Local Council
Regions must band together to avoid being pushed, Wellington mayor says
The region needs to plan a response to the call for simpler more cost-effective local government or risk changes being "imposed" upon them, Andrew Little says.
Ombudsman investigating regional council's role in post-cyclone buyout
Hawke's Bay Regional Council was responsible for putting thousands of properties into categories 1, 2 and 3 after Cyclone Gabrielle hit in 2023.
'Nowhere near enough': A 780-tonne lake weed disaster
A funding battle is brewing over lake weed control in Rotorua as the three-week, 780-tonne clean-up of the latest stinky stranding in Lake Rotorua wraps up.
Nearly 1200 dog-related complaints in Wairarapa over 2024/25 year
Animal control officers in Wairarapa councils were kept busy with nearly 1200 dog-related call outs during the last financial year.
Positive Ageing mobilises after council scraps aged working party
The working party is being disestablished under new Mayor Max Brough's committee structure.
More needed from councils in wake of floods, report finds
A government report has found local councils need to be doing more to prepare for flooding and to mitigate the risks it poses to communities.
'What are you afraid of?': Proposal to remove mana whenua voice at council fails
A proposal from the new Napier Mayor to remove mana whenua voices and voting rights in the council's standing committees for the next council term has failed.
Beach community moves to highest level of water restrictions
The council suspects the current dry conditions are the main problem.
Wellington's City to Sea bridge saved from demolition - for now
Wellington City councillors revoked the decision to knock it down, made by the council last year.
Councils' water plans to cost $9b more
The plans under the "Local Water Done Well" model now been signed off.
Fishing charter group prosecuted over Patea bar incident
A Taranaki fishing charter company is facing charges for a 2022 incident at the Patea Bar. Robin Martin has more details. Audio
Why the bugbears of suburbia make us so mad
From battles over berms to stray dogs and noise - why do we get so angry about our neighbourhoods?
The things that annoy us, and the people we moan to
From stray dogs to traffic jams to the most controversial topic of all - berms - councillors and mayors from across the country report what's getting on their residents' nerves. Audio
Waitaki District Council pushing for joint water plan
Councillors have approved a plan to explore re-joining the Southern Waters group or partnering with Timaru District Council.
Major RMA overhaul revealed
It has been revealed a major RMA overhaul with two new laws replacing the Resource Management Act; a Natural Environment law and a Planning law. The planning bill would lay out what infrastructure is… Audio
Government reveals sweeping overhaul of the RMA
The coalition is heralding the single largest economic reform in a generation - as it sets out its sweeping overhaul of the RMA. The much-loathed Resource Management Act has proved a perpetual bugbear… Audio
At least 30 code browns in 2025 at Invercargill pool
A Southland pool is under code brown alert - but staff are undeterred. Matthew Rosenberg has the story. Audio
Two more summers of Tairua bridge delays, upgrade by 2027
The deputy mayor of Thames-Coromandel says there'll only be two more summers of lengthy waits in the car to get to some Coromandel towns. Deputy mayor, John Grant spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Wellington braces for influx of visitors for 'Avatar' premiere, cricket
The Embassy Theatre will host the Australasian launch of James Cameron's science fiction movie.
Workers injured by chemical at Taumarunui transfer station
An unknown chemical sent for recycling has injured two workers and forced the facility's closure.
