Refund call splits council

Refund call splits council

A surprise $2.5 million surplus sparked a stoush among Waikato regional councillors last week resulting in chair Pamela Storey using her casting vote to block a proposal to return the funds to ratepayers. The debate,…

Friction over road names

A Waipā councillor has reignited debate over road naming rights, arguing private landowners should have the final say on their land – even when council policy prioritises Māori names. Crs Roger Gordon and Philip Coles…

Gastro issue remains a mystery

Mystery still surrounds the cause of a gastroenteritis outbreak at the Waipā Business Awards despite the caterer issuing a public apology this week. Public health officials from Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, Ministry of…

Waikato to get a mayoral rematch

Former Waikato District councillor Aksel Bech has announced a second, all-or-nothing bid for the mayoralty, citing skyrocketing rates and a need for systemic change in local government. “Rates unaffordability has reached a tipping point,” Bech…

Where the council saves

A Waipā district councillor has revealed the extent of the council’s line-by-line budget savings as part of the Long Term Plan consultation, but residents may struggle to find the details. The savings, which affect hundreds…

Buses use keeps rising

Flexible bus services across Waipā towns still appear to be years away, despite a significant increase in passenger numbers on the region’s two main public transport routes. At a recent Waipā District Council workshop, Waikato…

The Tavern opens at Tivoli

They rolled out the eight metre long red carpet in Cambridge last night for the world premiere of a movie first shot at the former Masonic Hotel six years ago. Door sales for The Tavern…

Long Term plan consult starts

A behind-the-scenes tour of the Parallel Road water treatment plant is shaping up to be a popular feature of Waipā District Council’s Long Term Plan and Local Water Done Well consultations which kicked off last…

Then there were three

Veteran Waipā councillor Clare St Pierre has announced her candidacy for mayor, driven by what she calls “12 years of financial frustration” and two consecutive years of steep rate increases. The 64-year-old Pirongia resident is…

Concrete evidence provided

The operators of a recycling plant have rejected claims they are disposing of toxic materials in a former sand quarry at the back of Aotearoa Industrial Park. See: Quarry complaints levelled A $6.4 million project,…