Category: Elections

OPINION: Taxpayers’ Union Misrepresented Candidates’ Views with the “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” Campaign

Nov 1, 2025 | Auckland 2025, Auckland City, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Official Information Act, Opinion, Rates Increases

Community Organises Opposition to the Site Selection of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Proposed for Southern Hamilton

Aug 17, 2025 | Article, Building Consent, Core Services, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, News, Pollution, Property Rights, Protest, Safety and Well-being, Taking Action, Three Waters, Waikato Region, Waipa District

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

Q & A: The Single Transferable Vote (STV) System in Local Elections 2025

Jun 30, 2025 | Article, Cities and Regions, Dunedin City, Elections, Far North District, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Kaipara District, Kapiti Coast District, Nelson City, New Plymouth District, Palmerston North City, Porirua City, Upper Hutt City, Wellington City

2025 Local Government Elections

Jun 30, 2025 | Article, Auckland City, Buller District, Christchurch City, Cities and Regions, Dunedin City, Elections, Far North District, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Invercargill City, Kaipara District, Kapiti Coast District, Local Government Reform, Nelson City, New Plymouth District, News, Palmerston North City, Porirua City, Rangitīkei District, Taking Action, Upper Hutt City, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Wellington City, Whanganui District

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

OPINION: How to Fix Councils

Jan 30, 2025 | Building Consent, Cities and Regions, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, LGFA, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Open Letters, Opinion, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Resource Management Act (RMA), Three Waters, Transport and Roading

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

Elections

Wellington Pukehῑnau/Lambton Ward By-election 2024

Jan 21, 2024 | Elections, Taking Action, Wellington City, Wellington Pukehῑnau/Lambton Ward 2024 By-election

[Update 27/02/2024: The official result for this by-election was the election of Geordie Rogers...

Elections

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...

Additional Posts

CANDIDATE OPINION: Rachel Karalus

Sep 30, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Homelessness, Housing supply, Infrastructure, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Social problems

Rachel Karalus’ Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton City...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Horiana Henderson

Sep 19, 2025 | Bank, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, LGFA, LGNZ, Opinion, Rates Increases, Voting Record

Horiana Henderson’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Lawrence Jensen

Sep 15, 2025 | Crime, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Social problems

Lawrence Jensen’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Roderick John Young

Aug 31, 2025 | Bank, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Infrastructure, Opinion, Rates Increases

Roderick John Young’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Roger Stratford

Aug 30, 2025 | Climate Change and Weather, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Global Warming, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, LGFA, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Roger Stratford’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton...

Meet the Candidates: 10 September 2025 – Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association Incorporated

Aug 30, 2025 | Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, News

From the Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS Waikato Regional...

Meet the Candidates: 27 August 2025 – Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association Incorporated

Aug 22, 2025 | Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, News

From the Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS Hamilton West...

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...

Open Invitation for Candidate Opinion Pieces

Aug 10, 2025 | Article, Auckland City, Buller District, Christchurch City, Cities and Regions, Dunedin City, Elections, Far North District, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Invercargill City, Kaipara District, Kapiti Coast District, Local Government Reform, Nelson City, New Plymouth District, News, Palmerston North City, Porirua City, Rangitīkei District, Taking Action, Upper Hutt City, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Wellington City, Whanganui District

Given the number of elections running across the country, sending out personal invites to every...

OPINION: Free Tickets and Foggy Justifications

Aug 8, 2025 | Arts and Cultural, Council Spending, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Opinion, Regulations, Sports and Events

By Graeme Mead (Hamilton West Ward Candidate) Why Ratepayers Deserve Transparency Hamilton...

Meet the Candidates: 06 August 2025 – Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association Incorporated

Aug 1, 2025 | Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, News, Transport and Roading

From the Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS Hamilton East...

OPINION: Water is Life – But Can You Afford It?

Aug 1, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Opinion, Rates Increases, Regulations, Three Waters

By Michael West (Engineer and Hamilton West Ward Candidate) Reproduced with permission from Better...

OPINION: A City on the Move — But Not in the Right Direction

Jul 7, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Kirikiriroa Maaori Ward By-election 2024, Opinion, Rates Increases, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By Horiana Henderson (Hamilton East Ward Candidate) In the hushed hall of Fairfield Baptist Church...

Meeting Notice: 03 May 2025 – Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association Incorporated

Apr 29, 2025 | Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, News, Transport and Roading

From the Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association You are invited to our monthly meeting as...

Meeting Notice: 27 March 2025 – Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association Incorporated

Mar 26, 2025 | Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Local Government Reform, News

From the Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association You are in invited to the second of our...

Meeting Notice: 27 February 2025 – Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association Incorporated

Feb 27, 2025 | Core Services, Elections, Flood Risk, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Local Government Reform, News, Three Waters, Water Fluoridation, Water Meters

From the Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association You are invited to our monthly meeting...

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...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Jos Nagels

Jul 11, 2024 | Core Services, Council Finances, Council Spending, High-density Housing, Opinion, Public Transport, Rail, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Transport and Roading

Jos Nagels’ Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga election...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Anthony Goddard

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Spending, High-density Housing, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Public Transport, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Three Waters, Transport and Roading

Anthony Goddard’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Robert Coe

Jun 30, 2024 | Health and Safety, Law and Legislation, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Three Waters, Water Fluoridation

Robert Coe’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Abraham (Bram) van Berkel

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, High-density Housing, Managed Retreat, Natural Hazards, Opinion, Rates Increases, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Transport and Roading

Abraham (Bram) van Berkel’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Jacqueline Pointon

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Finances, Health and Safety, High-density Housing, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Three Waters, Transport and Roading

Jacqueline Pointon’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Rod Taylor

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Funding, Council Spending, Disruptions, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024

Rod Taylor’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Tim Maltby

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Funding, Council Spending, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Rates Increases, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Transport and Roading

Tim Maltby’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

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 Kirikiriroa Maaori Ward By-election 2024

May 31, 2024 | Article, Elections, Hamilton City, Kirikiriroa Maaori Ward By-election 2024, News, Taking Action

Update 18/08/2024 Election Results Maria Te Aukaha Huata was declared the winner of the...

Tauranga City Council Election 2024

May 16, 2024 | Article, Elections, News, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024

After more than three years of local democracy being suspended to enable the rule of appointed...

OPINION: What to keep and what to cut in Hamilton’s Long-Term Plan?

Apr 20, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Crime, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Mode Shift, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By John McDonald, 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate One of the main narratives being...

OPINION: Comparing the coalition’s draft transport General Policy Statement (GPS) with Labour’s version

Mar 23, 2024 | Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Consultation, Elections, Global Agendas, Incoming Legislation, International Organisation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Overview, Public Transport, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, UN 2030 Agenda, United Nations, Vision Zero

By John McDonald, 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate and CityWatch NZ editor The...

Rangitīkei District Council Southern Ward By-election 2024

Feb 29, 2024 | Rangitīkei District, Rangitīkei District 2024 By-election

[Update 16/05/2024: Paul Sharland won the councillor seat at the recent Southern Ward...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Roger Stratford

Feb 11, 2024 | Council Finances, Council Funding, Elections, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Roger Stratford’s Invited Opinion Piece [All candidates for the 2024 By-elections were...

CANDIDATE OPINION: John McDonald

Feb 9, 2024 | Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Hostile Architecture, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Public Transport, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

John McDonald’s Invited Opinion Piece [All candidates for the 2024 By-elections were invited...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Tim Macindoe

Feb 3, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Rates Increases, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Tim Macindoe’s Invited Opinion Piece [All candidates for the 2024 By-elections were invited...

Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election

Jan 21, 2024 | Elections, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Taking Action

[Update 27/02/2024: The official result for this by-election was the election of Tim Macindoe with...

Category: Elections

Elections

Elections

Additional Posts

Major topics

Cities

Regions

What can we do?

CityWatch NZ