Waikato Times

Last time a storm came

As the North Island braces itself for Cyclone Vaianu, one farmer says he is still cleaning up about $100,000 of damage from the last storms. In February, Tim Brittain, co-owner of Storth Oaks Angus, got caught in the Ōtorohanga floods, forcing him to...

Get your bike, mate Big boost for city's electric builder

A world-wide fuel crisis, cheaper pricing and growing demand for alternative modes of transport have seen Hamilton’s electric motorcycle manufacturer FTN Motion break sales records both here and across the Tasman. The company is now looking to cash in...

Surf mecca spruce-up

It has been a tough few years for long-time goat farmer Chris Savage, but for the first time since the downturn, he is looking forward to a rise in payout next season. In three years, the Dairy Goat Co-operative (DGC) lost half of its sales when their...

Iran war threat to rates?

The first impacts of the Iran war on Waikato ratepayers’ pockets are about to hit, with the conflict set to wreck council budgets and push up rates if it carries on. A delay in striking rates and councils needing more to cover rising inflation,...

Why this new SPF is a busy person's best friend

If you’ve ever looked at a 10-step skincare routine and thought, love the idea, simply don’t have the time, you’re not alone. Between work, school drop-offs, getting to the gym or just getting out the door, the ‘perfect’ morning routine can feel like...

Te Awa Lakes hits milestone

It has been 10 years in the making, but the first homes at Te Awa Lakes are finished and have hit the market, marking a major milestone for a city gateway suburb. It’s all go at Te Awa Lakes after the Government’s recent announcement of a special levy...

Easter double tragedy

Easter travel hangs in balance

Rising fuel prices are casting a shadow over Easter travel to parts of the Coromandel, with businesses reporting cancellations and concern about the months ahead. One business that would usually be fully booked in the popular tourist region is at 16%...

Easy Easter baking

EASTER SPECULOOS cupcakes Makes: 125g brown sugar 2 large free-range eggs 1 cup sunflower oil 1 cup cream 1½ cups speculoos cookie butter (such as Biscoff), melted 200g self-raising flour 250g cream cheese 100g icing sugar In a bowl, beat the...

Gardens fee hike on cards?

After netting over $4 million from its visitor attractions this summer, Hamilton City Council is eyeing hiking the entrance fee for its top-earner, Hamilton Gardens. In the last six months Hamilton Gardens was the stand-out in city-owned attractions,...

‘We’re not going to go back’

Six weeks after torrential rain devastated parts of Ōtorohanga, Kane Wharepouri is still coming to grips with the aftermath – and he won’t be going back to his flood-stricken home. When Wharepouri last spoke to the Waikato Times, his family –...

Father to son

The Jackson family has been farming in Te Akau for almost eighty years, and now they are continuing the tradition of passing the farm from father to son. John Jackson says that farming along almost six kilometres of coastline is a privilege, which he...

Swamped with visitors

After months of speculation it’s now official – visitor numbers at Putāruru’s Blue Spring – Te Waihou Walkway have more than doubled to 100,000 – leaving authorities grappling with the impact of over-tourism. A new report to the South Waikato District...

Changed man

It was code-hopping All Black Sonny Bill Williams who helped Tana Umaga realise he had to make some important personal changes to become a more effective rugby coach. That frank admission came during a reflective discussion with media at Moana...

Bite-sized buffet

build-your-own CROSTINI This is a fun way to feed a crowd. You can have some crostini ready in advance to inspire your guests and let them do the rest. It’s also easy to make seasonal adjustments. Prep: 20 minutes plus 15 minutes to rest Cook: 40...

Fuel at $3L and rising

We’re taking the bus or the train and trucking companies are getting slammed with price rises to simply stay on the road. Welcome to the world of $3 a litre plus for fuel. As the average price of 91 octane petrol across the country rose to $3.32L at...

Balloons light up the skies

Stunning weather arrived for the opening day of Balloons Over Waikato and it went off with a bang – namely, an epic fireworks display lighting up the skies at Waikato University. Waikato Times visual journalist Christel Yardley was there to capture...

Vagrant scourge could close plaza

COUNCIL An inner city homeless hotspot notorious for anti-social behaviour is being closed to the public – but Hamilton’s deputy mayor says it will be a “one-off”, not a long-term solution. Hamilton City Council’s central city revitalisation...

Luxury houses on market

More than a hundred $5 million plus properties newly available to well-heeled foreign buyers hit the market last year in Waikato. But one Hamilton real estate expert says Waikato may have to wait to feel the full effects of changes to “golden visa”...

Citrus hot seller

Main Street Cafe Huntly 122 Main St, Huntly Nearly a year after her pie won at the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards, Ellie Linton-Brown says she’s still reaping the benefits. In 2025, her raspberry and rhubarb pie won the Cafe Boutique category at the...

JOE BENNETT

We don’t know his name but we can still feel sorry for him. The man – and it has to be a man, doesn’t it? – has just paid US$15 million for a guitar. It’s a 1969 Fender Stratocaster, nicknamed the Black Strat, which was last auctioned in 2019. Back...

Two hours free back on agenda

Parking pitch

Hospo at heart of milestone

Waikato shoppers spent more on their cards than those in Wellington for the fifth month in a row in February, a shift payments company Worldline says may signal a milestone in regional consumer spending patterns. New data shows retail card spending in...

Doubts, delays plague hotel scheme

DEVELOPMENT Templeton founder Nigel McKenna said in an interview at the time that the new building could possibly be roughly “90-100 metres tall” but might be more or less depending on what the final design includes. In a joint statement with the...

‘Huge opportunity’ in deal

Waikato businesses have a “huge opportunity” to break into one of the world’s fastest-growing markets under a proposed New Zealand-India free trade agreement, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says. Speaking to about 80 people at a Waikato...

Homegrown heroes

The stages are set, the bar is waiting to be stocked, and even the toilets are standing ready. The single biggest entertainment event in Hamilton’s history will get under way at the Claudelands showgrounds at 1pm on Saturday. Sales for the Jim Beam...

Full refund ‘common sense’

The law blocking a full refund for a Hamilton woman who was overcharged rates for 21 years is “illogical”, a city councillor says. Sue Moroney was investigating the possibility of a refund to Progressive Pilates owner Sonia Lidington, who says the...

Side-by-side hustle

For months, Nicola Bradstreet and Will Jackson listed potential side hustles for the rural property they were buying. A couple of years later, one has turned into reality: a three-day walking retreat on the Wharepūhunga farm, south of Te Awamutu. The...

Body find may end mystery

A family member of missing Te Kūiti resident Colin “Col” Heath – who disappeared from home in March 2022 – reckons human remains discovered near State Highway 3 between Ōtorohanga and Te Awamutu are those of their loved one. Although police are yet to...

No buyers – and no help

Three years after Cyclone Gabrielle ravaged their Hamilton section, the Te Wharau family have no home to call their own, unsellable land, and no-one stepping up to help them. After demolishing the house for safety reasons, Michelle and Tepene Te...

Road changes ‘ridiculous’

Changes to a busy road in Hillcrest are being reviewed before they’re even finished after they “horrified” residents and shop owners. Local Murray Brown’s up in arms about the new layout on Cambridge Rd. Parking spaces have disappeared near Hillcrest...

Fight for 21-year rates refund

A pilates studio owner whose rates were overcharged for 21 years is fighting to get the money refunded by the city council. Progressive Pilates owner Sonia Lidington estimated she had paid an extra $20,000 over the years, and said Hamilton City...

Respite care in crisis

Family members caring for loved ones with dementia are having to book up to a year in advance for a day off as a crisis hits respite care availability across the Waikato. Carers with no options to take a break are themselves left facing a breakdown...

Golden arches to pearly gates

The white cross adorning the former Gateway Church on Victoria St will soon be replaced by the golden arches of fast food giant McDonald’s. And the owners are pledging to make the restaurant the number one Maccas in the country. The church sold the...

Iranians rejoice, mourn

Iranian-New Zealanders have expressed their joy, relief, anger and fear following major air strikes against their homeland that have left the Middle East in turmoil. The United States and Israel launched the attack on Saturday, with strikes in the...

Budget blues

Paul Blair describes the pure joy of watching a child finally master a skill they’ve been struggling with – a fleeting moment that, for him, captures the essence of early learning. His Auckland early childhood centre follows the Reggio Emilia...

Parents push for criminal charges

The jockey at the centre of a crash that killed Waikato rider Taiki Yanagida had racked up 11 careless riding offences in less than three years, including earlier on the fatal day. A coroner has now found that 28-year-old Yanagida might still be alive...

The mayor’s $4000 emoji

South Waikato mayor Gary Petley will make a public apology, and has sworn off social media, after admitting he got it wrong when an online dispute turned sour. A code of conduct complaint was made by Putāruru ward councillor Zed Latinovic in January...

Expressway will slow to a crawl

Users of one of the busiest sections of road in the country are facing up to nine months of lane closures and frustration but say there’s little they can do other than “grin and bear it”. Earlier this week, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) announced...

Love at First bite

Bite The Pie Bakery & Cafe, 39A Vercoe Rd, Beerescourt, Hamilton For Rathmony Chiv, it was love at first bite when he tasted the cheesy goodness of a New Zealand steak, bacon and cheese pie. Chiv had not worked as a baker before, but quickly found...

Surf, sand and soaring rates

More than $1.3 million in unpaid rates is owed to Waikato District Council by just 10 property owners — including one Raglan ratepayer who owes nearly a quarter-of-amillion dollars. An Official Information Act response reveals the council’s worst...

Don't get away back!

Arts festival in full bloom

Artistic expression in the Waikato is about to blossom, with the Hamilton Arts Festival getting under way with an opening weekend of riveting and – in some cases – risqué events. With a forecast for sunny skies for the duration of the festival – which...

Brekkie as big as a mountain

Mountain Folk Cafe Retreat, 1050 Franklin St, Pirongia One of Pirongia’s favourite new cafes is feeling the pinch after the State Highway 39 closure following storm damage at the weekend but their big breakfast remains a drawcard. Cafe owner Michelle...

‘Predator back on the streets’

Parole for a former St Peter’s School teacher found guilty of abusing boys in his care means there’s a “predator back on the streets”, one of his victims says. Geoffrey Coker, 76, has been granted parole just 11 months after he was jailed for two...

11 patient deaths exposed

Nearly a dozen patients died following serious harm incidents in Waikato last year, the health system has revealed. Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) said there were eleven incidents “where the patient outcome was death”, of which nine were still...

Cleanup bill to cost millions

Ten to 15 households remain cut off in flood-ravaged Ōtorohanga and the cleanup bill for the latest storm is set to run into the millions. That’s according to Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell, who spoke to the Waikato Times...

Social housing near flash homes

HAMILTON Two new social housing blocks are set to be built in central Hamilton - just up the road from perhaps the city’s most pricey home. The build is part of a major push by the Salvation Army to increase the amount of housing in Hamilton, dubbed...

Council meeting kicks off

Hamilton City councillors have locked in the city’s Māori representation model for another three years, but not after a vigorous debate to kick off the first full council meeting of the year. The motion to keep the Maangai Maaori model was passed with...

World Surf plans make waves

It was standing room only as Raglan residents flocked to learn more about the global surfing event that seems to have taken the town by surprise. Thousands of spectators are expected to descend on the town in May for the World Surf League (WSL)...

Malachi the ‘invisible boy’

The torture and murder of 5-year-old Malachi Subecz is a “national disgrace” but changes made in the wake of his death will not prevent further killings in the future. The damning view of Coroner Janet Anderson is revealed in a long-awaited 132-page...

Finding “THE ONE” for your skin

Meet the suitors The Palmer’s body oil trio Each Palmer’s body oil brings its own unique personality, charm and skin-loving strengths: the key is finding ‘the one’ that feels right for you and your skin’s needs. • Cocoa Butter Body Oil – the...

King slams election funding

A former city mayor has slammed the arrival of political sponsorship in the city’s local elections, saying the practice risks biased decision-making at the council table. The criticism comes after it emerged that Act and the Green Party spent a...

A global visionary

The life and art of Sir Richard Taylor

READ MORE INSIDE:

▍ Heckles and boos greet politicians, NATIONAL ▍ Waitangi, cohesion and the challenge to our major parties, IN DEPTH ▍ Overcoming our Treaty fear, IN DEPTH

Hospital assaults on the rise

Assaults on Waikato Hospital staff have increased by more than double the national average over just three years, according to Health New Zealand data obtained by the Waikato Times. From July-December 2022 to JanuaryJune 2025 reported assaults on...

Top river spot for Regatta

Fresh hospitality investment is set to lure diners to the banks of the Waikato River at a spot that’s long been eyed for projects to show off the city’s biggest natural asset. A bar and restaurant - Regatta - is set to open late autumn in the former...

Hamilton dentist on trial

A Hamilton dentist is standing trial for the sexual assault of a woman he invited to his home, partly on the pretext of giving her a driving lesson there. Rahul Gautam, 51, allegedly grabbed and squeezed the woman’s breasts and attempted to touch her...

(Almost) all aboard Te Huia

All three Hamilton MPs appear to be united behind the retention of the Te Huia passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland, as well as potentially expanding it to Tauranga. But whether Hamilton East’s Ryan Hamilton, Hamilton West’s Tama...

Taser case stuns judge

DAY IN THE DOCK When the cops pulled Cole McHardie over he had, unfortunately, “not given a moments thought” to the home-made taser he had on the passenger seat. This is because, according to his lawyer, “he’s not great at thinking things...

Ambulance call-outs on the rise in Waikato

Ambulance crews in Waikato responded to nearly 51,000 incidents last year - an average of about 140 a day. Nationally, demand for emergency services is also growing, according to new figures. The leading reasons people called 111 - in the Waikato...

Swimming hopes buoyant

The dream of taking a summertime dip in Hamilton’s Lake Rotoroa isn’t dead, with new plans to be considered today floated to help improve water quality. The lake is currently at a “caution” level, meaning people should avoid the water – something they...

Behind the billboards: What it cost to chase mayoral chains

Hamilton mayoral candidates forked out more than $100,000 as they vied to win the top seat at the council table. Now Mayor Tim Macindoe accounted for half this amount, shelling out $51.3k on expenses, new records released on the Hamilton City Council...

Top surfers head to Raglan

Top international surfers will take on Raglan’s waves in 2026, in what has been described as “the biggest elite surfing event ever staged in New Zealand”. The Waikato town will serve as the fourth stop on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour,...

A hero who lost her life

A Morrinsville teacher has been credited as the hero who saved lives by urging other campers to evacuate before the deadly landslide hit Mt Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park. Waikato man Lance McFarlane said Lisa Maclennan woke him and his daughter...

Shabby buildings in the spotlight

BUSINESS

Devastating landslides and a desperate search for survivors

Desperate families could only wait and hope as rescuers searched for people, including children, missing after torrential rain and devastating landslides in the upper North Island yesterday. In Tauranga, rescuers were digging in search of survivors...

Room to shroom

After three decades of mushroom farming, Frans Van Schie and his wife Hilda have not only built a strong family business but have embraced the mushroom farming lifestyle. Van Schie had never seen an operational mushroom farm before deciding to put an...

Rave reviews for theatre

In the words of one startled punter, “Oh my god.” If the most sincere form of appraisal is an involuntary reaction, the audible gasps of astonishment from numerous audience members walking into the BNZ Theatre’s main auditorium for the first time...

Powered by motherhood Silver strength

For new mum Kimberley Crossman, fitness is less about ‘bouncing back’ and more about building strength. For netballer Ameliaranne Ekenasio, success isn’t about winning, but showing up for people who matter.

Whanau to farewell Aydan

For four months, Aydan Brown’s anguished whānau wondered where he was. On Monday they got an answer when his body was found in his ute in the Waikato River. It was minutes away from Chartwell, where Brown, 39, was last seen leaving his cousin’s...

Call for ‘hard punishment’

Incompetent teenage ramraiders smashed a stolen vehicle into a Hamilton dairy three times, with the driver nearly running over an accomplice at one point. But despite a big headache for the business owner and a massive clean-up, it was all for summer...

Anglers still baiting up

Callum McFarlane picks his way down the narrow track to Papanui Point knowing exactly what has happened there before. More than 20 people have died on the jagged west coast outcrop, yet on a clear, blue-sky day early in the new year, he was back —...

Basement bar to go

One of Hamilton’s most enduring live music venues, Nivara Lounge, is preparing to close after almost 30 years, marking the end of an era for the city’s grassroots music scene. The closure was announced in a message shared on the venue’s social media...