Local Council
Wayne Brown officially sworn in as Auckland mayor
Auckland's new mayor Wayne Brown has been sworn in and promised to act in the best interests of the community.
Proposed central Christchurch street upgrade on hold
Christchurch's new mayor says there's more important things to spend money on that upgrading the streets around the new central city stadium.
Four-year terms, lower voting age, more pay pitched for council
A four year council term, giving 16-year-olds the vote, and increasing pay for councillors.
They're all suggestions from a draft report into the future of local government.
Our video journalist Sam… Video, Audio
Goff relaxed on political nature of new UK role
The former politician and Auckland mayor says his appointment as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is being positively received. Audio
Sweeping changes recommended for local government
An independent panel on local government thinks councils are losing the trust of their communities, and their consultation processes are excluding many people from participating. It comes amid three… Audio
Region with the highest proportion of Māori now has Māori wards
Te Tairāwhiti, the region with the highest proportion of Māori in the country, now has Māori wards for its council for the first time.
Māori wards councillors start roles in Gisborne
The region with the highest proportion of Māori in the country, now has Māori wards at its council for the first time.
While the new Tairāwhiti or Gisborne councillors are being welcomed, they expect… Audio
Watch: Auckland mayor Wayne Brown names Desley Simpson his deputy
Desley Simpson and Brown have spoken to media, with Brown facing questions over his media strategy and his first three weeks in office. Watch here.
The West Coast Regional Council's lady problem
Local Democracy Reporting journalist Brendon McMahon speaks to Nathan Rarere to about the West Coast Regional Council and more... Audio
Women rising to the top on regional councils
Five women have been chosen as regional council chairs across the country so far this term, including the first two wāhine Māori in the country.
Hikers, hunters feel ignored as Te Urewera huts demolished
There's tension in Te Urewera, where work is underway in the remote, rugged country to strip, dismantle and burn down backcountry DOC huts.
Fifteen are gone, and another 33 are set to be removed by… Audio
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.
West Coast council executive drops bombshell at meeting
West Coast Regional Council chief executive drops bombshell at inaugural meeting, giving notice of her intention to leave.
Restoring the status of former disgraced Whanganui mayor
Charles Mackay was mayor of Whanganui from 1906 to 1920. His tenure and name were all but erased from history when it emerged he was gay and shot a returned soldier who was attempting to blackmail him… Audio
LDR Rotorua: region lost millions in tourism spending
A new report shows that Rotorua has lost about $17 million in tourism spending in three months Nathan talks to the journalist who broke the story, Felix Desmarais from the Local Democracy Reporting… Audio
Marlborough mountain bike concept borrows design from ski areas
Mountain bikers have proposed a new series of tracks like 'ski field' zones in and around popular Marlborough walking tracks.
Gisborne bus drivers among country's lowest paid bus drivers: Campaign to lift bus driver rates
Gisborne bus drivers are some of the lowest paid in the country according to a union pushing for pay equity across the industry.
Father and son both take on councillor duties
Politics is all in the family for a Canterbury father and son.
Wellington Mayor chooses Laurie Foon as new deputy
Second-term Wellington City councillor Laurie Foon has been named deputy mayor by new mayor Tory Whanau.
Donning the mayoral chains: Tapsell sworn in at inaugural meeting
Tania Tapsell has been officially sworn in as Rotorua's mayor, a role she says is the "greatest honour" of her life.
