Also covering https://www.gets.govt.nz/WARC/ExternalTenderDetails.htm?id=33796986, which invites Bus Contract Renewals to run for 9 years from 1 Nov 2027. The government requires all new buses to be electric, but Regional Council say we could still have old diesel buses until 2035. It's also not clear that they'll remember to tell the bus companies they've promised further consultation about the medium to long term plans for Raglan buses, including the continued services to and from Hamilton East. Let them know what you think.

Also about transport, these are the plans for Whaaingaroa Ward road maintenance in the current year from District Council's 23 March Roading agenda (pages 31-34) Rehabilitation - MAIN RD (OLD SH23) 365m out of Total Length 14.115 km.

Resealing

An hour's chat with the Chair of Raglan Community Board, Ross Wallis, covering plans for the surfing competition in May, for Wainui Reserve and devolving decisions to RCB. We also talked about the possibility of an outdoor movement hub, getting trees planted at Manu Bay, stormwater, water and sewage upgrades, roading, buses and several other issues.

This week with news about the solar panels at the Raglan Wastewater works, where there's an open day on Sunday, about roads, too holy, too dangerous and ending with part of an archive interview with Nev Meekings, about the Majestic cinema, of which the box office remains at the entrance to the Town Hall.

This week the main items were an interview with Waikato Regional Councillor, Noel Smith, and a look at tomorrow's Raglan Community Board agenda.

Lisa Thomson joins us to talk about consultation, how the new council differs from the previous 3 years, Wainui 30yr plan, the wastewater consent, climate issues, resilience, the problem of representing an area that votes about 2/3 for Labour (or more progressive parties) in a council of National constituencies and which don't have tourism as a major issue, Māori representation, whether we'll get a Raglan plan, or just muddle along, traffic issues around Raglan Area School and Surf Championship preparations.

Aaron came back for a morning to talk about dolphins and seabed mining and our councillor, Lisa, says she's going to be on the radio at 9am on Thursday.

We listened to an Instagram promotion for the bus (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSGJK2rEqLC/?igsh=azI1Zm5sbDMxazJt) and to our Regional Councillor, Noel, asking a question about the bus; it seems there will be further consultation before they make any changes to the bus and that we might have electric buses from November next year. Also next Monday, 9th, councillors are having a round-table discussion to gather insights from elected members on public transport challenges and opportunities - so now's the time to contact [email protected] and [email protected] to say what you think the bus challenges and opportunities are.

A look at the weather, local politics and what's on, together with an interview with Green MP, Kahurangi Carter, about her 6pm meeting tomorrow evening in the Supper Room. Also a hope that our district and regional council politicians might want to talk to their voters, but at present they don't.

Still some technical problems, but at least RTR was recorded this week and the interview about Friday's 6pm Pizza & Politics with Kahu in the appropriately named Supper Room can be heard.

In a draft decision the fast-track approvals panel hasn't approved seabed mining. Vera and I reminisced about Kiwis Against Seabed Mining's campaign and hope the final decision won't require even more work by KASM. This was a photo of Vera giving evidence to one of the many hearings - this one in 2014.