Local Issues
By John Freer Significant shifts in the local media landscape over recent months as Coromandel’s local radio station, CFM prepares to blow out the candles on its sixth birthday cake. Changes, which have sparked reactions from our local community leaders, started back in March when after 45 years, the Hauraki Herald suddenly stopped publishing. Then […]
If you are a Thames Coromandel district ratepayer, pull out your rate demand and check the numbers. For some people their rates have increased around 27 percent over the past two years. Earlier this week your council started looking at its annual plan which will set next year’s rates. Those councillors have forecast another 7.7 […]
By John Grant Seldom do we hear of a story that tugs at the heart strings as much as this story about a dog called TU who went missing from its family home in Manaia on 10 July. TU is a Therapy dog for Naleigh a 13-year-old boy who has autism. Naleigh is beside himself […]
By John Freer Are Thames residents being ripped off at the pumps? That is the question CFM is asking as a result of the significant differences in fuel pricing across the Coromandel Peninsula and Hauraki regions. Based on yesterday’s prices fuel was 37 cents a litre cheaper in Ngatea than 25 kilometres away in Thames, […]
By John Freer News this week that the highly invasive Exotic Caulerpa has been found on the Coromandel Peninsula coastline comes with a claim that it is the most serious marine pest invasion yet to occur in New Zealand. That observation comes from Professor Emeritus, Barry Shaw, of Massey University, who last month released a […]
Ratepayers across the region, on the back on big increases from both Hauraki and Thames Coromandel District Councils, will now see their regional rates contribution jump by 7.4 percent. Like the various mayors, Waikato Regional Council Chair, Pamela Story, yesterday blamed the cost of living crisis. She said councillors worked tirelessly to construct a long […]
It is being labelled one of the biggest challenges faced by a council in determining its future direction and that comes from the man in charge – the Thames Coromandel District Mayor. Over the next couple of days the Mayor and Councillors will thrash out the region’s long-term plan – a few key aspects being […]
By John Freer Significant increases to rates and major issues being faced by the Thames Coromandel District Council do not appear to have inspired residents to have their say on the draft 10-year long-term plan. Numbers released last week revealed that only 282 submissions were received on the 2024-2034 draft plan, over 1300 fewer than […]
At a meeting of the Hauraki and Thames Coromandel District Council’s on 26 and 31 October respectively, both of our local Council’s voted in favour of the establishment of Māori wards in each of their respective Districts. This decision was in the case of the two councils, made by a vote of the council and […]
Thirty four days have passed since the Conservation Minister, Tama Potaka, raised the hopes of Coromandel Peninsula locals with an announcement when he said he wanted to see the track reopen by next summer. Up to that time Department of Conservation staff had been lowering expectations of an opening. Since then, local MP Scott Simpson […]
