Local Council

Our second biggest city is experiencing the type of revival that should make the rest of New Zealand envious.

Horizons Regional Council will keep its two Māori constituencies after special votes pushed a paper-thin margin to a comfortable majority.

More than 10,000 special votes were cast in the Auckland local body elections, but 4162 weren't counted.

Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon has gone straight back to work this week, after winning a third term.

Keshaan Te Waaka will sit on the Tararua District Council for the next three years and is already looking ahead.

Ken Couper ended up with 435 more votes than the incumbent mayor Vince Cocurullo.

Jonathan Larsen has won the mayoralty race with 21 more votes than Snow Tane.

The final vote was taken behind closed doors after a tense, testy debate with about 20 members of the public present.

Both the prime minister and the opposition leader earlier criticised Chung over an email about former mayor Tory Whanau.

The city also voted to remove its Māori Ward.

The clean-up after days of heavy rain and widespread flooding has begun as the Ruapehu district counts the cost of the damage.

One councillor turned up in a Mickey Mouse T-shirt, before a man in a World War II outfit halted proceedings. Audio

A former MP, Wellington mayor and regional council chair says she ran to be mayor after people told her they needed "strong experienced leadership".

The iconic South Canterbury fruit company's factory expansion will come to fruition later this year, in efforts to "future-proof" the growing business.

For two years Spring Creek residents have been warned to be ready to evacuate if there is heavy rain.

Complaints have been made about alleged vote-stealing during the Auckland Council elections.

An emergency Kaipara District Council meeting about conduct during the local elections has been adjourned until Friday, after being interrupted by protesters.

Grant had been in the lead on Sunday.