Written by Linda Hall
Residents are being urged to trust the safeguards after fears that contaminated soil from an old timber plant has been safely managed at Wairoa landfill.
Residents are being asked whether to keep funding the ageing theme park as Hastings District Council weighs service cuts to ease rates pressure.
A proposed 29.7ha land swap is reviving a Hawke's Bay dam row, with backers saying it could unlock water security and jobs.
Consultation on Tōmoana Showgrounds' long-term plan has begun, but the biggest upgrades, including new facilities, are not due for at least 10 years.
Council backing for a revised master plan means detailed design work can begin on parking and traffic fixes at the busy sports park.
Ratepayers have paid more than $2000 to clear asbestos from the closed campground, prompting council to block vehicle access with boulders.
Business losses are mounting in Hawke's Bay as fears over water security drive firms to relocate, while dam backers seek government support.
As Cyclone Gabrielle recovery winds down, local contractors are trimming jobs and councils warn the region's civil work pipeline is shrinking.
The dry spell could hit farms, rivers and firefighting readiness across Hawke's Bay, with below-normal rain and warmer temperatures forecast.
Concerns over safety and dune damage could see full vehicle bans at Waimārama Beach, with permits reserved for ATVs and exempt users.
Household water bills and service delivery will be shaped by Louise Miller's move to lead Hawke's Bay's new regional water entity.
Homes and businesses in Awatoto should be better protected from more common floods after a 3.6km stopbank upgrade got under way.
Residents are being asked for views on lower speeds across nearly 60 Hastings roads, with changes aimed at safer streets and school zones.
Central Hastings businesses face parking curbs and possible road closures for nearly a year as a new drinking water trunk main is built.
Nine months of closures on Taradale Road have cut takings by up to 40 percent, leaving one Marewa superette owner fearing bankruptcy.
Council plans for a $77.3 million racecourse in Flaxmere have drawn warnings that low-flying aircraft could spook horses and trigger noise disputes.
Wairoa councils will soon be able to clear river mouths and debris sooner, after floods exposed delays in emergency response.
Farmers may dodge tighter water limits as Hawke's Bay councillors weigh shelving the Tank plan amid government reforms.
Ten years on, the outbreak still shapes drinking-water rules after contaminated taps sickened more than 5,500 people and killed four.
