Category: Council Meetings

OPINION: A Failure of Education and a Failure of Governance

Dec 4, 2025 | Cities and Regions, Consultation, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Fixing Councils Series, Global Warming, Government Organisations, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases

OPINION: Regional Council Reforms Should Focus on Reducing Bureaucracy not Reducing Democracy

Dec 4, 2025 | Amalgamation, Cities and Regions, Consultation, Contractors, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases

LGNZ holds annual conference and engages in propaganda war with Taxpayers’ Union

Jul 31, 2025 | Buller District, Christchurch City, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Far North District, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Invercargill City, Kapiti Coast District, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, Nelson City, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Palmerston North City, Petitions, Porirua City, Professional Managerial Class, Protest, Rangitīkei District, Rates Increases, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Upper Hutt City, Voting Record, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Wellington City, Whanganui District

Why are Councils Leaving LGNZ?

Jul 31, 2025 | Article, Cities, Climate Change and Weather, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Global Agendas, Global Warming, Government Organisations, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Regions, Taking Action, Voting Record

Investigating New Zealand’s Local Government Act 2002 – A Layperson’s Guide

Jun 30, 2025 | Article, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Guides, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Overview, Resources

OPINION: Hamilton’s proposed “Ratepayer Assistance” Scheme Risks Becoming a Debt Trap

Jun 30, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Opinion, Rates Increases

Hamilton City Council votes to fund work towards creating new multi-council finance company

Jun 29, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, LGFA, LGNZ, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Regulations, Voting Record

Hamilton City Council votes to reject increasing its debt-to-revenue limit to 350%

Jun 29, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Hamilton City, LGFA, News, Regulations, Voting Record

Council Meetings

Wellington City Council looks to reduce numbers of raised crossings in Thorndon Quay plan

Aug 31, 2024 | Article, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Emergency Services, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Petitions, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Voting Record, Wellington City

Opposition to Wellington City Council’s plan to install five raised pedestrian crossing along...

Council Meetings

OPINION: When Weak Systems Make Rates Higher

Apr 3, 2026 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Infrastructure, Opinion, Rates Increases, Transport and Roading

By Mesh Macdonald (Hamilton City Councillor) If you want to understand why rates keep climbing,...

Additional Posts

OPINION: When Will Someone Say STOP?

Aug 18, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Libraries and Museums, Mode Shift, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Regulations, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Sports and Events, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By Graeme Mead (Hamilton West Ward Candidate) It’s election year in Hamilton, and the question...

Consultation Closes 27 August 2025: “Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill”

Aug 10, 2025 | Arts and Cultural, Auckland City, Buller District, Christchurch City, Cities, Cities and Regions, Code of Conduct complaints, Consultation, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Dunedin City, Far North District, Freedom of Expression, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Invercargill City, Kaipara District, Kapiti Coast District, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Nelson City, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Palmerston North City, Parks and Reserves, Porirua City, Rangitīkei District, Regions, Regulations, Safety and Well-being, Sports and Events, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Upper Hutt City, Voting Record, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Whanganui District

The Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill is currently before Parliament. Public...

Council Performance Information Released by Internal Affairs

Aug 1, 2025 | Article, Cities, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, LGFA, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Regions, Resources

Summary Internal Affairs has released its first set of council performance information which can...

OPINION: Hamilton’s New Theatre — A Recent History

Jul 7, 2025 | Arts and Cultural, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Hamilton City, News, Opinion

By Rob Pascoe (Chartered Accountant, Former Hamilton City Councillor, and Hamilton Ratepayer) In...

OPINION: I Am Not a Number!

May 30, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Opinion

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Back in 1967, the lead character in the TV series The...

Concerns that areas of Hamilton are “wastewater network constrained”

Apr 30, 2025 | Core Services, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, High-density Housing, Housing supply, News, Opinion, Pollution, Protest, Regulations, Resource Management Act (RMA), Safety and Well-being, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Three Waters, Voting Record

On the 8th of April 2025, Hamilton City Council held a Strategic Growth and District Plan...

Christchurch’s planned $590,000 raised crossing will only cross part of road due to disagreement between community boards

Apr 29, 2025 | Christchurch City, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Voting Record

Summary Christchurch City Council is planning to install a raised pedestrian crossing across Deans...

Council Uses Leading Questions in Wairere Drive Speed Reduction Consultation

Mar 31, 2025 | Consultation, Council Meetings, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Resource Management Act (RMA), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By Geoff Kreegher (Hamilton Ratepayer) The 2025 consultation results for this speed reduction on a...

OPINION: Consult or Insult?

Mar 23, 2025 | Consultation, Council Meetings, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Mode Shift, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Elected councillors or MPs are easily manipulated by...

OPINION: Giggles & Failure – How Hamilton City Council Approved Another Raised Platform on Wairere Drive

Feb 28, 2025 | Consultation, Council Meetings, Emergency Services, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Resource Management Act (RMA), Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Voting Record

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate) In March...

OPINION: The 2025/26 HCC Budget – More of the Same and No “Fresh Thinking” (Yet) for Election Year

Feb 27, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, Opinion, Rates Increases, Rubbish

By Rob Pascoe (Chartered Accountant, Former Hamilton City Councillor, and Hamilton Ratepayer) At...

Consultation Closes 28 February 2025: Hamilton City’s District Plan Change 14

Jan 30, 2025 | Consultation, Council Meetings, Flood Risk, Global Warming, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Law and Legislation, Natural Hazards, New Zealand Issues, News, Property Rights, Taking Action

The public consultation for changing the Hamilton City District Plan based on flood risk modelling...

Crown Observer to Monitor Wellington City Council

Nov 4, 2024 | Article, Asset Sales, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Three Waters, Wellington City

Summary On the 22 October 2024 Local Government Minister Simeon Brown announced that he was...

Hamilton’s $689,000 raised crossing to be redesigned

Nov 2, 2024 | Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Voting Record

On 23 October 2024 Hamilton City Council voted to redesign the planned crossing on Heaphy Terrace....

OPEN LETTER: Getting Local Government ‘Back on Track’

Oct 25, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Crime, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Open Letters, Opinion, Property Rights, Rates Increases

By Don Hewison (ScEdD, ChEdD) and sent to government ministers in October 2024 I recently read Hon...

OPINION: Why Vote Against “Safety” and “Free Money”?

Oct 1, 2024 | Auckland City, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Mode Shift, News, Open Letters, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero, Wellington City

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate) The issue...

Hamilton’s $689,000 raised crossing delayed

Oct 1, 2024 | Consultation, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Emergency Services, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero, Voting Record

On Thursday (26 September 2024) Hamilton City Council voted to delay a decision on the plans for a...

OPINION: Hamilton City Council Borrowing to Increase

Sep 16, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGFA, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters

The government is allowing debt to rise to 500% of waters revenue for new “Local Water Done Well” Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs). There are also plans to increase the borrowing limit for high growth councils to 350% of council revenue.

OPINION: Luxon Nails Councils

Aug 27, 2024 | Auckland City, Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Prime Minister Chris Luxon fronted the Local Government...

OPINION: The Fight Against Speed Bumps Rolls On

Aug 18, 2024 | Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Voting Record

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Hamilton City Council’s Infrastructure committee...

OPINION: Te Huia History Part 1 (1968-2010)

Aug 3, 2024 | Article, Auckland City, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, Opinion, Overview, Public Transport, Rail, Transport and Roading, Waikato Region

Te Huia Auckland-Hamilton Passenger Rail Service and Its Predecessors: History Part 1 (1968-2010)...

Democracy Project Article: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country

Jul 25, 2024 | Asset Sales, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Water Meters, Wellington City

[Originally published 29 April 2024 on the Democracy Project] By Dr Bryce Edwards (Political...

OPINION: The Illusion of Power: How Local Govt Bureaucrats Overawe Democratically-Elected Councillors

Jul 25, 2024 | Asset Sales, Cities, Code of Conduct complaints, Core Services, Council Meetings, Freedom of Expression, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Wellington City

[Originally published 13 June 2024 on the Democracy Project ] By Chris Trotter (Political...

Democracy Project Article: When unelected officials dominate the local democratic process

Jul 25, 2024 | Article, Asset Sales, Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities and Regions, Code of Conduct complaints, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Global Agendas, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Wellington City

Summary Bryce Edwards (Political Analyst and Director of the Democracy Project) provides a...

Kāpiti Coastal Advisory Panel and managed retreat: June 2024 updates

Jun 30, 2024 | Article, Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Consultation, Council Meetings, Flood Risk, Global Agendas, Global Warming, Greater Wellington Region, International Organisation, Kapiti Coast District, Managed Retreat, Natural Hazards, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Protest, Resource Management Act (RMA), Taking Action, United Nations

June 2024 has been a busy month for the issues of climate change adaptation and managed retreat....

OPINION: 100% Rates Rise

Jun 21, 2024 | Consultation, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, News, Opinion, Rates Increases

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Hamilton City Council’s Long-term Plan – what you need...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 3 Highlights

Jun 10, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Selected speakers from the 3rd day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

Protest outside Hamilton City Council on the 27th of June

May 31, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Protest, Taking Action

A protest is being planned before Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan is finalised in...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 1 Highlights

May 30, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, UN 2030 Agenda

Selected speakers from the 1st day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

Mar 31, 2024 | Article, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Emergency Services, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, News, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor When Hamilton City Council began its Waka...

Category: Council Meetings

Council Meetings

Council Meetings

Additional Posts

Major topics

Cities

Regions

What can we do?

CityWatch NZ