Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Local Democracy Reporting
Content from the Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) service is published by Scoop as a registered New Zealand Media Outlet LDR Partner.
Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 21]
Whakatāne Candidate Promises To Tour Country For Rates Reform
Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 5:37 pm | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
Rates reform has been at the forefront of his campaign for a Whakatāne-Ōhope ward seat on council, and he announced this week that he plans to form an incorporated society after the election. More >>
Waimakariri Mayor Calls Out Keyboard Warriors
Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 5:32 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Waimakariri District Council signed off ahead of Saturday's election, with councillors speaking out on some negative social media commentary. More >>
‘Significant Opportunity’: Council Selling Havelock North Land Used By Scouts And Potters
Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 5:19 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Candidates in the Hastings/Havelock North ward Local Body election are split on the land sale, with some saying decisions like this should be left to the incoming council. More >>
Mayors Hail A Community Win, After Police Backdown
Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 5:12 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Canterbury police have backed down, following a community backlash to a proposed restructure of rural policing. More >>
More Sleuthing Planned To Track E.Coli In Westport Lagoon
Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 5:08 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Results showed contamination in the lagoon from farm run-off, birds and human septic waste, the council’s Resource Management committee heard yesterday. More >>
Aucklanders Urged To Vote As Election Enters Final Week
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 6:16 pm | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
As of today, 16.4% of votes have been received from the 1,195,533 eligible voters. Howick (Flat Bush), Papakura and Henderson Massey remain the lowest turnout for voters. More >>
Departing West Coast Chair On His Biggest Challenges
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 6:13 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
In his valedictory speech Mr Haddock recalled ‘’culture shock” on finding out the joint rating district committees had not had meetings for several years and had seen little information from the Council. More >>
Hastings Bars Forced To Close An Hour Earlier Than Napier
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 5:42 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Nick Keene, Hospitality NZ’s interim chief executive, said the decision would create the very issues everyone wanted to avoid, such as patrons travelling between districts where bars would still be open. More >>
The Marlborough Rivers Too Dirty To Swim In
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 5:36 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
After monthly monitoring at 54 sites, the latest report has graded 29% of Marlborough rivers as having unacceptable water quality. More >>
Cleared For Takeoff: Ashburton Aviation Museum Expansion Pushes Ahead
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 5:33 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
The museum is home to one of New Zealand's largest collections of aircraft, with over 40 preserved aircraft, including rare military jets like the Harrier GR3 and Skyhawk. More >>
Nelson Tasman Election: Everything You Need To Know
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 5:29 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
An overview of the key information for voters in the region who haven't yet voted. More >>
Hawke’s Bay Water Users Invest $3.8m In Tukituki Dam Study
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 5:24 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
The funding triggers access to a further $3m grant from the Government's Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) for a $6.8m study into the feasibility of the dam. More >>
Fuel Price Competition Coming To Mid Canterbury
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 5:20 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
Chief executive Philippe Dubau said that construction should start in November and the opening is planned no later than the end of the first quarter in 2026. More >>
Bus Access To Nelson Shopping Centre No Closer
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 5:17 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Despite years of pushing, one local bus advocate is disappointed that a busy strip mall isn't expected to get a bus stop in the foreseeable future. More >>
Which Southland Mayor Spent The Most This Term?
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 5:13 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
Total spending for Southland's mayors during the current term has topped more than $192,000 - not including one of the region's largest councils. More >>
141-Year-Old Rural Hall For Sale - Quirks And All
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 5:10 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
Once a place of dancing, celebration, and socialising, Carterton's Belvedere Hall is on the market. More >>
Palestine Profit Splits New Plymouth’s Would-Be Mayors
Monday, 6 October 2025, 4:18 pm | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
Via the Mercer fund, NPDC owns small slices of eight companies listed by the United Nations as enabling and profiting from the expansion of Israeli settlements in Palestinian Occupied Territories More >>
Pacific Voice Steps Up In Christchurch Ward With Lowest Voter Engagement
Monday, 6 October 2025, 4:11 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Even targeted campaigns for Māori, Pacific and youth voters in 2019, such as a Pacific Leaders Breakfast, did little to lift engagement. More >>
Defective Paint Forces Closure Of Napier’s Tom Parker Fountain
Monday, 6 October 2025, 3:59 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
It’s not the first time there’s been paint troubles for the fountain. In 2019, Hawke’s Bay Today reported that the council had called in a makeover team, including a painting and specialist coatings crew because it had been prone to wearing away. More >>
Pacific Candidates Clash And Converge On South Auckland’s Future
Sunday, 5 October 2025, 8:44 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Six Pasifika candidates went head-to-head in a live 531pi debate. More >>
