Local Democracy Reporting

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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 35]

Pacific Elders ‘Just Managing’ As Poverty Monitor Reveals Widespread Hardship

Monday, 24 August 2026, 3:51 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter

The inaugural Older Persons Poverty Monitor, published by the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, tracks poverty and hardship among people aged 65 and over across Aotearoa. More >>

Manawatū Awarded Funding For Severe Weather Clean-Up

Monday, 24 August 2026, 3:37 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter

The Government announced on Monday that $250,000 of emergency waste funds was divided and awarded to five councils across the motū who were severely impacted by weather events at the beginning of the year. More >>

Century-Old Human Remains At Risk Of Slipping Onto Coromandel Highway

Monday, 24 August 2026, 2:28 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter

The council will be seeking other parties to help fund the restoration but it’ll likely be without NZTA, which was quoted in the report saying the organisation wouldn’t supply funding or resources as the site “isn’t a priority”. More >>

Raetihi Marae To Close For Four Months For Upgrade

Friday, 21 August 2026, 6:00 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter

Chair Brendan Morgan said the existing ablution block, which includes toilets and showers, would be demolished and rebuilt. More >>

Ngaa Rauru Launches Bid To Boost Voting

Friday, 21 August 2026, 5:56 pm | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting

Fewer than half of 18-24 year old Māori voters are enrolled in the Whanganui electorate, which covers the rohe of Ngaa Rauru. More >>

Builders' Co-Op Calls For Major Reform As Industry Struggles

Friday, 21 August 2026, 5:54 pm | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter

CBS chief executive Carl Taylor said the organisation was formed nine years ago amid frustrations that smaller tradespeople were not being supported under current legislation. More >>

Former Mayor-Turned-NZ First Candidate Grilled Over Policies

Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:32 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter

West Coast Regional Council chairman Colin Smith said tourism uses local infrastructure, including roads and wastewater treatment. More >>

Blackpool Reserve Playground: Gisborne Designs Backed By Elgin Community

Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:23 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter

The designs, created in partnership with Tūranga Health, E Tū Elgin and Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti, could provide nature-based and inclusive play. More >>

Solution For Slip-Prone West Coast Highway Edges Closer

Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:18 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter

The $7m approved by the NZ Transport Agency board followed a pledge to investigate moving the road away from a 250m cliff edge as the first step in a larger project to re-align the road slightly inland. More >>

Tairāwhiti Emergency Waste Funding: Gisborne District Council Gets $115,590 Grant

Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:14 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter

Council director of liveable communities Michele Frey said the support was welcome and would help offset $158,000 in emergency waste management costs. More >>

Napier's 'Flatting For Seniors’ Housing Project Hits Speed Bump

Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:10 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter

Lucy Miller and her husband Mark Baylis have been working on a registered charity committee to raise funds to help build an Abbeyfield House in the city. More >>

Ōtāhuhu Roller Doors Could Become Canvases For Community Stories

Friday, 21 August 2026, 8:15 am | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter

"This is more than just a project to decorate roller doors. It's about community pride, ownership, youth, safety, business, culture, creativity, and telling the stories of Ōtāhuhu," said Ōtāhuhu Town Manager Richette Rodger. More >>

‘Son Of Māngere’: Local Board Backs LOMU Day With $10,000

Friday, 21 August 2026, 8:07 am | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter

South Auckland LOMU Day is due to be held at Māngere Town Centre on 29 August as a free community celebration of Lomu and his legacy. More >>

Pacific Elders ‘just Managing’ As Poverty Monitor Reveals Widespread Hardship

Friday, 21 August 2026, 8:02 am | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter

“We saw some really worrying data on Pacific people. They recorded the highest rates of poverty across seven of the nine measures that we looked at, which was really concerning,” said Alicia Sudden, CE of the NZ Council of Christian Social Services. More >>

Gisborne Land Use: Locals, Leaders, Forestry Stakeholders And Facilitator Meet In Wellington

Friday, 21 August 2026, 7:55 am | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter

“Our meeting in Wellington reinforced the frustrating sense that some influential officials remain disconnected from what is happening on the ground in Tairāwhiti & have seen council as the problem,” said Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti spokesman Manu ... More >>

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