Christmas comes to Tamahere this week with the special Twilight Tamahere Market followed by the annual St Stephen’s Christmas Festival.

The Twilight Market on Saturday, December 7, 4-8pm, heralds the start of the Christmas Festival, which will run for just one week, a shorter term than past years.

The fundraising festival, with its charming Christmas Shop and tea rooms, is marking its 33rd year.

Waterwise gardeners have fewer weeds, stronger plants and a more vibrant garden ecology.

Here are six of our top tips for saving time and water in the garden.

Microsoft discontinues support for Windows 7 in January 2020, meaning that it will be unsafe to use on the internet due to a lack of security updates.

It’s unfortunate as many, including me, prefer Windows 7 to Windows 8 or 10, but there are worse problems in the world presently.

At this point you’ve got two choices if you’re on Windows 7: upgrade your computer to Windows 10 or buy a new computer with Windows 10 on it.

A public information day for the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway this week will feature bus tours to the southern end of the 22km project.

The annual event, which begins at the site office on Ryburn Road, signposted off Ruakura Road, will be held on Saturday, November 16, with bus tours running from 9am to 1pm.

NZ Transport Agency Waikato Portfolio Manager Darryl Coalter said previous public information days have had a strong focus on what is planned and what is being built.

The NZ Transport Agency is to fund a pedestrian and cycle underpass of Airport Rd/SH21 – one of several safety black spots in Tamahere.

The action comes after unprecedented protests in Tamahere, including a packed public meeting, and a call to the agency by Associate Transport Minister for safer connectivity for the area.

Tamahere Community Committee chair Sue Robertson welcomed confirmation of the funding for the underpass but said it was just a start.

New Waikato district deputy mayor, Tamahere councillor Aksel Bech, aims to develop a council response to climate change “with priority and urgency”.

The new Waikato District Council was sworn in at a ceremony today following elections earlier this month.

Re-elected mayor, Allan Sanson, and thirteen councillors will represent the district across 10 wards for the next three years.

The swimming season at the Tamahere School pool will kick off this week with a social event to welcome lane swimmers.

The newly-named Tamahere Lane Swimming Club is hosting a barbecue on Friday, November 1, from 5pm to 7pm.

The evening pop-in session is to induct all lane swimmers who wish to swim over the summer, from November 18 to the end of March.

Thursday, October 31 promises to be a busy night in Tamahere depending on your definition of family fun.

Take your pick from attending the Tamahere Community Centre annual meeting, marking Halloween or attending the St Stephen’s Light Festival.

To lend a hand with the management of the centre, get along to its meeting at 7.30pm in the Devine Rd hall where new committee members will be welcome.

Waikato, one of the country’s fastest growing districts, is forecast to jump from its current 29,000 households and 77,000 people to around 41,000 households and 102,000 people by 2040.

The Waikato District Council is preparing for a long period of growth and change and has been working hard on major initiatives in the past year that will be crucial to creating liveable communities for the future, it says.

A fresh group of locals joined the Tamahere Community Committee at its tri-ennial elections this week.

Fifteen residents accepted nomination to the committee, six of them new to the role, and were subsequently elected at last night’s meeting.

Sue Robertson was elected chair and Leo Koppens deputy chair.