Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Local Democracy Reporting
Content from the Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) service is published by Scoop as a registered New Zealand Media Outlet LDR Partner.
Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
‘Historical Wrong’: Council To Say Sorry Over Rejected Lakeland Queen Petition
Monday, 24 August 2026, 6:14 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
The apology comes after the Ombudsman found the rejection was unreasonable. More >>
The Disability Housing Lifeline For Kiwis - Paid For Offshore
Monday, 24 August 2026, 5:58 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Coined ‘Project Paeroa’ and nestled in the new $60 million Paeroa Hills subdivision, the pilot programme contains 12 one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units for 16 residents. More >>
‘We Cannot Say It’s Safe’: Forever Chemicals Found In Lake Rotorua
Monday, 24 August 2026, 5:51 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Rotorua Airport phased out PFAS-containing firefighting foams in the 2000s as New Zealand moved away from the chemicals. More >>
‘More Places For Rangatahi To Just Be’: What Manurewa Youth Want
Monday, 24 August 2026, 5:36 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
MYC chairperson Madison Franklin said the feedback was gathered at different community events, where rangatahi were asked directly what they wanted to see, with the same issues repeatedly emerging. More >>
Pacific Dementia Carers ‘Suffer In Silence’ As Group Seeks Local Support
Monday, 24 August 2026, 4:23 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Sapini Unoi, from caregiver support group Le Malaga, raised the issue with the Manurewa Local Board at its monthly business meeting on Thursday. More >>
Waimarino Health Centre To More Than Double In Size In $4.4m Redevelopment
Monday, 24 August 2026, 4:18 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Health Minister Simeon Brown said the redevelopment would make it easier for people to access the care they need locally. More >>
Hart Hopeful He Will Keep The Lead In Wairarapa Byelection
Monday, 24 August 2026, 4:15 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
With about 90% of all votes counted, Hart led the way under the single transferable vote (STV) system and said he was “quietly hopeful” the result would hold once all votes were counted. More >>
Festival Off, Party On: Marlborough Pub Keeps After-Party Tradition Alive
Monday, 24 August 2026, 4:11 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
The Marlborough Wine & Food Festival will not go ahead in 2027, and would be placed “on hold” in the midst of a difficult events landscape, organiser Wine Marlborough announced on Thursday. More >>
Pacific Elders ‘Just Managing’ As Poverty Monitor Reveals Widespread Hardship
Monday, 24 August 2026, 3:51 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
The inaugural Older Persons Poverty Monitor, published by the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, tracks poverty and hardship among people aged 65 and over across Aotearoa. More >>
Manawatū Awarded Funding For Severe Weather Clean-Up
Monday, 24 August 2026, 3:37 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
The Government announced on Monday that $250,000 of emergency waste funds was divided and awarded to five councils across the motū who were severely impacted by weather events at the beginning of the year. More >>
Century-Old Human Remains At Risk Of Slipping Onto Coromandel Highway
Monday, 24 August 2026, 2:28 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
The council will be seeking other parties to help fund the restoration but it’ll likely be without NZTA, which was quoted in the report saying the organisation wouldn’t supply funding or resources as the site “isn’t a priority”. More >>
Raetihi Marae To Close For Four Months For Upgrade
Friday, 21 August 2026, 6:00 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Chair Brendan Morgan said the existing ablution block, which includes toilets and showers, would be demolished and rebuilt. More >>
Ngaa Rauru Launches Bid To Boost Voting
Friday, 21 August 2026, 5:56 pm | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
Fewer than half of 18-24 year old Māori voters are enrolled in the Whanganui electorate, which covers the rohe of Ngaa Rauru. More >>
Builders' Co-Op Calls For Major Reform As Industry Struggles
Friday, 21 August 2026, 5:54 pm | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
CBS chief executive Carl Taylor said the organisation was formed nine years ago amid frustrations that smaller tradespeople were not being supported under current legislation. More >>
Former Mayor-Turned-NZ First Candidate Grilled Over Policies
Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:32 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
West Coast Regional Council chairman Colin Smith said tourism uses local infrastructure, including roads and wastewater treatment. More >>
Blackpool Reserve Playground: Gisborne Designs Backed By Elgin Community
Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:23 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
The designs, created in partnership with Tūranga Health, E Tū Elgin and Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti, could provide nature-based and inclusive play. More >>
Solution For Slip-Prone West Coast Highway Edges Closer
Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:18 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
The $7m approved by the NZ Transport Agency board followed a pledge to investigate moving the road away from a 250m cliff edge as the first step in a larger project to re-align the road slightly inland. More >>
Tairāwhiti Emergency Waste Funding: Gisborne District Council Gets $115,590 Grant
Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:14 pm | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
Council director of liveable communities Michele Frey said the support was welcome and would help offset $158,000 in emergency waste management costs. More >>
Napier's 'Flatting For Seniors’ Housing Project Hits Speed Bump
Friday, 21 August 2026, 2:10 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Lucy Miller and her husband Mark Baylis have been working on a registered charity committee to raise funds to help build an Abbeyfield House in the city. More >>
Gisborne Land Use: Locals, Leaders, Forestry Stakeholders And Facilitator Meet In Wellington
Friday, 21 August 2026, 7:55 am | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
“Our meeting in Wellington reinforced the frustrating sense that some influential officials remain disconnected from what is happening on the ground in Tairāwhiti & have seen council as the problem,” said Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti spokesman Manu ... More >>
