Please help us create a Welcoming Plan
How can we make Whangārei more welcoming for newcomers? Come and help us plan for this at our second community hui:
📅 Tuesday 8 April, 3:30pm until 5:30pm, at the Central Library
There will be two more opportunities to meet at the Central Library:
📅 Tuesday 10 June 2025, 3:30pm-5:30pm, and
📅 Tuesday 12 August 2025, 3:30pm-5:30pm.
“We are gathering feedback from newcomers, ethnic communities, organisations and the wider Whangārei community to help draft the Welcoming Plan,” says Council Welcoming Communities Coordinator Devika Shukla. “Your voice matters, and we want to hear your thoughts, experiences and ideas. This is a collaborative effort to create a more inclusive and supportive community for everyone.”
The interactive, all-welcome meeting will focus on building meaningful connections between newcomers and existing communities, to help form a shared sense of pride about being part of a culturally rich and vibrant community.
📸 captions: Our first hui in February was a blast and we want to get more people along to contribute. The Welcoming Plan aims to promote healthier, happier and more productive communities by welcoming newcomers and embracing their cultural needs, like what we saw at Taste Whangārei earlier this month.
We’re also running a Welcoming Plan survey and we would love to hear from more people! Do that here: www.wdc.govt.nz...
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.1% Yes
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46.9% No
Poll: Over summer, how do you reclaim your sense of home in Northland?
When tourists take over the streets and parking disappears, where do you find your calm?
Or is summer’s hustle something to enjoy rather than escape?
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75% I enjoy the summer hubbub!
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25% Please, give me some peace
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0% I escape the region during summer
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
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