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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
Former Mayor-Turned-NZ First Candidate Grilled Over Policies
Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:32 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
West Coast Regional Council chairman Colin Smith said tourism uses local infrastructure, including roads and wastewater treatment. More >>
Blackpool Reserve Playground: Gisborne Designs Backed By Elgin Community
Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:23 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
The designs, created in partnership with Tūranga Health, E Tū Elgin and Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti, could provide nature-based and inclusive play. More >>
Solution For Slip-Prone West Coast Highway Edges Closer
Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:18 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
The $7m approved by the NZ Transport Agency board followed a pledge to investigate moving the road away from a 250m cliff edge as the first step in a larger project to re-align the road slightly inland. More >>
Tairāwhiti Emergency Waste Funding: Gisborne District Council Gets $115,590 Grant
Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:14 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
Council director of liveable communities Michele Frey said the support was welcome and would help offset $158,000 in emergency waste management costs. More >>
Napier's 'Flatting For Seniors’ Housing Project Hits Speed Bump
Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:10 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Lucy Miller and her husband Mark Baylis have been working on a registered charity committee to raise funds to help build an Abbeyfield House in the city. More >>
Gisborne Land Use: Locals, Leaders, Forestry Stakeholders And Facilitator Meet In Wellington
Friday, 21 August 2026, 7:55 am | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
“Our meeting in Wellington reinforced the frustrating sense that some influential officials remain disconnected from what is happening on the ground in Tairāwhiti & have seen council as the problem,” said Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti spokesman Manu ... More >>
Government Alters Plans, Promising Certainty For Horizons Farmers
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 5:15 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
To smooth the transition for PC2, farmers and growers will still be required to make ongoing environmental improvements, but the prescribed nitrogen reductions will no longer apply. More >>
Ohakune Water Outage Raises Questions Internal Review Can't Answer, Councillor Says
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 4:59 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
First-term councillor John Chapman said the scale and duration of the outage raised questions that could not be answered by an internal Ruapehu District Council review. More >>
Southland Council Accused Of Breaking Flood Work Promises
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 4:54 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
Tanea Hawkins returned to the Environment Southland chamber as a member of the public on Wednesday, 14 months after finishing up as its chief financial officer following more than seven years in the role. More >>
Government Still Holding 35 Empty Houses Of Stalled Development Near Wellington
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 4:50 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
While current market conditions are contributing to some delays, the Ministry remains optimistic about achieving positive outcomes for the community and all parties involved. More >>
Cost Blowout For New Waikato Football Turf Revealed To Be $500k
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 2:37 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Despite the cost increase, a specialist football turf in the Waikato is well overdue, according to WaiBOP Football CEO Karyn Walters. More >>
Rangiora Qualifies For First VX Final After School Board Call
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 2:33 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School says qualifying for the Miles Toyota First XV Championship final shows it made the right decision to step back from the Premiership grade this season. More >>
Waimakariri Mayor Unconvinced By Ngāi Tahu's Council Boundary Plan
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 2:29 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon is interested in partnering with Ngāi Tahu on local government reform, but he is not so keen on the iwi's proposal for a large North Canterbury council including Christchurch and Selwyn. More >>
Kaikōura Flood Impact Matched Forecasts For Proposed Subdivision
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 2:26 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Kaikōura District Council will decide the fate of the a private plan change for the Ocean Ridge sub-division next week, after last month's flood event confirmed predictions in flood modelling. More >>
Rotorua's Back On Board: New Twist In Bay Council Reforms
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 2:22 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Head Start gave councils until August 9 to propose voluntary mergers, or have the Government design the future structure for them in compulsory reforms after the 2028 elections - the Back Stop option. More >>
Manawatū's Ambitions Take Shape Despite Uncertainty Ahead
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 2:10 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
Councillor Rob Duindam felt positioning ‘lead Manawatū’ higher in the draft strategy list was “so important” due to ongoing changes in local government and uncertainty around councils very existence. More >>
Ōpōtiki Waterfront Jetty Takes Shape But Faces $100,000 Cost Blowout
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 2:05 pm | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
The increased time and cost of piling work meant a $100,000 contingency fund allocated on top of the $450,000 budget would likely be required to finish the project. More >>
Mackenzie Ratepayers Fork Out $29k For Councillor Conduct Probe
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 10:26 am | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
This week, in response to a July 23 request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, the council stated the investigation into Hocken cost $23,192.34, including $17,903.34 for the investigation and $5,289 in legal fees. More >>
Confusion Over Responsibilities In Lower Hutt Storm Response
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 10:23 am | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
The findings have prompted senior council officials to develop a predisaster plan clearly outlining responsibilities, along with a new plainlanguage webpage to guide both staff and the public. More >>
Century-Old Māori Trust Board Honoured In Taranaki
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 10:19 am | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
The Trust Board began in 1930, after the Sim Commission found confiscation of half a million hectares of Māori land in the Taranaki wars was unjust and excessive. More >>
