Local solar power hubs, community boards meet, funding opportunities

The board approved discretionary funding totalling $18,000, with successful applicants able to return later in the year for additional support if required. Funding was allocated as follows:

• $10,000 to Tairua-Pāuanui Promotions Inc. for the New Year's Eve fireworks display
• $6,000 to Pāuanui Sport & Recreation Club for summer series events
• $2,000 to Tairua Information Centre for summer events.

The board recommended allocating up to $25,000 from retained earnings for the installation of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) CCTV camera at the intersection of State Highway 25 and Ocean Beach Road in Tairua. Members also requested further investigation into a second camera at the southern end of town and future integration with police systems.

Members discussed delays to the Tairua Information Centre relocation and the formal process required before the project can progress, while also seeking updates on the Redbridge Road property strategy and business directory signage. Concerns relating to surf club parking, signage and water pooling were also raised, with staff asked to investigate and report back. The board emphasised the importance of maintaining visibility of these projects and ensuring the community is kept informed of progress.

The Chairperson's Report highlighted ongoing community interest in local government reform, coastal protection planning, spatial planning and upcoming Long Term Plan discussions.

The board considered requests for grant funding and made the following decisions:

• $21,664 for Whangamatā Community Library to support their move to temporary premises following the closure of their permanent location. As the grant would be funded from the board’s retained earnings, this recommendation now goes to Council for approval.
• The board also recommended Council approve $4,850 from retained earnings be used to provide security on 1 January 2027 – something Police recommended.

The following Discretionary Fund requests were approved:

• $900 for the Whangamatā Amateur Swimming Club to support two junior coaches to complete a swimming teacher qualification
• $4,680 for the Whangamatā Resource Recovery Trust to expand their e-waste recovery operation.

A request from the Whangamatā Ratepayers’ Association for $3,779+GST to buy an IT system for the shared use of community groups was declined.

The following requests were deferred in order to get more information:

• $720 for the Onemana Residents and Community Association to replace vandalised cords for Christmas tree lighting and insurance for the AED at the Onemana cafe
• $2,406 for the Whangamatā RSA for building refurbishment
• $2,393 for Whangamatā Carols in the Park for a sound system hire and other materials related to the Williamson Park Christmas Eve event.

These allocations leave approximately $85,000 in the board’s Discretionary Fund for allocation in the 2026/27 financial year.

Reserve renaming

The board is recommending to Council that Mount Sea Reserve in Parawai, Thames, be renamed Te Pane o Te Manuhiri Reserve to reflect its historical, cultural and archaeological origins. The new name would also position it as a welcoming place for manuhiri | visitors.

The discovery of nearby burial pits around 20 years ago has resulted in the area being formally recorded as an archaeological site.The name – meaning “the head/forefront of the visitor” – is also the name of the burial site.

Three continued areas of focus for the board’s discretionary funding were reaffirmed: community safety, children and youth, and promoting Thames and Thames tourism.

Funding decisions

The board agreed to fund the following initiatives worth a total of $69,841 from its discretionary funds:

• $13,000 towards Thames Never Surrender Boxing Club rent in 2026/2027
• $11,080 for Thames Community Centre Trust’s 12-week driver licence course for 10 participants to move from learners to a "restricted" licence
• $8,155 towards Thames Gymsport's operational expenses
• $8,000 towards Thames Business Association’s traffic management for Thames Santa Parade ($5,061) and $2,939 towards three initiatives linked to Christmas / Santa Parade: a Town Centre Christmas Window Trail, Letters to Santa and Community Choice Float Award
• $6,100 towards Thames Music and Drama’s cost of The Addams Family production at Thames Civic Centre from 26 September to 3 October 2026
• $5,477 towards CAPS Hauraki Children's Day at Victoria Park in March 2027
• $4,812 for Steampunk the Thames’ traffic management costs for parade to be held on 14 November 2026
• $4,141 for Thames Youth Advisory Panel (T-RAP) for sound and lighting during a 24-hour community walk-a-thon in February 2027
• $3,450 for Thames Blue Light – Te Huarahi Mentors to buy 20 fishing rods for fishing trips organised for at-risk young people and their mentors
• $2,609 towards Heritage New Zealand (Thames School of Mines – Mineralogical Museum) school holiday programme costs
• $2,447 for Thames Amateur Swimming Club’s four junior coaches participating in a coaching course and to buy a new coaching resource
• $570 for Thames Air Training Corps to purchase drop-down sides for the group's marquee used at community events and fundraisers.

Tennis club lease

The board agreed to recommend to Council that it approve a new 10-year lease with Thames Tennis Club for part of the Victoria Park recreation reserve, located at 403 Brown Street.

Tararū Cemetery options

A report assessing options for Tararū Cemetery was received by the Board. There have been several slips affecting the area over the last decade or so. After Cyclone Gabrielle Council successfully applied for funding to research the possiblity of further land movement affecting the cemetery.

A number of recommendations were made, including to:

• undertake a cultural values assessment before finalising preferred options
• initiate a tree maintenance programme
• contact families related to at-risk graves and gain feedback
• identify  funding sources.

The board will look at the options in more detail once budget options have been analysed.

Civic centre use

The board also discussed the under-utilisation of Thames Civic Centre and expressed its commitment to making sure better use is made of the centre.

The board considered several local matters, community updates and future projects.

This included the following decisions:

• Coromandel Goldmine (Coromandel Independent Living Trust) lease renewal approved
  The board approved a right of renewal for the lease associated with the Goldmine facility for a further 10 years. Board members acknowledged the positive contribution of the organisation and supported continuing the arrangement under the existing lease terms.
• Community board reports received
  The board formally received a range of regular reports, including the Community Group Report, the Community Board Forward Work Programme, and the Chair's Report.

During the public forum, The Coromandel Colville Business Association proposed enhancing Coromandel's streetscape through future tree planting and improvements to paving and pedestrian areas. Interest was expressed in working collaboratively with the community, including potential fundraising initiatives to support future beautification projects.

A Community Group Report was presented as part of the Community Board Accord process. The report provides an overview of activities across Council's community-focused teams and is intended to improve visibility of local projects, services and community outcomes. Board members emphasised the importance of celebrating community achievements and sharing more local success stories with residents.

The board welcomed the return of Chair Richard Shelford-Woodcock, following a leave of absence, and considered a range of local projects, funding requests and community issues.

The board made the following decisions:

• recommended Council approve a five-year Licence to Occupy at 344 Black Jack Road, Ōtama, allowing adjoining landowners to continue maintaining native planting and weed control
• recommended Council approve a 99-year Licence to Occupy for a wastewater system at the Kūaotunu Fire Station
• rejected a proposal to reclassify Moewai Park Reserve from Recreation Reserve to Local Purpose (Community Facilities) Reserve, opting to retain its current status
• approved the road name Hareridge Road for a road parcel at 259 Hepburn Road, Whenuakite
• Conticued its support for the Bluff Road Connectivity Project, subject to a coastal track assessment, whole-of-life cost analysis, and consideration of future financial implications
• recommended Council approve $670,000 from the Hot Water Beach Parking Reserve Fund to upgrade the Hot Water Beach ablutions block wastewater treatment and disposal system.

The board approved $1,000 in discretionary funding for Grey Power Mercury Bay to support an International Day of the Older Person event.

A request for $5,000 from the Aotearoa Astrotourism Academy for a Kūaotunu-based astronomy and astrotourism course was declined, with members considering it better suited to district-wide economic development funding.

In the public forum, the board heard a submission from Kūaotunu Residents and Ratepayers Association (KRRA) on footpaths adjacent SH25 connecting Kūaotunu communities from the western and eastern approaches to the village and requesting that MBCB include this scope into their priorities for the Long Term Plan 27-37 to be submitted to TCDC. The board also heard concerns from Whitianga commercial boat operators regarding recent changes to wharf fees and charges.

Members received the new Community Group Report, providing an overview of community projects, programmes and services across the district.