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Local Democracy Reporting
Local Democracy Reporting headlines with summaries.
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Cat plague has Ōpōtiki residents calling for rule changes
5 Feb 2026Ōpōtiki residents whose properties are being overrun by cats are urging the council to instate a policy to restrict numbers.
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Ashburton council faces $20 million bill for new bridge road
5 Feb 2026It is expected to cost $20 million for under 2km of new road to connect to Ashburton's long-awaited second bridge.
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Karaoke bar with chequered history sacks staff, withdraws booze application mid-hearing
4 Feb 2026Deluxe karaoke bar can no longer sell alcohol after a shareholder fired its only qualified duty managers and withdrew its on-licence renewal application.
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New earthquake faults discovered near North Island towns
4 Feb 2026A new study has uncovered new earthquake faults in the Wairarapa valley, four of which are close to some of the region's towns. Wairarapa's Emergency Management Office (EMO) controller, Simon...
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Heavy EV charger hub opens at Lower Hutt landfill
4 Feb 2026The government, through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), covered $500,000 of the project.
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'Nothing prepares you for it': Mayor's 'confronting' days after deadly landslide
5 Feb 2026Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale has described the days following the Mauao landslide tragedy as "the hardest week of my life".
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Commuters feel pinch of fare rises
4 Feb 2026"Nothing is free," South Auckland resident Lepa says of Auckland's latest public transport fare increase.
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Revealed: What caused deaths of hundreds of eels
3 Feb 2026The eels, including breeding stock thought to be 40 to 50 years old, were found dead in the Waiatāi Stream near Wairoa last month.
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Council ratepayers overcharged after rates mistake
3 Feb 2026In December, concerns were raised about rates revenue being higher than expected.
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Civil Defence defends Rotorua's inclusion in state of emergency
3 Feb 2026The Rotorua mayor was concerned it would cause confusion, given the low risk for Rotorua.
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NZ Post closures in Rotorua to hit older residents hardest
2 Feb 2026Grey Power says disability, transport access and unfamiliar technology will turn a once simple errand into a "big challenge" for many.
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‘Medicine for the soul’: Hawke’s Bay harbourmaster on dream job
1 Feb 2026This summer's crop of rule breakers on the water are flouting rules meant to prevent fatalities, a harbourmaster says, including speeding and taking children on boats without lifejackets.
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'I've never seen it like this': Mount Maunganui businesses feeling pain
1 Feb 2026Mount Maunganui businesses are experiencing a steep drop in foot traffic and revenue following the deadly Mauao landslide, with confusion over the cordon causing many visitors to avoid the area.
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Gisborne District Council urged to stop 'appeasing' forestry industry
31 Jan 2026The environmental group behind a 12,000-strong petition that led to a land-use inquiry three years ago is now calling on the council to block forestry consents on red and orange land.
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Alcohol consumption 'way too high' in NZ - health expert
30 Jan 2026Alcohol harm costs the economy $9.1b a year, and the substance is linked to more than 200 medical conditions, Te Whatu Ora's medical officer of health says.
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Emotional day as Ngāti Hāua Treaty settlement becomes law
31 Jan 2026"I'm thrilled to bits, and I'm thinking of our tūpuna and all those who fought to get us here."
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Councillor skips planning session at marae over te reo and faith concerns
29 Jan 2026Steve Gibson said there were several reasons for his discomfort.
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Wellington's northern suburbs demand say in Petone to Grenada road
29 Jan 2026Several residents worry about the new road of national significance's unclear impact on the environment amid what they say is inadequate consultation.
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Canterbury's Woodend Bypass work to begin soon - NZTA
29 Jan 2026Physical works on the much anticipated Woodend Bypass are due to get underway this year, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency says.
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Mayors fear for future of Canterbury rural hospitals
29 Jan 2026Two Canterbury mayors are still waiting for answers on the future of two rural hospitals which are in desperate need for maintenance.
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Papatoetoe by-election attracts 20 candidates after previous result voided by courts
29 Jan 2026The by-election would give voters a fresh chance to shape local leadership after last year's result was voided by the District Court.
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Settlement milestone to mark end of 'long, hard road' for Ngāti Hāua
29 Jan 2026The Ngāti Hāua Claims Settlement Bill will have its third and final reading in Parliament on Thursday, enacting the tribe's Treaty settlement, Te Pua o te Riri Kore.
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Mayor condemns 'ecological vandalism' on beaches
28 Jan 2026Broken signs, embedded tyre tracks, and blatant disregard for a bylaw are threatening a delicate biodiversity area, a report says.
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Outrage over illegal dumping at cemetery
28 Jan 2026It is believed the rubbish, including a doll house, soft toys and empty boxes, were dumped at the Ōtāhuhu Cemetery over the weekend.
![Hur1149LDRbypass: Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey (front, centre) checked in last year on progress with geotech work in preparation for the Woodend Bypass. Photo: David Hill / North Canterbury News [LDR single use only]](https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--vLn1cAUU--/ar_16:10,c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,q_auto,w_288/v1769634506/4JU1UM4_Hur1149LDRbypass_jpg?_a=BACCd2AD)
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