Community

Fuel tax rise canned

The government has cancelled a planned fuel excise increase next year, with the next increase now set to take effect from January, 2028. Fuel excise...

Waikato grow ops stopped – hundreds of plants seized

Waikato Police have recovered tonnes of cannabis grown in large scale indoor commercial cannabis grow facilities linked to Vietnamese nationals. In the past few months,...

Witnesses sought in Wattle Downs’ double homicide

Police investigating a double homicide in nearby Wattle Downs on Thursday, August 27, are continuing to appeal for any information. As reported previously, emergency services...

Master Builders House of the Year – awards for Franklin homes

Some of Franklin’s finest homes have been recognised at the recent 2026 Master Builders House of the Year Auckland/Northland/Coromandel regional awards. While missing the supreme...

Magnificent views, wonderful community

Nestled in the heart of the Hokianga, Rawene is one of New Zealand’s oldest and most charming harbour towns. An opportunity to own a lovely...

Principal in person with Roger Goulstone, Valley School

How long have you been an educator, and where did you train? I started my training at Auckland Teachers College in 1985, so I have...

My Local: Whangarata Community Hall

Nearly halfway between Tuakau and Pokeno is the Whangarata Community Hall. The hall was originally the Whangarata School, built in 1926 to replace the...

Jan Maree Vodanovich – imagination runs wild

Wild horses couldn’t drag Jan Maree Vodanovich away from New Zealand’s Kaimanawa wild horses. In her new book – titled Heart and Soul –...

Franklin rents softening?

Bucking a national trend, rents have softened in Franklin, but fewer properties have come onto the market. As a result, desirable properties are still attracting...

Waikato councils united?

A unanimous vote at the Waikato District Council (WDC) appears set to pave the way for a Waikato amalgamation. As our previous issue went to...