Local Council
Council to cover $500k insurance premiums increase with rates
"It is frustrating that it has to be rates funded at this point in time," says Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor.
Marlborough Museum double-locked in 'ridiculous impasse'
The council has locked the main doors and kept the keys, while the historical society has padlocked the handles to stop council staff getting in.
Tauranga election: Mayoral hopefuls want to rewrite city plan
Candidates at a public meeting raised concerns about the plan's $4.9 billion proposed spend and its affordability.
After AK floods last year, couple fear never owning house again
A West Auckland couple fears they've been booted off the property ladder after a buyout offer from the council in the wake of last year's floods - Mahvash Ikram has the story. Audio
Hamilton local councillor being investigated over conduct
Local Democracy Reporter Natalie Akoorie joins First Up with all the news from the Mighty Waikato Audio
Call for councillor Martin Bosley to step down from community board
It follows a council committee meeting at which Bosley said the thought of giving community boards more power "terrifies" him.
Former councillor calls for early Māori ward polls
Councils that want to keep their Māori wards at the next local elections should have to poll their communities beforehand, former local government leader John Bain says.
LGNZ wants detail on remote inspections proposal
The government wants to make remote virtual inspections the default for building consents to reduce delays and costs. Local Government New Zealand agrees a new style of building inspections could be… Audio
Nelson homes on slip-prone land sold by council
All but one of the homes had sold for a total of $76,000.
Kainga Ora pauses controversial housing project
Kainga Ora has put the brakes on a controversial social housing project in Auckland, saying it needs to reassess its strategy and priorities. The development, in the Blockhouse Bay suburb, faced… Audio
Parts of Christchurch struggling with full sewage systems
Parts of Christchurch are off-limits for further housing development because the sewage system is full. Niva Chittock reports. Audio
Residents don't want tall buildings in Mt Maunganui CBD
Mt Maunganui residents aren't happy about the height of buildings in the beachside resort - local democracy reporter Alisha Evans has the details Audio
Insurance premium increase leaves council with $500,000 gap
It means Marlborough rates will increase this financial year from 12.96 percent to just over 13.6 percent.
Dragging Tauranga back to democracy
After four years of commissioners, Tauranga is set to elect a mayor and councillors. Can they avoid a repeat of the previous mess? Audio
Mapping Tai Rāwhiti's worst eroding land
Gisborne District Council plans to designate high-erosion areas where farming and forestry must cease.
The mayoral candidate who lives 100km from the city he hopes to run
But Mahé Drysdale says he has worked in the city, grew up there and, if elected, will move at the end of the year.
Carterton councillors fear code of conducts silencing their views
Alarm bells are ringing for democracy in New Zealand, says the head of NZ's Free Speech Union.
Schools 'shocked and confused' over speed limit U-turn
The government wants to raise speed limits throughout Auckland - but councillors are fighting back. Audio
Real or myth? Young scientists seek truth in legendary love story
A group of Rotorua children have used science to prove whether the basis of the legendary love story of Hinemoa and Tūtānekai is true.
Govt rejects recommendations for local government overhaul
The report has found communities were not well-served by the relationship between central and local government.
