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Auckland Council backs move towards smaller kerbside rubbish bins
Auckland Council

Auckland Council backs move towards smaller kerbside rubbish bins

Households in Auckland could soon face higher charges for larger bins after councillors backed making 80 litre kerbside rubbish bins the default.

By Morning Report • 3 min read • Today
Seven years late: Whakatāne Airport annual report finally signed off
Public Sector

Seven years late: Whakatāne Airport annual report finally signed off

A clean audit should unlock payment of $1,768,615 owed to the council, after accounting errors delayed the airport report for seven years.

By Diane McCarthy • 4 min read • Today
Whakatāne council to keep fire depot, historic cottage
Local Government

Whakatāne council to keep fire depot, historic cottage

Rising concern over emergency access and heritage has led the council to keep the fire depot and harbourmaster's house, while selling farmland.

By Diane McCarthy • 4 min read • Today
Five-day turnaround: Carterton council cracks on with building consents
Housing

Five-day turnaround: Carterton council cracks on with building consents

Carterton's five-day average for building consents is helping applicants start projects sooner, as Wairarapa issued nearly $130 million in new-home permits.

By Emily Ireland • 3 min read • Today
Even free staff wouldn't plug one Waikato water body's funding gap, CEO says
Sustainability

Even free staff wouldn't plug one Waikato water body's funding gap, CEO says

Households in Waikato and Hamilton face higher water bills as IAWAI says more than $200 million in maintenance is needed to avoid service failure.

By Jordan Smith • 3 min read • Today
Hastings theme park needs $34.7m over 15 years to replace ageing facilities
Local Government

Hastings theme park needs $34.7m over 15 years to replace ageing facilities

Ratepayers could face a jump in annual bills as Hastings weighs whether to spend $34.7 million keeping Splash Planet largely unchanged.

By Linda Hall • 5 min read • Yesterday
Southland council chief executives earn combined $1.5m a year
Local Government

Southland council chief executives earn combined $1.5m a year

Across the region, Southland councils' chief executives are paid far more than mayors, with the top four bosses earning more than $1.5 million a year.

By Matthew Rosenberg • 3 min read • Yesterday
Wellington councils apply to keep mana whenua votes on Tiaki Wai committee
Hutt City Council

Wellington councils apply to keep mana whenua votes on Tiaki Wai committee

The move could preserve a balancing role on Tiaki Wai's oversight body and stop Wellington City Council from blocking major resolutions.

By Justin Wong • 3 min read • Yesterday
More than 400 parking fine complaints to Commerce Commission this year
Commerce Commission

More than 400 parking fine complaints to Commerce Commission this year

Drivers are increasingly disputing private and council parking penalties, with complaints to the Commerce Commission up from 151 in 2022 to more than 400 this year.

By Nine to Noon and RNZ Digital reporters • 2 min read • 2 days ago
Palmerston North narrowly keeps social housing rent cap
Local Government

Palmerston North narrowly keeps social housing rent cap

Council tenants in Palmerston North will keep a rent cap at 25% of income after councillors rejected a bid to raise revenue for the long-term plan.

By Rebecca Hogan • 3 min read • 2 days ago
Dangerous wiring sparks need for upgrade of New Zealand's oldest union church
Taxation

Dangerous wiring sparks need for upgrade of New Zealand's oldest union church

A fire risk at St Patrick's Union Church has prompted councillors to back a $2500 grant for urgent electrical repairs.

By Claire Taylor • 3 min read • 2 days ago
Western Bay proposes granny flat charges of up to $45,000
New Zealand Labour Party

Western Bay proposes granny flat charges of up to $45,000

Homeowners could still face charges of up to $45,000 in major growth areas as the council seeks to recoup infrastructure costs.

By Ayla Yeoman • 5 min read • Last week
Ashburton councillor throws shadow of doubt on solar expansion
Sustainability

Ashburton councillor throws shadow of doubt on solar expansion

Rising power bills are forcing councillors to weigh a $5m solar farm against cheaper grid electricity and road spending.

By Jonathan Leask • 4 min read • Last week
Fried Fairlie clock finally gets green light for fix
Local Government

Fried Fairlie clock finally gets green light for fix

After nearly a year of delays, Fairlie's historic main street clock can now be repaired with $15,532 approved for the work.

By Claire Taylor • 4 min read • Last week
Ngāti Porou calls for scrutiny of Gisborne District Council forestry record
Local Government

Ngāti Porou calls for scrutiny of Gisborne District Council forestry record

The iwi says unresolved failings in forestry oversight are still harming landowners and communities, despite a review clearing council bias.

By Imogen Brophy • 4 min read • Last week

Global Stories

Local Government stories

OneAdvanced launches IQ platform in Australia & New Zealand
Data Protection

OneAdvanced launches IQ platform in Australia & New Zealand

Organisations in regulated sectors could gain productivity without losing oversight as the platform embeds governed AI into existing workflows.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last week
Integra wins four public sector finance software contracts
Artificial Intelligence

Integra wins four public sector finance software contracts

The contracts add to a run of nine public sector wins in 12 months as councils and NHS trusts look to replace OneAdvanced systems with Integra.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week

Stories from Other Regions

Local Government stories