Around 26,000 cars already travel on Kahikatea Drive each day, creating what one businessman has described as a “Russian roulette” situation at intersections.

The positioning of bus stops has also been criticised, along with a lack of provision for cyclists and pedestrians.

Despite the concerns of businesses on the stretch between Ohaupo Road (SH3) and Greenwood Street, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says there is not enough funding to improve it in the near future.

Armand Petrin of Dairy Goat Co-operative was at a loss as to how to convince the NZTA of the danger of the Gallagher Place-Kahikatea Drive intersection.

He aired his concerns at a Hamilton City Council Strategy and Policy committee meeting this week.

“In the end, it’s a bit like Russian roulette.  You give it a go, and see what happens.

Other large employers at the meeting, Gallagher’s Charitable Trust and Greenlea Premier Meats, were equally worried, but the NZTA said the upgrade would not be considered before 2015.

Cr Dave Macpherson was also critical of the NZTA’s low prioritisation of Kahikatea Drive.

“Between Auckland and Wellington, what other parts of State Highway One would have as much traffic or as much congestion and potential safety issues, and therefore affect economic development?”

He lamented the lack of progress, and said the NZTA forgot about funds collected for the purpose until the council reminded them.

The Hamilton City Council holds $50,000 in developer contributions, collected for future roading improvements.

The money was a condition of a resource consent, collected by the council on the NZTA’s behalf.

Gallagher’s was among the contributors, and has been asking for action since the early 2000s.

John Gallagher said at the meeting that he was looking forward to going around the roundabout in the next couple of years.

But NZTA transport planning manager Anuradha Fitzwalter said the developer contributions were only drop in the funding bucket when it came to upgrading the complex stretch of road.

“We’re not talking about minor works.  We are talking about significant improvements to the intersection,” she said.

The local NZTA branch tried to obtain advanced funding to begin the project, but was unsuccessful  because the agency would still have had to provide $3m to $4m.

Fitzwalter said the best solution was to build a stronger case for the Kahikatea upgrade over the next year, and get it in the 2015-2018 NZTA national plan.

His cuisine will be a step up, though. His father was a cook in a burger truck at Fieldays years ago when Emett used to attend as a youngster.

“I grew up going to Fieldays with my father. He cooked in the burger truck they had there. The burgers were great, they used to go off,” Emett said.

Emett, a Wintec graduate, will cook in the Kiwi’s Best Kitchen marquee at  Fieldays, held from June 12-15.

He plans to cook a variety of dishes  including duck, quail, rabbit and some vegetable dishes. Not a burger in sight.

“All the demos will be interactive, much like MasterChef’s MasterClass, where the audience will be able to comment and ask questions as we go along. I’m pretty free and easy. I’m sure we’ll all have a good time. It will be entertaining to watch and informative at the same time,” said Emett.

Emett has also created a line of slow cooked meats that are currently only sold at New World in Hamilton, Auckland, and Wellington. They will also be on sale at Fieldays.

STRONG DEBUT: Matagi did everything that was asked of him in his first NRL match. Photo: Lex Wright

Suaia Matagi’s inspirational story has another chapter following his professional rugby league debut last fortnight.

As reported earlier on the Waikato Independent, at 25 years of age Matagi is a late bloomer to professional rugby league.

But since deciding to pursue a career in the sport five years ago, he has been on a determined and fast paced mission to the top.

The giant front rower played his first National Rugby League match in the one off ‘Capital Clash’ against the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs on May 11.

Over 30,000 fans flocked to Wellington’s Westpac Stadium that evening, the second biggest home crowd of the Warriors 2013 campaign.

”I was full of joy. It was the best feeling ever, a dream come true,” said Matagi.

“To make my debut in front of that crowd was the best experience, something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

The news that he would be in the team arrived about 24 hours before kickoff, as Matagi was about to head out for a training session Warriors head coach Matt Elliot pulled him aside and made the announcement.

“I found out on the Friday, as we were in the changing rooms.

“Then everyone started shaking my hands and saying congratulations.”

Matagi was reliable in his 19 minutes on the field, producing four runs for 32 metres and registering 11 tackles.

Elliot was impressed enough to include Matagi in the team for last Saturday’s trip to Penrith, however with players returning from injury he was squeezed out of the playing squad.

After progressing rapidly through the Auckland regional competition to the New South Wales Cup, Matagi took little time to get a shot in the premier competition, and admitted the step up to NRL football was a significant one.

“The NRL is a bit faster, you have to be accurate in everything you do. There is no place for hiding, getting that experience makes you more confident and makes you want to work even harder.”

That was the key message in a visiting youth suicide prevention expert’s speech at Wintec last Wednesday.

VISITING EXPERT: Professor Hatim Omar shared his passion about preventing youth suicide in a talk at Wintec last week. Photo: supplied.

Professor Hatim Omar’s speech and question and answer session attracted a crowd of 155, including students and staff from Wintec’s Centre for Health and Social Practice and other tertiary institutions, coroners, youth workers, and health workers.

Omar is professor of paediatrics at the University of Kentucky, and chair of the Stop Youth Suicide campaign – and his passion for the project is clear.

“If I can save one kid’s life, it’s worth it,” he said.

“We can never prevent everything, but we can make a dent.”

Having someone to turn to in difficult moments can be the difference between life and death for young people, Omar said.

Being prepared to deal with challenging situations – like being offered drugs – is also important.

His campaign involves getting into Kentucky schools to educate both staff and students each year.

Because youth suicide can be a “same day crisis” in someone without a history of mental health issues, work done before a person reaches crisis point gives the best results.

Education sessions give staff the confidence and knowledge to support at-risk young people, while the students are shown where they can get support, presented with the reality of suicide, and taught why it is not a way to deal with problems.

The method follows a Franklin D Roosevelt philosophy: “We can’t build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

New Zealand must also consider whether it is building its youth to deal with today’s challenges– statistics show 113 fifteen to 24-year-olds took their lives in 2010.

This represents 30.5 per cent of deaths in the age group, making suicide the second most common cause of death after motor accidents (116 deaths in 2010).

But Omar’s early intervention method has already helped to reduce the incidence of youth suicide in South Waikato, under the guidance of Waikato DHB Population Health promoter Lindie Smith and her team.

Another group working to reduce the incidence of youth suicide in New Zealand is Riders Against Teen Suicide (RATS).

Hamilton nurse Kahui Neho organised the Green Ribbon Campaign – supported by the Super Maori Fullas - which aims to raise awareness of youth suicide, get people talking about it, and let them know what services are available to help.

Because the rate of suicide among young Māori is more than two-and-a-half times that of non-Māori, the groups work closely with iwi organisations.

RATS member and nurse Roberta Clunie said Omar’s talk answered a lot of questions for her and her colleagues, and gave them confidence in their approach to the campaign.

“Knowing that we are doing a good job, from the man that’s leading the way for us – it’s just great.”

“He’s just such an amazing man…. Even today when I woke up this morning, it was like ‘wow’.”

Lifeline Aotearoa’s advice on helping a friend:

• Check in
• Listen without judgement
• Ask if they have a plan
• Connect in with professionals

Call 0508 TAUTOKO (0508 828 865) for more information.

In 2011 Senior Sergeant Spencer Matthews became aware of just how powerful social media was in their field, and encouraged the station to get on board and embrace tools such as Twitter and Facebook.

TWEET TWEET: A police offer with iPad in hand: Photo: Manukau Police.

“A couple of years ago I was at an incident in Mangere, while we were there (New Zealand musician) Che Fu tweeted that there was a shooting and a hostage drama around the corner,” Matthews said.

“That spread like wild fire on social media. It made us realise that the power of social media was something we had to be aware of and involved in.”

Che Fu corrected the wrongful tweet around five minutes later, but in that time it had already reached a significant audience.

Since then the Counties Manukau station has been using twitter to inform followers about a range of issues.

While the effectiveness in helping to solve serious crimes has been limited, the medium is proving useful in addressing traffic congestion problems.

This has been particularly beneficial at events such as Polyfest, the V8 Supercars and Super Rugby matches in the district.

“Certainly the live feeds of traffic congestion are good. We are able to tell people where the problems are.”

Messages of traffic issues have received positive feedback. Photo: Counties Manukau Police Twitter.

The issues addressed in the live call-out tweets range in seriousness from licence checks to suspected suicides, and offer a glimpse into the life of an officer in South Auckland.

“The main focus of the tweets I do is educating people about the kind of jobs police do. It’s not just running round having fun catching burglars, we deal with some very serious things,” Matthews said.

He said he tweeted a few messages about a man who had been found dead from an apparent suicide. “A couple of people felt that was inappropriate to say.

An example of the more serious messages the station shares with their followers. Photo: Counties Manukau Police Twitter

“But in that case the family all knew what had happened and I was very vague in regard to the location and description.”

Counties Manukau Police communications manager Ana-Mari Gates-Bowey has been measuring the success of the tweets, and believed it was helping to fulfill their overall goal of building trust.

“We do analyse our tweets, we have actually won a couple of awards for the most humorous tweet which has been great.

“For us the more people we can reach the better.”

Senior Sergeant Matthews, who has been in the police for 18 years, uses an iPad to tweet during call-outs.

He was encouraged by the fact that their Twitter followers had increased from under 200 to over 1300 in the last five months.

A Hamilton garage sale is to show its true colours this weekend, raising money to provide support for children.

True Colours Charitable Trust will hold its annual Monster Garage Sale this Saturday, May 18, with  the proceeds going to the organisation.

TRUE BELIEVERS: Susie Toia- Levvy and daughter Dean say True Colours is one of the most worthwhile charities in Hamilton. Photo: Rick Crawshaw

True Colours is a Hamilton-based child health service that provides clinical and psychological support for children, and adolescents who have chronic or life threatening illnesses.

Susie Toia-Levvy, whose daughter Dean has cystic fibrosis, described how True Colours has helped them:  “I took a chance to see what they were about and how they could fit into our lives, and we as a family have never looked back.

“They are true friends to us now and have helped in so many aspects, from anxiety to grief to friendship, they’re awesome.”

True Colours has helped more than 860 families since it started up eight years ago.

“To me, they are one of the most worthwhile charities in Hamilton,” Toia-Levvy said.

True Colours encourage people to donate items toward the sale such as glassware, kitchenware, clothing, art, garden tools, toys, books, and sporting equipment etc. Goods may be dropped off until 5.30pm on Friday at the Masonic Hall on Hamilton’s Grey St where the sale is being held. They are unable to accept, TV’s, computers, bedroom suites, whiteware, and lawnmowers.

Cynthia Ward, CEO of True Colours, appreciates all help. “We could not do this without the huge commitment of the people who volunteer their time and energy to put it together”.

“Last year we raised just over $3000 – a fantastic result and we hope this year we can do as well,” Ward explains.

The sale will be held from 7.30am until around lunchtime.

Richard O’Brien received an Honorary Master of Arts for his contribution to the arts and commitment to the Waikato arts community.

“Not only is he a role model and an inspiration to many, he is also generous in sharing in his great experience and knowledge,” said Wintec chair Mary Cave-Palmer.

CLOAK AND ALL: Honorary recipient, Richard O’Brien and Wintec Chair, Mary Cave-Palmer.

Cave-Palmer said despite O’Brien not being a student he deserved the honorary degree as his body of work met the qualification requirements.

“Richard is proof that art and business can combine, and that our city can produce talented people who operate on a global level in the arts.”

The formal award ceremony was followed by dinner and entertainment in The Atrium.

O’Brien said he did not think he would ever get academic recognition.  “Now I am an academic. Eat your hearts out all those without honours,” O’Brien said after the award.

“I think it’s terribly nice. I left school when I was 15; I was a lost soul really.”

O’Brien moved from England to New Zealand as a schoolboy in 1951.

After leaving Hamilton as a young man O’Brien began riding horses in movies as he tried to break into the industry in Britain, a skill he learned while living in New Zealand. His break came with the musical Rocky Horror Show.

And, of course, yesterday he had some advice for students – do what you love, and money and acclaim will follow.

He said he believes he is the luckiest man in the world. “My life has been a series of good fortune.”

Wintec’s honorary recipients must have made a significant contribution to Wintec, the region or the nation over a number of years through innovation in industry or business, scholarship and research, or enhancing New Zealand society.

Other honorary degree recipients include netballer Irene van Dyk, designer Annah Stretton, and Sir Edmund Hillary.

It would appear Aussie rural bachelors aren’t all they’re cracked up to be – truth be told, they’re as rare as rain on Ayers Rock.

HARD YAKKA: Two of New Zealand’s finest hard at work icing cakes during the Rural Bachelor competition some years back

In fact, faced with the pride of rural New Zealand, it looks as if they’re running scared.

Entries to the Fieldays Rural Bachelor of the Year competition have had to be reluctantly extended by the organisers after a lack of suitable Australian applicants.

Entries for the competition held at the National Fieldays at Mystery Creek in June were meant to close last Monday but due to the lack of interest from  Australian bachelors, the closing date has been  extended until Friday  May 17.

The competition sets the bachelors a number of tasks commonly (and sometimes not so commonly) associated with rural bachelor lifestyle.

Organisers of the event are not clear why there was a lack of Australian entries.

“I’m not sure if they’re just intimidated by the local competition or what,” said Fieldays communications executive Vicki Annison.

This year is the first time Australians have been invited to join the competition.

“We wanted to bring the international flavour to the Rural Bachelor of the Year contest and that’s why we are inviting competitors from Australia for the first time.”

The rural blokes will be judged on their technical skills, innovation, enthusiasm and crowd involvement.

The eight bachelors will be vying for the Rural Bachelor of the Year title as well as a $20,000-plus prize pool, including a Suzuki quad bike.

Contestants must be male and aged 18 years or older and be employed in the rural industry.

The eight finalists will be announced next week. 

For the second year running a Wintec student has been awarded the country’s top prize for student journalism at the Canon Media Awards in Auckland.

Waikato Times reporter Jenna Lynch, who graduated with a BMA and National Diploma in Journalism this year, won the Best Student Journalist of the Year award for a portfolio of work completed while enrolled at Wintec.

It is the third time a Wintec student has won the award. In 2012 Fairfax Scholar Jonathan Carson, also at the Waikato Times, took out the event, while Yvette Wakelin, then at the Bay of Plenty Times, was the recipient in 2004. Wakelin now works in Queensland.

Wintec editor-in-residence Steve Braunias, who mentored Lynch in 2012, says he’s thrilled that she won the award.

“Most student journalists just look like students, but Jenna already looked like a journalist when she was a student at Wintec.

“There was a quickness and a cleverness about her that made her stand out.

“It’s an honour to be nominated for student journalist of the year, and even better to win the prize. Jenna’s win this year, and Jonathan Carson’s win in 2012 suggests Wintec must be doing something right.

“But good teaching only goes so far. Jenna has a natural talent, as well as determination, wit, and a competitive streak. She’s going to have a stellar career.”

Another Wintec graduate, Ben Stanley of the Sunday Star Times, this year took out Newspaper Feature Writer Sport award, for the second year running.

Organisers said a record 1,389 entries were received across all categories, containing more than 7000 pieces of work.

Twenty eight judges across New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and the US assessed the work and selected the finalists and winners.

The fun run/walk for mothers and their daughters at Hamilton Gardens is to fundraise for the Heart Foundation’s Go Red for Women Campaign.

Participants will take part in a 5km fun run/walk. It is hoped that this year 200 will attend.

James Moore from Jennian Homes, which is organising the event, said the aim is to build awareness for the campaign at a community level.

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in New Zealand,” he said.

Forty-eight Kiwi women die from heart disease every week. The Heart Foundation’s Go Red for Women Campaign is creating awareness for this disease to ensure people have the knowledge to act.

So far 130 people have signed up online with more registrations on the day.

This is the second year that Jennian Homes has run the event.

• Registrations on the day start at 8am. $20 per entry with discounts for mother-daughter teams, seniors and groups. Runners leave at 9am and walkers leave 5 minutes later. There also an option for walkers with prams who will be led by MP Sue Moroney at 9.10am. The event starts at Hamilton Gardens, Gate 2b.