New Zealand Issues

OPEN LETTER: John McDonald’s A Request for Ministerial Intervention Regarding the IAWAI Water Company

Jun 27, 2026 | Amalgamation, Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Government Organisations, Hamilton City, Information Sheets, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Open Letters, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Waikato District, Waikato Region, Water Meters

Duncan Garner Podcast: ‘We’re Going Backwards’ – Firefighters Sound The Alarm On Pay, Resources

May 6, 2026 | Article, Auckland City, Cities and Regions, Emergency Services, Freedom of Expression, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Protest, Regulations

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

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

Mar 9, 2026 | Contractors, Court case, Government Organisations, Infrastructure, Interview, Law and Legislation, New Zealand Issues, News, Property Rights, Protest, Regulations, Transport and Roading

OPINION: NZ is slowly slipping on the global corruption index. Is it time for an anti-corruption agency?

Feb 27, 2026 | Article, Corruption, Government Organisations, International, International Organisation, Law and Legislation, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Regulations, Social problems

National Emergency Management Agency on Space Weather (2024 Plan and 2025 Exercise)

Dec 15, 2025 | Article, Climate Change and Weather, Emergency Services, Health and Safety, Internet of Things, Natural Hazards, New Zealand Issues, News, Parliament, Safety and Well-being, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities)

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

OPINION: The End of Regional Councils?

Dec 4, 2025 | Amalgamation, Building Consent, Cities and Regions, Consultation, Core Services, Council Spending, Government Organisations, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Property Rights, Regulations, Resource Management Act (RMA), Safety and Well-being

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

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

Oct 31, 2025 | Asset Sales, Buller District, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Elections, Far North District, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Infrastructure, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Wellington 2025, Wellington City, Whanganui District

OPINION: LGNZ is Confusing Myth and Truth (Part 2)

Sep 3, 2025 | Auckland City, Climate Change and Weather, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Global Agendas, Global Warming, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Incoming Legislation, International, International Organisation, Internet of Things, Kaipara District, Law and Legislation, LGNZ, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Property Rights, Protest, Rates Increases, Regulations, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, UN 2030 Agenda, United Nations, Water Meters, WEF, Wellington City

CITYWATCH NZ

Category: New Zealand Issues

OPEN LETTER: John McDonald’s A Request for Ministerial Intervention Regarding the IAWAI Water Company

Duncan Garner Podcast: ‘We’re Going Backwards’ – Firefighters Sound The Alarm On Pay, Resources

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

National Emergency Management Agency on Space Weather (2024 Plan and 2025 Exercise)

OPINION: A Failure of Education and a Failure of Governance

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

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

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

OPINION: LGNZ is Confusing Myth and Truth (Part 2)

Who is Taituarā (SOLGM)?

Consultations April 2025: “Local Water Done Well” Water Service Reforms

US court ruling on fluoride in drinking water being a health hazard

Why are Councils Leaving LGNZ?

New Zealand Issues

OPEN LETTER: John McDonald’s A Request for Ministerial Intervention Regarding the IAWAI Water Company

Duncan Garner Podcast: ‘We’re Going Backwards’ – Firefighters Sound The Alarm On Pay, Resources

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

Additional Posts

Consultation Closes 27 February 2026: “Inquiry into the 2025 Local Elections”

Consultation Closes on 20 January 2026: “Simplifying Local Government” Proposed Reforms of Regional Councils

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

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

Major topics

Cities

Regions

What can we do?

CityWatch NZ