Mayor's Message 20 December

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.

First of all I want to acknowledge the deeply sad news that one of our Council roading contractors was fatally injured in an accident whilst working last week. My thoughts are with their family, their work colleagues, and their friends.

Kaipara District Council has gone to the open market for a new roading contractor as the current contract with Ventia comes to a close. 

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

Devich Road bridge will close again from next week while contractors carry out final repairs.

January saw our teams commence routine spraying rounds, pavement repairs are full steam ahead and preseals and reseals are underway across the district.

I have to say, February has been a bonanza of celebrations and I have been attending all I can.

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.

Two bridges in Tangiteroria will undergo essential works this year to improve safety and restore full vehicle access, resulting in temporary closures on Omana Road and Pukehuia Road.

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

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has confirmed detour routes and dates ahead of the upcoming closure of State Highway 1 (SH1) Brynderwyn Hills for critical restoration work.

Last Tuesday I attended celebrations at Waitangi. It is some years since I have attended and it was good to reconnect with the events of the day.

With the Brynderwyn closure fast approaching, we’ve been busy preparing detour routes for additional traffic.

Roading crews have made strong progress improving and stabilising the local alternative routes around the Brynderwyn Hills in anticipation of additional traffic due to the upcoming closure of SH1 Brynderwyn Hills. 

Visiting Kaipara’s hot spots this summer? Please park considerately or risk taking an infringement (fine) home with you. 

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

An update on the Kaipara Cycle Network Connections project from Kaipara District Council Chief Executive, Jason Marris.

The end of the year is certainly a time for reflection, and I have been doing plenty of that as we approach the summer break. It’s been a huge year for the Council and for all of us here in Kaipara District. 

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

We have now finalised the design for Wood Street. A huge thanks to everyone who has been involved over the years and through the design trials to get to this permanent design.

It’s been fantastic to have so many locals engaging with Elected Members and Council staff at the recent market events. In the last month we’ve had stands at Mangawhai Tavern Market, Dargaville Community Market, and Maungaturoto Night Market. We also hosted a Dargaville Business Meet and Mingle in partnership with Dargaville Community Development Board.

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.

Repairs on Devich Road bridge are set to start next week.

UPDATED: 9.30am Tuesday 31 October 2023.

Kaipara District Council has adopted their Annual Report for 2022/2023. The report was unanimously adopted in the 25 October meeting.

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

This month I have been really enjoying this drier sunnier weather and the promise it’s bringing of a classic Northland summer. You can feel it in the air. Out and about, it’s been a month full of happenings.  

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.

We received 320 submissions from the community on proposed connectivity improvements between residential Dargaville and the town centre.

Northland’s three District Council roading teams are gearing up for a major resurfacing and road repair programme in the hope wet weather is set to ease.

A new collaborative project has arisen from the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, which aims to build Northland’s resilience to future adverse weather events by tackling the problem of fallen and at-risk trees.

I said in my last message that I would be checking my bike and getting ready for the opening of the Mangawhai boardwalk soon. And true to my word, I did! 

If you’re driving along the beach, keep to the harder sand below the high tide mark.

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.

Council staff and contractors have been working on solutions to repair or replace Devich Road bridge, which was damaged in the 24 February extreme weather event.

I love hosting people in our beautiful district and I had the recent pleasure of welcoming the other Northland mayors down to Mangawhai for the Forward Together Forum (work programme for all four Northland Councils working together).

Work to repair a slip on Glinks Road is scheduled from mid-September to mid-December 2023. 

Tell us what you think about proposed connectivity improvements for Dargaville.

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

At the June Council Meeting the Annual Plan for 2023-204 was unanimously adopted, agreeing to an average general rates rise of 4.96 percent.

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

The need to focus on continuing urgent road repairs due to ongoing wet weather and storm damage is delaying some routine maintenance on Northland’s council-owned roading networks.

Firstly, a hearty warm welcome to our recently anointed citizens. I was proud to be part of the ceremony in Dargaville celebrating and recognising fourteen Kaipara residents of different nationalities.

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

There are a number of roads impacted after heavy rainfall throughout the district on Tuesday 9 May 2023.

We are on the tail end of what has been yet another significant weather event. We have seen a huge amount of rain again, soaking ground that is already saturated and filling rivers already high.

Construction of the permanent upgrade for Wood Street will take place next year, after Council has signalled prioritising emergency works over planned projects for the upcoming Annual Plan 2023/2024.

Plenty happening around the Council table. A Notice of Motion raised by Deputy Mayor Larsen to investigate options for a waste to energy plant was supported by Council

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. 

Already it is mid-April. Our delayed summer weather has brought a rush of visitors to the district recently, and we expect even more during this school holiday period. Welcome to you all.

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

There’s not much to say about the extreme weather events of last month that hasn’t already been said, so I’ll keep it short.

In a controlled opening, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will re-open SH1 at the Brynderwyn Hills for northbound vehicles only from 8am tomorrow morning (Wednesday 1 March).

Contractors working on the Lang’s Beach bridge on Cove Road have encountered further challenges, delaying the reopening of the bridge until Wednesday morning.

I am not sure anyone would have believed me had I said we would have to contend with another extreme weather event during the on-going aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle.

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.

UPDATED: 2.18PM Thursday 02 March 2023

Media release from Northland Civil Defence.

Yesterday I was able to witness first hand some of the hard work that has been happening across the district to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle.

UPDATED: 2.17PM Thursday 02 March 2023

When you see the sun come out and the wind has dropped, it could be difficult to believe what we have experienced in the last few days.

In the early hours of this morning Awakino River on the northern outskirts of Dargaville breached its banks. 

This is the second State of Emergency for Northland in two weeks. Again, as a precautionary measure, the State of Emergency was called early so we could be well prepared for Cyclone Gabrielle before it hits.

This article will be updated with information on Kaipara District Council services during Cyclone Gabrielle. 

Kaipara District Council is asking residents to mow their own roadside berms to keep Kaipara neighbourhoods tidy. 

It’s been a wild ride with the weather, with rain, rain and more rain. Kaipara is still feeling effects from the Auckland Anniversary weekend weather event.

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

As I write this, bouts of wind and rain are lashing the district. The La Nina weather pattern is certainly delivering a wet summer.

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. 

Northland motorists are being asked to be patient this summer as the Northland Transportation Alliance battles relentless wet weather while attempting roading repairs.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is encouraging people in Dargaville to get on their bikes with a Transport Choice programme grant of approximately $8,000,000 to be provided to Kaipara District Council, announced on 4 December 2022.

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.

This is my first message as your Mayor. It is very humbling to be asked to represent you all. It’s a deep responsibility that I take seriously.

Consultation is now open on a proposal for new speed limits in Kaipara’s Poutō Peninsula and West Coast catchment areas. You now have until Monday 5 December to give your feedback.

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

You can soon give your feedback on proposed speed limits changes to Poutō Peninsula and West Coast roads. 

What a journey it’s been since I was elected to serve the people of Kaipara in 2018. Thank you to everyone who supported my vision for this place.

The long shadow of debt for Kaipara District Council has been a defining characteristic of the last decade. As at 30 June 2012 Council had internal loans of $83.4 million with the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme component of that internal debt at $58.5 million.

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.

An update on the Kaihu Valley Trail including fencing progress, funding and latest finds along the trail.

Trustworthiness is at the heart of Kaipara District Council, which aims to be “a trusted Council”.  It’s been a long journey back from the edge of local democracy and the Kaipara Commission during which time there were appointed Commissioners rather than locally-elected Councillors and a Mayor.

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

Busy times in recent weeks marked by exceptional moments have kept me well-occupied.

Success has come for Kaipara District Council at the recent AGM of Local Government New Zealand where our remit to limit and better regulate vape stores was voted upon

Nominations are now open for the election process for Mayor and Councillors of the next Kaipara District Council.  I am keen for Kaipara people to have many great candidates from whom to choose our next Council.

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.

Big news in Kaipara is that Deputy Mayor Anna Curnow will not be seeking re-election at the upcoming Council elections.

Matariki marks the start of the new year on the Māori calendar, when the constellation of stars with that name appears in the sky and the new planting and growing season begins.

In May, we saw some great progress happening across the district. Sealed pavement rehabs are now complete, and the unsealed network has received the last of the PGF/IRG funding. 

At the 25 May Kaipara District Council meeting the Exposure Draft of the Kaipara District Plan was discussed and a decision made to hold back on the official release and consultation of that “rule book” document.

Amendments to Kaipara District’s Speed Limits Bylaw were unanimously passed at the May Council Meeting, resulting in new speed limits in the Mangawhai – Kaiwaka (including Hakaru) and Kaiwaka West (including Oneriri Road and Oruawharo Road) areas. 

Down the road from the mighty Tāne Mahuta, a road-carpet was rolled out and lights set to green as the newly sealed 1.5km stretch of Waipoua River Road was opened for traffic.

April’s relatively calm weather meant that Kaipara’s roading team could focus on jobs carrying over from previous months, and complete work on this year’s sealed pavement rehabs, unsealed heavy metal sites, and footpath kerb and channel renewals before the wet winter weather sets in.

Slashing next year’s rates by 2.27% looks to be on the cards for Kaipara District Council, following a Council Briefing last week where staff updated elected members on progress with the draft Annual Plan.

Work is underway to implement new speed limits in the Mangawhai – Kaiwaka (including Hakaru) and Kaiwaka West (including Oneriri Road and Oruawharu Road) areas.

Complex problems for councils seldom come as neatly packaged as the “Better Off” funding which is part of the Three Waters Reforms.

Check out the latest happenings on the Kaihu Valley Trail progress, including the discovery of some railway artefacts.

There was a real sense of Groundhog Day in March, following on from Cyclone Dovi in February when the district was hit with a significant rain event. For Kaipara’s roading team, it was all hands-on deck with the clean-up.

Knocking off the big things as the season turns, daylight savings ends and the autumn equinox has passed, Kaipara District Council has just had confirmation the Mangawhai Central Private Plan Change has been resolved by all the concerned parties without the need for a costly Environment Court hearing.

Kaipara District Council is extending a stern warning to people who are parking illegally around schools and making it unsafe for young children.

Even lower expectations for KDC rates in the 2022-23 Annual Plan year, commencing 1 July, are now firmly on the cards as Council gets closer to its June finalisation of what will be in the Annual Plan. 

Getting clear results is a good thing, but when they’re excellent as well as clear then that’s simply great!

A small number of people parking badly at schools around the district are making the area unsafe and obstructing lines of sight for other drivers.

At yesterday's Council meeting, the Kaipara District Council approved paying the forecasted $487,000 sealing project shortfall to complete Pouto Road Phase 1, from its retained earnings.

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.

Future-focused energies for the finish of February are helping set up Kaipara District Council for a busy time ahead.

Covid Omicron case numbers are increasing across New Zealand and in other parts of Northland but not in Kaipara District.

Kaipara District Council’s recently approved new speed limits for the Mangawhai, Kaiwaka and Hakaru areas, are expected to take effect within the next few months.

The Northland Transportation Alliance’s (NTA) Unsealed Road Improvement Project remains on track to approved project milestones with 84.4 km’s of the network’s road pavement layering completed to date. 

Two years ago last week the Government started its rollout of the first responses to the Covid-19 coronavirus. We’ve been living in a pandemic since then.

Pouto Road phase one and Waipoua River Road will be completed in April, despite delays caused by wet weather in the Kaipara District post the Christmas break. 

Upgrades to numerous unsealed Northland roads are well underway, with a substantial amount of work to be completed by the end of June in the Kaipara District. 

The second season of road surfacing works commenced in the Kaipara District this month, after 14.4kms was completed in December 2021.

Standing at the gate of the year, as I look ahead I see a colourful year for Kaipara District Council.

Taking a moment to reflect on the positive things from the year that’s coming to its end soon is my best advice for right now. Well, it’s what’s helping me get through.

The Kaipara District's roads continue to hold the right balance of moisture and dryness, which has allowed the NTA and Kaipara District Council to complete a lot of roading work this month, including grading on Avoca Rd, Avoca East Rd and Avoca North Rd.

With the border opening there will be increased traffic travelling through both of the worksites. Please remind your visitors ahead of their arrival that these are still active work sites in the lead up to the break – give your friends and family a heads up so they can be prepared for possible travel delays and can plan their journeys accordingly.

Kaipara District Council’s externally funded Unsealed Road Improvements Project remains on track with a little over half the project completed. Northland Transport Alliance Maintenance Lead Bernard Petersen says this includes just over 70 kilometres of unsealed surfaces upgraded.

Resilience and taking some time to breath easily are important for us all in the busiest few weeks of the year, starting now.

Kaipara District Council has adopted a report recommending new speed limits in the Mangawhai and Kaiwaka area. The adoption of this report paves the way for the introduction of lower speed limits this financial year.

A tomo (sinkhole) recently appeared on Gordon Street in Dargaville.

As part of ongoing improvement of Kaipara’s unsealed roading network, the Northland Transportation Alliance is using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to confirm pavement thickness safely and rapidly across the district.

It begins! Fulton Hogan started physical works to improve Waipoua River Road this week.

As November turns into December the pace of things quickens around the Kaipara.

Our Kaipara District Council team is excited to see the sealing start to roll out for Phase one of the Pouto Road project – the upgrade of the northern portion running down to Ari Ari Road junction.

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

The $8.06M Unsealed Roading Network project that began in May last year, has crossed the halfway mark with completion of the first season’s physical pavement and associated works at a cost of $4.3M to end of October.

As already reported, Government has mandated the Three Waters Reforms and there’s no way to wriggle off the hook.

As already reported, Government has mandated the Three Waters Reforms and there’s no way to wriggle off the hook.

A blessing undertaken by Te Roroa last week marked the start of physical works on Waipoua River Road.

In a flash the Three Waters Reforms have gone from looking reasonable to being radical reform, with Mayors across the country panning the announcement by Minister Mahuta that Government will, after all, be compelling all Councils across New Zealand to surrender their drinking water, wastewater and stormwater assets to be reorganised into mega-entities.

An onsite blessing will be held by Te Roroa on Friday 12 November to mark the start of construction on the $1.8m Waipoua River Road project.

Baylys Beach access is back open for use.

Congratulations to people in Kaipara District who’ve responded to the Kaipara Call To Arms and have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated in the last two weeks.

There’s been significant progress on the Village intersection improvements recently. Night works have enabled the programme to see only a small delay in spite of the recent Level 4 lockdown and restrictions.

Earlier this month an extreme rain event at Baylys Beach, followed by periods of further wet weather, saw signifcant damage inflicted on the beach access.

Local Councils across New Zealand have been heavily focused in recent weeks on the Government’s Three Waters Reform program and what it may mean for us all.

An update on wher ethe roading team will be working across Kaipara in October. 

Current Covid Rules around Kaipara District Council

Fill has washed away from a Paparoa-Oakleigh Road bridge, leaving a large tomo.

At the time of writing, we have just entered our first Level 4 lockdown since March of last year.

Kaiwaka township has seen a number of safety improvements recently, with our team and contractors Ventia busy working along Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Road.

A significant change in the programme for the much-needed Village intersection improvements will see the work finished in early December, ahead of schedule.

Pouto Road Phase One and Two - what's been happening?

The United Civil team are starting to work in the road (Stage Two of their work staging plan), focusing on the area at the western entrance to the Moir Street / Insley Street intersection.

Winter weather has slowed the reconstruction work to upgrade our unsealed roads, but no time is being wasted. Teams are clearing vegetation and drains in preparation for when reconstruction work can start again.

Fast-paced times for Kaipara District Council will be the flavour of the period ahead.

Keeping connected with friends and family is important for each of us, it’s part of what keeps us healthy, resilient and having an enjoyable life. Connections for small Kaipara District Council are likewise important.

Each year our Northland Transportation Alliance (NTA) safety team prioritises a number of high risk rural roads  for assessment, design, and safety improvements.

Construction work on the Mangawhai Village intersection improvements started this week. 

Records have been tumbling at Kaipara District Council and I expect a new level has just been set for the longest single-day Council Meeting

Kaipara District Council has developed a new formula for unsealed roads that results in a more durable, and lower maintenance, surface.

Roads are the most significant part of the business of Council, and something about which locals are justifiably passionate.

A number of improvements have been made at the Kaiwaka end of Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Road. 

The first part of the Pouto Road sealing project is set to start this week from Wednesday 24 March, kicking off one of Kaipara’s most significant road sealing projects.

A surprise season of tsunami sirens is upon us. A real evacuation-level alert, a false alarm and then a scheduled test all within one month – that’s a bit to get your head around! On 5 March there was a legitimate tsunami evacuation for communities of Mangawhai and Ruawai. 

In the last month the COVID-19 pandemic has directly impacted Kaipara District twice – once with the 'Northland case' who visited tourism hotspots from Mangawhai to Matakohe and then with the 14/15 Feb checkpoint/boundary confusion which affected large numbers of Kaipara people and for a day effectively cut Kaipara District in half.

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.

Earlier this month Rīpia Marae representatives blessed the site of Motu Wheteke, ahead of physical works starting at the quarry. Kaipara District Council contractors are preparing to reopen the site, primarily for the Provincial Development Unit-supported Pouto Road sealing project. 

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.

Happy new year greetings to you as we roar on further into the Twenties. Already it’s lining up to be a cracker of a year for Kaipara District Council, and our summer season is well underway.

Bad parking can endanger other drivers and pedestrians, particularly around busy shopping areas, parks, schools and beaches.

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.

After months of planning, the Wood Street revitalisation project really got rolling this month, with key changes implemented following the latest community co-design workshops.

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

Kaipara District Council has been consulting the community about lowering speed limits in the Mangawhai and Kaiwaka area. 

Summer is now upon us, and the days are warmer and longer.

Kaipara District Council is seeking feedback on proposals to set new speed limits in the Mangawhai and Kaiwaka areas, including the Mangawhai urban area. 

Spring is fully here, the kowhai has bloomed, daffodils are done

“Kaipara’s getting hotter” is a perfect phrase for the season – winter is now over but, also, the attractiveness of Kaipara for new residents is reaching new levels of popularity.

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.

Approval from the Provincial Growth Fund and the release of $2.8 million means Kaipara District Council can progress with sealing the second section of Pouto Road (Phase 2).

Lockdown #2 is literally at the doorstep of Kaipara District right now

The darkest part of winter is here and yet there is so much light in Kaipara District

At hand we have a story of a halving, a doubling and a balancing. 

High and dry times continue across Kaipara District, as the worst-in-70-years drought rolls on.

Alert Level 4 has been extraordinary

Unprecedented events are unfolding around us.

Drought concerns are high on everyone’s minds.

New road safety measures are being introduced outside several Kaipara schools to help make drivers more aware they are approaching school zones and the need to slow down.

Parched soils, hot temperatures and dry days make it clear summer’s here in Kaipara.