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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
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 >>
Iwi Proposal Would Reshape Councils Around Mountains And Rivers
Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 5:38 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Discussions between Ruapehu District Council, iwi partners and local communities have ramped up in the last week as the first deadline looms in the Government's local government reform programme. More >>
Thames-Coromandel’s 100% Strike Rate For Youth Employment Initiative
Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 5:33 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Thames-Coromandel’s programme is run by community partnerships co-ordinator Helen Flynn, who described the job as creating “life-changing stories” for some by providing local work for local people. More >>
City Fountain Or Bubble Bath? The Prank Requiring Regular Council Fixing
Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 5:18 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
A popular prank in the southern city is to fill the water with soap suds and watch as foam billows into the air, but the gag is costing Invercargill City Council more than $5000 a year to fix. More >>
‘Door Open For Taupō’ As Rotorua Locks In With South Waikato
Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 5:15 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting, Mayor Tapsell said Rotorua was ready to “lock in” with South Waikato. More >>
Greymouth Mayor Accuses Greenpeace Of 'Scaremongering' Protest
Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 4:31 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
Greenpeace announced today [July 28] it has unfurled an 18 square metre banner from a giant rimu tree in an unnamed West Coast forest, to coincide with World Conservation Day. More >>
Taranaki Hapū Back On Whenua A Decade After Treaty Settlement
Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 4:18 pm | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
A South Taranaki hapū has set up an arts, construction and horticulture training centre on land that took a decade to get back, even after a Treaty settlement. Ōkahu-Inuāwai opened Tokaora Te Tapuae Pae Pātūtū on Friday on the site of the ... More >>
Where Should Nelson’s New $70m-Plus Civic Centre Go?
Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 10:52 am | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
The facility will combine the council building with library and community hub services, and will cost between $73 and $88 million, depending on where people want it to be located. More >>
