$100k boost for Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund
Our Thames-Coromandel Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund has been boosted by a $100,000 Government contribution.
Minister for Emergency Management Mark Mitchell announced the funding this week as part of a wider $830,000 package for New Zealand communities impacted by recent severe weather events.
The contribution will take the local relief fund, which closes this week, to $400,000.
Applications for, and donations to, our Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund close tonight.
More than 170 applications have already been received, and our teams have been busy verifying applications before they are assessed by an independent panel.
Prioritisation of the fund goes towards families and individuals in our community who have been faced with extraordinary circumstances due to the impacts of the January storm.
Whangārei District Council, Gisborne District Council, Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Ōpōtiki District Council and Ōtorohanga District Council were also each recipient of $100,000 contributions. Another $30,000 went to Christchurch City Council.
Find out more about the Government contribution and how people can apply, and donate, here.
Have your say on the proposed policy for community funding
Across the Coromandel, communities are doing incredible things - restoring environments, running events, improving facilities, and supporting wellbeing. Council funding helps many of these initiatives happen.
Our current policy for grants is outdated, so we’re proposing a new Community Funding Policy that provides clearer guidance and a more streamlined approach to supporting community-led initiatives.
We want to hear from anyone with an interest in community funding, including iwi, community groups, volunteers, event organisers, residents and ratepayers.
Feedback is open until 1 May 2026.
You can read the consultation document, view the proposed policy, and share your feedback at www.tcdc.govt.nz/fundingfeedback.
Batteries don’t belong in your bins
Lithium-based batteries, commonly found in things like laptops, smartphones, vapes and kids’ toys, can also ignite when crushed.
Please help keep our community and staff safe by never placing batteries or items containing batteries, inside kerbside bins or in the rubbish pit at the Refuse & Recycling Transfer Station (RTS). Doing so puts our workers, equipment and wider community at risk.
If you’re unsure about how to dispose of an item, check our website: www.tcdc.govt.nz/kerbside and Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations (RTS).
The latest from our District Libraries
Please note that our District Libraries (Thames Library, Mercury Bay Library and Tairua Library) will be closed on Thursday 19 March for a staff training day.
All regular Thursday programmes, including Thames’ Justice of the Peace Service Desk, will resume the following week (Thursday 26 March). While our buildings are closed, free public WiFi will remain available outside, and book drops will stay open for returns.
We’ll be back to our usual opening hours on Friday 20 March.
See more about what's happening at our libraries here.
Attention Hāhei and Cooks Beach road users
Purangi Rd, between 121 and 89 Purangi Rd, will be closed from next week. From 7am Monday 9 March to 6pm Friday 13 March our teams will be carrying out drainage works. There will be no access to residents or pedestrians, but detours will be in place via Hāhei Rd, Link Rd and Hot Water Beach Rd.
See more
Closure of Whangamatā car park
The Council car park between Lincoln Rd and Aickin Rd (opposite Olivers Bakery) will close on Tuesday 10 March and Wednesday 11 March.
The closure is to allow for pavement repair works, which will take place from 7am until 7pm (weather dependent). There will be no access for car parking in this area during this time.
Reminder: Whangapoua Harbour advisory lifted
This is a reminder that our advisory not to swim, fish or collect shellfish in the Whangapoua Harbour has been lifted - it's no longer in effect. We had a query from a resident this week who was unaware it had been lifted.
The advisory was put in place following the late January storm. The Matarangi Wastewater Treatment Plant experienced high wastewater inflows, causing elevated pond levels and resulting in an overflow from the treatment ponds.
NZTA Waka Kotahi SH 25/25A recovery works update
Good progress is being made on repairing damage to State Highway 25 after January’s severe weather, with work still required at 14 sites. The aim is to have traffic moving more freely by Easter.
Read more
Celebrate 20 years of artistic inspiration with the Mercury Bay Art Escape. The annual open studios event showcasing over 50 talented artists from Whangapoua to Pāuanui starts this weekend, offering a unique opportunity to meet artists in their creative spaces, see works in progress, discover what inspires them, and purchase art directly from the makers. Find out more here >
