Weekly Wrap-Up: Water reform decisions, meet your local candidates
Published on 22 August 2025
Council reschedules Local Water Done Well decision meeting
Our Council has rescheduled its meeting to adopt a Water Services Delivery Plan from this week to Thursday 28 August.
Under the government’s Local Water Done Well reform, councils must submit a Water Services Delivery Plan for government approval by 3 September detailing how they will deliver future water services in a financially sustainable manner; either through an internal unit, a council-controlled organisation or joining with other councils to form a Water Services Organisation (WSO).
Our Council’s preference has been to join with Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council in a WSO. Our detailed analysis and financial modelling carried out over many months identified that as the best option in terms future affordability for local ratepayers.
This modelling clearly demonstrates a saving of $500 per annum per ratepayer by 2034 through progressing with a WSO with Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council, whose ratepayers would also see savings.
On Friday 15 August, Tauranga City Council voted in favour of forming a WSO with Western Bay of Plenty District Council and our Council, with TCDC’s involvement subject to Western Bay of Plenty’s approval. However, later the same day Western Bay of Plenty decided in favour of forming a WSO with Tauranga but not TCDC. Their decision reflects concerns about ongoing Treaty of Waitangi matters involving iwi and hapū local to each area.
Our Council is now developing a Water Services Delivery Plan based on an internal water services unit, while leaving the door open to support iwi on the Treaty settlement issues of concern in order to allow our Council to join Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council in their due diligence process for the proposed WSO. This pathway and our draft Water Services Delivery Plan will be considered by our Council at its Thursday 28 August meeting before the final plan is submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs for approval by the government’s deadline.
Find out more
Our Local Water Done Well journey to date
Local Water Done Well is the government's approach to address long-standing water infrastructure challenges in New Zealand.
Recent legislation sets out the various arrangements and requirements of councils and water services providers.
We’ve been working for about a year to analyse various options for future water service delivery allowable under the legislation and carry out financial modelling to see which would deliver the best value for ratepayers. This analysis and modelling identified that a joint Water Services Organisation with Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council was the preferred option for long-term affordability, but that in the short term we were well placed to form an in-house water services unit because of our relatively low debt and good condition of assets.
A report detailing the process to date was included in the agenda of our Council’s Risk and Assurance meeting of 19 August 2025. It details the key decision points, the work of several of our elected members who participated in our Local Water Done Well Working Group, meetings and other engagement held with potential partners, the outcome of community consultation and correspondence with central government.
See the process to date
Meet your Local Election candidates
Want to know who’s putting their hand up to represent you? Candidate statements and videos for our Mayoral and Councillor elections are now online — plus written statements from Community Board candidates.
We asked our Mayoral and Councillor candidates three simple questions: Who are you? What are your priorities? Why should people vote for you? Those who took part had 90 seconds on camera to share their story, filmed between 11–15 August.
Community Board candidates didn’t get the video treatment because of staffing availability, but their written statements are there for you to read.
Taking part in the videos was voluntary and not all chose to do so. What you’ll see and hear are the views of the candidates — not Council. You’ll also find any public contact details they’ve chosen to share.
Now it’s over to you — check them out and get to know the people who want to represent your community.
Find out more
Careers Roadshow success
More than 1,000 students from across the Coromandel took part in this year’s Careers Roadshow, held from 11–15 August. The event visited Thames, Mercury Bay, Coromandel-Colville, Manaia and Whangamatā, connecting students with local employers, training providers and industries.
Forty stallholders showcased pathways in trades, study, apprenticeships and a range of other careers. Students tried interactive displays, spoke directly with employers and learned about opportunities both within the district and further afield.
“The Careers Roadshow is a really important part of our school year,” said Ian Fulton from Whangamatā Area School. “It helps students and their parents explore what’s available outside Whangamatā and make informed choices about subjects for 2026.”
Shell Sanireve-Pere from MSD agreed, saying “the best thing to come out of recovery work was the Careers Roadshow – it’s created a legacy.”
One rangatahi | young person also shared: “I hadn’t really thought about being a teacher before, but after visiting the education stand, I actually want to be a teacher now.”
The roadshow aims to help rangatahi explore career options, ask questions and see what opportunities are out there.
Insights into community wellbeing
Find out more about the wellbeing of those who live, work, or play in our district by joining a webinar on the results of The Hauraki Opportunity research project.
The Hauraki Opportunity Findings Report is the result of data collected from almost 900 individuals across Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, and Matamata-Piako District Council areas from October 2024 - March 2025. The survey, co-designed with community, asked questions about levels of capability, opportunity and subjective wellbeing from physical and mental health to social connection, access to services and community cohesion.
If you were one of the 900 people who participated in the survey – thank you! Around 500 respondents were from the Thames-Coromandel. The findings will help local community groups and councils make decisions that matter.
This webinar is designed to introduce the project and its findings to individuals and organisations working with and for the people of Hauraki, so that they can use them to best serve our communities.
Join in to hear about the Hauraki Opportunity research project and the results.
When: Wednesday 3 September
Start time: 12.30pm
Duration: 90 minutes
Webinar link
Note: A recording will be sent to everyone who registers.
Hetherington Road, Whangamatā, stormwater upgrade
The footpath in the reserve linking the Marina and Hetherington Road (next to Breakers Motel) will be closed from Monday 25 August for a few weeks. With construction vehicles moving to and from the compound stockpile area and work happening nearby, it’s simply not safe for the public to use this walkway. We apologise for any inconvenience while the closure is in place.
This upgrade is part of our six-year programme to improve stormwater network performance and reduce flooding risk. Construction on Hetherington Rd is expected to be completed by summer 2025, and there are also going to be traffic disruption during this time, so please plan your travel accordingly.
See here for more project details
Boundary Creek Bridge, Thames Coast Road
Work on replacing Boundary Creek Bridge on SH25 on the Thames Coast is due to start in early October, with the road closed for up to seven days in the week following Labour Weekend so the old bridge deck can be replaced and a new one installed.
NZTA | Waka Kotahi who's managing the work says a new, safer two-lane bridge and slow traffic passing bay at the southern bridge approach will be in place well ahead of summer holiday traffic.
The bridge deck is being pre-fabricated and work hours extended to keep the closure to a minimum. Emergency services have been involved in planning for the project and will have plans in place for the closure period.
The road is expected to be open to two-lane traffic from early December.
Read more here
Have your say on State Highway speeds
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is reviewing speed limits on some parts of State Highway 25 (SH25) in the Coromandel.
NZTA has received strong feedback from various communities that these sections of state highway would benefit from operating at a lower speed limit. The sections of state highway now open for consultation in the Coromandel are:
• the townships of Kūaotunu and Wharekaho on SH25
• between Thames and Tararu on SH25.
Sections of SH2 in Waihī and Karangahake towards Waikino are also being reviewed.
The consultation will run from Friday 22 August until 3 October 2025.
Visit NZTA's website for more information.
The review is taking place under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 (the Rule). NZTA says it is only able to review parts of SH25 at this time. These are areas where there have been significant community concerns raised. If your community is keen to see further speed reviews in your area you can let NZTA know and they will consider it as part of their planning.
Have your say here.
Boat Ramp closures
Two of our boat ramps are being closed for about three weeks so that maintenance can take place.
- Long Bay boat ramp closed on Monday 11 August.
- Wyuna Bay boat ramp will be closed from 25 August
Have a look at our boat ramps web pages for alternative boat ramps to use around the coast.
Matarangi footpaths
Footpath renewal is planned for footpaths on Matarangi reserves between Puriri Place, Rimu Place, Waimaire Avenue and Matarangi Drive over the next couple of weeks. During this time access to the reserve will be blocked off while machinery is operating - for health and safety reasons. Please avoid the area.
The footpath renewal is expected to take about two weeks, weather dependent.
Thank you for your patience while these works are carried out.
Hauraki Māori Business Awards
Applications are open until 5 September for the first Hauraki Māori Business Awards celebrating excellence, innovation and resilience within Māori enterprise.
This kaupapa | theme not only recognises success but also fosters growth, creates new opportunities for procurement and investment, and reinforces the interconnectedness of iwi businesses within our rohe | area.
The awards ceremony will take place at Te Aroha on Friday 17 October.
Have a business and want to enter? Want to attend?
See more here
Fighting food waste
Join our partner Love Food Hate Waste NZ’s campaign to reduce food waste and save the average household $1,200 worth of food that's chucked away every year.
Love Food Hate Waste NZ’s are inviting you to take on their super simple, three-week email challenge packed with practical tips and bite-sized actions to help you cut down food waste. From smarter storage to creative leftover ideas and more, you’ll learn easy ways to make your food and money go further.
Make it fun by rallying your whānau, workmates, or flatties and see how you can save food and the planet together. There are great prizes on offer, including the chance to win a $500 grocery voucher when you complete the challenge, and lots of spot prizes along the way.
Sign up for free here
Creative Communities Scheme
You've got until next Friday 29 August to get an application in for our Council's Creative Communities Scheme.
The scheme, backed by Creative New Zealand, aims to increase participation in the arts, broaden the range and diversity of the arts available to communities, and enhance and strengthen the local creative sector.
If your project meets one or more of the criteria below, you could be eligible for funding.
- Access and participation: The project will create opportunities for local communities to engage with and participate in arts activities.
- Diversity: The project will support the diverse arts and cultural traditions of local communities, enriching and promoting their uniqueness and cultural diversity.
- Young people: The project will enable and encourage young people (under 18 years) to engage with and actively participate in the arts.
Find out more Fill out the online form
Make sure this dog is taken
This sweet playful fella is called "Taken", and he's waiting for you to make this happen.
A beautiful male Huntaway-cross, we think he'd make a wonderful family pet.
Find out more here
Rally of Coromandel this weekend
The Rally of Coromandel returns as part of the New Zealand Rally Championship, with racing on Saturday 23 August and a street party kicking off festivities on Friday evening in Whitianga.
There’ll be rally stages across iconic Coromandel roads and a special spectator stage, plus a chance to see the action up close at Rally HQ at Mercury Bay Sports Park.
A colouring competition is open to local primary school students, winners will ride in a rally car!
Note: Road closures will be in place on Friday and Saturday 22-23 August.
Find out more
Kiwi South African Expo
Celebrate the shared heritage of New Zealand and South Africa at the KiwiSA Expo in Thames on 6 September 2025.
Explore all five main heritage sites, enjoy South African and Kiwi food and music at the Saturday Morning Market, and catch the Springboks vs All Blacks Test Match live!
Find out more KiwiSAExpo
Check out other events in our district
Work with us
We offer a diverse range of career opportunities.
Our current job vacancies are: