This week I noted that District Council has a Raglan Structure Plan fund of $967,062, though it's not clear whether it can be used to resurrect the much needed Structure Plan last heard of in 2009. Also Regional Council clearly noted the publicity about better buses, yet has no plans to give Raglan a bus to equal that planned for Te Kauwhata from next year, despite Te Kauwhata's census population being 2,200, compared to Raglan's 3,910 and their bus rate $27.26 pa, rather than $77.88. Plus a Morning Show interview about last week's Community Board meeting.

Regional Council had a transport committee meeting this morning, but the bus contracts part was just a verbal update and they've not yet put the recording on their website. The final deadline for Council approval is 29 October. The Community Board has a meeting tomorrow, but there seem to be no major issues on the agenda. A possible reason is that District Council has staff shortages. A benefit of that is that they've saved $2.3 million on salaries and, probably for the same reason, delayed repairs and maintenance have saved $8.5 million. As well as staff shortages, work on reorganising local government has taken time. This map shows District Council's proposed new area.

Buses remain in the news, with the rather smaller Te Kauwhata, also having fewer tourists, getting an hourly bus from November 2027 for a rate of $27.26 a year, but Raglan keeping its bus timetable with gaps of many hours, passengers standing and paying $77.88 a year. Other news is of 18 second slower journeys through Whatawhata speed cuts, which are open for consultation until 27 August. Plus Morning Show interviews with the environment centre and our district councillor.

Apologies for the technical problems which didn't record the start of RTR this week. So the podcast starts part way through a Morning Show interview with Community Board chair, Ross Wallis. Not much news this week, but 36 people came to the Better Buses Meeting last Sunday. A follow up hui is on Sun 23 Aug 4pm in the Supper Room. Feedback included when buses should run, the need to provide for weekend workers and tourists (the last weekend bus back is 3pm which misses many connections), Bus Party Dress-Up and cold buses on cold mornings. One complaint was that it's usually colder inside the bus, than outside, but BusIt say the temperature can’t be adjusted and an engineer has checked it. Local councillor, Lisa said the plan didn't need improving and that there was no plan to cut buses, even though WRC's website (https://yourvoicematters.waikatoregion.govt.nz/future-bus-services/news_feed/raglan-and-west-waikato) says that in the Medium term (about 2030) “All Raglan to Hamilton trips will terminate at Hamilton Transport Centre (not Hamilton East).” About the same time a new Raglan town service is planned. Lisa and WDC voted $100,000, $103,100 and $106,193 for a Raglan demand responsive bus in 2022, 2023 and 2024, but now seem to be saying that'd have been a waste of close to $1m, as they seem to think it isn't needed for at least another 4 years, despite lack of a solution to parking problems, especially at the wharf. We've yet to hear an explanation of why a "town service in the medium term" is now all that's needed and how the parking problem will be solved. New speed limit signs around are soon to go up near Te Mata School, where speeds will soon be down from 50 to 40. Other Morning Show interviews were with Manihera Forbes, about Matariki, and Mike Keir about roading.

There's a bus meeting at 4pm on Sunday in the Town Hall Supper Room. Why does Raglan pay $77.88 a year as a bus rate for buses at 4 hour intervals, when Pōkeno pays $27.26 pa. for an hourly bus? The event is at https://www.facebook.com/events/1594370832398160

Also news of over 70 offshore volcanoes and interviews about Karioi and fishery protection.

There's a bus meeting coming up a week on Sunday - Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1594370832398160 and this Friday is the deadline to have more than the current 17 in Raglan having a say about local government - go to https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/your-council/simplifying-local-government. It's also Matariki, with several events happening - see our list of events for details on Friday and Saturday.

News this week includes the Waingaro Hot Springs Hotel in liquidation, reorganising local government (to respond see https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/your-council/simplifying-local-government) and teacher, Hāhona Ormsby, talking from 7pm tomorrow (Wed) night at the Old School, Stewart St, about his experience with a Palestine flotilla and Winston Peters. There's also a map of where horses might be allowed on Wainamu/Ngarunui Beaches - see https://waikato.civicclerk.com.au/web/GenFile.aspx?ad=5780&token=767d3fec-e571-438c-80a6-294e1b0ee939. What do you think?

This week's news includes slow progress with water, sewage and stormwater, the most crowded buses in Waikato, a tyre slasher from Auckland not being prosecuted by police and an article promoting real estate. This week's Morning Show interviews were about the Community Board and planning for a swimming pool.

This film at 7.30pm on Saturday was among events mentioned this evening. The WEL Energy Trust election and local government reform were other topics.

In 2016 $289,000 was spent installing these 100,000L sewage tanks under Nihinihi Ave. The agenda for tomorrow's Community Board meeting (1.30pm Town Hall Supper Room) says "Marine Parade Pump Station – Replacement is proposed due to the identified wet well failure. Survey works have been completed. An engagement is underway to investigate options to replace the pump station in its current location and a suitable alternate within a nearby local park." This evening's Raglan talking to Raglan also covered Thursday's Workforce Plan event (4.30pm Surf Club, Wainui Reserve) and the WEL Energy election.