Allan Sanson is back for a fourth term as Waikato District mayor, polling more than six thousand votes ahead of his nearest rival.

In the Waikato constituency of the Waikato Regional Council, Fred Lichtwark is back for a second term and is joined by Pamela Storey.

Rob McGuire was returned in the Eureka Ward of the district council where Tamahere Ward councillor Aksel Bech was also returned (unopposed).

Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter has given her backing for safer footpaths and cycleways for Tamahere.

In Tamahere today, Genter said she had let the NZ Transport Agency know of her expectations for safe connectivity for Tamahere, which is bisected by the State Highway 1 Waikato Expressway.

A lack of safe walking and biking routes has become a hot button issue for Tamahere people who turned out in unprecedented numbers to a recent public meeting on the issue.

What are the views of Waikato Regional Council candidates on the environment, sustainability and more?

Tamahere Forum put questions to the Waikato constituency candidates and has drawn together other online information to bring you a picture of the council hopefuls.

This is the question we put to the four candidates:

What are the views of Waikato district mayoral candidates of themselves, the environment and sustainability and more?

Tamahere Forum put questions to the three mayoral candidates and has drawn together online information to bring you a picture of the hopefuls.

This is the question we put to the three candidates.

Environment issues are top of mind for many people and as local government voting papers are expected in the mail this week Tamahere Forum canvassed the views of election candidates.

Waikato District Council Tamahere Ward councillor Aksel Bech has been re-elected unopposed but his views were sought as the person working locally for Tamahere.

This is what we asked Cr Bech:

Local government voters will be able to cast their votes in the 2019 Waikato District and Waikato Regional Council elections from today.

Voting papers are in the mail and expected to be delivered by Wednesday, September 25.

People who have not received their papers by then should contact Waikato District Council Electoral Officer Dale Ofsoske on 0800 922 822 or visit one of the council offices.

Thieves have twice stolen the hammocks swinging at Tamahere’s new playground and also hit a nearby private property.

Since it opened in June, four hammocks have been stolen from Tamahere Park – two in mid July and two on the weekend of September 7-8.

Musical mallets for the playground’s xylophone were stolen in the July theft and three panels around the skate park were poached in the latest incident.

The high toll the Waikato Expressway is taking on the Tamahere community was made crystal clear at a public meeting last night.

More than a hundred people turned out for the biggest public meeting in living memory to express their disgust and frustration at the sacrifice expected of the community for the sake of the big State Highway 1 roading project.

Speaker after speaker identified the dangers to locals – children and adults – of simply trying to get around their own patch by foot or cycle in an area where speeding cars were the priority.

The Tamahere community is urged to attend a public meeting on Thursday, September 12, 7.30pm, in the Tamahere Community Centre to back demands for safe pathways around the community.

Action has been building to back calls for safe pedestrian and cycle ways for Tamahere as its two halves become cut by an ever wider and busier State Highway 1.

Action is building on the call for safe pedestrian and cycle ways for Tamahere as its two halves become cut by an ever wider and busier State Highway 1.

A petition has been launched and a public meeting is scheduled for September 12, 7.30pm, in the Tamahere Community Centre to back demands for safe pathways around the community.

The meeting has been organised by the Tamahere Community Committee (TCC), which recently fired a broadside at NZTA and expressway contractors for reneging on promises to provide safe connectivity.