Paeroa

What life looks like without a safety net.

I was driving through the countryside near Paeroa when I picked up a hitchhiker.

He was a large man, walking alone along a rural road with no luggage at all.

As soon as he got in, he told me he was homeless.

Time now for Merrill Minutes, where we speak with the local mayor about the challenges they're facing, how they're working to solve them, and what makes their community special.

Today, we're heading to the Hauraki District in Waikato, where you'll find Paeroa, Ngātia, Waihi, and the Karangaheki Gorge.

Mayor Toby Adams joins me now.

Hi, Toby.

different fizz.

It's not made in Pairoa.

No, no, no, no, no. It's from the mountains.

Okay.

Look, the- there's absolutely that aspect to it, Chris.

Um, uh, you know, and, but it's the whole thing too, isn't it? Around vandalism or, you know, we, we read of, um, uh, one of the local museums, somebody, uh, down in Paeroa, somebody, you know, broke in and stole brass fittings and copper fittings.

You know, it's, um, it's just an intrusion.

It's a, um, disrespectful, um, and, you know, I'd like to think it's just not necessary.

both hate and love.

[laughs] Uh, we got Paeroa public meeting for New Zealand First.

Party vote reptilians, since people have been having fun with all the, uh, different hoardings and posters around.

Uh, Cybergoblin decided to, uh, [laughs] add, add these girls in with Trump, which I just, I just gave, gave me a little tickle.