Tamahere author Nicky Webber has made a strong plea for tolerance in her first book No Ordinary Man.

Webber, a former journalist, tells the story of Mick Thompson, a young, World War II soldier who is forced by the times and intolerance to hide his true nature.

A brave soldier who fought in Egypt, Tunisia, Syria and Italy and gained the rank of sargeant, Thompson was also a cross dresser.

Tamahere writer Venetia Sherson and friend and co-author Denise Irvine recently launched their book, Stand By Me.

It is the story of Te Whakaruruhau Waikato Women’s Refuge and courageous women – those who survive domestic violence, and those who help them get their lives back on track.

Te Whakaruruhau is New Zealand’s largest women’s refuge and has helped thousands of women and children during its more than 30-year history.

Tamahere Forum editor Philippa Stevenson has returned home after six months volunteering in the Solomon Islands.

Stevenson, a journalist who founded Tamahere Forum in 2008, was based in Honiara from last September until this month with Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) on an assignment to educate Solomon Island journalists.

We don’t know how lucky we are. Well, I didn’t anyway. Oh, I thought I did. But there is nothing like a month in a developing nation to challenge that notion.

I’ve been in the Solomon Islands since September 11, my very own 9/11 reality check.

I’m volunteering with NZ’s VSA (Volunteer Service Abroad), working in a small media company in Honiara.

Tamahere Forum editor Philippa Stevenson heads to the Solomon Islands early next month to put her journalism skills to use as a Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) volunteer.

Stevenson, who founded and has run Tamahere Forum for 10 years, will spend six months in the Solomons’ capital Honiara as a newsroom and editorial adviser for a small, independent newspaper publisher.

The former NZ Herald and Waikato Times journalist said she was thrilled to have the opportunity to volunteer with VSA.

When long time Tamahere man Dallas Fisher received an “official-looking” letter in the post, his wife thought it was a parking fine he hadn’t paid.

It was important – but it wasn’t a parking fine.

Fisher, who chairs the Tamahere Community Committee, has been recognised in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

It all began with a lunchtime presentation called “Have You Heard of the Internet”.

It was 1995. The presentation featured a mock website on skin conditions.

Afterwards, audience member and Tamahere resident Dr Amanda Oakley approached the presenters.

Tamahere resident and Miss Universe contender Ella Morgan aims to bust the stereotypes around beauty pageants.

The 18-year-old is in her second year at the University of Waikato, studying political science and public policy, and is passionate about social justice.

She also runs a dance school, teaching classes in Tamahaere, which she has done since the age of 14.

Work is underway on a major, 100m extension of the Tamahere Reserve’s network of boardwalks.

Funded by a $13,000 grant from the Waikato District Community Wellbeing Trust, the hard work of lugging tonnes of timber on site is being done by local youngsters.

The group, pictured, are transporting the timber by hand and on wheelbarrows in the challenging terrain for the boardwalk.

Tamahere’s Angie Millar, the architect of the successful fundraising Divine Eats cookbook has been awarded a ‘local hero’ award in the annual Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.

Millar was one of 12 Waikato people to receive a local hero award tonight at the first of 16 regional ceremonies to be held across New Zealand recognising the achievements of 350 Kiwis.

Millar was inspired to put forward the idea of a cookbook to help raise funds for a new swimming pool for Tamahere School in 2015 after seeing a 1992 cookbook, which was also a school fundraiser.