Raglan is bracing itself for the arrival of around 1000 waka ama paddlers this weekend with the 29th Annual Whaingaroa Hoe being held on Saturday. Races start near the Papahua boat ramp and will be getting underway at 9am, 10:30 and 1pm.
The race day has two memorial trophies with the Chrissy Herbert Memorial Trophy given to the first team to cross the line in the the W6 Women's 20km Race,starting at 10:30 - and the Piripi Kereopa Memorial Trophy for the W6 Men's 20km Race - the prize going to the first Senior Master Men's Team to cross the line in Race 3.
Organisers are asking drivers to have patience around town as the waka ama trailers and cars arrive for the event - and also that the public use the 2 other boat ramps in Raglan throughout Saturday as the Papahua ramp will be used for race logistics.
Waikato District Council is proposing changes to its Alcohol Control Bylaw including new bans or extensions of existing bans across the district. Raglan with the highest rate of alcohol related incidents across the district at 192 (or 26.6% of the district total) between 2019 and 2023, is unsurprisingly getting an extension.
Initially intended to cover an area stretching from the wharf through the CBD and down to Raglan Area School the Community Board asked staff to make it smaller. While the proposed plan is indeed smaller they have taken our a lot of the residential properties but maintained the ban along the waterfront and on James St, Cliff St, Norrie Ave, Wainui Rd and all of Bow St. The Alcohol Control Bylaw outlines where and when people can drink in public places so the changes made by staff may not have been very substantive.
The length of the summer seasonal ban is also proposed to extend from the old period; 23 December to 6 January, to 23 December to 10 February.
The consultation is open until 15 June 2025 and you can have your say on the Waikato District Council Website or at the local office.
In local sport, the Whaingaroa Whai rugby league team is playing Turangawaewae Reserves in Turangawaewae at 2pm on Saturday and the Raglan Roosters Football team will be playing Kompsure FC at Papahua at 1pm on Sunday. We’re expecting victories in both matches