The Whakatāne Society of Arts and Crafts is holding an outdoor market and indoor demo-day on Saturday, 16 June to celebrate the opening of its new Visual Expressions exhibition.

The Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre – Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi – is to close on Sundays through the winter and early spring.

The Whakatāne District Council has approved a proposal put forward by Mayor Tony Bonne to appoint an independent chairperson and reduce the number of elected members on its Audit and Risk Committee.

A youth art exhibition, master-quilting classes, traditional ta moko and korowai workshops, and a youth song quest are just a few of the initiatives to receive support through the latest Whakatāne District Creative Communities Scheme funding round.

The Whakatāne District Recovery Team has been acknowledged for “exceptional innovation or creativity that has pushed the boundaries of current Civil Defence Emergency Management practice in New Zealand”.

News on the Reserve Management Plan, a project to lift Te Reo Māori visibility in Whakatāne, and the Traffic and Speed Limits Bylaw.

The Whakatāne District Council’s Projects and Services Committee has approved a range of budget adjustments for inclusion in the current (2017/18) year’s capital budgets and 2018-28 Long Term Plan (LTP).

News on Sullivan Lake dredging, funding for a cycle trail extension, and a Walking and Cycling steering group.

A planned earthquake strengthening project for the Whakatāne District Council Civic Centre has been placed on hold to allow a detailed business case to be developed for community consultation.