Whaingaroa Locals are joining in the National Day of Action for Conservation Land on Saturday August 15th.
People across Aotearoa are planning to come together to make a stand against the Conservation Bill which Forest and Bird have said will “throw open the door to the sale and development of conservation land”.
The event will begin at 10.45am (for an 11am start) at the Te Toto Gorge carpark where participants will hike up Karioi Maunga to have a picnic together, share a love for nature and take photos with banners calling for the govt to protect conservation land and end the Conservation Bill Amendment that is currently being debated in Parliament.
Organisers say the Government is backing down from some of the most harmful parts of the bill so it’s important to keep the pressure on and get the bill “chucked in the bin”
The Waikato Times has revealed a government audit of Waikato District Council has picked up some sloppy backroom practices that have resulted in potentially financially damaging health and safety omissions.
NZTA found several items in need of improvement while auditing its $78.16 million 2024-2027 National Land Transport Plan investment in the Waikato district.
The final report, which the Times obtained through the Official Information Act, warns that the council is not meeting its conditions in regards to managing certain spreadsheets.
Council was also told to improve record keeping, after the audit found “incomplete records and missing documents,’’ “inconsistent and incomplete Conflict of Interest declaration forms’ and “two serious and 21 significant risk ratings’’ from an independent review.
Despite the dramatic headlines Waikato District Council responded by saying what NZTA picked up was problems with ‘administrative processes’ not actual safety risks.
The audit also requested improvements to council’s procurement processes, noting several procurement contracts relating to recent road renewal and maintenance contracts didn’t comply with NZTA requirements.
Waikato District Council has accepted the results, pointing out again that there was never any safety risks to workers or the public.
Poutama Rites of Passage have announced Koohine Rites For Girls 2026. Expressions of Interest are now open for girls aged 14-18 who want to join a 3-day journey of sisterhood and discovery in te taiao alongside Pouhine – female mentors.
The event will be held from 11-13 September 2026 with registrations of interest to be sent to info@poutamarites.com
In local sports news the Raglan Roosters Football team sunk to a new low on the weekend losing 8 nil to the Vikings, the team that was sharing bottom place of the Division 1 table with them in the Waikato Football Sunday League. The result means it is all but inevitable that the Roosters will face relegation to the bottom division of the league next season.