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]
Trust 'Very Disappointed' After Losing Māngere Markets Licence
Friday, 26 June 2026, 6:22 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
The change followed a 2025 decision by the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board to undertake an expression of interest (EOI) process to find a new market operator. More >>
Ahluwalia Returns To Board After SFO Referral
Friday, 26 June 2026, 6:18 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
Board chair Heather Andrew confirmed Ahluwalia had resumed participating in workshops and business meetings. More >>
Rangitīkei Rates Increase Kept Below 10% Forecast
Friday, 26 June 2026, 6:15 pm | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
A public hearing was held in May to offer 13 residents the opportunity to speak on the annual plan and alongside the 48 community submissions the district council had been sent before the end of April. More >>
Marlborough To Discuss Merging With Kaikōura As Reform Deadline Looms
Friday, 26 June 2026, 6:11 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
The Head Start pathway announced in May gave councils three months to present their amalgamation proposals, or else take the Backstop pathway in 2027 which could lead to the government deciding on amalgamations for them. More >>
Wellington Council To Consult On Rates Shakeup
Friday, 26 June 2026, 6:07 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Councillor Sam O’Brien said the council was presented with a chance to drive more development through land-value rating and it was “insanity” not to be jumping at it. More >>
Major Wellington Event Tickets Could Bake In Public Transport Fares
Friday, 26 June 2026, 5:56 pm | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
The average return journey to a stadium event was about $12 a person, but Metlink only gets back $1-$2 per ticket under the current arrangement. More >>
Māori Providers Say Taranaki Ready For New Med School Doctors
Friday, 26 June 2026, 5:48 pm | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
The Government last week announced Taranaki will be one of five areas hosting students from the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine from 2028. More >>
Will Rotorua’s Māori Ward Survive A Merger? Council Seeks Answers
Friday, 26 June 2026, 5:44 pm | Mathew Nash - Local Democracy Reporter
The council is considering six potential merger combinations. More >>
'Drive The Bus Or Be Roadkill': Tauranga Pursues Reform Proposal
Friday, 26 June 2026, 5:36 pm | Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter
Head start allows councils to voluntarily propose mergers, rather than wait for compulsory reforms – the backstop pathway. More >>
Warning Of Homelessness 'Explosion' Despite New Government Funding
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 11:02 am | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Ministers Chris Bishop and Tama Potaka have announced $14.5 million in nationwide funding for services supporting people experiencing homelessness, with Hamilton in line to receive a share. More >>
Blenheim Quarry Proposal Sparks Community Backlash - But Few Got To Weigh In
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 10:49 am | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
Earthworks company Gill Construction filed a resource consent application in February to open the Taylor Pass Quarry about 5km south of Blenheim on Taylor Pass Rd. More >>
Rangitīkei Mayor Calls Council Reforms “Purely Political”
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 10:45 am | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
The deadline for those across Rangitīkei to share their feedback with council on the Government’s amalgamation reforms had been pushed out for people submitting physical forms, but online submissions had closed. More >>
Whakatāne CBD Alcohol Ban Aims To Tackle Rough Sleepers' Day-Drinking
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 10:40 am | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
At a hearing on the bylaw change, Whakatāne Police Sergeant Christopher Howard said police had seen a recent spike in the number of rough sleepers drinking in the town centre during the day, often resulting in offensive behaviour. More >>
$700k Litter Bins Discarded By Hauraki District Council
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 10:35 am | Jordan Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
The bins were designed to alert staff when they were full, and optimise collection by compacting rubbish and saving labour costs. More >>
'Absolutely Critical' Wairarapa Road Gets More Coastal Erosion Defense
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 10:23 am | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
Work has started on the extension of the EcoReef system at Whatarangi on Cape Palliser Rd, as part of a wider programme to strengthen coastal resilience along the vulnerable stretch of coastline. More >>
'Not Going Back': North Canterbury Schools Continue Collaboration Despite Funding Cut
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 10:04 am | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School says collaboration with local primary schools is starting to show in students achieving better literacy and numeracy results at secondary school. More >>
Lower Than Expected Rates Increase For Tararua 'No Accident'
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 10:00 am | Rebecca Hogan - Local Democracy Reporter
Mayor Scott Gilmore said he was glad council had accounted for the financial pressure which petrol and diesel prices had added to council budgets and services, as well as the strain it was having on household budgets. More >>
Nearly Half Of Marlborough Could Be Sold Or Developed Under Conservation Bill
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 9:47 am | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
The bill, which would make it easier to either sell off or establish economic activity on conservation land, passed its first reading in May. More >>
Major Wellington Event Tickets Could Bake In Public Transport Fares
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 9:33 am | Justin Wong - Local Democracy Reporter
Regional councillors will decide on Thursday whether to make bundled publictransport fares standard policy for major events, meaning ticketholders would effectively pay for public transport whether they used it or not. More >>
'Voice Of Ratepayers': Suspended Mackenzie Councillor Defends Behaviour
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 9:28 am | Claire Taylor - Local Democracy Reporter
Pukaki ward councillor Frank Hocken appeared before the council yesterday at a code of conduct review, where he admitted to poor behaviour and offered the council’s chief executive, Angela Oosthuizen, an apology. More >>
