Stories by Libby Kirkby-McLeod

Only one of the six candidates from the council sacked by the government in 2021 has returned to council.

Many are still doing their research before selecting the city's first mayor and councillors in years.

But Mahé Drysdale says he has worked in the city, grew up there and, if elected, will move at the end of the year.

A new retirement village in Mount Maunganui is upsetting neighbours and drawing attention to fast-tracking legislation.

Voting papers will start going out this weekend to residents of Tauranga for the city's first local body elections in nearly five years, with four of the mayoral candidates facing off in a debate last…

Many people have opinions about where Tom Phillips and his children have been for the past two years, but few could tell you much about the tiny settlement of Marokopa.

On the same day that nominations for the council election closed, unelected commissioners sent a letter to the government asking it to overrule independent planning recommendations.

Maria Contreras Huerta was the only girl in her Wintec training classes. It'd be great to see that change, she says.

The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says seven years ago it improved the road where five people lost their lives last night. Audio

It comes after the school was put in lockdown following a school brawl.

It's the first election since the last council was sacked by the local government minister and replaced with commissioners.

Supporters of the Waikato to Auckland train Te Huia say Auckland Council is not doing its part to support the passenger service.

A petition to save the service has gained more than 4000 signatures in less than four days.

But it might be too late to make a difference to the Waikato to Auckland passenger train service.

The critically-threatened Mahoenui giant wētā has been bred in captivity for the first time in decades - at a new centre especially set up for the task.

The cost of having a weekend burial in South Waikato could be about to skyrocket. Audio

But Waikato Regional Council, which is in charge of it, says that doesn't tell the whole story.

The council is currently consulting on a proposed blanket speed reduction to 30 km/h in the city centre and a mix of variable and permanent speed limit reductions around schools and marae.

It is believed to be the country's biggest ever kiwi relocation project.

All of this year's 16 Ockham Book Awards finalists are based in the main centres and overseas, even though almost half of the country's registered authors live in the regions.

Developers, planners, and landowners need to interact with each other with regard to zoning and climate change, urban planning experts say.

There is no doubt the train service between Auckland and Hamilton is highly subsidised - but roads are too, a researcher says.

A wildflower and no-mow trial in Hamilton parks and reserves has shown good results, but whether it will be repeated is still to be decided.

The problem "may only get worse" as construction costs soar, an expert says.

The demise of Three Waters has left councils facing a dilemma.