In this issue, Sainsbury Reserve community planting day, District Growth quarterly report and an update on the western water supply constraints
Community services
Sainsbury Reserve community planting day
We're heading back to the slopes of Pirongia for the second phase of restoration planting at 205 Sainsbury Road Reserve on Saturday, June 13, thanks to funding from WEL Energy Trust. Last year, more than 70 people came along to help restore biodiversity to the area - a great community effort.
This year, the community will help get 10,000 plants in the ground. The planting also contributes to the wider Taiea te Taiao Ecological Corridor Project.
The funding is also supporting a video, capturing the perspectives of mana whenua, horse riders and other stakeholders on what the reserve means to them and their hopes for its future. The aim is to help support future fundraising and restoration efforts.
Everyone is welcome - come along and make a difference. Saturday, June 20 is the alternative day in case of wet weather.
Elm removals near Gaslight Theatre, Cambridge
Our contractor, Treescape, will be removing some elm trees between Alpha Street and Gaslight Theatre from Monday, July 13 to Thursday, July 16, from 8am to 4.30pm.
These trees have been infected with Dutch Elm Disease and need to be removed to limit the spread of the disease to other parts of Cambridge. The trees, mostly saplings, were not part of our annual vaccination programme, which only covers specimen street and park/reserve elm trees.
During these works, access to Gaslight Theatre and the Alpha Street access to Te Awa River Ride will be closed. There will be stop/go traffic management on part of Alpha Street, between Hall and Grey Streets.
Te Awa River Ride users will be rerouted around Queen Street, Vogel Street and through Resthaven.
This work has been scheduled during school holidays to minimise disruption to Riding for the Disabled Association.
Mana whenua and local groups, Te Awa River Ride, Riding for the Disabled, Gaslight Theatre, Cambridge Tree Trust and Aroha Cambridge have all been engaged with and notified. Nearby residents have been notified by letter, and the wider public will be informed through Council’s social media, Antenno, website and signage.
Ōhaupō Road/Cambridge Road roundabout - finishing touches
Following water infrastructure upgrades in Te Awamutu last year, the final landscaping work at the Ōhaupō Road/Cambridge Road roundabout is underway. This includes laying clean topsoil, reseeding with grass, and planting three Melia trees, which flower in early summer.
The centre of the roundabout will be planted with spring, summer and autumn flowering bulbs, with winter colour provided by helleborus around the base of the trees. The planting scheme is designed to provide year-round colour at one of Te Awamutu's main entrances, with minimal ongoing maintenance.
Traffic disruption is expected to be minimal, as all lanes will remain open and no speed restrictions will apply.
Cambridge Library Open Mic
Cambridge Library is hosting a free open mic event from 11am to 12.30pm next Saturday, May 30, featuring local talent from GatSong - a music teaching and performance programme founded by Cambridge singer-songwriter and author Holly Christina. All are welcome to come along and enjoy the performances or take the mic themselves.
Recovery
Kakepuku and Sainsbury Road Reserves
Good news - the Sainsbury Road Reserve has now reopened following its closure after the February severe weather event. Staff worked with geotech specialists, local earthmoving contractors and the Pirongia Horse Riders Club to complete the remedial work, which included track realignment and reshaping, and replacing a damaged culvert.
Kakepuku Mountain track remains closed. Geotech specialists are currently assessing the site against the Department of Conservation's standard framework for natural hazard risk analysis on public conservation land. That report, due early next week, will determine what further mitigation or track realignment work may be needed before the track can safely reopen.
You can view the latest recovery dashboard below or download the pdf version here.
Transportation
Cambridge Expressway road surfacing work
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi closed the Waikato Expressway on-and-off ramps at the north of Victoria Road on Sunday, May 17. Since then, traffic monitoring has shown only a two-to-three minute delay above normal on Cambridge Road and Victoria Road during peak times - a good result. Motorists appear to be heeding advice to use alternative routes to avoid congestion.
Fridays tend to be the busiest traffic day, so some additional delays are possible as the work continues. The contractor is monitoring the situation daily and the good weather has kept work on schedule. Early feedback on the new road surface has been positive.
Leaf fall collection
Leaf collection is in full swing across our urban areas and going well. The season can vary significantly depending on the weather - in some years trees hold their leaves for many weeks in autumn through to early winter, then a spell of wind or cold can bring them all down at once.
Our contractor is working through affected streets, so please bear with us if leaves are building up in your area. In the meantime, enjoy the autumn colour while the fine weather lasts - the leaves will be gone before long.
Waters transition
Western Waipā water supply constraints
The western Waipā water supply constraint continues to be actively managed. This update covers the developer solution now in place, our work with Waikato Waters Limited (WWL), and two infrastructure projects being brought forward to help manage supply ahead of summer.
Developer solution now in place
We have found an interim solution to allow development to continue during the constraint period. Developers can install compliant on-site rainwater tanks for individual buildings as a temporary water supply, avoiding the need to put projects on hold while the network constraint is managed. A media release has been issued and direct communications have gone to developers in the affected area. A dedicated page on Let's Talk Waipā provides full information.
Waikato Waters - working together
WWL is fully integrated into our response to this situation. Council is working closely with WWL as we manage the constraint, and they have been briefed on the developer tank option and all associated consent notice requirements. Longer-term decisions on infrastructure investment and restoring supply capacity sit with WWL, and we are committed to ensuring the transition on July 1 does not leave the community with gaps in information or service.
Projects brought forward
Council has been proactive in identifying and bringing forward work that will help manage the constraint. Two projects are worth highlighting:
Work to increase supply from the Parallel Road Water Treatment Plant was already planned as part of Council's long-term infrastructure programme - but it has been brought forward specifically in response to the constraint. This project will deliver an additional three megalitres per day from September 2026, providing meaningful relief ahead of the 2026-27 summer peak. It is worth noting that this option is only available because of the forward planning and investment Council had already put in place - without that groundwork, bringing this forward would not have been possible.
A watermain upgrade on Racecourse Road, Te Awamutu is being brought forward from its originally planned 2027 completion date and has been upsized as urgent works required to maintain levels of service following the damage at Te Tahi. The project follows on from level of service upgrade works recently completed in Te Awamutu. The project involves replacing an existing pipeline on Racecourse Road with a larger one, along with a smaller connecting main to maintain property connections along the route. Like the Parallel Road plant work, this project is only possible at this pace because the groundwork had already been done - without that prior planning and investment, responding this quickly would not have been achievable.
Property
Don Rowlands Centre roof repairs
Council is planning repairs on the flat roof at the Sir Don Rowlands Centre at Karāpiro Lake Domain to address ongoing leaks above the Te Manawa O Matariki room and entrance foyer. The existing roof has reached the end of its life and needs replacing.
Work is scheduled to begin Monday, June 8 and is expected to be completed in early August.
The project has been scheduled over the quieter winter period to minimise disruption to major events at the domain. Contractors will also work around bookings within the centre.
The work includes:
- Installing scaffolding and protective wrap to create a dry working environment
- Adjusting downpipes and connecting to the existing stormwater system to better direct water away from the building
- Removing the existing TPO membrane roof and replacing damaged plywood sarking
- Installing a new insulated “warm roof” system, including re-pitching the internal gutter
- Roof flashings and cladding adjustments.
These upgrades will:
- Improve energy efficiency and reduce electrical consumption
- Increase the lifespan of the roof
- Reduce ongoing maintenance costs
- Create more service space in the roof, making future maintenance easier.
Mana whenua have been engaged with on the project and to arrange a karakia.
District Plan and Growth
PC37 – C5 Growth Cell / Rider Park (Cambridge)
Submissions closed on April 28. We received 275 submissions, with 222 of them in opposition. Key issues arising from submissions relate to infrastructure constraints, traffic impacts and loss of rural land/productive soils.
Staff are currently preparing a summary of submissions. Once completed the summary and a call for further submissions will be publicly notified. A date for this has not yet been set.
To keep submitters updated, we will be sending an email shortly to make them aware of the processes moving forward.
PC31 – T4 Growth Cell (Te Awamutu)
The T4 growth cell is located on the western side of Te Awamutu between Centennial Reserve and Puniu Road. The 29 hectare post-2035 cell is owned by two separate parties and is currently zoned deferred residential.
The landowners have combined to lodge a private plan change request to live zone T4 to Medium Density Zone. This plan change is known as PC31 and was initially lodged with Council toward the end of 2023. The requested further information has now been provided, and staff have recommended that it be accepted for processing under delegated authority.
The image below shows the location of the T4 cell and the proposed structure plan. The area could accommodate approximately 285 dwellings. Key elements of the structure plan include:
- A new collector road which will extend between Rewi Street and Puniu Road. This road will cross Centennial Park.
- Provision of land for reserves to offset land within Centennial Reserve that will be needed for the collector road.
- Provision of extensive reserve network to provide stormwater management.
- Two areas where smaller scale and localised commercial activities can establish.
- Provision of intensification area where lot sizes averaging 350m2 will be achieved.
Staff are satisfied that risk associated with the current water supply constraint issues in Te Awamutu, Kihikihi and Pirongia will not be compounded by PC31. If the rezoning is approved, there will be a long lead-in time for development proposals and any development will require subdivision consent which will be subject to the same consenting approach (i.e. the delayed water connection condition) as are currently being applied to development in Te Awamutu, Kihikihi and Pirongia. There will be communication to this effect during the notification process.
PC36 – Ōhaupō Large Lot Residential Zone Extension – Honeycomb Developments
PC36 is a private plan change application that has been recently lodged to rezone 21 hectares of rural land on the southern extent of Ōhaupō to large lot residential zone. The rezoning will enable the creation of up to 40 lots. The image below shows the site location and potential subdivision layout for the subject land.
PC36 has been accepted for processing under delegated authority and will be publicly notified early June. Direct notification will be served on properties in Ōhaupō and lifestyle properties along Ryburn Road.
Key issues relate to flood hazards, Ryburn Road/SH3 intersection and the removal of the SH3 Scenic Viewshaft Corridor. Staff are intending on lodging a technical submission in relation to these matters.
Strategy
Legislation tracker
We actively monitor legislation changes and wider central government reform – and the impact on Council. We aim to keep Elected Members across these changes, their progress, and Council submissions.
The tables below provide updates from the last two weeks.
| What’s new? A list of new, relevant legislation | ||
| Item | Description | Stage |
| Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill | This Bill will change the Summary Offences Act. The key changes will include:
| Upcoming Bill introduced First Reading Select Committee (including submission period) Second Reading Committee of the Whole House Third Reading Royal Assent |
| Estimate of when Bill will receive Royal Assent | ||
| Members bill – unsure of progress timing | ||
| Impact on Council | ||
| No direct impact on Council. Will be enforced by Police | ||
| Open for submissions Relevant items that are currently open for submission or coming up | |||
| Item | Description | Submission status | Closing date |
| Simplifying Local Government / Proposed changes to regional councils and local government structure | The Government is proposing changes to the local government system, alongside its wider resource management reforms. The proposed changes include:
| In progress | August 9 |
| Strengthen and coordinate New Zealand’s response to modern slavery through reporting requirements, publishing of modern slavery statements, increased fines and changes to the Public Finance Act to prevent Crown funding being paid to entities convicted or penalised under the Bill. | Not submitting | Closing date for submissions May 28 | |
| Progress tracker Status updates on relevant items as they progress past submissions | |||
| Item name | Description | Council response | Status |
| The Bill amends the Local Government Act to refocus councils on delivering core infrastructure and services, while removing references to the four aspects of community well-being. It also introduces new financial management and performance frameworks, reduces regulatory requirements, and gives the Secretary for Local Government authority to issue codes of conduct and standing orders for elected members. | Submitted on August 27, 2025. |
| |
| Proposals to control rate rises and introduce rate capping | The Government will introduce a rates cap limiting most council rate increases to 2–4% per capita annually, covering general and targeted rates but excluding water and non-rates revenue, with any increases above the cap requiring Central Government approval. | Submitted |
|
| This Bill will strengthen community and iwi Māori involvement, makes mayors primarily responsible for local emergency declarations, requires better identification of high-risk communities, and allows the Minister to set national rules and minimum standards for emergency management. | Submitting as part of Waikato CDEM | Submissions closed February 15 | |
| Together, these Bills will replace the Resource Management Act and establish a new planning and natural environment framework governing land use, development, and environmental protection. They introduce simplified activity categories and a permit system, combined regional plans with environmental limits, clearer roles for regional and territorial authorities, and requirements to balance environmental regulation with landowners’ reasonable use of land. | Submitted | Select Committee report due June 26. Enactment expected two-three weeks after that. | |
| This Bill will amend the Building Act and Building (Dam Safety) Regulations by replacing earthquake ratings with tiered risk-based mitigation requirements, narrowing the earthquake-prone building system to high-risk buildings in medium and high seismic zones, removing low-risk areas and building types from the regime, allowing longer compliance extensions, and reclassifying parts of Otago and Stewart Island as medium seismic zones. | Did not submit | Submissions closed February 16 Select Committee Report due June 16 | |
| Simplifying Local Government / Proposed changes to regional councils and local government structure | The Government is proposing reforms to the local government system. Councils have been given a three-month deadline (from 5 May 2026) for reorganisation plans to be delivered, with those that fail to use the ‘Head Start’ approach being forced into change. Proposals should focus on creating "larger, more efficient unitary authorities that streamline functions, reduce duplication, and improve decision-making". The proposals would be considered by officials from the new Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport ministry (MCERT) against criteria including practicality, simplicity, value for money, effective representation, timeliness and how it works with the new resource management system. Decisions would be made this year, then developed in detail and signed off in 2027 to be implemented ahead of the 2028 local elections. |
| |
| Infrastructure Funding and Financing Amendment Bill – Development levies | The Government is proposing to replace development contributions with a new development levies system through the draft Local Government (Infrastructure Funding) Amendment Bill. The new system would separate levies by infrastructure type, define larger levy areas, allow extra charges in high-cost locations, and require a standardised methodology for calculating growth-related infrastructure costs. | Submitted | Submissions closed February 20 Expected in the third quarter of 2026. |
| Hospitality sector review | Review covers regulation affecting, restaurants, bars, cafés, food stalls at markets, food trucks, catering businesses and hotels. Gambling regulations are out of scope. | Early expert feedback provided | Early feedback closed February 11. |
| Proposed changes to lane use and road safety | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is proposing updates to the Land Transport (Road User) Rule to improve lane safety and efficiency, including allowing children under 12 to ride bikes on footpaths, setting a minimum passing gap, permitting e-scooters in cycle lanes, requiring drivers to give way to buses leaving stops, and clarifying berm-parking signage rules. | Submitting under delegated authority. Report to be presented to Service Delivery Committee in April. | Submissions closed March 25. |
| Building and Construction Sector (Strengthening Occupational Licensing Regimes) Amendment Bill | The Bill proposes changes to key building and trade legislation to strengthen disciplinary and enforcement powers, introduce codes of ethics, streamline licensing, and reduce oversight for low-risk work. | Staff submitted in their role as subject matter experts. | Select Committee Report March 19 Expected in the third quarter of 2026. |
| Proposed changes to alcohol licensing and sales rules/ The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Participation in Licensing Decisions) Amendment Bill | The Government is proposing changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to simplify licensing, modernise and clarify rules (including digital ID and delivery), changing who can serve and sell alcohol (such as hairdressers and takeaways), updating rules for events and changing licence requirements for community clubs. | Awaiting further information. | Select Committee Report due October 2 |
| Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill | The Government is proposing changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to simplify licensing, modernise and clarify rules (including digital ID and delivery), changing who can serve and sell alcohol (such as hairdressers and takeaways), updating rules for events and changing licence requirements for community clubs. | Staff submission as subject experts | Submissions closed May 14 |
| The Government is ordering a review of the Dog Control Act to address issues with roaming and uncontrolled dogs. The review will:
| Likely to submit | Opportunity to provide feedback on draft guidelines expected before mid-2026. | |
| Proposed changes to Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation | The Government is proposing changes to 19 laws that refer to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, excluding existing full and final Treaty settlements. The proposed changes include:
The Government is consulting with iwi, and any legislation to implement the changes will go through the select committee process. | Likely to submit | Bill not yet introduced. Announcement on scope May 15 |
Media releases
Media releases
- May 21: Council votes to restore Cambridge Water Tower
- May 21: Planting the future at Sainsbury Reserve
- May 20: Waipā signals single unitary authority as preferred reform option
- May 14: We’re ready for steady growth
- May 13: Youth leader champions a brighter future for rangatahi
- May 12: Solar energy to power wastewater plant
- May 12: A rocky road to reopening Kakepuku Mountain and Sainsbury Reserve
- May 11: Community transport ideas take shape
- May 8: Rates increase less than ideal but very few options, says Waipā Mayor
- May 8: Cambridge youth take the lead on cycleway safety
Media clippings
May 4 - 18
‘Rock and a hard place’: Waipā council proposes 10.7% rates rise
Waikato Times • Internet • 18 May 2026, 2:11 am
‘Pull out or pay up’ - mayor gives ultimatum to Te Awamutu waste-to-energy plant backers Waikato Times • Matthew Martin • Internet • 18 May 2026, 2:11 am
Waikato: Hautapu industrial hub gets $100m upgrade to tap Golden Triangle boom
New Zealand Herald • Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter • Internet • 15 May 2026, 9:01 am
More soldiers’ stories shared
Te Awamutu News • Jesse Wood • Internet • 14 May 2026, 3:06 pm
Rate rise: 10.7 coming
Cambridge News • Michelle Lachmann • Internet • 14 May 2026, 8:02 am
Potter is back on the trail
Te Awamutu News • Viv Posselt • Internet • 14 May 2026, 7:05 am
Governance on the ground
kingcountrynews.co.nz • Liz Stolwyk • Internet • 14 May 2026, 6:29 am
Figure put on storm damage
Te Awamutu News • Michelle Lachmann • Internet • 14 May 2026, 5:05 am
New SH1 link among six upgrades for Hautapu
Waikato Times • Jordan Smith • Internet • 14 May 2026, 4:06 am
Major Te Awamutu development keeps momentum despite water uncertainty
Waikato Times • Charlotte Graham • Internet • 13 May 2026, 2:26 am
Likely frontrunner appears for new Cambridge river crossing
Waikato Times • Jordan Smith • Newspaper • 09 May 2026, 12:00 am
Third bridge on agenda
Waikato Times • Newspaper • 08 May 2026, 12:00 am
House building to roll on in storm-battered area
Waikato Times • Matthew Martin • Newspaper • 08 May 2026, 12:00 am
‘Panic slowly’: Waipā and Hauraki mayors’ first steps forward after Government amalgamation notice
Waikato Times • Jordan Smith • Internet • 08 May 2026, 2:04 am
Council talks water change
Te Awamutu News • Michelle Lachmann • Internet • 07 May 2026, 10:44 am
111 call on traffic safety
Cambridge News • Michelle Lachmann • Internet • 07 May 2026, 9:03 am
Council restructures
Cambridge News • Michelle Lachmann • Internet • 07 May 2026, 4:03 am
Cambridge firefighters look into rescue response
Waikato Times • Paora Manuel • Newspaper • 07 May 2026, 12:00 am
Paddles or power at centre of Lake Karāpiro plan debate
Waikato Times • Katie Hunter • Internet • 05 May 2026, 3:01 am
