A holiday message from Mayor Jacqui Church

Kia ora and hello!

I am sure that you are looking forward to a few well-deserved days off over summer.

It has been a huge year for so many of us and I feel we all need a little family fun, sun and a great kiwi holiday season to celebrate.

We need to have some time to focus on what matters, which is our family, friends and those we love and all those jobs, gardening, hobbies and sports we love.

We need to be able to recoup and gather our energies so we can focus on our upcoming year with a renewed vitality for our future.

I feel honoured and privileged to have been recently elected in as Mayor of Waikato district.

Read more.

Holiday rubbish and recycling

Have you made your list and checked it twice? Mark rubbish and recycling off and pop it out on the curb as normal for the December/January holiday period.

Those that usually have a pick-up on a Monday will continue to be collected on a Monday and so on.

Holiday hours

Our offices, libraries and dog pounds will be closed from midday Friday 23 December and re-open Monday 9 January.

However, we are only a phone call away! If you have any urgent queries, such as noise, road safety concerns, dogs and other animals, call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0800 492 452.

View our holiday services and hours.

Camping over summer?

We’ve got some awesome towns and beaches for you to visit. To see where you can camp in the Waikato district, check out our online tool.

Share your views about freedom camping.

We’ll be reviewing our Freedom Camping Bylaw next year. Before we prepare the draft bylaw for consultation, we want to hear your thoughts. Are there areas you want to prohibit or restrict freedom camping in? Do you think people without self-contained vehicles should be able to camp? Give your feedback here.

Alcohol bans are in place

24/7 and seasonal alcohol bans are in place across the district. Be sure to stay clued up on where you can (and can’t) consume and possess alcohol.

If you’re caught breaking the rules in an alcohol ban area, you are liable to be fined.

Find out more.

Do you have extra recycling?

Did you know you can drop your recycling off at our transfer stations free of charge!

Check out their opening hours over the holiday period.

Plan ahead this summer

We know you’ve got the skills to rival Greg Murphy but it is important to be safe on the roads this summer.

Plan ahead using this Journey Planner. This site will give you estimated travel times and highlight any traffic hotspots so you can avoid getting stuck in traffic.

Be a safe driver this summer, we want to see all out and about enjoying these holidays.

Are you going to the beach?

Do you and your whanau know what to do if you feel a long or strong earthquake near a coastal area? Always remember – long or strong, get gone!

All of New Zealand’s coastline is at risk of tsunami. Knowing the warning signs and the right action to take can help save lives. Find out what to do before, during and after a tsunami.

Updated speed limit signs

Speed limit signs are now being changed throughout the district. They’re being changed after councillors adopted the latest round of proposed amendments to the Speed Limit Bylaw 2011 earlier this year. 

For a schedule of changes and an interactive map of where the latest lower speed limits head to our website.

Raglan Wharf update

We are excited to share, we have been granted funding from the Government’s Better Off funding package to construct a western walkway, tidal stairs and other improvements such as a pedestrian crossing at the Raglan Wharf.

Read more.