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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
City Motorists Showered In Parking Fines And Tow Fees
Monday, 6 July 2026, 7:30 am | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Data acquired from the council by Local Democracy Reporting showed 18,000 parking infringements were written in 2023, equating to a total cost of $730,970 in fines. More >>
'Good With His Emojis': Council Leaders Butt Heads Over Amalgamation
Monday, 6 July 2026, 7:24 am | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
Chair Jeremy McPhail said he was not afraid about releasing the numbers because they belonged to the community. More >>
‘Duties As Normal’: National’s Te Tai Hauāuru Candidate Keeps Council Seat During Election Bid
Monday, 6 July 2026, 7:20 am | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
In 2023, the National Party announced that Harete Hipango would stand for the electorate, marking the party’s first candidacy in a Māori electorate since 2002. More >>
Northland Leader Calls For Nationwide Digital Backbone For RMA Planning Reform
Monday, 6 July 2026, 7:12 am | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
The committee will oversee implementation of Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms in Northland and then guide the development of a regional spatial plan. More >>
Tasman’s $15 Million IT Spend Questioned
Monday, 6 July 2026, 7:06 am | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Some councillors aren’t convinced the bill is worth the benefits, but staff say the council is well-positioned for the future. More >>
Calls For ‘Second Chance’ For Escapee Pig Destined To Be Dinner
Monday, 6 July 2026, 7:03 am | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
AJP said original reporting on the rural auction was “insensitive” and had reduced the pig’s experiences to “entertainment” rather than a tragedy. More >>
Auckland Central Residents Raise Flooding, Infrastructure Concerns About Plan Change 120
Monday, 6 July 2026, 6:57 am | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
Auckland Council recently endorsed two scenarios for potential changes to PC120, which sets a minimum requirement of 1.4 million homes through legislation passed this year. More >>
Canterbury Divided: The Final Scramble To Find Partners
Monday, 6 July 2026, 6:51 am | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
Canterbury's 10 councils are yet to reach a region-wide consensus on potential mergers as the Government's August 9 deadline draws closer. More >>
Hastings Councillors Apologise After Complaint Over Social Media Comments
Monday, 6 July 2026, 6:48 am | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Proehl was criticised by the two councillors after she questioned Mayor Wendy Schollum’s response to the December terrorist attack on Bondi Beach in Australia on Instagram. More >>
Slim Lifeline Thrown To Lower Hutt Replacement Walkway
Monday, 6 July 2026, 6:43 am | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Hutt City Council’s infrastructure and regulatory committee voted 8-6 on Thursday to launch a public consultation over the issue as part of the long-term plan next year. More >>
A Crushed Car Can't Do Burnouts - Mayor Hopeful On New Law
Monday, 6 July 2026, 6:39 am | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Local and central government leaders alike are eager to see the results, with Waikato District Council mayor Aksel Bech saying it's been a prominent issue in the district, especially on rural roads. More >>
Charlie The Chihuahua Was Seconds From Safety When He Was Fatally Mauled
Monday, 6 July 2026, 6:36 am | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Sherwood said Kylo was lucky. He survived an attack by the same dog a year ago. And that's why she's so furious. More >>
Southland Mayor Frustrated Over Regional Council Data Release
Monday, 6 July 2026, 6:33 am | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
Southland district mayor Rob Scott said the Environment Southland numbers were “quite bizarre” and was frustrated about how they’d been released. More >>
New Plymouth Council Cashes In On Sunshine Capital
Monday, 6 July 2026, 6:29 am | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
The 100 solar panels were mounted on the roof of New Plymouth District Council’s climate-controlled archives building in March. More >>
Upper Hutt City Council To Borrow $4.4 Million, Earmarks $500K For AI
Monday, 6 July 2026, 6:26 am | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
The council planned to use AI to enhance “internal capabilities and efficiencies” and currently uses ChatGPT and Microsoft’s CoPilot across all parts “as appropriate”. More >>
Blenheim's ‘Slippy’ Pavers To Be Removed After Elderly Injured In Falls
Friday, 3 July 2026, 3:28 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
The $4.3 million refurbishment of Blenheim’s town centre, set to begin on Monday, was to be completed in time for the busy Christmas trading period. More >>
Young Councillor's Exit Plan To Make Way For New Leaders
Friday, 3 July 2026, 3:24 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Regardless of what structures emerged from the Government’s looming council shake-up, Ketu says local government needs a succession plan. More >>
Taupō Council To Assess Four Amalgamation Options
Friday, 3 July 2026, 3:18 pm | Bronson Perich - Local Democracy Reporter
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop set councils the ultimatum on May 5, saying change was needed because the local government system was “too complex, too costly and too hard to navigate”. More >>
Marlburians To Have Their Say On Merging With Kaikōura
Friday, 3 July 2026, 3:14 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
Marlborough District Council communications manager Glyn Walters told councillors that the online survey would open at noon on Thursday and close on July 8. More >>
$100k Boost To Tackle Greymouth Flooding
Friday, 3 July 2026, 2:55 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
The Greymouth Rating District Joint Committee has supported a $100,000 increase in budget last Thursday for the hydraulic modelling to reduce the risk of Saltwater Creek flooding. More >>
