1753 days ago

Transport projects planned for Papakura

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

Lighting around Papakura train station will be enhanced after the local board allocated nearly $70,000 to three transport projects.

A new bus shelter will be installed outside Rosehill Intermediate and way-finding signage will be erected at the station.

The shelter has been allocated $40,000, the signage $11,000, and safety lighting in the laneways closest to the station $18,799.

Board chair Brent Catchpole said the shelter would cater for a high number of school students and give them a safer area to wait for the bus.

A 2018 report revealed lighting issues near the town centre, including laneways with little lighting, he said.

“We will be able to install modern lighting to a number of sites.

“Better lighting is going to make people feel more confident walking in and around the station and we want to do our part to support residents using the train to take cars off our streets.”

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More messages from your neighbours
16 hours ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 9% Yes! New Year, New Me
    9% Complete
  • 21.9% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    21.9% Complete
  • 69.1% Nah - not for me
    69.1% Complete
311 votes
3 hours ago

Rubbish bins:

Roy from Takanini

Recycle collection tomorrow so put your bins out in the morning, It is windy out there and your rubbish is blowing everywhere? Are you human with a brain or just ST- - -D?

11 days ago

By-election for Otara-Papatoetoe area

Ivy from Papatoetoe

Just to let everyone know that we have another by-election happening, and here is the reason why. Below are details and dates, so keep an eye on your letter boxes.

The Manukau Court’s Ruling

The Manukau District Court determined that the Papatoetoe subdivision result of the Ōtara–Papatoetoe Local Board election was invalid, ruling that the outcome had been “materially affected” by voting irregularities. Judge Richard McIlraith found that the scale and nature of the irregularities met the legal threshold required to void an election under New Zealand’s local electoral laws.

In his decision, Judge McIlraith stated that the evidence presented — including reports of stolen voting papers, fraudulent use of ballots, and other procedural irregularities — was sufficient to conclude that the integrity of the election had been compromised. The court noted that at least 79 voting papers were identified as having been cast without the rightful voter’s knowledge during a judicially supervised examination of ballot boxes.

While the judge acknowledged that the election had been administered “properly and in accordance with all requirements” by Independent Election Services and the electoral officer, he concluded that the fraudulent activity originated outside the official process and nonetheless impacted the final result to a degree that required the election to be voided.

As a result of the ruling, the court ordered that a new election must be held, with Auckland Council confirming that the fresh poll must be completed by 9 April 2026

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