Local Government stories
Footpath parking has surged in Ōpōtiki after six spaces were removed from Church Street, prompting complaints from struggling retailers.
Wairoa councils will soon be able to clear river mouths and debris sooner, after floods exposed delays in emergency response.
Ratepayers in South Wairarapa will avoid a funding gap of up to NZD $35 million after NZTA agreed to keep Cape Palliser Rd largely subsidised for three years.
Homeowners and builders are still coping with cost and consenting pressures, but most recent projects avoided major disruption.
Council chiefs faced intense scrutiny after a review said six deaths in the Mount Maunganui landslide were preventable, with inquiries still under way.
Emergency response funding could be squeezed under planned rates caps, prompting Southland Civil Defence to seek an exemption from the Minister.
Safety gains from raised road platforms in Hamilton are outweighing complaints, as councils review costly fixes for faulty installations.
Farmers in West Sussex can now spot heat stress earlier after a private 5G link put in-pen sensors on livestock buildings.
Residents across Wairarapa and Tararua are set to gain safer, more reliable water services as Waitī Waters prepares for a July launch.
Restoring full access to the Mount Maunganui base could require up to GBP £38 million in slope works, a risk assessment says.
Lake advocates say the wall may keep corroding for years, with repairs now pushed into 2027 and costs put at up to GBP £12.5 million.
Residents say crashes are likely to rise if Nelson council removes speed cushions that cut traffic and reduced collisions on Tāhunanui Hills roads.
Heavy vehicles will be diverted from a vital Dannevirke route after tests found the 103-year-old Rawhiti Bridge is far weaker than thought.
Councillors will decide on Thursday whether to back a bigger Ōtaki pool rebuild that could make the site the lower North Island's only manu pool.
Long-delayed mining and resource applications are still pending on the West Coast, though the council has cut the queue to 43 from 199.
Pressure is mounting on Gisborne's tourism infrastructure, with councillors weighing a campervan waste site after years of complaints and a closure.
Households could face higher bills unless new water entities lift delivery from councils' 60 to 80 per cent record and prove their costs.
About a quarter of the Rakaia rollout cannot yet report readings, leaving Ashburton District Council unable to rely on the system for wider use.
Climate risks are already costing New Zealand billions a year as the government faces renewed criticism for its patchy adaptation plan.
Residents of Clarkville have won a safer route after heavy trucks were barred from Baynons Road, easing dust and safety fears.
