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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
Chilly Chimps: How Hamilton Zoo Keeps Its Residents Warm During Winter Blast
Friday, 31 July 2026, 6:02 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Hamilton Zoo’s chimpanzees love basking in the sun AND are big fans of woollen blankets when it’s cold. More >>
Northland’s Council Merger Plan Highlights Gains, Hurdles Ahead
Friday, 31 July 2026, 5:53 pm | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
Northland councils playing a key role in the region’s $10 billion economy are backing a roadmap towards a single regional authority under the Government's reform. But the final blueprint for amalgamation warns the journey will involve difficult ... More >>
Marlborough Community Blesses Kaikōura Union As Combined Council Details Released
Friday, 31 July 2026, 10:07 am | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
If the merger went ahead, the first election of the new combined council would be in 2028, but Marlborough and Kaikōura would continue to follow their separate Long-Term Plans for a “transition period” until 2031. More >>
Slip By Controversial West Coast Landfill Raises Questions
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 6:06 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
Two cars ploughed into the slip in the dark, without injury. The West Coast Regional Council has said it has not received any complaints about the slip. More >>
Work Underway To Strengthen Auckland's Local Alcohol Policy
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 6:01 pm | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
Auckland Council’s Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) has been in place for two years, and is due for a review in the next four years. More >>
‘This Is Our Baby’: Marlborough Community Farewells Stillborn Baby Boy
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 5:58 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
Marlborough Police chaplain John Etheredge, who led the service, said they were there to acknowledge a life, one that hadn’t been lived, but was sacred nonetheless. More >>
‘Tararua Makes Decisions For Tararua’: Council Opposes Head Start Reforms
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 5:49 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
Local government needed to change, Gilmore said, however "bigger isn't always better" and Head Start carried "significant risks" for Tararua. More >>
'Magic In Their Eyes': Job Programme Helps Gisborne Youth Find Work
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 5:45 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs programme, run by Local Government New Zealand and the Ministry of Social Development, supports those aged 16 to 24 into work. More >>
Tiaki Wai’s First Quarterly Bills Arrive, Revealing Costs From $380 To More Than $700
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 5:43 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
The bills represent the first time households have been charged directly for water, rather than through council rates. More >>
Fast Growing Hamilton Tops Jobseeker Rankings
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 10:19 am | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
There were 10,455 Jobseeker recipients in Hamilton compared with 7,068 in Wellington, although Hamilton has about 17,000 fewer residents. More >>
The Waikato Local Who’s Recycled A Million Flower Sleeves In Three Years
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 10:11 am | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Established in 2023 by a then 21-year-old Wessels, The Flower Loop operates as a closed-loop recycling service, collecting plastic sleeves from florists via dedicated recycling post bags and transforming them into new ones. More >>
Schools Expect To Save Thousands By Ditching Diesel Boilers
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 10:02 am | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Diesel boilers can incur high financial and environmental costs for schools, and more than a quarter of the schools nationally are set to benefit from a Government replacement are in Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough. More >>
'Safety Is Paramount': Mauao Recovery Continues After Fresh Slips
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 9:50 am | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
Tauranga City Council recovery manager Charlie Rahiri said there were “regression movements” in the existing landslides on Mauao over the weekend. More >>
Auckland's Local Food Safety Information Bylaw Could Be Allowed To Expire
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 9:44 am | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
The Food Safety Information Bylaw, which promotes high food safety standards and requires most Auckland restaurants, bars, cafés and takeaways to display a food grade certificate, expires next April. More >>
Bay Of Plenty Divided On Council Merger As Survey Results Clash
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 9:38 am | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council conducted an online survey about local government reform between June 29 and July 12. More >>
Vandalism Sparks Push For Kaiti Hill Road Closure
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 5:38 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
Gisborne District Council is seeking public feedback on a proposal to close Titirangi Maunga/Kaiti Hill to vehicles overnight from 10pm to 6pm year-round, or from 10pm until 5am during the summer. More >>
‘Keep It Open’: Plea To Retain Invercargill’s Homeless Shower
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 5:21 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
June Trotter presented to Invercargill city councillors on Monday, asking for the inner-city site to be updated and remain open. More >>
Tararua District Supplies More Drinking Water Than Manawatū Neighbours
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 5:18 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
Tararua supplied more drinking water than much larger populations, such as Wellington Water LTD, which accessed 966Lcdm, and Palmerston North, which accessed 1102Lcd of the supply. More >>
Gisborne's Housing Plan Draws Mixed Response
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 5:10 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
The council said the proposal would meet housing demands and prevent development from spreading on to productive land. More >>
Māngere Parent Makes 'Last Resort' Plea To Reverse School Bus Route Changes
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 5:05 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting, Toeono said she had originally asked Auckland Transport (AT) to reinstate Route 001 after it was shortened in November 2025. More >>
