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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
Taupō Youth Sexual Health Clinic Expands Into Mental Health
Thursday, 4 June 2026, 2:08 pm | Bronson Perich - Local Democracy Reporter
"Common issues included anxiety from cyber-bullying, body-shaming, online predators, catfishing, and the pressure to meet family and societal pressures", says Departing chief executive Ross Mortimer. More >>
Auckland Author Calls Out Lack Of Pacific Children's Books
Thursday, 4 June 2026, 9:36 am | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
South Auckland-based children's author and educator David Riley welcomed Auckland Council Libraries' launch of Sauniga o le 'Ava Sāmoa: The 'Ava Ceremony of Sāmoa. More >>
Public Sector Job Cuts Spark Fears For Provincial Communities
Thursday, 4 June 2026, 9:05 am | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
Early Budget announcements revealed 8700 public sector jobs would be cut over the next three years, though it remained unclear exactly which services and where in Aotearoa would be worst affected. More >>
Cemetery Expansion Underway In Tāneatua
Thursday, 4 June 2026, 8:59 am | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
The council has been aware of the limited capacity of the cemetery for some time and had allocated $126,000 toward its expansion in the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 for the financial year ending 2025. More >>
Whitebaiters Banned From Camping After Police Complaints
Thursday, 4 June 2026, 8:44 am | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Waimakariri District Council will enforce a no camping rule for whitebaiters at Kairaki Beach, near Kaiapoi. More >>
Kaipara District Council Faces Another Audit Office Probe
Thursday, 4 June 2026, 8:32 am | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
The Audit Office scrutinises public spending to provide independent assurance to Parliament and the public about how resources funded by rates and taxes are used. More >>
Mackenzie Faces 8.16% Rates Rise As Tourism And Reform Costs Add Up
Wednesday, 3 June 2026, 10:03 am | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
Finance manager Sandy Hogg and General manager Corporate, Commercial and Planning, Murray Dickson, tabled a range of rates increases for the next financial year. More >>
Wellington Councils Formalise Water Infrastructure And Debt Hand-off To Tiaki Wai
Wednesday, 3 June 2026, 9:52 am | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Some councillors around the region have voiced concerns about water’s future affordability. More >>
'Sugar Hit': Tasman Council Borrow To Stifle Rates Increase As Rising Fuel Costs Bite
Wednesday, 3 June 2026, 9:31 am | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
With rising fuel costs driving double-digit rates increase, Tasman District Council plans to use debt to keep the average increase to 9.9 percent. More >>
Mid-Winter Festival Caters To All Budgets In Tough Times
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 8:05 pm | Sue Teodoro - Local Democracy Reporter
The month-long festival will run from June 27 to July 25 in Greytown. The programme includes light displays, snowfall on the town’s main street, and night-time spectacles. More >>
Waimakariri Council Keeps Rate Rise Under 5%
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 8:01 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon has hailed the efforts of staff in keeping the council’s average rate rise at 4.99%, including water services, in the face of rising fuel costs and Government reform. More >>
ECan Settles On 2.4% Rate Rise
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 7:59 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Canterbury Regional Council has reduced its proposed average rate rise from 2.9% to 2.4%, following its latest deliberations. More >>
Middle East Conflict Could Impact Masterton’s Rates
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 7:54 pm | Sue Teodoro - Local Democracy Reporter
The conflict in the Middle East is one of the cost pressures leading a lower North Island council to potentially further hike next year’s indicative rates rise. A report to this week’s Masterton District Council meeting flagged cost pressures ... More >>
‘Absolutely Delighted’: $85 Million For Coromandel Roading Resilience
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 7:50 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
“Reliable roads get people here. Wellplanned tourism infrastructure ensures their visit is positive, safe and sustainable, Coromandel MP Scott Simpson said. More >>
HEB Construction Takes Helm Of Ferry Infrastructure Project
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 7:48 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
HEB Construction project director Dan Chisnall said the company had assembled a high-quality team and looked forward to working alongside Port Marlborough and project partners to deliver the new ferry infrastructure. More >>
‘Bloody Cheeky’: Council Tow Truck Escapes Disability Parking Fine
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 7:45 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
The business owner who took the photo said they had mentioned the brazen parking to a Hamilton City Council parking warden but was just told to “talk to council”. More >>
Lessons From Cameron Rd Chaos: Council Vows To Put 'Community First'
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 7:43 pm | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
Tauranga roadworks: Cameron Rd and 15th Ave upgrades to overlap. More >>
Bottle Shop Cops Blame For Ōtara’s Public Drinking, Anti-Social Behaviour
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 7:41 pm | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
The DLC is expected to release its decision later. More >>
Sunset Ritual Restores Ancestral Winter Ceremony Beneath Ruapehu Skies
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 5:26 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
The emotional ceremony at Tūroa skifield marked the revival of Hautuku as the central North Island iwi reinstated the traditional ceremony Te Maru o te Tau. More >>
Porirua Road Closed By Slip Set To Re-Open Almost Three Years Later
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 5:13 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
The stretch of road has been closed since July 2023 when a slip from private land partly blocked the public road. More >>
