Waikato District Council staff and members of the Raglan Community Board came together this morning as they unveiled the newly completed pontoon, eastern walkway, kayak ramp, and balustrade at the Whāingaroa (Raglan) wharf. The blessing was conducted by Ngati Maahanga kaumatua Atutahi Riki and took place on the eastern side of the wharf, adjacent to the recently installed pontoon.
“It was a great way to officially open the pontoon, and have a good look at the work that’s been undertaken on that side of the Raglan Wharf. I think we should be really proud of what the team has achieved down there,” said Whāingaroa Ward Councillor Lisa Thomson.
(Listen to the full interview below:) Megan May, WDC executive manager emphasised the collaborative nature of the entire project, touching on active participation from the community board, hapū, WDC staff, contractors and other essential members of the community. This includes local businesses and residents situated near the wharf.
After successfully finishing the eastern side of the wharf, the focus now shifts to the completion of the western walkway. This phase involves the installation of a walkway, sculpture, and informative boards, with the goal of finishing the work by Christmas this year. It’s important to note that the entire wharf project was funded by the central government rather than relying on council rates for financing.
Long Term Planning and Staff Turnover at Council Discussions surrounding coastal erosion in Raglan have prompted a broader dialogue on long-term planning within the council and the potential impact of staff turnover on project continuity.
Lisa says that working in local government spaces can be demanding, due to the diverse communities and unique challenges involved. She mentions that there could be a combination of factors that contribute to high staff turnover and with around 35 job vacancies currently advertised at the WDC, Lisa has expressed concerns regarding the ability to recruit staff who will be retained over a longer term.
“I think the challenge has been made worse since COVID. And overtime, people have assessed what they’re doing for work,” she adds.
Internal Raglan Bus Service During the recent Raglan Community Board Meeting, a representative from the Waikato Regional Council (WRC) provided an update on progress made for an internal bus service within Raglan. The representative presented some alternative plans for a scaled down weekend service despite community feedback to the contrary.
Following community surveys conducted last year, feedback showed the community’s desire for a service that would assist residents in attending appointments in town while making it easier for them to visit the beaches and surf points.
Lisa says that the bus service needs to meet the needs of residents if it’s going to be well-used and it’s expected that they will run a trial of the service to see if it is financially viable. Implementing an internal bus service has broader implications in terms of addressing parking issues and reducing our reliance on cars, which will ultimately benefit the environment.
Although bus services usually come under the WRC, a significant portion of the funding for the internal bus service is being allocated from the WDC’s general rates. WDC designated these funds in the previous term for Raglan and other communities throughout the district.
With some resources available for the bus service, the RCB is keen to launch a successful trial which will serve as the basis for presenting a strong case to the regional council, to show the need for continued funding and support.
Issues at Te Uku Waste Depot Rural residents are reporting that the waste drop off depot located by the Te Uku store is being misused with non-residents and businesses potentially dumping their rubbish illegally. Due to the excessive amount of waste, Xtreme Zero Waste is required to service the site five times a week, going above and beyond their contractual obligation with the council – which is usually three times a week.
Although finding a solution without increasing rates is challenging, the Xtreme Zero Waste staff are hoping to address the issue by conducting a survey of users of the Te Uku site. The survey aims to gather valuable insights about the situation on the ground so that the council can come up with a solution that fits within the budget.
Lisa also pointed out that the rural depot is one of the few locations in the district where residents have the convenience of dropping off their waste at a satellite site instead of directly going to their local recycling or transfer centre.
Sustainability and Wellbeing The Sustainability and Wellbeing Committee includes various community-focused aspects, like blueprinting, community-led development, climate action, and grant funding. It also covers areas such as economic development, sustainability, and emergency management planning.
As the chair, Lisa has held three meetings so far and is focussed on having specific deliverables for the term. Ensuring the well-being of our communities involves caring for our environment, both natural and built and encompasses various aspects such as accessible roads for medical appointments, supporting community initiatives, and addressing weather events and coastal erosion. Lisa says that the council are actively working on defining and understanding these elements to promote sustainability and overall well-being in the district.
Having recently attended a workshop discussing council services around the three waters, she says the financial challenges of these projects (including stormwater management and weather event mitigation), are significant and there is a need to consider how we can afford them and build local resilience.
Lisa emphasised that our community is very vulnerable due to our reliance on council infrastructure and that there needs to be a serious paradigm shift in our communities around our infrastructure and how we do things.
“I know that Fiona Edwards had spoken about this ages ago when I was on the community board, about getting water tanks for houses and that it is an opportunity – not just for having water to drink – but also as a mitigation for stormwater infiltration,” said Lisa as an example of how we could build local resilience.
The Next Raglan Community Board Meeting will be held at the Raglan Town Hall Supper Room on Wednesday, July 26, with the open forum starting at 1.30pm. https://raglanradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot%202023-06-16%20at%203.36.31%20PM2.jpg