CFM Local News 2-1-2024

The regions top Police officer has given a thumbs up to the handling of New Years Eve gatherings across the Coromandel Peninsula. Inspector Mike Henwood, who is the eastern area commander, spoke to CFM’s Sam Howell yesterday, he praised the efforts of all emergency services involved in keeping people safe. With all services working together and the weather conditions, he said new year’s eve was on the quieter side. A daily de-brief and briefing was held each morning in Whangamata involving police, ambulance, fire and local medical centre representative. Mike said the new year’s eve response involved a partnership approach. Additional police officers had been deployed, several tickets were issued for drink-driving and driving offences.

A Joint Working Party has been formed to work on a community plan for the Hauraki Plains. This follows the adoption of what Hauraki District Council hails as the successful Wharekawa Coast 2120 Community Plan. It was a plan which took four years to get across the line. Mayor Toby Adams, said the Wharekawa Coast Plan took a 100 year approach to an adaptive and resilient future for the area. The plan is only the second of its kind in New Zealand. The Hauraki Plains Plan will follow a similar structure relying on Community Panels to act as a sounding board to test ideas and gain feedback from the wider community.

A 10 percent increase in the Kiwi population between Tairua and Hot Water Beach according to the Whenuakite Kiwi Care Group. And the group spokesperson Janice Hinds is predicting the trend to continue. Janice attributes the growth to strong predator control which protects the kiwi from the likes of stoats. This included an amazing crew of landowners who contribute to on-ground predator control covering 3,500 hectares.

Weather forecasters are predicting on-going fine weather through into the weekend, and roads are expected to be busy with people heading home after the statutory holidays. The advice is drive defensively and don’t speed.

Today is the Keltic Fair in Coromandel Town, tomorrow the action is at Pauanui’s Kennedy Park, with the Pauanui Market Day. The Gypsy Fair is being held at the Whangamata Area School.

For local news, events, happenings and information to stay holiday safe go to Facebook and Coromandel’s CFM.