Business mentoring opportunity, LTP submissions closing and more news
Published on 05 April 2024
Mentoring opportunity for local businesses
Our Council is excited to share a great opportunity to secure a free professional business mentor to support you and your business for a whole year.
Thanks to the generosity of the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) and Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ), 10 Thames-Coromandel businesses will benefit from 12 months of support from a skilled business mentor passionate about helping businesses overcome challenges and build resilience.
Mentors are carefully selected and matched from Business Mentors New Zealand’s nationwide pool of 1500 dedicated and experienced businesspeople. They offer everything from general business advice, to technical and specialist knowledge, or a Te Ao Māori approach to business.
A business mentor can meet you regularly online or in person. Whatever your situation, there is likely someone appropriate for you and your business.
Registration for a 12 month mentorship from BMNZ mentors is usually $295+GST. But we have 10 free mentorships to give away to deserving businesses from the Thames-Coromandel district. To be considered for this exciting offer, all you have to do is fill out our short form including some information on why a mentor could help you improve your business. Applications close 11:55pm Tuesday 30 April.
Click here to find out more
Click here to fill in the form and apply
What’s your take on our future plans?
Our public feedback period is closing this Monday 8 April for our draft Long Term Plan 2024-2034.
Don’t miss your chance to share your feedback on the services, facilities and projects we’re proposing to deliver to our communities over the next 10 years and beyond. There are some big challenges ahead for our district and your feedback will help inform our Councillors as they make decisions for our final Long Term Plan, which we’ll adopt in late June.
We’re proposing an average district-wide rates increase of 12.9 per cent for the 2024/25 financial year to help us pay for the facilities and services we’re planning to deliver. How much you pay will depend on a number of things like the value of your property and the services it is rated for, and on the new district property valuations from QV. These have largely risen across our district, resulting in a wide range of percentage increases.
Visit our ‘Have your say’ page below to find out more about:
• What issues we're asking you about
• The different options for giving your feedback
• The services, facilities and projects we plan to deliver over the next 10 years (see Supporting Information)
• How to check your proposed 2024/25 rates online
• Median rating examples for each community board area
What are the next steps for our Long Term Plan?
Community Board meetings start next week
Coromandel-Colville Community Board on a site visit.
Our next round of Community Board meetings start next week, which will include a summary of our post-cyclone social recovery and resilience initiatives and updates local projects.
You can join the meetings in-person or online. More information and agendas are available at the links for each meeting below.
• Tairua-Pāuanui, Monday 8 April, 10am
• Whangamatā, Tuesday 9 April, 10am
• Thames, Wednesday 10 April, 10am
• Coromandel-Colville, Tuesday 16 April, 9am
• Mercury Bay, Wednesday 17 April, 9am
• Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee, Thursday 18 April, 10am (Thames)
• Ordinary Council Meeting, Tuesday 30 April, 9am (Thames)
See our full meeting calendar
Learn more about our Community Boards
Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station hours
A reminder that with the end of Daylight Saving on Sunday 7 April, all our Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations change to their winter hours – from 8.30am - 4.30pm seven days a week.
These shorter hours last until the end of September when opening hours extend until 5.30pm.
On Anzac Day public holiday, Thursday 25 April, our transfer stations are closed until 1pm and reopen for the afternoon.
Find out more about your closest RTS
Coromandel artists invited to join Spring Festival
Creative Coromandel are starting to plan their Spring Artbeat Festival. They want to ensure this year's lineup of events between Sep-Dec 2024 is overflowing with creativity.
The Coromandel Artbeat Spring Festival celebrates our rohe's rich artistic and cultural tapestry, embracing artists from all disciplines to share their creative mahi and vision with the community. Over three months, the festival will feature various events, exhibitions, performances, workshops, and much more to celebrate the arts in their diverse forms.
This will include artists' creative studio spaces to large group exhibitions musical theatre to intimate workshop classes, there will be something for everyone to enjoy and be inspired by.
One of the festival's key highlights is the opportunity for artists to sign up for free and contribute their events to the lineup.
This open invitation encourages artists of all levels and backgrounds to participate in this dynamic celebration of creativity. We want to showcase your work and act as a catalyst for collaboration and community engagement.
Click here to find out more about the festival
Follow the festival on Facebook
Coromandel Stamper Battery to get a new lease of life
An iconic part of Coromandel-Colville’s early goldmining history is set to get a new lease of life following the transfer of the lease for Coromandel Stamper Battery to NZ Gold Mining Heritage Limited on 23 February this year.
The old water-powered gold-processing plant and former tourist attraction sits on Council-owned land at 410A Buffalo Road and has been closed to the public for at least 7 years while various upgrades have been completed.
The lease has been acquired by NZ Gold Mining Heritage Limited (NZGMHL), a registered charity founded by Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck to support the conversation and restoration of New Zealand’s historic gold mining sites. NZGMHL falls under the broader umbrella of the Beck Foundation, created in 2023 to celebrate and protect New Zealand’s technological heritage, and support future ambitious scientific, technological, and educational initiatives that aim to make breakthroughs in significant global challenges.
Peter is eager to see the battery reopened as an attraction soon and is currently working on opening plans with the support of our Council.
“We’re excited to play a role in preserving and protecting New Zealand’s early goldmining sites to ensure that this heritage is not lost to future generations. Gold mining played a vital role in developing areas such as Thames and Central Otago, and we want to make sure that history lives on.”
Media enquiries can be sent to hello@beckfoundation.co.nz
Progress on the Kōpū Marine Precinct
The finishes touches are being made to the access ways and infrastructure for the Kōpū Marine Servicing and Business Precinct.
• Culverts have been installed along Quay Street.
• The stormwater swales have been dug.
• The precinct’s gravel pavement has been topped up.
• The footpath along King Street has been poured.
Access to the existing boat ramp via Quay Street is back to normal from Saturday 6 April.
The remaining works over the next few weeks will be to:
• install street lights
• install lighting, power, water and CCTV cameras to commercial wharf and boat ramp
• install signage and fencing
• plant swale
• seal King Street.
We’re looking forward to opening it to the public in May and launching it officially soon after that. We’ll be publicising the opening date and an official launch as soon as it’s confirmed.
Click here to visit the project page
Join us at the opening of Tairua Skatepark
Opportunities at our Council
At our Council we ensure work-life balance is not just a dream but a reality. We offer an array of staff benefits including flexible work arrangements, relocation allowance, sick leave on commencement of employment and more.
Our current job vacancies are:
If you're interested in working for us, and there are currently no vacancies that fit your skillset and knowledge, please complete the expression of interest application via the link below.
Click here for more information or to apply
Anzac Day commemorations around the district
Take a look at the range of activities across the district to mark Anzac Day, Thursday 25 April 2025.
Please share details with relatives or friends who may not have access to computers. They’ll also be able to pick up paper copies from Council offices, libraries and information centres from Monday 8 April.
Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou | We will remember them.
Visit the event page
What would help your business this year?
Te Waka, our regional economic development agency, is seeking to understand your priorities through their Waikato Business Sentiment Survey. This is a chance to shape how Te Waka advocates for Waikato’s regional economic growth, while also supporting our Council's advocacy work from a district perspective.
By completing the Waikato Business Sentiment survey, your voice will become part of the insights and recommendations Te Waka provides to government and local leaders to inform investment and prioritisation decisions affecting the region.
We’d really encourage you to make sure your sector and district are represented. Please share this opportunity to have your voice heard with your colleagues, leaders, and wider business network.
Click here to complete the survey by Friday 19 April
Mackay/Sealey Street improvement works
Work is planned to take place at the intersection of Mackay Street and Sealey Street, Thames from Monday 8 April to Friday 3 May, to improve safety for road users and pedestrians.
During this time there’ll be a road closure in place for Sealey Street and a two-way stop-go on Mackay Street. We understand that these works may cause inconvenience, but every effort will be made to minimise disruptions to nearby residents, the public and Thames High School and to ensure the safety of students, parents and staff members. During the construction phase on the eastern side of Mackay and Sealey Streets, on the Thames High School side, some of the parking (approximately five spaces) on Sealey Street will not be available to students/teachers and parents due to construction activities.
Bus parking will temporarily be moved so that buses will bypass down Court Street. Clear signage will be displayed around the site to divert pedestrians/traffic safely and efficiently. Provisions are in place to allow emergency services access and priority if required.
Our Council and contractors Ventia thank you for your understanding while this necessary work takes place.
Thames Library will close for a week in May
Thames Library is closing for just over a week this May, while we replace the carpet in the public area.
The library will be closed from 12pm on Saturday 4 May until Monday 13 May. We’ll re-open at 9am on Tuesday 14 May.
During the closure, all the books and furniture in the public area of the building will be moved into storage containers in our car park, and the carpet will be removed and replaced. There will be limited access to the car park during this time.
While the library is closed, reserved items will not be available to pick up.
Items cannot be returned to Thames Library during this period but can be returned to our two other District Libraries in Mercury Bay and Tairua.
Libraries Manager Shana Allan encourages people to stock up on books early, so they have a good selection before we close. We’ve extended our loan period to allow for the closure.
“Also, the more books you take, the less we have to shift,” she says.
NIWA climate summary for the Coromandel, April-June
Air pressure is expected to be higher than normal, while rainfall is most likely to be near normal. Early April is forecast to be drier than normal before rainfall chances increase mid-month.
Temperatures are most likely to be near average across the country and about equally likely to be near average, or above average, in all remaining regions.
An increased frequency of south-westerly winds will see chilly air affect New Zealand at times. The prevalence of high pressure may also contribute to frosty nights and mornings.
Soil moisture levels are most likely to be near normal in the west of both islands and most likely to be below normal in all remaining regions.
Adoptable dogs
We currently have some lovely dogs who are looking for homes.
Sonic and Knuckles
These are two fun-loving labrador brothers. They're about 12 months old and love being active. They also love pats and cuddles.
Dobby is super friendly, energetic and loves to play ball.
Chica is a fun and friendly sharpei who loves being around people.
If you are interested in adopting a dog, please contact us on 07 868 0200. Once your interest is known a Dog Control Officer will be in contact with you to discuss the adoption.
Local artist Sarah Nicholson chosen for online jigsaw feature
This painting was created by artist Sarah Nicholson and is on a Chorus telecommunications cabinet in Captain Cook Road, in Whitianga.
It's been chosen as this week's featured online puzzle, which you can solve by clicking here.
The mermaid's tail is painted with metallic paint, so it shines and shimmers in the sun.
Be sure to take a look at the painted cabinet art if you are in Whitianga, as photos don't do it justice.
Click here to solve the puzzle
Read more about the Cabinet Art competition
