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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 9]
Tiaki Wai’s First Quarterly Bills Arrive, Revealing Costs From $380 To More Than $700
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 5:43 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
The bills represent the first time households have been charged directly for water, rather than through council rates. More >>
Fast Growing Hamilton Tops Jobseeker Rankings
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 10:19 am | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
There were 10,455 Jobseeker recipients in Hamilton compared with 7,068 in Wellington, although Hamilton has about 17,000 fewer residents. More >>
The Waikato Local Who’s Recycled A Million Flower Sleeves In Three Years
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 10:11 am | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Established in 2023 by a then 21-year-old Wessels, The Flower Loop operates as a closed-loop recycling service, collecting plastic sleeves from florists via dedicated recycling post bags and transforming them into new ones. More >>
Schools Expect To Save Thousands By Ditching Diesel Boilers
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 10:02 am | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Diesel boilers can incur high financial and environmental costs for schools, and more than a quarter of the schools nationally are set to benefit from a Government replacement are in Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough. More >>
'Safety Is Paramount': Mauao Recovery Continues After Fresh Slips
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 9:50 am | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
Tauranga City Council recovery manager Charlie Rahiri said there were “regression movements” in the existing landslides on Mauao over the weekend. More >>
Auckland's Local Food Safety Information Bylaw Could Be Allowed To Expire
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 9:44 am | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
The Food Safety Information Bylaw, which promotes high food safety standards and requires most Auckland restaurants, bars, cafés and takeaways to display a food grade certificate, expires next April. More >>
Bay Of Plenty Divided On Council Merger As Survey Results Clash
Thursday, 30 July 2026, 9:38 am | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council conducted an online survey about local government reform between June 29 and July 12. More >>
Vandalism Sparks Push For Kaiti Hill Road Closure
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 5:38 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
Gisborne District Council is seeking public feedback on a proposal to close Titirangi Maunga/Kaiti Hill to vehicles overnight from 10pm to 6pm year-round, or from 10pm until 5am during the summer. More >>
‘Keep It Open’: Plea To Retain Invercargill’s Homeless Shower
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 5:21 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
June Trotter presented to Invercargill city councillors on Monday, asking for the inner-city site to be updated and remain open. More >>
Tararua District Supplies More Drinking Water Than Manawatū Neighbours
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 5:18 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
Tararua supplied more drinking water than much larger populations, such as Wellington Water LTD, which accessed 966Lcdm, and Palmerston North, which accessed 1102Lcd of the supply. More >>
Gisborne's Housing Plan Draws Mixed Response
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 5:10 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
The council said the proposal would meet housing demands and prevent development from spreading on to productive land. More >>
Māngere Parent Makes 'Last Resort' Plea To Reverse School Bus Route Changes
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 5:05 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting, Toeono said she had originally asked Auckland Transport (AT) to reinstate Route 001 after it was shortened in November 2025. More >>
Clock Ticks On Council Reform As Ruapehu Ponders Next Move
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 4:58 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Under the Government’s Simplifying Local Government reforms, councils have been directed to pursue amalgamation or alternative governance models, such as unitary authorities. More >>
Just 53 Submissions So Far On Tasman's Housing Rule Overhaul
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 4:52 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
The changes are expected to enable more than 4000 homes and change the face of Tasman's towns, but despite some contentious provisions, submissions are low. More >>
'Bro, Why?': Rotorua Left Alone As Merger Deal Collapses
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 4:48 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Rotorua’s merger deal with South Waikato has collapsed just weeks before the deadline. More >>
Could An AI Chatbot Be Mayor? Marlborough Teens Tackle Tech Debate
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 4:32 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
The debate, held at the Marlborough Youth Trust MySpace on Monday, centred on the statement: “By 2055, the most qualified candidate for mayor will be an AI chatbot.” More >>
Wellington, Wairarapa Councils To Vote On Amalgamation Plan With Details Still To Iron Out
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 4:27 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
There are 12 days left for councils to present amalgamation plans to the Government as part of its local government reforms. More >>
'Safety Is Paramount': Mauao Recovery Continues After Fresh Slips
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 3:25 pm | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
Tauranga City Council recovery manager Charlie Rahiri said there were “regression movements” in the existing landslides on Mauao over the weekend. More >>
Multi-Million Dollar Repair Bill For Kaikōura Rivers
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 3:18 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Environment Canterbury estimates the cost of flood repairs and building resilience in Kaikōura will cost in the tens of millions of dollars. More >>
North Canterbury Food Security Initiatives Get Cross-council Support
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 3:08 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Hurunui and Waimakariri district councils are getting in behind food security efforts in the region. More >>
