Crystal Beavis - Waikato District Councillor

01/06/2026

Congratulations to Jane Manson for her King's Birthday honour for her work for the Tamahere and wider community - for leading the Tamahere Country Market for more than 21 years and being on the leadership team (and now chairing) Mahi Mihinare Anglican Action for 19 years.

Recognised in the Waikato District Mayoral Awards in 2024 and now KSM - well deserved!

Congratulations also to other Tamahere residents recognised in this year's King's Birthday honours with MNZMs:
* Colin Groves, President of Waikato Rugby and Chair of Seddon Cricket Club and
* Dr Udaya Samarakkody, paediatric surgeon and urologist at Waikato Hospital who has also served the Sri Lanka Friendship Society in Waikato in so many ways.

Read more about them all in the Cambridge News today here: https://www.cambridgenews.nz/2026/06/a-surgeons-true-calling/

30/05/2026

You could be voting for a new, larger Council at the next local body elections in 2028.

Councils are under time pressure to come up with an amalgamation plan by 9 August or have one imposed on them.

Read more about this and a round-up of other Waikato District Council news from the last month.

* Amalgamation options include a Waikato region-wide unitary council

* Rates to rise 3.7% on average across the District from 1 July depending on the services you get

* Long term planning underway to manage district growth

* District Plan review nearly complete, final changes on earthworks and minor technical corrections are expected to be publicly notified later this year.

(Attn: Gordonton District Community)

The Government has given Councils three months to submit amalgamation proposals or the decision will be made for them.Under the ‘Simplifying Local Government’ initiative, the Government has announced a voluntary 'Head Start Pathway' allowing Councils until August 9 to submit proposals to amalgam...

24/05/2026

Congratulations Jenny Scown for the great interview on Radio NZ's Culture 101 this afternoon on your Inspirit Studio & Gallery in Tamahere, a highlight on this weekend's Waipa Creative Trail.

LIsten to the radio interview here:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/culture-101/audio/2019036389/jenny-scown-built-inspirit-gallery-on-her-family-farm-nineteen-years-later-it-s-going-strong

Thanks to Waipa Creative Trail for the photos!

24/04/2026

You are welcome to attend local ANZAC Day services at Gordonton (6am) and Eureka (10am) to remember and honour those who served.

These are both held at the cenotaphs outside the local halls and there is morning tea to follow. (Anyone who can, please bring a plate, but bringing yourself is more important!)

At Gordonton the rolls of honour from Gordonton, Horsham Downs, Komakorau and Puketaha are read out, but at both services we gather to remember all those who have served.

Gordonton - 6am, 1024 Gordonton Rd (State Highway 1B)
Eureka - 10am, 1298 State Highway 26 (corner of Hunter Rd)

ANZAC Day is a time for communities across the district to come together to remember and honour those who served.

Services will be held in many towns across our district this Saturday, 25 April. Learn more: https://ow.ly/whSP50YIClS

If you have an ANZAC event happening in your community please email [email protected] with the details and we will add to our list.

11/04/2026

Keep up-to-date with Cyclone Vaianu information.

‼️Threat to life: Call 111 immediately
‼️ Urgent issues (flooding, slips, fallen trees, road damage, access issues): Call the Council to alert Civil Defence on 0800 492 452
‼️Non-urgent issues: Report a problem through Antenno or our Report It page
‼️State Highway information: Visit www.nzta.govt.nz
‼️Power outages: Call Counties Energy on 0800 100 202 or WEL Networks on 0800 100 202 or Waipa Networks on 0800 800 769. Alternatively, you can go to their websites, linked on their names.
‼️Latest weather: Visit www.metservice.com
‼️ For ongoing updates, go to the Waikato Civil Defence website and follow the pages for Waikato Civil Defence and Waikato District Council.

If this situation is stressful or you need support, you can free text or call 1737 to speak to a counsellor, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.

Heads up: Gordonton District Community

A State of Local Emergency has been declared across the Waikato region this morning as a precautionary step ahead of Cyclone Vaianu.

This reflects the likelihood of significant impacts across the region, including damaging winds, possible flooding, and disruption to power and transport networks.

For Waikato District, we are expecting disruption across our communities, the exact levels of disruption is still unknown. During the peak of the event tomorrow, some areas, particularly rural communities, may experience road closures, power outages, and temporary isolation. Emergency services may not be able to reach all areas during this time.

What you need to do:

❗Prepare now while it is still safe to do so
❗Stay home during peak conditions today (Sunday)
❗Avoid unnecessary travel
❗Be ready for power and communication outages
❗Check on neighbours and those who may need support

Further information, including what people should do, is available here: https://ow.ly/KOzP50YHkPC and https://ow.ly/C34j50YHkPE

23/03/2026

Please lend your voice to help guide local decision-making.

Join Waikato District's new Community Voice Panel - it's an easy way to share your views online and help shape decisions. Click below for a link to add your name to the panel.

In other news, consultation is open until 6 April on a draft waters services strategy published by the Council's new waters company, IAWAI, jointly owned with Hamilton City.

The strategy is a 10-year plan for managing and developing the waters services we need for a growing population in Hamilton and Waikato District. It also shows how IAWAI expects to slow the rate of increase in waters charges starting from 1 July.

Click for more info on these and other news items in your local Councillors’ monthly update here.

Gordonton

Waikato District Council has established a Community Voice Panel and invites you to join it to help guide Council decisions. Panel members will receive short online surveys throughout the year on topics that matter to them such as parks, roading, new facilities, environmental initiatives, and future...

21/03/2026

Interested in the proposed racing development on Pencarrow Road in Tamahere?

Waikato Thoroughbred Racing is holding an information session this Sunday from 2pm – 4pm at Tamahere Community Hall.

View the latest site map, learn more about the plan and share your views directly with their project team.

📸 GTR Greenfield

20/03/2026

UPDATE 26 March 2026: The wet weather has brought welcome relief for our Southern Districts water supply. Demand has dropped, and our reservoirs are now back within normal levels.
Thank you everyone for your efforts to help conserve water.
___________________________________________
Please reduce your water use in Eureka and Matangi to allow water levels in local reservoirs to be replenished!

Current demand is higher than what can be supplied to local reservoirs, so Eureka and Matangi residents are being asked to cut back on water use temporarily,

If you spot a leak, please report it by calling 0800 492 452. Updates will be shared on the Waikato District Council website as they come through.

Thanks for your help and cooperation. See the latest here: https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/news/article/2026/03/20/eureka-and-matangi-residents-urged-to-conserve-water

12/02/2026

Congratulations to Kitty Burton and the Tamahere-Woodlands Heritage Committee with the installation in Matangi of the last of a group of planned heritage signs for the Ward.

Development of the signs started in 2022 in consultation with Ngāti Hauā. Since then they have also been installed in Tamahere, Newstead, Eureka, Puketaha and Gordonton. (In Tauwhare the heritage project linked into the development of a sculpture and sign telling the story of the area.)

The Matangi sign was held in storage until redevelopment of parking in the Jack Foster Reserve was complete. It has been positioned at the front of the reserve near St David’s & St George’s Church, and opposite the ‘seven sisters’, the century-old bungalows originally built for staff of the historic Matangi Dairy Factory.

This project was one that was strongly supported by former Eureka Ward Councillor, the late Rob McGuire. I’m privileged to have worked with the committee to see the project through to fruition.

Photo: Kitty Burton (left) and I with the newly-installed sign.

24/12/2025

Warm wishes for the Christmas holiday season and a happy New Year.

Waikato District Council offices close from 3pm today (24 December) and will re-open on Thursday 8 January, but on-call staff will be available to attend to urgent matters if you phone 0800 492 452.

If your rubbish is normally collected on a Thursday or Friday, your collection will be one day later over the two weeks of Christmas and New Year. Check out ‘Holiday hours’ details on the Council’s website.

Drive safely if you're heading away on holiday. Please catch up on recent Council news on my website here - https://www.crystalbeavis.com/updates - and I look forward to catching up with everyone in the New Year.