I would like to start by wishing everyone a happy new year. May 2025 be prosperous for us all.

I hope you have had a Merry Christmas and holiday break and are ready for a brand-new year.

It was great to see so many locals and visitors making the most of Wairoa’s beautiful natural resources – despite our district not receiving the usual sunshine we are known for. Wairoa is blessed, from the beaches of Mahia to the scenic beauty of Lake Waikaremoana and everything in between. It has been great to have the popular Morere Hot Springs open again and to feel a tourism buzz in the air.

Council has been working to make the district a fun and easy place to visit. Work on the main street river reserve enhancement is ongoing. The development of the Winter’s building and i-site visitor centre is scheduled to be completed in the next couple of months, and we will also be sprucing up the River Parade reserve at North Clyde.

As we head into the new year, there is a lot ahead of us. The flood mitigation project remains our priority. We need to do everything we can to limit flooding from occurring in Wairoa again, and I thank those in our community who are supporting this vital work. We must continue to help our flood-impacted people and support getting as many whānau back into their repaired homes as we can.

It is great to see the Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa housing development Te Raua coming on stream. This is a fantastic effort by all involved with the new modern subdivision a great boost for our town.

This year is a local body election year, and we will also be seeking community feedback on waste management, disposal and minimisation as well as Local Waters Done Well, plus a range of other engagements around bylaws, the annual plan and resource management.

It’s going to be a busy time, but there are good things happening, and I am looking forward to seeing our beautiful district prosper.

15 January 2025

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