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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
Community Finds Silver Lining In 'Disappointing' Landfill Decision
Friday, 19 June 2026, 4:43 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Oxford community has reacted to an interim decision by the Environment Court to grant consents for a landfill and quarry, subject to an agreement between Woodstock Quarries Ltd and the Waimakariri District Council and Environment Canterbury. More >>
Rural Teens Miss Out On Extra Trades Training - Principal
Friday, 19 June 2026, 4:39 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Extra funding for specialist trades programmes is unlikely to make a difference for rural schools, a Canterbury principal says. More >>
Embattled Southland Lagoon Helped By Extensive Native Planting
Friday, 19 June 2026, 4:33 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
Trust project manager Sarah Yarrow said 18 months of preparation had gone into the job which included weed control, fencing and sourcing the plants. More >>
North Canterbury Gravel Truck Stand-Off Could End Up In Court
Friday, 19 June 2026, 4:29 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Residents of Clarkville in North Canterbury believe the Waimakariri District Council has breached the District Plan and allowing growing numbers of trucks to haul gravel on their local roads. More >>
Decision On Controversial Waipara Solar Farm Delayed
Friday, 19 June 2026, 4:25 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Waipara community is waiting to hear the fate of a proposed solar farm, after a hearing was held last month. More >>
Kaiapoi Library Offers Battery Disposal Service
Friday, 19 June 2026, 4:07 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Councillor Niki Mealings, the council’s solid waste and sustainability portfolio holder, says old batteries are hazardous waste and pose a fire risk. More >>
Vote Ban Won’t Stop South Taranaki Iwi Committee, Say Tribal Reps
Friday, 19 June 2026, 2:21 pm | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
South Taranaki District Council’s Te Kāhui Matauraura committee has the mayor and four councillors sitting with a pair of representatives from each of the district’s four iwi. More >>
Relief As Auckland Residents Finally Offered Temporary Bus
Friday, 19 June 2026, 2:13 pm | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
AT presented two route options to the local board on Thursday, both avoiding the use of the incomplete Joshua Carder Drive and Roa Avenue. More >>
New Napier Regional Park’s Recreation Plans Ditched After Engineers Strike Soil Issue
Friday, 19 June 2026, 2:08 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Napier City Council said the recreational side of the regional park project, which included a visitor hub and a discovery and learning park, had now been paused. More >>
$700k Litter Bins Discarded By Hauraki District Council
Friday, 19 June 2026, 2:02 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Manco Environmental’s product and business developmental manager Logan Black passionately denied any technological failure of the bins. More >>
Lake Rotorua Walkway Litter Sparks Concerns At Popular Tourist Hotspot
Friday, 19 June 2026, 1:58 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
Local says Rotorua lakefront litter is spoiling a popular tourist walkway. More >>
Businesses At Wit’s End As Birch Ave Burnout Trouble Escalates
Thursday, 18 June 2026, 3:22 pm | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
Birch Ave residents fed up as hoons tear up Tauranga street nightly. More >>
Northlanders Surveyed Ahead Of Councils’ Restructure Proposal Deadline
Thursday, 18 June 2026, 10:17 am | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
Northland’s last local government amalgamation was in 1989, when 11 councils were combined into four - Whangārei District Council (WDC), Far North District Council (FNDC), Kaipara District Council (KDC) and Northland Regional Council (NRC). More >>
From Farmers To A Shipwreck: West Coast's Environmental Woes
Thursday, 18 June 2026, 8:21 am | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
The regional council environmental monitoring arm oversaw the removal of about 32 tonnes of waste from the beach by contractors employed by the ship's insurers, according to the council's quarterly compliance monitoring report. More >>
Mid Canterbury Cat Bylaw Proposal Welcomed
Thursday, 18 June 2026, 8:13 am | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
The Ashburton District Council is proposing a requirement for cats over four months old to be microchipped, registered and desexed. More >>
Rates Increases Lower Than Predicted For Manawatū Residents But Reforms Remain In Spotlight
Thursday, 18 June 2026, 8:00 am | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
A total district-wide rates increase of 4.9% for 2026/27 was accepted at Wednesday’s meeting, down from the 7.9% forecast in the Long Term Plan. More >>
Northlanders Surveyed Ahead Of Councils’ Restructure Proposal Deadline
Wednesday, 17 June 2026, 5:33 pm | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
The regional first sees councils seeking feedback on amalgamation through separate short timeframe online surveys, each with a shared core of questions and some local variation. More >>
From Farmers To A Shipwreck: West Coast's Environmental Woes
Wednesday, 17 June 2026, 5:27 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
Rule-breaking farmers, tyre fires and diesel spilling from a ship that ran aground have kept the local council busy. More >>
Inaugural Board Complete For New North Canterbury Water Services Entity
Wednesday, 17 June 2026, 5:00 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Two new board members have been appointed for Kaikōura Hurunui Water Services Ltd, bringing the number to five. More >>
Waimakariri Council Confirms Rate Rise Just Under 5%
Wednesday, 17 June 2026, 4:49 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Waimakariri District Council has confirmed an average rate rise of 4.99% including water services, while the Hurunui District Council is continuing to work on its annual plan. More >>
