Raglan Talking to Raglan

The Surf Championships are coming back. The Community Board meets at 1.30 in the next Town Hall Supper Room on Wednesday (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-E8hzRlxC8_PUiRWwSVKaTmPVNHYIzSf3HOgbM8fKxs/edit?usp=sharing), Regional Council heard the case for more Raglan buses yesterday (see video at https://youtu.be/gJdzgkjhKFk from 31min 30sec). There's a bus going to the March for Nature on Saturday (book at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/march-for-nature-whaingaraoaraglan-bus-with-kasm-tickets-1999001984748). Also Morning Show interviews with Phil McCabe, our councillor Lisa and on financial advice and birthing.

At 1.15pm on Mon 14th Waikato Regional Council at 160 Ward St, Hamilton will hear the case for Raglan's buses to have equal treatment with other towns - come and listen and sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/improve-protect-raglan-public-transport. RTR this week also covered the 47% fare rise - have your say at https://yourvoicematters.waikatoregion.govt.nz/rptp-2022-2032-proposed-fare-change/surveys/rptp-2022-2032-proposed-fare-policy-review and look at https://www.facebook.com/groups/325348818026505/posts/2228458554382179/?comment_id=2228619561032745 for an example of a submission. Other issues this week included Taranaki-King Country candidates - make sure you're registered to vote https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online, who should pay for Papahua pump track and a Morning Show interview about the impact of the surf championship.

Still no council meetings, but GoRaglan have published World Surf League Impact Report 2026 (https://goraglan.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Whaingaroa-Raglan-World-Surf-League-Impact-Report-30-AUG-2026-3.pdf), which shows most of the 10% responding to them want WSL back again and that only apparel and personal businesses lost income during WSL. Also Morning Show interviews with the mayor and about the ukelele festival.

Regional Council's Future Proof committee has a Where we will grow map showing where extra housing is planned and has planned for how most areas will cope with the extra people, but for Raglan only the location and water services have been planned. That seems to account for places such as Te Kauwhata, with less traffic, fewer tourists and a smaller population, getting an hourly bus, when Raglan is having to lobby Regional Council at their Regional Transport Committee Public Transport Subcommittee meeting at 1.15pm on Mon 14 September at 160 Ward St.Regional Council has also been talking about the cost and increasing frequency of climate change weather events, with graphs showing insurance costs and rainfall extremes.Electrification is a way to reduce carbon emissions. This graph from https://www.rewiring.nz/electrification-guides/get-started shows that, even using borrowed money, over $3,000 a year can be saved by electrifying an average house.

This week I noted that District Council has a Raglan Structure Plan fund of $967,062, though it's not clear whether it can be used to resurrect the much needed Structure Plan last heard of in 2009. Also Regional Council clearly noted the publicity about better buses, yet has no plans to give Raglan a bus to equal that planned for Te Kauwhata from next year, despite Te Kauwhata's census population being 2,200, compared to Raglan's 3,910 and their bus rate $27.26 pa, rather than $77.88. Plus a Morning Show interview about last week's Community Board meeting.

Regional Council had a transport committee meeting this morning, but the bus contracts part was just a verbal update and they've not yet put the recording on their website. The final deadline for Council approval is 29 October. The Community Board has a meeting tomorrow, but there seem to be no major issues on the agenda. A possible reason is that District Council has staff shortages. A benefit of that is that they've saved $2.3 million on salaries and, probably for the same reason, delayed repairs and maintenance have saved $8.5 million. As well as staff shortages, work on reorganising local government has taken time. This map shows District Council's proposed new area.

Buses remain in the news, with the rather smaller Te Kauwhata, also having fewer tourists, getting an hourly bus from November 2027 for a rate of $27.26 a year, but Raglan keeping its bus timetable with gaps of many hours, passengers standing and paying $77.88 a year. Other news is of 18 second slower journeys through Whatawhata speed cuts, which are open for consultation until 27 August. Plus Morning Show interviews with the environment centre and our district councillor.

Apologies for the technical problems which didn't record the start of RTR this week. So the podcast starts part way through a Morning Show interview with Community Board chair, Ross Wallis. Not much news this week, but 36 people came to the Better Buses Meeting last Sunday. A follow up hui is on Sun 23 Aug 4pm in the Supper Room. Feedback included when buses should run, the need to provide for weekend workers and tourists (the last weekend bus back is 3pm which misses many connections), Bus Party Dress-Up and cold buses on cold mornings. One complaint was that it's usually colder inside the bus, than outside, but BusIt say the temperature can’t be adjusted and an engineer has checked it. Local councillor, Lisa said the plan didn't need improving and that there was no plan to cut buses, even though WRC's website (https://yourvoicematters.waikatoregion.govt.nz/future-bus-services/news_feed/raglan-and-west-waikato) says that in the Medium term (about 2030) “All Raglan to Hamilton trips will terminate at Hamilton Transport Centre (not Hamilton East).” About the same time a new Raglan town service is planned. Lisa and WDC voted $100,000, $103,100 and $106,193 for a Raglan demand responsive bus in 2022, 2023 and 2024, but now seem to be saying that'd have been a waste of close to $1m, as they seem to think it isn't needed for at least another 4 years, despite lack of a solution to parking problems, especially at the wharf. We've yet to hear an explanation of why a "town service in the medium term" is now all that's needed and how the parking problem will be solved. New speed limit signs around are soon to go up near Te Mata School, where speeds will soon be down from 50 to 40. Other Morning Show interviews were with Manihera Forbes, about Matariki, and Mike Keir about roading.

There's a bus meeting at 4pm on Sunday in the Town Hall Supper Room. Why does Raglan pay $77.88 a year as a bus rate for buses at 4 hour intervals, when Pōkeno pays $27.26 pa. for an hourly bus? The event is at https://www.facebook.com/events/1594370832398160Also news of over 70 offshore volcanoes and interviews about Karioi and fishery protection.

There's a bus meeting coming up a week on Sunday - Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1594370832398160 and this Friday is the deadline to have more than the current 17 in Raglan having a say about local government - go to https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/your-council/simplifying-local-government. It's also Matariki, with several events happening - see our list of events for details on Friday and Saturday.

News this week includes the Waingaro Hot Springs Hotel in liquidation, reorganising local government (to respond see https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/your-council/simplifying-local-government) and teacher, Hāhona Ormsby, talking from 7pm tomorrow (Wed) night at the Old School, Stewart St, about his experience with a Palestine flotilla and Winston Peters. There's also a map of where horses might be allowed on Wainamu/Ngarunui Beaches - see https://waikato.civicclerk.com.au/web/GenFile.aspx?ad=5780&token=767d3fec-e571-438c-80a6-294e1b0ee939. What do you think?

This week's news includes slow progress with water, sewage and stormwater, the most crowded buses in Waikato, a tyre slasher from Auckland not being prosecuted by police and an article promoting real estate. This week's Morning Show interviews were about the Community Board and planning for a swimming pool.

This film at 7.30pm on Saturday was among events mentioned this evening. The WEL Energy Trust election and local government reform were other topics.

In 2016 $289,000 was spent installing these 100,000L sewage tanks under Nihinihi Ave. The agenda for tomorrow's Community Board meeting (1.30pm Town Hall Supper Room) says "Marine Parade Pump Station – Replacement is proposed due to the identified wet well failure. Survey works have been completed. An engagement is underway to investigate options to replace the pump station in its current location and a suitable alternate within a nearby local park." This evening's Raglan talking to Raglan also covered Thursday's Workforce Plan event (4.30pm Surf Club, Wainui Reserve) and the WEL Energy election.

A bit of news from the agendas of Waikato District Council, a sample of the coverage of the surf competition and a couple of interviews about geology.

"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.

"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.

A bit more about the plans for the surfing championships, plus an interview with the chair of the community board, Ross, and the start of one with the mayor, Aksel - listen to the podcast to hear the rest, or wait to see if there's time to fit it in next week.

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.

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.