News.
Raglan Naturally Community Trust is fortunate to be supported by our local newspaper – The Raglan Chronicle. Check out all our news articles over the years here.
News through the years.
Over the past month a number of people, groups and organisations have been putting their collective thoughts into how we can support our community in the face of rising fuel prices and cost of living challenges.
Tangata Tiriti -Treaty People have been delivering workshops in Whaingaroa for over 10 years. Led by Dr Ingrid Huygens, this relationship was first initiated by Lisa Thomson and the Raglan Community Board. Since 2019 the Tangata Tiriti workshops in Whaingaroa have been supported by the Raglan Naturally Community Trust.
A day filled with manaakitanga (hospitality) and mō tātou, mā tātou (by all of us, for all of us). Manaakitanga reflects the importance of caring for others, extending warmth, respect and generosity to all.
A new role supporting Whāingaroa Raglan’s tourism and events workforce is now underway, helping ensure local people can access meaningful employment opportunities as the sector continues to grow.
In October 2025, local body elections across Aotearoa included a poll on whether Māori Wards in Councils should be retained. Māori Wards sit alongside General Wards and allow voters on the Māori roll to elect a representative to their local council.
A new website, Go Raglan, has been launched by the Whāingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation (WRDMO) as the go-to online guide for locals and visitors to Raglan.
The Whāingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation (WRDMO) has rebranded to Go Raglan and wants to hear your views on the future of our town as a visitor destination.
The Raglan community gathered on Saturday, November 15, for the third annual mental health and suicide-awareness event hosted by Tumanako Whāingaroa—a day dedicated to hope, connection, and strengthening community wellbeing.
Raglan Refill is on the move. The week before Labour Weekend, the community-run social enterprise will open its doors at the former Trade Aid store on Bow Street. The larger premises will make room for more of the affordable, eco-friendly products locals have been asking for.
Local businesses took a deep dive into the future of tourism at a recent Raglan Chamber event hosted by Whāingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation (WRDMO).
It was all toots and waves in Whāingaroa as locals showed their support for the ‘Vote Māori Wards’ campaign.
Whāingaroa,Raglan Destination Management Organisation (WRDMO) invites the community to celebrate the completion of the community-led water tower mural project.
Join the team behind the project for the karakia/blessing of the new mural and BBQ kai on Friday, December 20 from 11.30am on the corner of Norrie Ave and Bow St.
Sunday, 10th November, was a special day of coming together, reflection, and learning as the community gathered to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.
Whāingaroa turned out in full force for the annual Whāingaroa Talent Factory (WTF24) youth music showcase that filled Raglan Town Hall with the sounds of local talent. The event drew a large, enthusiastic crowd keen to support our young, emerging artists.
If you’ve heard whispers about an exciting new bulk store soon to be launched in Whāingaroa, it’s not just a rumour – get ready to dust off your jars!
And when the Raglan Refill crew say “Think Global, Act Local,” you know they mean business.
Raglan’s water reservoir tower is set for a transformation with muralist Theo Arraj bringing his design to life. Theo was chosen from 17 artists to create a mural that represents themes close to the heart of Raglan, including te ao Māori, community and local landmarks like the maunga and wai (mountain and water).
While many may not immediately associate Raglan with volcanic activity, Karioi has played a central role in shaping the region’s rich and storied history. For Oliver McLeod, a dedicated geological researcher currently working for the Waikato Regional Council, Karioi is much more than a natural landmark—this ancestral maunga is a window into the past, blending scientific exploration with the deep cultural heritage and mātauranga of the area.
Over the past month a number of people, groups and organisations have been putting their collective thoughts into how we can support our community in the face of rising fuel prices and cost of living challenges.
I had the opportunity to learn about Toreparu wetland, a 223ha hidden ecological gem on the coast nestled between Karioi maunga and Aotea harbour, 20 minutes from Raglan.
Raglan Naturally recently held the first of two annual Te Tiriti workshops, facilitated by Ingrid Huygens from Tangata Tiriti – Tangata People. With the next workshop planned for Saturday October 14th, the Chronicle caught up with a couple of participants to hear about their experience.
A steering group has been working since August on how best to reinvigorate the 2001 Raglan Naturally community plan. They will be hosting a community open day on Sunday May 21 at Poihakena Marae, shared lunch please bring a plate.
In late 2022, a group of like-minded community members came together to launch the Whāingaroa Youthwork Collective – Ngā Whakaruruhau Māhuri.
One of the aspirations of the members was to one day fund a paid youthwork coordinator, which has now come to fruition.
Youth Week 2023 is just around the corner and the Whāingaroa Youthworker Collective will be running a local event at the Town Hall with food, music, fun activities, youth-oriented discussions and there’ll also be an Amazing Race-style competition with great prizes up for grabs!
Raglan Naturally, Raglan Business Chamber and Taurikura co-hosted the Meet the Candidates Event in Raglan on Sunday.
It was a very successful event with all of the 20 candidates attending and a good turnout from the community.
Taking place from the library end of Bow Street through to the Wainui Road corner, Matariki ki Whāingaroa 2022 celebrated our first ever national Matariki public holiday.
As daily COVID-19 cases in the Waikato continue to reach 500-650 a day, Raglan Naturally Community Trust, has taken over responsibility from Waikato DHB for the local distribution of rapid antigen tests (RATs). This has been supported by the Ministry of Social Development ‘Community Connector Service’.
“Our voices matter and we deserve to be heard” was the theme of Youth Week this year. Youth Week is a yearly festival run by Ara Taiohi, an organisation that enables young people to create inclusive youth events across Aotearoa. It runs from the 7th-15th of May and has a new theme each year.
Held over 10 days between 18-27 March, Neighbour’s Day is a nation-wide initiative that celebrates community connectedness, resilience and manaakitanga.
Locally in Whāingaroa, the inititaive was supported by the Raglan Naturally team to foster community resilience through networking and connection.
Just like the rest of Aotearoa, Raglan is riding the Omicron wave as numbers increase exponentially on a daily basis.
The Raglan Covid-19 Community Response Group is a passionate team of volunteers made up of individuals and organisations who are collaborating to support our community here in Whāingaroa Raglan.
A revitalised town centre in Raglan is on the cards following a successful funding application to the Innovating Streets For People Pilot Fund.
Created by the community in 2001 as a shared vision of Raglan’s future, the Raglan Naturally community plan was designed as a living document to guide and manage growth and development while protecting and enhancing Raglan’s unique character.
Created by the community in 2001 as a shared vision of Raglan’s future, the Raglan Naturally community plan was designed as a living document to guide and manage growth and development while protecting and enhancing Raglan’s unique character.
Created by the community in 2001 as a shared vision of Raglan’s future, the Raglan Naturally community plan was designed as a living document to guide and manage growth and development while protecting and enhancing Raglan’s unique character.
A steering group has been working since August on how best to reinvigorate the 2001 Raglan Naturally community plan. They will be hosting a community open day on Sunday May 21 at Poihakena Marae, shared lunch please bring a plate.
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