Commercial operator licences, dune care, events and project updates
Published on 20 March 2026
Applications open for Commercial Operator Licences
Applications are open for our Commercial Operator Licence tender process to allow operators of food or activity businesses to operate from Council reserves.
A range of sites remains available in areas including 1 in Thames, 4 in Whangamatā, 4 in Pāuanui, 5 in Tairua, 3 in Whitianga, and 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.
Find out more here
Road closures in place for events
Keep in mind that there will be some road closures in Whangamatā and a bit of traffic management on the State Highways for the Pāuanui Power Cruise on Thursday and Friday's Thunder Cruise to Onemana.
NZTA Waka Kotahi advise Beach Hop motorists to avoid using SH2 through the Karangahake Gorge as single lane sections remain while extensive flood repairs and maintenance continue. A January storm caused significant damage to SH2 in the gorge and repair works will continue until May. Read more here.
If you’re out and about, be mindful of the classic cars and drive safely around town – there will be thousands of extra people in the district. Traffic marshals will be on the job helping to keep cars and people safe – please follow their directions and check out the road closures below.
Kickdown Festival
Kickdown is in Whangamatā this year with a special Downtown Edition that is bringing the motorbike action into the heart of town for two days of riding and live music, including the Friday night rally and prize giving.
Things will be busy, check out the road closure, do your part by driving safely and listen to the advice of the traffic marshals.
- Date: Friday 20 – Saturday 21 March
- Road closure: Port Road between the Aickin Road and Lincoln Road intersections will be closed from 4-10pm on both days.
Traffic returns to normal at 10pm.
Whangamatā Repco Beach Hop
Wednesday 25 March & Thursday 26 March (7:00am – 11:00am)
- Ocean Road will be closed between Lowe Street and Williamson Road.
- Residents can still access properties through closure points.
- A detour will be in place via Lowe Street, Mary Street and Williamson Road.
Friday 27 March
- There are no road closures.
Saturday 28 March
- Chartwell Avenue will have a one-way closure from 10:20am to 1:00pm. This may change to stop/go traffic control.
- From 7:00am to 5:00pm, Port Road will be closed between Ocean Road and Hetherington Road. There will be no vehicle or business access, as cars will be parked on both sides of the road.
- From 10:20am to 5:00pm, Port Road will also be closed between Hetherington Road (last roundabout) and Tuck Road. This is a new closure for the 2026 event. There will be no vehicle or business access, as cars will be parked on both sides of the road.
- From 5:00pm, Port Road will reopen, but there will be no entry between Ocean Road and Hetherington Road.
Thames South Water Improvements Project
Work on a $19.4 million water upgrade over two years to make drinking water safer for rural households in Thames South starts this autumn.
It’ll make water safer and more reliable for around 1,000 residents in Omahu, Matatoki, Pūriri, Hikutaia and Wharepoa.
The improvements will consist of:
- a new water intake at Pūriri River
- two new reservoirs on the hills behind Pūriri Village (an access track will also need to be built to provide vehicle access to the reservoir sites)
- a new, modern water treatment plant
- new piping for reticulation of the treated water to households, including pipe upgrades and reconfigurations to connect different pressure zones and networks.
Find out more