Whakatāne District Council's main office will be closed from midday Friday, 23 December 2023 and will re-open Monday, 8 January 2024. Most Council services will either have reduced opening hours or be closed entirely during this period.
Normal hours will resume Monday, 8 January 2024.
Kia haumaru, kia tūpore, ka mutu kia rawe ngā rā whakatā - Stay safe, be kind, and have an awesome holiday.
Read our tips to help you have a safe and enjoyable summer in the Whakatāne District.
A full list of services' opening hours over the end-of-year holiday period is available below.
Refuse
Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on a Monday this year. If your kerbside rubbish, recycling and greenwaste bins are usually collected on a Monday, they will instead be collected two days earlier on Saturday, 23 December and Saturday, 30 December. All other kerbside services will be collected as normal.
| Date | Whakatāne Refuse Transfer Station | Murupara Transfer Station and Recycling Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, 22 December | 8 am - 5 pm | 10 am - 3 pm |
| Saturday, 23 December and Sunday, 24 December | 9 am - 4 pm | 9 am - 4 pm |
| Monday, 25 December | Closed | Closed |
| Tuesday, 26 December | 9 am - 4 pm | 2:30 pm - 5 pm |
| Wednesday, 27 December | 8 am - 5 pm | 10 am - 3 pm |
| Thursday, 28 December | 8 am - 5 pm | 2:30 pm - 5 pm |
| Friday, 29 December | 8 am - 5 pm | 10 am - 3 pm |
| Saturday, 30 December and Sunday, 31 December | 9 am - 4 pm | 9 am - 4 pm |
| Monday, 1 January 2024 | Closed | Closed |
| Tuesday, 2 January | 9 am - 4 pm | 2:30 pm - 5 pm |
| Wednesday, 3 January | 8 am - 5 pm | 10 am - 3 pm |
| Thursday, 4 January | 8 am - 5 pm | 2:30 pm - 5 pm |
| Friday, 5 January | 8 am - 5 pm | 10 am - 3 pm |
| Saturday, 6 January and Sunday, 7 January | 9 am - 4 pm | 9 am - 4 pm |
Recycling Park and Transfer Station services »
District Council offices
- Whakatāne District Council office: Closed from midday Friday, 22 December through to Monday, 8 January 2024
- Murupara Library and Service Centre: Closed midday Friday, 22 December through to Monday, 8 January 2024
Don’t forget - even when our offices are closed, you can still contact us at any time on 07 306 0500, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Any non-urgent issues you spot across the rohe can be reported online with our Fix it form.
Aquatic Centres
| Date | Whakatāne Aquatic Centre / Gym | Murupara Aquatic Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, 22 December | 6 am - 8 pm | 6 am - 6 pm |
| Saturday, 23 December | 8 am - 4 pm | 10 am - 6 pm |
| Sunday, 24 December | 8 am - 2 pm | 10 am - 2 pm |
| Monday, 25 December | Closed | Closed |
| Tuesday, 26 December | Closed | Closed |
| Wednesday, 27 December - Friday, 29 December | 6 am - 8 pm | 6 am - 6 pm |
| Saturday, 30 December | 8 am - 4 pm | 10 am - 6 pm |
| Sunday, 31 January | 8 am - 4 pm | 10 am - 2 pm |
| Monday, 1 January 2024 | Closed | Closed |
| Tuesday, 2 January | 8 am - 4 pm | 10 am - 6 pm |
| Wednesday, 3 January - Friday, 5 January | 6 am - 8 pm | 6 am - 6 pm |
| Saturday, 6 January - Sunday, 7 January | 7 am - 6 pm | 10 am - 6 pm |
Find out more about our aquatic centres »
Lifelong Learning - Libraries, Art and Heritage Galleries
| Date | Whakatāne | Ōhope | Edgecumbe | Murupara |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, 22 December | 9 am - 5 pm | 10 am - 12 noon | Closed | 10 am - 12 pm |
| Saturday, 23 to Tuesday, 26 December | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Wednesday, 27 to Friday, 29 December | 10 am - 2 pm | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Saturday, 30 to 2 Tuesday, January | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Wednesday, 3 January | 9 am - 5 pm | 10 am - 12 noon | 10 am - 12 noon | Closed |
| Thursday, 4 January | 9 am - 5 pm | 2 pm - 4 pm | Closed | Closed |
| Friday, 5 January | 9 am - 5 pm | 10 am - 12 noon | 2 pm - 4 pm | Closed |
| Saturday, 6 January | 10 am - 2 pm | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Sunday, 7 January | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Monday, 8 January onward | Normal Hours | Normal Hours | Normal Hours | Normal Hours |
Find out more about our libraries »
Whakatāne Museum and Research Centre - Te Whare Taonga ō Taketake
- Closed from midday Friday, 22 December, reopens, Monday, 8 January 2024
Otuawhaki - Visitor Information Centre (i-SITE)
- Friday, 22 December: 9 am- 5 pm
- Saturday, 23 December: 9 am - 3:30 pm
- Sunday, 24 December: 9 am - 1 pm
- Monday 25 December: Closed
- Tuesday, 26 December: Closed
- Wednesday, 27 to Friday, 29 December: 9 am - 5 pm
- Saturday, 30 December: 9 am - 3:30 pm
- Sunday, 31 January: 9 am - 1 pm
- Monday, 1 January 2024: Closed
- Tuesday, 2 January: Closed
- Wednesday, 3 - Friday 5 January: 9 am - 5 pm
- Saturday, 6 January: 9 am - 3:30 pm
- Sunday, 7 January: 9 am - 1 pm
Find out what's on | Visit whakatane.com for everything under the sun »
Whakatāne Holiday Park
The Whakatāne Holiday Park office will be open 8 am - 8 pm weekdays, 9 am - 8 pm weekends and public holidays and 9 am - 1 pm Christmas Day.
Other Council services
The Council will be closed entirely from midday Friday 22 December through to Monday, 8 January 2024, and it will be operating at reduced staff levels at other times. Certain applications submitted during the end-of-year holiday period may therefore take longer to process.
Building and Resource Consents
Consents submitted during the holiday period will still be processed within 20 working days. However, 20 December - 10 January are not considered working days under legislation, and Council will be operating at reduced staff levels during this period. Contact us if you require clarification on the consents timetable.
LIM applications
If you want to receive a LIM before 19 December, you must submit your application by Tuesday, 5 December 2023.
Any LIM requested after 5 December 2023 will be deemed as received from Monday, 8 January 2024 and will be processed within 10 working days from this date.
Property files
Property files will not be available from midday Friday, 22 December until Monday, 8 January 2024. Normal service will resume on that date.
Alcohol licensing
20 December - 15 January are not considered working days for alcohol licensing applications. Please note special licence applications need to be in at least 20 working days prior to the event.
Find out more about planning ahead for liquor licensing applications.
Water applications
No new relocation or disconnection water applications will be accepted from 20 December until 10 January 2024.
Read our tips to help you have a safe and enjoyable summer in the Whakatāne District.