Tourism Minister meeting, road safety and summer water saving
Published on 12 January 2024
Tourism Minister Matt Doocey visited the eastern seaboard of the Coromandel (Whitianga through to Whangamatā) this week. The visit followed an invitation from myself to Conservation Minister Tama Potaka and was strongly supported and facilitated by our local Coromandel MP Scott Simpson.
There were meetings with Ngāti Hei, Destination Hauraki-Coromandel our Regional Tourism Organisation, along with representatives from the tourism and hospitality sector. All the meetings I attended were extremely constructive and while perspectives may have differed, everyone was in alignment with two of our most important priorities.
- that our roading resilience work is implemented (local roads and state highways)
- that our tourism sector be supported – it’s one of our biggest industries in the Coromandel, with one in five people being employed in some capacity, compared with the national average, which is one in ten. With that context, the remediation of the Cathedral Cove track, as one of the major visitor drawcards to our district, was a key point.
(Pictured left) Tourism Minister Matt Doocey at Dive Zone Whitianga meeting with some of the tourism and hospitality owners and operators in Mercury Bay, along with Coromandel MP Scott Simpson, Mayor Len and Destination Hauraki-Coromandel representatives.
This was the same message I also shared with the Conservation Minister Tama Potaka when I met with him informally last week as he visited the Coromandel with his family.
The land that Cathedral Cove sits on is not Council land. It’s a combination of DOC-managed Crown Land, private property, foreshore and marine environment with Council roads and carparks. Under the terms of their potential Treaty Settlement, Ngāti Hei are acknowledged to have an interest overlay as tangata whenua of Cathedral Cove. This site, along with a number of other locations in the Mercury Bay area, are of significant cultural and historical importance to the district. Both Ministers are very clear that Ngāti Hei have a pivotal role to play in discussions and plans for the future of Cathedral Cove.
Therefore, any conversation about Cathedral Cove must be led by the key stakeholders responsible for the whenua.
I have been consistently clear that our role at Council, and my role as Mayor, is to take a leadership position in advocating for a solution directly to the Ministers. This has been done in close co-operation with Scott Simpson as party whip and our local MP, and I want to thank Scott for his work in setting up these meetings. The details of the planned rehabilitations will be a matter for DOC and Ngāti Hei as guardians and kaitiaki of the land. Speaking with both Ministers, at this stage there is no need to take a delegation to Wellington, as having both Ministers visit the Coromandel and speak with people on the ground was more constructive, however Minister Potaka has agreed to a Zoom conference with affected stakeholders later this month.
Both Ministers are very positive about their respective departments working together on a solution - and the need for DOC to be involved in this tourism space.
The commitment is that both Ministers will meet in the next couple of weeks, to help provide a pathway for all stakeholders to work together on short and long-term solutions for Cathedral Cove. I will follow up with both Ministers and continue to press for the rehabilitation plans to be adequately supported, prioritised and resourced at government level.
While most residents and visitors to the Coromandel over the holiday period enjoyed a well-earned holiday with friends and whānau, it is sad to report that three people lost their lives on roads in the Coromandel over the holiday period, with one more person in critical condition in hospital.
Nationally 21 people lost their lives on the roads over the Christmas holiday period, with eight in the Waikato region. As a district, Thames-Coromandel is over-represented in these figures, a fact that we must seek to change.
While our thoughts and condolences go out to the whānau of the people who have died, it should also serve as a reminder that driving on our roads can be challenging even in the best of times, and a moment’s distraction may have permanent consequences for you and those you leave behind.
Find out more here
The holiday period has been busy for Thames, with visitors being encouraged to explore all the interesting places the town has to offer as part of the new Thames brand promotion which got underway before Christmas.
New “places of interest” maps are being distributed by the information kiosk at Goldfields Shopping Centre as well as by visitor information centres around the Coromandel and Hauraki, retailers and accommodation providers in Thames.
The revamped website https://explorethames.nz/ showcases the town’s history, activities and events of interest as well as business directories of where to eat, shop, stay and what to do.
Locals are encouraged to “follow” and “share” social media posts on Facebook or Instagram @explorethamesnz widely and make the call to friends and whānau to come and “Explore Interesting” in Thames this summer.
Learn more about the Thames brand
Spread the word about the free Connector bus service running between Thames and Coromandel Town this summer.
The service runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and is a trial until mid March (see the schedule below). Tickets are free but booking is essential. Please include your name, the service time and the town you are being picked up from.
The aim is to reconnect our communities to healthcare, education, appointments, work opportunities and whānau. It’s been paid for by recovery funding our Council accessed from the Ministry of Social Development after a community survey showed that there was an appetite for a service to help isolated communities access necessary services and opportunities.
Read more here
Increased visitor numbers, steaming hot days and summer storms have meant some areas of the Coromandel were under water restrictions for brief periods over the holiday period. Currently, there are active water restrictions are in Thames and Thames Valley (Level 5 – total watering ban except for hand-held watering cans only for essential purposes such as watering plants).
During the holiday period communities in Hāhei, Onemana, Coromandel Town and Whitianga were placed under Level 3 water restrictions (with outdoor watering only allowed every second day) due to the need to manage water production to keep up with peak demand. In addition, Pāuanui spent a few days under Level 5 restrictions. Thames is currently under a Level 5 - Total Water Ban water restriction.
Storms on Friday 29 and Sunday 31 December disrupted water processing plants due to the high sediment load, slowing down the rate water could be processed for drinking. On a positive note, communities responded with a five per cent reduction in water usage, particularly in activities such as garden watering, indicating a collective effort to conserve water during the challenging period.
It is possible that more water restrictions may be required. We will keep a close eye on variables such as overall water usage and potential storms causing processing issues, particularly over the upcoming Auckland Anniversary Weekend and Waitangi Weekend where our population can hit peak levels again.
Our Council thanks everyone who did their part for water conservation and encourages you all to continue practising good water conservation habits.
Keep up-to-date with water restrictions
Water tank refills
If you’re on tank water, be prepared for further dry weather and check you water tank levels now to plan ahead for a possible refill.
If your tank levels are dangerously low, you may be eligible for financial help from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
To apply:
- Visit MyMSD
- Telephone 0800 559 009
A reminder that until the end of January 2024 Fire and Emergency NZ’s (FENZ) Restricted Fire Season is in force for the Coromandel with no outdoor fires allowed without permits. Private fireworks are banned, except for already planned and approved public fireworks displays.
Find out more
A summer roadshow on waste reduction which took place at east coast holiday spots this week has met with a positive response from the public.
Our Council’s Solid Waste team and ‘Waste-Ed Kate’ waste reduction educators (pictured at Hāhei) engaged with hundreds of residents and holidaymakers to answer questions, offer tips on minimising waste and get feedback from the community.
A recycling race where children sorted out waste materials into the appropriate bins or crates was a big hit with the young recyclers of the future. Reusable giveaways, such as food containers and ice block moulds, to enable people to reduce waste were also very popular.
"We have had some great conversations with our communities about waste reduction, and the interaction has been very positive,” says our Council’s Solid Waste Manager Anna Stevens.
Peak kerbside collections for the entire east coast, as well as Coromandel Town & Te Kōuma and Coromandel Rural North, continue until 9 February. Our contractors Waste Management crews will be working on Auckland Anniversary Weekend, Monday 29 January, as well as Waitangi Day, Tuesday 6 February, carrying out kerbside collections, with collection days for the rest of those weeks unaltered by the public holiday.
Due to the high volumes of material kerbside, there has been the occasional delay. If your bins aren’t emptied on your scheduled day, the crews will get to them the following day.
To download your summer collection calendar visit www.tcdc.govt.nz/summerkerbside or pick up a printed calendar at any Council office, Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station, information centre or from a local dairy or Four Square Store and some petrol stations.
If you’re not sure which collection zone you’re in, please go to our Smart Maps system. Enter your address in the address bar in the top left of the page. Click your property on the map. Then click through on the blue arrow on the top right to get your collection area and then your collection day. Alternatively, phone us on our 24-hour service 07 868 0200 or email us at customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz
For Thames Coast & Manaia, Thames Rural South and Thames & Surrounds, collections continue to alternate between red weeks (red-lidded rubbish bin and food scraps) and yellow weeks (yellow-lidded mixed recycling bin, glass crate and food scraps). Collection days are also unaffected by Auckland Anniversary Weekend and Waitangi Day. Download your calendar here www.tcdc.govt.nz/bindays
Our Council is pleased to advise there are two new Seagull Centre resource recovery drop-off points at Pāuanui and Tairua Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations, in addition to their main location in Thames.
The Seagull Centre drop-off sites at Pauanui and Tairua are open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday from 8.30am - 4pm. The main Thames Seagull Centre drop-off is open from 8.30am – 2.30pm on weekdays and 8.30am - 4pm on weekends. These drop-off sites will accept reusable household goods, electronics, working whiteware, reusable building products, clean clothes, beds and mattresses.
Since the Pāuanui drop-off opened on 5 January 2024 an estimated 2 tonnes of materials has been donated and kept out of landfill.
For more information
We have an exciting range of opportunities currently being advertised:
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, free parking, sick leave on commencement of employment and more.
Find out more and apply
Library summer holiday activities
Children aged 5 to 12 are invited to drop in at Mercury Bay Library, Thames Library or Tairua Library to take part in fun, creative activities.
On offer are challenge activities, crafts and games, as well as some special guests to meet.
All sessions are free of charge. No bookings are required – just drop in on the day.
Find out more
Blue Skies – Sunday 28 January
ZM and August Avenue present Blue Skies, a long weekend party at the iconic Coroglen Tavern.
Featuring evergreen power-poppers Goodshirt, chart-smashing rapper / producer Kings, AMA Breakthrough Artist of the Year 2022 award winner Georgia Lines, and more. Start the New Year in the best way, in the best location.
For more details