A student at Coromandel Area School, has been selected by Thames-Coromandel District Council as its first recipient into a national rangatahi leadership programme.
Eighteen-year-old Keeli James-Murray has been chosen to take part in The Tuia Programme, part of our Council’s Mayoral Taskforce for Jobs initiative, an intergenerational approach to develop leadership of young Māori throughout New Zealand.
Mayor fund relief underway
Funding is already being disbursed from our Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund to those worst affected by January’s storms, with the highest needs cases being prioritised.
Just over $400,000 was raised in the relief fund thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses and the Government. This includes an additional contribution of $100,000 announced last week from the National Emergency Management Agency.
We received 243 applications for funding. Our independent panel is still working through them to assess them. We ask all applicants to please be patient while the process is completed.
More information here
Commercial Operator Licences
For businesses wishing to operate on Council-owned reserve across the district, applications will open on Monday 16 March for our Commercial Operator Licence tender process. These licences help ensure commercial activities are well managed, safe and enhance the experience of both residents and visitors while protecting public access to our beautiful coastal spaces.
Licences are available for food vendors and activity operators, with options for single site, multiple site and start-up operators
A range of food and activity sites remain available in areas including 1 in Thames, 4 in Whangamatā, 4 in Pāuanui, 5 in Tairua, 3 in Whitianga, 1 in Matarangi and surrounding coastal reserves. These opportunities are ideal for businesses looking to bring new food offerings, or visitor experiences to the Coromandel.
Applications close Thursday 30 April. Submissions will be reviewed in May, applicants notified in June, and licences issued in July
For more information
Govt rural resilience workshop
Thames-Coromandel farmers are invited to attend a series of rural resilience workshops hosted by Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay.
The local Catchment Emergency Preparedness Workshop will be held on 4 May at Mangatangi Hall, Mangatangi from 10am - 4pm. The workshop is aimed at helping farmers and growers be better prepared for adverse events.
“Significant rainfall and flooding this summer have caused damage to farms and orchards, and had an impact on freight, transport and other infrastructure,” Mr McClay says.
“Farmers and growers have shown significant resilience getting through recent storms and ensuring the welfare of their animals. These workshops will help in emergency preparedness.”
Check out farm emergency plan and emergency checklist for farmers
Find out more about your local Community Response Group Plan
Find out more about our local hazards
The latest from our district libraries
Please note that Thames, Mercury Bay Library and Tairua Libraries will be closed on Thursday 19 March for a staff training day.
All regular Thursday programmes, including Thames’ Justice of the Peace Service Desk, will resume the following week (Thursday 26 March). While our buildings are closed, free public Wifi will remain available outside, and book drops will stay open for returns.
We’ll be back to our usual opening hours on Friday 20 March.
See more about what's happening at our libraries here
First aid course for sports clubs
Eight sport and recreation club members from Thames completed a first aid course last Sunday at the Thames Civic Centre. They are coaches of children and young people in sport and recreation clubs.
Participants included representatives from Thames ATC, Kiaido Ryu and Thames High School. All sport and recreational clubs were invited to participate in the course which was funded by Thames Community Board.
Pūrangi Road, Cooks Beach
Between 121 and 89 Pūrangi Rd is closed until 6pm Friday 13 March while our teams carry out drainage works. There will be no access to residents or pedestrians, but detours will be in place via Hāhei Rd, Link Rd and Hot Water Beach Rd.
See more
Coromandel Town carpark
As part of Council’s resurfacing programme to improve the quality of our carparks, the Hauraki House carpark at 230 Kapanga Road, Coromandel has recently been renewed and resurfaced.
The existing seal was approximately 30 years old and had significantly deteriorated. The carpark has been fully renewed and resurfaced, with new line marking added to improve accessibility.
Celebrate 20 years of artistic inspiration with the Mercury Bay Art Escape. The annual open studios event showcasing over 50 talented artists from Whangapoua to Pāuanui continues this weekend until Monday, offering a unique opportunity to meet artists in their creative spaces, see works in progress, discover what inspires them and purchase art directly from the makers.
Find out more here
Te Puru hall open day and Picnic in the Park
Visit Te Puru on Sunday 22 March and enjoy a day out. Our activities feature:
- 11am – 1pm: pickleball, table tennis or tennis
- 1pm: foot massage and reflexology demonstration
- 2pm: CPR / AED demonstration
- 3 – 7pm: live music, games, crafts and children's activities
- BYO picnic (jacket potatoes will be on sale)
Contact: Wayne Hackett on 027 439 0396
RTS hours next week
The following transfer stations will be open for reduced hours on single days while their weighbridges are serviced then calibrated.
• Wednesday 18 March: Thames: 9.30am – 5.30pm and Whangamatā: 8.30am – 3.30pm
• Thursday 19 March: Tairua: 9.30am – 5.30pm and Whitianga: 8.30am – 3.30pm
Pāuanui RTS: No drop-off 18/19 March
Due to safety improvement work at Pāuanui Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station next week, drop-off services will not be available on Wednesday 18 March and Thursday 19 March.
We plan to keep the site open, but refuse drop-off for those two days will not be available temporarily.
Alternative options are:
- Take refuse to Tairua RTS (17 minute further drive one way)
Please note above, that on 19 March this site is opening 1 hour late due to weighbridge servicing.
- Hold on to refuse until Friday
- Use bag compactor at front of site, if your rubbish is bagged.