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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 5]
Gisborne Council Rejects Toitū Tairāwhiti Bid To Waive $985,450 In Contributions
Friday, 23 October 2026, 5:43 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
The council agreed to a $10,000 grant, equivalent to 7.6% of development contributions, for Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou’s Te Tini o Porou development in 2019. More >>
Parking Fix For Hawke's Bay Sports Hub Gains Momentum
Friday, 23 October 2026, 5:05 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Councillor Alwyn Corban declared a conflict of interest, while councillor Kellie Jessup was absent, leaving 11 councillors voting in favour and two against. More >>
Rates Cap Could Leave Roading Projects High And Dry
Friday, 23 October 2026, 4:54 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Projects like the Conway River bridge replacement on Kaikōura Inland Road could be left to deteriorate under a rates cap, North Canterbury councils fear. More >>
North Canterbury Council Boss Rejects Claims Climate Advice Was Ignored
Friday, 23 October 2026, 4:50 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie rejects suggestions by Kaikōura election candidates that his council has ignored advice from Climate Change Minister Simon Watts on climate change models. More >>
Pipes Or Paperwork? Mayor Says Councils Burdened By Rising Audit Fees
Friday, 23 October 2026, 1:14 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon says rising audit costs are crippling councils. More >>
Famed Coromandel Track Eyes Christmas Reopening At A Third Of Original Cost
Friday, 23 October 2026, 1:10 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
A new $121,000 proposal is now on the table to rebuild the reroute, significantly less than the $303,000 option estimated in 2024. More >>
Northland Leaders Put Council Amalgamation Plans On Ice
Friday, 23 October 2026, 1:07 pm | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
The proposal would initially create two new unitary authorities before eventually transitioning to a single Northland-wide authority. More >>
Mystery Buyer Eyes Up Kāpiti Coast Airport
Friday, 23 October 2026, 1:03 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
An airport spokesperson said on Wednesday that “a sale and purchase agreement is in place”, but noted the section 40 process is run by LINZ, so it was “not appropriate” to comment further. More >>
Canterbury Farmer Branches Out As Solar Farm Takes Root
Friday, 23 October 2026, 1:00 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
ANZA chief executive Carlo Frigerio said it was exciting to herald the start of the company's first New Zealand solar project at a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday. More >>
Ashburton Second Bridge Project On Track Despite Weather Risks
Friday, 23 October 2026, 9:45 am | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
Dalzell said they experienced a full site shutdown in August when the river experienced its highest flow in three years, shooting up over 300 cumecs – about 10 times more than its usual flow of 25-30 cumecs. More >>
Porirua Paid Parking Generates $2m In A Year, But Costs $1.88M
Friday, 23 October 2026, 9:39 am | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Council chief executive Wendy Walker said paid parking was not just to generate extra council revenue, but also deter long-stay parking in short-stay places like Cobham Court. More >>
Councils Agree To Split Costs Of Amalgamation Proposal
Friday, 23 October 2026, 9:34 am | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
The Timaru District Council, with a population of 49,500, paid $45,407 or 56.21% of the costs, while the Waitaki District Council, with 24,600 residents, paid $22,565.93. More >>
'I'd Be Delighted To Leave': Councillor Ejected During Reserve Land Debate
Friday, 23 October 2026, 9:30 am | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Robert Lee was ejected after a clash over a reserve land transfer. More >>
Writing Taranaki Maunga Plan Starts After Public Comments
Friday, 23 October 2026, 9:24 am | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi has held 55 meetings with groups wanting a first say on the plan, which will be called He Kawa Ora mō Te Papa-kura-o-Taranaki. More >>
Kicked To The Curb: Street Flower Displays Axed In Cost-Cutting Move
Thursday, 22 October 2026, 10:23 am | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
A council spokesperson said at the time the company that prepared the baskets had closed, and it had not been able to source another local supplier with the specialist capacity and land area required to grow the basket displays. More >>
Retired Council Boss Received Six-Figure Golden Handshake
Thursday, 22 October 2026, 10:18 am | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
Local Democracy Reporting asked Environment Southland a series of questions, including what the severance payment related to. More >>
Women Flown Out Of Region To Give Birth Due To Hiring Challenges, Not Funding, MP Says
Thursday, 22 October 2026, 10:15 am | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
National’s Kaikōura candidate Stuart Smith had fielded a question about access to healthcare when the issue was raised at a meet-the-candidates meeting in Blenheim on Tuesday. More >>
Mayors Press Incoming Government To Trust Local Decision-Making
Thursday, 22 October 2026, 10:10 am | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
Minister of Local Government Simon Watts responded this week, saying that the 18 reform proposals they’d received under the Head Start proposal showed an “appetite for change” across the motū. More >>
Police Take Strong Stand Against Bottle Shop Linked To Drug Dealing
Thursday, 22 October 2026, 10:06 am | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
According to hearing documents, Alcohol Licensing Inspector Derek Haddy said the current owners of Thirsty Liquor Manurewa had pleaded guilty to selling opium in the bottle store, and were awaiting sentencing this month. More >>
Voting Rights Changes To Reshape Whanganui Council Committees
Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 7:13 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Independent members of council committees, including chairs of key oversight committees, will lose their voting rights from mid-March next year. More >>
