Category: Parliament

OPINION: NZ’s $2.5 billion shoddy building bill: how to fix the ‘build now, fix later’ culture

Mar 3, 2026 | Building Consent, Contractors, Government Organisations, High-density Housing, Housing supply, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Regulations, Social problems

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

OPEN LETTER: John McDonald’s Feedback on the Public Works (Critical Infrastructure) Amendment Bill

Jun 30, 2025 | Government Organisations, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, New Zealand Issues, Open Letters, Opinion, Parliament, Property Rights, Regulations, Transport and Roading

OPINION: Six Major Reasons to Oppose Road Pricing

Apr 22, 2025 | Article, Auckland City, Christchurch City, Consultation, Council Debt, Council Funding, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Internet of Things, Law and Legislation, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Petitions, Protest, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Toll Roads, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

OPINION: Commentary on the Time of Use Charging Amendment Bill

Mar 31, 2025 | Auckland City, Consultation, Council Funding, Incoming Legislation, Internet of Things, Law and Legislation, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Transport and Roading

Parliament

OPINION: LGNZ is Confusing Myth and Truth (Part 1)

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and Hamilton East Ward Candidate) Local Government New...

Parliament

OPINION: NZ’s $2.5 billion shoddy building bill: how to fix the ‘build now, fix later’ culture

[Originally published 02 February 2026 on The Conversation] By Mark Kirby, Construction Industry...

Additional Posts

OPINION: Serious Mismanagement and Lack of Accountability with Water Services

Mar 31, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Kaipara District, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Protest, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Water Meters, Wellington City

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

CITYWATCH NZ

Category: Parliament

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: LGNZ is Confusing Myth and Truth (Part 2)

OPINION: LGNZ is Confusing Myth and Truth (Part 1)

OPEN LETTER: John McDonald’s Feedback on the Public Works (Critical Infrastructure) Amendment Bill

OPINION: Six Major Reasons to Oppose Road Pricing

OPINION: Commentary on the Time of Use Charging Amendment Bill

Parliament

OPINION: LGNZ is Confusing Myth and Truth (Part 1)

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

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

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

Minister of Local Government Reassigned in January 2025

Parliament

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

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

Additional Posts

OPINION: Serious Mismanagement and Lack of Accountability with Water Services

Major topics

Cities

Regions

What can we do?

CityWatch NZ