Whaingaroa Ward Councillor Lisa Thomson began the interview by honouring the passing of Kiingi Tuheitia of Tainui, acknowledging his legacy of unity and leadership for Māori. A significant tangihanga is planned, following his 18-year leadership of the Kiingitanga, which began with his mother, Dame Te Atairangikaahu. Kiingi Tuheitia’s influence has been felt across Aotearoa recently, particularly as hapu responded to recent legislative changes.
Māori Wards
The Waikato District Council recently decided to retain its Māori wards, meaning a poll will be required in the 2025 local elections. This decision follows the Māori Wards and Constituency Amendment Bill, which has forced councils to reassess Māori Wards. Council faces potential challenges if they don’t follow the legislation, including possible commissioner involvement.
Three Waters Done Better
The government has rebranded "Three Waters" as "Three Waters Done Better," yet core issues persist. Key challenges include avoiding council debt and securing affordable borrowing for necessary upgrades. Over the next 30 years, the cost of updating wastewater, stormwater and potable water infrastructure across the district is projected to be huge.
Without significant government support, these costs will burden the district’s 14,000 ratepayers. While the Council awaits further details from the government, they continue to work with other councils and providers to explore future water management options.
Power Cuts and Preparedness
Raglan's recent experiences highlight that phone companies remain poorly prepared for emergencies, similar to their response during Cyclone Gabrielle, which left East Coast/Tairawhiti without communications for days. Recent power cuts, including a major outage affecting cell phone towers in Whaingaroa, underscore the urgent need for better emergency preparedness. With cell tower generators running out of fuel, significant service disruptions during future emergencies are a real concern.
The Raglan Business Chamber, now co-chaired by Katie Lowes, is actively engaging with service providers like Wel Networks to address these issues.
Lisa says that individuals and businesses must prepare for at least three days without services, with ideally a week or more of emergency supplies.
Council Facilities Review
A review of community facilities and parks is open until September 7. This pre-consultation phase seeks community feedback on various aspects such as sports fields, public toilets, and libraries. Limited feedback has been received on specific issues, but now is an opportune time for community input because it’s so early in the process. Submit your feedback at this link.
Rubbish on State Highway 23
Concerns about litter on State Highway 23 have been raised recently by a local resident. Lisa says that Waka Kotahi oversees the highway, while Fulton Hogan is responsible for rubbish collection. Community members are advised to report litter directly to Fulton Hogan and/or Waka Kotahi. Although local volunteers previously organised clean-up efforts, these were discontinued due to safety concerns associated with working alongside the busy highway.
CCTV Update
The installation of CCTV cameras is progressing slowly. The council is working with Hamilton City to establish a central monitoring point, before cameras are installed in Raglan. This would enhance 24/7 surveillance and improve response to suspicious activities. Hamilton’s advanced technology and monitoring capabilities could significantly benefit our community.
Speed Limits and Traffic Safety
The reduction to a 40 km/h speed limit has received mixed feedback. While some see improved safety, others feel little has changed. Some community members have suggested possible traffic calming measures, such as raised pedestrian crossings between BP Raglan, with varied community opinions on traffic speed and safety.
Lisa has recently been appointed to the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Waikato Area Committee. The Committee, comprising six or seven members from across the district, provides local perspectives and support for Fire and Emergency New Zealand during emergencies. Lisa says the first online meeting and a two-day induction in October will mark the beginning of her role in emergency planning and community support.
The next Raglan Community Board Meeting will be held at Te Uku Town Hall, 11 September from 1:30 pm.