Councillor Connop

12/06/2026

Its great to see Te Kamo Community Inc / Te Kamo Connect adding some alternative parking options

11/06/2026

Night works on State Highway 1 Te Kamo (Springs Flat) will be resuming this Sunday 14 June until Thursday 18 June.
This is part of Whangarei District Council's (WDC) Springs Flat Roundabout project. Night works planned for late May were paused following wet weather.
The work is happening at night between 7pm and 6am to minimise disruption to SH1 traffic. Stop/go traffic control will be in place, with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h.
Asphalt is laid in multiple layers, with each layer tested before the next, and the final layer providing a smooth ride for motorists.
When this stage of asphalt is complete, traffic will shift to the eastern side of SH1, so work can begin on the western side. The traffic shift will occur at the end of Thursday night’s works, in the early hours of Friday morning (19 June).
Take care when travelling through the area. Please note these works are weather dependent and may change at short notice.
We’re working with WDC and Fulton Hogan to keep everyone moving safely. Map design for this project was developed by Whangarei District Council.
More on WDC’s project: https://www.wdc.govt.nz/.../Projects/Springs-Flat-Roundabout

Night works on State Highway 1 Te Kamo (Springs Flat) will be resuming this Sunday 14 June until Thursday 18 June.

This is part of Whangarei District Council's (WDC) Springs Flat Roundabout project. Night works planned for late May were paused following wet weather.

The work is happening at night between 7pm and 6am to minimise disruption to SH1 traffic. Stop/go traffic control will be in place, with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h.

Asphalt is laid in multiple layers, with each layer tested before the next, and the final layer providing a smooth ride for motorists.

When this stage of asphalt is complete, traffic will shift to the eastern side of SH1, so work can begin on the western side. The traffic shift will occur at the end of Thursday night’s works, in the early hours of Friday morning (19 June).

Take care when travelling through the area. Please note these works are weather dependent and may change at short notice.

We’re working with WDC and Fulton Hogan to keep everyone moving safely. Map design for this project was developed by Whangarei District Council.

More on WDC’s project: https://www.wdc.govt.nz/Council/Projects/Springs-Flat-Roundabout

11/06/2026

Local Government is being directed to reform by central Government. Its moving very fast, and we taking the governments head start option to guide a "for Northland, by Northland" way forward.
Please use the survey to help guide the process

Should Northland Councils merge into 1 Council or 2?

The question is part of the Local Government Reform, and we want to get your feedback before the big decisions are made.

Have your say online:
💡 https://www.wdc.govt.nz/Whats-new/Have-your-say/Current-Consultations/Local-government-reform

The Government has announced it wants to reduce the number of local authorities across New Zealand. As part of this, it is asking councils to consider amalgamating (combining) District and Regional Councils into single organisations known as "unitary authorities".

04/06/2026

It was really cool to head along to see the 95 new homes developed by Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities that has been taking shape over the past few years.
I heard it was the largest development in regional New Zealand of its kind.
We got to hear about the progress, and speak with tenants and the people who have been developing the space which has been staged openings.
Having a shared community space near the centre, improved accessibility in lower flats, and car and bike parking was good to see made available.
It was great to have a look through a few of the home spaces. While simple, it's those basic necessities people need to feel safe, secure, and welcome.

31/05/2026

Please let us know of areas that need cleaning up.

20/05/2026

500km! In under 2 months I've used my Wattwheels Ltd S-Cargo e-bike as my main form of transport. It's been great and only a handful of times have I needed to get fully wet weather geared up. It's been a great change.
Giving my son the option to take the car or ride the bike, it's always the bike! He's loving it too.

On days I don't have to be somewhere, already being on my bike means I can ride around a bit further, checking what's happening around town. With around 35km+ with a charge makes most spaces accessible.
A good variety of bike parking available, which has been increasing, means more places to hitch the bike up.

Cars flick stones and debris into the road bike lanes, which doesn't make for fun riding, and the occasional car veering into the lane has been the worst hazard, including people pulling up to a stop sign with half their car over the line and in the lane.
Just a few things that show how valuable the shared path is around town for safe access.

Sometimes busy, sometimes quiet, it makes for a smooth ride around and I'm glad we have it.School classes use it regularly and you'll often find a variety of users out there and most of the time you'll get a "Hello" or a head nod as you go past. Which makes for a good day.

Wet weather gear in the dry pack, and off I go!

19/05/2026

Opening tomorrow! Great to see something new and a bit different opening in town.

WHANGĀREI, WE ARE READY! 🤍✨

The wait is finally over — Lieto Gelato Cafe opens tomorrow at 8AM! 🍨☕

To celebrate our opening, we’re offering a special promotion for our first 50 customers:

🎉 Any Gelato Flavour for only $5.10 NZD 🎉

Come and enjoy authentic gelato, beautiful coffee, and sweet moments with us. We can’t wait to welcome you all!

📍 4 Water Street, Whangārei
⏰ Doors open at 8AM tomorrow

See you soon! 🤎

19/05/2026

Good to hear

The Otaika community have told us about their concerns with the zebra crossing, so we've been looking into options to upgrade the current zebra crossing to a signalised crossing.

Ground investigation works will be taking place this week on SH1 at night, between 7pm and 5am, for up to four nights. The road is remaining open during the works, and traffic management will be in place with a signalised stop-go. There may be some delays during this time, so plan accordingly.

Ground investigation works mean we're checking under the road surface to understand the layout of utilities and services, like power and gas lines. This information helps us finalise a design for the new crossing.

Follow our page to see how the design works progress.

18/05/2026

Today we had a visit to the Springs Flat roundabout project.

In around three weeks, traffic will be diverted onto the eastern side of the new roundabout while work continues on the western side with road markings to accommodate two way traffic on one side temporarily while it is completed.

There is approximately 4m of ground raised above the stream realignment which is flowing well.
The approximate centre of the roundabout will be where the digger is in the Pic.

The full project is currently scheduled for completion by February 2027. Which will become an easier entrance into Kamo with safe access for pedestrians also.

This project received $10.3 million in Central Government funding through Kainga Ora, with the project expected to unlock land for around 2,000 homes north of Gillingham Road over time.

12/05/2026

Whangārei District Council and Creative Northland are calling for submissions for Art on Boxes 2026 - Transform traffic signal boxes across Whangārei into vibrant artworks.

In 2026, 12 new boxes will feature digitally printed vinyl wraps, opening the opportunity to artists of all ages and experience levels, including schools and community groups. Selected artists will receive a $900 artist fee, with works installed across high-profile public spaces in the city.

Please note: artworks must be original. AI-generated submissions are not eligible.

Help spread the word and encourage creatives across the district to get involved.

Find out more and apply here:
👉 https://www.wdc.govt.nz/Events/Art-on-Boxes