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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
Ashburton Second Bridge Project On Track Despite Weather Risks
Friday, 23 October 2026, 9:45 am | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
Dalzell said they experienced a full site shutdown in August when the river experienced its highest flow in three years, shooting up over 300 cumecs – about 10 times more than its usual flow of 25-30 cumecs. More >>
Porirua Paid Parking Generates $2m In A Year, But Costs $1.88M
Friday, 23 October 2026, 9:39 am | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Council chief executive Wendy Walker said paid parking was not just to generate extra council revenue, but also deter long-stay parking in short-stay places like Cobham Court. More >>
Councils Agree To Split Costs Of Amalgamation Proposal
Friday, 23 October 2026, 9:34 am | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
The Timaru District Council, with a population of 49,500, paid $45,407 or 56.21% of the costs, while the Waitaki District Council, with 24,600 residents, paid $22,565.93. More >>
'I'd Be Delighted To Leave': Councillor Ejected During Reserve Land Debate
Friday, 23 October 2026, 9:30 am | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Robert Lee was ejected after a clash over a reserve land transfer. More >>
Writing Taranaki Maunga Plan Starts After Public Comments
Friday, 23 October 2026, 9:24 am | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi has held 55 meetings with groups wanting a first say on the plan, which will be called He Kawa Ora mō Te Papa-kura-o-Taranaki. More >>
Kicked To The Curb: Street Flower Displays Axed In Cost-Cutting Move
Thursday, 22 October 2026, 10:23 am | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
A council spokesperson said at the time the company that prepared the baskets had closed, and it had not been able to source another local supplier with the specialist capacity and land area required to grow the basket displays. More >>
Retired Council Boss Received Six-Figure Golden Handshake
Thursday, 22 October 2026, 10:18 am | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
Local Democracy Reporting asked Environment Southland a series of questions, including what the severance payment related to. More >>
Women Flown Out Of Region To Give Birth Due To Hiring Challenges, Not Funding, MP Says
Thursday, 22 October 2026, 10:15 am | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
National’s Kaikōura candidate Stuart Smith had fielded a question about access to healthcare when the issue was raised at a meet-the-candidates meeting in Blenheim on Tuesday. More >>
Mayors Press Incoming Government To Trust Local Decision-Making
Thursday, 22 October 2026, 10:10 am | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
Minister of Local Government Simon Watts responded this week, saying that the 18 reform proposals they’d received under the Head Start proposal showed an “appetite for change” across the motū. More >>
Police Take Strong Stand Against Bottle Shop Linked To Drug Dealing
Thursday, 22 October 2026, 10:06 am | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
According to hearing documents, Alcohol Licensing Inspector Derek Haddy said the current owners of Thirsty Liquor Manurewa had pleaded guilty to selling opium in the bottle store, and were awaiting sentencing this month. More >>
Voting Rights Changes To Reshape Whanganui Council Committees
Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 7:13 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Independent members of council committees, including chairs of key oversight committees, will lose their voting rights from mid-March next year. More >>
National Accuses Labour Of ‘Railroading’ Kāpiti Debates
Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 7:09 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
The suggested questions ranged from asking Costley how he would “get us faster access to local health care”, to directing Labour candidate Sophie Handford to explain her positions on housing and rates capping. More >>
West Coast Council Lends Some Support For Rates Cap, Despite Record Of Sharp Hikes
Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 7:06 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
The West Coast council has flagged concerns that the cap does not account for "infrastructure cost inflation, interest rate volatility, depreciation, hazard exposure, and differences in access to non-State revenue". More >>
Hanmer Freedom Camping Spot To Be Restored
Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 7:04 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Hanmer Springs Community Board is counting the cost of flood repairs for the July flood. More >>
Asbestos Dumped At Abandoned Hawke’s Bay Camp Prompts Boulder Barrier
Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 7:01 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
The council spokesperson said it took four people four hours to clean up the asbestos, including removing a large amount of fibrous broken material. More >>
Paikea Kindergarten To Close As Low Enrolments And Costs Create Funding Gap
Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 6:58 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
Gisborne Kindergarten Association senior teacher Jeff Ruston wrote on behalf of the governing board, thanking whānau for the time, thought and effort they had put into exploring options for Paikea’s future. More >>
Jo Dow Wins Porirua Council By-Election
Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 6:55 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Voting for a by-election closed at noon on Friday. By midday Thursday, Dow had received 2306 votes, comfortably ahead of Caroline Mareko who had 1598. More >>
Thames-Coromandel Councillors Look To Axe Amalgamation Proposal
Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 6:50 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
The current proposal with Matamata-Piako and Hauraki would still be a considered an option if the motion passed through council, as Rasmussen believes the two councils would also benefit from the change. More >>
Rotorua Emergency Housing Drops To One Motel As Crisis-Era Numbers Collapse
Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 6:47 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Emergency housing in Rotorua has fallen from dozens of motels to just one. More >>
Crash Statistics Show Youth At High Risk In Mackenzie
Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 6:43 pm | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
With 10 deaths or serious injuries annually, the register identified the Mackenzie District as a high risk area across fatigue, young drivers, older drivers, and open road loss-of-control or head-on crashes. More >>
