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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 34]
Gisborne Train Link Not Justified: KiwiRail
Monday, 4 May 2020, 1:21 pm | Aaron van Delden - Local Democracy Reporter
The figures don’t stack up for reinstating the train line between Gisborne and Wairoa, KiwiRail boss Greg Miller says. Gisborne District Council has identified the line’s refurbishment as a shovel-ready project that, with Crown funding, could ... More >>
Murupara Checkpoints At Centre Of “vigilante” Stoush
Friday, 1 May 2020, 12:21 pm | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
Lobby group Hobson's Pledge has started a nationwide petition calling for the end of iwi-led "vigilante" checkpoints and has chosen a photo of the Murupara team to illustrate every social media post related to the topic. The photo shows ... More >>
PGF Funding Signed Off For The Coast
Thursday, 30 April 2020, 4:10 pm | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
Whanau returning home to their ancestral lands will be supported through the economic turmoil of Covid-19 as promised money from the Provincial Growth Fund is finalised. Loans from the PGF up the Coast and in Whakatane were finalised yesterday representing ... More >>
Conservation Board Begins Fence-mending With Iwi
Thursday, 30 April 2020, 3:56 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
The West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board has made a start on mending the rift between the board and its Maori members. Chairman Keith Morfett says a workshop with a facilitator last Friday, held by video conference, brought all members together ... More >>
Chlorination “inevitable” For Reefton – Buller Mayor
Thursday, 30 April 2020, 3:52 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
The chlorination of Reefton's water supply is now inevitable, Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine says. The Buller District Council last night approved a package of work worth $1.2 million, to upgrade the town's water system, and make it capable of handling ... More >>
Council Considers Waiving Late Fees For Residents Stung By Coronavirus
Thursday, 30 April 2020, 3:50 pm | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
Marlborough residents and businesses struggling from the economic impacts of coronavirus could get some relief on their rates bills, as the region records a steep jump in late payments. The Marlborough District Council agreed on Thursday to waive late ... More >>
Kawerau Approves $934,211 In Three Waters Spending
Wednesday, 29 April 2020, 4:57 pm | Charlotte Jones - Local Democracy Reporter
Kawerau District Council has approved a $934,211 spend on its three waters infrastructure. In a council meeting livestreamed to Facebook on Tuesday, the council approved the spending to refurbish three bores which provide drinking water to the town and to ... More >>
Wairarapa Council Staffers Back On The Job
Wednesday, 29 April 2020, 4:44 pm | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
Masterton District Council's Alastair McDonald, left, and Kevin Pilbrow of Westwood Property, at a site inspection at The Plains, Masterton. PHOTO/SUPPLIED Wairarapa council staffers have returned to a busy backlog of work with the introduction of ... More >>
Works Chair Urges Council To Freeze Rates, Cut Spending And Wages
Wednesday, 29 April 2020, 11:09 am | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
The Kaikoura Council should not be even thinking about a rate increase this year - unless it is prepared to cut spending and wages, according to the council's Works and Services chairman, Derrick Millton. Councillor Millton who runs farming and limeworks ... More >>
Kaikoura Council Running On Empty, ECCO Secretary Warns
Tuesday, 28 April 2020, 10:14 am | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Lois Williams Local democracy reporter Kaikoura ratepayers who want to join Marlborough say the impact of Covid-19 will show the Kaikoura District Council is running on empty. The East Coast Community Organisation (ECCO) has lobbied for the KDC to be ... More >>
‘No Show’ Rotorua Lakes Council Fails To Submit On SNAs
Friday, 24 April 2020, 9:50 am | Felix Desmarais - Local Democracy Reporter
Farmers are “disappointed” after Rotorua Lakes Council failed to independently submit on a piece of government policy they say could result in a six per cent increase in rates. But the council says Local Government NZ submitted on its behalf and it ... More >>
Coronavirus: New Zealand’s First Ocean Salmon Farm Sees Hearing Postponed
Thursday, 23 April 2020, 4:07 pm | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
A fish boss is concerned more salmon will die after a hearing on the country's first "open ocean" salmon farm was delayed by coronavirus. New Zealand King Salmon was met with mixed responses earlier this year when it asked to set up a farm in ... More >>
‘No Show’ Rotorua Lakes Council Fails To Submit On SNAs
Thursday, 23 April 2020, 3:17 pm | Felix Desmarais - Local Democracy Reporter
Farmers are “disappointed” after Rotorua Lakes Council failed to independently submit on a piece of government policy they say could result in a six per cent increase in rates. But the council says Local Government NZ submitted on its behalf and it ... More >>
Lockdown Dog Incidents On The Rise
Friday, 3 April 2020, 3:49 pm | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
An increase in dog attacks in Masterton since the covid-19 lockdown has led to a call for "common sense" from the district council's environmental leader. Three people have suffered attacks from dogs in the last two weeks, and one dog has ... More >>
First Carterton District Mayor Dies
Friday, 3 April 2020, 3:26 pm | Marcus Anselm - Local Democracy Reporter
Barry Keys, who died on Tuesday aged 82, will be remembered as the glue that kept Carterton District Council together at its foundation. Keys was the district council’s first leader after local government reforms in 1989. Alongside the new councillors ... More >>
Coronavirus: Rates ‘freeze’ Considered For Marlborough To Reduce Economic Impact
Thursday, 19 March 2020, 4:42 pm | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
Marlborough District Council chief executive Mark Wheeler provides an update to councillors on the coronavirus pandemic. CREDIT: CHLOE RANFORD/LDR An idea to "freeze" rates has been pitched by Marlborough's civic leaders to show "responsible leadership" ... More >>
Governing From Home: Self-isolating Mayor’s “biggest Challenge”
Tuesday, 17 March 2020, 3:14 pm | Felix Desmarais - Local Democracy Reporter
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick at her home on Tuesday. Photo / Stephen Parker / Rotorua Daily Post [via LDR: single use only] Despite being a “social animal” Rotorua’s Mayor has gone into voluntary self-isolation amid an escalation of measures to stop ... More >>
Plea For DHB To Bring Back School GPs
Monday, 16 March 2020, 10:31 am | Aaron van Delden - Local Democracy Reporter
Young people in Gisborne are calling on the district health board to reverse its decision to pull the pin on free school-based GP appointments – and they have the backing of at least one board member. The Gisborne Girls’ High School year 12 health ... More >>
‘Where’s My Money?’: Parking App Down, And Would-be Parkers Want Answers
Wednesday, 11 March 2020, 4:01 pm | Chloe Ranford - Local Democracy Reporter
A parking app used by several New Zealand councils has gone offline, with councils scrambling for a quick fix amid social media backlash. The PayMyPark smartphone app was this week flagged as "experiencing technical issues" in Marlborough, ... More >>
Council Weighing Up Ways To Reuse Wastewater
Wednesday, 11 March 2020, 3:56 pm | Aaron van Delden - Local Democracy Reporter
Sufficiently treated wastewater can be used to irrigate agricultural land, such as the Poverty Bay flats. Photo: Liam Clayton / The Gisborne Herald - single use only Treated wastewater from Gisborne’s upgraded sewage treatment plant will be ... More >>
