It’s a two-horse race for the Waikato District Mayoralty in 2025 with current former Deputy Mayor Aksel Bech going for a repeat battle with current Mayor Jacqui Church.
Our regular Councillor Lisa Thomson has a new contender in the form of horses-on-the-beach advocate Nicola Laboyrie. Lisa Thomson has traditionally held her position with substantial majorities but anything is possible in politics as last year’s mayoral race showed.
Tilly Turner will return unopposed as the Tai Runga Takiwaa Maaori Ward Councillor while the Raglan community board has nine candidates for the six available seats.
At midday on Friday we thought it was a case of six male and one female candidate for the board with Nicola Laboyrie joining Ross Wallis, Dennis Amoore, Santam Bains and Chris Rayner, and fellow newcomers Peter Hampton and Nick Pearce. However Eloise Rowe from Raglan Refill and Jasmine Hunter from the local environment centre had also entered the race in a last minute decision that restored some balance.
In the Regional Council vote former Chair Russ Rimmington has returned for another go. He was kicked out by the voters at the last election following a very public spat with Whaingaroa local Fred Litchwark that involved lawyers and requests for affidavits from Raglan Community Radio staff.
Also running in that seat are current Chair Pamela Storey, the other incumbent Noel Smith, Rates Control rep Gary McGuire and Rhys Craig.
Waikato Police have impounded another car that was being used for burnouts around Raglan and are thanking the local community for tipping them off. The tip led to a search warrant at a local address on Monday 28 July. The owner is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court in August. And they are reminding everyone to call 111 immediately if you see bad driver behaviour .
Te Mata Hall Unveiled After Major Makeover: After nine months of dedicated mahi, the newly refurbished Te Mata Public Hall was officially unveiled last Friday 1 August. The morning reveal drew local residents, volunteers and students from Te Mata School, who blessed the hall and helped mark the beginning of its next chapter. The nearly 120-year-old hall received the makeover after winning a competition run by The Hits radio station in September 2024. Since then, a team of hardworking volunteers has been restoring the hall preserving its legacy while giving it a new lease on life.
While a few finishing touches remain before it’s fully operational, Friday’s unveiling was a major step forward.
A reminder for Whāingaroa locals a Mau Rākau Wānanga is being held this Tuesday evening from 5 to 7pm at Poihakena Marae.
The workshop offers an introduction to the traditional Māori art of weaponry, with a focus on movement, discipline and cultural connection. Organisers say everyone is welcome, whether you’re a beginner or already have some experience.
Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing, bring a water bottle and come with a can-do attitude.
The wānanga is part of ongoing efforts to revitalise mātauranga Māori in the community.
Whāingaroa Whai Tane edge out Rangiriri Storm in nail-biting quarter-final: Whāingaroa Whai Tane are one step closer to the finals after a tense 20–19 victory over Rangiriri Storm in what proved to be an 80-minute arm wrestle of a match.
The quarter-final clash was played right to the final whistle, with both sides refusing to give an inch. Rangiriri Storm pushed Whai Tane to the limit.
The win sees Whai Tane move one step closer to the “big dance”, with the squad now looking ahead to the semi-finals.
Over on the Wāhine team, it was a commanding performance from Whāingaroa Whai Wāhine, who secured a 42–0 victory against the Hauraki Tigers. The team came out strong and never let up, delivering a clinical display on both sides of the ball. The win reflects the Wāhine side’s growing momentum this season and sets the tone heading into the next round.
The news wasn’t so good for the Raglan Roosters Football team who lost 4-1 to top of the table Deezsciples in division one of the waikato football sunday league. Luck wasn’t on their side as they had as many shots at the goal as the opposition but with less of them sticking. The results leaves the Deezciples at the top of the league and Roosters in 4th place