South Taranaki District Council

16/06/2026

Know of a quiet achiever? Impressed by the community
initiative shown by a neighbour? Does the dedication of a
volunteer impress you?
Get your thinking caps on because nominations are now open for the 2026 South Taranaki Community Awards - and we want to hear from you! Take this opportunity to nominate an individual or a group you think deserves recognition for the work they do within the District.
Nomination forms are available from any South Taranaki LibraryPlus, the Council Administration Building in Hāwera, South Taranaki isite, TSB Hub and online at https://www.southtaranaki.com/our-community/south-taranaki-community-awards

Click here for more details https://www.southtaranaki.com/our-council/news?item=id:2ydu2qd7n17q9s2visq7

16/06/2026

Community Meeting – Waverley Long Beach Boat Ramp

The Council invites community members to attend a meeting to discuss the Waverley Long Beach boat ramp.

This session will provide an update on work completed to date, outline current progress, and share proposed next steps.

Date: Tuesday, 23 June
Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Location: Waverley Beach Camp Amenity Building

We encourage all interested residents and stakeholders to attend and be part of the conversation.

12/06/2026

Don't forget our final community garden workshop is tomorrow!

This is a hands-on Companion Planting Workshop at St Mary’s Hāwera Community Garden—perfect for gardeners of all skill levels. Learn how to pair plants for healthier, more productive gardens (naturally!) 🌿

Facilitated by Mieke from Sustainable Taranaki, this practical session will share simple, effective tips to:
✅ Boost your yields
✅ Improve soil health
✅ Manage pests without chemicals

This is a free event – no registration needed.

See you there 🌱

12/06/2026

A reminder that the Ronald Hugh Morrieson open workshops will be held on Saturday 20 June at Hāwera LibraryPlus | Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga in Hāwera.

Morning tea is provided.

- Open short story workshop with Tracey Slaughter at 9am – 12noon
- Open poetry workshop with Glenn Colquhoun at 12.45pm – 3.45pm

Find more information here: https://www.southtaranaki.com/our-council/news?item=id:2y892qv641cxbybcjtzl

Council is now taking bookings for the open workshops held on Saturday 20 June.

Please contact your local LibraryPlus, email [email protected] or phone 0800 111 323 to secure your space.

11/06/2026

📣 South Taranaki, we really need to hear from you.

Big changes are coming to local government in Taranaki, and this is a chance for our community to help shape what that future could look like for South Taranaki.

Do you want South Taranaki to be part of one single Council for all of Taranaki, or would you rather we join with Stratford and form two Councils for Taranaki?

Our Head Start survey is open now and runs until 12 July 2026. It only takes a few minutes, and your feedback will help inform Council’s proposal.

While the final decisions sit with central government, hearing what matters most to our communities is an important part of the process.

🖥️ Have your say by completing the online survey here: https://consultations.southtaranaki.com/head-start-survey/LAAAAA

Alternatively, you can pick up a printed copy from the Council Administration Building in Hāwera or your nearest LibraryPlus.

Click on the link below for more information: https://www.southtaranaki.com/our-council/simplifying-local-government

One or two councils for Taranaki? Our Head Start survey is open now and runs until 12 July 2026. Your feedback will help inform Council’s proposal. Click here to fill in the survey.

10/06/2026

The 2026 Lysaght-Watt Trust Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards are now open!
Get pen to paper and submit a poem or short story to enter this prestigious annual competition that celebrates one of the District's most preeminent authors.

Click here to find out more : https://www.southtaranaki.com/our-facilities/libraryplus/ronald-hugh-morrieson-literary-awards?fbclid=IwY2xjawSDT85leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0d2s3QVFTV293eEJVeU9vc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhuB50chLar3IWJ8HQnONSm8leOHYn_sR0JsisIpIOVuL5m-LRc4vq8AwShr_aem_yVvsgvMS4DcRfQ1gHtMP2w

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

Rex is looking for his forever home🐾
If you are interested, please make sure you call us on 0800 111 323 to chat to one of our Animal Management Team.

08/06/2026

🌱 Rain, smiles, and muddy boots, a perfect recipe for Arbor Day at Naumai Park!

Despite the wet weather, our community turned out in force on Friday to help plant 180 native plants as part of a special Arbor Day celebration led by Places and Spaces Volunteer Coordinator Alice Arnold.

The rain proved to be a blessing, creating ideal planting conditions for the new natives to thrive 🌧️💚

A special moment of the day saw Mayor Phil plant a kauri sapling in the Kauri Grove alongside descendants of the park’s founding volunteer families - the Garnet and Watts families - continuing a legacy that spans generations.

Students from Hāwera Primary School joined Council’s Horticulture Team, Environment & Sustainability Cadets, Friends of the Parks members, and the wider community to help make the day such a success.

A huge thank you to everyone who rolled up their sleeves and helped seed the future of Naumai Park 🌿

08/06/2026

Since it’s dog registration time, we thought we’d share a story about one of South Taranaki’s very own good doggos 🐾

Meet Ally.

She was found roaming by our STDC Animal Management team — unwell and in need of urgent care. Thanks to the work supported by dog registration, Ally was able to be picked up and get the help she needed.

Ally then found her forever home 💛

These days, she’s thriving as an accredited therapy dog, visiting and supporting people with disabilities. In 2023, she even made the top 10 out of more than 500 dogs in the Dogs with Jobs competition run across NZ and Australia.

Stories like Ally’s are a great reminder of what dog registration helps support — from caring for lost and roaming dogs to keeping our communities safe.

We’re so happy to see Ally living her best life 🐕

Click the link to read more of Ally's story: https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/300959624/dogs-with-jobs-ally-the-rottweilers-new-life-as-a-therapy-dog?fbclid=IwY2xjawSLHwlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEyNlBRSzdJT1U5RWUxUXlJc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTE0NzcxNTY5MjI4MDYxAAEeicE84aQAiNJEtKSzIaS1_kR7nxyU0ZOmibiClsn2RvQP0UmRUL6o0p7yTIg_aem_eK6ZVU-ZCye-eHBl9APhi