Kia ora and welcome to CityWatch NZ
This website focuses on issues with local government in New Zealand, especially those unpopular and concerning changes occurring in urban and suburban areas.
Our main purpose is to raise awareness and provide useful information for addressing the issues impacting New Zealand’s cities.
As the changes impacting our cities at a local level are often caused by international agendas and central government policies, CityWatch NZ content will range from local to worldwide in relevance and will emphasise the common cause people have in defending their rights. We hope that learning from examples in New Zealand and other countries, will help your local-scale efforts to resist and reverse those unwanted changes inflicted on your city.
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Smart Cities (and 20-minute cities)
A Smart City has cameras and sensors with the aim of data collection, automation, monitoring, control, and management of the city’s infrastructure and people. A 20-minute City is an urban planning concept that promotes walking, cycling and public transport and often seeks to reduce automobile use.
High-density Housing
New Zealand cities have seen a rapid growth in high-density housing. These are multi-unit homes instead of the stand-alone houses which were far more common for previous generations of New Zealanders. Both the shift to more high-density housing and the way this high-density housing is designed/built will impact people in New Zealand cities.
Climate Change and Weather
Climate change is a concept which is increasingly featured in city council documents and policy. Regardless of your views on climate change or the reality of climate change, the phrase ‘climate change’ is being used to justify a considerable amount of local government policy, actions, and spending. Severe weather events cause damage to our cities and endangering people within those cities.
Core Services
New Zealand’s city councils once focused on fixing potholes, maintaining pipes, keeping the buses moving, regularly collecting the rubbish, keeping flood waters away, as well as maintaining libraries, museums, reserves, parks, and recreation facilities. These were considered their “core services” prior to 2019. What changed? Are “core services” still considered important?
Law and Legislation
Local councils in New Zealand are meant to operate according a number of parliamentary acts. What future legislation is being planned with regard to local government?
EMF Pollution
Cities are often where electromagnetic pollution (EM or EMF pollution) is concentrated and increasing year-by-year. With increases in Wifi installations, cellular communication devices, 5G network installations, and the “Smart City” agenda we can expect more transmissions over the microwave and radio frequencies in our cities.
Council Finances
City Councils in many New Zealand cities are deep in debt. Rates increases are also expected in most of New Zealand’s cities. Are councils being transparent with the public about their financial situations and what caused those financial situations to develop?
Safety and Well-being
New Zealand’s city councils are increasingly using “safety” and “well-being” as justifications for unpopular policies, increased spending, and imposing transformational changes on our cities. Is actual safety and well-being genuinely improving in our cities? Are actual safety issues being addressed or dismissed by your city council?
Cities and Regions
- Auckland City
- Tauranga City
- Hamilton City
- Palmerston North City
- Porirua City
- Wellington City
- Christchurch City
- Dunedin City
- Invercargill City
- Far North District
- New Plymouth District
- Kapiti Coast District
- Buller District
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Consultation Closes on 20 January 2026: “Simplifying Local Government” Proposed Reforms of Regional Councils
Summary On 25 November 2025, the Minister of Local Government Simon Watts and Minster of RMA...
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
News and Articles
National Emergency Management Agency on Space Weather (2024 Plan and 2025 Exercise)
Graphic from the National Space Weather Response Plan.from New Zealand’s National Emergency...
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Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills
CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...
Read More
Consultation Closes on 20 January 2026: “Simplifying Local Government” Proposed Reforms of Regional Councils
Summary On 25 November 2025, the Minister of Local Government Simon Watts and Minster of RMA...
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OPINION: Calling the C-word in the Police cover-up scandal
[Originally published 17 November 2025 on the Democracy Project ] By Bryce Edwards (Political...
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Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill”
Summary The Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill passed its first reading on 18 November 2025,...
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Opinion and Interviews
OPINION: A Failure of Education and a Failure of Governance
By Kathryn Ennis-Carter (Governance and Public Management Consultant) The result of the local...
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OPINION: Regional Council Reforms Should Focus on Reducing Bureaucracy not Reducing Democracy
By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor) In late November 2025, central government announced...
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OPINION: The End of Regional Councils?
By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor National’s announcement of a shake-up for local...
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OPINION: Calling the C-word in the Police cover-up scandal
[Originally published 17 November 2025 on the Democracy Project ] By Bryce Edwards (Political...
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OPINION: Taxpayers’ Union Misrepresented Candidates’ Views with the “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” Campaign
By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and Hamilton East Ward/Mayoral Candidate) Were over...
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