The Waikato District Mayoral Awards were announced this week with the Whaingaroa Weedbusters and Te Mata’s Luca Grilli being nominated for their efforts in the community.
Luca Grilli received his award for an outstanding contribution to the Raglan and Te Mata communities through his leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to others. He was involved with Raglan Football as a coach, manager, referee, and club President for many years.
Luca was also the beloved school bus driver for children in the Te Mata and Ruapuke areas for many years and more recently has played a leading role in revitalising the Te Mata Tennis Club as well as supporting the community hall refurbishment.
Whaaingaroa Weedbusters is a group of volunteers restoring native biodiversity across Raglan by removing pest plants and encouraging locals to take action.
Now in its seventh year, the group has achieved major results on a shoestring budget through countless volunteer hours, practical working bees, education, workshops, and community outreach. Key sites including Kaitoke Walkway, Lorenzen Bay, Wainui Bush Park, and Karioi Maunga.
The Weedbusters received the Award last Friday and were straight back out on Saturday morning working on the Kaitoke Walkway.
Watercare will carry out wastewater upgrade works at the Stewart Street/Wainui Road intersection from Monday 27 July through to 30 September 2026 and the Old School would like you to know they will remain open throughout the work period.
While the intersection will be closed, Stewart Street and Wainui Road will stay open, with drivers asked to follow the detours and traffic management in place. Short delays of up to five minutes are expected.
Similar work in the past has caused a reduction in visitors to the Old School so they’re anxious to let the community know they can still access the Arts Centre via the top of Stewart St on Norrie Ave and from Gilmour St off Bow St.
In local sport it’s the knockout round for our rugby league teams. The Whaingaroa Whai wahine who finished fourth in the Waikato Women’s Championship are playing third placed Ngaruawahia Panthers at Patterson Park in Ngaruawahia on Sunday at 2:30pm. The loser of that game will be out of the competition but the winner gets to play the loser of the first v second place match – and from there they could progress to the grand final.
For the Tane they finished second on the Senior A table so take on firstplace Hauraki Tigers in Paeroa this weekend at 2pm on Saturday. If they win they’re straight through to the finals but if they lose they’ll still get another chance when they play the winner of the third v fourth match in the next round.
In the Football, it’s just as complicated with the Raglan Roosters playing in the Scottish Cup on Sunday. Having won group B they take on Group A’s second place team, Hamilton Bula FC, in the first round of the knockout section of the Cup, which is called Round two on their competition website. The game will be played this Sunday at Papahua at 1pm.