Feedback wanted on Mangawhai Community Park Master Plan

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

Mangawhai’s summer bus is back and could be better than ever this season. For the first time, Kaipara District Council (KDC) is seeking local sponsors to enable the bus to run daily until after Waitangi weekend.

A joint paper on the suite of upgrades for the Mangawhai wastewater treatment plant has won the prestigious Paper of the Year award at the Water NZ conference.

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.

Kaipara District Council has agreed to incorporate Private Plan Change 81 Trifecta Development Area (PPC81) into the Operative Kaipara District Plan.

Kaipara District Council adopted the recommendations of the Hearing Panel for Private Plan Change 84 Mangawhai Hills Development Area (PPC84) at its 28 August meeting.

A decades-long arrangement between Kaipara District Council and Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society is a healthy example of how local government can work hand in hand with the community.

It’s official – starting Tuesday 20 August Mangawhai Library will provide the same professional, modern standard of services as the Dargaville Library.

Kaipara District Council and the Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service have agreed a way forward to kickstart remediation and repair of the slip and surf club building.

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

Council has approved a procurement plan to appoint a contractor for the Dargaville Town Hall Project. Keen contractors will soon be able to register Expressions of Interest.

A decision to adopt the recommendations of a Hearing Panel by Elected Members of Kaipara District Council moves Private Plan Change 83 (Cove Road North Precinct) a step closer.

From 1 July Molesworth Drive southbound traffic will be diverted around Moir Point Road/Seabreeze Road for approximately three weeks.

Downer is working hard to get construction done through the winter period, in time to have the third phase of the shared path open for use when summer rolls round again.

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.  

Stage one of a plan to expand Mangawhai’s wastewater capacity is complete, and stage two is well underway, catering for projected community growth to at least 2030. 

Mangawhai Library has had a glow up recently, in preparation for its transformation to a branch of Kaipara Libraries in August.

I am the proud patron of The Daring Trophy. The trophy is awarded to children who each year achieve noteworthy restoration of a sailing craft.

Molesworth Drive has been a hive of activity, with crew working on the third phase of the shared path spread across different zones.

We are making changes to the system that Kaipara District Libraries uses for our library catalogue, customer records and other library services.

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 temporary health warning at Mangawhai estuary - please do not swim or gather shellfish in the area until further notice.

A new lead librarian and two assistant librarians are coming soon to Mangawhai! 

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.

Parking officers are ramping up their presence at Mangawhai Heads surf beach this Easter weekend.

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

The latest round of community feedback has helped put the finishing touches on a concept design for the offstreet area of Wood street (Fagan Place area).  

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.

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.

Four Kaipara citizens have been recognised for their services to the community at the annual Kaipara Citizen’s Awards. 

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.

Works on the next phase of the Mangawhai shared path kick off 7 February. 

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. 

Passenger numbers on Mangawhai’s free bus are up again, with more than 3,100 people climbing aboard so far this summer.

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

Climb aboard the free bus and avoid the parking hassles in Mangawhai this summer.

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.

Replacement of Dargaville’s Northern Wairoa War Memorial Hall Annex after its demolished is to get a hurry-along with an Elected Member working group established to give the project more focus.

A new building consent management system introduced into Kaipara will make it easier for architects, developers, builders and homeowners to apply for, and keep track of their building consents.

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.

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.

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

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

Designs for two community hubs will proceed as originally planned after a motion agreed by Council to reallocate the funding did not receive iwi support.

Over the next two weekends, Kaipara District Council Elected Members and Council staff will be out and about attending markets around the district.

Elected Members agreed to commence the first two stages of a multi-year project to increase the capacity of the Mangawhai Wastewater Scheme.

A number of infrastructure renewals and upgrades completed in recent years have strengthened water security in Kaipara.

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

A recent decision by Kaipara District Council has given Fagan Place community housing tenants assurance on a way forward for new warm, dry, modern and healthy homes. 

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.

A new working party, made up of elected members, Kaipara District Council (KDC) staff and input from external expert advice has been appointed to work on the new Engineering Standards for the district.

Upgrading the Taharoa Domain day visitor toilet facilities, improving drainage in Mangawhai Community Park, and completing the award-winning Baylys Beach boardwalk are all on the cards for Kaipara District Council’s (KDC) work programme thanks to a cash injection from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF).

More than 900 voices from the east and west of Kaipara celebrated te reo Māori with waiata as the clock struck 12pm on Rāpare 14 o Hepetema (Thursday 14 September). 

Sunny weather and an incoming tide provided the perfect backdrop to open the Mangawhai boardwalk to a large gathering last week.

The boardwalk is the second phase of the Mangawhai shared path project, connecting the village to the heads, and making it safer and easier to travel by foot, bike, or scooter along busy Molesworth Drive.

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

Progress has been tracking well on the second phase of the Mangawhai shared path, with the boardwalk section now stretching right across the water by the causeway.

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.

Over the next month, Elected Members and Council staff are attending community markets around Kaipara District.

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

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.

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.

Kellys Bay Recreational Reserve will no longer operate as a camping reserve.

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.

With Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Road reopening this week we’ve extended the free drop-off for this weekend, 18 and 19 March at Hakaru refuse station.

In the leadup to the reopening of the eastern Brynderwyns detour route (Kaiwaka/Mangawhai/Waipu), authorities have confirmed that restrictions will again apply to truck and trailer units.

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.

Everyone has now left the overnight accommodation centres at Campbell Park Christian Camp, Moir Point Christian Camp and the community-led centre at St John's Hall in Kaiwaka.

UPDATED: 2.18PM Thursday 02 March 2023

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.

Media release from Northland Civil Defence.

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.

You now have until Friday 03 March to dispose of flood-damaged green waste and items free of charge at Dargaville and Hakaru transfer stations. Both transfer stations are operating normal hours during this time.  

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. 

Kaipara District Council is seeking input from the community on the future of Mangawhai Community Park. 

Mangawhai’s free bus has proven popular again this summer, with locals and visitors alike enjoying an easy journey between key spots throughout town. 

Kaipara communities will soon see officers regularly patrolling freedom camping hot spots, offering education and increasing awareness of proposed new national freedom camping rules.

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. 

Look after your loo and Kaipara's wastewater network this summer by reminding your household members and visitors what not to flush.

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

The four councils in our region are working together on a plan to make our communities more accessible to live, work, play and visit.

The popular free Mangawhai bus service is back for summer!  

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

Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback on the Exposure Draft District Plan. A summary of the feedback received is now available to view.

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.

Kaipara District Council staff are working to install vehicle barriers at the end of Raymond Bull Road to prevent vehicles driving through wetland habitat to the protected coastline.

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

New toilets at Alamar Crescent are ready for the public to use in time for Mangawhai’s busy summer season. 

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

Mangawhai will soon have land designated for future public sporting and recreational facilities.

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.

Kaipara District Council staff are asking Mangawhai house owners and residents on the wastewater system to flush water through their drains, toilets and showers and prevent gases from backing up into their homes.

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

The second phase of the Mangawhai shared path cranks up construction next month, and includes a collaboratively designed boardwalk running alongside the causeway.

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.

A Mangawhai Wastewater Treatment Plant Advisory Group (MAG) is helping to guide a future strategy for the growing town’s wastewater disposal.

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.

A blessing event carried out with Te Uri o Hau iwi representatives earlier this week signalled the completion of the first phase of the Mangawhai shared path works.

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

Kaipara District Council is considering purchasing land in Mangawhai for future use as public sporting and recreational facilities and wants to hear what the community thinks.

Last week saw the first of the pre-cast concrete slabs for Mangawhai’s new wastewater balance tank carefully craned into place.

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

Kaipara District Council has approved the Exposure Draft District Plan for release, inviting the public to provide feedback. 

At the July Council Meeting, Kaipara District Council Elected Members unanimously accepted the Private Plan Change 81 (PPC81) request from the Dargaville Racing Club inc.

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.

Kaipara District Council has completed the final step to adopt Private Plan Change 78 (PP78), which amends the planning rules that apply to the Mangawhai Central Development.

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. 

With the courtesy crossings for phase one now complete, the Mangawhai shared path team and contractors got the spades and mulch out and ticked off the planting, getting the final shrubs and trees in the ground last week.

Artists, Sean Duffell and Thijs de Koning, spent three days at the Mangawhai Activity Zone (MAZ) in Mangawhai Community Park last week, adding a splash of colour and creativity to the space.  

The project to install a new toilet at Lincoln Street Reserve is a step closer to completion with the new facilities delivered to site last week.  

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.

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. 

Elected members have voted to pause planned informal consultation on the Kaipara District Plan while they hold a further briefing on some topics.

A new balance tank for Mangawhai's wastewater treatment plant is one step closer to completion, with the first pre-cast concrete slabs poured for the tank structure.

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.

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

Projects to install new toilets in Mangawhai and Maungaturoto reached milestones recently, as the new facilities were delivered to their sites.

The Environment Court has given the green light to Mangawhai Central’s Private Plan Change 78 (PPC 78) to the Kaipara District Plan.

On Monday 28 March, Mangawhai Community Park’s new toilets were formally opened with a blessing at the Historic Village.

At a recent Council meeting, staff gave an update on Gumdiggers Track and the work happening behind the scenes.

The Kaipara District Council (KDC) submission against two resource consent applications by McCallum Bros Limited (McCallum) for sand mining along the Mangawhai-Pakiri embayment, progressed today with the decision for Kaipara Mayor Dr Jason Smith to represent Council at the upcoming Resource Consent Hearing.

Locals and visitors with their boogie boards, beach bags, skateboards and shopping bags piled on board the Mangawhai Village to Beach bus over summer, turning out in even greater numbers than previous years of the trial service.

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.

Starting today through to Wednesday 23 February a short section of Molesworth Drive from the ITM down to Nautical Heights will go down to one lane, with flow managed using traffic lights.

Check it out! Our Mangawhai office now has a dedicated food scraps bin for the staff kitchen, thanks to Sustainable Kaipara and their Community Compost Collection Service.

The Council is about to start constructing a balance tank, to increase the capacity of the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme.

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

Across our district, our animal management officers have been out and about with owners and their furry friends

The FREE Mangawhai Village to Beach Loop bus service continues to run weekends and public holidays through to Monday 07 February.

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.

A new balance tank and inlet works are to be installed at the Mangawhai wastewater treatment plant to expand the existing hydraulic capacity during the peak summer periods.

All aboard! The FREE Mangawhai Village to Beach Loop bus service is running again this summer. Please let your family, friends, and all your visitors know. The bus service is free for users.

Iwi Liaison Manager Jack Rudolph and Māori Advisor Missy Hokai joined the Council on 1 November, to strengthen a Te Ao Māori capability and viewpoint across the organisation.

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.

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.

With the Christmas holidays soon approaching, there will be some changes to a few Council services.

If you don’t already use Kaipara Libraries, we want to hear from you.  If you are one of our library users, we want to hear from you too.

Kaipara District Council (KDC) has worked with other Northland Councils on a Drought Management Plan (DMP) to create a consistent drought classification system and approach.

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

As part of our Long Term Plan, we undertook to explore options to expand the capacity of the Mangawhai Wastewater Scheme to accommodate growth in the area and summer peak flows.

A total of $45,155.00 has been awarded in the latest funding round for the Mangawhai Endowment Lands Account (MELA).

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.

Findings of the latest LittaTrap audit found an increase of rubbish captured. LittaTraps (a simple, cost-effective net that sits inside a stormwater grate) have been installed around Northland through a multi-agency initiative.

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

Work is about to start on two of four new toilet blocks. 

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.

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

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.

Kaipara District Council has been awarded a grant from the Creative NZ Local Government Arts Fund to develop an Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy.

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

From Monday you’ll see more of the United Civil team working further up Molesworth Drive on Phase One of the shared path.

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.

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

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

Construction work for Phase One of the Mangawhai shared path and Village intersection improvements is set to start later this month.

Kaipara District Council has accepted the recommendation from the Hearings Panel to approve Private Plan Change 78. 

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

In the first few months of 2021 there’s been a trickle of new information which has led to a substantial update on the long-running story of the debt levels of Kaipara District Council’s Mangawhai Wastewater Scheme. 

Kaipara District Council has published a report about the outstanding historic debt and capacity of the Mangawhai Wastewater Scheme (MWWS). 

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.

We’re having some issues at the moment around bad parking behaviour at both Mangawhai Beach School and Dargaville Primary School

Recently we received the good news that Waka Kotahi NZTA have granted funding to complete phase 1 of our new shared path.

Gumdiggers Track is a walkway formed by the Mangawhai Recreational Charitable Trust (the Trust). 

We recently started the evaluation for the Wood Street revitalisation project.

Two pōhutukawa trees have been poisoned by vandals in Mangawhai. The trees – approximately fifteen years old and growing on Council-owned coastal reserve – are exhibiting crown damage and other signs of herbicide poisoning.

Kaipara District Council is consulting on their proposed plan for the next ten years and Elected Members will be on hand to talk about it and answer questions.

Mangawhai’s bus service proved hugely popular with both locals and visitors this summer. The bus ran daily 27 December – 17 January and then every weekend and public holiday to 08 February, picking up passengers from Mangawhai Village to the surf beach. 

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 will soon be seeking feedback on their proposal to develop a revitalised Dargaville civic precinct as part of their Long Term Plan consultation.

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.

Thanks very much to everyone who took the time to fill out our recent Wood Street survey. We had a good response with a total of 205 people selecting one of four options to reconfigure the parking near the entrance to Wood Street (from Molesworth Drive). 

The interim design for the Wood Street revitalisation project has been in place since early December 2020.

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.

Changes at Wood Street are part of the Wood Street revitalisation project, a community co-design that came about after the Mangawhai Business Association approached Council in 2019.  

Updates for the continued Hearing for the Private Plan Change 78 (Mangawhai Central/Estuary Estates)

The FREE Village to Beach Loop bus service is running again this summer. Please let your family, friends, and all your visitors know. The bus service is free for everyone. 

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.

We are go! Traffic is now one way on Wood Street. Entry is via Molesworth Drive (similar to last summer’s trial). Please take care and look out for the new road markings and signs.

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

From tomorrow (Thursday 03 December) Wood Street will change to a one way traffic system. Entry will be via Molesworth Drive (similar to last summer’s trial). Please take care and look out for the new road markings and signage, which will be in place from this Thursday. Wheel stops are also being installed to complete the improvements to the back carpark. 

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.

The Private Plan Change is currently adjourned at the direction of the commissioners. 

Our contractors and their team are starting work on some of the improvements to the Mangawhai Community Park facilities later this week.

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

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

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

Works on the Wood Street interim design will be starting later this week!

Hats off to the Ngā Uri o Hau Native Nursery team! They have been busy replanting some of the areas down at Mangawhai Community Park recently. 

Fire Station cleared in Wood Street.

New local art hanging in the Mangawhai offices.

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

More than $180,000.00 has been awarded in the latest Kaipara District Council funding rounds for Reserve Contributions Contestable Fund, Rural Travel Fund, and the Creative Communities Scheme.  

Collaborative stormwater project kicks off with first LittaTrap installed in Mangawhai

Have you seen the team working down on Thelma Road South in Mangawhai? They're carrying out maintenance on the wastewater pump station, installing a new lining and lid.

Two shared path open sessions were held for the community last week. There was a strong community turnout, and those who attended were able to view the concept design for stage 1 and the route plan for the wider project. These are now available on the Mangawhai Community Plan website. 

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.

A total of $132,320.00 has been awarded in the latest funding round for the Mangawhai Endowment Lands Account (MELA).

Mangawhai Community Park work update. 

Councillors this morning voted in favour of the former fire station building at 09 Wood Street to be demolished.

The Council owned building is unoccupied. The Mangawhai Fire Station has been in its new modern premises at 191 Molesworth Drive since late 2019.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has awarded funds to Kaipara District Council for the next stage in the Wood Street revitalisation project. The funds are part of the Innovating Streets programme and pilot fund, which supports councils to deliver more vibrant and people-friendly public spaces by employing ‘tactical urbanism’. The grant will fund 90 percent of an interim treatment that will inform a permanent future upgrade in Wood Street.

Following several rounds of community and Mana Whenua consultation, Kaipara District Council has adopted a Spatial Plan for Dargaville, Maungaturoto and Kaiwaka.  

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.