Local Democracy Reporting

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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 42]

End Of The Line For Melling Train Station

Friday, 26 December 2025, 3:16 pm | Sue Teodoro - Local Democracy Reporter

The new station and its park and ride facilities are being built about 300 meters south of the existing location. More >>

The Town That Opened Its Doors To Polish Refugee Children

Thursday, 25 December 2025, 5:06 pm | Sue Teodoro - Local Democracy Reporter

It's been eight decades since hundreds of children found a new home in Pahīatua during WWII. More >>

More Hornets Expected Over Summer, Public Urged To Remain Vigilant

Wednesday, 24 December 2025, 3:03 pm | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter

To date, there have been been reported sightings only in Auckland - with the discovery of queen hornets and nests in the Glenfield and Birkdale areas. More >>

Council Workers’ Quick Actions Save Great-Grandmother’s Life

Tuesday, 23 December 2025, 5:14 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter

Sandra Bristowe, 78, had collapsed in her front garden and started "grabbing at her chest" and complaining of pain. More >>

Caught On Camera Damaging Headstone, But Police Say Evidence Not Enough

Friday, 19 December 2025, 5:22 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter

The headstone has been vandalised on five separate occasions, including one incident where the family captured video evidence of it happening, but police say it wasn't enough to progress a prosecution. More >>

Community Cheers As Booze Back On Tap At Castlepoint Hotel Bar

Friday, 19 December 2025, 5:20 pm | Sue Teodoro - Local Democracy Reporter

The Castlepoint Hotel - the Whakataki recently has been given a reprieve and is now allowed to sell alcohol pending the outcome of its appeal next year. More >>

300 Hours Of Work Destroyed: Vandals Leave Featherston’s Christmas Tree In Tatters

Thursday, 18 December 2025, 5:37 pm | Sue Teodoro - Local Democracy Reporter

The tree, handmade by a local craft collective entirely from recycled materials, was found in tatters after it came down on Monday night. More >>

Condescending And Costly: Advocates Slam Disability And Ageing Revamp

Thursday, 18 December 2025, 4:26 pm | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting

Girling-Butcher said the focus group was being promoted by people with no experience of barriers that disabled people are trying to remove. More >>

Dargaville’s Town Hall Replacement By 2028: Deputy Mayor

Thursday, 18 December 2025, 4:21 pm | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter

Deputy mayor Gordon Lambeth said he wanted to see a replacement civic complex completed before the end of the current council term. More >>

Homeless Shower Options Still Being Explored In Invercargill

Thursday, 18 December 2025, 4:17 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter

The inner-city Wachner Place Restroom offers a free shower which is used twice a day on average, equating to about $270 per time based on overall running costs. More >>

Hawke's Bay Cities In Level 3 Water Restrictions As Usage Hits 95 Million Litres A Day

Tuesday, 16 December 2025, 4:59 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter

Hastings and Napier water restrictions have been upgraded to Level 3, meaning sprinkler use is now banned. More >>

'Take A Mask': Rotorua Tourist Toilets Not Up To Standard

Tuesday, 16 December 2025, 4:57 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter

Whakarewarewa toilets have been labelled an embarrassment, with new facilities planned soon. More >>

Tasman Needs More Townhouses - Could A Design Competition Help?

Friday, 12 December 2025, 3:43 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter

Concerns about the rate of intensification in Tasman are causing councillors to consider "creative" solutions on how to encourage uptake. More >>

'Nowhere Near Enough': 780-Tonne Lake Weed Disaster Lays Bare Rotorua’s Funding Gap

Friday, 12 December 2025, 3:35 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter

A storm on 12 November caused masses of weed from the CBD-sized bed on the bottom of Lake Rotorua to detach, surface and collect on the foreshore. More >>

Deputy Mayor Slams Napier Mayor's Failed Committee Move

Friday, 12 December 2025, 3:30 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter

Napier's Deputy Mayor Sally Crown said Mayor Richard McGrath's proposal to omit mana whenua from this term's committees had blindsided councillors. More >>

Nearly 1200 Dog-Related Complaints In Wairarapa Over 2024/25 Year

Friday, 12 December 2025, 3:28 pm | Sue Teodoro - Local Democracy Reporter

Animal control officers in Wairarapa councils were kept busy with nearly 1200 dog-related call outs during the last financial year. More >>

Relief And Excitement For New Pekatahi Bridge On SH2

Friday, 12 December 2025, 3:25 pm | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter

Whakatāne Mayor Nandor Tanczos says the government's plan to replace the ageing Pekatahi Bridge shows "a collective push around a unified purpose can really make a difference". More >>