Stories by Nick James

But the committee says it chose not to apply for the government's regional deals.

At the meeting, Wellington Water board chairperson Nick Leggett said it had been making progress at fixing issues with the water company.

Infrastructure New Zealand is welcoming the government's land acquisition incentive payments and a faster process for objections - but Labour says it wants to see more detail. Audio

The future of the Wellington Water Board chair will be discussed by the region's leaders at an extraordinary meeting today. Audio

Two damning reports revealed the capital's ratepayers paid nearly three times more for unplanned water repairs than in other parts of the country. Audio

Wellington Water has released a scathing report, after a probe uncovered alleged theft, poor value for money from contractors and structural issues.

The legal dispute with the builders of Transmission Gully was later settled out of court.

Rating valuations have been dropping into Wellington mailboxes for the past week, with most people finding their home values had plummeted. Audio

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau says the council will have security teams on standby. Audio

Wellington Water plans to dig up part of one of the region's arterial routes in April for urgent repairs on a major Hutt Valley sewage pipe, warning there will be significant traffic disruption.

The buildings, which include 300 homes, have been deemed prone, but council say they can still able to be lived in.

The council has released the final design, and Tory Whanau admits the project could end up costing her the mayoralty.

Auckland Transport is delaying charging people to park overnight in the central city by a year.

Wellington's long-awaited - and controversial - Golden Mile upgrade will start construction in April.

Average values have fallen sharply over three years, according to latest official valuations.

Wellington Water will ask the council for more money than it has been budgeted for the next financial year.

Elected officials around the country will return to their respective council tables as their last year before local elections gets underway.

The council's observer is surprised the organisation "hasn't totally wilted under the pressure" of long-term plan changes, according to a new report.

Drivers on State Highway 2 Featherston to Masterton will be the first to travel on a road where the speed limit is going back up. Audio

But the council is refusing to say how many people even visited.

Nearly 1500 tickets were issued for driving in the lane but locals say it's 'kind of confusing'. Audio

Justin Lester is not completely ruling out running for Wellington mayor again after confirming the Labour Party has asked him to consider it.

A kiwi which was part of a project that brought the native birds to Wellington's hills has drowned in a water trough.

Three power cables carry a huge chunk of New Zealand's power between the North and South Islands, but boats keep getting too close.