Stories by Marcus Anselm

A mayor who accused a community group of defamation and sought $10,000 in legal fees has dropped the case after the offending flyer was removed from social media.

South Wairarapa Mayor Alex Beijen is disputing public criticism of the district council's rates rise.

The council chief executive caught ripping down protest posters has been handed a special projects brief for one month.

Dozens of ratepayers walked out of a South Wairarapa District Council meeting in Martinborough today after being denied a chance to discuss their large rate rises.

Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua iwi members will vote next week on the terms of a $115 million Treaty of Waitangi settlement.

Masterton locals turned out in force to back a bid to save the town hall today.

Masterton District Council chief executive Kath Ross has been caught on CCTV ripping down a publicity poster for the 'Hands Around The Town Hall' protest.

Wairarapa's councils are devoting hundreds of millions of dollars in their long-term plans for repairs and upgrades to creaking infrastructure as the districts' headcount grows.

Wairarapa residents travelling beyond the Wellington region should "take their bubble with them", says MP Kieran McAnulty.

Masterton Deputy Mayor Graham McClymont says a request to the Auditor-General for an investigation into the district council's civic centre project "is already being done".

Estimates put Wairarapa household bills in 2051 at three times the current price and up to 13 times 2021 prices if reforms are not pushed through.

Molly O'Dwyer is using her council's long-term planning process to make her wish of a better pool slide come true. Video

In his response, Beijen said he "respect your views and praise the passion shown by those who participated in the hīkoi yesterday".

Wairarapa's first Māori wards were welcomed on Thursday with waiata and haka.

Pro-Māori ward activists took their campaign to South Wairarapa District Council offices after a hīkoi through Martinborough today. Sue Teodoro and Marcus Anselm report.

Masterton councillors will vote tomorrow on creating Māori wards in time for the 2022 local elections.

Masterton District Council's former communications chief has joined the opposition to its civic centre project.

Documents have revealed closed-doors discussions on demolishing Masterton's earthquake-prone civic centre and constructing a multi-purpose building on public-owned land occupied by the War Memorial…

The Featherston Phoenix newsletter celebrates its silver jubilee this month.

Carterton's E coli readings are proving a mystery to water boffins.

A Carterton council election candidate has called for more light on the district's major project - a multi-million dollar wastewater treatment plant estimated to cost $10 million.

Candidates in the Carterton council by-election say residents are "annoyed" and "frustrated" by the town's ongoing water contamination.

Masterton's playground tractors might now be restored to the Kids Own Playground after another late reprieve from councillors.

A $7.5 million project to build 25 new pensioner flats in Masterton has found favour with residents at the council-owned Panama Village.

In a statement, an RBNZ spokesperson said the national authority "encourage every banking sector participant to consider their role in supporting the needs of their customers and their access to…