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Local Democracy Reporting
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Local Democracy Reporting - Latest News [Page 1]
Kawerau Council Riding High As Satisfaction Ratings Soar
Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 12:37 pm | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
Respondents were asked to rate 20 council services and facilities, with 15 of these achieving positive customer ratings of 70 percent or higher, and nine achieving above 80 percent. More >>
Carterton Rates Plan Could Stump Forestry Sector
Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 12:32 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
During Question Time in Parliament on Tuesday, Local Government Minister Simon Watts said the days of double digit rates increases were “coming to an end” and that a rates cap would “put a brake on excessive rates increases”. More >>
Flush With Potential: Shifting Wastewater From Sea To Soil
Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 12:27 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
From irrigating crops to sports fields, various options are being explored in Nelson about how to reduce the amount of treated wastewater that is discharged into the sea. More >>
Heat On Senior Staff As Councillors Pick Apart Landslide Failures
Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 12:19 pm | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
Councillors probed how the council handled information before the tragedy, including why some monitoring appeared to have stopped, how reports about risk were escalated and why these did not make it to council meetings. More >>
Far North Approves New Independent Dog Objections Panel As First Case Awaits Hearing
Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 10:59 am | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
Council staff said dog control hearings were quasi-judicial proceedings requiring decision makers to apply principles of natural justice, weigh evidence, avoid conflicts of interest and provide written reasons for their decisions. More >>
'The Holes Will Get Bigger': $1.9m To Test Lake Wall Fixes Labelled 'Delay Tactics'
Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 10:46 am | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
The council says the wall, built for $11m in 2008, could cost up to $25m to repair. More >>
'Asinine' Speed Bump Removal Plan: Tāhunanui Hills Residents Forced To Be First Responders
Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 10:40 am | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Nelson residents who have responded to crashes outside their homes want the council to change its mind and keep speed bumps installed, but not everyone in their neighbourhood agrees. More >>
Wairarapa Water Entity Eyes Up New HQ
Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 10:32 am | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
In the organisation’s latest newsletter, board chair Adrienne Young-Cooper said work to establish Waitī Waters continued at pace and thanked staff from the four councils for contributing to the transition on top of their day-to-day responsibilities. More >>
Long-Awaited Amberley Dog Park In Sight
Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 10:29 am | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Hurunui District Council is to consult on a proposal to develop a dog park in a plantation reserve near Amberley. More >>
'We Are Not Magicians': Canterbury Councils Hit Back At Rates Cap
Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 8:15 am | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
North Canterbury councils say costs imposed by Government are helping to push up rates, as they face the prospect of a rates cap. More >>
Two New Faces For West Coast Conservation Board
Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 5:33 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
Dr Wards previously served as a principal adviser at the Ministry of Primary Industries and was branch chairman of Forest and Bird in Upper Hutt for 20 years. More >>
Cash Prizes For Conservation Offered To Coast
Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 5:29 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
A new conservation awards programme boasting $7500 in cash prizes could be accepted by the West Coast Conservation Board today. More >>
Hastings Blossom Parade Returns With New Market And Shorter Route
Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 5:24 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
The annual event is funded by Hastings District Council. Hastings Mayor Wendy Schollum said the parade and festival were an important part of the district’s identity and heritage. More >>
Lower Hutt's Flood Defence Costs Balloon By Extra $185M
Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 5:20 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
The council blamed the surge on “a range of factors”; on changing designs, inflation and a more detailed understanding of completing overlapping projects in a confined river corridor. More >>
Demand At Ōtara Overnight Clinic More Than Double Forecast
Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 5:13 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Maps supplied by Health NZ show people using the clinic came from across Auckland, although most were concentrated in Ōtara and surrounding South Auckland suburbs. More >>
Abatement Notices In Westport And Reefton
Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 5:05 pm | Vihan Dalal - Local Democracy Reporter
Westport and Reefton are on the regional council's radar with abatement and infringement notices for illegal material discharge and illegal structures. More >>
Doggone It: National Dog Show Canned Due To Manfeild Surface Concerns
Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 4:53 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
The loss of the national show was a blow for the venue which had been trying to increase use of its facilities. More >>
Bid To Stop Canterbury Water Project Expansion Fails
Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 4:49 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
August 31, 2026 A significant Mid Canterbury water rehabilitation project has been given the green light to expand, pending approval of strengthened conditions. The Hekeao Hinds Water Enhancement Trust lodged consent applications at the end of ... More >>
Mount Maunganui Slip: Full Reopening Of Facilities Could Cost Up To $38m
Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 12:12 pm | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
The massive slip crashed down from Mauao into the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park on January 22, after heavy rain. Seven months on, the council-owned campground and damaged Mount Hot Pools next door remain closed. More >>
Kāpiti Coast Weighs Up $1.4m Splash On Manu Pool
Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 12:02 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
“Deferring construction significantly increases the risk of pool closures due to potential plant failure adding avoidable costs to council,” said the council paper. More >>
