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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 43]
Southern Council Warns Of ‘Tipping Point’ For Building Consent Costs
Wednesday, 22 July 2026, 4:35 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
Invercargill City Council's manager compliance and enforcement Sam Patton revealed on Tuesday her team was down multiple personnel and relying on help from another team to hit its KPIs. More >>
Pegasus Community Centre To Open In October
Wednesday, 22 July 2026, 4:17 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Pegasus Community Centre is on track to open in October, much to the relief of local residents. More >>
Strong Support For Community Bid To Save Ashburton Hall
Wednesday, 22 July 2026, 4:14 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
Around 40 people attended a public meeting called by the Rotary Club of Ashburton last week to discuss whether the community could retain ownership of the Tancred Street hall. More >>
Tapawera School Bus Route Changes A ‘Kick In The Guts’
Wednesday, 22 July 2026, 4:09 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Federated Farmers say the changes disadvantaged rural families, though the Ministry of Education say more children have benefitted. More >>
Whale Of A Time In Kaikōura As Twice-Postponed Festival Set To Go Ahead
Wednesday, 22 July 2026, 3:30 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Kaikōura Whale Festival organisers are hoping for better luck on Sunday, after recent rough weather. More >>
Wairarapa Candidates In Wellington Regional Council By-Election Talk Local Advocacy
Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 5:24 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
Michael Birch Wairarapa needs a councillor who can build support around the council table, not just complain from the sidelines. More >>
Masterton Council Targets Illegal Pipework On Private Properties To Fix Wastewater Overflows
Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 5:01 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
The community rightly expects council to maintain reliable infrastructure, and we take that responsibility seriously. More >>
West Coast Council Holds Off On Climate Adaptation Plan
Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 3:03 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
The Climate Change Response Amendment Bill, introduced to Parliament last Wednesday, requires councils to plan for climate change 30 years into the future and include the costs for it. More >>
'Waste Of Money': Resident Fights Tauranga’s $2.5m Road Proposal
Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 2:57 pm | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
Welcome Bay resident Robert Coe believed the $2.55 million plans were a “waste of money”. More >>
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 >>
