Local Council

The final plan will be adopted in June.

Mayor Martin Connelly says he is not aware of the move and cannot comment further at this stage.

Rotorua councillor upset at Housing Ministry plans to keep contracting hotels for emergency housing.

The comments section is not a healthy way to debate issues the community is facing, council says.

Hawke's Bay could lose out on $250 million a year in visitor spend if its tourism body is forced to close, chair says. Audio

"The [council] and their paid bureaucrats clearly are out of touch with what the people of Hamilton can afford," one submitter says.

A council that played a key role in getting Māori ward polling removed is now lobbying against government plans to reinstate binding referendums.

The company says it learnt the deal was not going ahead just prior to a meeting they thought was to sign off the plan.

The district mayor says it is a "very hard pill to swallow" and delayed non-critical work to deal with rising costs.

Councillors spent Tuesday going through a list of what it could cut to get the rates rise down from an initial 40 percent increase.

It also wants seek fast-track approval for two projects. Audio

Senior council staff have not been able to reach "the best possible outcomes for Wellingtonians" in negotiations with the company.

The incident involved an email referring to an investigation into a combined Three Waters entity for Otago and Southland.

Gisborne councillors have voiced frustration the central government will make them redo their work.

Gore District Council is proposing a rates rise of 21.4 percent despite attempts to whittle down costs.