Category: Infrastructure

OPINION: Is the Government Letting the Foxes Guard the Henhouse with Infrastructure Spending?

May 5, 2026 | Asset Sales, Cities and Regions, Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Global Warming, Government Organisations, High-density Housing, Hostile Architecture, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Managed Retreat, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Property Rights, Rates Increases, Regulations, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Three Waters, Toll Roads, Transport and Roading, Water Meters

Household Water Costs in Hamilton City Projected to Triple within 9-years under New Water Company

Sep 1, 2025 | Article, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, LGFA, Local Government Reform, News, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Waikato Region

OPINION: Transforming New Zealand’s Local Government

Aug 31, 2025 | Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cities, Consultation, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Data-driven, Direct Democracy, Fixing Councils Series, Flood Risk, Infrastructure, International, Internet of Things, Law and Legislation, Libraries and Museums, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Public Transport, Recycling, Sports and Events, Transport and Roading

Infrastructure

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,...

Infrastructure

OPINION: Is the Government Letting the Foxes Guard the Henhouse with Infrastructure Spending?

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor) Earlier in 2026, Infrastructure New Zealand welcomed the...

Additional Posts

October 2025 Coverage of S&P’s “New Zealand Water Reforms Don’t Guarantee Rating Relief For Local Councils” Report

Oct 31, 2025 | Article, Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities and Regions, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Dunedin City, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, Invercargill City, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Local Government Reform, Nelson City, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Palmerston North City, Porirua City, Three Waters, Upper Hutt City, Water Meters, Wellington City

Summary In late October 2025, S&P Global published a Scenario Analysis titled New Zealand...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Graeme Mead

Sep 30, 2025 | Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Infrastructure, Libraries and Museums, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Transport and Roading

Graeme Mead’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton City...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Rachel Afeaki

Sep 30, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Infrastructure, Libraries and Museums, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases

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

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: 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...

CITYWATCH NZ

Category: Infrastructure

OPINION: Is the Government Letting the Foxes Guard the Henhouse with Infrastructure Spending?

Supreme Court rules in favour of landowners in Mt Messenger Bypass dispute

Newsroom article: “Ratepayers rout mayors who imposed big rises”

Household Water Costs in Hamilton City Projected to Triple within 9-years under New Water Company

OPINION: Transforming New Zealand’s Local Government

Infrastructure

OPINION: When Weak Systems Make Rates Higher

CANDIDATE OPINION: Stuart Aitken

OPINION: The Cost of Water is Being Set. The Limits are Not

OPINION: A Surge of New Voters can Reset Hamilton’s West — Here’s How

OPINION: Is the Government Letting the Foxes Guard the Henhouse with Infrastructure Spending?

CANDIDATE OPINION: Rudi du Plooy

CANDIDATE OPINION: John McDonald

CANDIDATE OPINION: Mesh Macdonald

Infrastructure

OPINION: Is the Government Letting the Foxes Guard the Henhouse with Infrastructure Spending?

OPINION: The Cost of Water is Being Set. The Limits are Not

OPINION: When Weak Systems Make Rates Higher

Supreme Court rules in favour of landowners in Mt Messenger Bypass dispute

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill”

Newsroom article: “Ratepayers rout mayors who imposed big rises”

Additional Posts

October 2025 Coverage of S&P’s “New Zealand Water Reforms Don’t Guarantee Rating Relief For Local Councils” Report

CANDIDATE OPINION: Graeme Mead

CANDIDATE OPINION: Rachel Afeaki

CANDIDATE OPINION: Roderick John Young

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