Horowhenua District Council

06/09/2026

Today is your last day to get expressions of interest in 👇

Calling mural artists and creatives!

We’re looking for artists and artist collectives to help bring more colour, creativity and vibrancy to Levin.

As part of the Levin Town Centre Transformation, we’re creating a series of public murals across Council-owned buildings and spaces – celebrating local stories, culture and identity, while creating vibrant places our community can enjoy and be proud of.

Whether you’re an established mural artist or an emerging creative with a strong portfolio, we want to hear from you.

Expressions of Interest are now open, with opportunities for selected artists to be involved in mural commissions across Levin as the programme progresses.

Read the Expressions of Interest Guide and apply online: https://www.horowhenua.govt.nz/Growth-Projects/Projects/Levin-Town-Centre-Transformation/Placemaking

Expressions of Interest close 5pm Monday 7 September 2026.

Help us create spaces that are vibrant, memorable and distinctly Horowhenua.

06/09/2026

And again... we love rain! Just not when it comes with a warning 👀
Heavy Rain Warning | Tararua Range

A wet 22 hours ahead from 5pm Sunday (today) to 3pm Monday, with 100 to 150mm of rain expected and heavy bursts overnight.

Streams and rivers may rise quickly, with possible surface flooding, slips, and wet driving conditions. Clear your drains, and take your time on the roads.

Bring in your "World's Best Dad" BBQ aprons before it gets soggy.

05/09/2026

Mōrena Horowhenua.

Our compliance team is reporting an increased rate of complaints and questioning about the strong smell of BBQ utensils and Lynx packs across the district.

Please note that the smell should settle as dads put them away with last years stash.

We thank you for your understanding during this time.

And happy Father’s Day to all of the Fathers and Father figures out there.
From the team here at Horowhenua District Council.

Enjoy your Toblerone 🍫

04/09/2026

💛 Lighting Up Gold (yellow) for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 💛

From 6-12 September, the Foxton Water Tower will glow yellow in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Every week in Aotearoa, around three families receive the devastating news that their child has cancer. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness, show support, and stand alongside the tamariki and whānau navigating this journey. The month is symbolised by the colour gold (kōura), representing how precious children are and recognising the courage and strength of those affected by childhood cancer.

By lighting the Foxton Water Tower in yellow, we're helping shine a light on the experiences of children and families facing cancer, while showing our support for the important work of Child Cancer Foundation.

Child Cancer Foundation provides practical, emotional, and financial support to families throughout their child's cancer journey, ensuring they don't have to face it alone.

As the tower glows gold across the week, we invite our community to take a moment to reflect, raise awareness, and support the incredible tamariki, whānau, and healthcare professionals affected by childhood cancer.

💛 Look up, show your support, and help us raise awareness this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Find out more about Child Cancer Foundation and how you can help at:
🌐 https://childcancer.org.nz

04/09/2026

Did you drop, cover, hold?

If you are unsure of what to do when your world is rocked, “Get Ready” has some awesome resources to help you prepare no matter where you are - https://getready.govt.nz/emergency/earthquakes

04/09/2026

Paper4Trees started back in 2001 to stop paper and cardboard from schools being burnt or sent to landfill. It's grown into the largest recycling and tree planting programme in Aotearoa, now reaching over 4,000 schools and preschools nationwide, and helping plant hundreds of thousands of native trees along the way.

From kindergartens to colleges, so many of our local tamariki are already learning to be kaitiaki through this programme, turning everyday recycling into a living legacy of native trees.

Is your school or preschool not yet involved? We'd love to see even more of Horowhenua taking part, get in touch with Paper4Trees to find out how to join.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2196913020868244

04/09/2026

Meet Your Councillors → Deputy Mayor David Allan

If you grew up in Foxton, Foxton Beach, or Shannon, there's a good chance you were taught by Mr Allan.

Now serving as Deputy Mayor, David brings that same passion for people, learning, and community to the Council table. Whether it's planning for growth, managing council finances responsibly, or helping shape the future of our towns, Cr Allan is focused on making sure Horowhenua is ready for the opportunities ahead.

He's particularly proud of the work being done to prepare our district for the future, from delivering a sustainable approach to water services, to supporting projects like the Levin Town Centre transformation and the recently adopted Shannon and Foxton/Foxton Beach Community Plans.

Cr Allan believes growth should be embraced and managed well, creating better outcomes for both current residents and those choosing to call Horowhenua home.

And because we know you're all wondering...

👟 How many pairs of Converse does Deputy Mayor David Allan own?

Let's just say... it's enough that we're considering adding a dedicated section for them in the Council chambers.

A familiar face to generations of locals, Cr David Allan continues to bring his experience, steady leadership, and community focus to everything he does.

Thanks for your service, Mr Allan!

04/09/2026

Nothing beats spending a Saturday morning doing something nice for the environment!

A reminder about tomorrow's community planting day at Foxton Beach.

This is a really good way to contribute to our community, teach the kids about the importance of our dune systems, and give back to something that gives so much to us.
See ya down there!

There will be a sausage sizzle provided at the end. Just a reminder also, BYO spades and tools if you do have them. We will have some spades and gloves available for those who need them.

📍Find us 1km south of the Foxton Beach Surf Club on the foreshore.

03/09/2026

UPDATE- 11.38AM

To fix the burst main outside on Tokomaru Rd, our team needs wider access to complete the repair. As a result, the shutdown now affects a larger area, the entirety of Tokomaru Rd.

We apologise for the extra inconvenience and appreciate your patience while the team gets this sorted. We'll update you as soon as water is restored.
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Unplanned water shutdown — Tokomaru Rd

Due to a burst water main on Tokomaru Rd, water supply to the affected area will be shut off for up to 4 hours while our crews carry out repairs. This affects roughly 8 Houses.

🕒 Water expected back on by: approximately 3:16pm

What this means for you:
→ No water supply to the affected area during this time
→Once restored, water may run discoloured for a short time, this is normal, simply run your cold tap until it clears
→ Avoid using water for drinking or cooking until it runs clear

We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience while our team gets this sorted. If you have questions or the water hasn't returned by the estimated time, please contact us.

We'll post an update here once the water is back on.

03/09/2026

A heads up from the hills

MetService New Zealand has a Heavy Rain Warning out for the Tararua Range, in place for 12 hours from 1am to 1pm today, Friday 4 September.
We can expect 70 to 90mm of rain, with peak rates of 15–25mm/h likely from late morning. Minimal chance of this upgrading to a Red Warning (chur)

Let's not do any yogi bear river floating today. That water will come down from the hills causing a rise in our rivers and faster flow, you might end up in Himitangi. We are sure they are nice but might not return you.

What MetService is saying could happen:
→ Streams and rivers may rise rapidly
→ Surface flooding and slips are possible
→ Driving conditions could get tricky, especially on low-lying or river-adjacent roads

What to do about it:
→ Clear your drains and gutters now, before the rain really sets in
→ Avoid low-lying areas today
→ Drive cautiously, especially this afternoon as rivers respond
→ Full flood preparedness advice: getready.govt.nz/emergency/floods

Basically, if you get a hankering to recreate an Usher music video. Do your "you've got it bad" re-creation somewhere safe, not on the road and not near a river. The deck of Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō is perfect.

Stay dry out there.