Waikato District Council has taken the step to hang the portraits of both Kiingi Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII and King Charles III in the Council Chamber.
Celebrating diversity
Following the recent coronation of Charles III the unveiling of both portraits was coordinated to celebrate the diversity of Waikato district’s communities, and to show the council’s commitment to creating liveable, thriving and connected communities. Waikato District Council is the first and only Council to honour the Kiingitanga by having the Maaori King’s portrait hanging in Chambers.
The Chamber also looks different in this triennium as councillors sit in a semi-circle facing the public gallery – not sitting with their backs to the public. The new seating arrangements make it a more inclusive place for people attending meetings or making submissions at hearings.
Community catch-up
We’ve invited community boards and the larger community committees to the first of a series of general ‘catch-up’ sessions with Council – and now it’s the turn for smaller community and hall committees to hear about the Council’s planning processes and have a say about how we might all work better together.
Councillors and senior staff have set aside time on Tuesday 11 July and invitations have gone out to community committees and hall committees around the district to send representatives to attend. We hope to see you there.
Blueprints
Meanwhile, thanks to all community committees who responded to the Blueprints survey so that the Council’s next Long Term Plan 2024-34 can be informed by an up-to-date understanding of community aspirations. There will be more opportunity to provide feedback on the LTP early next year.
Future for Local Government
After two years’ of consultation the final report from the Future for Local Government review panel has concluded that the relationship between local and central government needs a reset. Among its recommendations are new funding solutions to relieve pressure on rates, such as the Government paying council rates on land used for schools, hospitals and conservation estate, and providing councils a share of locally raised GST. New election methods and four-year terms are also recommended. No decisions are expected before this year’s national elections.
Local heritage
The Tamahere-Woodlands Heritage Forum is developing a website to gather photos and records of how our communities have developed over the years. Please make contact if you can help.
The Forum has also been developing some heritage signs for each community in the Ward with support from the Council. The first of these have now been installed in Puketaha near the school, and at Eureka near the hall. Others are on the way.
Resource consent pre-application service
The Council’s Resource Consent pre-application service is available again. It was paused in March last year, while staff dealt with large numbers of consent applications and the impacts of Covid-19. The pre-application service is offered to:
· Help you understand if you need a consent.
· Help you understand what to include in a resource consent application.
· Identify any potential issues with your proposal.
At this stage the service is only providing written advice, but a request for a pre-application meeting will be considered once an application and supporting documentation is received and Council staff have a better understanding of the level and scale of advice needed.
There is a lot happening in the resource consenting space with the release of the Proposed District Plan – Appeals Version, Variation 3 to the Proposed District Plan relating to the Medium Density Residential standards and new legislation coming into effect. The service can help provide some direction on these and other matters. To find out more, go to the Council’s website and search for ‘pre-application service’.
Dog registrations due
It’s time to renew dog registrations. Pay on or before 20 July to get a $20 discount per dog and you'll also go in the draw to win a refund for one dog registration! You can pay your dog registration online.
Dirty Dog Challenge
Waikato District Council and Hamilton City Council are teaming up again for this unique event, to be held on Saturday 22 July at the Christian Youth Camp, 148 Waingaro Rd, Ngaruawahia.
The Dirty Dog Challenge is a 2.5km or 6km obstacle course that you do with your dog by your side. All profits from the event will go towards helping animals in Hamilton and Waikato District’s communities, including re-homing Pound dogs. Please register online to enter the event. Go to the Council’s website and search for ‘Dirty Dog Challenge’.
Contact your Tamahere-Woodlands Councillors:
Crystal Beavis, mob 0275 957 927, email
Mike Keir, mob 027 449 3012, email
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