This summary of the agenda for the April 29th Raglan Community Board meeting has been prepared by John Lawson, Secretary of Whāingaroa Environmental Defence Inc., 51 Cliff St, Raglan 07 825 7866 email johnragla@gmail.com
The next Raglan Community Board meeting is on Wed 29th April at 1.30pm in the Te Mata Hall. The public forum will be near the start of the formal meeting, giving an opportunity to discuss issues. You might prefer to email/phone the Board.
Wednesday’s RCB agenda is 244 pages long (156 pages of Standing Orders), and includes –
- World Surf League update – verbal “circulate Traffic Management plan to the Board once completed. Freedom camping . . . unable to use any Council Reserve for Freedom Camping on a temporary basis for the event as there have been no specific provisions made under any Reserve Management plan for this purpose. Opening up current prohibited areas would only cause congestion and concern for the residents of the current prohibited streets”.
- IAWAI Flowing Waters update – verbal
- Waikato Regional Council Transport & Environment update – verbal
- Senior Leadership Team report – verbal
- Roading – verbal
- Harbour Board / Surfside “staff member will attend the June RCB meeting . . . whether RCB should formally support the Surfside Church proposal” [reduced rent for Wi Neera St properties]
- Beach Bylaw “The way in which we manage horses on beaches is currently being reviewed through the bylaw process. As this review is underway it is inappropriate to remove the sign so as to not preempt a decision.”
- Wainui Reserve 30 year plan – minutes of last meeting, “Reserves Planner to speak to Raglan Community Board around Wainui Reserve 30 Year Plan at the next meeting on Wednesday, 29 April.”
- Go Raglan tourism and events community consultation “gathered feedback from more than 250 respondents over the summer. A key theme to emerge was the need to better manage traffic and improve the overall visitor and local experience, particularly during peak times.”
- Manu Bay planting as last month – “Due to the WSL surf tournament, . . . – it is always possible to do a planting in future years.”
- Manu Bay boardwalk “scheduled to be completed by early May”.
- Papahua Reserve pump track “asphalt surface is being replaced with concrete . . . will remain closed until mid-May”.
- Xtreme Zero Waste “Waste Services Manager will be in attendance . . .to answer any questions . . . There was always the option that should a negotiated agreement not be able to be achieved to Council’s satisfaction that the waste collection services and the lease of the Raglan Resource recovery site be put to an alternative market procurement process . . .in the reuse shop and the ‘yard’ area (wood, building, DIY etc.) This allowed natural attrition to occur, and not replacing staff where possible helped address concerns raised by Council about affordability . . .2.8% decrease on wage costs . . . XZW was able to commit to reducing processing costs in a staged manner. . .design prevents riding or standing on the trailer. . . .Rural unmanned depots – next LTP as options (if chosen) will result in either a Level of Service change, or a rates increase. Until such time, BAU.”
- Service Requests “no further system changes are envisaged until the Council’s Enterprise Architecture has been confirmed.”
- Sewage “Removal of the warning signs about swimming and collecting shellfish at Wainamu Beach cannot be considered just yet . . . treated effluent contains no pathogen or ecoli, forever chemicals, and residual pharmaceuticals are not removed”.
- CCTV “will become operational once the central server in Ngaaruawaahia is installed”.
- Greenslade Rd Reserve playground “the contractor who originally awarded the contract went into voluntary liquidation. Since then, the Project Manager has engaged with several local contractors and is actively developing a mitigation plan”.
- Standing orders to be amended to allow members to join hui by audio visual link and decide if the chair has a casting vote.
- Freedom Camping Bylaw “needs to have the review complete by 20 November 2028 so we may kick this off late 2027”
- Soundsplash “Report can be supplied for June meeting.”
- Councillor’s Report rates increase 2.8% [for detail see WDC 8/4 below], Ratepayer Assistance Scheme
- Town Hall Committee Satnam nominated as RCB rep, AGM October.
- Coastguard Lease still to “Provide feedback to Council”
- Antenno App – publicise.
- Discretionary fund has $13,227.04. Arts Council want $1,500 for the Film Festival, the Museum want $3,000 for the Surf Exhibition, Inside the Barrel want $895.80 for a WSL photo competition, Weedbusters want $250 to replace agapanthus with toetoe at the foot of Bow St.
These items are not on RCB’s agenda –
Waikato Regional Council – Transport 22/4
Patronage on the Raglan bus is down again Jan-Mar 2026 to 22,839 -4.17%, 53.16% on time, slightly better
“WRC is proactively collaborating with WDC and the WSL event management team to promote the May surfing championship tour in Raglan. Event delivery is supported through co-promotion and coordinated transport options.”
developing a public transport contingency response [for oil crisis]. This has included:
(a) Identifying high-cost/low-patronage routes and potential network rationalisation (regional and Hamilton urban).
(b) Assessing frequency, hours of operation, weekend services, and route hierarchy
Waipā routes have 7 fully electric buses, Taupōs has one electric bus. All other buses are diesel
a workshop was held on 6 March to enable detailed discussion on four topics – depot ownership, innovation, improving passenger numbers, and network design.
https://www.gets.govt.nz/WARC/ExternalTenderDetails.htm?id=33796986 proposals for Bus Contract Renewals close on 27 July, run for 9 years from 1 Nov 2027, with an option to extend 2 years, electric buses aren’t required until 2035. – there will be further consultation about the medium to long term plans for Raglan buses, including the continued services to and from Hamilton East
bus priorities considered for
- Northern Corridor: Te Rapa Road to Ulster Street
- Eastern Corridor (Cross City Connector): Massey Hall Overbridge to Fifth Ave via Mill St and Boundary Road
- Eastern Corridor (Clyde St): Anzac Parade to Ruakura via the University
PT mode share in Hamilton rose from 0.8% in 2018 to 2.3% in 2022/23 but figures not reliable
21/04/2026 Community Voice & Choice
Raglan Museum funding was $10,000 Increased to $20,000
Wainui Reserve is planned for consultation in July
Community Voice Panel 62% female, 10% Raglan (pop 8%), 12% under 35 (pop 25%), 31% 65+ (pop 19%) – first topics – Where can Council improve right now? What is it getting right? issues top of mind for residents, your fave café, bakery, etc, Antenno feedback – a user experience survey on the current website had a 17% response rate.
WDC 8/4
WSL Temporary Alcohol Ban – Manu Bay spectators would be prohibited from bringing their own alcohol to the event but would still be able to purchase drinks from the controlled public bar Up to 6,500 spectators (Police – up to 20,000 visitors), competitors, and support personnel 15-25 May. 6am to 5pm
Annual Plan consultation is not required – rates 2.8%, UAGC 3%, targetted rates 11.66%, household growth 2.1% – WDC vehicles travel 239,579 km pa, using 18,334 litres of fuel (petrol and diesel) and fuel costs $29,146. As a result of the conflict, petrol prices have risen from an average $1.95/L and an average $1.23/L for diesel. Reserve acquisition Defer 2,857, District Wide walkways Defer 438, District Wide parks and reserves Defer 211, Resurface Carparking Cancel 256, myDebt, myAnimals Cancel 203, stormwater and water quality improvement projects in Raglan keep 444, Raglan stormwater extension keep 322, 3 Bow St – renew concrete driveway Cancel $11,152, 2025/6 spending Raglan Wharf Carpark 400, Pump Track 340
23 March Roading agenda (pages 31-34)
In Whaaingaroa Ward, still only MAIN RD (OLD SH23) 365m Rehabilitation out of Total Length of 14.115 km.
Whaaingaroa Ward has fewer kilometres of roads being resealed than other wards –
| Ward | metres to be resealed in 2026-27 |
| Western District | 24140 |
| Awaroa-Maramarua | 19124 |
| Tamahere–Woodlands | 18715 |
| Waerenga-Whitikahu | 12981 |
| Newcastle–Ngaruawahia | 10393 |
| Tuakau-Pokeno | 9811 |
| Huntly | 7365 |
| Whaaingaroa | 5675 |
Raglan water demand remained consistent between 1,500m3/day and 2,000m3/day for Feb. Recently installed solar panels at the Raglan Wastewater
Wainui outfall site visit 9 March, with WRC consenting staff.
$200K additional expenditure included in the budget for desludging wastewater pond moved to FY26/27 year
| Project Name | Budget 25/26 | FY 25/26 | FY 27/28 | Comments |
| Raglan wastewater treatment plant upgrades) | 9,076,944 | 2,900,780 | 6,176,164 | The $5.5M represents the savings from the Raglan WWTP Upgrade. This funding will be repurposed to Huntly and Ngaaruawaahia WWTP Upgrades |
| Raglan Reservoirs | 4,721,153 | 227,323 | 4,493,830 | Historic Pa site has been identified, and consultation has been undertaken with Heritage NZ, delaying the start of the physical works. |
works on Te Hutewai Road have advanced significantly, with approximately 1km of new watermain installed. The next two renewal sites are now prepared for commencement in March. Upgrades are planned at James Street / Cliff Street. – The detailed design for the Wainui Rd / Stewart St Outfall and Marine Pde projects has been completed, and the resource consent applications for both projects have been granted by WDC and WRC. As part of the consenting process for Nihinihi, Wainui, and Government Road projects, an archaeological assessment was completed to identify potential construction-related risks, and an Archaeological Authority application must now be prepared and submitted to Heritage NZ – detailed design and ecological assessment for the Government Road project have been completed. resource consent will be lodged with WRC early March.
The Raglan interceptor device upgrade [Wallis St] is currently on hold, as priority has been given to the Macdonalds Rd Pond in Pokeno, which has a discharge consent compliance issue due to the BadoLog unit not being installed as required under the consent conditions.
Marine Pde Pump Station – Replacement is proposed due to the identified wetwell failure. Survey works have been completed. An engagement is underway to investigate options to replace the pump station in its current location and a suitable alternate within a nearby local park. Relocation will consider benefits of improvement to the surrounding local gravity network. – input from the hydraulic model being undertaken as a separate project.
Biosolids Strategy update seeks to develop a new opportunity to modernize the management of organic waste streams across the district. Central to this initiative is the evaluation of a modular biochar facility, designed to transition regional sludge management from a negative disposal model to a beneficial, closed-loop resource recovery system. – reduces reliance on traditional landfill disposal, effectively reducing carbon emissions.
Investigations are currently centred on the viability of establishing a regional biosolids facility
WDC 23/3
enhancing the ability for volunteers to undertake minor works and projects on Council property, including open spaces. There will be a number of process and policy changes required and will therefore take time to implement.
Roading 23/3
5 serious crashes recorded in Feb. Alcohol and drug impairment, along with road position and loss of control, remain the most common contributing factors. 2025/2026 10 died, 2024/2025 2 died.
unsealed road network continues to present challenges across both contract areas due to historic underinvestment and accumulated maintenance backlog, Fulton Hogan has been actively planning and programming maintenance activities within the available budgets
4,103 roading-related requests were responded to within the required timeframe, with 234 requests falling
outside – road defects, signage, vegetation management and emergency notifications – Whaanga Road and the wider Raglan and Te Mata areas, will require careful sequencing and potentially multi-stage delivery due to the nature of the terrain and engineering requirements. Temporary measures have been put in place.
footpath service requests Feb, 167 footpath-related service requests were responded to within the target timeframe, with only 6 requests exceeding response targets.
Other issues missing from the RCB agenda – stormwater, outdoor movement hub, signs, Civil defence, roading contract, road safety at school, 2Degrees tower, new reservoir, Spatial planning/Town plan,street lighting, recreation study, transport assessment, speed limits, RCB’s Facebook page (it’s being used again occasionally), alcohol ban, Manu Bay boat ramp, Papahua erosion, Cliff St pohutukawas, development next to 4 Square, footpath obstruction by cafes, old Harbour Care site, Raglan Naturally, fluoride, organic waste, rubbish on SH23, Greenslade Rd SH23 junction, Connectivity Strategy. speeding on Main Rd, Harbour Strategy, Animal Control late responses, cycle counts, Bayview Rd safety, Canada geese, Cliff St, Park Dr/Long St crossing, town square, WRAP, Calvert Rd parking, volunteer worker safety.
Should WED be taking up these or other issues?