Waikato Regional Council

🔹 Upcoming Council Meeting 🔹 Our next full council meeting is set to take place this Thursday, 31 October at 9.30am. Here are some of the key discussion points: 🔹 Adoption of the 2023/24 Annual Report and Annual Report Summary. 🔹 The appointment of a new Regional On-Scene Commander for Waikato Regional Council’s marine oil spill response function. 🔹 The results of the Waikato Regional Council 2024 Stakeholder Survey. Also up for discussion is the schedule of meetings for 2025 and the audited annual report from Co-Lab. Want to know more about what will be up for discussion? Check out the agenda here: https://bit.ly/3pmftjH The meeting is livestreamed, so you can listen to the discussion as it happens. Follow it live here: https://bit.ly/3NFb2sS

Congratulations are in order for our dedicated customer teams! 👏✨ Amidst a record 137 entries across 12 categories, Waikato Regional Council received a Highly Commended award in the Professional Service category in the Hamilton Central Business Association’s Love the Centre Awards this week. The award recognises our commitment to delivering exceptional customer service through comprehensive strategic plans that cater to both our community and organisation, and leveraging the latest technology to enhance customer experiences. While the award was received on the night by our delighted Customer Experience team, it also reflects the fantastic work of the staff in our public transport Customer Focus team too. Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners, and a big thank you to the Hamilton Central Business Association, Spark and MediaWorks for a fantastic evening of recognition and celebration.

A scholarship dedicating to helping students whose families live in the Waihou Piako zone rating area is open for applications. The Roger Harris (Waihou Valley Scheme) Scholarship supports one student each year to study civil engineering or resource management, with a particular focus on river and catchment management. It provides up to $6000 toward the cost of university fees. Learn more ⬇

🔸 National interest pest response: White bryony 🔸 We’re well on the way to achieving our goal of eradicating white bryony from the Waikato region, as part of the national interest pest response (NIPR) programme. White bryony is a vine that grows rapidly. With a scrambling habit and persistent tubers, it can smother low canopy and shrubland, and discourage native seedlings from establishing. When our eradication programme for white bryony began in 2001, we found and controlled thousands of sites in the Aria and Mokauiti areas of the Waikato region. Since then, thanks to our effective annual control efforts, the number of white bryony sites we manage has reduced dramatically (see graph below), with no white bryony found (again) during the 2023/24 season. This success story, and others like it, can be found in our recently released biosecurity operational plan annual report 2023-24, Pūronga ā-Tau mō te Mahere Mahi. This 81-page report covers the biosecurity work we’ve done in collaboration with the community and our partners over the past year. It contains several short case studies that showcase some of our results and learnings. You can read our annual report here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4dXaXeA

🛠️ It's International Repair Day! 🛠️ Celebrate by repairing some of your broken items. Repairing can prolong their usefulness, save you money and help keep waste out of our landfills. If you have household items such as clothing, a bike or electronics that needs repairs, a local repair cafe might be able to help you... In the Waikato region there are repair cafes in Hamilton, Taupō and Whāingaroa Raglan, as well as closeby in Rotorua. Anyone can bring along items to see if they can be repaired by the skilled volunteers for free. Learn more ➡️️ repaircafeaotearoa.co.nz

The work to clear wilding conifers from Hauturu Motu/Clark Island, located off the coast of Whangamatā, has been completed. Tangata whenua guardian group Tunaiti Kaitiaki Rōpū and Waikato Regional Council are partnering on a project to prevent the further spread of the island’s wilding pines, which are threatening its native flora, fauna and archaeological sites. During operations, it was decided to remove branches but leave large trunks in place. This is because their weight (estimated at a tonne per metre length) meant felling would have resulted in extensive damage to the surrounding vegetation and wildlife. Furthermore, because of their steep location, it was not possible to prevent large cut spars entering the water and becoming a coastal hazard. The standing trunks will break down with time and return their nutrients to the island. Gaps created will enable pōhutukawa and other native plants to reach maturity and replace the canopy. Hauturu is one of four islands that comprise Tunaiti Motu. Tunaiti Kaitiaki Roopu is working towards the upkeep of the islands as wildlife sanctuaries, including eradication of all rodents since 2020. Tunaiti Kaitiaki Roopu representative Errol Gilbert says that "the hard mahi and dedication of everyone involved with the motu has created a legacy for the current and future generations to enjoy." You can learn more here: https://bit.ly/4dxyzHx

Progressive containment case study: Velvetleaf We’ve just released our Operational Plan Annual Report 2023-24 / Pūronga ā-Tau mō te Mahere Mahi. This 81-page report covers the biosecurity work we’ve done in collaboration with the community and our partners over the past year. It contains several short case studies that showcase some of our results and learnings. Read our velvetleaf case study here ⬇

Our Chief Executive Chris McLay had the privilege today of speaking during day two of the Aquaculture New Zealand (AQNZ) Conference: Accelerating Aquaculture in Nelson. Alongside Stephen Hand (Coromandel Marine Farming Association and Pare Hauraki Kaimoana) and Jake Bartrom (Coromandel Marine Farming Association), he presented on the great mahi undertaken to produce a region-wide aquaculture strategy: Whakatupu Ngātahi - Growing Together. Among other things, Chris, Stephen and Jake shared some kōrero on the regulatory settings, the challenges for industry in the Waikato, the future and aspirations for growth. Whakatupu Ngātahi - Growing Together has a vision of doubling the value of aquaculture exports from the Waikato region over the next 20 years to $180 million. The vision is bold. But we’re working together with iwi, industry, district councils, central government, AQNZ and other key stakeholders to meet our goal. To read the strategy, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gQ-9Rjvi

🔸 Waikato Biosecurity Update 🔸 Biosecurity is all about stopping pests and diseases at the border, and stopping the spread of or controlling the ones we can that are already here. Harmful pests and diseases can cause a lot of damage, not only to our environment but to our economy and wellbeing as well. We’ve just released our Operational Plan Annual Report 2023-24 | Pūronga ā-Tau mō te Mahere Mahi. This 81-page report covers the biosecurity work we’ve done in collaboration with the community and our partners over the past year. This mahi (work) helps protect our beautiful Waikato region from the effects of invasive species. Key highlights: 🔸 23,000+ km covered in pest plant control and surveillance 🔸 900+ marine vessel hulls inspected for marine pests 🔸 88,000+ hectares inspected for Regional Pest Management pest plants. Dive into the full report to learn more about the progress we’ve made towards the goals of the Waikato Regional Pest Management Plan 2022-2032, and our non-regulatory initiatives aligned with the Waikato Biosecurity Strategy 2022-2032. You can read it here: https://lnkd.in/gpk9WwwK

"The free-draining alluvial river soils of the natural terraces along the Waikato River - the kirikiri that gave Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) its name - provided ideal growing conditions." - Wiremu Puke, Ngaati Wairere Kūmara are as iconic to New Zealand as pavlova, creamed pāua or kapa haka. The taste of freshly roasted kūmara covered with gravy or the unique earthy smell of kūmara drawn from a hangi are true Kiwi experiences. But before they arrived on our plates, in our vege garden (or on our supermarket shelves); before they even arrived on these shores, the humble kūmara crossed the largest ocean ever traversed in the ancient world. In fact, the presence of kūmara, which are indigenous to South America, in Aotearoa, speaks to the legacy of one of the greatest navigational and seafaring cultures the world has ever seen.   The story of the staple crop’s arrival and the care with which it was cultivated in the fertile soils of Kirikiriroa provided the captivating focus of a recent wānanga (workshop) for teachers from across the Waikato. The session was led by Wiremu Puke of Ngaati Wairere in the picturesque setting of Te Parapara Garden at Hamilton Gardens. Read more: https://bit.ly/4dy4OoU