By MONIQUE DEVEREUX
MANGAKINO - Mangakino wants to ditch its "bad news" reputation and instead be known for its best-kept secret - Lake Maraetai.
Within a month, new signs will go up in the town welcoming visitors to Mangakino Lakeside Village.
Residents of the South Waikato town hope the new image will
help change the public perception of Mangakino - which in the past 18 months has seen the murder of police officer Murray Stretch, three firefighters jailed for arson and the arrest of police officer Murray McLean on rape charges.
The Taupo District Council community manager for Mangakino, Tina Jakes, said the idea for the new image came from a focus group set up after the death of Constable Stretch.
The new name, Mangakino Lakeside Village, was approved by the council after the town's 1500 residents were consulted.
"We really want people to realise that there is much more to Mangakino than bad news. This is a really positive step," she said.
Lake Maraetai was already popular for fishing, water skiing and kayaking but it was underused.
"There is so much potential for the lake and Mangakino itself is a great little town, being so close to the mountains and to Taupo."
The town has also started a new youth programme aimed at helping schoolchildren with both their homework and sports.
The programme, Tactics, has been running for three weeks and is a joint initiative by police, the Safer Community Council and Sport Waikato.
