Local Government
Mayor labelled 'dictator' after councillors quit meeting
The mayor of Horowhenua district has been called a dictator following a council meeting that fell apart when councillors staged a walk-out.
Manawatū District Council votes in favour of Māori wards
The Manawatū District Council is the latest council to vote in favour of establishing Māori wards at the next local body elections.
Rates inflate: 'It's a good time to be selling'
House values in Auckland are on the rise, but a potential increase in rates is leaving some residents in traditionally cheaper suburbs unhappy.
Auckland's fringe suburbs face higher rates rises
Suburbs on Auckland's fringes and in cheaper areas are facing higher than average rates rises next year, the Auckland Council has confirmed. Video
Ed Sheeran puts heat on Easter Trading debate
Pop star Ed Sheeran has turned up the heat on Dunedin's Easter Trading debate, with fears the city will struggle to host 65,000 extra concert goers if the shops are shut.
Water solutions now 'number one issue' for NZ councils
Too much, too little, or coming in where it's not welcome -- water is the number one issue keeping the country's local councils awake at night. With much of the country's flood protection… Audio
Two more councils vote against Māori wards
Two Northland councils have again rejected the option of Māori wards, though neither has any Māori councillors.
$32m could be cut from Council comms budget - review
A major review of the Auckland Council's communications and marketing operations has found $32 million could be cut over a decade.
Water row: 'We are going to exercise our rights'
The Māori owners of Porotī Springs in Northland have run out patience in the battle for control of their water.
Bars cross fingers over Sheeran liquor licence
Dunedin bar owners are waiting to hear whether they will be able to cater for the more than 110,000 Ed Sheeran fans expected over Easter weekend.
Napier council Māori seat roundly rejected
The Napier City Council has decided not to go ahead with a proposal to introduce a Māori ward for the city.
Call for councils to take over cat management from SPCA
Conservationists are calling on councils to cull stray cats instead of relying on the SPCA to rehome the abandoned animals, which pose a threat to endangered native wildlife.
On-again, off-again water for protester
A Māori land protester who lives beside Lake Horowhenua has had his water cut off again during a long-running dispute involving the local council.
Nearly 200 Auckland Council staff earning over $200,000
Only 73 staff earning over $200,000 are from the core council which has also cut 11 staff in the past year, the chief executive says.
Council boss ignores pleas to turn protester's water on
A district council chief executive is keeping the water to a Māori land protester turned off despite health officials telling him it's illegal.
People who owe Chch rates rises 41 percent
There has been a huge increase in the number of Christchurch ratepayers struggling to pay their rates bills. Audio
Council's email interceptions to continue under new rules
A local council that stopped screening people's emails after it was forced to admit it was doing so is poised to start up the interceptions again under new rules.
Councils urged to plan for end of population growth
Local authorities are being urged to start planning now for an end to global population growth, expected to hit by the end of the century.
'A perfect storm' of funding pressures for councils
The country's councils are facing a "perfect storm" of funding pressures and want the next government to help them out.
Govt coastal erosion efforts 'too little, too late'
It's too little, too late from the government on rising sea levels, an expert says after a leaked report, and councils are having to bear the brunt.