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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 144]
Council “cagey” About Eels As School Boosts Wetlands
Thursday, 17 September 2020, 11:03 am | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
Wairarapa's water critters were getting pampered this week. The NZ longfin eel pictured near the gabion cages installed in Makoura Stream. PHOTO/SUPPLIED Three gabion cages will provide a safe habitat for eels in Masterton's Makoura waterway. Further downstream, ... More >>
Honest Realities Of Natural Burial Discussed
Wednesday, 9 September 2020, 12:14 pm | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
INFORMATION SESSION: Mark Blackham from New Zealand Natural Burials answers questions from the crowd on the practice which is new to the Whakatane District. TROY BAKER / WHAKATANE BEACON Death’s veil was lifted a little on Monday as the community ... More >>
Conservation Minister Responds To Ngai Tahu Board Boycott
Wednesday, 9 September 2020, 12:05 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Eugenie Sage and West Coast farmer Katie Milne at the launch of the $15 million predator-free Te Kinga project, Lake Brunner, in May. The Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage is rebutting claims by Ngai Tahu that her recent appointments to the West Coast ... More >>
“No Ecologists On My Land’ – West Coast Regional Council Chair
Tuesday, 1 September 2020, 4:09 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
West Coast Regional Council chairman Allan Birchfield has vowed to bar ecologists from his land if they come looking for significant natural areas (SNAs). Cr Birchfield is a member of the Te Tai o Poutini Committee, which has just commissioned the first ... More >>
Mussels To Be Poured On Mussel Shell Reef To Revive ‘devastated’ Population
Tuesday, 1 September 2020, 4:07 pm | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
A boatload of mussel shells have been sunk off Marlborough’s shores to create a reef that will help revive marine life and a multimillion-dollar industry. The Marine Farming Association will place 20 tonnes of live green-lipped mussels atop ... More >>
DHB Data Shows Scale Of Staffing Shortages In Mental Health Services
Tuesday, 1 September 2020, 4:05 pm | Steve Forbes - Local Democracy Reporter
New figures released by Counties Manukau Health under the Official Information Act show its Mental Health and Addiction department has a staffing shortage of 121 positions. It comes at a time when demand for such services is high because of Covid-19, with ... More >>
Waste Disposal Levies Could Jump 500 Per Cent In Marlborough Under New ‘guilt Tax’
Wednesday, 19 August 2020, 10:20 am | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
The cost of dumping waste in Marlborough could climb over the next four years as the Government looks at rolling out a "guilt tax” to reduce rubbish being sent to landfill. The price of Marlborough bin bags will increase if a new Government ... More >>
Middlemore Hospital’s $67.5m Mental Health Unit Nears Completion
Monday, 10 August 2020, 11:09 am | Steve Forbes - Local Democracy Reporter
The final stage of Middlemore Hospital’s new $67.5 million mental health unit is expected to be completed this month and according to a Counties Manukau District Health Board report it will set the benchmark for similar facilities in New Zealand. ... More >>
Regional Council Members Would Like Freeze On Water Bottling
Monday, 10 August 2020, 11:02 am | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
Most regional council elected members want to see a freeze put on water bottling consents until the matter can be considered nationwide. Bay of Plenty regional councillors have the opportunity to vote on a remit put forward by Queenstown-Lakes District ... More >>
Northlanders’ Future Access To Safe Drinking Water Under Threat Without Major Industry Shakeup
Tuesday, 4 August 2020, 2:59 pm | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
Northlanders’ future access to safe drinking water is under threat without major spending on water infrastructure that only bigger management organisations can afford. That’s the warning from Brian Hanna, three waters steering committee independent ... More >>
SNA Mapping To Go Ahead Across West Coast
Tuesday, 4 August 2020, 2:57 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Councils working on one district plan for the whole West Coast have grasped the nettle and given the go-ahead for the mapping of significant natural areas (SNAs) on private land. But they've agreed to exempt certain Maori land from the process. ... More >>
Million-dollar Skate Park “great For Community”
Tuesday, 4 August 2020, 2:56 pm | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
The $1million-plus budget for Masterton’s skate park is not unusual, and the upgrade will be “great for the community” says the designer behind the plans. Richard Smith, who owns the RICH Landscapes architectural design company, says the “shovel ... More >>
DHB Stands By Decision To Axe School Doctors
Thursday, 30 July 2020, 10:45 am | Aaron van Delden - Local Democracy Reporter
Gisborne Girls’ High School students Madison Haggland (left), Talia Chetty, Leah Scholefield, Emily Horne and Samara Wharehinga-Walters put their concerns to Tairawhiti DHB last month. Photo: Aaron van Delden / LDR Tairawhiti District Health Board will ... More >>
Former Rotorua Mayor Criticises Trility Wastewater Management Decision
Tuesday, 28 July 2020, 4:17 pm | Felix Desmarais - Local Democracy Reporter
“About as transparent as a brick wall.” That’s how a local government expert describes the process surrounding a Rotorua Lakes Council proposal to outsource its wastewater management to international consortium Trility. Locals are also taking More >>
Water Appeal: Day One Of Hearings
Tuesday, 28 July 2020, 10:42 am | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
The Environment Court "erred erroneously" when making the decision to dismiss appeals against the expansion of the Otakiri bottling plant says counsel for Ngati Awa. Over 100 Ngati Awa whanau gathered in Rotorua yesterday as their fight ... More >>
Return For Pahiatua’s Iconic Flagpole?
Monday, 20 July 2020, 11:12 am | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
The next phase of the $8.3 million project to revamp Pahiatua's town centre moves over-ground this month, and it could ultimately see the return of the iconic Sedcole flagpole. An artist's impression of the finalised Pahiatua town centre. PHOTO/TARARUA ... More >>
Work Begins On Multimillion-dollar Project To Restore Water Quality In Marlborough Sounds Catchment
Monday, 20 July 2020, 11:09 am | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
An aspirational project that aims to clean up an at-risk Marlborough catchment could cost up to $75 million over 10 years. Work to restore the Te Hoiere/Pelorus catchment will begin this month. CREDIT: CHLOE RANFORD/LDR The scheme, set to start this month, ... More >>
Marlborough Landmark Protected And Lake To Be Fenced Off From Stock
Monday, 20 July 2020, 11:06 am | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
The Needles, in south Marlborough, are now protected under a covenant. CREDIT: CHLOE RANFORD/LDR A Marlborough natural landmark will be protected forever, while a lake famed for hosting cricket during dry weather will be protected from stock. The Needles ... More >>
Last Anzac Project Reveals World War II Mystery
Monday, 13 July 2020, 4:40 pm | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
The recent restoration project on Masterton’s Last Anzac statue has revived an eight-decade old mystery. Restorers working on the Wairarapa Soldiers Memorial last week found a British World War II medal at the statue’s feet. Carolina Izzo, a ... More >>
Regional Policy Statement Finalised For West Coast
Monday, 13 July 2020, 10:31 am | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
After five years of consultation, compromise and conflict resolution, the West Coast finally has a new Regional Policy Statement (RPS) ready and waiting for the vote. Regional councils must produce an RPS that promotes sustainable management of natural ... More >>
