In this week’s edition . . .
Feathered friends, Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge, school prizegiving and more
It’s that time again and you had better have a good suppply of antacids on hand because we have a veritable feast of local news. We start off with a great project on page 1 that aims to bring back the karearea to our skies.
Our very own Tane Lawless with help from his sons Kori and Keanu are putting their efforts behind Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre’s efforts.
These are impressive birds — the native New Zealand falcon is the world’s fastest bird of prey — but as Wingspan founder Debbie Stewart tells me, when they are as small as our friend on page 1, they are only starting their pilot’s licence.
Taupō will be full of pedalling people this weekend for the annual BDO Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge, so good luck to everyone taking part or helping out.
I’ll be heading down to take a few photos and support those taking part.
On page 4 we highlight the great efforts of the top Taupō students — congratulations to the dux of Tauhara College, Makayla Dick, and Taupō -nui-a-Tia’s Baylee MacLean. We will highlight other duxes from the region soon.
On page 6, we have the great efforts of Taupō Museum in preserving the Opepe Waka — the centrepiece of the Tū wharetoa display. This was a mysterious find at the inland site 70 years ago but one of the region’s great taonga and well worth a visit.
Waipahihi School’s Kiwileles ukulele band has strummed its way to national honours at the K-Factor contest — a cool picture and nice write-up on page 8.
As I’m checking back through the paper for this summary, I’ve discovered that not only has Pregnancy Help’s Ellie Godwin managed to feature in two stories, coincidentally they are both on the same page! That’s impressive and a reflection of the hard work going on to support those with a baby on the way — they certainly need all the help they can get with the cost of living the way it is at the moment.
Ellie will have to shout some sausage rolls, though, so if anyone can do her a deal on that, I’m sure she’d appreciate it.
Meanwhile, if you need anything big lifted onto the back of the ute, Raina Ferris-Bretherton, of Tū rangi, is your woman. She’s off to compete in the International Powerlifting Federation’s Commonwealth Games. Good luck.
This week we have a bumper rural section on pages 15-22 so make sure you park up the tractor before you start reading that.
And, of course, we have all the usual club and sports results, recipes and movie reviews — all of which are done by local people. We appreciate your efforts!
Keep an eye on the rain gauge too over the next month — we are well on target for the wettest year on record. Our resident weather man, Bevan Choat, has a summary of the last week’s weather on page 29, alongside a rather tasty-looking spring vegetable tart — recipe provided by Taupō ’s very own food blogger Olivia Moore from That Green Olive.
Enjoy!