Stories by Susan Botting
News
Whangārei hapū call on council to embrace Māori world: new politicans’ pōwhiri
Whangārei hapū are challenging their district's council to embrace the Māori world in all it does.
Council selects Aotearoa's first wahine Māori chairperson
Tui Shortland (Ngāti Hine, Ngātiwai, Te Rarawa) was selected by her fellow councillors to head the nine-member council for the next three years in a Te Tai Tokerau first.
'A new dawn' in Far North: Mayor, councillors welcomed with pōwhiri
Five hundred people gathered to pōwhiri New Zealand's first mayor to have also stood for a Māori ward, and his Far North District Council.
Drop in number of women politicians for Northland local government
The number of women politicians across Northland local government leadership has shrunk by almost a quarter in the wake of this year's local elections.
New Whangārei Mayor excited about leading district forward
New Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo says he is excited about leading the district forward.
Kaipara District Council narrowly approves high voltage lines over Northland tourist trail
New Zealand energy generator Mercury's $200 million Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm has moved a step closer.
Whangārei mayoral candidates against three waters plan
Candidates said they were against government proposals to take $1.5 billion of Whangārei District Council three water assets and put them into a into a giant top-of-New Zealand water services entity.
Kaipara District Council 'a sweet little piece of democracy': departing mayor
Local Democracy Reporting talks to outgoing Kaipara mayor Dr Jason Smith about his life before he became mayor and his time leading the district as he plans to step down and stand for central…
Far North Mayor John Carter ends half-century-plus local govt career
Far North Mayor John Carter (QSO) will not be slowing down much when he ends New Zealand's longest-serving currently-active government career next month; he will simply be changing gear.
Govt urged to buy 10,000 electric, hydrogen buses for new transport plan
Ten thousand electric and hydrogen buses should be purchased by the Government to support its public transport sustainability goals, a Northland sector veteran says.
Region's ratepayers should contribute to soundproofing homes - Onerahi helicopter shift opponents
Residents around Onerahi airport would effectively be "carrying the can" for the rest of the region with major new "noise pollution" expected if the rescue helicopter base shifts there, says a…
Kaitāia’s $15.3 million Sweetwater project brings new water resilience
Water restrictions are expected to be a thing of the past with the start-up of Kaitāia's major new $15.3 million Sweetwater supply.
More than 1000 expected to protest Pakiri seabed sand mining ahead of consent hearings
More than 1000 Pakiri seabed sand mining protesters are expected at an event at Mangawhai Heads ahead of company Auckland company McCallum Bros' resource consent application hearings.
Paihia waterfront storm project meeting should be public, community says
More than 270 people are calling on Far North District Council to move Wednesday's extraordinary council meeting discussions on the $13.45 million Paihia waterfront storm project into the public…
Whangārei Mayor says her council will not fluoridate unless government pays
Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai says the government needs to get a loud and clear message that her council would not be fluoridating its water unless the government pays.
Residents call for council to cut down avenue of magnolia trees
Residents in a Kamo cul-de-sac want the 34 magnolia trees cut down in the wake of two broken arms, a twisted ankle, falls and more.
Hikurangi Swamp farmers aim to set up trust to helm $50 million council drainage scheme
Hikurangi Swamp farmers are looking to a new management system for the $50 million Whangārei District Council drainage scheme.
Kaipara Mayor seeks National Party Northland seat, not seeking re-election
Kaipara Mayor Dr Jason Smith is seeking National party candidacy for Northland.
Likely government fluoridation decree for Northland councils pending
Fluoride will likely soon be added to thousands of Northlanders' drinking water - as the government moves to impose the controversial additive's inclusion in council water supplies.
Potential $150 million Ruatangata airport clouds Patuwairua Stream future
Residents say Patuwairua Stream's Jurassic World-like spaces are threatened by the proposed $150 million Ruatangata airport.
First region-wide local govt climate change adaptation strategy announced
Seventy Northland towns and localities projected to be significantly affected by coastal flooding, erosion and permanent inundation through sea level rise are involved.
Whangārei council moves towards formal airport site protection from July
Whangārei District Council will move closer to protecting the future use of its chosen new $150 million airport site from July.
Legal fight launched over Northland rescue helicopter base shift
Opponents of shifting the Onerahi emergency rescue helicopter are set to legally challenge Whangārei District Council to stop the service's base shifting from Kensington to the airport.
Northland local government leadership faces seismic leadership change
Northland local government is facing its biggest leadership change this year.
Local Government Commission warns remuneration concerns not best representation review driver
Capping councillor numbers to ensure adequate remuneration is not the best way to approach a representation review the Local Government Commission has told Northland Regional Council.