View active and proposed road closures, roadworks, and emergency road status information.
Our main offices will be closed Easter Weekend. Most Council services will either have reduced opening hours or be closed entirely. Areas where rubbish and recycling are normally collected on Fridays will instead have collections on Saturday, 19 April. See the full list of services' opening hours »
Tropical Cyclone Tam - Weather Warning
Tropical Cyclone Tam is expected to bring significant wind and rainfall to our region from midday Thursday (17 April) to midnight Friday (18 April).
Get updates and more information »
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News
Winners at Aratoi
Masterton is set to host 13 new award-winning artworks at Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History, fresh from the 2019 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award - Painting and Drawing exhibition in Whakatāne.
French rugby team in town for pre-season festival
A French rugby team is set to get a taste of Eastern Bay of Plenty hospitality when it arrives in Whakatāne this month for the New Zealand Junior Rugby pre-season festival.
Flooding anniversary marked
Saturday 6 April marks two years since Tropical Cyclone Debbie caused widespread flooding in the Whakatāne District. Worst hit was the township of Edgecumbe, where a breach of the Rangitāiki River stop bank flooded much of the town and saw the whole community evacuated.
Alternative access at Edgecumbe Library
Edgecumbe Library users and Te Tari Awhina customers are advised that access to the facility will only be available via the park-side entrance into the Lions' Reading Room for the next two weeks.
New Awatapu Lagoon weed control approach trialled
An estimated 250 tonnes of aquatic pest weed has been removed from the southern end of the Awatapu Lagoon, as part of a joint Whakatāne District Council/Otamakaukau Working Group improvement initiative.
Community feedback sought on draft Gambling Policy
The Gambling Policy must be reviewed every three years and public consultation on the proposed policy is being undertaken in conjunction with the Whakatāne District Council’s 2019/20 Annual Plan process.
Annual Plan consultation document
A Consultation Document outlining the key proposals in the Whakatāne District Council’s 2019/20 Annual Plan will be distributed around the District over the next week.
Ōpōtiki Artist wins People's Choice Award - 2019 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award - Painting and Drawing
A new award plaque has been added to the 2019 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award - Painting and Drawing (MMCA) exhibition at Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi. Organisers are excited to announce that the recipient of the Law Creative People’s Choice Merit Award ($500) is the finely-rendered oil painting, Fencing Assistant, by Mark Anstis.
Kia kaha Christchurch - Kia kaha Aotearoa. 15.03.19
Our aroha and deepest sympathy go to the Muslim community and the people of Christchurch in this darkest of times. You did not deserve this. Aotearoa did not deserve this.
Cycle Trail business case to move forward
The Whakatāne District Council has supported the submission of a revised business case seeking funding for the extension of the Mōtū Trails Great Ride from Ōpōtiki to Whakatāne.
Finalisation of annual plan underway
The Whakatāne District Council’s Policy Committee has approved the finalisation of the draft 2019/20 annual plan budget, in preparation for a community consultation process.
Sullivan Lake dredging underway
A six-week dredging project got underway at Sullivan Lake this week, utilising specialised equipment sourced from Denmark.
Apanui Canal works begin this week
Excavation and reshaping work will begin this week along the section of stormwater channel between Pyne St and The Strand. The work involves Waiotahi contractors excavating the channel base and sides, and a general reshaping within the drainage reserve.
We're practicing our #TsunamiHīkoi
Council staff and Emergency Management Bay of Plenty (EMBOP) are organising a Tsunami Hīkoi to encourage people to prepare for evacuation to higher ground should natural signals (prolonged earthquake) occur or a tsunami alert be given.
2019/20 Annual Plan changes likely
The Whakatāne District Council's draft budget for the 2019/20 financial year will propose a number of changes from the work programme and budget previously set out for the year in the 2018-28 Long Term Plan (LTP).
Horomanga Stream bridge to close for repairs
The Horomanga Stream bridge on Troutbeck Road, Galatea, will be closed to all traffic for at least three months from mid-March.
Drop-in session to gather feedback on transport alternatives
An initiative to investigate the ways that people are moving around the Whakatāne District is looking for feedback from people in the Whakatāne township at its drop-in session to be held at the Whakatāne Library from 12 - 7 pm on Thursday, 28 February.
Ōhope hill hotmix works address rough bends
The 380m-long 's-bend' section of Ōhope hill, between Brown and Cliff Roads, will be resealed with hotmix over three nights this month, beginning on Tuesday, 19 February.
Over 30 international teams for Oxfam Trailwalker
More than 100 international participants are set to take part in March's 50 or 100-kilometre Oxfam Trailwalker event, including a large contingent from Singapore - a country stretching a mere 50 kilometres from coast to coast.
Pikowai Campground - partial closure for upgrading
Sections of the Whakatāne District Council’s Pikowai campground will be closed from early-March to mid-April to allow a number of significant upgrading projects to be completed.
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