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Featured Local Democracy Reporting stories
141-year-old rural hall for sale - quirks and all
Once a place of dancing, celebration, and socialising, Carterton's Belvedere Hall is on the market.
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Defective paint forces closure of Napier fountain
6 Oct 2025Defective paint used by contractors during repairs to a popular fountain in Napier last year has resulted in it being closed again.
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Which Southland mayor spent the most this term?
7 Oct 2025Total spending for Southland's mayors during the current term has topped more than $192,000 - not including one of the region's largest councils.
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Don't sacrifice Blenheim to war on cars, David Seymour warns
6 Oct 2025"I think there's a whole lot of cities that have made a big mistake trying to banish cars and banish parking from the CBD," Seymour says.
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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Abuse forces candidate to give up election campaign
3 Oct 2025Ruapehu District Council has condemned the abuse and harassment of candidates standing in the local elections.
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Inside Mayor School: Where new leaders learn how to run a council
3 Oct 2025This year marks the 10th session of Mayor School, which began in 1998.
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Thousands of Auckland dog owners hit with fines
2 Oct 2025The council has been cracking down on dog owners to register their dogs, or risk a fine or a day in court.
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Rolleston 1080 bait factory sold at a loss
The West Coast Regional Council sold its controversial Rolleston 1080 factory last year for $70,000 under valuation, records show.
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Wrecking ball nears on Masterton Town Hall
3 Oct 2025A deal has been signed with a demolition contractor to take down Masterton's town hall, with work set to begin this month.
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Mayor regrets speaking at Charlie Kirk vigil after backlash
2 Oct 2025Andrew Tripe says he knew little about the assassinated US activist's views when he spoke at the event.
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'Brink of collapse': Anger, confusion at council's new pensioner housing partnership
2 Oct 2025Residents say they will not be signing new tenancy agreements until they receive assurances over rental fee increases.
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Chemical smell linked to cable thefts
1 Oct 2025All areas of Kawerau have been subject to strong chemical smells over the past week.
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Changes to dog access at rural Auckland beach
30 Sep 2025Dog owners will not be able to walk their pets at a rural Auckland beach during breeding season of native shorebirds
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Spike in homelessness overwhelms region's services
30 Sep 2025"Our numbers are going up but our financial supports are all down. There's just not enough of anything ‒ money, houses, people."
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Manurewa election complaints prompt warning on vote integrity
29 Sep 2025Election material circulating in Manurewa allegedly urges support for a list of candidates, offers help with ballot papers, and links to community funding discussions.
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'Serious risk': Warning over e-motorbikes
29 Sep 2025E-motorbikes are heavy, fast, and almost silent, making them a "serious risk to parks, reserves, and reserve users", says the Hastings District Council.
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Gastropub denied liquor licences after noise complaints
30 Sep 2025A gastropub north of Auckland has lost its right to sell alcohol after local residents complained about the noise at night.
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Speeding events rise at Southland council
26 Sep 2025A southern council work car has been clocked travelling at 133km/h amid an uptick in speeding over recent reporting periods.
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Bay of Plenty bus fares hiked for first time in seven years
26 Sep 2025Urban fares will increase for all services across the region except for long-distance routes.
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South Auckland urged to ‘prove everyone wrong’ as voter turnout lags
25 Sep 2025South Auckland's participation in local elections is continuing to lag.
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Councillor didn't realise she would get paid before she was elected
25 Sep 2025Lisa Bond admits she knew little about how the council worked when she was first elected.
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Voting booklet blunder leaves 27 candidates' profiles missing
25 Sep 2025A former Hawke's Bay mayor is calling for a reprint of Hastings booklets delivered with voting papers after 27 candidate profiles were missed out.
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From golf to Hollywood: Mayoral candidate Don Paterson's plan to reinvent Rotorua
25 Sep 2025Local Democracy Reporting quizzes the mayoral candidates about key issues before the 11 October election.
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Council held 55 workshops without telling the public
24 Sep 2025The Ombudsman says workshops should still be advertised even if closed.
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Cape Palliser paper road: Vehicle ban gets the nod
24 Sep 2025Vehicles will soon be banned from accessing a scenic stretch of South Wairarapa coastline for at least two years.
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Mysterious stink plagues Kawerau - again
24 Sep 2025Early last year the town was demanding action due to a more biological stench of human waste.
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Meet the 19-year-old Aucklander who wants to be Western Bay's mayor
24 Sep 2025The council's youngest candidate, 19-year-old Danielle Borell-Faa'soo wants to be Western Bay of Plenty's mayor to inspire other rangatahi (youth). so that people her age learn they have voices too.
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