City Digest
A look at what’s been making headlines this past week
TWO PLAYGROUNDS FOR FLAGSTAFF
Two playgrounds rather than one could be destined for Hamilton’s northeast. A destination playground was planned for Te Huia Reserve in Flagstaff and $906,000 was budgeted for it in the Hamilton City Council long-termplan. But a portion of that money may now be used to develop a second site for kids at nearby - and larger - Hare Puke Park, a stone’s throw from where a new primary school will be built. Councillors will decide whether they want that to happen or not, but several have already expressed support.
LITTLIES LAP UP HEALTHY LUNCH
New findings showWaikato children attending education centres involved in Under 5 Energize have significantly lower levels of tooth decay than children at non-participating centres. About 5000 pre-schoolers go through the programme each year. Fairfield Kindergarten head teacher Rochelle Cant said Under 5 Energize had made a big difference to the kindy children’s nutrition. The project, which runs throughout the year, teaches parents and children about healthy food options, which snacks and drinks to avoid, and the benefits of active play.
KAYAKS FOUND, ARREST MADE
The 15 kayaks stolen from Hamilton’sWaterworld have been located in Tahuna and an arrest has been made. Morrinsville police got a tipoff on Friday that the kayaks had been spotted up a private driveway. Police went to the address and collected the stolen kayaks and charged a man over the theft. He will appear in Morrinsville District Court on May 24. The load of yellow Cobra banana boats equipped with paddles and their custombuilt trailer were stolen from the multipool facility and the theft was worth an estimated $10,000. It would have left youngsters in the Aqua Education programmes provided at the Hamilton City Council-owned complex high and dry.
SHOW ME THE MONEY
One Hamilton punter is a million dollars richer after winning Lotto first division on Saturday. The winning ticket was sold at Countdown Te Rapa. Powerball was not struck and will roll over to Wednesday night. The jackpot will be $20 million. Five Audi A1s were also won. For them, the winning tickets were sold in Cambridge, Tauranga, Napier, Upper Hutt and Ashburton.
EMERGENCY LANDING
A cockpit warning indicating a problem with the landing gear on an inbound flight sparked an emergency at Hamilton Airport. An emergency was declared last week after the Air NZ flight carrying 32 passengers requested an emergency standby for landing. Fire and police responded to the airport on Airport Rd, closing roads around it. An Air New Zealand spokesperson said there was an issue with a cockpit warning indicator on flight NZ8242 from Palmerston North to Hamilton. By 11.35am, the plane had landed safely. The aircraft would be inspected by engineers.
POLICE HUNT PEACHGROVE ROBBERS
Police are on the hunt for two men who robbed a Hamilton dairy. Two men dressed in hooded sweatshirts went into Peachgrove Dairy at 5.30pm recently. One of the men wielding a hammer, threatened staff in the store before stealing a number of items and running away. Hamilton Senior Sergeant David Raffan said no one was hurt in the incident but police are asking for anyone who may have seen anything to call police. Anyone with information can callWaikato Police on 07 859 7807, or alternatively, details can be passed to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
CAMERAS SNAP SPEEDSTERS
Locations of seven new speed cameras to be installed onWaikato roads have been revealed. The cameras - either static or mobile - will be placed on the following highways in the coming months; State Highway 2 at Maramarua; SH2 at Waikino; Main Rd in Raglan; SH29 at Te Poi; Otorohanga Rd, Otorohanga; SH2 atWaihi and Cambridge Rd, Te Awamutu-Cambridge. The new sites are part of a $10million project, signalled in July 2013, to install 56 new digital cameras across the country. The locations have been identified as having the highest risk of speed-related crashes, based on independent analysis as part of the Government’s Safer Journeys road safety strategy.