Community

Taupō’s Anneke Jacoba Dinnington has been honoured with a King’s Service Medal in the New Year Honours List 2026.

Mayoral winner John Funnell and runner-up Zane Cozens were the big spenders in last year’s local body election race.

There’s an environmental disaster looming and people are being encouraged to grab their phones and start filming.

Dozens of children in Tūrangi got a Christmas present his year thanks to the last-minute generosity of the Rotary Club on Tūrangi and The Warehouse Taupō.

From the editor Dan Hutchinson: Survive ‘till ‘25’ was the call this time last year and that was always going to be too many punctuation marks.

Kaz Cederwall, owner operator of Market Central says the local market and its summer evening add-on – Dinner at the Lake – is going from strength to strength.

The town fireworks fizzled at Guy Fawkes’ leaving a community group holding a huge cache of glowing rings, bracelets, wands and ‘Thunder Sticks’. Taupō Community Patrol uses glow-stick sales as its main fundraiser each year, so now it’s setting sights on New Year fireworks celebrations, with a stall on Titiraupenga Street, not far from the prime lakefront viewing areas.

The JB behind VGLT is stepping sideways.

Newly-elected Taupō District Mayor John Funnell took up the mayoralty in October after a career as a rescue helicopter pilot and business owner. He shares his reflections on his first two months.

The ‘Awhina Christmas Angels’ have been hard at work this week sorting hundreds of donated Christmas presents to give to children all over the district.

Threatened black-billed gulls are again nesting on the rooftops in Tūrangi town centre, but the town shouldn't see a return of previous disruptions. 

People are getting a little more than fast food when they turn up to the drive through at McDonalds Taupō these days.

The opening of a new Northern Health School (Te Kura Awhina Ora o te Raki) classroom in Taupō marks a significant milestone for the local unit, says teacher and unit leader Maaike Clapcott.

Tauhara College’s head students for 2026, Maya Williams and Harrison Pool and deputies Angela Schur and Isaiah Apiti feel it is good to already have the support of students, evidenced by winning through the selection process.

Taupō-nui-a-Tia College’s head students for 2026, Leroy Walker and Samara Thatcher and deputies Will Mortimer and Adah Williams are glad to have got through the selection process.

A vision that began with a conversation nearly two decades ago has now grown into a $10 million success story

A global trout-fishing movement for those undergoing treatment or living with cancer is providing relief for Kiwi men.

The community came, it built a house and now Hospice is $220,000 better off.

Superpowers are not cheap but the crew of Greenlea Rescue Helicopter really want to see in the dark.

Tauhara College dux for 2025 Mikayla Turley was “definitely surprised” to get the top student award.

Dave Cade – otherwise known as Didymo Dave – has a new message to spread.

This year’s dux at Taupō-nui-a-Tia College has overcome a major obstacle to gain the top award.

Outgoing Taupō Mayor David Trewavas is going to miss the meeting and greeting that goes with the job but says the council meetings were never his favourite part of the job.

Jilly Stanaway has plenty of reasons to put her time and energy into the annual Taupō Pink Walk fundraiser.

Taupō’s new mayor John Funnell says he may not be able to attend some events because of his hearing loss.

All votes are now counted in the Taupō District Council elections with one change from the preliminary results.

Primary and secondary school teachers, nurses and other health workers in Taupō are planning to join a mega strike next Thursday (October 23).

Homes to be built in the first stage of Taupō District Council’s innovative new residential development at Taupō South are now on the market.

Research is starting soon on the long-tailed cuckoo (koekoeā) in the central North Island.

The make-up of the Taupō District Council is still up in the air with very tight contests for three of the 12 councillor seats.