Mayor on local government reform, project updates, road works & news
Published on 08 May 2026
Mayor Peter Revell on local government reform announcement
“Some of you will have heard about the government’s latest announcement this week about its new plans for local government reform," Thames-Coromandel District Mayor Peter Revell says, in a statement intended to reassure ratepayers and residents that Council is already looking at its options.
"The new plan allows councils to jointly put in high-level proposals to amalgamate or restructure, providing the services of both local and regional governments. It’s a challenging proposition - councils have three months to put in joint plans – they can’t go it alone.
"For councils that don’t lodge a proposal by the deadline, the government plans a ‘backstop’ compulsory reorganisation process. The government intends the new local government structures to be implemented for the 2028 local elections.
"Thames-Coromandel has already been undertaking preliminary work with other councils in the wider region on how to reform local government and we plan to continue these discussions.
"We want to assure residents and ratepayers of Thames-Coromandel District that we are thinking very deeply about the government’s latest announcement. We want to engage meaningfully with our communities in developing our approach. No matter what the outcome, we are still working and will continue to work, to deliver the services and facilities that matter to the community. We’ll continue to deliver our part in making the Coromandel one of the jewels in the New Zealand crown.
"We don’t have all the answers yet, but when we know more we’ll be sharing the details as soon as we can.”
Read the government’s announcement
SH25 Tairua Pepe Bridge night closures
Pepe Bridge at Tairua will be closed overnight for two weeks later this month as work to replace the bridge progresses.
NZ Transport Agency says piling work for the temporary footbridge means the road bridge (SH25) will close from 7pm to 6am from Tuesday 12 May to Thursday 14 May and again from Monday 18 May to Thursday 21 May.
However, the bridge will open on the hour for 5-minute intervals at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm then midnight, 2am and 4am. As timings are task-dependent, these may be between 15 minutes before and after each hour. Emergency vehicles will have priority.
Construction of the footbridge is Stage 1 of the overall project, which is expected to move into full construction in mid-July.
The project is expected to be completed in late 2027.
Find out more
Fishing changes feedback invited
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is inviting feedback on proposed changes to recreational fishing rules for the Auckland and Coromandel area.
The proposals address ongoing community concerns about harvest pressure and the sustainability of shellfish and other marine life found in rocky shore areas and rock pools.
Fisheries New Zealand invites submissions from people who have an interest in these coastal areas and the marine life found there. The closing date for submissions is 5pm on Friday 12 June.
Find out more or have your say
Un-cap your recycling
Please remove all lids from glass bottles and jars before placing them in your kerbside crate or taking them to the transfer station. To maximise glass recovery the lids need to be removed.
Don’t forget to rinse your dirty food jars too.
Go on, un-cap your recycling potential.
View more
Fill out our annual business survey
If you own or manage a business in the Thames‑Coromandel district, we want to hear from you - and you could win a great prize just for taking part.
Our Economic Development team has developed a short five-minute survey to help us get a clearer picture of the challenges you’re facing and what conditions would enable your business to grow and thrive over the long-term.
Every completed survey goes in the draw to win one of three prizes:
We want to be a business-friendly council. Your feedback directly informs how we plan for the future and keeps us ahead of the curve so we can identify emerging trends and challenges.
The link's open from Friday 1 May until midnight on Sunday 31 May.
Fill out the survey here
Tapu-Coroglen road closure update: The road will be closed from 8am to 4pm each day, from Monday 25 May to Wednesday 3 June so that urgent maintenance work can be safely carried out on two bridges along the Road. Outside of these hours, the road is expected to reopen to traffic as normal, subject to weather conditions and construction progress.
Port Jackson Road stop/go: Parts of Port Jackson Road will be subject to stop/go with closures up to 50 minutes at a time between 7am and 6pm from Monday 18 May until about mid June, weather permitting. This is so culvert extensions can be carried out at two sites along the road. The road will be open for about 10 minutes at a time. For after-hours, priority give way will be in place.
Tairua transfer station one-day closure: Wednesday 13 May. The following refuse and recycling transfer stations will be closed for one day to carry out kiosk repairs: The after-hours drop off facilities will be available for recycling, rubbish bags and glass. Alternative weighbridge sites: Thames, Whangamatā, Whitianga
The work is weather-dependent. Please check our website for any updates.
The Whangamata Stormwater Stakeholder Engagement team met earlier this week. The team reviewed the progress of the completed Williamson Park Basin and the currently under construction Hetherington Road Stormwater pipeline upgrade. This was followed by the forward planning for capital works 2026 to 2030. The priorities for the Whangamata community were discussed and the stormwater improvement options reviewed. The next meeting is scheduled for August 2026.
Check our website
Update your details before 11 May
Dog registration is just around the corner and now is a great time to make sure your details are up to date.
It's important that your information is correct by Monday 11 May so we know exactly how to get in touch with you regarding your dog rego. Keeping your information current also helps us reunite lost dogs with their owners faster or get in touch if there is ever an issue.
If anything has changed, such as ownership of your dog, your address, your contact details, or if your dog has sadly passed away, please let us know. A quick update now will make the registration process smoother when the time comes.
You can update your details online anytime or contact our Customer Services team on 07 868 0200 or .
A quick check now will help keep things simple later.
