News in brief
Pulling out the stops
Liz Stolwyk
Waikato Regional councillor Liz Stolwyk says she will look into complaints from regional bus users that stops have been dropped from the Cambridge, Kihikihi-Te Awamutu and King Country services with no communication other than from the bus driver. Do you now more? Email [email protected]
Fees up
Hamilton City Council has confirmed fee rises for Hamilton Gardens. The entry fee to the enclosed gardens will be $27.50 for non-Hamiltonians from October 1.
… and rates too
Waikato regional councillors have agreed on a 0.9 per cent increase in rates revenue from current ratepayers for 2026/27 – down on the 1.4 per cent estimated in February’s draft annual plan budget.
Lights on the statue
A Lights On Event tonight (Thursday) will feature a display projected onto Te Kūiti’s Shearer Statue. The event is part of phase two of a Genesis push to make the town New Zealand’s first to be 100 per cent lit by LED bulbs. More than 3300 free lightbulbs have already been collected by householders. Tonight’s event will include a community dinner served from the Te Kūiti Lions Club caravan, giveaways, and the chance to win one of three $1,000 Genesis bill credits.
Rising to the occasion
Kinohaku School students recently traded classrooms for the clouds and experienced the thrill of going up in a tethered hot air balloon ride piloted by Andrew Parker of the Flying High Project. Morehu Kerr and Tasha Maru made their land available for the event which principal Dawn Telfer said was a true community effort.
Sports win in Hamilton
Ōtorohanga Sports’ women’s side headed into Hamilton and came home with a victory on Saturday, while the men’s sides put up good battles against table-toppers Hautapu.
The women’s premiership side beat Suburbs 37-27 at Flagstaff Park.
Former Black Ferns front-rower Grace Houpapa-Barrett helped herself to a double, while other try scorers included Keighley Brough, blindside flanker Mihi Edwards, Awa Whitiora and Taetia Kopa. Halfback Tayla Toa added two points.
This weekend the Ōtorohanga women have a bye.
The Ōtorohanga premier side faced Hautapu at Cambridge Memorial Park where the free-scoring home side sea;ed first round honours with a 40-26 win.
Centre Manieta Vonovono grabbed two tries for Ōtorohanga gold. Former Waikato loose forward Murray Iti and reserve Lasaro Tora were the other scorers for the visiting team and pivot and captain Manaaki-Rewi Wetini added three conversions.
In the earlier premier B match, Hautapu B beat Ōtorohanga B 38-19. For the Ōtorohanga blues, John Jackson, openside flanker Sam Lewis and Samuel Oakley-Smith scored a try apiece. Halfback Shannon Yorke added two conversions.
At the conclusion of round one, the premier side finished in eighth place and the B team sit in sixth.
