Community Board highlights, business survey open and upcoming closures
Published on 01 May 2026
Many responses to our tough choices for lower rates proposals
Most consultation for our Annual Plan 2026/27, Rates Remission Policy and fees and charges, has now closed and we have received plenty of written feedback.
Thank you to those people who joined us at our drop-in sessions throughout our district and online at our Town Hall meeting.
We received more than 700 written responses from people sharing their views on how our Council might best be able to lower our forecast rates, and even more feedback provided at our events.
A final feedback forum will be held on Thursday 7 May where people can present their thoughts on the proposals to our Council in one place. From here, our teams will summarise before reporting these findings back to the Council on Tuesday 26 May for its consideration and decisions.
Find out more
Community Board meetings
Our Community Board's met in April. All our Council and Community Board meetings and most workshops are available for people to attend either in person or online. Go to www.tcdc.govt.nz/meetings for agendas, minutes, and to watch meeting livestreams or recordings.
Questions about decisions and issues are welcome. Use our Request for Service system at www.tcdc.govt.nz/RFS.
Coromandel-Colville Community Board highlights
The Coromandel-Colville Community Board had a busy public forum, with requests and updates from a wide range of community groups and representatives.
The Board heard requests from the:
- Coromandel School of Mines and Historic Society who would like a permanent sign located in the vicinity of the Karaka Bridge. The museum is located on Rings Road, slightly out of the town area and it is hoped signage would improve visitor numbers. Staff were asked to work with the group to find a suitable location for the sign.
- Coromandel Rugby & Sports Club who asked for a letter of support from Council to be included in their application for funding from the Legacy Fund to assist with their project to develop a sustainable community hub for local sports clubs and events
- Coromandel Community Library tabling a copy of the Library’s feedback to the Draft Annual Plan, asking Council to consider a continued partnership approach with increased funding. The Board was advised that the Library will be seeking this increase through the next LTP review, noting that the library is run by volunteers and in a fragile financial position.
- Coromandel Community Patrol who are seeking funding support towards the operations of a community patrol vehicle that would service Coromandel Town and its immediate outlying communities.
- Coromandel Groove Club who are seeking a suitable venue to develop a collaborative community space for a music club.
Mercury Bay Community Board highlights
At Mercury Bay Community Board’s 15 April Meeting, the board approved awarding $25,033.54 in discretionary funding to five successful applicants.
These were:
- $4,519.84 to Kūaotunu Environmental Action Incorporated, for the restoration and maintenance of full trapline functionality following the 2024 Kūaotunu fire.
- $6321.20c (half of $12,642.39 requested) to Mercury Bay Performing Arts Incorporated, for the purchase of four industry standard theatre curtains, with the board encouraging the applicant to seek other funding. If unsuccessful, the board invites the group to reapply for the balance.
- Up to $1000 to the Whitianga Filipino Community to reimburse costs for venue hire, sound system, and performer fees for a free cultural event.
- $8075 to the Ōpito Bay Working Response Group to fund the electrical fit out of a water collection tank for community resilience and local emergency response.
- $5117.50 to Mercury Bay Business Association for Welcome to Whitianga signage.
The board also received and approved revised plans to upgrade and improve Matarangi’s Omaro Reserve, following community feedback and meetings.
The board voted to:
- receive a report and recommend to Council the termination of the Partnership Agreement between Coroglen Public Hall Incorporated Society and the Council.
- recommend to Council the hall becomes a Council-owned and operated hall (to be reviewed after 12 months).
- recommend to Council to adopt the following proposed fees and charges for the hall. Community rate: $8 per hour, $80 per day (up to 12 hours), $120 per day/night (up to 24 hours). Private/Commercial rate: $10 per hour, $100 per day (up to 12 hours), $150 per day/night (up to 24 hours).
Tairua-Pāuanui Community Board highlights
Discretionary Fund decisions
The Board approved two allocations from its 2025/2026 discretionary fund:
- $1,253 to the Tairua Surf Life Saving Club to assist with wastewater charges.
- $3,524 to Pest Free Tairua for the purchase of traps, following consideration of a late application.
Parking time limit - Tairua Library, Manaia Road
The Board considered options for improving short-stay parking outside the Tairua Library. Staff advised that changes under the parking bylaw should be supported by an independent traffic engineering assessment.
The Board resolved to recommend to Council:
- Introducing a 30‑minute parking limit for the two library parking bays.
- Installing signage aligned with library hours and NZTA Traffic Control Devices Manual requirements.
- Adding the restriction to the Parking Bylaw, with the specific GPS‑defined area on Manaia Road.
Tairua Information Centre
The Board received a summary of the Veros Property Services assessment on future locations for the Tairua Information Centre, comparing two Council‑owned reserve sites and a commercial lease option.
Members expressed concern about delays in progressing to a formal decision and noted general support for the Pepe Reserve site. They requested that future updates be provided as decision reports rather than information-only reports.
The Board resolved to:
- Note that both the Pepe Reserve and commercial lease options are viable, with Pepe Reserve best meeting long‑term strategic outcomes.
- Note that the Tairua Hall Reserve option is not recommended.
- Support establishing the Information Centre on Pepe Reserve.
- Request staff to prepare a report enabling a formal recommendation to Council.
Thames Community Board highlights
Thames Sport Precinct Feasibility Study adopted
The Board adopted a feasibility study that recommends Council invest in keeping the sports fields at Rhodes Park playable as long as possible, while budgeting in the long term to buy land to secure space for sport in the future.
Rhodes Park is Thames’ main sports park where rugby, football, cricket, touch and netball are played by approximately 850 people.
However, the fields are subject to regular flooding from three sources: the river, the sea and from the high water table under the park. According to calculations in the Council’s Shoreline Management Plan, the fields are expected to become largely unplayable sometime between 6 and 11 years from now (2032-2037).
A feasibility study was commissioned in 2023 to investigate options for future sports provision. The study reported that finding land that is free from the risk of flooding and is of sufficient size to accommodate 4-8 playing fields, 6 netball courts and 2-3 cricket ovals was a significant challenge.
The Board asked that Council’s finance team prepare a plan to make provision for buying land for a replacement sports park. This could be at a possible site identified at Kōpū South or at another appropriate site that becomes available.
The study recommended that Council has little option but to retain the current sports facilities at Rhodes Park in the short term. This would mean maintaining the fields to a higher level than is currently budgeted for.
Thames Community Board recommended to Council that it increase the budget for field maintenance at Rhodes Park from $68,822 per year currently to $208,000 per year in the next Long Term Plan, covering 2027-2037.
The Board also recommended setting up a reserve fund of up to $150,000 in the Long Term Plan that would be used to reinstate Rhodes Park fields after flooding.
It also asked staff to investigate the following to prolong use of the fields:
Community funding decisions
A total of $43,060 of grants to community initiatives to be benefit Thames was approved, prioritising the Board’s three priority areas of: children and youth, community safety, and promoting Thames and Thames tourism providers.
- $12,290 to Never Surrender Inc (Thames Boxing Club) for equipment for a physical activity and wellbeing programme and also towards operating costs
- $4,000 to Thames Blue Light – Te Huarahi Mentors for an activity day for at risk youth on a mussel barge learning fishing and filleting skills
- $606 to Thames Youth Advisory Panel for T-shirts and hoodies for new members of the group
- $545 to Thames Youth Advisory Panel to hire Thames Civic Centre for two days of suicide prevention seminars
- 400 to Thames Youth Advisory Panel to run activities at Thames Youth Centre during Youth Week 18-24 May
- $248 to Thames Youth Advisory Panel to buy 30 pink shirts for anti-bullying Pink Shirt Day on Friday 16 May
- $431 to Thames Community Patrol to buy new tyres for their patrol vehicle
Promoting Thames and Thames Tourism Providers
- $9,000 towards historic signage for Grahamstown businesses to pay a contractor to engage with businesses and provide designs using historic fonts as part of the Explore Thames brand
- $6,830 to buy three sets of flags for Pollen Street to celebrate special occasions such as Christmas and Matariki, replacing old, damaged flags
- $3,600 for promoting the Explore Thames brand on social media
- $3,500 as a 50%contribution towards Thames Public Art Trust buying the Jay Hogan loaned sculpture on the corner of Pollen and Campbell Streets
- $1,610 for new signage at the Brown Street entrance to the Mineralogical Museum
Whangamatā Community Board highlights
Parking improvements approved
The Board supported proposed changes to improve safety and access in two busy areas of town. On Lindsay Road, new 10‑minute parking bays and “no stopping” markings will be recommended to Council near the motorhome dumping station to prevent vehicles blocking access and to improved turnover. Near Whangamatā Area School on Achilles Avenue, the Board supported adjustments to parking restrictions to improve vehicles turning safety, formalise parking outside the school and swimming pool, and better manage peak‑time congestion.
Reserve to receive new official name
Following further consultation with Ngāti Pū and the Whangamatā Lions Club, the Board recommended to Council that Waireka Place Reserve be formally named Te Ara Aio ki Awarua. The name acknowledges Ngāti Pū’s cultural history and the long‑standing community stewardship that has helped restore the reserve as a peaceful walking space.
Funding
Several local organisations were also approved for discretionary funding, including support for:
- e‑waste recycling services
- replacement end‑of‑life care beds
- staffing and accounting costs for the Community Library
- equipment and a local walks booklet for the Information Centre
Peak summer and storm update
The Board received a detailed report on the 2025/26 summer peak period, including the January storm event. While visitor numbers were slightly down, services coped well overall, infrastructure remained largely resilient, and emergency responses were effective. Storm recovery work is ongoing.
SH25 night closures as work to replace Tairua's Pepe Bridge progresses
Pepe Bridge at Tairua will be closed overnight for two weeks later this month as work to replace the bridge progresses.
NZ Transport Agency says piling work for the temporary footbridge means the road bridge (SH25) will close from 7pm to 6am from Tuesday 12 May to Thursday 14 May and again from Monday 18 May to Thursday 21 May.
However, the bridge will open on the hour for 5-minute intervals at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm then midnight, 2am and 4am. As timings are task-dependent, these may be between 15 minutes before and after each hour. Emergency vehicles will have priority.
Construction of the footbridge is Stage 1 of the overall project, which is expected to move into full construction in mid-July.
The project is expected to be completed in late 2027.
Find out more
Our annual business survey is open
If you own or manage a business in the Thames‑Coromandel district, we want to hear from you - and you could win a great prize just for taking part.
Our Economic Development team has developed a short five-minute survey to help us get a clearer picture of the challenges you’re facing and what conditions would enable your business to grow and thrive over the long-term.
Every completed survey goes in the draw to win one of three prizes:
We want to be a business-friendly council. Your feedback directly informs how we plan for the future and keeps us ahead of the curve so we can identify emerging trends and challenges.
Just visit the link below from Friday 1 May until midnight on Sunday 31 May.
Fill out the survey here
Pāuanui kerbside collections: Reminder: collections of rubbish and food scraps take place for Pāuanui tomorrow, Saturday 2 May, due to the Anzac holiday last Monday. Check out your rubbish and recycling services at tcdc.govt.nz/bindays.
Coromandel Wharf and causeway closure: On Friday 8 May a closure is required of the Coromandel Wharf, including the causeway, to allow for essential maintenance work to repair and replace a power pole that is currently leaning severely, posing a safety risk. The area will be closed for the duration of the work to ensure the safety of workers and the public. Access will be restored as soon as it is safe to do so. We appreciate your cooperation and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Transfer station one-day closures: The following refuse and recycling transfer stations will be closed for one day to carry out kiosk repairs:
- Whangamatā Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station: closed Wednesday 6 May (Alternative weighbridge sites: Tairua, Thames, Whitianga)
- Tairua Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station: closed Wednesday 13 May (Alternative weighbridge sites: Thames, Whangamatā, Whitianga)
The after-hours drop off facilities will be available for recycling, rubbish bags and glass. The work is weather-dependent. Please check our website for any updates.
Sailors Grave Road, Tairua, closure: The road will be closed for several hours from Monday 4 May to Wednesday 6 May while pavement repairs take place. Check here for more details and other local road updates>
Update your details before 11 May
Dog registration is just around the corner and now is a great time to make sure your details are up to date.
It's important that your information is correct by Monday 11 May so we know exactly how to get in touch with you regarding your dog rego. Keeping your information current also helps us reunite lost dogs with their owners faster or get in touch if there is ever an issue.
If anything has changed, such as ownership of your dog, your address, your contact details, or if your dog has sadly passed away, please let us know. A quick update now will make the registration process smoother when the time comes.
You can update your details online anytime or contact our Customer Services team on 07 868 0200 or .
A quick check now will help keep things simple later.