2331 days ago

Poll: SHAWS BIRD PARK AT RISK - THORNY ISSUE

Rudi from Hamilton Lake

Waikato couple fighting road through their bird sanctuary hope '10,000 people tie themselves to trees'

The Shaws are holding out against a council plan to put a road through a bird sanctuary on their property for a subdivision are hoping thousands of people tie themselves to trees along the route to stall the roadworks.
Seven Sharp reports Murray and Margaret Shaw have created a sanctuary for birds that's free for the public to enjoy. And they don't want to sell.
The couple reckon they've planted 3500 trees so far, which Mr Shaw said has cost "hundreds of thousands" of dollars.
But Hamilton City Council has decided the Shaws' property is perfect for a through-road for The Peacocks subdivision.
The proposed road will go across a nearby gully before continuing on through the bird park.
"That was the optimal route through to achieve the connections that need to be achieved," said Richard Briggs of the council.

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SHAWS BIRD PARK AT RISK - THORNY ISSUE
  • 9.9% Build the Road
    9.9% Complete
  • 85.4% Save the Bird Park
    85.4% Complete
  • 2.1% Just don't know
    2.1% Complete
  • 2.6% Don't care
    2.6% Complete
192 votes
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1 day ago

Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!

William Hansby Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.

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20 hours ago

Poll: Would you help your kids out with buying a home?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

OPINION: Over the past year, I’ve had the same conversation with many Waikato families again and again.

A child has found a house. The market feels like it’s moving. There’s pressure to act quickly. And before anyone has really had time to think it through, parents are being asked to step in with cash, guarantees, or equity from their own home.

Would you help your kids out with buying a home? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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Would you help your kids out with buying a home?
  • 14.3% I already have.
    14.3% Complete
  • 71.4% Yes.
    71.4% Complete
  • 14.3% No
    14.3% Complete
7 votes
3 hours ago

Poll: What do you think of the new police move-on powers?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Central Hamilton businesses are welcoming police being given new powers to move on vagrants, with a city retail advocate saying the previous hands-off approach wasn’t working.

On Sunday the Government announced it would grant police powers to order any individual rough sleeping, begging, or displaying disorderly behaviour to move on.

What do you think of the new police move-on powers? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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What do you think of the new police move-on powers?
  • 100% They're needed
    100% Complete
  • 0% They won't change much
    0% Complete
  • 0% I'll wait and see
    0% Complete
4 votes