Middle East countries, I’ve found myself with much to ponder. Writing this on surging seas sailing 1100km from Piraeus (Athens) to…

Don’t present thieves with gifts

Wasn’t the Christmas parade on Sunday fun?  It was great to see so many of our community taking part and also lining the streets to watch, despite the rain. It is a sign that December…

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