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Waikato Herald Questions

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news/news/local-elections-2025-waipa-mayoral-candidate-mike-pettit-shares-his-views/7JRWMWRYAJCSFKBVUJUOJ43MCE/ ...

Leadership

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Time for Change!

Written by Matthew Martin - WAIKATO TIMESFewer than one in five Waipā district residents say they’re “satisfied” with their council’s overall performance, and faith in its financial management has dropped to a record low.Council chief executive Steph O’Sullivan said the results of the council’s annual residents survey reflect the difficult environment the council and community were operating in, but had stabilised after satisfaction declined post-Covid and began to recover in 2024.W...

Rates

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Interview with Andrew Johnstone FreeFM89

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Another misalignment in priorities

A number of community members drew my attention to today’s article in the Cambridge News / Te Awamutu News about Waipā District Council’s decision to send eight representatives to Christchurch to collect an award at the Local Government New Zealand conference.The Mayor, two councillors and our Chief Executive attended last week’s LGNZ conference in Christchurch, all budgeted from allocated professional development budgets. However, an additional six people attended to accept the Super Eng...

Data shows urgent case for larger library for residents in Cambridge and surrounds

New Waipā District Council data confirms what many of us already know: Cambridge urgently needs a larger, better-equipped library for its local residents.The latest statistics show a 7.3% increase in library usage compared to the same time last year. The Cambridge Library alone issued 328,911 items, an increase of more than 24,000. In comparison, Te Awamutu issued 172,023 items, and digital platforms like Hoopla saw a notable rise as well.A huge thank you to all the library staff acro...

Principal Mike Pettit enrols for mayoral contest

Original story by Matthew Martin, Waikato TimesWaipā mayoral candidate Mike Pettit is promising a bold, relationship-driven leadership style, focussing on transparent governance, financial sustainability, and new approaches to community infrastructure funding.The Cambridge Primary School principal is one of two strong contenders for Susan O’Regan’s mayoralty, and joins long-standing Pirongia-Kakepuku Ward councillor Clare St Pierre in October’s mayoral contest.Pettit said he’d...

Mayoral race confirmed

Original story by Mary Anne Gill, Te Awamutu News and Cambridge NewsWhen Mike Pettit wants to reconnect with what he loves about Waipā, he hikes to the top of Pukemako Scenic Reserve behind his Cambridge home....