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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
Ohakune Residents Still Boiling Drinking Water As Town Enters ‘Recovery Mode’
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 7:10 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Civil defence controller Vini Dutra said three consecutive days of clear test results are required before the boil water notice can be lifted. More >>
Former Porirua Councillor Tracy Johnson Dies
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 7:06 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
“She gave a great deal to Porirua and to the people around her. Our city is now missing one of its shining stars,” said Mayor Anita Baker More >>
Councillor Takes Aim At West Coast's Combined Plan
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 7:03 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
Both Cummings and Birchfield have previously criticised the council for hiring consultants from the North Island to process consent applications, leading to longer waiting times. More >>
Paid Sunday Parking Could Undermine Hamilton CBD’s Two Hours Free, Say Business Owners
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 6:53 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
"They should be encouraging people to come to the CBD... when you look at how many empty shops there are around, it's not easy making a living in the CBD so they turn around & just make it harder," says vintage store Fossick’s co-owner John Needham. More >>
Mayors Slam ‘Pointless’, Costly Reviews That’ll Be Voided By Council Mergers
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 3:44 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Matamata-Piako District Council Mayor Ash Tanner agreed with his counterpart Bech, questioning whether central Government “even have a grasp on what we actually do”. More >>
NRC Explores How AI Could Boost Council Services And Decision-Making
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 3:37 pm | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
The project involves working with an AI consultancy to map and assess current business processes, identify inefficiencies, and determine where artificial intelligence tools could add value. More >>
‘Game-Changer' Thermal Drones Uncover Threatened Whio In Tongariro River
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 3:32 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
The technology had the immediate advantage of making it safer and less time-consuming to monitor the taonga species in high-risk and often remote rivers and streams. More >>
Kaikōura's Three Seats 'Not Tenable Long-term' - Marlborough Councillor
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 3:27 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
Councillor John Hyndman said while he was happy for Kaikōura to have three councillors for now, it was “not tenable long-term”. “8% of the population can't have 17.5% of the voting power. I think we've got to sort this out before mid 2030,” he said. More >>
ECan Report Card Described As 'Stellar'
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 3:21 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Environment Canterbury staff have updated councillors on the progress of council's 2025/26 annual report. More >>
Canterbury Town May Finally Get A Bus Service
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 3:17 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
A North Canterbury-based bus company is negotiation with Environment Canterbury to run a bus service between Amberley and Christchurch. More >>
Late Arrival Sparked Fears For Kaikōura's Dotterels
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 3:13 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Banded dotterels have been late returning home to nest along Kaikōura's coastline, amid last month's flood event and fears over avian bird flu. More >>
North Canterbury Schools Set To Light Up On Solar Power
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 3:08 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Six North Canterbury schools have been included in the Government's $30m solar on schools programme. More >>
The Council Decision That Passed In ‘0.012 Seconds’
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 2:46 pm | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Hauraki Mayor Toby Adams said his council's decision to stick with FPP took “0.012 seconds”, but he was far less impressed by the Government's stance on providing relief from requirements that could become redundant through amalgamation. More >>
Marlborough Artists In Limbo As Region Loses Control Of Arts Funding
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 12:39 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
Mayor Nadine Taylor wrote to local MP Stuart Smith expressing “deep disappointment” in the decision and spoke against decision-making for Marlborough coming out Nelson. More >>
Kaikōura's Three Seats 'Not Tenable Long-term' - Marlborough Councillor
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 12:24 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
Councillor David Croad voiced concern about having the council so unbalanced for two terms. “We need to be thinking about right-sizing the governance structure for Marlborough,” he said. More >>
Pacific Aucklanders Missing Out On Council Opportunities
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 9:25 am | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
The Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel is calling for better access to council grants and procurement, support for Pacific businesses and greater participation in local democracy. More >>
Rotorua Seeks Four-Week Extension After Head Start Proposal Falls Apart
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 9:20 am | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
Rotorua wants four weeks to salvage Head Start reform bid after a regional plan collapsed. More >>
The Councillor Who Stood Alone Against Merger Deal
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 8:50 am | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
Ōpōtiki District Council voted last week to approve an outline Head Start proposal for an Eastern Bay unitary council, alongside Whakatāne and Kawerau district councils. More >>
'More Than Disappointing; It’s Frustrating': Tairāwhiti Erosion Plan Rejected
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 8:46 am | Imogen Brophy - Local Democracy Reporter
In December last year, Gisborne District Council applied for an exemption from the halt on council plan changes under the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025. More >>
Ōtorohanga, Waitomo Mayors Push King Country Council Plan At Parliament
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 8:29 am | Bronson Perich - Local Democracy Reporter
Ōtorohanga District Mayor Rodney Dow, Waitomo Mayor John Robertson, & council representatives met with Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson last week to show the Government that their councils and residents supported the potential amalgamation. More >>
