Local Council
Hundreds more job cuts announced as part of council's budget drive
More than 500 job losses have been confirmed at Auckland Council and its agencies as part of Mayor Wayne Brown's cost-cutting budget.
Wayne Brown not confident his preferred budget plan will pass muster
Auckland's Mayor is reminding councillors of the need for a balanced budget, with a month to go before it needs to be signed off.
Big development for historic triangle precinct in Ashburton
Today we're in Ashburton with the local democracy programme's Jonathan Leask. Nthan Rarere asked him about a developer's big plans for a new mixed use hospitality complex? Audio
A 150-metre stretch of road has netted $2.5m in fines
So far Auckland Transport has earned $720,000 from drivers who have ignored signs to drive on a short bit of road.
Tiny home owner faces prospect of seeing it taken away
When Pete Montgomery started building his tiny house on a friend's lifestyle block near Whakatāne, he had no idea he was doing anything illegal.
'Even more work with even less support' looms for council workers after cuts - union
The union representing Auckland Council staff is concerned a looming restructure will pile pressure on remaining workers.
'It's been bloody tough' - Westland mayor hopes settlement will allow Franz Josef to move on
A $30 million claim against the West Coast Regional Council by the insurers for the Scenic Hotel Group following a flash flood that ruined its former Franz Josef hotel, has been settled out of court.
Around the motu : Jonathan Leask in Ashburton
Jonathan Leask from the Ashburton Guardian on the latest detail on three waters reform being welcomed; and a new carpark is dividing councillors and the community. Audio
Kerry-Anne Walsh with news from Australia
We cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh. Audio
Why local councils want to sell their assets
Auckland Council could cash out $2 billion worth of shares in the airport - and it's not the only council considering asset sales to balance the budget. Audio
'He's listened': Relief as Citizens Advice Bureau escapes mayor's spending cuts
Though Wayne Brown has promised to fund the Citizens Advice Bureau, he did not confirm if existing funding would be reduced. Audio
Around the motu: Matt Brown in Marlborough
Funding for Marlborough schools' long standing heritage education programme has been axed. The education programme teaching young people the history of the region has been running for 25 years - its… Audio
Auckland's billion-dollar flood recovery programme
Auckland's mayor Wayne Brown has proposed pushing forward with a billion-dollar flood-recovery programme for the city. Joining Kathryn is Matthew Bradbury - he's a senior lecturer in landscape… Audio
'Softening' of Auckland Council cuts - but to what degree?
Auckland's Mayor Wayne Brown has indicated he'll pull back on some of harsh cuts he had proposed to arts and social services. Kathryn is joined by Kate Anderson, general manager of the Central… Audio
Budget cut walk back a 'welcome relief' for Aucklanders
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has walked back plans for huge budget cuts to community organisations. It comes as a welcome relief to many, including Manurewa Local Board deputy chairman Matt Winiata. At… Audio
LDR Nelson: new regional electric bus service coming
Time to catch up with all the local news from the Top of the South now with LDR journalist Max Frethey. Nathan Rarere asked him about changes to the regional bus network. Audio
Councils falling short in three areas over issuing building WOFs, MBIE report shows
A lack of onsite audits, enforcement and legality are areas councils are failing in when it comes to issuing thousands of building warrants of fitness.
Auckland Council starts prepping sale of airport shares - report
Investment banks will be interviewed over the next couple of weeks for the role of possible adviser, according to an Australian media report.
'We have to' - Mayor defends one of the country's biggest rates rises
South Waikato District Council is suggesting an 18.5 percent rate rise - one of the biggest in the country.
CEO overreach in Gore stoush - mayor
New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom says if Ben Bell was older, perhaps as old as 76-year-old Auckland mayor Wayne Brown, the whole affair would have been reported differently. He spoke with Corin Dann Audio