Stories by Pam Graham

There are plans to fly a helicopter with equipment to map groundwater over the Ruamahanga catchment in Wairarapa next year in hopes of locating a sustainable deep groundwater source.

Flooding in the South Island at the weekend has reignited a call from councils to central government to help them fund flood protection work.

A severe toxic algal bloom has been detected on the Waipoua River, which runs through Masterton - and it won't be helped by recent rain.

Carterton residents have knocked back a plan to change a much-loved dog park.

A grass runway at Hood Aerodrome has been closed after Masterton District Council commissioned an independent aerodrome operation review following the fatal mid-air collision in June.

The love of a park gifted by a town stalwart where dogs run free shines through in submissions to a land swap proposal for Sparks Park in Carterton.

Masterton man Chris Eichbaum, who is fronting a petition to ban private fireworks sales, is horrified his district council doesn't think that is within its remit.

Decisions at government level are forcing Masterton District Council to jump through hoops it doesn't think it needs to, using money it would rather spend elsewhere.

Masterton District Council has bought additional clay to cap its closed landfill but says it's part of an ongoing management plan rather than a response to the Fox River landfill disaster.

The farm and green lobbies went head-to-head at the inaugural Masterton District Council meeting over a submission officials had put together on the government's fresh water reforms.

A deal to build 20 new social houses in Masterton on land owned by developer David Borman is near and he is in talks for another 20 at the site, taking the total to 40.