Waitaki District Council

Waitaki District Council Sharing news, updates, notices, and keeping you informed about Waitaki District Council.

Waitaki District Council's page must not be used for electioneering purposes. Any post - positive or negative - made by any individual specifically relating to their own - or someone else's - nomination, intention to run for Council or election campaign, will be removed immediately. Waitaki District Council Social Media Community Standards / Terms of Use

We openly welcome community comments and encourage discussion. We ask that you are polite and respectful towards others with your comments and views. We reserve the right to hide or remove harmful posts or comments from this page that:

• are offensive or obscene; contain objectionable or profane language (swearing)
• include personal attacks of any kind, or constitute ongoing harassment of staff or elected members
• are discriminatory or express prejudice on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, sexuality, religion, or disability
• are clearly off topic
• are inadvertent or deliberate lies or attempts to mislead or spread misinformation. While we cannot review all comments for accuracy, we reserve the right to reject and hide comments we consider to be misinformation on the balance of probability.
• are fraudulent, defamatory of any person, threatening or invasive of another's privacy
• are trolling or threatening, or represent an on-going negative dialogue offering little value to the conversation
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• breach the Human Rights Act 1993 or the Electoral Act, 2001
• violate the Community Standards/Terms of Use of the platform where it is posted. If your contributions fail to comply with the social media channel’s terms, and/or the above standards, then you may be blocked or suspended from posting to this page for six months. In some instances, when too many comments fail to follow our moderation standards or when we feel like a sensitive topic will generate those types of comments and take away from the matter discussed or spread misinformation, we reserve the right to turn off the option to comment on the post. We monitor our social media platforms in line with Waitaki District Council’s Moderation Standards and the independent platform's Community Standards.

23/09/2026

🌏: Oamaru makes Lonely Planet's Top 50 Destinations Around the World for 2027

The good news keeps on coming for the Waitaki District. Netflix’s East of Eden is due to showcase Waitaki’s Heritage Precinct when it premieres on Thursday 1 October, tourism numbers are outstripping the national average for the District and Dunedin and Waitaki have been listed in the Lonely Planet Top 50 Destinations Around the World for 2027, to the delight of Mayor Mel Tavendale.

“A huge thank you goes to the wonderful accommodation, hospitality, and tourism operators throughout the District – who provide top quality experiences to growing numbers of tourists. Without them, this recognition would not be possible.

Our heritage precinct is also home to some wonderful creative artists including Donna Demente’s uniquely wonderful Grainstore Gallery which is featured in the Lonely Planet guide. We are very proud of all of our creative artists who make their home in our District."

For more, head to our website: https://www.waitaki.govt.nz/News/lonely-planet-top-50-oamaru

🚜: Game on - The race to ready 18 sports fieldsSpring flips the switch on Waitaki’s sporting calendar. Suddenly, 18 fiel...
21/09/2026

🚜: Game on - The race to ready 18 sports fields

Spring flips the switch on Waitaki’s sporting calendar. Suddenly, 18 fields must be cut, marked and transformed for cricket, rugby, football, tennis and croquet — often within days. And it's all done to ensure Waitaki's communities can enjoy them.

Every sports season is a complex balancing act for and timing is everything.

Getting things done and perfect in time for tournaments, working around practices, and managing different sports codes with different and sometimes competing needs all have to be factored in.

More here: https://www.waitaki.govt.nz/News/Summer-sports-preparation

💧: Old to new on Lower Thames StreetOn the left is the section of Victorian-era cast-iron pipework, forged by Alley and ...
20/09/2026

💧: Old to new on Lower Thames Street

On the left is the section of Victorian-era cast-iron pipework, forged by Alley and McClellan in 1879 and shipped to Oamaru to form part of the original Oamaru Water Works. That small piece on the side fed the Fire Hydrant outside Farmers.

On the right are SouthRoads contractors installing a new valve at the same site, and replacing the Fire Hydrant. This will allow the Lower Thames Street drinking water network flexibility, by being able to shut down sections - rather than the whole street - should further repairs, upgrades or replacements be needed.

There's still time to send in your photographic memories of when East of Eden filming turned our streets alive with peri...
19/09/2026

There's still time to send in your photographic memories of when East of Eden filming turned our streets alive with period drama and filming 🎬. Check out the post to enter.

🎬 ŌAMARU, IT'S TIME FOR OUR MOMENT ON THE BIG SCREEN! When Netflix’s East of Eden came to Ōamaru, our streets, buildings...
18/09/2026

🎬 ŌAMARU, IT'S TIME FOR OUR MOMENT ON THE BIG SCREEN!

When Netflix’s East of Eden came to Ōamaru, our streets, buildings and landscapes became part of a major international production — and our community became part of the story too.

Now, as the series prepares to launch around the world, we’re inviting the Waitaki community to come together and celebrate with a special community screening at the Ōamaru Opera House.

🎟️ We have 50 double passes up for grabs through a public ballot!

📅 Wednesday 7 October
📍 Ōamaru Opera House
✨ Arrival from 5.30pm | Screening at 6.30pm
🎬 A selected episode showcasing Ōamaru and its locations
🥂 Nibbles and refreshments, with a cash bar available for drinks purchases
👗 Dress code: Red Carpet Ready — dress it up, keep it casual, add a little Hollywood glamour or a touch of Ōamaru heritage.

Enter the ballot now for your chance to join us. Entries close 5pm Friday 25 September, with successful entrants contacted by 5pm Wednesday 30 September.

👉 Enter the Community Screening ballot at https://www.eastofeden.co.nz

Come and celebrate our people, our place and Ōamaru’s moment on the international screen. ❤️🎬

In part Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust and Waitaki NZ (Tourism Waitaki).

A FAMILY AFFAIR AT POI-MAKINGOur Community Educator & Engagement Officer met this lovely guy (pictured), his mum and gra...
18/09/2026

A FAMILY AFFAIR AT POI-MAKING
Our Community Educator & Engagement Officer met this lovely guy (pictured), his mum and grandparents today at the Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi during poi making. It was a real family affair, with everyone pitching in to help make two poi. ❤️
Such a lovely way to spend time together, share a few laughs and create something special to end a week of activities celebrating Māori Language Week 2026.

HEADS UP IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO VISIT THE EVENT CENTRE THIS WEEKENDThe Network Waitaki Event Centre will close from 1pm o...
18/09/2026

HEADS UP IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO VISIT THE EVENT CENTRE THIS WEEKEND

The Network Waitaki Event Centre will close from 1pm on Saturday and remain closed all day Sunday.

There are no bookings over this period, and our team will also be getting the venue ready for an event on Monday.

Thanks for your understanding.🫶

FUN DRAWING FOR MĀORI LANGUAGE WEEKAt Thursday's Māori Language Week activities Maheno School students enjoyed drawing t...
18/09/2026

FUN DRAWING FOR MĀORI LANGUAGE WEEK
At Thursday's Māori Language Week activities Maheno School students enjoyed drawing the koru and mangōpare (hammerhead shark) at the Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi, while learning how important these designs were to Māori.
Core symbolism of a koru:
Unfurling frond: Inspired by the newborn, uncurling shoot of the native silver fern (ponga) as it opens to the light.
Inner coil: Represents a return to the point of origin, grounding, and connection to ancestry or whakapapa (genealogy).
Outer curve: Conveys perpetual movement, forward momentum, and endless potential.
Balance and harmony: Reflects the equilibrium of life, peace, and stability amidst ongoing change
Cultural symbolism of the mangōpare:
In Māori art, carving (whakairo), and painted patterns (kōwhaiwhai), the mangōpare is an iconic motif shaped like interlocking stylized curves. It represents:
Strength and resilience | Courage and tenacity | Leadership | Protection and guardianship (kaitiakitanga)

REMINDERBecause of the content of some recent posts we are reminding people that racism and other forms of abuse towards...
17/09/2026

REMINDER
Because of the content of some recent posts we are reminding people that racism and other forms of abuse towards other people - singling individuals out for negative attention, intimidation or threatening behaviour - will not be tolerated on this page.
We welcome different views and respectful debate, but comments that attack, demean or target people because of their race, ethnicity, culture or identity will be removed from the page.
Please keep the conversation respectful. You can disagree with someone without attacking them.

Address

20 Thames Street, Private Bag 50058
Oamaru
9444

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+6434330300

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