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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
Free Parking Aims To Bring Christmas Shoppers Into Hastings
Friday, 13 November 2026, 6:29 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Hastings Mayor Wendy Schollum said the trial was a practical way the council could encourage people to shop locally and support local businesses. More >>
Regatta To Close Lake Ruataniwha At Easter Weekend
Friday, 13 November 2026, 6:27 pm | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
Meeting minutes showed the club had raised concerns with board chairperson Mary Murdoch that other lake users could create safety risks for competitors. More >>
Mackenzie Mayor Scott Aronsen Under Investigation Following Complaint
Friday, 13 November 2026, 6:23 pm | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
The investigation followed an earlier incident at the council chambers in May involving councillor Frank Hocken, where a $29,000 investigation revealed he had broken the council’s code of conduct. More >>
Pontoon Popular With Lake Swimmers, But Red Tape Threatens Its Future
Friday, 13 November 2026, 6:19 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
Featuring a ladder, seat, and stairs, the unauthorised floating structure has proven a hit with the public, but does not comply with DOC and Environment Southland regulations. More >>
Park In One Of Palmerston North's 'More Deprived' Areas May Get $600K Lift
Friday, 13 November 2026, 6:16 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
Palmerston North City Council's sports and recreation committee supported adding an extra $400,000 of external funding to the budget for an upgrade of Farnham Park. More >>
Cracking Bridge Faces $500k Fix, $15M-Plus Replacement Kicked Down Road
Friday, 13 November 2026, 5:45 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
November 12, 2026 A cracking and corroding single-lane bridge in the Hauraki District is set to cost $500,000 to fix, with a potential multi-million dollar replacement kicked down the road. The option to strengthen the current bridge was approved ... More >>
Mayor And Councillor At Odds Over Conflict Questions
Friday, 13 November 2026, 5:43 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Councillor Robert Lee has asked whether Tapsell is a beneficiary of the Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust and therefore conflicted on council decisions involving it. More >>
Carterton Councillors May Rethink 'Nuclear' Rates Option
Friday, 13 November 2026, 12:13 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
Councillor Brian Deller said it was important the council didn’t “rush into any half-cocked solutions”, while councillor Steve Laurence likened the proposed changes to a “nuclear weapon”, if it was applied at the level suggested. More >>
Final Push To Bring More Dust And Noise As Spring Creek Stopbank Nears Completion
Friday, 13 November 2026, 12:09 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
Council chief rivers engineer Andy White said once the stopbank was completed, there would still be flood protection work needed along the lower Wairau River in the future to more fully secure the town. More >>
‘Done And Dusted’: Ashburton's Balmoral Hall Reduced To Rubble
Friday, 13 November 2026, 12:05 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
“People have created memories there over the years, so I think there are a lot of people in Ashburton who are very sad to see it go," said Dance teacher Charmaine Quaid who ran her dance studio at the hall for 55 years. More >>
Selwyn Challenges Rates Cap Formula Over Growth Pressures
Friday, 13 November 2026, 12:01 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
Over the past decade, Selwyn’s population grew by about 5% annually, more than three times the national average of 1.5%, making it the fastest-growing council area in the country. More >>
Fears Of Selwyn Becoming ‘Concrete Paradise’
Friday, 13 November 2026, 11:57 am | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
The RMA, which has governed land use and environmental management for more than 30 years, is being replaced by two new laws. The Government changes aim to simplify a complex consenting system and speed up development. More >>
Orana Park Asks Selwyn Ratepayers To Help Fill Funding Hole
Friday, 13 November 2026, 11:54 am | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
Looking to the future Orana Park wanted the council to consider a partnership in the upcoming long-term plan discussions & a regional asset partnership model across Selwyn, Christchurch, Waimakariri. Gliddon asked for a business case for the funding. More >>
Kāpiti Coast Airport To Close On November 30
Friday, 13 November 2026, 11:48 am | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
The Kāpiti Aero Club said on Thursday the airport’s holding company had requested it to surrender the existing lease, which runs through to 2033, by November 30 – and to vacate by February 28. More >>
South Waikato Council Budgets $180k For Te Waihou Walkway Blue Spring Over Summer
Friday, 13 November 2026, 11:43 am | Bronson Perich - Local Democracy Reporter
Despite the Government allocating $675,000 from the International Visitors Levy for the springs, the council said it had yet to receive the funds. More >>
Council To Reconsider Proposed Rangiora Hub
Friday, 13 November 2026, 11:38 am | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Waimakariri District Council will consider support a staged approach to building the proposed Southbrook Community Recreation Hub. More >>
19 Hours Of Staff Time Goes Into ACT Councillor's Withdrawn Motion
Friday, 13 November 2026, 11:35 am | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
Councillor Malcolm Taylor told Local Democracy Reporting that he thought it would take “a couple of hours” to process the motion when he filed it, but he was “not surprised” at how long it actually took. More >>
Tanya Winter Resigns As Ōtorohanga Chief Executive For Waimate Role
Friday, 13 November 2026, 11:29 am | Bronson Perich - Local Democracy Reporter
According to a statement released by South Waikato District Council, the Western Waikato Unitary Authority proposal was a major factor in making Law interim chief executive of Waikato. More >>
Bethlehem Retirees Want Footpath Extended So They Can Walk Safely
Friday, 13 November 2026, 11:25 am | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
Bethlehem Country Club member Murray Watkins said he found it hard to walk on the grass as it was uneven and he’d had both his hips and knees operated on. More >>
Reservoir Project To Ease Water Worries In Hawke's Bay Towns
Friday, 13 November 2026, 11:20 am | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Mark Kinvig said the project started in 2018 but was delayed because of Covid and Cyclone Gabrielle. He said it would be funded through contributions from the Government’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund, development contributions and ratepayers. More >>
