Local Council
Auckland Council says no reports of dodgy apartment balconies amid Australian cases
Auckland Council says it is aware of defects being discovered in apartment balconies in Australia, but it is not seeing anything like that here.
Residents worried about stockpile of same chemical that cause massive Beirut blast
The Waikato District Council says the chemical stockpile has been stored in Te Kōwhai without a resource consent since March. Audio
New council building for Whakatane
Time now to find out about the neighbourhood in Whakatane where buildings coming and going are in the news. Nathan Rarere asked local democracy reporter Diane McCarthy about the future of the… Audio
Paritūtū could go back to Māori in park revamp
Hapū have been leading an overhaul of the reserve management plan, emphasising Māori values in the future of Paritūtū Centennial Park.
Re-introduction of fluoride fires up opponents
There were passionate scenes at the New Plymouth council chambers as councillors came under attack for allowing fluoride to be put back in the district's water supply.
Anti-fluoride placards were… Audio
Council disappointed over Te Huia ban
Waikato Regional Council is bitterly disappointed that Te Huia trains are now forbidden from entering Auckland.
Transport agency Waka Kotahi has banned Te Huia from operating north of Papakura after… Audio
Poor areas hit hardest by Whanganui rate rises
Rates in some of the poorest areas of Whanganui will increase by nearly 20 percent, while affluent suburbs will see rates rise only 0.5 percent on average.
Most water supplies in need of risk management plan yet to have one
Three-quarters of the country's water supplies still do not have the required plan that identifies hazards to water sources, but those that do cover most of the population.
Work on Golden Mile to start in September
Waka Kotahi voted last week to approve the government's share of funding for two major Let's Get Wellington Moving projects.
Work for the capital's Golden Mile and Thorndon Quay - Hutt Rd… Audio
Rotorua lakes getting filled to the brim
It's time now to speak to our Local Democracy reporter, this week we are in the Bay of Plenty with Laura Smith. Audio
War of words as new operator takes over campsite operation
A new operator is in place at the Lake Ferry Holiday Park following the sale of its assets to South Wairarapa District Council, but the deal has a long and contentious history.
Shock 427 percent increase in lines charge sent to High Court
A shock 427 percent electricity charge increase imposed on Buller's community owned lines company is set for a judicial review in the High Court.
Super-hot explosive battery fires happening too often, council says
A series of fires have been caused by a common household battery which can trigger explosions, and firefighters believe some people are deliberately hiding them in recycling and scrap. Audio
Negotiations over cyclone bill cause stress
Some Hawke's Bay residents whose homes were inundated by rivers of silt during Cyclone Gabrielle fear the future of their properties will depend on the size of cash-strapped councils' bank accounts.
… Audio
Lithium batteries cause kerbside fires in Hamilton
Hamilton residents have been warned by council officials of lithium batteries causing three fires in kerbside rubbish disposed over the last 6 months.
One of the incidents involved a battery from a… Audio
Mosgiel: Suspected arson on propety of Syrian refugee family
The Mosgiel Taieri's Community Board chair is horrified by suspected arson on the property of a family of former refugees from Syria.
Police are investigating after the outdoor shed was found on fire… Audio
Wellington one step closer to new sewage sludge treatment plant
Wellington City Council has signed a deal with a construction consortium to build a new sewage sludge treatment plant at Moa Point.
Managed retreat an option in council plan for North Canterbury beach settlement
It is one of several options to address the threat of coastal erosion, flooding and sea level rise as Amberley Beach residents plan for the future.
New Plymouth housing crisis: 'Council is part of the problem'
A New Plymouth emergency housing provider says a council survey asking what can be done about the city's housing crisis feels like a cruel joke.
Emergency provider not expecting much from council survey
A New Plymouth emergency housing provider says a council survey asking what can be done about the city's housing crisis feels like a cruel joke.
The council is asking residents for feedback on five… Audio