Urgent dredging work
The Whakatāne District Council is to undertake urgent dredging work in three locations in the Whakatāne Harbour between 18 and 29 September.
The dredging work will involve the barge “JKL” and tugboat “Tumeke” and will only be undertaken on weekdays between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm, and only on outgoing tides.
The areas to be dredged include:
— The berthage areas at the Otuawhaki Wharf and the channel close to the Whakatāne i-SITE
— The channel alongside the Yacht Club marina
— The extremities of the Opihi Spit on the western side of the Harbour entrance, where a build-up of sand has narrowed the channel to a point where it is creating safety issues for vessels entering and leaving the harbour.
Whakatāne District Council Capital Projects Manager Jim Finlay says that generally there should be minimal disruption to navigation. “The 50-metre rule will apply when the digger on the barge is working. If the tug is towing the barge, vessel operators are required to give way, given the slower operating speed of the tug. The Senior Maritime Officer and/or the tug operator will inform the Coast Guard by radio when movements which could affect other vessels are to occur.”
The timing of the work is designed to minimise impacts on whitebaiters and harbour users and has been approved by a Bay of Plenty Regional Council resource consent. Completion of the necessary works will be weather-dependent.
Poll: Should we ditch daylight saving? 🕰️
First introduced in New Zealand in 1927 with the passing of the Summer Time Act, it's what we know as 'Daylight Saving' and this year it ends on the first Sunday in April.
While we do get to sleep in this time around, some people would like to scrap the clock tinkering for good.
And why? Some evidence suggests the time changes are bad for our health as they mess with sleep patterns leading to short-term fatigue and affecting mood. Meanwhile the hour change is frustrating for farmers and a nightmare for getting the littlies to sleep. But what's your take?
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40.8% Yes - get rid of the clock changes
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57.4% No, I enjoy it
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1.8% Other - I'll share below
Alan and Hazel Kerr share Senior New Zealander of the Year Award 2026
Dr Alan and Hazel Kerr describe themselves as ‘just ordinary old Kiwis’, despite being named as the 2026 Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealanders of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau.
The amazing couple prompted a standing ovation at a star-studded Auckland event which recognised their tireless efforts, with Alan travelling to and from Gaza and the West Bank 40 times to help children over 20 years, and Hazel travelling 20 times.
Click read more to find out more.
Poll: How important is the ability to book a doctor’s appointment online?
Hi Neighbours
Here at The Doctors we would love to hear how you prefer to book your doctor’s appointments. With busy schedules, different people find different methods easier.
For some, online booking is very convenient, you can make an appointment anytime without needing to wait on the phone. Others still prefer calling the clinic and speaking to a real person, especially if they have specific questions about their visit.
Your feedback helps us understand what works best for our patients and how we can improve access to care.
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39.8% I prefer booking online whenever possible
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24.1% Online booking is helpful but not essential
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32.9% I prefer calling the clinic
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3.3% I didn’t know online booking was available
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