John takes a look at local body politics and who might be standing in the Thames Coromandel district next year.
Over the weekend hundreds of people visited Driving Creek Pottery and Railway on the outskirts of Coromandel Town - to celebrate 50 years since the late Barry Brickell started what is now a world-renowned tourism destination.
And Labour Weekend signaled the start of the summer season for the Coromandel Peninsula, John says it provides an indicator for what may lie ahead for those people so reliant on holidaymakers and tourists to make a living.
Driving Creek Railway and Pottery Photo: Bruce Foster
