Waikato Times

Budget blues

Paul Blair describes the pure joy of watching a child finally master a skill they’ve been struggling with – a fleeting moment that, for him, captures the essence of early learning. His Auckland early childhood centre follows the Reggio Emilia...

Parents push for criminal charges

The jockey at the centre of a crash that killed Waikato rider Taiki Yanagida had racked up 11 careless riding offences in less than three years, including earlier on the fatal day. A coroner has now found that 28-year-old Yanagida might still be alive...

The mayor’s $4000 emoji

South Waikato mayor Gary Petley will make a public apology, and has sworn off social media, after admitting he got it wrong when an online dispute turned sour. A code of conduct complaint was made by Putāruru ward councillor Zed Latinovic in January...

Expressway will slow to a crawl

Users of one of the busiest sections of road in the country are facing up to nine months of lane closures and frustration but say there’s little they can do other than “grin and bear it”. Earlier this week, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) announced...

Love at First bite

Bite The Pie Bakery & Cafe, 39A Vercoe Rd, Beerescourt, Hamilton For Rathmony Chiv, it was love at first bite when he tasted the cheesy goodness of a New Zealand steak, bacon and cheese pie. Chiv had not worked as a baker before, but quickly found...

Surf, sand and soaring rates

More than $1.3 million in unpaid rates is owed to Waikato District Council by just 10 property owners — including one Raglan ratepayer who owes nearly a quarter-of-amillion dollars. An Official Information Act response reveals the council’s worst...

Don't get away back!

Arts festival in full bloom

Artistic expression in the Waikato is about to blossom, with the Hamilton Arts Festival getting under way with an opening weekend of riveting and – in some cases – risqué events. With a forecast for sunny skies for the duration of the festival – which...

Brekkie as big as a mountain

Mountain Folk Cafe Retreat, 1050 Franklin St, Pirongia One of Pirongia’s favourite new cafes is feeling the pinch after the State Highway 39 closure following storm damage at the weekend but their big breakfast remains a drawcard. Cafe owner Michelle...

‘Predator back on the streets’

Parole for a former St Peter’s School teacher found guilty of abusing boys in his care means there’s a “predator back on the streets”, one of his victims says. Geoffrey Coker, 76, has been granted parole just 11 months after he was jailed for two...

11 patient deaths exposed

Nearly a dozen patients died following serious harm incidents in Waikato last year, the health system has revealed. Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) said there were eleven incidents “where the patient outcome was death”, of which nine were still...

Cleanup bill to cost millions

Ten to 15 households remain cut off in flood-ravaged Ōtorohanga and the cleanup bill for the latest storm is set to run into the millions. That’s according to Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell, who spoke to the Waikato Times...

Social housing near flash homes

HAMILTON Two new social housing blocks are set to be built in central Hamilton - just up the road from perhaps the city’s most pricey home. The build is part of a major push by the Salvation Army to increase the amount of housing in Hamilton, dubbed...

Council meeting kicks off

Hamilton City councillors have locked in the city’s Māori representation model for another three years, but not after a vigorous debate to kick off the first full council meeting of the year. The motion to keep the Maangai Maaori model was passed with...

World Surf plans make waves

It was standing room only as Raglan residents flocked to learn more about the global surfing event that seems to have taken the town by surprise. Thousands of spectators are expected to descend on the town in May for the World Surf League (WSL)...

Malachi the ‘invisible boy’

The torture and murder of 5-year-old Malachi Subecz is a “national disgrace” but changes made in the wake of his death will not prevent further killings in the future. The damning view of Coroner Janet Anderson is revealed in a long-awaited 132-page...

Finding “THE ONE” for your skin

Meet the suitors The Palmer’s body oil trio Each Palmer’s body oil brings its own unique personality, charm and skin-loving strengths: the key is finding ‘the one’ that feels right for you and your skin’s needs. • Cocoa Butter Body Oil – the...

King slams election funding

A former city mayor has slammed the arrival of political sponsorship in the city’s local elections, saying the practice risks biased decision-making at the council table. The criticism comes after it emerged that Act and the Green Party spent a...

A global visionary

The life and art of Sir Richard Taylor

READ MORE INSIDE:

▍ Heckles and boos greet politicians, NATIONAL ▍ Waitangi, cohesion and the challenge to our major parties, IN DEPTH ▍ Overcoming our Treaty fear, IN DEPTH

Hospital assaults on the rise

Assaults on Waikato Hospital staff have increased by more than double the national average over just three years, according to Health New Zealand data obtained by the Waikato Times. From July-December 2022 to JanuaryJune 2025 reported assaults on...

Top river spot for Regatta

Fresh hospitality investment is set to lure diners to the banks of the Waikato River at a spot that’s long been eyed for projects to show off the city’s biggest natural asset. A bar and restaurant - Regatta - is set to open late autumn in the former...

Hamilton dentist on trial

A Hamilton dentist is standing trial for the sexual assault of a woman he invited to his home, partly on the pretext of giving her a driving lesson there. Rahul Gautam, 51, allegedly grabbed and squeezed the woman’s breasts and attempted to touch her...

(Almost) all aboard Te Huia

All three Hamilton MPs appear to be united behind the retention of the Te Huia passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland, as well as potentially expanding it to Tauranga. But whether Hamilton East’s Ryan Hamilton, Hamilton West’s Tama...

Taser case stuns judge

DAY IN THE DOCK When the cops pulled Cole McHardie over he had, unfortunately, “not given a moments thought” to the home-made taser he had on the passenger seat. This is because, according to his lawyer, “he’s not great at thinking things...

Ambulance call-outs on the rise in Waikato

Ambulance crews in Waikato responded to nearly 51,000 incidents last year - an average of about 140 a day. Nationally, demand for emergency services is also growing, according to new figures. The leading reasons people called 111 - in the Waikato...

Swimming hopes buoyant

The dream of taking a summertime dip in Hamilton’s Lake Rotoroa isn’t dead, with new plans to be considered today floated to help improve water quality. The lake is currently at a “caution” level, meaning people should avoid the water – something they...

Behind the billboards: What it cost to chase mayoral chains

Hamilton mayoral candidates forked out more than $100,000 as they vied to win the top seat at the council table. Now Mayor Tim Macindoe accounted for half this amount, shelling out $51.3k on expenses, new records released on the Hamilton City Council...

Top surfers head to Raglan

Top international surfers will take on Raglan’s waves in 2026, in what has been described as “the biggest elite surfing event ever staged in New Zealand”. The Waikato town will serve as the fourth stop on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour,...

A hero who lost her life

A Morrinsville teacher has been credited as the hero who saved lives by urging other campers to evacuate before the deadly landslide hit Mt Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park. Waikato man Lance McFarlane said Lisa Maclennan woke him and his daughter...

Shabby buildings in the spotlight

BUSINESS

Devastating landslides and a desperate search for survivors

Desperate families could only wait and hope as rescuers searched for people, including children, missing after torrential rain and devastating landslides in the upper North Island yesterday. In Tauranga, rescuers were digging in search of survivors...

Room to shroom

After three decades of mushroom farming, Frans Van Schie and his wife Hilda have not only built a strong family business but have embraced the mushroom farming lifestyle. Van Schie had never seen an operational mushroom farm before deciding to put an...

Rave reviews for theatre

In the words of one startled punter, “Oh my god.” If the most sincere form of appraisal is an involuntary reaction, the audible gasps of astonishment from numerous audience members walking into the BNZ Theatre’s main auditorium for the first time...

Powered by motherhood Silver strength

For new mum Kimberley Crossman, fitness is less about ‘bouncing back’ and more about building strength. For netballer Ameliaranne Ekenasio, success isn’t about winning, but showing up for people who matter.

Whanau to farewell Aydan

For four months, Aydan Brown’s anguished whānau wondered where he was. On Monday they got an answer when his body was found in his ute in the Waikato River. It was minutes away from Chartwell, where Brown, 39, was last seen leaving his cousin’s...

Call for ‘hard punishment’

Incompetent teenage ramraiders smashed a stolen vehicle into a Hamilton dairy three times, with the driver nearly running over an accomplice at one point. But despite a big headache for the business owner and a massive clean-up, it was all for summer...

Anglers still baiting up

Callum McFarlane picks his way down the narrow track to Papanui Point knowing exactly what has happened there before. More than 20 people have died on the jagged west coast outcrop, yet on a clear, blue-sky day early in the new year, he was back —...

Basement bar to go

One of Hamilton’s most enduring live music venues, Nivara Lounge, is preparing to close after almost 30 years, marking the end of an era for the city’s grassroots music scene. The closure was announced in a message shared on the venue’s social media...

First meeting for woman and dad, 100

When Halina Tilsley gave her daughter a DNA test for Christmas, she hoped it might reveal clues about her late husband’s ancestry. Instead, it revealed the man she knew as Dad wasn’t her biological father – and sent her on a two-year search for the...

Crims’ favourite hideaway

Criminals’ favourite way to hide their ill-gotten gains comes down to location, location, location, police data on asset seizures has revealed. The top ten types of assets seized by police in 2025 - obtained by the Waikato Times via an Official...

KO kicks out unruly tenants

Thousands of Kāinga Ora tenants have been warned, relocated or had their tenancies terminated over the past three years as the state housing provider hardened its stance on rent arrears and disruptive behaviour. Tenancy terminations have risen sharply...

Critic's choice

Reviewer rates his top flicks of 2025

Making of a med school

After a huge 2025, the University of Waikato is now focused on piecing together the country’s third medical school from the ground up. The project is “all go” after receiving the Government’s green light in July and breaking ground on construction in...

Crimes of Christmas Day: 11 arrests made

Police made nearly a dozen arrests in Hamilton on Christmas Day, and 18 on Christmas Eve. Eleven people swapped turkey for porridge within the city area after they were “brought into police custody on Christmas Day”, a police spokesperson told the...

‘Take every opportunity’

When an opportunity presents itself, newly honoured Dame Coral Shaw has some advice: “Take it, take every opportunity you get – if it’s meant for you, it will work out.” Now retired (again), Dame Coral says she’s always had a positive attitude, and...

Buses crowd Blue Spring

As authorities try to crack down on poor parking on a packed state highway, locals are concerned about an emerging trend at the popular Blue Spring Walkway – tour buses and their passengers. Earlier this month, the Waikato Times reported on a...

Where the ocean meets the vines

From the moment I walked into Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, the atmosphere felt calm, welcoming and designed to help you leave the world behind. My friend and I were there for the two-hour restorative journey, which included everything from hot-cold...

Woof, woof

Nestled amidst Raglan’s hills is Floofsters, a doggy daycare dedicating 100% of its profits to charity. Floofsters founder Latesha Hearth said the daycare is focused on helping animals in need across New Zealand as well as giving local pooches a...

Surcharge ban a blow

A small bookshop owner who has been using her own superannuation to keep her business afloat says the Government’s proposed surcharge ban will leave small businesses worse off. The Government announced in July it would axe surcharge fees for in-store...

Meaning of Christmas giving

‘Tis the season for Christmas gifting, and shoppers around the country are scrambling to tick off the last few presents before the big day. For retailers like Journey + Co, the festive rush is the payoff after months of planning. Co-owners Nikki...

Man’s death still a mystery

More than a year after the remains of missing Tokoroa man Shane Edwards were found near a rural South Waikato creek, the mystery surrounding his disappearance remains unresolved. While police say their investigation into Edwards’ death is still...

Residents on edge after Hamilton lake killing incident

Residents on Lake Crescent in Hamilton are on edge after a man was slain nearby and another was seriously injured. Police said they’re conducting scene examinations at a Lake Crescent property and a block of public toilets at Innes Common. Police...

All go for miners’ $1b plan

OceanaGold has received the green light to expand its Waihi operations - and pledged it will invest around $1 billion in the project. The Toronto-listed, NZ$9.2 billion mining giant received draft Fast Track approval back in November to expand its...

Step up your security

‘I knew it wouldn’t be good’

When Jason Ogilvie looked up from doing the dishes on Sunday night and saw a black BMW going well over the speed limit and a police car turn to chase, he knew it wouldn’t end well. Seconds later it ploughed into a car coming the other way on Arapuni...

Mum-of-five wins car battle

A Hamilton woman who spent $11,585 on a car that broke down days after she bought it has won her case in the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal and wants her experience to inspire others to stand up for their rights. In July, Shynesia Chapman bought a...

Alleged rest home thief caught

INVESTIGATION A rest home resident launched her own hidden camera sting operation to catch a thief red-handed - only to later find the alleged carer-turned-crook back on the job elsewhere. After the alleged thief was confronted and sent packing, the...

Hamilton faces rates crunch

Hamilton’s boom-town status has been called into question as Hamilton City Council grapples with the need to bring rates within Government mandated limits. Councillor Andrew Bydder said assumptions about relentless population growth may be “out of...

Biggest Waikato team yet off to Special Olympics

Waikato has sent its largest-ever Special Olympics team to Christchurch to swim, dribble, run and jump their way through the 2025 National Summer Games. The event, which began yesterday, spans six venues and includes over 1200 athletes and coaches...

The powerlessness of grammar

Mention grammar and the effect is like tear gas. People flee. Hands clamped over eyes and ears, they head overleaf to the letters to the editor. And they are wise to do so, for reasons I shall come to. I get a lot of emails bemoaning the state of...

Exodus to Oz cited for empty rentals

Kiwis leaving for Australia as fewer migrants arrive to take their place could be behind a sudden glut of empty rental properties that’s started to push rents down. New rental listings across Waikato hit a record high in November, up 12.3% on the year...

Town houses lead the way

Waikato’s housing pipeline is quietly rebuilding momentum as the country emerges from recession, with new-home consent numbers steadily climbing nine months in a row. But construction has also turned a corner as interest rates continue to fall with...

12 months on home detention for woman who had sex with boy, 14

A Hamilton woman who committed the “full spectrum” of sexual offending against a 14-year-old boy has been sentenced to 12 months of home detention. The “community interest“would be best served if Kate Rochelle Gough, 37, did not go to jail, declared...

Measles arrives in Waikato

It can be spread just by speaking or sneezing, and the measles virus has arrived in Waikato - where vaccination rates against it are lagging. In fact, Waikato’s vaccination rates are among the lowest in the country, which is part of the reason health...

Rental reports raise concerns

Conflicting Healthy Homes inspection reports are raising concerns about the consistency of standards meant to ensure rental properties are safe and liveable. In one recent case, a Cambridge rental property underwent two inspections within a week, with...

Owner to robbers: I forgive you

Tamahere Bakery owner Rotha Kann says he would embrace the young offenders who robbed his shop if they returned to apologise. It was just after 5am yesterday when the trio walked in, brandished a screwdriver and made off with the till. While it left...

Santa’s sack a mixed bag for city hospo

This festive season looks like being a mixed bag for Hamilton’s hospitality scene - but one key player sees a $3.2 billion boost on the horizon. With Christmas, and Christmas party season, kicking off the Waikato Times spoke to two of Hamilton’s key...

The Kiwi caught in a global crypto scam

Lecturer: strong case for asbestos lawsuit

Parents considering a lawsuit against Kmart over the contaminated coloured sand have a strong case, a legal expert says. Multiple sand products have been recalled - the latest yesterday - due to concerns they could contain asbestos. The fallout has...

No Tux, just Weet-Bix

It's tough times for canines too

Radical changes announced

Regional councils are to be scrapped and replaced with boards made up of local mayors under a radical new proposal from the Government. This would change who makes decisions on public transport, the environment, emergency management, rivers, lakes,...

Bogged down in Wales

It started like a lot of good ideas do – over a beer in the back bar of the pub. The topic of conversation was tourists – specifically the lack of them. It was 1980 and the tiny Welsh former spa town of Llanwrtyd Wells was losing visitors fast....

Keppler family counts cost

The founder of an illustrious family run Hamilton car dealership is coming to terms with his company’s liquidation after failing to pay a massive tax bill. Keppler (Hamilton) — previously trading as Keppler Auto Plant and KVI (2012) Limited — was...