Cathedral Cove update, minimise your waste, and more

Funding announced to reinstate walking access to Cathedral Cove  

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is making significant strides towards reinstating walking access to Mautohe Cathedral Cove by summer 2024/25, following extensive damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka announced this week $5 million in funding from the International Visitor Levy to rebuild and maintain the track.  

After assessing various options, DOC plans to temporarily reopen the track using a new boardwalk and steps across stable terrain, reconnecting undamaged sections. This decision aims to support local businesses and the community, while long-term solutions for visitor management are developed over the next 12-18 months. Safety measures will include visitor risk mitigations due to ongoing geological risks. The community's patience and input have been crucial amidst the complex process of restoration and planning for future resilience against natural disasters. 

Mayor Len expressed his support for the initiative, emphasizing the collaborative effort required to ensure sustainable access to Cathedral Cove. "This announcement is great news. Our Council will continue to support the Department of Conservation, iwi, the local community and Destination Hauraki Coromandel to work towards a longer-term solution for walking access to Cathedral Cove,” he remarked. “While the cove is undoubtedly a gem in the Coromandel crown that draws many people, I’d like to remind everyone that there are so many other sites in our district worth visiting, so we’d love to see you for a visit." 

DOC, our Council and other stakeholders remain committed to balancing environmental preservation with enhancing visitor experiences across the Coromandel.  

Read DOC's news release
More on Cathedral Cove

Moved recently? Update your address with us

Now that the Long Term Plan for 2024-2034 has been adopted, we’re setting our rates. 

Our online Rating Information Database (RID) will be available for you to check the changes in rates for your property from about 18 July.

If you’ve moved recently, please update your postal address with us so your next rates notice, posted in September, goes to your current address. 

Would you prefer to receive your rates notice by email? Just let us know. 

We also have some new options around direct debits, to make it easier for you to pay your rates through the year in regular payments: weekly, two fortnightly options, and monthly. 

Update your address online, and download the direct debit form from our website: 

Click here

Entries and public nominations open for Richardsons Hauraki Coromandel Business Awards

The awards highlight excellence and creativity in the business sector, offer an opportunity for businesses to gain recognition, and the chance to benchmark and gain expert advice on how to continue to prosper.  

There are two awards for public nomination:  
• People's Choice – for an outstanding business
• Service to Business – for an individual who goes above and beyond for our business community.  
Make sure to nominate.  

Full information on the award categories and how to enter and nominate is available here. Entries and nominations are open until Friday 16 August. For an overview of how to apply check out some informative videos on the awards Facebook page. 

Mark your calendars for the gala evening on Wednesday, 23 October at the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre. Ticket sales will open in early August. 

Find out more

Dog registrations are due

There are two weeks left to renew your dog registration before late penalties kick in from 1 August. 

First-time registration: Come in to one of our offices and one of our friendly team will help.  

Renewal: You can do this all online including payment. 

Don’t hesitate – you’ll need to register your dog before 1 August to avoid late payment penalties. 

More information

Representation Review 2024 

Have a say on our Representation Review Initial Proposal  

Following our Council's decision on 31 October 2023 to establish at least one Māori Ward, we began a review of representation for the 2025 local election. This process is called a Representation Review and it will come into effect for our October 2025 local body elections.  

The preliminary feedback in March 2024 was the first part of a process seeking community input on representation. Our Council has considered the input received from that survey, explored options, and agreed to an initial proposal in June. We are keen to hear from our communities to understand how you feel about our initial proposal.   

Public feedback is open until Friday 2 August 

We're asking for your thoughts on our initial proposal for:  
• an additional councillor to reflect the introduction of a Māori Ward; and  
• a minor boundary change between the South East General Ward and Thames General Ward, and the Tairua-Pāuanui Community Board and Thames Community Board to better reflect communities of interest. The area of Neavesville is accessed via one road from the western side of the district. It's considered that the constituents of Neavesville better identify with the Thames General Ward and Thames Community Board area, than with the South East General Ward and Tairua-Pāuanui Community Board area.  

What's next? 

Read more and give your feedback here Download a hard copy of the feedback form

Waste minimisation initiatives

Workshops on reducing waste  

Our Council is pleased to announce that we have arranged for waste education sessions with Kate Fenwick (nee Meads) from Waste-Ed with Kate this coming August.  

Kate will be running two sessions across three towns in our district: The ‘Food Lovers Masterclass’, and ‘Cloth Nappies, Parenting and more’. 

Get in quick as tickets for all sessions are limited.

Food Lovers Masterclass – evening sessions $10

• Whangamatā, Tuesday 27 August, 6-8pm; Whangamatā Bowling Club, 500 Rutherford Road
• Whitianga, Wednesday 28 August, 6-8pm; Mercury Bay Bowling Club, 92 Cook Drive
• Thames, Thursday 29 August, 6-8pm; Thames Civic Centre, 200 Mary Street

The Food Lovers Masterclass is a hugely popular seminar on food waste reduction that provides great advice on how to reduce food waste in your household. Topics include: Shopping Smarter, Storing Food Tips and Tricks, Planning Better, Best Before Dates vs Use-By Dates, What can you Freeze? And loads more… 

There will be a few face-palm moments and lots of laughs as Kate takes you through the reasons we waste food and what we can do about it. Reducing food waste is simpler than you may think and makes a huge difference for your wallet and the environment. Following the seminar you will receive a gift to take home to help you with your waste minimisation journey. 

Register here

Cloth Nappies, Parenting and more – Online course + coffee group catch-up $10

Would you like to know more about how to reduce your waste as a parent or soon-to-be parent? Kate has just the course for you.

The topics cover: Waste-Free Parenting, Feeding & Baby Food, Cloth Nappies 101, Washing Cloth Nappies and more. This course is available online today. Please register your interest and we’ll get you all set up.

Bonus: Kate has a cloth nappies gift pack for those who enrol. You can collect the free gift pack at an informal coffee group catch-up at the dates/times listed below. Kate will also be available at these times to provide more information about the course and answer any questions you might have.  Once you’ve registered, we’ll be in touch with the coffee group catch-up venue details.  

• Whangamatā, Tuesday 27 August, 10–11am
• Whitianga, Wednesday 28 August, 10–11am 
• Thames, Thursday 29 August, 10–11am 

Register here

We want to learn more about your cuppa – more specifically, your takeaway cuppa. Along with our neighbours, Hauraki and Matamata-Piako Districts, we’re keen to kōrero about your takeaway drink habits and what sort of cups people use for takeaway drinks – when you use disposable cups and when you use reusable cups, sometimes called ‘keep cups’. 

Either way, we’re all ears and ready for you to spill the beans about your cuppa. Take our quick and easy survey and be in to win a $50 Prezzy Card – perfect for fuelling your next few coffee runs. Your feedback will help inform the sustainability choices in our region, so we appreciate your input – ka pai.

The survey closes Tuesday 30 July. 
Take part in the survey

Te Whau Whau old man pine removal 

A large pine tree located at Te Whau Whau urupa, next to Otahu reserve in Whangamatā, is scheduled for removal next week. This urupa holds the tūpuna (ancestors) of Uru Ngawera and Ngāti Pū, dating back approximately 850 years. Removal of the pine is deemed necessary due to its risk of falling, which poses threats such as exacerbating erosion, exposing remains, and presenting safety hazards.  

The felling and removal work is scheduled for Thursday 18 and Friday 19 July.  

We engaged with Ngāti Pū and Uru Ngawera on the removal and received their support. To minimise disturbance, the area will be closed to private vehicles. The timber from the felled pine will be donated to the local community for firewood. Those interested should not drive onto the reserve but can hand carry firewood to their vehicle. Contractors will process the timber into manageable sizes for easy removal from the reserve.

Wilding pines, like this one, are categorized as invasive pest species. Further information on wilding pines can be found here.