Goodbye Orbiter and a critique of the PM: Letters to the editor, June 13, 2026

Saturday, 13 June 2026

Bus changes

The Waikato Regional Council oversees public transport in the Waikato region, more specifically it decides on bus routes. Recently it employed MRCagney, a Sydney based public transport planning company to completely revamp Hamilton city's bus network. There was almost no public consultation for this project except for a feedback form that was in the regional council's website. This opportunity to provide feedback was not advertised and it was very difficult to navigate the website to find it. People could only provide their views on the proposed changes for 19 days; from 25th June to 13th July 2025.

In the form there were questions such as, 'If The Orbiter was discontinued would you use the bus services less frequently?', a question that invites a no answer for most respondents. As a result of a little over 1,200 people giving feedback, the council has posted on its website a map showing the proposed changes. Again, it is extremely difficult to find and moreover there is no longer any way of providing further feedback.

You can find the plan on the Waikato Regional Council's website by navigating fourteen steps. There is no longer an Orbiter service. There are large areas of the city that are no longer served by bus routes and at the same time there are congested main roads which are extremely well served by multiple bus routes. There is no bus service to Frankton Station, an ironic situation considering that Hamilton has no need for these massive changes to its bus services.

Pam Chiles, Hamilton

Want to share your thoughts? Email editor@waikatotimes.co.nz with your full name and (not for publication) address and phone number. Letters should be no longer than 250 words.

Government gripe

Another week another government Failure! Luxon appears at Fieldays splashing the cash again, giving farmers who have already benefited from a good market more cash to throw around, yet ignoring the 350 jobs disappearing in Hawke’s Bay where the Government has ignored horticulture, because it is not where he sees himself,and his large ego.

If we had a government with vision we would be saving Watties, and Heinz factories for the greater good! But like the Ohakune timber mills they are not in high national voting areas!

Before I do has anyone else been upset that Tama Potaka wants to sell 60 percent or your conservation land?

Perry Hicks, Morrinsville

Waikato rail link

Now is the time to plan a rail transport system for Hamilton. Future proof now before it becomes too difficult and costly to do so. A full circle line encompassing all the city’s outer suburbs including the airport to the South and Ngaruawahia to the north and linking to the rail network that already runs North & South, East and an extension to the West. Connecting bus services integrated to maximise passenger flow to and from stations.

Expand the width of existing rail corridors so commuter trains don’t interfere with freight or potential existing intercity passenger services. Let’s lessen the reliance on roading. We should think about a large ring that encompasses Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Morrinsville, North East Hamilton, Ngaruawahia, Outer Dinsdale, The Airport, Te Awamutu. Or an inner ring Airport, Tamahere, Ruakura, North Huntington, Te Kowhai, Dinsdale, Temple View, Melville, Airport. The scenarios would require bridges and land acquisition.

Let’s efficiently transport people and look at future proofing our commuters and workforce for New Zealand’s largest inland city.

David Malloch, Hamilton

Cape gooseberries

In last Thursday’s Times Aby Chalmers praises the cape gooseberry. She says how her family has changed their liking for the raw fruit. We like them cooked as well. They do not have to be grown in frost free areas. I have grown them for sixty years at Mangapiko, and latterly in Te Awamutu.

I freeze the berries until I get enough for cooking.

One cup of berries cooked with five Granny Smith apples. Cool, then use as filling for delicious pies or shortcakes. Do not add sugar to fruit.

Pastry - 240g flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 180g sugar, 1 egg. Mix in wizz. Line greased Pyrex pie or flan dish with bottom layer of pastry. Sprinkle on a tablespoon of custard powder, lay on fruit, add top layer of pastry, brush with milk. Bake about half an hour at 180°C.

Nice hot or cold.

Ngaire M. Phillips, Hamilton

Election promises

Candidates put up their names for election and make all sorts of promises. They promise free parking, lower rates, increased discounts, more grants, etc., but once elected, that is the end of the story.

But one of the mayoral candidates, Tim Macindoe, who promised the voters that he would bring back the two hours of free parking in the CBD and reduce rates, has kept up his promise, and it will be implemented from July 2026. Don't you think it would be good if all politicians could keep their word? Two hours of free parking were changed to one hour of free parking by the previous Mayor and Councillors.

In the past, when we had a 9% rate increase, the candidates who stood for council elections agreed to bring down the rate increase. But once elected, they put up the rates by over 16%.

The present Local Government Minister, Simon Watts, agreed to amalgamate councils and cap the rates to below 4%, similar to Australia, which would bring down the COL.

This is a general election year, the Minister should implement the 4% rate cap to all local councils and to the IAWAI water company. Water companies attempting to put up the rates by over 20% is unacceptable, and it will be a disaster to the Minister's 4% rates capping statement.

Mano Manoharan, Hamilton

WEL elections

The calibre of fellow candidates in the WEL Energy Trust Elections is sadly lacking, as shown by key survey responses to Community Waikato and Creative Waikato. Paula Southgate is asking us to wait until 2073 before we reap the benefits of her intended stewardship; while Michael West's persistent attacks on WEL Networks Limited for being a monopoly, proves him to be an unworthy prospect for re-election, despite his technical knowledge.

A consensual, benevolent approach seems to be the gist of the predominantly female pool of candidates, with the citing of 'unprecedented tough times' (really?). What we need instead, is radical reform to enhance community ownership that can only be achieved through amending the Community Investment Strategy, to include Incorporated Societies and the like.

Baby boomer negligence has led to the crisis of energy infrastructure that we face. We need to bear the costs now of upgrading and not leave it to future generations. It's important that we work together and I pledge to be a responsible team player, if elected. That team of seven Trustees needs to be voted upon prudently, by electors avoiding reliance on name recognition alone.

Roger Stratford, Hamilton (WEL Energy Trustee candidate)