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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
Carterton Forestry Property Rates Could Go Sky High
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 10:38 am | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
Mayor Steve Cretney said councillors had not yet made a decision on whether these changes should proceed, and said any changes would be subject to community feedback, hearings, and further council deliberations before a final decision was made. More >>
Closing Porirua Landfill Could Cost $30m
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 10:34 am | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Indicative figures presented to Porirua City Council at a workshop last week show officials plan to allocate $30m to the waste budget in the next 10-year long-term plan - more than what was set aside for roading and local parks. More >>
Gisborne Forestry Companies Halt Harvesting As Consent Conditions Called Unworkable
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 10:30 am | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
After severe weather events, including Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, Gisborne District Council (GDC) introduced stricter consent rules to reduce the risk of woody debris reaching beaches and waterways. More >>
Community Pressure Pays Off As Waimarino Health Centre Work Begins
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 10:23 am | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
The leaders say expanding and refurbishing the Waimarino Health Centre is an important step toward more integrated and accessible healthcare for the Waimarino community. More >>
Auckland Speed Table Modified After Complaints, Claims Of Damage To Vehicles
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 10:18 am | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
August 24, 2026 South Auckland A resident group in a west Auckland suburb is fuming over the wasted tax and ratepayer money being spent to modify a new speed table ramp that was part of a million dollar project five years ago. The speed table ... More >>
Council Lobbying Fails To Save Marlborough’s District Plan Under Reforms
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 10:14 am | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
The council had asked Parliament’s select committee to recognise the Proposed Marlborough Environment Plan under the new Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, or at least keep the plan active through the 2029 transition period. More >>
Confusion Over Who Speaks To Franz Residents
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 9:03 am | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
Regional council chief executive Darryl Lew said the draft evacuation plan developed for Westport under its flood work had been passed on to the Westland council as a model. More >>
Invercargill Pool Closures Exceed Target By Over 300%
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 8:58 am | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
A report for the city council’s finance and policy committee revealed 47 unplanned pool closures occurred for the year ended June 2026 — an average of almost one closure per week — which was well above a target of under 15 closures. More >>
Marlborough Arts Organisation Appeals To MP For Funding Control
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 8:55 am | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
The Marlborough Civic Theatre Trust wrote to Kaikōura MP Stuart Smith in May, after Creative NZ told the Marlborough District Council that the Creative Communities programme was being wound up. More >>
Solar Power To Transform Thames-Coromandel’s Emergency Hubs
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 8:51 am | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Thames-Coromandel District Council received $567,820 from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s Community Resilience Programme to fund the project, and is set to aid a district that more than ever is affected by power cuts. More >>
‘Historical Wrong’: Council To Say Sorry Over Rejected Lakeland Queen Petition
Monday, 24 August 2026, 6:14 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
The apology comes after the Ombudsman found the rejection was unreasonable. More >>
The Disability Housing Lifeline For Kiwis - Paid For Offshore
Monday, 24 August 2026, 5:58 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Coined ‘Project Paeroa’ and nestled in the new $60 million Paeroa Hills subdivision, the pilot programme contains 12 one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units for 16 residents. More >>
‘We Cannot Say It’s Safe’: Forever Chemicals Found In Lake Rotorua
Monday, 24 August 2026, 5:51 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Rotorua Airport phased out PFAS-containing firefighting foams in the 2000s as New Zealand moved away from the chemicals. More >>
‘More Places For Rangatahi To Just Be’: What Manurewa Youth Want
Monday, 24 August 2026, 5:36 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
MYC chairperson Madison Franklin said the feedback was gathered at different community events, where rangatahi were asked directly what they wanted to see, with the same issues repeatedly emerging. More >>
Pacific Dementia Carers ‘Suffer In Silence’ As Group Seeks Local Support
Monday, 24 August 2026, 4:23 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Sapini Unoi, from caregiver support group Le Malaga, raised the issue with the Manurewa Local Board at its monthly business meeting on Thursday. More >>
Waimarino Health Centre To More Than Double In Size In $4.4m Redevelopment
Monday, 24 August 2026, 4:18 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Health Minister Simeon Brown said the redevelopment would make it easier for people to access the care they need locally. More >>
Hart Hopeful He Will Keep The Lead In Wairarapa Byelection
Monday, 24 August 2026, 4:15 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
With about 90% of all votes counted, Hart led the way under the single transferable vote (STV) system and said he was “quietly hopeful” the result would hold once all votes were counted. More >>
Festival Off, Party On: Marlborough Pub Keeps After-Party Tradition Alive
Monday, 24 August 2026, 4:11 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
The Marlborough Wine & Food Festival will not go ahead in 2027, and would be placed “on hold” in the midst of a difficult events landscape, organiser Wine Marlborough announced on Thursday. More >>
Pacific Elders ‘Just Managing’ As Poverty Monitor Reveals Widespread Hardship
Monday, 24 August 2026, 3:51 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
The inaugural Older Persons Poverty Monitor, published by the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, tracks poverty and hardship among people aged 65 and over across Aotearoa. More >>
Manawatū Awarded Funding For Severe Weather Clean-Up
Monday, 24 August 2026, 3:37 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
The Government announced on Monday that $250,000 of emergency waste funds was divided and awarded to five councils across the motū who were severely impacted by weather events at the beginning of the year. More >>
