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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 3]
Eastern Waikato Council Option On Top For Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki
Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 2:51 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
The councils’ response rates outdid Hamilton’s too, despite having a fraction of the population. More >>
Public Toilets Damage Costs Kāpiti Ratepayers $160,000
Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 2:48 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
The Kāpiti Coast District Council said it spent up to $160,000 a year to fix damage at its community halls, changing rooms and public toilets. More >>
‘I Felt Very Intimidated’: Whangārei Woman Skeptical Of Crime Crackdown
Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 8:23 am | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
The former Whangārei District Council disability action group chairwoman and her husband Shane Verryt were returning to their vehicle in a disabled car park after visiting the library when a drunken man approached them. More >>
Twizel Rowing Facility Upgrade Could Boost Disaster Response
Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 8:16 am | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
South Island Rowing (SIR) requested a letter of support from the Mackenzie District Council for the lodge refurbishment, with Council chief executive Angela Oosthuizen presenting the request at a council meeting on June 30. More >>
Southland Mayor Wary Of Possible Divide Under Amalgamation
Monday, 20 July 2026, 6:08 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
July 19, 2026 A southern mayor has warned of a possible divide between rural and urban areas if a single-council option is landed on in his region. On Friday, the Local Government Commission announced next steps for its investigation into Southland ... More >>
South Auckland Creative Proposes Māori And Pacific-Led Digital Arts Pathway
Monday, 20 July 2026, 6:06 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Faimanifo said he was born and raised in Manurewa and had spent two decades working across animation, design, visual effects and tertiary education. More >>
Pledging Pay Rise To Masterton Night Shelter A 'No-Brainer', Councillors Say
Monday, 20 July 2026, 6:03 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
Stella Lennox and Andrea Jackson, both of whom are on the board of Kim’s Way Night Refuge, said the decision was a “no-brainer”. More >>
Community Split Over City Centre Revitalisation Proposal With Nearly 100 Online Submissions
Monday, 20 July 2026, 5:50 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
Local Democracy Reporting found relatively split views, with 35 expressing support for one of the proposed options, while 26 rejected them outright. More >>
Lower Hutt's Proposed Road Low Government Priority But Still High On Council To-Do List
Monday, 20 July 2026, 5:32 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Lower Hutt’s long-proposed dual-lane Cross Valley Link (CVL) might be languishing low on the Government’s transport to-do list, but the local council is still throwing its weight behind the plan. The major transport project pipeline (MTPP) ... More >>
Country Wairarapa Pub Dry While Trapped In Licensing Limbo
Monday, 20 July 2026, 5:29 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
The battle to get beer flowing again at a historic coastal Wairarapa pub has been stalled by a wall of bureaucratic red tape. More >>
Timaru, Mackenzie Joint Water Entity Named
Monday, 20 July 2026, 1:52 pm | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
The two councils officially formed the joint water entity in April, establishing a new operating model and water organisation for the two districts. More >>
South Auckland Creative Proposes Māori And Pacific-Led Digital Arts Pathway
Monday, 20 July 2026, 1:47 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Kennedy Kioa Toi Faimanifo, whose creative career includes work on Bro'Town, Kung Fu Panda, Game of Thrones and the Avatar films, presented his proposal for the academy to the Manurewa Local Board during Thursday's public forum. More >>
Pride Project Seeks Longer Lease For Auckland Base
Monday, 20 July 2026, 8:32 am | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
The Manurewa Local Board is considering advocating to Kāinga Ora for The Pride Project, which is based at Clendon Community House in Manurewa. More >>
Disabled Aucklanders Help Shape City's Emergency Plans
Saturday, 18 July 2026, 4:43 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
The pilot was developed following the 2023 Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, after disabled communities identified shortcomings in emergency planning. More >>
Mauao Summit Track Repairs Completed As Base Track Recovery Begins
Saturday, 18 July 2026, 4:36 pm | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
Geologists and geotechnical engineers found 42 landslides on Mauao’s three main walking tracks, including 24 severe enough to require more than a simple clean-up to reinstate the track. More >>
Judge Throws Out Featherston Residents’ $2 Million Theft Claim Against Bank
Saturday, 18 July 2026, 4:32 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
The bank indicated it was writing in its capacity as mortgagee, and that there was a risk the council could require the bank to meet the arrears. More >>
Councillors Refuse To Attend Board Meetings After Ahluwalia's Return
Saturday, 18 July 2026, 4:28 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Ahluwalia took a leave of absence in May after allegations about his conduct were referred to the SFO, but resumed his duties in late-June. More >>
Glass Pipes Sold Near Auckland Schools Spark Concerns
Saturday, 18 July 2026, 4:11 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Concerns were recently sparked in South Auckland after a resident posted in a local community Facebook group of a local shop selling glass pipes. More >>
Weak Economy Wipes Out Blenheim's 900-Home Shortfall
Saturday, 18 July 2026, 2:52 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
The town was now projected to have 1350 more homes than it would need by 2055, a housing capacity assessment by the Marlborough District Council has found. More >>
Horizons Unitary Council: Low Marks For Maintaining Local Voice
Saturday, 18 July 2026, 2:47 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
From the advisory firm’s modelling, the Horizons unitary model scored weakly on the maintaining local voice criteria. More >>
