Visit the Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival
Organised and produced by gardeners who are passionate about their craft, our 10-day Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival provides the opportunity to observe garden construction and planting, talk to the gardeners, obtain practical advice and be enchanted by the incredible landscapes that have been created throughout the region.
The Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival is a unique experience that will inspire and motivate you to take your gardening skills to the next level. Our festival is in its 15th year, our success being due to the diversity and quality of the gardens we have on offer.
We invite you to come and visit our 40+ gardens and enjoy the arts, crafts and vintage machinery on our festival trail. Purchase plants seen in various gardens and receive amazing hospitality from our garden hosts.
In 2019 the festival runs from 1st Nov - 10th Nov. See our website for more details or to download a brochure. Brochures available at iSite's and major garden centres. $2pp entry fee to each garden.
Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
🎉 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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9% Yes! New Year, New Me
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21.9% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
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69.1% Nah - not for me
By-election for Otara-Papatoetoe area
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
Poll: 🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Aucklanders, our weekly rubbish collections are staying after councillors voted to scrap a proposed trial of fortnightly pick-ups.
We want to hear from you: would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Keen for the details? Read up about the scrapped collection trial here.
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85.3% Same!
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14.7% Would have liked to try something different
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