Recent stories
We are pleased to bring you the latest from around the Taupō & Tūrangi communities. Reporting local, supporting local.
If you have news to share contact news@tauponews.co.nz
Danny needs a home
Hello to my new parents, thank-you for choosing me! My name is Danny, I'm the only boy! I am black with a little streak of white on the front of my chest and I’m at Taupō SPCA.
Love and money in the aisles
Romance and finance have both blossomed for a young couple who work at Taupō Pak’nSave.
Global bike film festival begins in Taupō
In its 11th year, The Big Bike Film Night celebrates cycling in all its glorious shapes and forms and begins its national and global tour in Taupō on February 19.
Great art arrives in small packages
A tightly woven yet delicate harakeke poi created by Darlene Fay Walters has claimed first prize in the inaugural Ngati Tūwharetoa-led art awards.
A feast of food and kapa haka
Flash floods and strong winds couldn't stop 800 free hāngi packs being given away at the Ruia Taitea festival on the weekend.
Wastewater floods into Waikato River
Last week’s flash flooding has raised several concerns over infrastructure in Taupō, including stormwater drains overwhelmed, and treated wastewater overflowing into the Waikato River.
Flip, flop, boom
A Taupō man who was struck by lightning near Kinloch during Friday’s heavy thunderstorms says it hasn’t put him off venturing outside during a thunderstorm but he will be more cautious about what he chooses to lean against and will definitely be wearing his jandals.
An hour of destruction
Houses were flooded, a man was struck by lightning and streets were inundated with floodwaters in an hour-long deluge across lakeside communities on Friday night.
Inaugural iwi-led art awards set to stun
The longevity, resilience, innovation and sustainability of Ngāti Tūwharetoa are encapsulated in the theme for the inaugural iwi-led art awards.
Locky Docks bring cycle security
Road bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes, BMX bikes - no matter the bicycle, people can now lock up and charge for free in the Taupō CBD. The days of lugging a bike lock around are over with Locky Dock stations popping up all over New Zealand. The new stations being installed in Taupō are a first in the Central Plateau.
Cactus course sharpens young minds
Sergeant Shane McNally has been at the pointy end of proactive policing for the past 12 years. Next week Sgt McNally will kick off the 20th Cactus Programme to be held in Taupō. He has been involved in every one of them and has seen about 530 young people pass through it in that time.
Taupō schools not immune to staff shortages
Taupō is not immune to the national teacher shortage, says the Taupō Principal’s Association, but local schools are working hard to hire the best teachers for their students.
New mosque planned for Taupō
In the space of a decade, the Taupō Muslim community has outgrown its small and humble masjid (mosque) on the corner of Kaimanawa and Tamamutu Streets. They are planning to replace the current building with a two-storey house of worship.
Speed limit changes proposed for Taupō-Tūrangi route
The Taupō-Tūrangi road corridor is back in the news – though this time not for a road closing crash. Consultation is now open on the coalition government’s announcement that speed limits dropped in 2020 will revert to 100km/h on several of the country’s highways.
Taupō feels the beat
It was a sell-out crowd of 17,000 on the day for the 2025 Greenstone Summer Concert Tour at the Taupō Amphitheatre, with Everclear, Bic Runga, ICEHOUSE and Cold Chisel taking to the stage.
Taupō to host historic boxing clash
Taupō will make history in April when world champion boxer Lani Daniels defends her IBF Light Heavyweight title. Daniels (Ngāti Hine/Ngāpuhi) won her first world title against Alrie Meleisea in May.
Glad to be still kicking
Being told over the phone by my neurologist I likely had ‘six months to two years to live,’ was fairly sobering.
Yet, here I am, a little over 15 years later – fortunate to be still alive and kicking.
Kinloch wins from ‘polite persistence’
So as not to leave any cause unmentioned, Belinda Walker turns up to our interview with a graphic organiser. Though, to be fair, it is more of a plan for enhancements the Kinloch community.
Kia ora, welcome to Taupō
Taupō has been named as one of the top 10 most welcoming places in the world. The rankings are prepared by travel platform Booking.com and are based on the number of accomodation providers in a town that receive a Traveller Review Award.
Tinder dry Taupō
Rain over the Auckland Anniversary Weekend may have dampened holiday spirits but it has given some relief to farmers and fire fighters.
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