Water tanker available at Te Wharekura o Rūātoki
The Whakatāne District Council advises that a water tanker will be available at Te Wharekura o Rūātoki for at least the next three days, to provide clear drinking water for collection by community members. Rūātoki’s water supply is currently affected by turbidity (cloudiness) due to the flood conditions in the river. The bores have also been affected by significant erosion of the riverbank, and work will be carried out today to try and reinstate and stabilise the area concerned.
At this stage the bores are operating, and the required volume of water is being treated and pumped to the reservoir serving the area. Daily testing has confirmed no contamination, so the water is safe for all uses. The Council is working to find a long-term solution to the ongoing turbidity problems affecting the Rūātoki water supply.
The water tanker will be available at the Kura today from 10:30 till 5 pm and will also be available between 12:30 pm and 5 pm tomorrow (Thursday). Friday hours will be advised tomorrow.
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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40.6% Yes - get rid of the clock changes
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57.5% 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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