Graham Holmes left, and Peter Tait at last year’s Daffodil ride fundraiser.,
Candidate convicted
Hope Spooner
An unsuccessful candidate for Waipa District Council in the Cambridge ward last year has been convicted of defrauding the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) for $107,000.
Hope Amy Spooner, 34, of Cambridge appeared in the Hamilton District Court this week on two charges of obtaining by deception and two of dishonestly using a document. She failed in a bid for continued name suppression. Spooner was provisionally elected on the night of the election but after special votes was pipped by Aidhean Camson.
At sentencing, the court heard Spooner unlawfully received benefits and other forms of financial assistance after claiming she was separated from her husband when, according to MSD investigations, the couple had reconciled within a month. The offending occurred across two separate periods spanning almost four years. Spooner had applied for sole parent support in 2020 and later received further payments after reapplying in 2023.
Court documents showed she received undue credits totalling more than $286,000, although MSD is seeking repayment of $107,132.84.
Luke captains NZ
Cambridge’s Luke Jacobson captained the All Blacks for the first time last night. The All Blacks faced the Sharks in Durban as part of their South African tour. Former Hautapu hooker Bradley Slater made his All Blacks début off the bench, donning jersey 16.
Power demand
Daffodils are out in Payne Park, Cambridge despite the cold snap. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Waipā Networks says the colder winter in 2026 has prompted an increase in demand. Peak demand to date has been 104.21 MVA – MegaVolt Ampere is a measure of the electrical load on the network – compared with 102.31 last winter – an increase of around 1.9 per cent.
Abuse costs
Waipā District Council has revealed it spent $88,343.15 on legal proceedings related to unacceptable online behaviour directed from outside the district at a staff member. Chief executive Steph O’Sullivan said the costs were higher than expected but the council had a legal obligation to act under health and safety requirements.
Park gets upgrade
Hautapu fans had a ton of fun at Memorial Park as the seniors thrashed neighbours Te Awamutu Sports.
Facilities at Cambridge’s Memorial Park will be upgraded thanks to a grant to Hautapu Sports Club from national rugby’s Legacy Fund. Eighteen rugby clubs, including Hautapu, will share in a distribution of $1.2 million in grants. Successful applications were based around improving or developing clubrooms, women and girls changing rooms or playing fields. In Hautapu’s application, supported by Waikato Rugby, Memorial Park’s lack of dedicated changing rooms, shower facilities and toilets for female players was highlighted.
Memorial Park primarily serves Cambridge but is also a central location for other Waikato sports. “While Hautapu Sports will drive this project,we are clear this is much wider than our club, being Memorial Park, the history of the ground, together with the current wider community involvement at the park, which is exciting,” club president Dave Simes said.
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Seven up for Tate
World 7 Tate Burdon on the cruiser podium.
Year 8 Kōrakonui School student Tate Burdon, 12, rode well to place world number seven in cruiser and World 17 in challenge at the BMX World Championships in Brisbane last month.
Te Awamutu trio Brooke, Sophie and Luca Penny also competed at the event.
Messam wins
Former Hautapu and All Black rugby star Liam Messam secured a third-round TKO victory over Luke Siak on the weekend.
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Coach Cairo George from Hit Fitness HQ in Hamilton and Liam Messam pictured in 2022. Photo: Benjamin Wilson
Novel promotion
Cambridge author Chris Roberts is promoting his new book every time he hits the road. Roberts has had the vehicle fully wrapped to promoter Deadly Ice, described as an eco-thriller.
Tamahere talk
The Narrows Bridge
Increasing traffic on State Highway 21 – Airport Road – the future of Narrows Bridge, the proposed Cambridge Road sand quarry, development on Tamahere Drive and a $160,000 Tamahere Park toilet block were discussed at the latest Tamahere Community Committee meeting. Chair Charles Fletcher has also sought a meeting with the New Zealand Transport Agency which has paused progress work on the Southern Links roading project pending more funding being made available.
Express speed
Asphalt work on the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway is nearly 75 per cent complete – thanks in no small part to good weather and high production. Contractor Fulton Hogan is carrying out the work in 5km sections.
Music centre named
Waikato Cathedral Church of St Peter has announced the first stage of its Strengthening and Restoration Programme, the Music Centre, will be named in honour of Dame Malvina Major. The announcement was made by Murray Bindon, Chair of the Cathedral Appeal, during Dame Malvina Major Presents A Night at the Opera last week.
Kauri dieback
Waikato Regional Council says a 1200 year old kauri on the Coromandel Peninsular has been infected with the pathogen which causes kauri dieback. It will be treated but may not survive. The council has carried out aerial surveillance across kauri lands in the region for 15 years.
Vintage cars for cancer
Participants at the start of the 2024 Vintage Car Club’s Daffodil Rally for Cancer gather before the start. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
This year’s Daffodil Day for the Cancer Society will feature with an assembly of cars, light commercials and motorbikes dating from the early 1900s to the mid-1990s at the vintage car clubrooms in Cambridge’s MacLean St later this month.