News in Brief
Power cut
The Lines Company has announced a planned power cut covering Ōtorohanga and surrounding areas on Sunday November 9 to enable network equipment upgrades and renewals.
Kio Kio celebrates
Mayor Rodney Dow, Kerre Woodham and club president Angus Martin.
More than 100 sponsors attended the Kio Kio Rugby Club’s sponsors dinner at Maihiihi last weekend to underline the healthy state of the community club which is preparing for its 75th jubilee in 2027. Guest speaker Kerre Woodham delighted the audience with tales of getting fit for a marathon and dealing with the publicity – and answered questions including one from new Ōtorohanga mayor Rodney Dow.
Shearers in the bay
Open Woolhandling winner, Keryn Herbert, with competition committee member Na Raihania. Photo Shearing Sports NZ
Shearers were sharpening their skills at the Hawke’s Bay A and P Show’s Great Raihania Shears over the long weekend.
Among the best performers was Keryn Herbert (Te Kūiti) who won the Woolhandling Open final. The Cook Islands international now has 59 career open wins under her belt.
The open shearing final was a who’s who of competitive shearing loaded with internationals, world champions and world record holders.
Golden Shears 2025 winner Toa Henderson claimed top spot followed by Stu Connor (England/Hastings), Gavin Mutch (Scotland/Dannevirke), Nathan Stratford (Invercargill), and home-province favourite, Rowland Smith.
Te Kūiti’s Jack Fagan sixth placing followed his open win at the Gisborne Shearing and Woolhandling Championships a week earlier.
Some top shearers who did not compete in the Bay were at the Trans-Tasman Shearing Sports tests in Australia.
At the event, Canterbury blade shearers Tony Dobbs and Scott McKay secured a series win after a first-round victory over an Aussie pair at the NZ Spring Shearing Championships, however, Australia won both the machine shearing and woolhandling tests.
New faces
Two newly elected councillors, Olivia Buckley and Isaiah Wallace, were set to attend their first Waitomo District Council meeting as this issue of The News went to print. Alongside four returning members, the duo will help ensure the council has a good balance of experience and fresh thinking, Waitomo mayor John Robertson said.
Shellfish warning
New Zealand Food Safety says the public should not collect or consume shellfish gathered from the Taranaki coast due to the presence of paralytic shellfish toxins. Tests on mussels from Pukearuhe have shown levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin over the safe limit. The warning extends from Cape Egmont north to Albatross Point, near Kawhia.
Bolger funeral
Chancellor Jim Bolger at the Academy of Performing Arts, for 10 year celebration publication, at the University of Waikato, Hamilton. Photo: Stephen Barker
Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger’s funeral service was held in Our Lady of Kāpiti church in Paraparaumu last week. His wife Joan, speaking to a large gathering featuring past and present politicians from all sides of the House, acknowledged the flood of support for the family from across the country and the world.
Phillips information
New photos of camps set up by late fugitive Tom Phillips which he used to hide his three children for four years in dense King Country bush have revealed two large, concealed structures. Police say Phillips moved regularly from coast to farm to bush in a complex manner, so he was unlikely to be “stumbled across”.
Chicken recall
New World Te Kūiti has issued a food recall notice relating to hot chicken sold on October 23.
Power cut
The Lines Company has announced a planned power cut covering Ōtorohanga and surrounding areas on November 9 to enable network equipment upgrades and renewals.
