Written by Diane McCarthy
Sixteen affordable rentals near Whakatāne will give Ngāti Awa whānau a foothold on Māori land, with 16 more homes due next year.
By storing 4000 cubic metres of stormwater and easing flood risk, a former pipe corridor is now being hailed as a model for councils.
Residents will wait longer for a say on whether Whakatāne should join a four-council water body, after neighbouring councils paused their own plans.
Sports clubs will press Whakatāne councillors to back a single hall renewal plan, as staff warn phased works would prolong closures and raise costs.
Residents say the route will strip mature trees and place pylons beside homes, despite months of talks over the solar farm link.
Residents regained safer evening access after streetlamps were reinstalled on Ford Street following months of darkness during undergrounding works.
Residents question why Whakatāne Council resurfaced one street with asphalt after saying the treatment was too costly for most roads.
Footpath parking has surged in Ōpōtiki after six spaces were removed from Church Street, prompting complaints from struggling retailers.
Extra rock removal is likely to push Ōpōtiki's new jetty extension over budget by about NZD $100,000 before decking starts.
Ratepayers could face a six-figure bill if Kawerau extends the 70kmh zone on State Highway 34, with funding uncertain.
