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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 16]
Shelter For Whakatāne's Rough Sleepers
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 5:08 pm | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
Rotary Whakatāne president John van Boheemen said Rotary had been concerned about the number of rough sleepers around the country and wanted to do something practical to help them. More >>
'Relieved' – Nelson Councillor’s Legal Issues Ironed Out
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 5:02 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Lisa Austin has had a tumultuous first term, but she has now received approval for her financial interests from the Auditor-General just several weeks after facing being dismissed from her seat. More >>
Horizons Calls Halt To 11 Iwi Partnership Processes Ahead Of RMA Repeal
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 4:58 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Horizons Regional councillors have agreed to wind down the Mana Whakahono ā Rohe (MWāR) processes initiated by 14 iwi entities and shift toward alternative partnership arrangements. More >>
Ngāti Ruanui Recruits Rangatahi To Close Voter Gap
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 4:26 pm | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
The South Taranaki iwi says campaigners in their late teens and early twenties can reach young would-be voters in ways older recruiters can’t. More >>
Tasman Council’s Rivers Team ‘Under-Resourced’
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 4:21 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Deputy mayor Brent Maru said river management was “one of the most talked about areas of concern” in the community. More >>
Nelson Skate Park Aims To ‘grow Olympians’
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 11:19 am | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Nelson is poised to get a brand-new $6.3 million skate park that was hoped to develop local talent and to attract skaters across the country and further afield. More >>
Car Parks Could Go For Upgrade Of 'disaster' Nelson Cycleway
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 11:14 am | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
A widely-criticised cycleway in Nelson is poised to be upgraded, but the preferred option would remove car parks along St Vincent Street. More >>
Whakatāne's Main Street To Host Motorsport Rally Opening
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 11:07 am | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
Whakatāne District Council has agreed to close The Strand, between the Quay Street-George Street roundabout and Commerce Street between 3pm and 7pm both days of the rally. More >>
'Pull The Plug': Government Reforms Could Halt New Hawke’s Bay Water Rules
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 10:27 am | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
The council has spent years developing the rules, but the Government is overhauling the resource-management framework, which could leave them partly or entirely redundant. More >>
Independent Review Clears Horizons Councillor Of Breaking Rules
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 10:14 am | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
At a council meeting in Palmerston North on Tuesday, Horizons Regional councillor Elijah Pue said the investigation confirmed his position that he had acted appropriately. More >>
Upper Hutt Weighs Māori Wards For Next Two Local Elections
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 10:08 am | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
The local Ōrongomai Marae, as well as mana whenua Wellington Tenths Trust, Palmerston North Māori Reserve Trust and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, were supportive of Māori wards in Upper Hutt. More >>
Carterton Council Asked To Waive $18k Water Bill
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 1:31 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
Usually, when a ratepayer has arranged and paid for the leak to be repaired, & where no further leak alarm was being recorded, council can approve a remission, provided the required supporting documentation was completed & relevant criteria was met. More >>
Petone Power Outage Affecting Over 100 Properties
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 1:26 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Commercial premises affected include Mitre 10’s Petone store on Bouverie St. More >>
‘About Us, Without Us’: Trust Seeks Rewrite Of Rotorua Lakes Funding Deal
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 1:24 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Trust's proposal to transfer $2m in funding opens wider debate on lake management. More >>
What Are The Three Options For Nelson's New Civic Centre?
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 1:06 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
An explainer for the three different site options put forward for the facility. More >>
Carterton Forestry Property Rates Could Go Sky High
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 10:38 am | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
Mayor Steve Cretney said councillors had not yet made a decision on whether these changes should proceed, and said any changes would be subject to community feedback, hearings, and further council deliberations before a final decision was made. More >>
Closing Porirua Landfill Could Cost $30m
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 10:34 am | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Indicative figures presented to Porirua City Council at a workshop last week show officials plan to allocate $30m to the waste budget in the next 10-year long-term plan - more than what was set aside for roading and local parks. More >>
Gisborne Forestry Companies Halt Harvesting As Consent Conditions Called Unworkable
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 10:30 am | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
After severe weather events, including Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, Gisborne District Council (GDC) introduced stricter consent rules to reduce the risk of woody debris reaching beaches and waterways. More >>
Community Pressure Pays Off As Waimarino Health Centre Work Begins
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 10:23 am | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
The leaders say expanding and refurbishing the Waimarino Health Centre is an important step toward more integrated and accessible healthcare for the Waimarino community. More >>
Auckland Speed Table Modified After Complaints, Claims Of Damage To Vehicles
Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 10:18 am | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
August 24, 2026 South Auckland A resident group in a west Auckland suburb is fuming over the wasted tax and ratepayer money being spent to modify a new speed table ramp that was part of a million dollar project five years ago. The speed table ... More >>
