Regional News from Thursday, June 25th, 2026

Whakatāne District residents will face higher waste management costs from July next year, with fees at refuse and recycling centres set to rise by 10% following increased transport costs linked to changes in landfill disposal.

New Zealand's only living Victoria Cross recipient, Willie Apiata, will return to his Eastern Bay roots next month to speak with local rural communities about resilience, wellbeing and looking after one another.

Work to remove the council-owned buildings on the corner of The Strand and Quay Street will begin soon as part of the wider Whakatāne Riverfront Enhancement Project.

Whakatāne District Council has adopted its Annual Plan for the 2026/27 financial year, confirming an average rates increase of 9.1% after finding additional savings across the organisation.

Residents were left stunned yesterday after reports emerged of a giant axolotl and an enormous rooster roaming the streets of Whakatāne, approaching unsuspecting members of the public and urging them to prepare for the upcoming election.