News in brief
Dan Tasker joins The News team
Dan Tasker
Hey King Country, my name’s Dan Tasker and I’m back writing for the King Country News again! These days you may know me as a Waitomo District councillor or as a rugby developer with King Country Rugby Union, but I actually ended up in Te Kuiti after I got a job at the King Country News nearly six years ago. Time sure flies – since then I’ve bought a house, married my wife Alice, had my daughter Lottie (well technically I didn’t have her) and I seem to have a lot more grey hair. But also, I’ve got to know so many of you, whether it be at footy training, a council meeting, a local marae or just out and about. Telling this great community’s stories is a passion and a privilege, so if you’ve got a good one, get in touch and let’s chat. I’m on 021 544 615 and taskiez@gmail.com
Bones carvers congregate
Organisers of NZ’s largest bone carving symposium are keen for people from throughout the district to visit the event in the Mokau Hall over the Easter weekend. The Firstgas Mokau Bone carving Symposium starts in Mokau, tomorrow. “This is a fabulous opportunity to see and experience world class bone carvers at work, to meet the artists, see their exquisite carvings and even buy a treasure…” organiser Mike Brown said. As well as the bone carving, a pop-up craft market is operating in Mokau over the Easter weekend. Entrance to both events is free. “We’ve got 60 carvers from all over New Zealand converging on the Mokau hall for the Easter weekend.” Brown said. Carvers who will be there include Owen Mapp, Steve Myhre, and master carver Gareth Barlow of Blenheim who is the guest carver for 2026. The carvers will be welcomed onto the Maniaroa marae on Friday afternoon and the carving will begin in on Saturday morning, finishing at noon Easter Monday. Specific skills will be taught to the carvers in elective ‘masterclasses’ which have been woven into the event program. The bone carving symposium was first held in 2017.
All things science
Pictured are Te Wharekura o Maniapoto students (from left) Manaia Tuheke, Taane Stewart and Barrie Barlow enjoying the rocket firing exhibition.
More than 400 students across seven primary and secondary schools had the chance to explore The Science Roadshow hosted by Te Kuiti High School on Friday. Pictured were Te Wharekura o Maniapoto students (from left) Manaia Tuheke, Taane Stewart and Barrie Barlow enjoying the rocket firing exhibition. The Science Roadshow is a mobile science discovery centre that annually travels across New Zealand bringing a range of interactive science and technology exhibits into communities. Roadshow assistant Stevie Katavich-Barton said there was “nothing else like this available across the country” to engage students in science, and she loved supporting local students to explore the roadshow. Each session included two live science shows including ‘Am I Living?’ which explores characteristics of living things and ‘Kitchen Chemistry’ – science from the pantry. Students also had the opportunity to roam through more than 60 hands-on science exhibits in topics such as astronomy, fair tests, human performance, movement, sight and illusion and using numbers.
Office to close
The King Country News office in King Street has closed. Good Local Media publisher David Mackenzie said traffic in the office had fallen to virtually nothing as customers use quicker ways to make contact – such as via emails and mobile phones. The change would not result in any staff changes, he said.
King Country News office closed.
Fund opens
The first round of Creative Communities funding supporting local creative groups and activities opened yesterday. The fund, which was set up by Creative New Zealand in 1996 and is distributed by Waitomo District Council aims to encourage participation in a wide range of arts and cultural activities.
Pools close
The swimming season has come to an end, with the Waitomo District Aquatic Centre in Te Kuiti closing its doors earlier this week. The uncovered pool facility remains closed through the autumn and winter months and usually re-opens to the public in early October,
Plan out
Waitomo District Council’s draft annual plan is out for consultation, with a number of community discussion points on the table before it gets finalised. Key consultation topics include moving the Awakino Transfer Station to Mokau to make it easier to dispose rubbish, as well as the latest updates on transitioning water services to Waikato Waters.
Reunion planned
The Lines Company is celebrating 100 years of electricity in the King Country with a reunion in Te Kuiti on April 30. Past and present staff, community members and partners will celebrate the occasion at a reunion hosted at the Les Munro Centre.
Road works
Crews will return to work between Carroll Street and Rora Street on State Highway 30 between Te Kūiti next week from Sunday to Thursday. The road will be closed from 8pm to 6am.
Kiwi filmed
A kiwi has been captured in February on a trail camera in the northern Pureora Forest’s Waipapa block is the first sighted there in more than a quarter of a century. The kiwi is thought to be a western brown and Department of Conservation’s Maniapoto Operations Manager Graham Kimber said it is encouraging for the Doc team and volunteer groups contributing to conservation in Pureora,” Graham says.
Golf results
Results from the final night of Team Ambrose Twilight golf at Waitomo Golf and Country Club saw 15 teams contest the gross and nett prizes. Gross winners were That’s Us – Harry Wilson, Steve Clarke and Dave Millar – and the nett prize went to Turkeys – Tegan Muraahi, Tori Koroheke and Luci Barlow. As a follow-up, an introduction to golf was held for women and girls in mid-March.
Young winner
Cam Clayton won the Waikato-Bay of Plenty regional final of the Young Farmer of the Year competition at Te Teko racecourse last weekend. Clayton, 30, a sheep and beef farmer from Te Aroha is a member of the Morrinsville-Ngarua club. Benjamin Barbour and Toby Christensen from Putaruru College and John Paul College in Rotorua took out the title of Waikato Bay of Plenty FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year, ahead of Kendra Grayling and Morgan Shannon from Te Awamutu College.
Fatal crash
One person died as a result of a crash in Kihikihi on Monday. afternoon. A truck and car collided on State Highway 3, resulting in detours being put in place between Golf Road and Herbert Street.
Listen to the music
Andrew Tuck is standing on familiar ground, and not just metaphorically.
Waikato Business News April 2026
The Cambridge-raised, Te Kōwhai-based chief executive of Homegrown watched one of the country’s biggest all-New Zealand music festivals settle into Hamilton – and he believes the move is just getting started.
Homegrown made its Waikato debut at Claudelands last month, drawing around 25,000 people and delivering a significant boost to the local economy.
In the latest edition of Waikato Business News published by Good Local Media – which also produces community newspapers in Cambridge, Te Awamutu and King Country – Tuck said the move north from Wellington after 17 years paid off but there will be tweaks for next year.
Bay of Plenty Business News April 2026
We also meet Julia Baynes a Waikato veterinarian, muso, marketer and former advertising executive who talks about the unique value women bring to the agricultural sector.
Our sister publication the Bay of Plenty Business News finds kiwifruit, forestry and honey exporters are emerging as the early winners from the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.
CBD developments in Tauranga and Rotorua are covered in stories about Waikato University’s expansion and the return of the Night Market.
Waikato Business News and Bay of Plenty Business News – out now online goodlocal.nz
