Dawn pōhiri launches Te Ahurei a Tūhoe
For almost 50 years the Tūhoe festival has been an important biennial event for its descendants. They come together to reaffirm their tribal identity through culture, sports, and other activities. The event began at dawn this morning with an official pōwhiri at Te Rewarewa Marae. Te...
Te Marunui Hotene has graduated from his arts degree with first class honours and begun his Masters degree. His days are spent within the Taneatua Gallery studio "just painting". The last time the Whakatane News spoke to Te Marunui he had just opened his Chur exhibition at the Taneatua gallery. He was the second artist to show his work at the gallery after its establishment early last...
Congestion likely from bridge closure
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) staff will work closely with the Whakatane District Council to find ways of easing traffic congestion issues during a planned three-month maintenance closure of the Peketahi Bridge at Taneatua. An NZTA briefing on the re-decking of the bridge provided at last week's Council Projects and Services Committee meeting indicated a planned start to the project before Christmas, with the closure extending until...
The Peketahi Bridge will be re-decked and its railway lines removed in a $5 million upgrade planned for next summer. NZTA says existing steel girders on the Pekatahi Bridge are in "good" condition and the hardwood sleepers are "okay" but the timber deck has deteriorated, requiring regular...
More congestion coming to the hub
Congestion at the hub will increase next summer as another 2000 vehicles a day are detoured over Whakatane's Landing Road Bridge. NZ Transport Agency is planning a $5million upgrade of the Pekatahi bridge at Taneatua that will increase its load capacity, the speed of crossing traffic, and potentially its...
The people of Maunapohatu want the Government to officially pardon Māori spiritual leader Rua Kenana. Hundreds gathered at the small village in Te Urewera to commemorate the 100th anniversary of police entering Maunapohatu determined to arrest...