Matamata & Piako news

State Highway 26/27 roundabout blocked by rolled truck
The road is expected to be partially blocked until 3pm.

Mick On Monday: Patience should pay off for returning sprinter
One of the greatest trainers of all time is one of the reasons Twain is at Te Aroha today.

Solar panels slash farmer's power bills
Malcolm Jones' milking shed is entirely solar-powered, comprising 380 panels.

Cashla Bay has form, wet-track credentials for Te Rapa feature
The juvenile race is one of the last chances this season for horses to secure black-type.

Auckland man named as victim in Wairere Falls death
A walker saw him fall into the river at 11.50am on Saturday.

One person dead after falling into river near Wairere Falls
Police, search and rescue staff located the man’s body late this afternoon.

Matamata mare seeking Holy Grail – a Group 1 win in Australia
Major race wins across the Tasman have been hard to come by for NZ's best horses in 2025.

'Unacceptable': Police crack down on reckless dirt bike riding
Three stolen dirt bikes were recovered in Matamata after a police warrant.

‘You owe money’: Ex-inmate robbed at gunpoint by former prison buddies
The victim had no idea why he was being robbed or attacked.

Vehicle hits gas main in Morrinsville, road reopened
The road was closed between Anderson and Thames streets but has reopened.

‘I didn’t deserve it’: Cancer victim’s words from grave after violent patu attack
'This is not how I wanted to spend my last six months alive,' the victim wrote.
Waikato News

'Hot-box' murder: Accused says rival gang bigger issue than patched member's theft
Defence counsel says Mark Hohua died after falling on to concrete steps while fleeing.

Paving the way to NZ's future, using robots and kiwifruit leather
Fieldays showcases NZ ingenuity with pollution-mapping robots and vegan leather.

What the inaugural Jetstar flight from Hamilton to Sydney was really like
International flights returned to Hamilton for the first time since 2012.
More Matamata-Piako News

Why this farmer is a 'beacon of community spirit'
Sharemilker Danielle Hovmand had no idea she'd been put up for an award.

Fire ban: All permits revoked for North Waikato and Coromandel
Fire and Emergency New Zealand has declared a prohibited fire season in the area.

Car and rail maintenance vehicle collide in Matamata
Police say the collision between two vehicles on a railway crossing happened at 8.50am.