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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 147]
Unpaid Rates Doubles On West Coast
Thursday, 21 May 2020, 11:01 am | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
The amount owed to the West Coast Regional Council in overdue rates has almost doubled, compared to a year ago. Corporate services manager Robert Mallinson said unpaid rates amounted to $1,041,755 as of May 6, an increase of $494,000 on May 2019. The council ... More >>
Rates Rise To Hit Orchardists Hardest
Thursday, 21 May 2020, 11:00 am | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
Owners of high value kiwifruit orchards will be the biggest rates losers in the coming year, forking out an extra $10,000. While the average annual rate rise in the Opotiki district is forecast to be 4.25 percent – down from the 5.06 percent ... More >>
Opotiki Owes $3.5 Million In Unpaid Rates
Thursday, 21 May 2020, 10:59 am | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
RATE DEBT: Opotiki mayor Lyn Riesterer said those who can but don't pay their rates "annoy the hell" out of those who do. CHARLOTTEJONES/LDR Opotiki ratepayers owe $3.5 million in unpaid rates, with some who can pay simply refusing to do so. ... More >>
Hokitika township needs to retreat from sea, councillor warns
Tuesday, 19 May 2020, 12:02 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Hokitika township must start planning to move back from the coast, West Coast councillor Stuart Challenger says. More >>
Home Purchases To Make Way For Auckland’s $1.3bn Mill Rd Project To Be Negotiated Soon
Wednesday, 13 May 2020, 11:09 am | Steve Forbes - Local Democracy Reporter
The Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is remaining tight-lipped on how much it plans to spend on a series of property purchases as part of Auckland’s $1.35 billion Mill Rd project. When the Government rolled out its new $12 billion infrastructure ... More >>
Climate Change ‘a Rort’ – West Coast Regional Council Chair
Wednesday, 13 May 2020, 11:04 am | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Climate change caused by human activity, sea-level rise and the need to prepare for it — it is all a load of hogwash, according to the chairman of the West Coast Regional Council. Allan Birchfield, who is known for his forthright views on the ... More >>
Coronavirus: Rotorua Rates Freeze On The Table
Wednesday, 13 May 2020, 10:52 am | Felix Desmarais - Local Democracy Reporter
1. Rotorua Lakes Council building. (File) Photo / Andrew Warner / Rotorua Daily Post [via LDR: single use only] A rates freeze will be considered by Rotorua Lakes Council as part of its “focus on continuing to cushion the impact of Covid-19”. ... More >>
Big Day For West Coast As New Hospital Blessed
Tuesday, 12 May 2020, 10:45 am | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Today is a big day for the West Coast DHB, with the start of the transition process from the old Grey Base hospital to the gleaming new Te Nikau building next door. Board chairman Rick Barker told members on Friday that Fletchers started not long ... More >>
Lockdown Not The Cause Of Water Clarity
Monday, 11 May 2020, 2:44 pm | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
The Rangitaiki River may be flowing crystal clear, but the regional council says this is due to the lack of rain rather than lockdown restrictions. People living alongside the river have noticed the "significantly improved" water clarity ... More >>
Counties Manukau DHB seeks $11.2m from ACC for Whakaari
Friday, 8 May 2020, 1:57 pm | Steve Forbes - Local Democracy Reporter
Counties Manukau District Health Board is in talks with ACC to recover costs associated with treating the victims of the 2019 Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption. More >>
Renwick Was All Set For Kerbside Recycling – Then Coronavirus Happened
Thursday, 7 May 2020, 11:23 am | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
Rolling out kerbside recycling to Renwick would increase the collection bill for Picton and Blenheim residents. CREDIT: CHLOE RANFORD/LDR Kerbside collection in a rural Marlborough town could still happen this year after a flood of annual plan ... More >>
Covid-19: Wairarapa Could Lead Way Out Of Level 3 – Expert
Thursday, 7 May 2020, 11:18 am | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
Epidemiologist Roger Morris was asked about covid-19 in Wairarapa during the Masterton District Council's online annual plan hearings. PHOTO/WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE World-renowned epidemiologist Roger Morris has said Wairarapa could be in a position to move to ... More >>
Kaikoura Council Gears Up To Tackle Unemployment
Wednesday, 6 May 2020, 10:21 am | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Kaikoura's unemployment rate could soar to 15% or higher, in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis. That's the estimate of Kaikoura District Council chief executive Angela Oosthuizen, based on official stats relating to the town's economy. In her ... More >>
DOC Admits Blasting Blunder On Truman Track
Tuesday, 5 May 2020, 1:23 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
The Department of Conservation has admitted it got it wrong when it allowed contractors to blast a rock overhang on the Truman Track at Punakaiki last year. DOC came under fire from conservation groups after using explosives to blast away a sandstone overhang ... More >>
Gisborne Train Link Not Justified: KiwiRail
Monday, 4 May 2020, 1:21 pm | Aaron van Delden - Local Democracy Reporter
The figures don’t stack up for reinstating the train line between Gisborne and Wairoa, KiwiRail boss Greg Miller says. Gisborne District Council has identified the line’s refurbishment as a shovel-ready project that, with Crown funding, could ... More >>
Murupara Checkpoints At Centre Of “vigilante” Stoush
Friday, 1 May 2020, 12:21 pm | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
Lobby group Hobson's Pledge has started a nationwide petition calling for the end of iwi-led "vigilante" checkpoints and has chosen a photo of the Murupara team to illustrate every social media post related to the topic. The photo shows ... More >>
PGF Funding Signed Off For The Coast
Thursday, 30 April 2020, 4:10 pm | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
Whanau returning home to their ancestral lands will be supported through the economic turmoil of Covid-19 as promised money from the Provincial Growth Fund is finalised. Loans from the PGF up the Coast and in Whakatane were finalised yesterday representing ... More >>
Conservation Board Begins Fence-mending With Iwi
Thursday, 30 April 2020, 3:56 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
The West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board has made a start on mending the rift between the board and its Maori members. Chairman Keith Morfett says a workshop with a facilitator last Friday, held by video conference, brought all members together ... More >>
Chlorination “inevitable” For Reefton – Buller Mayor
Thursday, 30 April 2020, 3:52 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
The chlorination of Reefton's water supply is now inevitable, Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine says. The Buller District Council last night approved a package of work worth $1.2 million, to upgrade the town's water system, and make it capable of handling ... More >>
Council Considers Waiving Late Fees For Residents Stung By Coronavirus
Thursday, 30 April 2020, 3:50 pm | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
Marlborough residents and businesses struggling from the economic impacts of coronavirus could get some relief on their rates bills, as the region records a steep jump in late payments. The Marlborough District Council agreed on Thursday to waive late ... More >>
