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.

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 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.

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.

An election will be held for the Tamahere Community Committee on Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30pm at the Tamahere Community Centre.

Committee members work for the best interests of Tamahere – the latest example their efforts to get better connectivity for the area with better paths and cycleways.

Several long standing members of the committee have given notice they will not seek re-election.

The Best Artisan Market is on this Saturday promising more than 60 stalls of art, craft and food.

Held indoors at the Devine Rd Tamahere Community Centre the creativity on display will include clothes and shoes, jewellery, photography, sweets, candles, produce, coffee, perfumes, and furniture.

The market, from 9am to 1pm, is sponsored by the Tamahere Lions and has free entry.

The Tamahere Community Centre annual meeting (AGM) is on 7.30pm, Thursday, October 31.

Now is the time to consider getting involved in the community and lending a hand with this valuable community facility.

New committee members are welcome to join the committee.

Postal voting is underway in the local body elections and votes need to be in the mail by Tuesday, October 8 to be in time for the close of voting, noon, Saturday, October 12.

If you are running late, a mobile voting box will be at Tamahere’s Punnet Cafe on October 11 from 1pm to 2.30pm.

There will also be drive through voting available at the Matangi Four Square on Tuesday, October 8 between 7.30am and 9am.

A detour taking southbound traffic off State Highway 1 and on to the Tamahere off-ramp will be in place for up to six weeks from October 1.

The southern-bound traffic will then travel through the Tauwhare Rd roundabout and up the south-bound on-ramp, said the NZ Transport Agency.

Delays are likely during morning and evening peak traffic periods, said NZTA Waikato System Manager Karen Boyt.