240 days ago

Have you been to Waitomo recently?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

One of the region’s premier tourist locations is shaking off its long Covid hangover as a new caving experience opens near Waitomo promising local jobs, and a boost to visitor numbers after the pandemic decimated local businesses.

Co-owner and founder of The Waitomo Experience, John Heskett said pre-Covid there were more than five black water rafting operators working in the caves beneath Waitomo, but that number dropped down to just one.

Have you been to Waitomo recently? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

Image
More messages from your neighbours
8 hours ago

Celebrate in Style: Craft Your Own Decor with Testpots

The Team from Resene ColorShop Hamilton

Create handcrafted celebrations using Resene testpots. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.

Image
13 hours ago

The city's new mayor is setting out his plan

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Hamilton City Council is pledging to cut costs and avoid “gold plating” infrastructure as part of a new strategy to limit rates increases, but Mayor Tim Macindoe says central government support may be needed to meet a new national rates cap.

Macindoe said Wellington needed to be “a little more nuanced” and take population growth into account.

Image
15 hours ago

Principal defends $17k overseas trip as research

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

A Hamilton principal whose $17,000 trip to Hawaii and Alaska was highlighted in an report on questionable school spending says he was doing doctoral work on how streaming affects students.

Fairfield College principal Richard Crawford is defending the trip, saying it was his first sabbatical in his 19-year career as a principal and contributed to learning he’d be applying to both his school, and potentially others, through his research.

Image