Local Council

Auckland Council impounded more than 12,000 dogs last year - more than half were euthanised. Frontline rescuers and local leaders say the crisis requires immediate on-the-ground action and law reform.

Porirua's Pacific community wants more consultation on a memorial for more than 1800 former patients buried in unmarked graves.

A long-serving local body councillor has called it quits, blaming government input and "contempt", and social media abuse.

Paw-friendly panels have been added to a new water pipe bridge in Wellington.

The councillor says she's running for the mayoralty, saying she is concerned about the "tone, the tactics and the lack of focus" in the campaign so far.

The adjoining Amora Hotel has been closed since 2017 and the bridge has attracted anti-social behaviour since.

Critics argue removing councils' wellbeing priorities may lower costs, but will also reduce local autonomy and risk Treaty settlement fallout. Audio

The Westland Mineral Sands site will be about eight kilometres from the town and cover 112 hectares.

Speedway will continue to race at Baypark in Tauranga giving the sport "certainty and longevity".

The district council says it will continue planning airport safety protections, despite government moves to freeze all environment plan changes under RMA law. Audio

New Plymouth District Council hiked residential rates 12.8 percent instead of 9.9 percent, prompting an apology and calls for a one-off rebate. Audio

Auckland's rapid population growth is considered one of the key challenges for incoming council elected members, a report has revealed.

"You've got to be able to control the costs first", said Seymour when asked about issue .

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour admitted councils were lumbered with rate rises because of central government regulations.

The shake-up, tied to RMA reforms, will have "unintended consequences", councils warn.

The mayor has labelled a recent account of his tumultuous first term as "bullying".