2010 Media releases

Major improvements to the wastewater reticulation framework at Lowell Place, SH5 and the foreshore is expected to take place early next year.

The Taupo Community Ambassadors will be out and about these holidays making Taupo a friendlier and safer place to be.

Planned changes to fine tune the Taupo District Plan have been approved by Council. Plan Change 26: Code of Practice Alignment and Plan Change 27: Minor Amendments are now out for public submission.

Centennial Drive, which was closed on Monday to allow bridge beams to be put in place on the new ETA route, was re-opened this morning (Tuesday 22 December) two days ahead of schedule.

The Turangi SPCA and Taupo District Council are holding a “Dogs R Fun” day for Turangi dog owners at the Taupahi Reserve next Saturday, held in conjunction with the “Our Neighbourhood” community events, in which all the community are invited to come along and enjoy the fun

The second Our Neighbourhood event for this summer is scheduled to be held at the Parkdale Reserve in Richmond Heights next Friday 15 Jan, and Taupo District Council hope for a huge turnout

The Taupo Community Ambassadors have been on the streets of Taupo now for the past two weeks in a summer trial of the new initiative, and have been well received by the public.

Mayor Rick Cooper and Council CEO Rob Williams will kick-start the popular ‘Coffee with Rick and Rob’ mornings next Wednesday 20 January at Sierra Café

Taupo is progressing toward gaining accreditation from the World Health Organization (WHO) as an ‘International Safe Community’

With Lake Taupo on our doorstep, it’s hard to imagine a need to conserve water, but that’s the message from the Taupo District Council this summer

The Taupo District Council ‘Our Neighbourhood’ events held at Parkdale Reserve in Richmond Heights on Friday afternoon, and at Taupahi Reserve in Turangi on Saturday were a huge success according to organisers

Taupo District Council’s Roadside Attractions concluded on Friday 15 January with a great gig from cover band Triple J, featuring an impromptu vocal performance from local Paki Blake Anorangi

Taupo District Council are holding a Dogs R Fun day this Saturday 23 January on the Tongariro North Domain, and are hoping Taupo can turn it on as well as Turangi did on Saturday

Motorists around the country will notice the return of school children using roads and footpaths as school begins this week, and the Taupo District Council are urging motorists to use caution, especially those approaching schools

The 2010 SPARC Rural Travel Fund is now open for sports teams throughout the district to apply for funding help for their regional travel expenses

More than 50 dogs, and many more owners turned out on Saturday to the Taupo Dogs R Fun day on the Tongariro North Domain, having fun despite the weather

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) advises that road resurfacing works will be carried out on several sections of State Highway 1 in the Taupo District over the next three weeks

Council officers will be travelling around the district with information on the Taupo Urban Commercial and Industrial Structure Plan before returning to hold a number of open days in Taupo town.

The construction of the East Taupo Arterial reached a significant milestone on Tuesday 26 Jan with the successful launch of the base of the Waikato River Network Arch Bridge across the water onto temporary piles

Motorists are advised to expect delays north of Taupo at the Wairakei SH1/SH5 intersection

February is national Bike Wise month and Taupo District Council is getting behind it with events for cyclists of all ages

Comprehensive flow testing will be carried out on urban fire hydrants throughout the Taupo District during February 2010 to ensure adequacy of water supply

The winner of Taupo District Council’s recent ‘Favourite Place’ competition says he loves everything about living in Taupo

The district-wide information sessions and Taupo open days for the Draft Taupo Urban Commercial and Industrial Structure Plan have been successfully completed, but there is still time to have a look at the footprint of proposed building on the domain

The competition winners from last month’s Our Neighbourhood event shared a life-changing experience as they jumped out of a plane last week, and organisers hope more neighbours will be brought together at this Friday’s event at Lakewood Reserve, Nukuhau

ETA Project Manager Ron Boyle says it is fantastic that Broadlands Road has been opened well ahead of schedule

Mayor Rick Cooper and Council CEO Rob Williams will be joined by Inspector Steve Bullock, Area Commander for Taupo Police, for this Wednesdays ‘Coffee with Rick and Rob’ morning at Sierra Café

As part of national Bike Wise month, Mayor Rick Cooper is challenging all cyclists to meet him at the Great Lake Centre on Wednesday morning at 7am for a free breakfast and ride around the domain

Councillor Don Ormsby was elected as Deputy Mayor of the Taupo district yesterday by his fellow Councillors

Last week Taupo District Councillors gave the ‘green light’ to its officers to begin developing a Structure Plan for parts of the Turangi-Tongariro Ward.

Approximately 155 cyclists peddled their way down to join the Mayor for the 2010 Mayoral Cycle Challenge and, despite wet weather, were treated to breakfast, spot prizes, and a BMX stunt show

A woodland sprite ‘dressed’ only in Kiwiana body art designs was in residence at Taupo Museum’s 100% Pure New Zealand Ora Garden of Wellbeing yesterday

One of 16 historic flagstaff pieces on display at the Russell Museum during this year’s Treaty of Waitangi commemorations is on loan from the Taupo Museum

The new bridge being built over the Waikato River as part of the 16km East Taupo Arterial took another step towards its final form on Tuesday [16 February 2010]

The long standing friendship between the Turangi-Tongariro community and their sister city Kitashiobara will be renewed in March when the Kitashiobara Mayor will accompany the annual student visitors

Taupo Public Library was pleased with the success of the ‘Dive into Books’ summer reading programme, with 76 of the 80 children successfully completing the free programme

The last Our Neighbourhood event for the series is also the only event to be held by the Lake, and is scheduled for this Friday afternoon at Wharewaka Point starting at 5pm

Taupo District Council today announces that the new masterplanned garden suburb it plans to create to provide around 2,200 new homes in Taupo will be called Tauhara Ridge

Taupo District Council is trialling two solar-powered self compacting rubbish bins that automatically compact rubbish

Council has notified decisions on Plan Changes 24 and 25 Landscape and Natural Values to the Taupo District Plan after considering an extensive range of public submissions.

AC Baths has just earned New Zealand Tourism’s official mark of quality, the Qualmark, reconfirming the pool complex as one of New Zealand’s leading tourism offerings

Taupo district Deputy Mayor Don Ormsby officially opened the new Ashwood Septage Facility on Friday last week, exclaiming it was his first ‘stink’ job to do as deputy mayor

Proposed new transport authority rules to accommodate larger sized trucks and heavier loads, which is due to go before cabinet this year, is raising questions about current design specifications in Taupo

Taupo District Council would like to congratulate the 21 winners of the Spot the Cyclist campaign which ran for the month of February as part of the National Bike Wise Month

March is ‘Walking Month’ and Wednesday March 10th is national Walk2Work Day, a day when all workers are encouraged to leave the car at home and hit the footpaths

The winners of the Taupo District Council’s Summer Snaps competition captured what summer in Taupo is all about

Previous year’s Ironman volunteers Claire Wakeling and Richard Hine achieved their dream on Saturday, finishing the 2010 Bonita Ironman, Claire in a time of 12.12.23 and Richard in 11.58.38

The management of six of Taupo Town’s most actively used outdoor sportsgrounds is currently up for discussion, and Council wants all those who use these facilities to have their say

New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has just announced that Taupo is one of four New Zealand towns to be shortlisted to become New Zealand’s first walking and cycling model community

A major milestone was achieved on the 16km East Taupo Arterial with the successful lift of the new Waikato River network arch bridge into its final position last week

AC Baths will be closing their doors at 8:30pm this Saturday night, 27 March, to celebrate Earth Hour, the international stand against climate change

The draft Annual Plan 2010-2011 has been adopted by Taupo District Council and is available at all Council offices and District Libraries, with consultation ending on 23 April 2010

Watermains in Taupo Town will be tested next week but there will be no disruption to residents

Mayor Rick Cooper welcomed 14 new citizens into the country today at an official citizenship ceremony held in the Council Chambers

Taupo District Council has today released a proposal to build a massive dome that will cover the entire surface of Lake Taupo, to protect the district’s water supply and, consequently, earn a better water supply rating.

After securing the hosting rights for three teams during the 2011 Rugby World Cup – South Africa, Ireland and Wales - the committee in charge of overseeing preparations and organising events in Taupo district during the Cup is formed and ready to go

Town Criers from both sides of the Tasman will battle it out in Turangi on Sunday 11 April in a Trans-Tasman Town Crier clash, as a follow up to the 11th New Zealand Town Crier Competition held in Turangi

Taupo Rural Fire Force attended a fire at Spa Park at 3.30am on the morning of Easter Monday that affected 2 hectares of manuka, pine and scrub, and appears to have been deliberately lit

Recent complaints from the public of trail bikes being ridden on Council reserves have sparked fears for the safety of park users

Two brand new bus shelters were donated to rural areas of Taupo today, as part of a nationwide initiative by Totalspan Steel Sheds and Buildings

AC Baths has gained a Qualmark Enviro-Bronze Award, recognising its high standards in environmental practices

The planned redevelopment of Taupo’s ‘Destination Playground’ on the Tongariro South Domain will begin next week with the removal of some old playground equipment and the introduction of some exciting new features

Mayor Rick Cooper and Council CEO Rob Williams will be joined by Lake Taupo Harbourmaster Philip King for this Wednesday’s ‘Coffee with Rick and Rob’ morning at Sierra Café

Taupo’s AC Baths will open its doors to the public from 1pm on Sunday 25 April in commemoration of Anzac Day

Taupo District Council and the Taupo SPCA invite all animal lovers to attend the first open day at the new animal centre this Saturday from 10am

Residents and holidaymakers in Turangi, Omori, Kuratau and Motuoapa have been giving council planners feedback on the new Turangi and Southern Lakeshore Settlements Structure Plan

Two Taupo District schools taking part in the NZTA Walk to School programme have won $500 vouchers to purchase new sports equipment

Six accredited examiners from the World Health Organisation (WHO) visited Taupo last Wednesday (21 April) to judge the district’s application to become an ‘International Safe District’, saying that the districts application was one of the best they had seen

The Taupo District Rural Fire Authority is extending the restricted fire season until the end of May due to lack of rain

All Black of the century Sir Colin “Pinetree” Meads was at a gathering at Owen Delany Park last week to accept the role of Ambassador of Rugby for Taupo 2011, and help celebrate the new naming rights agreement between King Country Rugby and Taupo Venues.

As the drought continues to affect the Waikato, water levels for Lake Taupo have dropped to alarming levels and Taupo District Council is now asking people to watch their water use carefully.

The month of April was a month of achievements as three key milestones were reached in construction of the East Taupo Arterial (ETA)

A new campaign targeting bad driving at intersections started this week, with statistics showing three stop intersections in Taupo are amongst the highest urban-intersection crash locations in the country.

Taupo District Council staff at the Lake Terrace office had a soggy start to their day this morning, finding the bottom story of the office flooded by a burst water main on Rifle Range Road.

Eleven people were sworn in as New Zealand Citizens this morning at an official citizenship ceremony in the Council Chambers at the Taupo District Council Lake Terrace office.

Taupo District Council is finalising amended designs of three roundabouts on the East Taupo Arterial (ETA) to ensure they meet the very latest NZ Transport Agency’s safety and service requirements for state highways.

The intersection TV ads’ grim reaper and the infamous ‘wheel of risk’ are making their way around Taupo and Turangi this week to promote a new intersection campaign, with a strangely familiar face under the beard

Construction of the Crown Road connector road is now underway with completion expected in October 2010 in conjunction with the completion of the East Taupo Arterial (ETA)

Council CEO Rob Williams will be joined by the East Taupo Arterial Project Manager Ron Boyle and a representative from contractor Fulton Hogan for this Wednesday’s coffee morning at Sierra Café

A section of Centennial Drive will be temporarily closed on Monday 24 May and Tuesday 25 May 2010 to allow final construction of ramp realignments

Taupo District Council has won the “best new website feature” at the recent local government web symposium for their ‘adopt-a-dog’ initiative, also achieving a higher overall website ranking than previous years

The Taupo/Kaingaroa-Mangakino/Pouakani Committee (TKMP) have resolved to procure design teams for the major refurbishment works at the AC Baths and a separate locally based design team for the hydro-slide building.

Rural fire officers have lifted the restricted fire season, which requires permits to light rural fires, due to a shift in weather patterns

Council officers are asking people in Turangi, Tokaanu and all the southern lakeshore settlements to send them their visions, values and views on the future of these areas as part of the Turangi & Southern Lakeshore Settlements Structure Plan

Taupo’s Connector bus has been so popular that passenger numbers are exceeding what the current bus is able to carry, requiring the previous Connector bus to be used for the morning run

A new footpath on SH5 will make the walk from Kiddle Drive down to Lake Terrace safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists

Award-winning Thriller Writer John Connolly will be visiting Taupo Library on 3 June 2010 at 1pm to promote his latest novel The Whisperers

With winter now firmly on our doorstep, Taupo District Council and Taupo police remind drivers to take extra caution when approaching and using intersections, in particular the T-junction of Poihipi Road and State Highway One

Mayor Rick Cooper and Council CEO Rob Williams will be at the Crouton Café in Kinloch this Wednesday morning for a coffee and a chat with locals

Mayor Rick Cooper is passionate about transparency and democracy and believes using technology to improve public awareness is the way of the future

Taupo District Council is planning to install solar powered variable speed limit signs on Spa Rd and Kaimanawa Rd outside Taupo Nui-a-Tia College that will slow traffic passing the school down to 40km/h during peak school traffic times

Taupo district was awarded the designation of ‘International Safe Community’ on Friday 28 May from the World Health Organisation (WHO), becoming the 13th community in New Zealand, and 186th in the world to achieve the accreditation

After avoiding the spotlight for over a year, reluctant hero Tony Holt was honoured to be the recipient of the Royal Humane Society Silver Medal for Bravery on Friday (28 May 2010), for saving a mother and child from a burning car last year

As winter sets in and temperatures are dropping, drivers are reminded to be vigilant on our roads and to be prepared for icy conditions

Work on the East Taupo Arterial roundabouts has recommenced with construction machinery arriving back on site at the Wairakei Intersection soon to be followed by Anzac Memorial Drive roundabout.

As part of the lead up to the Rugby World Cup next year the Taupo2011 Organising Committee are calling for expats out of South Africa, Wales and Ireland to make contact.

A free health and safety seminar is being held in Taupo on Tuesday 22 June at Owen Delany Park for anyone with an interest in current health and safety trends in the workplace and community.

Taupo District Council is proud to have won the OSCAR award for Best Supporting Organisation at the recent OSCAR Foundation National Awards in Wellington for its support of the Taupo Events Centre’s afterschool programme and Holiday Programme, having taken out the regional award only months earlier.

Mayor Rick Cooper and Council CEO Rob Williams will be at Sierra Cafe this Wednesday morning for the regular coffee morning.

The Japanese village of Kitashiobara, Turangi’s sister-city, is sending a group of highschool students to Turangi this July as part of a traditional student exchange programme between the two towns, and homes for the students are required for three nights.

As part of developing the Turangi and Southern Lakeshore Settlements Structure Plan, Taupo District Council is holding a public workshop on the future of the Turangi town centre. The workshop will be held on June 29 at 6.30pm in the Turangi Senior Citizens Hall.

If you’re planning an overseas trip, or maybe just dreaming about getting away from the winter cold, then come to the Taupo Library on Thursday 24 June for a free lunchtime travel session

Staff at the Taupo Events Centre are gearing up for the July school holiday programme, and predict spots will fill up fast

A representative from the Irish Rugby Union visited Taupo yesterday, more than a year before their stay for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and was impressed with what Taupo facilities have to offer

Taupo District Council is encouraging local food businesses to follow the lead of more than 1200 other New Zealand businesses by adopting a new, more risk-based approach to food safety

Taupo District Council’s relationship with local Iwi Tuwharetoa has won the prestigious IPANZ award for Crown-Maori Relationships at the national IPANZ Gen-I Public Sector Excellence Awards ceremony held in Wellington on Friday night

With the July school holidays approaching, Taupo Public Library’s free holiday programme is on again, with a fun and educational series of activities on offer children ages 4-12

If you want to be a part of the Rugby World Cup 2011, you need to be at the Great Lake Centre this Thursday for the RWC volunteer roadshow

Taupo District Council have resolved to install a webcam to provide live coverage of Council meetings as well as recording for ‘on-demand’ viewing later

Destination Lake Taupo, the destination marketing arm of Taupo District Council, is undergoing some changes to its governance and will become an external operator. Positions are now being advertised for the new governance board

Next Tuesday 6th July, Taupo Motorsport Park will once again open its track to young drivers to help them to improve their driving ability, and learn better driving skills

The annual Taupo Times District Youth Awards are happening again this year, and Taupo District Council is calling for nominations for any outstanding and talented youth in our district

The people of Turangi turned up in droves last week to have their say at the Taupo District Council’s public workshop on the future of the Turangi town centre, showing strong support for the upcoming Structure Plan

The redevelopment of the Tongariro South Domain’s new volcanic themed playground was officially opened on Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony

The Mayoral Civic Awards are on again this year. The purpose of the awards is to recognise those individuals that make an enormous contribution to the community

Taupo District Council have adopted the Annual Plan with the average district rates increases staying at 5.21% as outlined in the 2009 – 2019 long term plan, but with fees and charges undergoing wholesale changes after GST increases from 12.5% to 15% on 1 October

AC Baths has just installed its second ultra violet filtration system, this time a much larger unit for its leisure pool, which uses UV light to sterilise water - reducing the harsh chlorine smell

Council has agreed to many of the plans outlined in the draft Taupo Urban Commercial and Industrial Structure Plan including the Civic Heart concept, but have asked officers to undertake further investigation into plans for the Great Lake Centre, Museum and administration offices

Taupo District Council will undertake a webcast of their next Council meeting on 20 July as part of their new initiative to provide greater access to the Council decision making process and promote openness and transparency

Forums will be held this week in Taupo and Turangi for the public hear about the progress being made in preparations for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Taupo

The new Taupo District Libraries website is ready to launch this Thursday with a launch party at the Taupo Public Library, with lots of fabulous prizes and giveaways

Five brand new bus shelters have just been installed in the Taupo township for passengers using the Taupo Connector bus, just as the cooler weather has set in

The trial run of the first ever webcast of a Council meeting by Taupo District Council was not all smooth sailing but after a few early glitches most feedback is positive

The new solar powered active 40km/hr speed limit signs on Spa and Kaimanawa Roads were officially opened on Monday with a ribbon cutting ceremony

Geotechnical investigations along the lakefront Lion’s walkway between Rifle Range Road and Taharepa Road will take place this weekend, 24 and 25 July, with minor disruption to walkway users

The Taupō Public Library hosted an official launch party yesterday to celebrate the launch of the new district libraries website, with lots fun, food and fantastic giveaways.

After six days of deliberations the Taupo District Council has further progressed the draft Taupo Urban Commercial and Industrial Structure Plan

This year Taupo Parents Centre has handed the reins of the Taupo Wedding Expo & Bride of the Year to More FM and the Great Lake Centre.

Even with the last two months being extremely wet with above average rainfall in the central north island, construction work on the ETA has continued, bringing a completed road ever closer

A noticeable increase in household rubbish being dumped in street bins and recycling facilities is making a mess on the streets

Owen Delany Park in Taupo is being looked at as a potential venue for some future Cronulla Sharks NRL matches

The Events Centre climbing wall is now 12 years old and although it is very popular, is underutilised due to its location on the far court at the Events Centre

After an extensive consultation process, the Taupo Sportsgrounds Reserve Management Plan has cleared its final hurdle and will now go to Council for final approval at the end of the month.

Those intending to undertake building work are encouraged to contact Council to see if building consent is required, as new infringement powers come into force.

The Mayor welcomed ten new citizens to New Zealand today at an official citizenship ceremony in the Taupo District Council chamber.

Tamati Coffey from TVNZ’s Breakfast Show and his crew will be live in Turangi next Tuesday morning (17 August) and are calling for members of the Turangi community to come and be a part of the show.

Council CEO Rob Williams will be joined by Lakes DHB Chief Executive Cathy Cooney and Taupo Hospital Manager Julie Eilers this Wednesday for Council’s monthly coffee morning at Sierra Café.

The newest piece of art chosen by the Taupo Sculpture Trust is a large-scale wind activated kinetic sculpture by renowned New Zealand artist Phil Price

To ensure a smoother collection operation, rubbish days and times are changing for a small group of Taupo residents from Monday 23 August

As the East Taupo Arterial gets closer to completion, a daytime detour for all traffic is being put in place to allow the construction team to finish off the major SH1/SH5 intersection just north of Taupo at Wairakei

In the early hours of this morning, an unauthorised person raised a false civil defence alarm in the Richmond Heights area, waking and alarming residents

Tamati Coffey’s ‘Milo Chilly Tuesday’ show in Turangi yesterday was a huge success with Breakfast presenter Paul Henry saying it was the ‘best turn out ever’

One of the most significant projects in the Council ten year plan is set to proceed after TKMP committee agreed that contracts for design and construction of the Taupo Water Treatment Plant should be sought. As part of the consultation process officers will be holding public information sessions and encourage anyone wanting to know more to come along.

With the East Taupo Arterial weeks away from completion, Taupo District Council, Fulton Hogan and Taupo Moana Rotary Club and Bikefest Manager Keith Crate are planning a public open day to celebrate this significant event in Taupo history

A strong contingent of supporters applauded the decision by the TKMP Committee to grant a new lease to the Tennis Club on the Tongariro Domain

Due to recent dog attacks on people in the Turangi Township and a number of dogs roaming the streets, Council’s Animal Control team will be increasing patrols in the area

A stunning pair of ceramic trout have been produced by Active Arts Taupo (AAT). One will be mounted on the Active Arts building and the other just outside the Council Chamber

The first of the daytime detours planned over a three week period starts this Sunday 29 August through to Thursday 2 September

Taupo District Council’s award winning energy efficient show home will be opening its doors to the public from 1.00 – 3.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays from this Sunday (28 August)

Another public information session to talk about the upgrade to Taupo’s water supply is being held at the Acacia Bay Hall on Monday 6 September from 5.30 – 6.30pm for Acacia Bay residents

The countdown is on to the East Taupo Arterial Public Open day where families will get the opportunity to cycle, run or walk a section of the East Taupo Arterial before it is opened to vehicles the following month

This month Taupo District Council will be improving the Spa Park look out, located on the corner of Spa Road and County Avenue, to ensure the public can safely access the spectacular views over the Waikato River

A report with all the community feedback on the future of the Turangi and Southern Lakeshore Settlements is now available

A mix of young and experienced, local and independent board members have been appointed to the new organisation that will look after destination marketing for the Taupo district

Fulton Hogan and Taupo District Council are concerned for the safety of those who are ignoring warning signs and entering the East Taupo Arterial construction site

This September marks one year to go until Rugby World Cup 2011 kicks off in New Zealand and Taupo is celebrating this milestone with live music and games outside the Great Lake Centre, as well as welcoming the inaugural New Zealand Junior Rugby Festival at Owen Delany Park

In addition to the live webcasting of Council meetings, viewers can now access the on-demand, archived footage of the Council meetings at a time convenient for them via council’s website

Yesterday a function was held to acknowledge and congratulate five retiring Justice’s of the Peace, for their significant contribution to the community.

According to a recent survey conducted by Environment Waikato only 13% of Taupo district residents are fully prepared for a natural disaster

Council has adopted the amended Taupo Urban Commercial and Industrial Structure Plan and have also put paid to the proposal for a Council Administration building on the Tongariro North Domain

Event organisers are encouraging people attending the East Taupo Arterial Public Open Day to register and go into a competition to win a hiking tour valued at $2,000 or a gourmet dinner at Treetops Lodge

A great time was had by all on Wednesday night at the Mayoral Civic Awards Ceremony with 22 residents receiving formal acknowledgement from Mayor Rick Cooper for their contribution to the community

Another addition to the East Taupo Arterial Public Open Day on Sunday 26 September has been announced this week – the 2010 SPCA Paws Walk will now be a part of the community celebration

Construction of the Crown Road intersection as part of the East Taupō Arterial is now complete and Crown Road has been reopened to the public with a 30kph speed limit

Council’s Deputy CEO Anne McLeod will be joined by Emergency Manager Phil Parker this Wednesday for Council’s regular monthly coffee morning at Sierra Café

Taupo District Council took out the Building Organisational Capability category award at the 2010 New Zealand Post Group Local Government Excellence Awards in Queenstown recently

Ten days to go till the East Taupo Arterial community celebration where the public will get an opportunity to cycle, walk or run the newest section of State Highway 1

A large group of South Africans, Welsh, Irish and a cheerful American were part of over a hundred people who enjoyed the Expats meet and greet evening last week

This Sunday the public will be able to get a sneak preview of the East Taupō Arterial which is due to open to traffic in October

An expert from Canterbury University will be in Taupō on Monday to talk about the moa bones found last year during construction of the East Taupō Arterial

The Community Board have decided further consideration is required before a final decision on what will happen with the Turangi campground is made

A long term plan to attract and retain visitors to Turangi-Tongariro area has received the full support of the Community Board

3851 cyclists, walkers and runners turned up to the East Taupō Arterial public open day yesterday to check out the newest section of State Highway One

Local high schools, Taupo Police, AA Driver Foundation, Taupō Motorsport Park and Taupō District Council are delivering a FREE ‘Driving Directions’ programme for local youth to promote safe and sensible driving

Over 100 interested locals flocked to the Great Lake Centre earlier in the week to view the moa bones found on the East Taupō Arterial in November last year and hear Extinction Biologist, Professor Richard Holdaway talk about the significant find

Taupō is often referred to as New Zealand’s centre of cycling with our extensive portfolio of cycling events and superb road, mountain bike and BMX facilities. Now we have the chance to make it official and become the home of the NZ Cycling Centre of Excellence

The first stage of the Taupō Water Treatment Plant upgrade is underway on the Taupō lakefront with the installation of a new watermain – the work is to be completed by early December, in time for the major events season

Creative Taupō is looking at appointing people passionate about supporting and developing arts and culture in the Taupō district to be on the assessment committee

The East Taupō Arterial, a 16km highway that runs along the eastern outskirts of Taupō town, was officially opened by Hon. Steven Joyce and Sir Tumu te Heuheu and is now open to traffic

Rick Cooper has retained his lead by 134 votes ahead of Mark Burton, but the public have voted for change with currently only three of the former councillors in the new line up and Maggie Stewart the only Turangi-Tongariro Community Board member returning

The Turangi-Tongariro Community Board received 22 applications for community grants and approved funding for most of these at their meeting on Tuesday [5 October]

The Community Board will support funding preliminary work on a proposal for a boat ramp and floating jetty at Omori

Over 50 people attended the first public meeting to hear details on Taupō’s bid to become the Cycling Centre of Excellence for New Zealand

The Taupō Events Centre Climbing Wall team is hosting an extreme climbing movie night for climbers and outdoor enthusiasts this Saturday 16 October

Three world class rowing teams, from Poland, Holland and Switzerland, are competing in the 2010 World Rowing Championships later this month at Lake Karapiro and are basing themselves in the Taupō district

Taupō District Council has teamed up with local community groups to organise FREE child safety days around the district to educate parents and whanau about keeping babies and toddlers safe around the home and near the road

The Taupo Rural Fire Authority want to remind everyone that the rural fire season is underway and anyone wanting to light an open fire in the rural area must have a fire permit from their local fire authority

New signage on the East Taupō Arterial will be installed within the month to improve connectivity to Lake Taupō and to direct visitors into town and to key attractions

Official result for Taupō District Council elections announced including a two vote win for Turangi-Tongariro council spot

Mayor Rick Cooper and Council CEO Rob Williams will be joined by some of the new Councillors next Wednesday for Council’s monthly coffee morning at Sierra Café

Improvements to the look and feel of Horomatangi Street, one of Taupō CBD’s main shopping streets, will be complete prior to the Christmas rush

Next week is New Zealand Blind Week and Taupō Library is supporting the event by hosting a morning tea for the Foundation of the Blind members and demonstrating new technology for sight impaired library users

Another big match is being played at Crown Park next weekend and football fans are encouraged to get along and check it out

For the third consecutive year, Taupō’s Rural Fire team have stripped down to pose for the popular Taupō Fire Calendar to raise funds for new fire fighting equipment

Following wastewater overflows at the Mangakino Wastewater Treatment Plant two years ago, Council is taking action and putting restorative projects in place to compensate the Mangakino community

The first meeting of a largely new Council has seen some big changes to the way it operates with “respect” being the operative word in Mayor Rick’s opinion

By working together, Taupō District Council and the Department Of Conservation has made a million dollar view even better

The leisure pools, private pools, slides and café will be closed at the AC Baths from Monday 1 November to Friday 12 November whilst annual maintenance is carried out at the facility

This Thursday 4 November Turangi will be lucky enough to host some of the worlds best ‘placemakers’, who will talk to local businesses and offer their ideas on the Turangi Town Centre

Taupo District Council’s 2009/10 Annual Report is now available for public review and its balance sheet paints a positive picture, despite a difficult environment over the past year

16 TDC staff members that took part in Taupō’s Biggest Loser met recently to celebrate their success and set future goals

Taupo District Council wants to hear from anyone who has an interest in the management of wastewater at Acacia Bay and Motuoapa

As an outcome of the Taupo Urban Commercial and Industrial Structure Plan (TUCISP), a number of changes are being proposed to the Taupo District Plan to provide for better town centre redevelopment as well as commercial and industrial growth

Ratepayers in the Taupō District will be receiving their revaluation notices in the post soon. Overall there has been a decrease in values of around 10% across the district which is typical of the national trend

National eDay is on this Saturday 6 November and Taupō District Council is providing residents the chance to dispose of ‘e-waste’ for FREE in Taupō, Turangi and Mangakino

A traffic count carried out by Taupō District Council recently indicates that the majority of vehicles are still travelling via Taupō

A project team is working hard to meet the February deadline for the bid to become the home of NZ’s Cycling Centre of Excellence

Last week well respected ‘placemaker’ Gilbert Rochecouste visited Turangi to talk to the community about the future of the town and sparked some interesting discussions

Mayor Rick Cooper and Council CEO Rob Williams will be at Sierra Café next Wednesday 17 November for Council’s monthly coffee morning at Sierra Café

Now that the ETA is finished, Council is calling for tenders on a high profile site on Crown Rd, but wants to ensure the maximum benefit for the district

The Taupō District Council has adopted a “Whole of Council” model of governance, which re-inforces a district-wide focus

Taupō District Council will be reviewing its structure and capital works programmes to identify areas where savings can be made

Mayor Rick Cooper and Council CEO Rob Williams will be at ‘Thyme for Food’ cafe next Tuesday 23 November to meet with local residents and to attend a Council and Community Board Workshop

Taupō Police and local community groups assisted by the Deputy Mayor have started up Blue Light in Taupō – an organisation that runs fun and educational activities for 10-13 year olds

Mayor Jean Lèques visited Taupō last week with a delegation of senior Noumean officials and an accompanying cultural group to reaffirm the sister-city agreement with Taupō, and exchange cultural demonstrations and gifts

Taupō District Council in conjunction with the Taupō Police has relaunched the road safety campaign ‘Keep Left, Lives are on the Line’ to remind drivers that crossing the centreline can have serious consequences

The Taupō Safe District team is calling people with a passion for the community to become a Taupō ambassador to ensure our town remains a safe place to live, work and play leading up to the holiday season

Mayor Rick Cooper, Councillor Keith Crate and Council CEO Rob Williams will be at Crouton Café in Kinloch next Wednesday 1 December to catch up with the Kinloch community

Funding for preliminary work needed to upgrade the boat ramp at Omori and construct a floating jetty to alleviate crowding and safety issues, has been approved

Councillor Gary Keepa has been voted in as Chairman of the Turangi-Tongariro Community Board with Board member Maggie Stewart taking on the Deputy Chair role

As part of a nation-wide gesture, Taupō Library will be displaying a condolence book from today for the Taupō community to pay tribute to the men lost during the Pike River tragedy

A request for support from local BMX champion Jed Mildon, to look at building a new jump track at Spa Park, has received a very favourable response from Council

Taupō District Council has reviewed its Speed Limit Bylaw, designed to keep our roads safe, and wants feedback on the proposed changes

A new attraction for five years and over will be opening at the AC Baths this weekend

Taupō District Council in conjunction with Taupo Motorsport Park is hosting a motorcycle skills training day on Tuesday 7 December and encouraging beginner and intermediate riders to register before spaces fill up

Assistance with a loan for the Tongariro National Trout Centre Society to assist in the upgrade of the Museum/Aquarium at the centre has been approved by Council

Taupō District Council’s Urban Design team has placed new ‘people hubs’ around the Taupō CBD to create funky and flexible mini spaces for locals and visitors to gather

The Contact Energy Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge was held in the weekend bringing 25,000 visitors to the Taupō district

The Taupo2011 competition to give away three official RWC 2011 Replica Match balls ended last week, with two of the three balls staying in Taupō

With the recent dry weather and predictions of a dry summer ahead, conserving water is vital to ensure adequate water supply is available for all users throughout the district

Taupo’s Spa Park is a hive of activity all year round, and this summer Council are looking at the possibility of a refreshment cart being set up to cater to visitors

Taupō District Council has declared a total fire ban throughout the district due to unusually dry conditions

Welsh Rugby Union Representative Alan Phillips visited Taupō for a couple of days this week to check out the venues and facilities in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup 2011, kicking off in September next year

Local high schools, Taupo Police, AA Driver Foundation, Taupō Motorsport Park and Taupō District Council are delivering another FREE ‘Driving Directions’ programme for local youth to promote safe and sensible driving

Mayor Rick Cooper and Council CEO Rob Williams will be joined for their last monthly coffee morning for 2010 by Taupō Police Area Commander Steve Bullock next Wednesday

A long term strategy is being put in place to manage the trees and other vegetation at Secombe Park, and Taupō District Council is looking for feedback from the community

The Taupo District Council is strongly urging the community to do what it can to reduce water usage, with this hot and dry weather hitting so early in the summer season.

At today’s Council meeting, Taupō District Councillors resolved to put the proposed options for urban growth at the southern end of the lake out to the community for consultation

Hot, dry summer days have seen water use skyrocket and water shortages are now becoming a reality in the Taupo District with Council stressing everyone must start conserving water right now

Taupō bars are working together to keep Taupō a safe place and demonstrate their commitment to ‘zero tolerance to violence’

Council are calling on those who have been impacted by flooding in the past, to help with a study to reduce the risks of flooding in the future