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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 149]
‘Social Deprivation’ A Factor In Lakes DHB Deficit – CEO
Thursday, 5 March 2020, 4:26 pm | Felix Desmarais - Local Democracy Reporter
The head of the Lakes District Health Board says social deprivation is a significant driver behind its deficit of nearly $6.4 million in the year to date, and a public health expert says the inequalities are the result of neo-liberal reforms. In December, ... More >>
SWDC Takes Short Term Pain For Farm Gain
Thursday, 5 March 2020, 4:23 pm | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
Repairs to a major South Wairarapa District Council [SWDC] property asset have taken a bite out of the estate’s profits. Work on upgrades to Pain Farm near Martinborough has limited the income generated by its tenancy. The estate is the single, most-valuable ... More >>
Districts Step Up Virus Plans
Thursday, 5 March 2020, 4:16 pm | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
As central government confirmed a second case of coronavirus in New Zealand, Carterton and Masterton District Councils have taken further steps to manage a potential pandemic. Local authorities, major event organisers, and other organisations are monitoring ... More >>
Nixon Welcomes People Power
Thursday, 5 March 2020, 4:09 pm | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
Tina Nixon says Masterton District Council’s forthcoming consultation on its big issues offers a chance for people power. The Masterton public will get a chance to comment on its annual plan later this month. The big-ticket items will be the future ... More >>
Camping Fines Add Up In Busy Summer
Thursday, 5 March 2020, 4:05 pm | Aaron van Delden - Local Democracy Reporter
The 2019/20 summer season has proven to be a busy one for Gisborne District Council, with big increases in freedom camping infringements and requests for service. The council has issued 41 fines to people who have flouted its freedom camping bylaw ... More >>
The Truth About SNAs
Thursday, 5 March 2020, 3:56 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
The trouble all stems from the government's new National Policy Statements on indigenous biodiversity and freshwater management. Councils will have to give effect to these by listing significant natural areas and wetlands in district and regional plans, ... More >>
Breakaway Kaikoura Ratepayers Urge Council To “get Real”
Thursday, 5 March 2020, 3:52 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Residents of Kaikoura's east coast communities are pressing ahead with a bid to break away from the Kaikoura District Council and become part of Marlborough - whether or not the government is keen. ECCO (East Coast Community Organisation) members including ... More >>
Vacancies Filled After By-election Flop
Wednesday, 4 March 2020, 11:50 am | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
ENSURING REPRESENTATION: Two members of the community were appointed to the Murupara Community Board this week after two elections failed to attract any candidates.CHARLOTTEJONES/LDR After falling short of candidates at two elections, Murupara Community Board has ... More >>
Awatarariki Hearings Continue, “only Luck No One Died”
Wednesday, 4 March 2020, 11:42 am | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
DECISION MAKERS: Independent commissioners Trevor Robinson, Fraser Campbell, Rob van Voorthuysen and Rauru Kirikiri will hear one more day of submissions before deliberating on Thursday. CHARLOTTEJONES/LDR Experts say a debris flow at Awatarariki is more ... More >>
Leaky Pipes Worsen MDC Water Woes
Wednesday, 4 March 2020, 11:29 am | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
Masterton's Waingawa River has been running low this summer. PHOTO/WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE/EMMA BROWN As the on/off water bans continue in Masterton, a national water body says the district’s infrastructure is still way below standard. Masterton District Council ... More >>
Lakes Fail Water Quality Target, But Still Safe To Swim
Wednesday, 4 March 2020, 11:12 am | Felix Desmarais - Local Democracy Reporter
Lakes Water Quality Society president John Gifford at Lake Rotorua. Stephen Parker / Rotorua Daily Post / LDR Twelve of Rotorua’s lakes failed a key water quality test in 2018/19, but the regional council says they are currently safe to ... More >>
SWDC “out of time” for May hearing
Friday, 28 February 2020, 1:44 pm | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
South Wairarapa District Council [SWDC] ran out of time to hit a May deadline for its proposal for upgrades to sewage treatment in Featherston, says chief executive Harry Wilson. More >>
Controversial Civic Centre Upsize Goes Ahead
Friday, 28 February 2020, 1:40 pm | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
New upsized $48 million Whangarei civic centre to be build on former RSA's bowling green in picture - part of a new civic precinct. (Photo Northern Advocate NB single use only) Whangarei ratepayers are to get an upsized $48 million new civic centre ... More >>
Rates Rise ‘worth A Weekly Cuppa’
Friday, 28 February 2020, 1:38 pm | Aaron van Delden - Local Democracy Reporter
Gisborne city ratepayers will be short a cup of coffee a week, a district councillor says, with residential rates set to go up by 6.4 percent, on average, from July. The “cup of coffee” analogy was used by Larry Foster yesterday as the council ... More >>
Council’s Protest Vote On Wetlands Leaves Some Land In Limbo
Monday, 24 February 2020, 11:11 am | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Wetlands that are not in fact wetlands remain in limbo after the West Coast Regional Council yesterday rejected a plan change that would have freed them from looming restrictions. The council's Resource Management Committee voted 5-4 yesterday against ... More >>
Support swells for Lake Rotorua personhood petition
Monday, 24 February 2020, 11:08 am | Felix Desmarais - Local Democracy Reporter
Since Tuesday last week, Renee Kiriona’s petition had ballooned from 2150 signatures to 4078 signatures. More >>
Precautionary Controls Against GMOs Into Northland Under Spotlight Next Week
Monday, 24 February 2020, 11:01 am | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will be under the spotlight in Northland next week at an Environment Court mediation. NAD0558242414 - GMOs for Northland farming - in or out of Proposed Northland Regional Plan? (Photo Northern Advocate, supplied ... More >>
Chorus Wins Court Costs After ‘grossly Misleading Flattery’ Case
Monday, 24 February 2020, 10:52 am | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
A high court judge has awarded Chorus costs. CREDIT: MONIQUE FORD/STUFF/SUPPLIED – SINGLE USE ONLY A telecommunication giant that used "grossly misleading flattery" in a bid to secure a broadband contract with a council has won back ... More >>
Neighbours Rat Out ‘ugly’ Tiny Homes
Wednesday, 19 February 2020, 4:54 pm | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
The Marlborough District Council receives more complaints for "ugly" tiny houses than it does resource consents for them. Marlborough District Council advocacy and practice integration manager Barbara Mead says tiny house owners often seek a ... More >>
Council Keeping Tabs On Water Use
Wednesday, 19 February 2020, 4:48 pm | Aaron van Delden - Local Democracy Reporter
Gisborne’s water use has dropped in line with cooler temperatures in the past week. The district council introduced a total sprinkler ban on Wednesday, with demand for water exceeding the 22.2 million litres a day supplied by Waingake water treatment ... More >>
