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News
Whakatāne reclaims sunshine capital title
After a five-year hiatus, Whakatāne unofficially holds the sought-after New Zealand ‘sunshine capital’ title. A total of 2704 sunshine hours recorded in 2020 put Whakatāne 89 hours ahead of second-place Richmond, the 2019 winner.
New refill station a free and easy solution
Visitors to the Whakatāne CBD will no longer need to purchase single-use plastic water bottles, now that a permanent water bottle refill station has been installed in Wharaurangi on The Strand.
Councils pay respect - Whakaari Anniversary
Whakatāne District Council will halt between noon and 3 pm on Wednesday 9 December to enable staff to observe the commemoration service lead by Ngāti Awa.
Top six themes from town centre and riverfront revitalisation consultation
Processing of feedback received through the first stage of engagement on the Whakatāne Town Centre and Riverfront Revitalisation programme has revealed the community’s top six themes.
Love a list: make it, take it, stick to it, save the planet
Love Food Hate Waste is calling for Kiwis to ‘Love a List’ to help reduce the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of avoidable food waste sent to landfill.
Annual over 80s morning tea celebrates 20th anniversary
Whakatāne District residents over the age of 80 are encouraged to circle Tuesday, 1 December in their calendar for the annual festive morning tea.
Success celebrated despite challenging year
The annual Young Achiever Awards held last week celebrated the achievements of more than 150 youth for excellence in academic, cultural and sporting fields at national or international level.
Whakatāne Town Centre and Riverfront Revitalisation update
Processing of feedback received through the first stage of engagement on the Whakatāne Town Centre and Riverfront Revitalisation programme is well underway. This information is now being analysed to capture key themes, challenges and opportunities that will eventually inform concept plans that will be brought back to the community for further feedback.
Former Wally Sutherland buildings to be cleared
Contractors are preparing to clear buildings on the corner of The Strand and McAlister Street as the next step in the strategic site’s use as part of the regeneration of the Whakatāne CBD.
Capitalising on domestic market priority for tourism recovery
Increased marketing investment to attract domestic visitors is keeping Whakatane’s tourism economy buoyant in the wake of COVID-19 and the 2019 Whakaari/White Island eruption.
Ōhope Local Wild Food Challenge a crowd-pleaser despite the weather
Inclement weather didn’t phase Ōhope Local Wild Food Festival attendees on Saturday as they enjoyed the first festival-style local event since the impact of COVID-19.
Outdoor pool enclosure underway at Aquatic Centre
Works to construct a year-round all-weather enclosure for the outdoor pool are underway at the Whakatāne District Aquatic Centre.
Works begin to make Wainui Road considerably safer
A series of safety improvement road works on Wainui Road is due to begin early this month.
Island of wet wipes clogs Edgecumbe ponds
The Edgecumbe oxidation ponds have recently undergone costly work to remove a significant amount of debris, most of which is a result of residents flushing unflushable materials down toilets and drains.
Hao exhibition showcases male māori weaving
Hao, a new exhibition at Te Kōputu a te Whanga a Toi that launches this weekend, intends to showcase exquisite creations from kairaranga tāne (male weavers).
Impressive prize pool at this month’s Local Wild Food Challenge
Budding chefs and wild food enthusiasts planning to enter the Ōhope Local Wild food Challenge can look forward to an impressive array of prizes up for grabs.
Annual road resurfacing programme kicks off
The annual road works programme, which involves resurfacing roads throughout the Whakatāne District, is underway and will start in the Whakatāne township after Labour weekend. The work is scheduled to avoid as much disruption as possible and in certain areas, work will take place during the evening and through the night to minimise impact on traffic.
Final days to have your say on Town Centre and Riverfront
People who are passionate about their town centre and riverfront have until 5pm on Friday, 16 October to have their say on how it could be revitalised.
Climate change plans now in action
Whakatāne District Council formally adopted its Climate Change Strategy and Action Plans, in a Strategy and Policy Committee meeting last week.
Former Wally Sutherland buildings soon to be cleared
The clearing of buildings on the corner of The Strand and McAlister Street is the next step in the strategic site’s use as part of the Whakatāne regeneration programme. Some of the former Wally Sutherland buildings on the site need to be demolished due to health and safety concerns. Others on the site will continue to be tenanted.
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