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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 22]
Murray-Benge Aims To Scrap Regional Council If Elected Mayor
Tuesday, 23 September 2025, 3:40 pm | Alisha Evans - Local Democracy Reporter
Western Bay of Plenty mayoral race: Margaret Murray-Benge wants to scrap regional council. More >>
Rotorua Council Axes 19 Jobs, Says Nursery Retail Arm ‘Not Sustainable’
Tuesday, 23 September 2025, 3:15 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Former InfraCore parks and open spaces staff members are being reorganised into five core teams covering asset maintenance, cleaning, gardening, arboriculture and sports and mowing. More >>
Rotorua Needs Its ‘Mojo Back’: Robert Lee’s Mayoral Campaign Driven By Transparency, Rates, Tourism
Tuesday, 23 September 2025, 3:11 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Rotorua councillor Robert Lee runs for Rotorua mayor, citing transparency, rates caps, and oversight. More >>
Top Local Bands Set To Rock Whanganui Voter Drive
Monday, 22 September 2025, 8:52 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Council democracy services manager Anna Palamountain said the aim was to make voting easier, more visible and more appealing. More >>
Congestion, Water Reforms, Cycleways: Grant Dally Sets Out Mayoral Priorities
Monday, 22 September 2025, 8:41 pm | Alisha Evans - Local Democracy Reporter
Western Bay mayoral race: Grant Dally prioritises water reforms, Te Puke congestion. More >>
Tania Tapsell: Unfinished Business Drives Re-Election Bid With Museum And Core Services Top Of Agenda
Monday, 22 September 2025, 8:32 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
She is seeking re-election as mayor in October's local elections. More >>
Ruapehu Māori Ward: Simon Hepi Calls For Practical Solutions
Monday, 22 September 2025, 8:29 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
This candidate profile is one in a series profiling candidates standing for the Ruapehu Māori ward. There are six candidates standing for three vacancies. More >>
Hadley-Chase Seeks Return To Ruapehu Māori Ward, Eyes Mayoralty
Monday, 22 September 2025, 8:26 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
This candidate profile is one in a series profiling candidates standing for the Ruapehu Māori ward. There are six candidates standing for three vacancies. More >>
King’s Mayoralty Scrutinised On Campaign Trail
Monday, 22 September 2025, 8:19 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Tasman mayor Tim King spent much of a candidates' event on Friday defending his council from criticisms from his mayoral opponents. More >>
'We Fought For Māori Wards - Now We Need To Use Them': Low Voter Returns Worry Candidates
Monday, 22 September 2025, 8:15 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
The Māori ward, being contested for the first time in Whanganui, is seen as a significant milestone for representation, but its turnout is tracking at the same low level as the general roll. More >>
Carterton Council Unlocks Key Water Project
Monday, 22 September 2025, 8:03 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
The project, which was managed by Carterton staffer Christo Heyns, was delivered $42,000 under budget and received $1.75m funding from Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, and $128,000 from Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy. More >>
‘Shovel Ready’ – Work Poised To Begin On Maitahi Village
Sunday, 21 September 2025, 7:02 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
The controversial Nelson housing development has been given fast-track approval and, assuming no appeal is lodged, work was expected to begin next month with the first homes ready potentially by late 2027. More >>
Council Rethinks Controversial Coastline Access Ban
Sunday, 21 September 2025, 6:57 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
It had historically been used by the public for access to remote coastal areas, including surf breaks and parts of Aorangi Forest Park but the area had suffered extensive environmental degradation. More >>
Southland Fails To Hit Rubbish Targets
Saturday, 20 September 2025, 7:43 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
A regional discard target of less than 650kg of waste per person, per annum, was exceeded by 80kg per person, but the report noted this was impacted by remediation at Little Tahiti and Ocean Beach landfills. More >>
'For The Sake Of Our Rangatahi': Auckland Community Fights New Bottle Shop
Saturday, 20 September 2025, 7:38 pm | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
The proposed site is a decile 10 area, one of the most deprived 10% areas in New Zealand. According to Auckland Council's Local Alcohol Policy (LAP), the site for the proposed shop was in a Neighborhood Centre Zone, which has added protection against ... More >>
Four New Homes Open In Māngere, But Almost 900 Families Still Waiting
Saturday, 20 September 2025, 6:34 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Penina Trust, a South Auckland NGO, provided a financial capability programme to help them secure a bank loan. More >>
Departing Selwyn Councillors On Bold Decisions And Shotgun-Wielding Landowners
Friday, 19 September 2025, 4:47 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
Voting is underway for a new look Selwyn council, with at least eight new councillors to be elected. Lyall reflected on a time when the council had no real planning in place and was instead being driven by developers. More >>
Dargaville Local Election Candidates Meeting One Of Region's Biggest
Friday, 19 September 2025, 4:43 pm | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
Thirteen would-be Wairoa General Ward councillors are vying for three seats in the Kaipara District Council (KDC) ward - 4.3 times more candidates than available positions. More >>
Māori Ward Candidate Marilyn Davis: ‘Good Health Is The Pinnacle’ For Ruapehu
Friday, 19 September 2025, 4:36 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Born and raised in the district and educated at Orautaha and Raetihi primary schools and Ruapehu College, Davis says she has long combined grassroots advocacy with governance roles. More >>
Wanted: New Invercargill Council Building
Friday, 19 September 2025, 4:32 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
Invercargill City Council and Environment Southland are testing the open market for a joint new office space in Invercargill through a “registration of interest” approach. More >>
