Cathedral Cove and SH25a updates, plus support for locals
Published on 11 October 2023
Our Council, Ngāti Hei, DOC Hui
Our Council staff, Ngāti Hei, and DOC recently met in Whitianga to discuss options, roles, and responsibilities around the visitor experience at Hahei.
This included expanding and reimagining local visitor experiences and improving climate resilience. The focus is on enabling valuable visitor experiences that embrace the heritage and cultural significance of the area.
You can view the Cathedral Cove website and background here.
Tiaki Rangers
Tiaki rangers will be stationed on-site throughout the summer season. Their responsibilities involve educating visitors about potential risks and the current closure of the Cathedral Cove archway. They will also promote other sites people can visit within the Hahei and Coromandel region.
Additional signage being installed
Signage has been installed at boat ramps and along the beach at Cathedral Cove, explaining the risks at the site. DOC is collaborating with local iwi and boat operators to maintain the natural beauty of the area while explaining current risks.
For their safety, we strongly encourage individuals to heed this guidance and make well-informed decisions prior to visiting.
The safest course of action remains to avoid visiting the beach altogether.
The cove can still be viewed from the sea and tour operators will be working throughout the summer season as weather permits.
If you plan to access the cove by sea, check weather, sea and tide conditions first.
Frontline staff come together to address family harm
Last Thursday, our Council joined local organisations in hosting the Te Aorerekura conference, which brought together frontline kaimahi (workers) in the family violence space. It was planned as part of the Thames-Coromandel Cyclone Recovery Plan, as this year’s severe weather has added another layer of complexity to this issue.
Te Aorerekura is the National Strategy and Action Plan setting out a new collective path for government, tangata whenua, specialist sectors, and communities to eliminate family and sexual violence. The conference was held to connect and support organisations to be recognised as one resource across Hauraki and bring to life Te Aorerekura locally.
Over 125 attendees came together, from social and community organisations, Iwi, Police, and local and central government.
To open the day, chair of the Hauraki Family Violence Intervention Network, Cathy Flynn, acknowledged the need for a “coordinated and consistent response” to address family violence.
“We have always known that the most effective response comes from one’s own community,” Cathy said. “You will all have experienced a very hard last few years, with the impact of COVID and this year with the impact of the major weather events. On top of that, a rising cost of living all factors that feed into more stress and hardship.”
Among the day’s speakers were our Council’s Civil Defence Recovery Manager and Controller Garry Towler who acknowledged the important role our kaimahi have played during cyclone Gabrielle and as we move through recovery. Garry discussed the social impacts severe weather can have. These are caused both by the stress and loss faced during and after events such as Cyclone Gabrielle, as well as the ongoing anxiety new weather warnings can cause.
Denise Messiter, Managing Director of Te Whariki Manawahine O Hauraki and a member of the Ministers Tangata Whenua Advisory Group for Te Aorerekura - Te Pūkotahitanga. Denise spoke about the role they have in bringing Te Aorerekura to life.
The guest speaker of the day was Matt Brown, who co-founded an anti-violence movement known as She is Not Your Rehab with his wife Sarah. He spoke about his empathy-based approach to working with and listening to men’s experiences. He described the movement as “an invitation for men to acknowledge their own childhood trauma and to take responsibility for their healing so that they can transform their pain instead of transmitting it on those around them”. Find out more at sheisnotyourrehab.com.
Sarah and Matt have recently launched InnerBoy, a mental health tool which aims to make healing for those that perpetrate violence, free and accessible. They have had positive feedback on the app since it launched in July, which can be found here: innerBoy App - She Is Not Your Rehab
Thank you to the co-hosts, Te Whāriki Manawahine O Hauraki, Hauraki Family Violence Intervention Network and Regional Public Service Commission, and everyone who attended.
The latest from Waka Kotahi NZTA
SH25A Taparahi: first bridge beams arrive on site
Waka Kotahi NZTA's team received a big delivery last week. Arriving on site were the first two sets of the bridge steel beams. These are up to 30 metres long and weigh around 20 tonnes each.
On site they will be spliced together to form the base of the bridge deck, for the first of the three spans. Twelve of 15 have arrived so far, with the rest arriving next week.
Summer maintenance
To keep our roads safe and accessible, Waka Kotahi NZTA has an annual maintenance programme of resurfacing and rebuilding across the state highway network each summer.
Our maintenance season has started and contractors have a steady programme of work to get through.
You can view the Waka Kotahi 2023/2024 road works season here.
SH25A bridge strengthening
While SH25A is closed, Waka Kotahi NZTA are working through other projects on the road, including strengthening seven bridges.
Our contractor is established at five sites along SH25A. Traffic management is in place, including a 30km/h temporary speed limit and lane closures when scaffolding is installed or removed. Work on the final two sites is expected to get underway soon which are on the western side (Kōpū).
Visit nzta.govt.nz for more updates.
Free concert for flood-affected seniors
Thursday 19 October
1pm start
Thames Union Parish 204 Pahau Street.
Operatunity have launched an initiative called SOFAS – Support offered for flood affected seniors. Audiences around NZ have been generously donating tickets to Operatunity shows to be passed onto seniors who have been affected by the recent extreme weather events. Operatunity is also matching every ticket donated.
It is hoped these tickets provide some happiness and enjoyment for those seniors who have been affected by the recent flooding and landslips around the region.
Bookings are essential, please contact the friendly concert team on 0508 266 237 to secure your spot.
For more information, visit operatunity.co.nz
Our Business Sentiment survey is now open for local businesses.
It’s a chance for you to tell us how weather events have affected your business activity, sales volumes and employee numbers over the last eight months.
The purpose of this quarterly survey is to collect evidence to support the need for continued central and regional government support for our region.
By completing this survey, you will help us continue to strongly advocate for the needs of our business communities.
You can complete the survey here.
Destination Hauraki Coromandel (DHC) have now officially launched their brand-new website.
www.thecoromandel.com is the official visitor website for Hauraki Coromandel to provide key information for visitors and help them to discover more about our region. It aims to inspire them to visit and to provide a simple way of locating accommodation and things to do, smoothing over the process of planning a trip.
List your business or event
A listing on www.thecoromandel.com provides a direct link to your website so the visitor can get right to the source and transact. No sales are made on the Destination Hauraki Coromandel website - instead users are referred on to the retailer website so all proceeds stay with our local providers.
If you have a restaurant or cafe, you can contact Megan and the team will make a listing from your content. Event organisers can upload events directly here.
Development of visitor app for summer and beyond
Changes in travel options and way-finding is an ongoing issue. To help with this, DHC are building a regional app to show in real time how easy it is to get here and around. Further down the track, the app will allow visitors to connect more deeply with local businesses and conservation projects.
First Steps is a space that encourages business owners and employees to prioritise wellbeing and awareness. It supports people to grow impactful and profitable businesses while living balanced and fulfilling lives.
We know that business owners, managers and employees are experiencing pressures, challenges and unpredictability that are impacting their ability to thrive. They’re confronting feelings of uncertainty, fear, grief, anxiety, depression. Perhaps a loss of control, self-doubt or disconnection.
No matter the complexity of these feelings, it’s important to know there is help available. First Steps aims to provide support for business owners, managers and employees and reduce the number of those seeking it in crisis. We know everyone’s journey is different, so by providing access to a variety of tools, resources and perspectives, we hope you feel seen, understood and supported in a way that works for you.
First Steps is a nation-wide initiative, provided in collaboration with The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Health, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Employers and Manufacturers Association. It is confidential and free to access.
firststeps.nz/about-us