Featured
- Amalgamation options floated
HB’s councils have retained two politically astute facilitators to help sort their reorganisation options in response to the Government’s Head Start ‘invitation’ –… Read more: Amalgamation options floated
Environment
- Funding boosts communities working for nature
Twelve community groups running environmental restoration projects are the first recipients of grants from the 2026 Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay Environmental Enhancement Contestable Fund. Delivered in partnership by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay and the Eastern & Central Community Trust (ECCT), the fund supports community-led projects that protect, restore and enhance the region’s environment.… Read more: Funding boosts communities working for nature - Political Update:
[As published in July/August 2026 BayBuzz magazine] Beyond the business-as-usual matters of finalising budgets and rates and delivering basic services, the chief areas of focus are council reorganisation, consolidation of water services, and water security. In each of these areas, most of the current activity is out of public view. Amalgamation Yes, it’s time to… Read more: Political Update: - Home solar – a cross-party chip shot?
Who has the hottest home solar plan? The National Party (with its Home Energy Fund) and Labour (with Solar Saver) have gone to battle over home solar, each offering similar plans that would incentivise home solar installation through low-interest loans, secured by property, repayable via homeowners’ rates. Labour’s proposed policy added some flourishes – making… Read more: Home solar – a cross-party chip shot? - Wastewater upgrade requires Texas drillers
An international drilling company will carry out specialist work as part of a major upgrade of the East Clive Wastewater Treatment Plant, near Hastings. Team Inc, whose headquarters are in Texas, will work alongside New Zealand’s Seipp Construction, which was awarded the $23 million contract to deliver the upgrade by Hastings District Council. The upgrade… Read more: Wastewater upgrade requires Texas drillers
Culture
- The Buzz
[As published in July/August 2026 BayBuzz magazine] Collaborators. Winter exhibition highlights, Italian Film Festival Collaborators What’s more of a collaboration in our region than this: the hard-working, hearty people our local wine industry, a community-spirited bunch of voluntary committee members, a line-up of generous and committed sponsors, an audience of supportive, wine-loving bidders and buyers,… Read more: The Buzz - The Sound of Music hits all the right notes
I have seen The Sound of Music a dozen different ways. I’ve watched it on the telly as a kid at Christmas, as a teenager on VHS feeling soppy and sentimental, in my 20s laughing at it not with it (but secretly still loving every minute). I saw it in my early thirties as a… Read more: The Sound of Music hits all the right notes - The BUZZ:Collaborators, Winter exhibition highlights, Italian Film Festival [As published in July/August 2026 Baybuzz magazine] Collaborators What’s more of a collaboration in our region than this: the hard-working, hearty people our local wine industry, a community-spirited bunch of voluntary committee members, a line-up of generous and committed sponsors, an audience of supportive, wine-loving bidders and buyers,… Read more: The BUZZ:
- A Matariki feast
[As published in July/August 2026 BayBuzz magazine.] I first met Te Rangi Huata in 2001 when I was a stall-holder and manager of the Farmers’ Market. Te Rangi was instrumental in the national rekindling of the neglected flame of Matariki. He suggested that the Farmers’ Market was a good place to celebrate the event. So… Read more: A Matariki feast