John Forbes Opotiki Mayor

The year is already well underway and it looks like it will whizz by as fast as 2013.

I hope everyone enjoyed a break over the summer school holidays and is starting 2014 with energy and excitement.

We will certainly need that energy and excitement in Opotiki this year as we have plenty underway to keep us busy!

Opotiki started off the year with a bang as visitors and locals alike flocked to our beaches, parks, rivers and streets for a summer of activities to remember.

The Opotiki New World Summer Fest had heaps of activities and I had a ball judging decorated fish for Floating Fish races, watching competitors Race the Tide, sculpt sand and driftwood into temporary artworks, and of course there was the spectacular Island View Holiday Park Lantern Fest.

Congratulations on a summer of fun and thanks to all those who made it possible.

It was great to see the number of people who came along to the recent Council Open Days to catch an update, ask a question or just have a chat.

Almost 300 people came along and I think that shows just how much interest there is in the Harbour Redevelopment Project and the Technology and Research Library.

These two project s are the big ones for the Council this year and I look forward to keeping you up to date on them.

But there are plenty of others too, like the wastewater upgrade, the District Plan and our tourism strategy. So make sure you keep up to date with your Council (the Facebook is a great source of info) so you can keep being involved.