Fine homes tour begins in Tamahere

Tamahere’s Pam Townshend and her committee have been working with military efficiency to open the doors to Hamilton’s finest homes in this year’s charity-raising Fine Homes Tour on November 13.

When Waikato Times reporter Denise Irvine visited Pam Townshend’s sturdy dining room table was laden with piles of paper rather than plates.

Survey rates council services

The Waikato District Council is seeking public feedback on a number of council services to gauge whether ratepayers and residents want changes.

Click the following link to download the questionnaire (pdf): WDC Levels of Service questionnaire

The council is seeking feedback on services including the way it consults the community, the rate of road sealing, the upkeep of cemeteries, water metering in some towns, and library usage. The deadline for responses is 4pm, November 23.

The questionnaire can be posted or responses emailed to consult@waidc.govt.nz

The questionnaire was in mailboxes Tuesday, October 20.

ERMA invites submissions on LPG

The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) is inviting submissions on proposed changes to regulations governing where and how large quantities of flammable refrigerant gases are allowed to be stored and managed.

The April 2008 explosion and fire at Icepak Coolstores at Tamahere, which killed firefighter Derek Lovell and serious injured seven other firemen, was caused by a leak of the highly flammable gas Hychill-50 which is 95 per cent propane.

Coolstore fire inquiry in doubt

There may be no independent inquiry into the Icepak Coolstore disaster that killed fireman Derek Lovell and injured seven colleagues.

But Mr Lovell’s family and the injured firemen could be in line for a payment from the coolstore company, which has admitted breaching safety regulations, the NZ Herald reports.

The Tamahere fire memorialised in a cartoon by AC Hawkey

Coroner Gordon Matenga told the Weekend Herald it was uncertain whether he would hold an inquiry or, if he did, how wide-ranging it would be.

Mr Matenga said he expected he would receive submissions on whether a coronial inquiry into the causes of the fatal fire should proceed. If it did not, a routine inquest – most likely noting that Mr Lovell died as a result of an explosion and fire – would be held, reported the NZ Herald.

Market basks on 5th anniversary

The Tamahere Market celebrated five successful years of trading in superb weather today.

Stallholders were happy

Confounding weather forecasts of rain and wind, shoppers and stall holders enjoyed a morning of sunny, warm weather.

Music to market by

The day afforded a great chance to look for rare craft work.

Quarry consent $1m price tag

The New Zealand Contractor’s Federation has weighed into the debate over Tamahere’s Porritt sand quarry, accusing the Waikato District Council of demanding “punitive and unreasonable costs”.

In July, the resource consent hearing chaired by commissioner David Hill reserved its decision on the expansion of the Hooker Rd, Tamahere quarry.

This week, the Contractors’ Federation said in a media release that WDC had sought “$1 million for heavy vehicle impact fees and road alterations before draft consent clauses are approved.”

Tamahere Market – October 17

The monthly Tamahere Country Market – on this Saturday, October 17 – is marking its 5th anniversary.

Goods galore

And as Christmas draws near, the October market always proves popular with on-to-it Christmas gift shoppers and the usual throng of foodies and art and craft seekers.

Olive oil is a popular buy

The market is open from 8.30am to 1pm. Visitors can sample and buy excellent food and produce – asparagus and avocados an October special – have coffee or tea, meet friends, pick up a special handcrafted gift and enjoy the atmosphere of a country market.

Council debates home water tanks

Waikato District Council’s policy committee is still poring over a contentious bylaw which will require all new premises joining the water supply to have a tank to collect rainwater. (click for earlier story)

But the committee has gone wishy-washy on another controversial requirement of its draft water supply bylaw, and now seems poised to water down a clause which would have required new premises to also provide a separate plumbing system for non-potable use such as toilet flushing,

Icepak director pleads guilty

Icepak Coolstores director Wayne Grattan pleaded guilty to a charge arising from last year’s fatal fire at Tamahere in the Hamilton District Court today but charges are to be withdrawn against two other directors.

Wayne Grattan

Icepak Coolstores Ltd and Tauranga-based Mobile Refrigeration Specialists earlier pleaded guilty to charges laid by the Labour Department under the Health and Safety in Employment Act following the April 5, 2008 blast and fire that killed firefighter Derek Lovell and seriously injured seven other firemen.

The court heard that the Labour Department will withdraw charges against Icepak directors Jan van Eden and Iain Slight. Charges have already been withdrawn against Warren Cook, employed by Mobile Refrigeration Specialists.

Tamahere may get new mental health unit

Hamilton is in line for a new minimum secure forensic mental health unit, likely to be run out of either Waikato Hospital or an existing facility in Tamahere.

The Tamahere Hospital and Health Centre has been in Duncan Rd for around 10 years.

Sited on 4ha, the centre is the only registered psychiatric hospital owned by Maori in New Zealand, says this report.

“It is owned and managed by Hauora Waikato, the largest kaupapa Maaori mental health provider in the country, and offers significant precedent to other iwi wishing to establish their own facilities. Tamahere Hospital and Healing Centre delivers services from a kaupapa Maori perspective, but also provides bi-cultural, pan-cultural, and mainstream services to accommodate for individuals seeking an alternative approach.”

The Waikato Times reports that in August last year Waikato District Health Board approved more than $2 million a year to run a new 10-bed unit for high and complex-needs patients.

Tui return to Tamahere

Sightings of tui have been made in many parts of Tamahere in recent weeks – a welcome return of the native bird after decades of absence.

A tui sings from a kowhai in Tamahere

Reports of the tui’s return have also come in from elsewhere in the Waikato, including Hamilton, causing great excitement among bird lovers, reports the Waikato Times.

The paper is inviting people to report sightings of the birds and is recording them on maps. Click here to report your sightings.

Tui sightings can also be reported here to the Hamilton Halo project, an effort led by Environment Waikato to bring birds such as tui back to Hamilton city. Use the ‘Tui sightings form’ on the Halo site.

Tamahere school marks 125 years

Tamahere School celebrated its 125th anniversary on September 11 and memorabilia of the day includes a history of the district and the school, Remembering Our Past, Nurturing Our Future.

Tamahere School students in front of the restored historic building

Like the booklet commemorating the school’s centenary in 1984, the latest publication records such historic moments as the role Tamahere Maori played in peacemaking at the time of the New Zealand wars, as well as the history of the school and reminiscenses by past pupils. It is available for purchase from the school.

Tamahere school around 1886-87

Firemen thank hospital staff

They helped save firefighters’ lives, coming in from days off and performing miracles in the midst of tragedy.

And now, the staff of Waikato Hospital have been thanked for their efforts helping the victims of the fatal Icepak Coolstore blaze at Tamahere in April last year,

Icepak expands at Waharoa

Tamahere resident Philip Hanrahan witnessed last year’s fatal fire at Icepak Coolstores and now he’s helping Icepak move out of the neighbourhood, reports the Waikato Times.

Mr Hanrahan and former Tamahere resident Eric Clark have teamed up with two Icepak directors to buy a coolstore at Waharoa, near Matamata. The pair, together with Wayne Grattan and Jan Van Eden, formed Waharoa Properties Ltd which paid $8.45 million for Fonterra’s coolstore next to Icepak’s existing coolstore at Waharoa.

Icepak's present Waharoa coolstore

Hall’s future debated

A long-serving Waikato district councillor has accused the Education Ministry of a lack of professionalism in its dealings over the historic Tamahere Hall.

For about five years the council and the ministry have been involved in discussions and negotiations over land swaps which would allow the Tamahere Model Country School to retain the 86-year-old building and use it as an arts centre,