In other news…

Number 8 Network does a round-up of stories in our district from other media outlets.

Cost of vandalism
Vandalism in Waikato Schools has cost taxpayers close to $400,000 extra on top of the millions of dollars funded for damage repairs over the past four years, says the Waikato Times.

The Ministry of Education has funded more than $4.3 million for vandalism across the region since 2012.

Gordonton School, which received a vandalism grant of $2784.60 this year, was targeted by burglars in June and July and principal David McNair said the cost of repairing the damage would cost about $10,000.

Schools are placed in a risk category based on the top-ups to the vandalism grant they have received in the past. Funding ranges from about $3 to about $28 per student.

Full story here.

Quake felt in Gordonton
The strong earthquake that rocked Seddon on 16 August was felt widely throughout the Waikato, incluidng Gordonton. Local woman Sylvia Simpson said she was sitting on her couch about 2.30pm when the vertical blind started swaying back and forwards.

“Then I looked at the ranch sliders and they were going back and forward. It was such a strange thing. I didn’t even think it was an earthquake until I saw the news.”

Number 8 Network can report that our pots and pans clanged together rather loudly.
Full story here.

Crash driver sentence delayed
The Gordonton driver charged with causing the death of cyclist Craig Goulsbro and injuring two of his riding friends is to reappear in court later this year for sentencing after a restorative justice session.

Nicholas Dryland appeared at the Hamilton District Court this morning, after entering a guilty plea to a charge of aggravated careless use of a motor vehicle by illegally overtaking, The New Zealand Herald reports.

Mr Dryland was to be sentenced today but sought a restorative justice session with the victims of the accident.

Sentencing will take place on October 11.

Full story here.

Not everyone’s cup of tea
Growing tea in New Zealand isn’t something just anyone can do, according to a story in the Hamilton News recently.

Zealong Tea company manager Gigi Crawford said the future is looking bright for the tea plantation, but it is not a ‘quick fix’ alternative for orchardists looking to get out of kiwifruit.

Over the past three years many growers have wanted to discuss the potential for tea growing in the Bay of Plenty but there are difficulties in establishing such an operation.

“Early frost and drought can kill the plants very quickly. Moisture levels are important and the crop is easily affected by the weather. And growing it is one thing – processing and harvesting is another.”

Processing also demands expertise and Zealong’s craftsman tea-makers are recruited from Taiwan’s tea-growing regions.

Full story here.