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.
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Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Warnings about scams
This Fraud Awareness Week, we’re reminding everyone to stay sharp and look out for the warning signs of scams to stop them before they start.
Here’s what to watch out for:
🔍 Unrealistic offers or promises of easy money that are too good to be true
🔍 Pressure tactics: Scammers may rush or threaten you to act immediately.
🔍 Requests for personal info: Be cautious if you’re asked for bank details, passwords, or sensitive information.
🔍 Unusual payment methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
🔍 Unverified contacts: Emails, calls, or messages from unknown or suspicious sources.
How to protect yourself:
✅ Stop and think before sharing personal details or making payments.
✅ Don't click on any links until you know that it is safe.
✅ Verify the source: Contact the organisation directly using official channels.
✅ If something’s not right, it's OK to hang up, walk away, ignore it and move on.
If you wish to report a scam, contact Police on 105 or report it online via 105.police.govt.nz/use-105.
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