Raglan Talking to Raglan

"Despite suggestions of eternal damnation, and votes for a 'woke, leftist agenda', Waikato Regional Council decided to continue with its Local Government NZ membership by 10-3". It also decided to put a Biodiversity Strategy out for consultation and looked at its residents’ environmental perceptions survey 2025, which showed a "noticeable increase in the numbers of residents who raise the issue of poor-quality drinking water" and that "concern over the impacts of climate change has risen over time". There was also time this week to hear the whole of the interview with Waikato District Mayor, Aksel Bech, and even time to listen to one of Scarlatti's keyboard allegros.ps. I said I didn't know what the Whāingaroa Palestine Support Group were doing on Sunday. Their commemoration event starts outside Raglan Library at 11am and will then walk to the water tower at the top of Bow Street for flag waving - see https://www.facebook.com/events/1562440468581448.

Half an hour with Mayor Aksel Bech covering issues, including a structure plan, rates (Aksel didn't recognise the 11.66% figure - it comes from an 8 April report saying "The average targeted rates increase is 11.66%"), roading, the World Surf League Championship and the beaches bylaw.

A discussion around the items on the agenda, including the World Surf League, Surfside's request for reduced rent for Wi Neera St properties, horses and vehicles on beaches and a survey saying we need to better manage traffic and improve the overall visitor and local experience, particularly during peak times.

A couple of apologies this week - I got the date of my interview with the mayor wrong - it's 9.30am this Thursday (30th) and also, there was a short silence part way through, before I picked a fascinating recording from 2010, of the late Malcolm Cox, telling a story as only he could, about his hobby of geckos and how they were surviving on Karioi. Also looking at the agenda for tomorrow's Community Board meeting (1.30pm in Te Mata Hall), which I'll also talk about with the Board chair, Ross Wallis, from 8am tomorrow morning (29th).

A few news items, including that Mayor Aksel Bech should be on the radio about 9.30 on Thursday morning, talking about issues such as the surfing championships, followed by an interview about Xtreme Zero Waste from the Morning Show.

An interview about the Palestinian Prisoner day event at 11am in Bow St on Saturday and a decade old reminiscence about Xtreme Waste, together with the usual items, including conformation of an alcohol ban for a week of the 10-day surfing event at Manu Bay in May.

Another week of failing to talk to our councillor, so instead we heard about the alcohol ban proposed for Manu Bay during the surf championships, the Annual Plan (consultation is not required) with rates increase of 2.8%, but the flat rate Uniform Annual General Charge is going up 3% and 'targetted' rates 11.66%, despite postponing , or cancelling projects such as reserves and walkways.There was also time to listen to Kim talking about the start of the Creative Market in 2005, some of the Friends of Wainui volunteers (there's a work morning from 9am on Thu 9 Apr - meet in the Bush Park carpark, Wainui Rd) and finish off the interview with Nev Meeking, telling of his experiences in running the Majestic Cinema at the Town Hall.

Noel Smith talked about the new council, government plans to abolish them, the wastewater consent and other issues.

Also covering https://www.gets.govt.nz/WARC/ExternalTenderDetails.htm?id=33796986, which invites Bus Contract Renewals to run for 9 years from 1 Nov 2027. The government requires all new buses to be electric, but Regional Council say we could still have old diesel buses until 2035. It's also not clear that they'll remember to tell the bus companies they've promised further consultation about the medium to long term plans for Raglan buses, including the continued services to and from Hamilton East. Let them know what you think.Also about transport, these are the plans for Whaaingaroa Ward road maintenance in the current year from District Council's 23 March Roading agenda (pages 31-34) Rehabilitation - MAIN RD (OLD SH23) 365m out of Total Length 14.115 km.ResealingWard metres to be resealed in 2026-27Western District 24140Awaroa-Maramarua 19124Tamahere–Woodlands 18715Waerenga-Whitikahu 12981Newcastle–Ngaruawahia 10393Tuakau-Pokeno 9811Huntly 7365Whaaingaroa 5675

An hour's chat with the Chair of Raglan Community Board, Ross Wallis, covering plans for the surfing competition in May, for Wainui Reserve and devolving decisions to RCB. We also talked about the possibility of an outdoor movement hub, getting trees planted at Manu Bay, stormwater, water and sewage upgrades, roading, buses and several other issues.

This week with news about the solar panels at the Raglan Wastewater works, where there's an open day on Sunday, about roads, too holy, too dangerous and ending with part of an archive interview with Nev Meekings, about the Majestic cinema, of which the box office remains at the entrance to the Town Hall.

This week the main items were an interview with Waikato Regional Councillor, Noel Smith, and a look at tomorrow's Raglan Community Board agenda.

This week the main items were an interview with Waikato Regional Councillor, Noel Smith, and a look at tomorrow's Raglan Community Board agenda.

Lisa Thomson joins us to talk about consultation, how the new council differs from the previous 3 years, Wainui 30yr plan, the wastewater consent, climate issues, resilience, the problem of representing an area that votes about 2/3 for Labour (or more progressive parties) in a council of National constituencies and which don't have tourism as a major issue, Māori representation, whether we'll get a Raglan plan, or just muddle along, traffic issues around Raglan Area School and Surf Championship preparations.

Aaron came back for a morning to talk about dolphins and seabed mining and our councillor, Lisa, says she's going to be on the radio at 9am on Thursday.

We listened to an Instagram promotion for the bus (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSGJK2rEqLC/?igsh=azI1Zm5sbDMxazJt) and to our Regional Councillor, Noel, asking a question about the bus; it seems there will be further consultation before they make any changes to the bus and that we might have electric buses from November next year. Also next Monday, 9th, councillors are having a round-table discussion to gather insights from elected members on public transport challenges and opportunities - so now's the time to contact [email protected] and [email protected] to say what you think the bus challenges and opportunities are.

A look at the weather, local politics and what's on, together with an interview with Green MP, Kahurangi Carter, about her 6pm meeting tomorrow evening in the Supper Room. Also a hope that our district and regional council politicians might want to talk to their voters, but at present they don't.

Still some technical problems, but at least RTR was recorded this week and the interview about Friday's 6pm Pizza & Politics with Kahu in the appropriately named Supper Room can be heard.

In a draft decision the fast-track approvals panel hasn't approved seabed mining. Vera and I reminisced about Kiwis Against Seabed Mining's campaign and hope the final decision won't require even more work by KASM. This was a photo of Vera giving evidence to one of the many hearings - this one in 2014.

RTR took over the Morning Show for a while this morning to talk to Ross about the Surfside Church plans for Wi Neera St, Wainui Reserve and other issues. The agenda is at https://waikato.civicclerk.com.au/web/UserControls/DocPreview.aspx?p=1&aoid=712&token=ae5a8564-1da4-4e24-9590-7372b937b63d and a summary of it at https://docs.google.com/document/d/166RwcXMWIOP3opQKewUkdfkQsKKR_tStOoPqqAjGFuU/edit?usp=sharing

With Aaron away, technical problems left a short silence, but at least the recording worked this week. It includes the usual events of the week, a summary of recent news and a look back at some of the stories from 2025. Enjoy it!

This week starting to look at what happened a century ago, in 1926 Whāingaroa, when the population was only 302, only about 10% had cars and hardly anyone listened to a radio.

Not much news at Christmas, but the mayor is encouraging us to join the new Community Voice Panel (https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waikatodistrict.govt.nz%2Fnews%2Farticle%2F2025%2F12%2F17%2Fcommunity-voice-panel-now-open-for-registrations) and Go Raglan to fill in their survey (https://form.jotform.com/253141482123043?fbclid=IwY2xjawO3F_VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeEEX3NLPya3tlCoX1Lm_k3hEvVCpqIHrmA0TVWb85mUsym_jaAYQQt3FgAwA_aem_kdxZazsdaZemddE7LMEt0A).

After the technical problems of the last few weeks, it's good to have RTR without them.

Sorry for missing 2 weeks. Hopefully the technical problems are now solved.Belatedly, thanks to Lisa, we've now got the breakdown of the local election referendum on Māori wards, showing that Whāingaroa was the only general ward to vote for them -Ward KEEP % REMOVE % Total Electoral rollAwaroa-M 372 9.11% 872 21.36% 4082Huntly 635 15.34% 757 18.29% 4140Ngāruawāhia 1262 12.59% 1779 17.75% 10025Tai Raro Māori 1360 30.20% 28 0.62% 4503Tai Runga Māori 1482 35.21% 16 0.38% 4209Tamahere 1284 12.98% 2323 23.49% 9890Tuakau-Pōkeno 1011 10.66% 1738 18.33% 9481Whitikahu 519 11.05% 1127 23.99% 4698Western District 428 11.74% 829 22.73% 3647Whāingaroa 1005 23.66% 596 14.03% 4248total 9358 15.88% 10065 17.08% 58923She talked about that and other issues and we also heard from Phil about how the seabed mining hearings went and what the further attempts to fit them in the Fast Track legislation might do.

District and Regional Council have both just abolished their Climate Action Committees, so it seemed a good time to listen to an extract from the BBC World Service's Climate Question (https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/w3ct702t) to check that there really is a climate emergency.Also there's another Palestine vigil starting at 11am near the Library on Bow St on Saturday. Unfortunately, despite peace proposals, inadequate supplies are being let in, to the extent that Medecin san Frontieres can only allocate wheelchairs to those who've lost both legs and tents are restricted so that people are living in cold, wet conditions as the winter rains set in.

This week summarisiing the 456 page agenda Waikato District council had yesterday - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83759114749?pwd=VzzITVatRwXWDUhjFLwtUHuU7XL4q6.1. It includes hopes for devolution of limited powers, but abolishes the committee which has done limited work on climte change over the last 3 years. Also a Morning Show report on the New York election - with the amount many locals travel around, do we generate move carbon than the average?

At least Whāingaroa got the highest turnout in the recent local elections, but a turnout 1669 (39.8%) is not good.With a new enthusiastic Raglan Community Board chair and possibly evening meetings, hopefully 2028 will be better.Good to see the Waters Governance Board checking they're complying with resource consents - to see some of the illustrations look at https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=25355504737408658&set=oa.1637764080536703, go to the agenda https://civicclerkau.blob.core.windows.net/stream/WAIKATO/db6cba4d1d.pdf?sv=2015-12-11&sr=b&sig=oGMDqQOmQMlSU4fyxIdgFIE8%2BS%2BlRamvKHf6JNIcNOQ%3D&st=2025-11-02T19%3A53%3A43Z&se=2025-11-02T19%3A59%3A43Z&sp=r&rscc=no-cache&rsct=application%2Fpdf&rscd=inline%3B%20filename%3Ddb6cba4d1d.pdf.We don't yet know what Rates Control control of Regional Council is likely to do, but winning the positions of chair and deputy chair indicates they do have control.Raglan talking to Raglan also fitted in news of Friday's 5.30pm City to Sea signpost event on the corner of Wainui Rd/Marine Pde - this photo is of one of the many names which were along the walkway - Cr Michael Hope also has a memorial on Wainui Reserve.And mixed news in a Morning Show interview with the Karioi Project.Along Cliff St several trees are looking unhealthy. Council's arborist says, “The holes and staining on the leaves is more than likely caused by Neomycta rubida, which is a native leaf miner weevil.” Landcare say, “Ornamental tropical rata (Metrosideros kermadecensis) plants may sometimes be heavily damaged.

Catching up with another week of local news and events, but probably nothing of significance this week. Today is the 190th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, on 28 October 1835. James Busby got it signed by 34 northern chiefs and by 1839 it had 52 signatures. It allowed ships trading from here to Australia to fly a flag and be accepted like ships flying the flags of other countries. More info at https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/35115/united-tribes-flag.

In 2012 Māori wards were defeated by 10,111 to 2,517. In 2025 they were defeated by 10,065 to 9,358 and in many other authorities they were approved. However, many councillors were elected to keep rates down, but might the subtle differences between them develop into more distinct divisions? Farmers are still over represented on local councils and boards. What will happen in the next 3 years of local government?

Have they been influenced by a perceived drop in the influence we have over decisions our local Council makes? 62% thought they had a say in 2006, but only 35% in 2024, according to a Waikato progress indicators publication by Regional Council. Also a Morning Show interview giving some idea what our new mayor, Aksel Bech, might change to give us more influence and cut council costs..

We've only till noon on Saturday to get our votes in the box at the library, so interviews this week about horses on the beach and recycling, plus time for music.

Now to vote - before noon, a week on Saturday. At this stage of the 2022 election 6.2% of votes had been cast locally, but this time it's 17.3% (see https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/docs/default-source/your-council/elections/elections-2025/vote/waidc_rtnsbb1e193f36f361b3b84dff0000681c44.pdf?sfvrsn=72ed78c8_0). In the whole of Waikato District 7% had voted. This time it's 15.8%. Presumably the difference is the turnout to support the continuation of Māori wards. As the December centenary of the formation of The White New Zealand League (formed December, 1925), of Pukekohe, approaches, we'll be able to see what, if any, progress has been made.The confusing explanation of why Raglan should have fewer buses than Morrinsville, despite having more passengers, is shown in an email sequence with Regional Council at https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=25017949651164170&set=gm.1950387172189320&idorvanity=325348818026505.What do you think?

Also some idea of the newly released report on the bus consultation, which gives Raglan no more buses, despite a 60.4% (102) yes, but Morrinsville will get more with only 23.1% (31) saying yes to more buses! It seems Regional Council can't count whether 3 or 4 people want a bus out west, but it's less than the 7 who wanted buses to Greenslade Rd. The excuse for buses to Whale bay, but not Greenslade was that there's more room to turn a bus, but look at these aerial photos! In 2032 it's possible Raglan could have 3 × 500 kWh double deckers and a depot to charge them, but probably mainly used just for peak hour services. Other news is that Rangitahi may yet get a swimming pool and yet another water accident, this time not fatal.

The other main news is the local election and still a few more candidates to fit in. Voting closes at noon on Sat 11 Oct, so still time to find out more about the candidates and Māori wards. Looking forward to checking if electric buses do give an 11% return on their cost - hope to have that answer next week. If we don't get people in buses, on bikes and walking, but have three, or four times as many living here and don't charge for parking, do we just have congestion from everyone driving round looking for a parking space? Maybe a Structure Plan will answer that question.

How much is WDC paying consultants to do a 30 year Wainui Reserve plan was a question asked 2hr 17min into the video at https://waikato.civicclerk.com.au/web/Player.aspx?id=566&key What do you think of the answer? It may be discussed again at the last meeting of the current Community Board from 1.30pm tomorrow. More about the agenda is summarised at https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ELZmeuAFjBn6r2te8k1i-9bJ5bCj7Br6jVWxM1SGFc/edit?usp=sharing. Also a mention of the March for Humanity over Auckland bridge on Saturday (see https://www.facebook.com/events/1441078217001290) and meet the candidates on Sunday (see https://www.facebook.com/events/775636054866444). Plus abbreviated podcasts from three of the candidates - voting closes 12 noon, on Saturday 11 October, so still time to fit in the other interviews, or find them on our podcast page - https://raglanradio.com/portfolio/raglan-politics/.

Belchers Quarry (see photo), will it be sold, will they consult us? Papahua camp using some of the $407,117 profit to replace some gas heating with $130,000 of hot water heat pumps. Several submissions for a swimming pool, but still no action. Jo's cafe paid no rent to support the wider community, so why replace it with a 10 yr commercial lease and more penny pinching by removing Puriri Park's play equipment. A possible end to water leaks and 3-6 at the Library tomorrow (Wed) about treated sewage to Wainui Reserve, which we'll be consulted on next month for a 30 year plan. Regional council decided to wait before cutting buses to Hamilton East, but did they consider the feedback from 178 of us? Many questions to put to the 2.30pm meet the candidates in the Town Hall on Sun 14 Sep and hear from Pamela Storey, Jasmine Hunter and Dennis Amoore in this edition of RTR.

We've got 16 candidates to elect to 10 positions and 'meet the candidates' at 2.30pm on Sunday 14 September. So we need to decide which 10 we want, or which 6 we don't want. Also a bit of an environment centre update and an introduction to the balances shown in https://waikato.civicclerk.com.au/web/UserControls/pdf/web/DocPDFWrapper.aspx?p=1&aoid=585&token=b6ac83ea-1acf-4922-93a6-4a36cefb49ac, such as the $112,697 in the Wainui Farm Reserve account. Good to see a Regional Council survey showing that 87% think “A healthy environment is necessary for a healthy economy”, but only 29% think "The benefits of maximising agricultural productivity outweigh the costs of harming waterways” - https://core.opentext.eu/pdfjs/web/viewer.html?shortLink=b8938ecafd0508ffa2069c4267d31e2ab8e7dee81c2da810.

A look at the local elections starting on 9 September, including Māori wards (do they need a different name, because they sound like something special for Māori, when they're only an attempt to reduce an injustice?), Waikato District Mayor and 4 candidates for 2 regional council seats. Also tonight's Doctor's Wife film and a Morning Show interview about how to safely dispose of lithium batteries - take them to Xtreme.

178 people put their views on the 2028-37 bus contract, updates on other news and Morning Show interviews about council and seabed mining.

Another edition of Raglan talking to Raglan, covering these issues and with Morning Show interviews about the community board and solar panels, police impounded a burnout car and the official opening of the new sewage works was today..

Consultation on the Wainui Reserve 30 year plan should be coming soon. Whāingaroa has 26km of stormwater pipes, of which 1.7km has just had 28 tonnes of sediment flushed from it following a CCTV inspection. The upgraded sewage works has its official opening next week, water pipe renewals have been largely done in Point Street & Tutchen Ave and started on Papahua Reserve, CCTV is delayed yet again, “Working through the installation/Camera tender", Greenslade Rd Reserve playground works may start in August and the plastic from Wi Neera South End walkway isn't mentioned.

This week Raglan talking to Raglan heard of proposals for Lorenzen Bay Recreation Reserve (to read them see page 99 of https://waikato.civicclerk.com.au/web/UserControls/pdf/web/DocPDFWrapper.aspx?p=1&aoid=589&token=58f291b8-abcb-4d62-9e70-5215dcdd8017), including native planting, better access, nature play areas, educational signs and a new boardwalk / walkway to Greenslade Rd. Also, a mention of a solar powered battery at the Community House and it was last Friday when the Blockade films were shown, but listen to this Morning Show interview and you might want to ask the Environment Centre to show them again. Also another Morning Show interview about ethical landlords. Good to know there are some!

Another week of Raglan talking to Raglan, covering the local elections (Fri 11am online info session is at https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/events/upcoming-events/event/2025/07/17/default-calendar/candidate-information-session-online?date=2025-07-18), the Gaza film on at 7pm in the Old School tomorrow night, the Ukraine events and other updates, including a bit more about diamonds.

A wide variety was covered this week.If you think you could do better than our current local politicians, get nominated to stand in the elections.If you know anything about Frank Rastrick's puriri sawmill on the Wainui Stream, tell us more than Hugh or Papers Past (https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIGUS19020318.2.15) could. The photo is of a puriri which survived and wasn't made into a railway sleeper.Can you shed any light on the mystery of the 1883 Courtney Diamond, which is supposed to have been given to Auckland Museum?But, as well as some questions, the show had lots of information - have a listen!

Why is Raglan the only bus route they plan to “significantly reduce operating costs” by cutting the buses which run through to Hamilton East, though Raglan already has the lowest per passenger subsidy of all the rural bus routes? "Subject to funding," they propose a 2-hourly bus in the long term, whereas for Morrinsville (Eastern Connector) it is proposed to increase buses “to every 30 minutes peak and 60 minutes off peak and extend the evening services to 9.00pm.” Morrinsville currently has 62,911 passengers a year, much lower and more subsidised than the 94,046 on Raglan buses. Why? To have your say about it go to https://yourvoicematters.waikatoregion.govt.nz/future-bus-services/surveys/future-bus-services-for-the-waikato-region.Also a reminder that if you think you could run local councils better, take a look at https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/docs/default-source/your-council/elections/elections-2025/stand/27124-waikato-dc-pre-election-report_final-(1).pdf?sfvrsn=3e8c74c8_2 to see how to do it.There's also Morning Show interviews about the Community Board and recycling and come to the stormwater meeting, in the town hall supper room at 4pm tomorrow (Wed 2), to find out how pollution into the harbour can be cut.

A catch up with the week's news in local environment and politics, plus 3 interviews from the Morning Show, including one about the Doctor's Wife film, on at the Old School at 7pm on Saturday. Also a reminder about the transport discussion in the upstairs lounge of Community House from 7pm this Wed (tomorrow), prior to the consultation about buses, which Regional Council is starting on Monday. Why do we only have buses at 4-hourly intervals and with the least subsidy per passenger, when towns with hourly buses pay the same bus rates? Why are council planners keen to spend over $40m on roading over the next decade and how could that money be better used?

Mainly previewing tomorrow's Community Board meeting at 1.30pm at Te Uku. The main content of it is a Transport Study. Structure Plans have not been funded in Council's Long Term Plan, but this study mentions the phrase 59 times and says a Structure Plan will provide community consultation to gather input, build consensus, and foster a sense of ownership and inclusion in the planning process. It supports using modes that produce less emissions (active modes, public transport) and says western growth cells will be within biking distance to both the Raglan town centre to the east, and the beaches to the west, yet it only plans for roundabouts, bypasses and a road bridge. A map (see https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=24140580422234435&set=gm.1864748764086495&idorvanity=325348818026505) shows where the new roads might go and the extent of proposed development. I'll report next week what the Community Board made of it. Also a Morning Show interview about Karioi and penguins.

Mainly Morning Show interviews - our councillor, Lisa, KASM and the seabed mining protest 11am Manu Bay on Sunday and lots of Environment Centre events.

As Council decides on its Long Term Plan, a few quotes from its responses, such as the sewage plant “will provide treatment for up to 10500 PE (people equivalent) or flows of up to 6000m3/d.” and “Council has undertaken a transportation assessment of Raglan township which identified the current 1-lane bridge will need to be upgraded to a 2-lane bridge post 2035.” Also a couple of Morning Show interviews on ways of dealing with waste.