News
'Archaic' rule disadvantages election hopefuls: Gisborne councillor
An incumbent district councillor in Gisborne believes election rules disadvantage newcomers from securing a seat at the table.
Wairoa mayoral candidate questions council's handling of electoral process
A Wairoa mayoral candidate engaged in an employment dispute with the district council he once worked for has again found himself in a difficult spot, this time over election hoardings.
'I own it man': Council candidates stand by controversial posts
A Gisborne mayoral candidate is standing by a controversial picture on social media which shows him standing in a hazmat suit with a swastika on the front.
'Democracy is alive': Candidate events kick off in Tairāwhiti
Tairāwhiti got its first taste of the options for this year's local body elections last night as nominees took the opportunity to introduce themselves at a "meet the candidates" event.
Māhia resident upset at council over privacy breach
A Māhia resident says he has been left "numb" by the publishing of his personal information in the local newspaper via a district council response.
'It's stuffed': Climate change exacerbating erosion in Māhia
The coastal road providing the main access to Māhia Peninsula is slowly dropping into the sea, leaving one concerned resident wondering what plan of action is to be taken.
Gisborne councillor apologises over comments aimed at mayor
Gisborne district councillor Meredith Akuhata-Brown has apologised for comments aimed at the mayor but was absent at a council meeting where an in-person apology was expected.
'That's just what it's come to': Gisborne family breaks into empty Kāinga Ora home
Desperation has forced a young Tairāwhiti family to break down the door of an empty Kāinga Ora home and take up residence this month, even though utilities were disconnected.
Tokomaru residents still displaced, months after flood
Residents of a small East Coast town are still feeling the pinch from extreme weather in March, with some locked out of homes that have been red-stickered for months.
'Nothing could be saved': Tolaga Bay’s lone wharf light gone, destroyed
A lone lamp post that once kept watch at the end of a historic East Coast wharf is no more, removed for safety reasons despite the council expecting pushback.
Saga of the shipwrecked San Rosa continues
New information has emerged on the ordeal endured by the crew of a shipwrecked boat the day it got into difficulty in rough seas off the East Coast.
Tairāwhiti tops hazardous drinking list
Tairāwhiti has the highest hazardous drinking rate in the country according to a report presented to Gisborne District Council.
Fears neglectful dog owners getting off lightly in Gisborne
The former head of animal control at Gisborne District Council is concerned negligent dog owners aren't being held to account in Tairāwhiti.
Clogged river a 'disaster', Gisborne council called out
Gisborne District Council has lost control of a river which frequently overflows and causes major issues for growers in the region, a resident claims.
'Wonderful day for Tairāwhiti': Councillors support revival of rail line
They believe it will be key to distributing the region's goods but will need government funding.
‘I want some justice’: Hīkoi at Tokomaru Bay over perpetual leases
Tokomaru Bay was a buzz of activity on Saturday as a crowd assembled from far and wide to protest century-old legislation locking up Māori-owned land.
'Unable to return home': Petition launched over locked-up Māori land on East Coast
A petition to abolish century-old legislation affecting land use in the small East Coast town of Tokomaru Bay has united the community in support of change.
Call for climate emergency declaration in Tairāwhiti
A Gisborne district councillor wants a climate emergency to be declared for the region following severe weather events in Tairāwhiti.
The 999-year-leases that are 'a disaster for landowners'
An East Coast woman is on a mission to gain back control of her whenua after leasing laws dating back 100 years locked her and others out of controlling their land blocks.
Dentist coming to Wairoa after two year void
A small Hawke's Bay town has had its dental hole filled after two years, albeit temporarily.
Abandoned: San Rosa shipwreck owners hard to track down - police
A shipwrecked boat on a remote East Coast beach has been ransacked as police and the harbourmaster work together to determine its fate.
Gisborne councillors tight-lipped over election plans
Gisborne can expect new faces around its council table this October for more reasons than the recent representation shake-up.
'New day for democracy': Councillors react to representation changes
The imminent cutting of rural ward councillors in Gisborne has prompted a range of reactions from elected members.
Call for action over forestry slash in Tairāwhiti
Forestry regulations should be tightened to prevent incidents such as logs clogging a river, an ex-councillor says.
Gisborne mayor touched by Auckland woman's act of kindness
Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz says her week has been made after receiving a hand-written letter with $20 enclosed for flood relief efforts.