Freedom camping will be banned along James Street, from next Monday 22 December 2025. A rare special consultative procedure was undertaken last month to seek public feedback following multiple complaints.
Council received 165 submissions with 74 submitters supporting the ban and 26 supporting it ‘in part’.Issues that led to the consultation included; alcohol consumption, loud music and noise disturbances, public urination and defecation near residential properties and community facilities, overcrowding and campers setting up washing lines and cooking on grass berms for days at a time. There were also concerns about the impact on the local environment as well as local facilities and infrastructure, such as the Raglan Bowling Club, parking and footpaths.
Following the decision, Acting Customer Services Manager, Imelda Bolton said “You can freedom camp in most areas in the Waikato district but a few places” like James St, “are prohibited in order protect the environment, or to protect the area or the health and safety of people in the area. There are still plenty of spots where you can camp and we encourage freedom campers to visit
For more info about where you can (and can’t) camp go to the Council website.
Waikato District Mayor Aksel Bech is calling for community members to join the council’s new Community Voice Panel where they will help shape local decisions.
Panel members will receive short online surveys throughout the year on topics that matter to them such as parks, roading, new facilities, environmental initiatives, and future planning. There will also be some opportunities to take part in-person.
The Panel will be used to gather feedback on a range of topics, including people’s experience of the council website, how connected and informed they feel in their neighbourhoods, and broader “Mood of the District” check-ins.
The early surveys will also be a chance for panel members to tell council what they want to have more of a say on, moving forward.
The council press release says the surveys will be quick and easy to do and as an added bonus every completed survey will go into a prize draw.
All you have to do to be part of this is sign up at the council website
In sports news the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team have finished tenth at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship completed in Peru at the start of the week.
Three Raglan Surfers were part of the 12 strong team, with Alani Morse best placed of the locals finishing 19 th in the U16 girls. Luca Thomson was 49th in the U16 boys and Jacob Haines was 55th in the U18 boys.
Elsewhere the team had a couple of standout performances with two seventh place finishes by Leia Millar and Lola Groube in the Under 18 Girls Division as well as a thirteenth place finish by Vitor Bauermann in the Under 16 Boys Division, all achieved on the penultimate day of the event.
Australia backed up their 2024 gold medal team result with USA in second and Brazil in third. This year’s event had a record 424 participants from 57 countries taking part. New Zealand bettered the eleventh place finish achieved in 2024.