Category: Regions

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

Consultation closes 05 July 2026: Simplifying Local Government (Council Amalgamation Options)

Jun 21, 2026 | Amalgamation, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, News, Rates Increases, Taking Action, Waikato District, Waikato Region, Waipa District

Backlash Grows Towards Wellington’s New “Tiaki Wai” Water Company: May 2026 Media Coverage

May 31, 2026 | Amalgamation, Contractors, Core Services, Council Funding, Council Spending, Greater Wellington Region, Hutt City, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Local Government Reform, News, Opinion, Pollution, Porirua City, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Upper Hutt City, Wellington City

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

The History of Claudelands Events Centre – A Questionable Commercial Venture

Aug 4, 2025 | Article, Arts and Cultural, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Overview, Rates Increases, Sports and Events, Waikato Region

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

Jul 31, 2025 | Arts and Cultural, Auckland City, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGFA, LGNZ, New Zealand Issues, Official Information Act, Opinion, Parliament, Protest, Rates Increases, Rubbish, Sports and Events, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Water Meters, Wellington City, Whanganui District

OPINION: Roundabouts, Crossings and Common Sense (or Lack Thereof)

Jul 31, 2025 | Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Whanganui District

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

Regions

Opposition mobilises against the five raised crossings on Thorndon Quay, Wellington

Jul 29, 2024 | Article, Council Spending, Disruptions, Emergency Services, Greater Wellington Region, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Petitions, Public Transport, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Further opposition mobilises against Wellington City Council’s plan to install five raised...

Regions

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

John McDonald (CityWatch NZ editor) supplies a copy of his open letter to the Minister of Local...

Additional Posts

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

Dec 11, 2025 | Auckland City, Building Consent, Buller District, Christchurch City, Cities, Cities and Regions, Code of Conduct complaints, Consultation, Contractors, Core Services, Data-driven, Dunedin City, Far North District, Freedom of Expression, Government Organisations, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, 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, Parliament, Porirua City, Rangitīkei District, Regions, Regulations, Resource Management Act (RMA), Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Upper Hutt City, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Whanganui District

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction Sector”...

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

Dec 4, 2025 | Amalgamation, Article, Buller District, Christchurch City, Cities, Consultation, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Dunedin City, Elections, Far North District, Government Organisations, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Invercargill City, Kaipara District, Kapiti Coast District, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Palmerston North City, Parliament, Porirua City, Public Transport, Rail, Rangitīkei District, Regions, Regulations, Resource Management Act (RMA), Tauranga City, Upper Hutt City, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Wellington City, Whanganui District

Summary On 25 November 2025, the Minister of Local Government Simon Watts and Minster of RMA...

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

Dec 4, 2025 | Auckland City, Buller District, Christchurch City, Cities, Cities and Regions, Consultation, Core Services, Council Funding, Council Spending, Data-driven, Dunedin City, Far North District, Global Agendas, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, Internet of Things, 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, Porirua City, Rangitīkei District, Regions, Regulations, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Toll Roads, Transport and Roading, Upper Hutt City, Voting Record, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Whanganui District

Summary The Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill passed its first reading on 18 November 2025,...

Hamilton City Election 2025 Events & Opinion Pieces

Aug 22, 2025 | Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, News, Taking Action, Waikato Region

UPDATE: Hamilton City Council’s Official Results as copied from the Hamilton City Council...

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

Over 70 people attended an afternoon meeting on the 9th of August, where a community on the edge...

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...

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...

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

What is Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)? Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is a membership...

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

2025 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS Most councils in New Zealand are having local government elections...

Whanganui Chronicle reports that Aramoho speed bumps were removed following community-led petition

May 31, 2025 | Emergency Services, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, News, Petitions, Safety and Well-being, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Whanganui District

Summary According to reports in the Whanganui Chronicle: There have been speed bumps outside the...

Consultation Closes 27 April 2025: “Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill”

Apr 1, 2025 | Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities, Consultation, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Global Agendas, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Internet of Things, Invercargill City, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Mode Shift, Nelson City, New Zealand Issues, News, Palmerston North City, Porirua City, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Toll Roads, Transport and Roading, Upper Hutt City, Wellington City

The Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill is currently before...

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

Mar 31, 2025 | Christchurch City, Cities, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Porirua City, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Three Waters, Upper Hutt City, Water Meters, Wellington City

There are “Local Water Done Well” consultations running at councils around the country with many...

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...

Local Government Act Reforms: December 2024 Media Coverage

Dec 21, 2024 | Cities, Cities and Regions, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Regions, Three Waters, Transport and Roading

Summary On the 16th of December 2024, Minister for Local Government Simeon Brown announced a...

Wellington Water CCO: November-December 2024 Media Coverage

Dec 21, 2024 | Contractors, Core Services, Council Funding, Council Spending, Greater Wellington Region, Hutt City, News, Opinion, Porirua City, Three Waters, Upper Hutt City, Water Meters, Wellington City

Summary Wellington Water is a council controlled organisation (CCO) that is owned by six local...

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...

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

Oct 1, 2024 | Article, Auckland City, Cities, Cities and Regions, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hutt City, International, Invercargill City, Law and Legislation, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Palmerston North City, Porirua City, Safety and Well-being, Three Waters, Upper Hutt City, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Water Fluoridation, Wellington City, World Health Organisation

A major US court ruling on water fluoridation has judged that fluoridation of drinking water at...

“Stop Water Fluoridation” petition (closes 19 Nov 2024)

Oct 1, 2024 | Auckland City, Cities, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hutt City, Invercargill City, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Palmerston North City, Petitions, Porirua City, Safety and Well-being, Taking Action, Three Waters, Upper Hutt City, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Water Fluoridation, Wellington City

This petition to parliament is due to close on 19 November 2024 (11:59 pm). Go to this link to...

Articles covering PM Luxon’s speech to LGNZ (August 2024)

Sep 2, 2024 | Article, Cities, Code of Conduct complaints, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Regions, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Prime Minister Christopher Luxon gave a speech at the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)...

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)...

Who is Taituarā (SOLGM)?

Jul 26, 2024 | Article, Cities, Cities and Regions, Contractors, Council Spending, Global Agendas, Local Government Reform, Managed Retreat, New Zealand Issues, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Regions

Summary Taituarā was called the New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM)...

The Spinoff and The Post cover a planned $55 million project to install five raised crossings in Wellington

Jul 25, 2024 | Council Spending, Disruptions, Emergency Services, Greater Wellington Region, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Wellington City Council is planning to install five raised pedestrian crossing along...

OPINION: Rage against the machine

Jul 3, 2024 | Code of Conduct complaints, Consultation, Freedom of Expression, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, News, Opinion, Protest, Waipa District

By Andrew Bydder A message I sent to Waipa council as a private citizen and resident of the...

OPINION: A bridge too far

Jul 3, 2024 | Code of Conduct complaints, Consultation, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Protest, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Waipa District

By Andrew Bydder The sleepy leafy suburbs of quaint conservative Cambridge were torn apart by...

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....

What is RCP8.5?

Jun 30, 2024 | Article, Auckland City, Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Flood Risk, Global Agendas, Global Warming, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, International Organisation, Kapiti Coast District, Law and Legislation, Managed Retreat, Natural Hazards, Overview, Resource Management Act (RMA), United Nations, Wellington City

Summary RCP8.5 (Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5) is a climate change model scenario used...

OPINION: Te Huia or Te Toroa? The Costly Rail Service.

Jun 25, 2024 | Auckland City, Christchurch City, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Invercargill City, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Transport and Roading, Waikato Region

By Geoff Lewis (Hamilton Journalist) I’ve always thought the Hamilton to Auckland commuter...

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...

Opinion article in The Spinoff: Let’s Get Wellington Moving was a giant waste of time

Dec 25, 2023 | Core Services, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Greater Wellington Region, Hostile Architecture, Local Government Reform, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Headline: Let’s Get Wellington Moving was a giant waste of time Authored by: Joel MacManus...

Newsroom article: Three Waters repeal forces councils to hike rates by a third

Dec 25, 2023 | Buller District, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Far North District, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Three Waters, United Nations, World Health Organisation

Headline: Three Waters repeal forces councils to hike rates by a third Authored by: Jonathan Milne...

Dec 11, 2023 | Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Council Funding, Council Spending, Mode Shift, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Public Transport, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

Authored by: Robin Martin Published on: 4 November 2023 Published by: RNZ Headline: Waka...

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