Our Weekly Wrap Up: post-election news
Published on 17 October 2025
New Council-elect gets to business
This week our successful election candidates, based off preliminary results, have been busy getting to grips with their new roles as Thames-Coromandel’s newest Mayor, Councillors and Community Board members.
Final results are due today, any time now, and are expected to confirm Peter Revell as Mayor and Councillor John Grant as Deputy Mayor.
Mayor-elect Peter Revell returns to Council after serving a term as a Councillor and a term before that as a Community Board member.
Councillor John Grant returns, elected in the Mercury Bay ward, to a second term.
Successful elected members met informally at the Thames office today where they had an opportunity to connect and meet key staff over light refreshments.
Other successful election candidates, in the preliminary results, are:
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Robert Ashman, Coromandel-Colville
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Tony Brljevich, Mercury Bay
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Martin Rodley, Thames
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Robyn Sinclair, Thames
To view the successful Community Board members and the final results, once they are released, click here.
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ShakeOut success
Congratulations to those people who know what do to if the Big One hits. More than 755,000 people took part in this year’s national ShakeOut earthquake and tsunami drill on 16 October. Teams, schools and workplaces throughout the Thames-Coromandel (and rest of the country) collectively carried out the important steps of what you should do an earthquake: Drop, Cover and Hold. Our Thames staff pictured here joined in on the action with enthusiasm. It was a great effort all round.
If you’d like to learn more about how best to prepare for the unexpected, including what you should put in a grab bag, visit tcdc.govt.nz/hazards.
Recycling Week 2025
Next week’s Recycling Week is a great initiative for people and organisations to learn more about better recycling habits and contribute to a waste-free future.
It’s an excellent opportunity to look at how we can change our buying habits, avoid waste and find ways to reuse or repair things we have at home, work, schools and places of education.
Each day has a different theme:
Register in the link to get materials you can use in your organisation or school.
Find out more and register here.
Students dive into maritime action at Kōpū Wharf
About 200 local students from around 15 schools got hands-on experience with the Police Maritime Unit Deodar 111 at Kōpū Marine Precinct this month.
Highlights included jumping aboard Police and Harbourmaster boats in the water and enjoying a hot lunch provided by the Rapid Relief Team.
The infrastructure at Kōpū Wharf provided the perfect setting for an engaging and educational day for students. The event offered a fun, close-up look at teamwork and Police and maritime operations keeping New Zealand’s waters safe.
It celebrated students who always strive to do their best, but don’t always get recognised.
Kōpū wharf public access trial continues
You’ve got two more weekends to visit Kōpū Commercial Wharf which is open to the public from 9am until 5pm on weekends until the end of Labour Day, Monday 27 October. During this trial period you can access the wharf through the pedestrian access gate – next to the recreational ramp parking (via King Street).
Please take extreme care and follow all signage in place. Children must be supervised by adults.
We want to hear from you about your visit.
Submit your feedback here
Long Bay reserve success
Hundreds of hours of voluntary community effort over five years in collaboration with Council has seen biodiversity return to Long Bay Reserve and esplanade in Northern Coromandel.
Previously ridden with pests and invasive weeds that were killing off native plants and wildlife, hard work by local volunteers and contractors has resulted in rātā flowering again, other native plants flourishing and the resurgence of native birds such as tūī, kākā and kererū, with an indication that kiwi may be present.
Most of the hard work has been done by Forest & Bird Upper Coromandel, Remnant Restoration Ltd and Moehau Environment Group. Over 2,100 pests have been removed and invasive weeds tackled.
Funding has come from Waikato Regional Council, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Coromandel-Colville Community Board and Forest & Bird’s own funds.
“The area’s come back to life again and is alive with native species,” Forest & Bird local co-chair Dr Kate James says. The timing’s perfect for summer visitors to one of the area’s most popular walks, the Long Bay Kauri Walk, which starts from the reserve. “Visitors can help the area thrive by taking litter home and ensuring any dogs are kept on a lead.”
Kuranui dune planting
On Monday this week, Council worked alongside Moanataiari School planting over 2000 new dune plants on the Kuranui Bay foreshore.
This planting is a continuation of previous plantings as we work our way along the beach frontage.
A big thanks to Moanataiari School, our Coastal Restoration team and our parks and reserves maintenance contractor Green by Nature’s coastal Kaitiaki.
State Highway temporary closures
Short, temporary closures of parts of State Highways 25 and 25A are planned in late October and November to allow NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to carry out vital work to improve these key roads. Neither of the road closure periods will overlap. The agency has worked hard in its planning to ensure there will be minimum disruption possible. Both sets of road upgrades will be finished well ahead of the peak holiday period.
SH25 Boundary Creek replacement
SH25 will be closed at Boundary Creek Bridge, north of Te Mata, for seven days from 5am on Wednesday 29 October as NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi contractors demolish the old deck and install the new one.
They will use a prefabricated bridge deck and work extended hours to keep the closure to the shortest possible time. Access will be maintained for all businesses and properties along SH25 up to the bridge from the north and the south, but no through traffic will be possible during this time.
To get to locations north of the bridge, including the Waikawau boat ramp, use SH25A and the eastern section of SH25 via Tairua and Whitianga. For those heading south from northern Coromandel, it will be the reverse.
Please avoid the 309 and Tapu-Coroglen Roads if you’re towing or driving a heavy vehicle.
Please note: Kerbside collections in the areas affected by the SH25 closure – the Thames Coast, Coromandel Town and the Rural North - will take place on the usual days (which is a day later than normal the week following Monday Labour Day). However, the time of the day of collections may vary. Please put your bins out by 7.30am and be patient while our contractors service your area.
SH25A daytime closures: two weeks from 10 November
A reminder from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi that SH25A will be closed from Kōpū to near Hikuai for two weeks from 10 November, Monday to Saturday 8am-5pm.
Major rebuilding is needed at two steep and narrow locations, that can't be done safely with traffic flowing.
The 8am closure points will be at each end of SH25A, at Kōpū and near Hikuai. Any vehicles on SH25A by 8am will get through, although there may be delays.
The highway will be open in the evenings after 5pm under stop-go.
The detour using SH25/SH2/SH26 adds about one hour to travel time.
For more information on both State Highways
For any queries
Council road improvements
A reminder that our Council's contractors are making the most of the drier weather to carry out essential road maintenance and improvements on the district's other (non State Highway) roads.
These works are timed to get ahead of the busy summer season, helping ensure safer and smoother travel for everyone. We’re working hard to minimise disruptions while addressing areas of the roading network that need attention.
Check out our road resealing schedule for next week
Find out more about Council road improvements
Special Licences Christmas — New Year
Are you planning an event over the Christmas — New Year period that will require a Special Licence for alcohol?
Check out our web pages for your handy guide on when you need a licence and how to go about it.
If you do need a Special Licence, there are some things you need to know:
- We must receive your application(s) by 13 November 2025.
- Special Licence applications must be received at least 20 working days (preferably more) before your event date.
- For large events it's recommended you apply well in advance of the 20 working days.
- Late applications won’t be accepted
Click here for a Special Licence application
Upcoming closures at Whitianga Refuse Transfer Station
The Whitianga Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station at South Highway West will be closed to public on Monday 3 November and again on Monday 10 November to conduct some site work. The proposed closures are weather dependent.
Our other nearby transfer stations at Tairua (Red Bridge Road) and Matarangi (Matarangi Drive) will be open and available to the public. Opening hours of those sites are 8:30am – 5:30pm.
Our Council apologises for any temporary inconvenience these two closures may cause.
Holiday on the horizon
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