Amalgamation, summer changes, RMA reforms and more

Council reaffirms commitment to joint amalgamation proposal

Thames-Coromandel District Council has voted to stay in its joint amalgamation proposal with Hauraki and Matamata-Piako district councils, rejecting a Notice of Motion that would have started the process of withdrawing.

The Notice of Motion was brought to yesterday’s Council meeting (Thursday 29 October) by a district councillor, with three fellow councillors in support as required under standing orders. It was lost 4 votes to 7. The full voting record will be published in the meeting minutes but the vote can be viewed in the meeting recording on our website.

Yesterday’s decision confirms the position Council took on 4 August, when it resolved to lodge the Waihou-Piako-Coromandel unitary authority proposal with the government under its Head Start process. The three councils submitted the proposal jointly in August.

Had it passed, the motion would have authorised Council to open discussions with the two partner councils about ending the Memorandum of Understanding that underpins the proposal and releasing TCDC from its commitments.

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Council adopts Annual Report

Also at yesterday’s meeting, Council approved the audited Annual Report for the financial year ending 30 June 2026. Council’s Annual Plans and Long Term Plans set out what Council intends to achieve, what it will cost and how it will be funded. The Annual Report reports on what was actually achieved during the financial year.  

The Local Government Act requires local authorities to publish the report and a summary version of it within one month of the report being adopted. We’re working on the summary report and expect to have both published on our website well before the month is up.

The Annual Report has been audited on behalf of the Auditor-General by an independent external auditor, the Audit Office. The audit helps ensure that we meet our responsibilities to complete an accurate and complete report that is compliant with our legislative obligations under the Local Government Act 2002 and Local Government (Financial Reporting and Prudence) Regulations 2014. You can read the Annual Report without the audit opinion in the agenda of yesterday’s Council meeting. The audit opinion will be inserted into the published version and available on our website soon.

Witness Council proceedings

All of our Council, standing committee and community board public meetings and workshops are livestreamed, with a recording available on our website soon after. Agendas are published at least two working days before each meeting and minutes are confirmed at the following meeting.

Meetings

Advanced notice of late December kerbside collection changes for Pāuanui and some of Whangamatā    

There will be changes to kerbside collection days for Pāuanui and some properties in Whangamatā from the start of the peak summer collection period on 21 December 2026.  

The proposed changes were presented to the Tairua-Pāuanui and Whangamatā Community Boards earlier this month. Following their approval, the changes were approved by the full Council this week.  

The changes will not affect service levels, collection frequency or collection costs for residents or property owners.  

Pāuanui 

• Pāuanui’s kerbside collection day will change from Friday to Tuesday, with the first Tuesday collection on 22 December. 

Whangamatā  

• Properties south of the Hetherington Causeway Bridge, near the marina, will move into the Whangamatā South collection area. Their collection day will be Monday, starting 21 December. 
• Properties north of the bridge will remain in the Whangamatā North collection area and will continue to have their collections on Tuesdays.  

We’ll provide easy-to-follow collection calendars and letters to all affected properties well before the changes take effect.  

Fire and Emergency New Zealand urges care with fireworks this Guy Fawkes

• Check the weather and any fire restrictions in your area before lighting fireworks.
• Don’t set fireworks off when it’s windy.
• Have a large bucket of water or hose on hand.
• Point fireworks towards the sky and well away from buildings, vegetation or anything else that could catch fire.
• Check local rules before using fireworks in public areas, as many have year-round bans.
• Let your neighbours know if you’re planning to set off fireworks, particularly those with pets or livestock.
• Soak used fireworks in water before disposing of them.