Council prepares for Waitangi Day

Council staff have been busy preparing over the past two weeks for bumper crowds expected to attend this year’s Waitangi Day celebrations.

While Far North District Council does not manage the event, it is closely involved with preparations and services provided on the day.

On Tuesday 6 February, Haruru Falls Road will be the main route into the Waitangi Treaty Grounds for VIPs and buses. Other roads into the grounds will be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles. In preparation, the gravel road was graded last week. A water truck has been deployed each day to ensure road dust is kept to a minimum. Staff and contractors have also been busy mowing grass and trimming trees along the route and nearby.

Portable toilets were installed on Thursday (1 February) at the Bledisloe Domain waka camp and at Waitangi boat ramp. Temporary fencing will also be installed around the Waitangi boat ramp for the waka fleet and at Waitangi Bowling Club, which is hosting NZ Police deployed to the event.

On the day, levels of service will be boosted to ensure that rubbish bins are emptied more often, and public toilets are serviced more frequently.

The council will also have a presence at Waitangi Sports Grounds on Tuesday with a stall alongside the inaugural Waitangi Housing Expo. We’ll have specialists available in Māori development and climate change planning. Councillors and community board members will also be on hand throughout the day to answer your questions. If we can’t answer your question on the spot, we’ll take your details and get back to you.