Whaingaroa Talent Factory, the youth music showcase is back for 2024 and will be held once again in the Town Hall at 6pm on Saturday.
It’ll be the last chance to see Abstract Fish Lungs at the Talent Factory while Bella Alexander and Zen Lally are coming back for their second year. We’re also welcoming newcomers Wavy State of Mind, fresh from the Waikato Rockquest finals, along with heavy merchants Brainrot and fellow newcomers Star Knuiman and the band Tunes Co.
The organiser want to do a big shoutout to Soundsplash, Raglan Lions, the local youth workers collective and Raglan Surf Co for their support. WTF24 is an all ages gig with koha entry.
National voters and green groups are lining up behind an iwi call for direct action against would-be seabed miners off the South Taranaki coast.
Following the acceptance of Trans Tasman Resources seabed mining application to the government’s fast track program a protest was held in Pātea last week where Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngārewa-Packer called for boats and volunteers to disrupt future mining activity – and she said pledges have already been made.
“We’ve had numerous boat owners reach out to us to let us know that they are ready when we’re ready” before adding that a large number “are actually National supporters” including fishermen and multi-generation Pākehā farmers who were visceral in their opposition.
Greenpeace spokesperson Juressa Lee said activists were taking their lead from Ngāti Ruanui and offering skills and experience.
“We already have a pledge from 12,000 supporters to companies trying to get their polluting projects a fast track that we will resist, and they can expect action.”
Recently released census data shows that the Whāingaroa population has moved above 8000 for the first time. The overall Whāingaroa area including Raglan town, Whale Bay, Te Uku and Te Akau had a population of 8286 at the time of the census in 2023. This includes an extra 500 people in the Raglan urban area bringing that population up above 3700.
In the past, incomes in Raglan township have been lower than the national pattern, but for the first time part of the Raglan township has a median income in the highest bracket of over $55,900. That area is Rangitahi, with Lorenzen Bay close behind in the $49.8K to $55.9K bracket. Most of Raglan town has a median income of less than $36.7K. See Raglan23 for further details.