Local Government

Postal voting is hampering the Auckland Council's bid to lift voter turnout in October's local body elections, it claims.

A legal fight looks likely over the Wellington City Council's decision to make micro-chipping mandatory for all cats within 18 months.

Questions are being asked about the Canterbury Regional Council's oversight of a subsidised taxi scheme at the centre of fraud allegations. Audio

A new report claims there will not be enough passengers to make a runway extension at Wellington Airport economically viable. Audio

A botch-up in which a local-government candidate was accidentally nominated for the wrong seat remains unresolved.

Analysis - The moment Auckland's deputy mayor broke ranks with Len Brown was the most electrifying moment in Auckland Council's history, writes Todd Niall.

A nomination blunder in Auckland has pitted two candidates from the same party against each other in the race for a seat on the council.

Nominations for October's local body elections have closed, with strong competition in some cities, while candidates will stand unopposed in others.

A majority of West Coast submitters support merging some of the region's council services.

Councils are warning people to get their local body nominations in urgently, or they could face costly by-elections.

Auckland councillors begin a marathon meeting this morning to finalise the city's development blueprint, the Unitary Plan.

Political battle lines have been drawn by a report advising Auckland councillors to reject parts of the re-written Unitary Plan.

A council report recommends changes to the proposed plan, including reinstated protection for more than 2000 Māori sites.

A Wellington City Council committee has voted in favour of compulsory microchipping for all cats over 12 weeks old after a fiery debate, amid threats of possible legal action.

Two centre-right groups have backed different candidates for Auckland Council wards.

Proposed changes to local government law will lead to amalgamation by stealth, councils say.

Analysis - One thing is missing from the race for the Auckland mayoralty - a big idea - writes Auckland Correspondent Todd Niall.

A left-leaning group backing Phil Goff for Auckland mayor has launched its local body campaign, saying the city cannot go back to 'small-thinking, do-nothing' politics.

Close to 700 submissions on proposed council reorganisation on the West Coast have been submitted to the Local Government Commission.

A heritage tunnel south of Nelson which was re-opened this year as part of a cycle trail in the Tasman District, has been closed temporarily for structural improvements.