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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
Council Asks Twizel Residents For Up To $25k For Water Data
Monday, 22 June 2026, 4:15 pm | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
A group of Lyford Lane residents filed a request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, seeking information about the waste and drinking water systems for the development, and the town’s water supply. More >>
Kaikōura Councillors Consider Options Over "Losing Control" Fears
Monday, 22 June 2026, 3:53 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Kaikōura realistically has two options - forming a North Canterbury council with Waimakariri and Hurunui or merging with Marlborough, says Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty. More >>
Featherston's Critical Pipeline Work Comes In Under Budget
Monday, 22 June 2026, 3:49 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
The new Tauwharenīkau pipeline is now in service and the old pipe has been removed from the river. More >>
Twenty Tonnes Of Construction Waste Illegally Dumped In Wairarapa
Monday, 22 June 2026, 3:35 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
Ten tonnes of asphalt and 10 tonnes of construction spoil was recently found dumped at the Hinekura Rd and Longbush Rd intersection. More >>
New Funding Aims To Help Tauranga's Rough Sleepers
Monday, 22 June 2026, 3:19 pm | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
A $14.5 million package over the next year will extend rough-sleeper support initiatives underway in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch, and expand it to six other areas. More >>
Kaikōura Council Looks To 10-Year Plan As Its Future Hangs In The Balance
Monday, 22 June 2026, 3:01 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Work is under way on Kaikōura's Long Term Plan, even though the council's future is uncertain. More >>
Flaxmere Supermarket Owners Confirm July Closure: ‘We Tried Our Best’
Monday, 22 June 2026, 2:57 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
In a social media post on Friday, Flaxmere Supermarket’s owners said after careful consideration, they had decided to close at the end of the first week of July. More >>
Diesel Buses Drive Up Golden Mile Air Pollution
Monday, 22 June 2026, 2:38 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Nitrogen dioxide levels recorded on Manners Street have dropped 35% over nine years, while black carbon — ultrafine soot — has fallen 43% since monitoring began in mid2020. More >>
Resource Consent Granted For 46 Affordable Kāpiti Coast Homes
Monday, 22 June 2026, 2:31 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Records from the Kāpiti Coast District Council showed it granted consent in May for the Kāpiti Housing Solutions Trust to build 46 houses and shared outdoor spaces at 254 Rangiuru Rd, Ōtaki. More >>
One Of New Zealand's Most Photographed Buildings Is Almost Camera-Ready Again
Monday, 22 June 2026, 2:00 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
The heritage building has been covered in scaffolding since July 2024, and adorned in weather-resistant wrapping most of that time. More >>
Iwi Support Sought As Public Back Southern Taranaki Council
Monday, 22 June 2026, 1:49 pm | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
South Taranaki and Stratford districts are wary of joining New Plymouth in a unitary authority, fearing the city’s voting power will overwhelm their interests. More >>
Church’s Plans For Low-Cost Cafe To Feed Hundreds Shunned By Locals
Monday, 22 June 2026, 12:59 pm | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
St Mary by the Sea wants to start a social enterprise in Browns Bay, operating as a café during the day and transforming into a community hub, serving low-cost meals at night. More >>
Lies, Damn Lies And Statistics: Accusations Fly In Energy Trust Election Stoush
Monday, 22 June 2026, 12:36 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Michael West and the Your Discounts Team have made an array of claims against Alan Chew and the MORE Team, accusing them of “blatant lies” and manipulating statistics to sway voters. More >>
Ōpōtiki Council Becomes Funding Agency Guarantor
Saturday, 20 June 2026, 7:29 pm | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
Ōpōtiki District Council's capital spending projects over the coming year includes improvements to its wastewater plant. More >>
Ōpōtiki Adopts Plan To Tackle Climate Change
Saturday, 20 June 2026, 7:28 pm | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
Council staff will now begin detailed work to put the plan into action, including setting priorities, timelines, and measures for success. It will be reviewed regularly to ensure it stays relevant as new challenges and opportunities arise. More >>
How To Heat The Jewel In Kawerau’s Cooling Crown?
Saturday, 20 June 2026, 7:26 pm | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
Feedback from annual planning for the coming year had mostly opposed the proposed 5.8 percent rates rise required to maintain levels of service, while also challenging council to raise these levels of service. More >>
Hastings Rate Review Could Shift Higher Costs To Homeowners
Saturday, 20 June 2026, 7:24 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Hastings residential homeowners would bear the financial brunt if Hastings District Council changes the way it charges out its rates. More >>
Relief As Auckland Residents Finally Offered Temporary Bus
Saturday, 20 June 2026, 7:16 pm | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
The two options are expected to be presented to residents through public consultation, and AT indicatively estimated a temporary bus service in place six months after that. More >>
Vote Ban Won’t Stop South Taranaki Iwi Committee, Say Tribal Reps
Saturday, 20 June 2026, 7:11 pm | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
Mayor Phil Nixon was disappointed by the voting ban but said the council had a strategic agreement with iwi and strong, ongoing informal relationships. More >>
Push For Cleaner Heating In Wairarapa Amid Air Quality Concerns
Saturday, 20 June 2026, 7:09 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
With only one air quality monitoring station currently running in Wairarapa, based in Masterton West, it was difficult to know what air pollution levels were being felt by South Wairarapa residents. More >>
