Local Council
West Coast councils defend use of closed-door workshops
A fresh call by the Ombudsman for council workshops to be open to the public by default has received a cautious response on the West Coast.
Auckland Council's votes against Māori seats
Auckland Council has today voted to reject Māori seats for the city.
Christchurch buses go cash-free from mid-2024
Tickets on the Greater Christchurch Metro Network will be paid by debit card or devices to make it safer for drivers and passengers.
Kāpiti ratepayers brace for latest revaluation
Kāpiti Coast residents may see a rates hike as Quotable Value sends out its revaluation letters to property owners.
Taranaki's new MP and the future of local co-governance
One of Taranaki's new MPs believes he offers a unique perspective about the future of local co-governance agreements. Craig Ashworth, our Local Democracy Reporter joins us in Taranaki to discuss. Audio
Wellington Town Hall redevelopment to continue
Wellington councillors have agreed to pour more money into repairing the Town Hall to meet the potential final refurbishment cost of around $330 million.
Wellington councillors sign off on ballooning town hall repair bill
Wellington councillors have agreed to pour more money into repairing the town hall to pay the refurbishment bill of $330 million. The 120-year-old Town Hall has been closed since 2013, after being… Audio
The Cloud: Popular Auckland venue's time may soon be up
There's a potential storm gathering over Auckland's venue the cloud. The 12 year old structure has played host to fan viewing events for the Rugby World Cup and America's cup, Fifa Women's World cup… Video, Audio
Half of district's ratepayers received wrong bill from council
The West Coast Regional Council says an external review into the first instalment of rates bills has found that about half of them were incorrectly charged.
Whanganui District Council to establish two Māori wards
The Whanganui District Council has voted to establish two Māori wards for the 2025 and 2028 local elections.
It's hoped the move will allow Māori to be fairly represented on the council.
Mayor… Audio
Councils criticised for closed-door meetings
The Chief Ombudsman says some local councils have been holding closed-door meetings to protect councillors from reasonable scrutiny.
Judge Peter Boshier has reported back on his review of eight… Audio
Ombudsman pulls councils up for too many closed-door meetings
The Chief Ombudsman is reminding local councils official information should be available to the public, unless there's good reason to withhold it... not the other way around.
It follows years of… Audio
Whanganui District Council votes for Māori wards
Whanganui is the last council in the Manawatū-Whanganui region to establish Māori wards.
'We simply cannot risk the health' - Iwi calls for faster repair of wastewater plant
Ngāti Rārua is calling on the Tasman District Council to accelerate essential repairs to the Motueka Wastewater treatment plant, almost a month after problems were detected.
Council delays annual report following alleged money mismanagement
Its new chief executive says the council cannot finalise its annual report until a forensic audit of its Project Management Office is completed.
Councils given dressing-down over secret meetings
Councils have been reprimanded for holding secret workshops behind closed doors too often and for invalid reasons such as allowing councillors a "safe space" to ask "silly questions".
Gisborne District Council sees weather recovery as major issue
Time for our Local Democracy report now, today we're in Tai Rawhiti, the first place to see the light, with Matthew Rosenberg. He told Nathan Rarere about the mixed bag that is the Gisborne District… Audio
Better sooner - cycle lane advocates on controversial Thorndon plan
The sooner that controversial construction starts on Wellington's Thorndon Quay the better it is for cyclists and public transport, cycling advocates says.
Rotorua council and police trespass homeless refusing to leave reserves
Nine homeless people in Rotorua have rejected offers of help - and could face being trespassed from the city's reserves.
Half million for Stoke Library a 'band-aid'
Nelson City Council has approved half a million dollars of repair work for Stoke Library but the acting mayor describes the funds as a just another "band-aid" for the city's crumbling libraries.