News
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Don’t feed the fatbergs this winter
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsAs the weather cools and hearty winter meals return to the menu, Western Bay residents are being reminded that what goes down the sink can have costly consequences.
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New wetland opens on the eve of Matariki
Kaimai WardNewsA new wetland that blends environmental restoration, cultural storytelling and recreation has officially opened in Ōmokoroa.
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Community fund opens to help bring local ideas to life
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsProjects for play, projects for people and projects for place - our Community Matching Fund is now open and local community organisations are invited to apply for funding.
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Council to investigate two scenarios in reform process
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsCouncil will continue work on two potential merger scenarios as part of the Government’s Head Start pathway for local government reform.
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Council confirms 5.1% rates increase
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsWestern Bay of Plenty District Council has confirmed a rates increase of 5.1 per cent for the year ahead, following a series of deliberate and measured decisions.
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Matariki celebrations light up the Western Bay
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsFrom hot chocolates and hāngī, to storytelling, stargazing and the launch of a newly built waka tētē, as Matariki dawns across the Western Bay, communities are invited to come together to celebrate.
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Community open to exploring change as part of local government reform
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsOur community conversation on the future of local government generated plenty of robust kōrero for what change could mean for the Western Bay.
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A smarter way to library? App-solutely!
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsWe have updated our library app, making it simpler and more accessible for people to borrow books, tap into digital resources and stay connected with library services.
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Safer speed limits coming to Western Bay schools
Media questions and responsesKaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsSafer speed limits are coming to Western Bay of Plenty schools, with the first stage of Council’s school speed sign programme now underway.
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Ōmokoroa landmark to return
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardNewsThe much-loved Ōmokoroa Rock will soon return, once again providing a familiar welcome for those arriving in the coastal town.
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Vehicles leave their mark on Western Bay reserves
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsWestern Bay of Plenty District Council is reminding people that motorised vehicles are not allowed on public reserves after a recent spate of damage caused by four-wheel drives and motorbikes.
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Bylaws open for community feedback
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsWestern Bay of Plenty residents are invited to have their say on two District bylaws currently under review - the Public Places Bylaw and the Animals (Excluding Dogs) Bylaw.
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Green light for dog registrations in the Western Bay
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsWestern Bay of Plenty District Council is encouraging dog owners to make sure their four-legged friends are “seen in green” as the new registration year gets underway.
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Strong community backing for Western Bay growth direction
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsMore than 22,000 pieces of feedback from across the Western Bay are now influencing how the District will grow and change over the next 30–50 years.
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Council brings proposed rates increase down to 5.1 per cent
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsAs part of the Annual Plan 2026/27 process councillors have worked through a range of options, bringing the proposed rates increase down to 5.1 per cent for existing ratepayers.
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Precious Family Reserve toilet consultation opens
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsRetain, relocate or remove? That is the question Western Bay of Plenty District Council is asking the community about the future of the toilet at Precious Family Reserve in Ōmokoroa.
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First stage of Ōmokoroa Road works complete
Kaimai WardNewsMajor improvements to Ōmokoroa Road between State Highway 2 and Prole Road have now been completed, as the first stage of work wraps up.
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New Minden Lookout viewing platform opens
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsSightseers can once again soak up one of the most iconic views of the Western Bay and beyond, with the opening of a new viewing platform at the Minden Lookout.
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Should Western Bay merge with other councils?
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsWestern Bay of Plenty District Council is asking its communities one fundamental question: should Western Bay stay largely as it is, or join with other councils in the future?
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Western Bay to seek community views on local government reform
Kaimai WardKatikati - Waihī Beach WardMaketu - Te Puke WardNewsWestern Bay of Plenty District Council will be talking with its communities in the coming weeks about changes signalled by central government on how local government could work in the future.
