A proposed downgrade of community input on disability and aging has been unanimously rejected by Ngāmotu councillors. New mayor Max Brough’s efficiency drive saw him chop the Age and Accessibility Working Party (AAWP) as he pruned New Plymouth District Council committees. But councillor Sam Bennett gave voice to a public backlash with a motion to bring back the working party – and even the mayor ended up voting in favour. For nine years the AAWP allowed disabled whānau and se

An infestation of invasive clams has forced the draining of a popular lake in Ngāmotu for summer. Lake Rotomanu will be emptied this week so scientists can understand the extent of the freshwater gold clam incursion. The clam 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘢 was found in the recreational lake five weeks ago in the first discovery outside the Waikato River and the lake was closed to motorised boats. New Plymouth District Council will open the lake outlet on Thursday and it’

Taranaki’s mayors have met behind closed doors to discuss the future of the region’s democracy. Craig Williamson says Taranaki mayors want to revamp local government before regional councillors are redundant. The Government wants to abolish regional councils and have boards of district mayors work out how best to govern their regions. https://www.rnz.co.nz/.../no-more-regional-councils-major... The Beehive wants to cut costs and streamline decisions with the biggest local gov

New Plymouth's new mayor dressed up as the Grinch for Christmas but says his cutback-council may revive the city's cancelled Winter Festival of Lights. Mayor Max Brough campaigned on cost-cutting and a rates cap to reign in council spending and debt. Brough dressed as the Grinch in New Plymouth’s Christmas Parade on the weekend and has a light-up likeness of the Dr Suess character at his desk. But as the Government announces new rules to cap rates, the mayor says the winter f

Getting rid of regional councils will undermine progress on restoring Taranaki’s polluted waterways, say councillors and a mana whenua representative. The Government on Tuesday announced it wants to do away with Taranaki Regional Council and ten others across the motu TRC chair and deputy Craig Williamson and Bonita Bigham are worried Government changes will dilute local input into protecting the environment. (Te Korimako o Taranaki) . Regional councillors will be replaced wi

The three-day Tū Mai Taranaki culture and sports festival has again forged bonds within and between iwi across Taranaki. Fresh from the kapa haka stage for Ngāruahine were Pearl Luke, Piripi Bowman, Leesha Luke and Te Oti Katene with tamariki Elena and Pianaca Luke-Omahuru. (Te Korimako o Taranaki) Every two years Tū Mai celebrates iwi of Taranaki Maunga competing, learning and simply being together. Enrolling her tamariki in te reo education reconnected Leesha Luke to her cu

Ki uta, ki tai: Iwi agency heads Sam Tamarapa of Ngāti Maru and Tahinganui Hina of Ngaa Rauru were all ears at the energy summit. (Te Korimako o Taranaki) Don’t accept crumbs from the table: help build the table, own the table, share from the table. That was the message at last week’s National Māori Energy Summit in New Plymouth. The Iwi Leaders Forum invited energy industry players to discuss what’s coming down the pipeline and how iwi might secure a stake. Engineering consu

Max Brough has won New Plymouth's mayoralty in a landslide and enjoys a solid majority of conservative councillors (Te Korimako o Taranaki) Taranaki voters have chosen to remove Māori seats from all council tables in referendums held as part of local elections. At the next election in 2028 there will be no Māori wards in New Plymouth, South Taranaki, Stratford or across Taranaki as a region. Most Māori candidates lost bids to win council general wards or community board seats