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Seven albatrosses among scores of sea birds grounded by last week's storm
"We knew something was going to happen, but we didn't expect it to be as bad as it has been."
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Breakdown of trust: Napier mayor removes his deputy
24 Feb 2026The unprecedented breakdown between the pair played out in full public view, with Sally Crown saying McGrath's decision-making was "ad-hoc", "reckless" and…
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'Shuffled out of sight': Councillor condemns move-on powers
24 Feb 2026The government's move "falls well short of the standards of decency that Whanganui aims for", says a local councillor.
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New furniture disposal policy follows Wellington mayoral desk paper leak
24 Feb 2026A man who bought an old mayoral desk found 231 documents dated between 1988 and 2004, spanning the terms of four mayors inside.
Local Democracy Reporting headlines with summaries.
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What is Local Democracy Reporting?
31 May 2021Find out more about the scheme and how to become a host newsroom or accredited media partner.
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Contactless cards coming to Canterbury buses
24 Feb 2026Pensioners can continue riding for free on buses on the Greater Christchurch Metro network in offpeak times, but will eventually need to load their SuperGold card to a contactless card.
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Hot pools and hotels? Bold ideas for Kaikōura's waterfront
23 Feb 2026The Kaikōura District Council is considering establishing a joint venture company with Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura and a private developer to redevelop the Wakatu Quay waterfront site.
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Metlink fares to rise by 3.1 percent, off-peak discount drops again
20 Feb 2026It will be more expensive to travel on Wellington's public transport later this year.
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‘If the stars align, boom!’: Ngā Wairiki-Ngāti Apa bets on green energy
20 Feb 2026Ngā Wairiki-Ngāti Apa is staking its claim in NZ's clean energy future, backing a 280-megawatt green hydrogen and methanol project that could deliver climate gains, generational returns and long-term…
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Fears erosion to worsen if nursery subsidies cut
20 Feb 2026A successful erosion scheme subsidised by Hawke's Bay Regional Council since the early 1980s is in the spotlight as the council looks to reduce rate pressure.
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No right turns: Masterton traffic change recommended
20 Feb 2026Masterton businesses are struggling to predict the impact of a traffic change at one of the town's most popular shopping precincts.
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Permanent holiday booze bans at coastal hotspots on the cards
20 Feb 2026A report said it was time to consider if New Year's Eve and Labour weekend should be permanently dry in public places in two townships.
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Charity requests $30k to keep Pacific seniors gatherings running
22 Feb 2026The monthly events attract between 100 and 150 seniors. They include a free Pacific buffet lunch and activities such as bingo, line dancing, and guest speakers.
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'Work with us, not against us': Fishing group slams Greenpeace salmon stunt
20 Feb 2026Protesters defaced the large statue, just weeks after a $300,000 ratepayer-funded refurbishment.
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Budget blowout for new Rangiora road
19 Feb 2026The cost of a long-awaited North Canterbury road has almost doubled, meaning ratepayers face footing a bigger bill.
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'Full circle': No housing for Parau Farms as city reverts to sports field plan
19 Feb 2026Tauranga City Council is abandoning plans for housing on land it bought in Bethlehem 25 years ago.
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Bluebridge commits to Picton for another four decades
18 Feb 2026The announcement follows work that started last month on infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the government's new ferries when they arrive in 2029.
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Problematic Porirua landfill could close in less than five years
18 Feb 2026It's a proposal that would spell the end of decades of foul smells that troubled the neighbouring Wellington suburb of Tawa.
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‘Peace of mind at last’: Whirinaki homeowners get green light three years after cyclone
18 Feb 2026Three years after Cyclone Gabrielle, a Whirinaki couple's Category 2C property no longer has a risk category attached to it.
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Residents fear being cut off as 10-week road closure begins
18 Feb 2026Weeks of work is scheduled to repair subsidence under the road from the 2023 Auckland Anniversary weekend storm.
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Neighbourhood feuds in Wellington over yellow lines
17 Feb 2026In the midst of a neighbourhood dispute, Wellington City Council has decided to make a stretch of Fortification Rd no stopping at all times.
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Hastings residents will pay cyclone recovery rates for next 16 years
16 Feb 2026A recovery rate to pay for the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle will be attached to Hastings ratepayers' bills for the next 16 years.
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The Bluff beach battling asbestos
16 Feb 2026Recent work to protect the area, including the construction of a seawall, may not be the end of the road
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Rakaia Salmon statue 'vandalised' in protest
16 Feb 2026Rakaia's iconic salmon statue has been defaced by Greenpeace protesters, just weeks after a $300,000 ratepayer-funded refurbishment.
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Could a $315,000 one-way fix solve a parking squeeze?
14 Feb 2026The plans are opposed by a local who says hundreds of motorists will be inconvenienced.
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Metlink pulls 11 trains out of service as parts supplier collapses
13 Feb 2026Australian parts supplier Trovon Australia has gone out of business.
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Mayor and regional council chair demand Cook Strait rescue tug
13 Feb 2026Marlborough's mayor and Wellington's regional council chair say not having a dedicated open-ocean rescue tug for Cook Strait would put lives and economic lifelines in peril.
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This Valentine's Day, swipe right on a new fur bestie
13 Feb 2026Auckland Council is inviting Aucklanders to match with a new best friend with a tail. Audio
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