A new place to play for Pahi

A new playground is on the way for Pahi for tamariki and families to enjoy. 

Improvements are underway at Te Kōpuru Domain, focused on upgrading play, picnic, and pathway areas.

Kaipara District Council is celebrating the recognition of Harding Park as an exceptional open space following its success in securing the prestigious Green Flag Award®.

Aranga Beach is more ready than it’s ever been to welcome visitors this summer, with new and brightly coloured public toilets installed and open for use.   

Mountain bikers are set to gain even more momentum, with the community-led Mangawhai Mountain Bike Park project receiving the go-ahead at September’s council meeting.

...and no it's not a restaurant!

In September, we kicked off pre-seals in preparation for the upcoming re-seal programme.

With winter drawing to a close, the roading team have been planning the unsealed road strengthening programme – set to start at the end of September.

The roading team have completed 20 slips over the last nine months. Pahi Road (pictured) is well underway.

It’s been a busy month for our unsealed network – with over 9,600m3 of metal processed across our unsealed roads and 123km of road graded.

Complaints about wandering dogs fell by 65% and dog attacks are also down 43% over the same period.

Did you know that a whopping 55% of journeys take place on just 16% of the KDC road network?

Significant strides have been made to repair hundreds of slips and restore the Kaipara roading network.

The dry season came to an abrupt end in April with the arrival of ex-tropical Cyclone Tam.

The Mangawhai Heads Reserve Concept Plan has been officially adopted, setting a vision for the reserve's future development.

Update Friday 18 April, 8:57am

Northland experienced an exceptionally dry March, which brought grading work across the district to a halt. 

A dry February has put the brakes on unsealed road maintenance, shifting our focus to wet roll grades.

Work across the 1126km unsealed network will pick back up in late March, having slowed down during the dry season. 

New toilet facilities for Pahi were opened this week following a ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Pre-seal repairs progressed well in November, with 71% of sites finished.

In October, Kaipara's roading team powered through 55% of necessary pre-seal works, in preparation for re-seals next year.

A new Master Plan for the Mangawhai Community Park will guide future use and development of the popular public space.

What does play look like for your whānau? Play Week Aotearoa is running from 26 October to 1 November.

It’s kick off time for the new loos at Pahi!

We made the most of June’s relatively dry weather, carrying out culvert placements and water tabling across the district.

Teams are in full swing across both unsealed and sealed networks, preparing for the upcoming winter season.

Taharoa Domain campgrounds may be under new management this summer after Kaipara District Council Elected Members agreed to seek Expressions of Interest for its operation.  

Roading teams made the most of April’s dry weather, resurfacing 129,042m2 across the network and carrying out culvert replacements and water tabling.

Relatively dry weather in March enabled our roading team to push through our drainage maintenance and renewals.

A new online mapping tool developed by Northland’s three district councils shows the latest repair plans for the remaining slips still affecting district roads following severe weather events that hit the region during 2022-23.

Our team made the most of February’s mixed bag of weather.

In 2023, we asked the community for feedback on the Master Plan for Mangawhai Community Park. The Mangawhai Community Park Governance Committee used that feedback to prepare a draft master plan.

State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyn Hills is now closed for crucial recovery works. Detour routes through the Kaipara district are open and operating.

A nationwide campaign to promote Northland during the Brynderwyn Hills closure is just kicking off and will run throughout the period of the closure.

Our roading teams worked hard throughout December to prepare our roads for a surge in traffic over the summer.

We are now into the final stretch of 2023 and are pushing hard to complete outstanding work before the end of the year.

Please note: as of August 2024 the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association manages both Glinks Gully and Kellys Bay recreation reserves.

Freedom camping at these sites is prohibited. Further info and booking is available on the NZMCA website at Pouto Camping - Glinks Gully & Kellys Bay

Despite the unexpected interruption from Cyclone Lola,October was a very productive month on roads across Kaipara.

Downer, our contractors, along with community volunteers (including Friends of Mangawhai Community Park) will be knocking back pest plants in Mangawhai Community Park.

More than half of the 71 slips still impacting Kaipara roads in the wake of multiple severe weather events that hit Northland earlier this year should be repaired by the middle of next year.

We are only just on the other side of Winter and are already feeling the benefits of warmer and drier weather.

We’ve been working with Mangawhai Surf Club on temporary lifeguard facilities.

The end of another winter gave us some much-needed sunshine and blue skies. Now with Spring upon us and the days getting longer, our focus moves to pavement works.

The rainy weather persisted through July, resulting in 949 new pothole reports. To tackle the pothole issue, we introduced an additional pothole truck to speed up repairs.

The unsealed network has remained a significant point of focus throughout this traditionally rainy month.

Please do your part to help make our communities safe and accessible by parking in the right spot when you’re out and about

It’s been nearly six months since Cyclone Gabrielle, however we are still actively repairing damages and working through a substantial backlog.

Kaipara District Council Parks and Open Spaces team manage six of the district’s cemeteries and recently funded community-led work to repair the gates to their former glory.

Friends and family of the late Sibyl Canning gathered at the Moir Street Reserve to plant a kowhai in memory of Sibyl and her contribution to Mangawhai.

What do you want to see on the water tank at Moir Street?

This month, we have been primarily focused on clearing slips, performing tree and drainage works, and continuing with the unsealed rehabs program.

February’s extreme weather events have impacted roads across Kaipara. Our roading network has suffered significant long-lasting damage, and many issues will not be a simple fix. 

Our roading team were kept busy all summer, responding to urgent roading issues following the extreme weather events we’ve had.

Please note:

As of August 2024 the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association manages both Glinks Gully and Kellys Bay recreation reserves. 

Freedom camping at these sites is prohibited. Further info and booking is available on the NZMCA website at Pouto Camping - Glinks Gully & Kellys Bay

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Information in this article is no longer current. Please see above for updated info. 

Council has pressed pause on any changes to Kaipara’s waste and recycling services while a new waste strategy from central Government is assessed.

Kaipara District Council has confirmed the governance membership for the Harding Park Committee, and appointments to the Pou Tu o Te Rangi Joint Management Committee.

The Mangawhai Surf Club and surrounding area remains off limits to the public due to a significant landslide behind the clubhouse.

Authorities in Northland are advising travellers to stay up-to-date and amend their plans if necessary as key local roads damaged in Friday’s heavy rain around Mangawhai and surrounding areas will remain closed until midweek and in some cases, longer.

Kaipara District continues to respond to the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle.

After February's extreme weather events, you or someone you know, may be feeling upset, exhausted, overwhelmed or uncertain. You don’t have to manage this on your own, there are free resources available to support you during this time.

Our Rapid Response teams made good ground yesterday, conducting welfare checks on our isolated and hard-to-reach Kaipara communities, many of which are still without power.

UPDATED: 2.17PM Thursday 02 March 2023

A number of our staff have been diverted to emergency services relating to Cyclone Gabrielle. Council services will continue but some with limited capacity so please be patient. We will continue to keep you updated.

The recent weather events have caused a significant landslip behind the Mangawhai Heads Surf Club.

This article with be updated as information on Kaipara's roading network is available. 

Our team worked hard throughout December, preparing our roads for the expected influx of summer traffic. 

Improvements to the Poutō Point carpark area can progress in 2023 thanks to further funding from Kaipara District Council.

On the final stretch of 2022, the team have been pushing hard to complete outstanding work before the end of the year. Work continues on both the unsealed and sealed networks in anticipation of the summer rush and the expected increase in traffic. 

Kaipara’s population is expected to explode during the summer break, with people enjoying the district’s beaches, lakes, and vibrant communities. 

Summer holidays are fast approaching! During this time critical Council services continue, with some changes due to staff availability.

Sea, sand, and Aotearoa New Zealand’s rarest bird were all on hand for the opening of Kaipara’s newest loos.

With the continued improvements in weather, we are now full swing into unsealed and sealed pavement works. We have approximately 50kms of road to reseal in the 2022/23 season.

When you’re out and about this summer remember that all Council land and Council buildings are smokefree and Vapefree.

Our roading team made the most of the warmer, drier weather that came our way in September.

A new vision for Pou Tu o Te Rangi and Harding Park was confirmed this week, with the updated Reserve Management Plan adopted by Kaipara District Council.

A chainsaw course for Dargaville High School students saw wattle and other pest plants removed from Old Mt Wesley cemetery.  

August brought a welcome reprieve from the wild weather and storm events of July. A total of 3,100 individual work items were completed throughout August.

The Mangawhai Activity Zone (MAZ) Trust will soon start work on a new Flow Bowl and Street Skateboarding Plaza, following a grant from Kaipara District Council.

Wild, wet and windy weather kept crews busy in July. A total of 3,358 individual work items were completed throughout the month. 

Council staff are asking the Kaipara community to report any antisocial behaviour around public facilities after a recent run of vandalism.

Around 30 people turned out to a meeting at the Lighthouse Function Centre in Dargaville to discuss the Draft Management Plan for Pou Tu o Te Rangi/Harding Park.

Maintenance activities have been widespread in June. During this typically wet period, there has been a focus on potholing, running metal and completing grading work.

A new Reserve Management Plan has been drafted for Pou Tu o Te Rangi, Harding Park and Old Mount Wesley Cemetery, which overlook Dargaville and the Northern Wairoa River.

Kaipara roading teams have been putting their time to good use during the dry season, preparing for autumn when the damper conditions enable new road pavement to be properly compacted.

Representatives of the Pahi community met with Council at the wharf last week to work out where a new toilet block could go.

Construction for the Pahi wharf upgrade ended as it began months ago, with the sky lighting up slowly on the people gathered together. Voices joined in karakia and waiata, led by kaumatua Hone Martin and representatives of Te Uri o Hau swirled around the Kaipara harbour as a dawn blessing was performed to open the wharf’s gangway and pontoon.

Work to install the Kaiwaka footbridges will start in early January and continue for around seven weeks. With it comes some great employment opportunities for local contractors.

November has been a busy roading month for the Northland Transport Alliance and Kaipara District Council, across the Kaipara District.

Extra low tides earlier this month allowed Huband Contractors to work on some of the timber repairs around the lower parts of the tidal stairs.

What would you like to see on the murals for two new public toilets in Mangawhai?

Kaipara communities are to have a say on whether the Norfolk Pines in Pahi should remain protected or whether they can be removed, as part of the District Plan review process.

The Huband crew have been working at the end of the wharf recently, preparing the connection for the new gangway, and replacing pile caps and stringers.

An update on where the roading team will be working across Kaipara in October. 

It’s been a hive of activity down at the Pahi wharf recently. The upgrade has started with local contractors Huband carrying out the carpentry and repair work on the wharf.

Dawn broke over the land and water this morning, as Te Uri o Hau kaumātua Hone Martin led a blessing ceremony to begin construction down at Pahi wharf.  

Kaipara District Council (KDC) began consultation today on a proposed model of representation.

Council and the Pou Tu o Te Rangi Joint Management Committee are preparing new reserve management plans (RMPs) for the Pou Tu o Te Rangi historic reserve and Harding Park (including the adjoining Old Mount Wesley Cemetery).  

The Council has awarded the contract to design and build the two Kaiwaka footbridges to Bridge It NZ.

Construction to upgrade the Pahi wharf is set to start later this month.

A small but enthusiastic team of volunteers planted hundreds of native plants on the weekend. 

Dargaville Intermediate tamariki joined forces with the Kaipara District Council parks team recently, planting approximately 400 native plants in Taharoa Domain.

An community planting session is happening at Mangawhai Community Park on Saturday 26 June. 

Extensive pest plant removal, the creation of extra parking, a restoration and revegetation programme, and more.

The fungal disease Myrtle Rust has been discovered within the boundaries of the Taharoa Domain.

A friendly reminder to take only photos and leave only footprints at the Taharoa Domain when exploring the wonderful jewel of Kaipara.

Our Parks team and local contractors Turf Tamer recently completed work by the Kaiwaka River (north eastern side of the bridge).

Kaipara District Elected Members have voted in favour of a proposal to temporarily store the 157-year-old ship the Daring next to the Mangawhai Museum. 

Work will begin again at the Mangawhai Community Park after the Easter break.

Construction work for the Pahi wharf upgrade is set to start April 2021.

Nets have been set in Lake Taharoa for koi carp surveillance. If you're swimming, boating or kayaking on the lake, please keep out of the areas marked on the map during the operational periods.

Kaipara District Council has laid out its vision for the next decade of development in its Long Term Plan (LTP) and is asking the community if they agree.

The Kaihu Valley Trail is one section of the Ancient Kauri Trail that will be developed in stages and eventually link Ōmāpere, on the Hokianga Harbour, to the Mangawhai Coast.

The beautiful Kai Iwi Lakes/Taharoa Domain have proved popular over the last few weeks with a huge number of people visiting. The Kaipara District Council team jointly manage the area with Te Kuihi and Te Roroa, alongside Northland Regional Council and Department of Conservation, and together we work hard to ensure this precious place is protected, while still being enjoyed by many holidaymakers.

Kaiwaka footbridges will form part of the Kaiwaka walking and cycling network and will reduce severance caused by the state highway and rivers. 

If you want your berm looking immaculate it’s OK to mow it yourself if you want to.

Our parks team and contractors have been busy installing the new picnic tables around Mangawhai. 

See the results from surveys and events we've undertaken recently as part of our Long Term Plan. 

Summer is coming and so are all our visitors. It’s the busiest time of the year for the Taharoa Domain-Kai Iwi area, and we need you to help us look after this beautiful gem.

From the end of this month Pearson Street Reserve will be closed to vehicles all year round.

How can we make Northland more accessible for people with disabilities, older adults, migrants, or families with young children?

Work is progressing at pace, as a result of $2.87m recently allocated to Kaipara District from the Te Tai Tokerau Redeployment Package. A total of $9.32 million is allocated across Northland. The funding package through the Provincial Growth Fund is providing urgent economic relief for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, by creating immediate work opportunities for local people and businesses.

Treat water like gold.

A new governance structure has been established for Mangawhai Community Park, recognising the new level of maturity in the Park’s development.