Latest Regional Headlines
Update: Harihari Highway (SH 6) Crash
Sunday, 1 June 2025, 7:50 pm | New Zealand Police
The road is expected to remain closed for some time and motorists are asked to take alternative routes where possible, or consider delaying travel. More >>
Serious Crash, Harihari Highway (State Highway 6) - Tasman
Sunday, 1 June 2025, 6:11 pm | New Zealand Police
Motorists are asked to take alternative routes where possible, or consider delaying travel. More >>
Matthew Beveridge Announces Run For Hamilton City Council West Ward: A Vision For A City Worth Living In
Sunday, 1 June 2025, 3:16 pm | Matthew Beveridge
Beveridge, an independent candidate, is particularly concerned about proposed policies being pushed to address the challenges the city faces. More >>
The Return Of The Alliance 2025 – A Surprise Contender In Local Body Elections
Sunday, 1 June 2025, 1:53 pm | New Zealand Alliance Party
An influx of younger members has led to the resurgence of the party, whose past achievements include paid parental leave and the establishment of Kiwibank, says Alliance Party spokesperson Quentin Findlay. More >>
Death Following Crash On Friday, Port Waikato
Sunday, 1 June 2025, 1:44 pm | New Zealand Police
The Serious Crash Unit attended, and the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation. More >>
Fatal Crash, State Highway 16
Sunday, 1 June 2025, 1:37 pm | New Zealand Police
Four people were taken to hospital, two in a serious condition and two in moderate condition. More >>
Environmentalists See Forestry Changes As Dangerous Step For Tairāwhiti
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 5:10 pm | Zita Campbell - Local Democracy Reporter
Gisborne residents call proposals 'a slap in the face' amid forestry concerns. More >>
Tauranga Council Cuts $9.85m In Costs To Shave 2.1% Off Rates Rise
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 5:06 pm | Alisha Evans - Local Democracy Reporter
The council deliberated on its 2025/26 Annual Plan from Monday to Thursday after receiving 968 submissions and hearing from 68 people in person this month. More >>
Te Hangāruru Cycle Trail: Key Section In Mountains To Sea Ride Opens In June
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 5:02 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Iwi collective Te Korowai o Wainuiārua is working with the Ruapehu District Council and other stakeholders in the central North Island to build the trail connecting Waimarino (formerly National Park village) to Horopito, and eventually to Pōkākā. More >>
Council Releases Details From Secret Meeting
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 4:56 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
In response to questions, council general manager corporate services Patrick Ng said the committee accepted a recommendation to write off $10,000 owed by eight individuals. More >>
Modern Vision For Masterton Library
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 4:53 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
A statement from the council said the concept images showcased “a modern, light-filled space that blends functionality with inspiration” and that the upgrade would enhance the community’s use of the library. More >>
‘We Erred’ – Stadium Policy That Threatened Nelson Giants Reversed
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 4:49 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Nelson City Council and its contractor for the Trafalgar Centre have agreed to give three community organisations exemptions to the contractor’s exclusive food and beverage rights. More >>
Regional Events Fund Delivers Boost To Whanganui, Rangitīkei And Ruapehu
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 4:46 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said she was particularly pleased to support events in regions which traditionally did not see as many domestic tourists. More >>
Marlborough Council Spends Almost $1.8m On Central Blenheim Site
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 4:43 pm | Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter
Mayor Nadine Taylor said the opportunity to buy the site in such a community-focused part of town was one that the council “could not afford to miss”. More >>
Mayor Who Led Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery Steps Down After 9 Years
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 4:39 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst has announced she won't be standing for re-election in October. More >>
Rates Rise Trimmed To 5.8% For Canterbury Ratepayers
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 4:29 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Environment Canterbury is setting an average rate rise of 5.8%. More >>
Green Light For North Canterbury Water Coalition
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 4:27 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Kaikōura District Council has voted to form a joint water services council controlled organisation with the Hurunui District Council. More >>
Pacific Wardens Funding Will Improve Coordination - Auckland Councillor
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 4:21 pm | RNZ
Community leaders say a funding injection for Pacific wardens could pave the way for a national structure similar to the Māori wardens model. More >>
Councils Condemn Overnight Disruption And Thank Police For Strong Response
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 3:13 pm | Joint Media Statement
Horowhenua District Council and Palmerston North City Council are continuing to liaise with Police to monitor the situation and support any required responses. Our thoughts are also with those injured last night, and their loved ones. More >>
Fatal Crash: Karamu, Waipa
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 3:02 pm | New Zealand Police
The Serious Crash Unit attended, and the circumstances are being investigated. More >>
Fatal Crash: Northland
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 3:00 pm | New Zealand Police
The Serious Crash Unit has conducted a scene examination and the road is now open. More >>
Operation Purple - Anti-Social Road User Gathering In Levin
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 1:16 pm | New Zealand Police
Police intend to hold everyone identified as having committed an offence to account, with the Eagle helicopter proving vital in helping gather relevant information to help us follow up. More >>
Council Commends Emergency Services Response To Overnight Illegal Gathering
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 1:14 pm | Horowhenua District Council
We stand with our community in calling for respectful behaviour and will continue to work alongside Police to support efforts that deter and address this kind of activity, says Mayor Bernie – Horowhenua District Council. More >>
Tairāwhiti Knowledge Share With Cooks Islands
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:40 pm | Gisborne District Council
The Cook Islands is made up of 15 islands – 13 of which are inhabited. Its biggest threat is cyclones but climate change had now meant they now regularly face coast inundation. More >>
Will Foley: A Common Sense Approach For Central Hawke's Bay's Next Chapter
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:38 pm | Will Foley
Will Foley invites all residents to engage with his campaign, can’t wait for them to share their views, and join him in creating a united and prosperous future for Central Hawke's Bay. More >>
Environment Court Confirms 19 Outstanding Water Bodies In Hawke’s Bay
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:36 pm | Hawkes Bay Regional Council
A water body that is classified as ‘outstanding’ holds a cultural, spiritual, recreational, landscape, natural form and character, or ecological values that are conspicuous, eminent, or remarkable within Hawke’s Bay. More >>
Elected Members To Decide On ‘A Way Forward’ For Plan Change 29
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:31 pm | Nelson City Council
The hearing panel has listened carefully to these submitters and outlined a way forward for Plan Change 29 that addresses their concerns while still paving a way for some of the key aims of the Plan Change. More >>
Cost Savings Locked In For Annual Plan 2025/26
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:29 pm | Tauranga City Council
Mayor Mahé Drysdale says the Council doesn’t want to slow progress down so is focused on reducing costs while maintaining service delivery and continuing to provide facilities that the community needs and wants. More >>
DRRA Concerned About Failing Infrastructure In The District
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:26 pm | DRRA
Our infrastructure is in a dire state and we actually need government intervention to solve it. More >>
UPDATE RE: Wastewater Pipe Failure In Raglan
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:21 pm | Waikato District Council
There is no immediate risk of overflow. The Raglan Wastewater Treatment Plant currently has 48 hours of storage capacity, meaning no emergency discharge is required. More >>
Man To Appear In Court After Driving With Excess Breath Alcohol, Oamaru
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:15 pm | New Zealand Police
Motorists are urged to take greater responsibility on our roads and ensure everyone in their vehicle is able to reach their destination safely. More >>
Rūnanga Appeals Canterbury Water Rehab Project Consent
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:10 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
Rūnanga are appealing the consent approval for a Mid Canterbury water rehabilitation project to the Environment Court claiming the independent commisioners got it wrong. More >>
Job Funding Cuts Hit Isolated Communities
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:07 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Kaikōura and Hurunui Mayors' Taskforce for Job programmes are set to face funding cuts, as the Government moves its focus to getting people off the benefit. More >>
Council To Take Action To Protect Kaikōura Seabirds
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:04 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Kaikōura District Council has asked staff to prepare a report on how it can protect banded dotterel seabirds. More >>
Postal Voting Made Easier With Orange Boxes
Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:02 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Councils are gearing up for this year's local government election. More >>
‘Huge Impact’: Residents Worry Over Traffic From New Tauranga Development
Friday, 30 May 2025, 7:59 pm | Alisha Evans - Local Democracy Reporter
The residents want a second access added to the planned 13-hectare Pukemapu subdivision in Ōhauiti to alleviate their concerns, but Tauranga City Council says doing so would be prohibitively expensive. More >>
Councillor Challenges West Coast Council Over Secrecy
Friday, 30 May 2025, 7:50 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Cr Cummings made his request under the provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA). But the council’s quarterly summary of LGOIMA requests showed it was rejected on privacy grounds. More >>
‘Easy Win’: ECan To Push For Rangiora To Rolleston Commuter Train
Friday, 30 May 2025, 7:47 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Environment Canterbury has voted unanimously to lobby KiwiRail for a passenger rail service from Rangiora to Rolleston. More >>
Water Committee Signs Off As Decision Looms On Replacement
Friday, 30 May 2025, 7:45 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
Ashburton Water Zone Committee signed off on Tuesday with the Canterbury Mayoral Forum set to make a decision on a new governance model for water management on Friday. More >>
Tasman Debates Fairness Of Dog And Waste Fees
Friday, 30 May 2025, 7:41 pm | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
Dog and waste fees are going up in Tasman, though the question of where the bill should fall was debated at length as the council seeks to balance rates and fees increases. More >>
Parent Calls For Better Playground Fencing To Stop ‘Runners’
Friday, 30 May 2025, 7:37 pm | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
Residents were unhappy that the playground on the corner of one of Pukekohe's busiest intersections, with a traffic volume count of 17,000 vehicles per day, was not going to be completely fenced. More >>
‘A Safer Approach’: New Flood Plan For Wairoa River Bar
Friday, 30 May 2025, 7:35 pm | Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council says a new plan to manage the Wairoa River bar is a proactive approach to managing flood risks and will improve resilience for the Wairoa community in flood events. More >>
Fatal Crash, Newtons Road, Templeton
Friday, 30 May 2025, 6:57 pm | New Zealand Police
The Serious Crash Unit has conducted a scene examination and the road is due to reopen shortly. More >>
Is This The Lowest Rates Rise In The Country? Whanganui Council Holds Firm On 2.2 Percent
Friday, 30 May 2025, 6:55 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
The council is holding firm on an increase of 2.2 percent. More >>
Rates Rise Trimmed To 5.8% For Canterbury Ratepayers
Friday, 30 May 2025, 6:48 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The council previously signalled a rates hike of 15.5 percent in last year's 2024/34 Long Term Plan. More >>
Resident Has To Travel To Cemetery For Safe Drinking Water
Friday, 30 May 2025, 6:42 pm | Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter
After years of pushing for safe, clean drinking water, residents in Ashburton's north-east may finally get what they have long demanded. More >>
'It Stinks' - Weary Grey District Locals Gear Up For Another Round In Dump Fight
Friday, 30 May 2025, 6:37 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Grey District Council will need to spend at least $60,000 in fight against private landfill. More >>
Nobby Clark Delays Policy Over Diversity Concern
Friday, 30 May 2025, 6:34 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
The Invercargill mayor has drawn the ire of some councillors after stalling the council's new procurement policy over concerns with a diversity question. More >>
Trump Tariffs Critique Sparks Councillor To Jump To US President's Defence
Friday, 30 May 2025, 6:30 pm | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Controversial West Coast Regional Councillor defends US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs during a corporate services meeting. More >>
Young Auckland Politician’s Parting Challenge
Friday, 30 May 2025, 6:25 pm | Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter
Addressing the other eight members of the local board in his valedictory speech, Soole asked them not to forget their partners, whānau, history, and future. More >>
Police Recover 365 Pieces Of Pounamu, West Coast
Friday, 30 May 2025, 6:18 pm | New Zealand Police
Police were successful in stopping the vehicle and recovered the stolen pounamu. This matter will be continued to be investigated and through the resolution process the pounamu will be returned to the hapū. More >>
Health Of The Hauraki Gulf Declines As Delay To Marine Protection Approaches One-year Mark
Friday, 30 May 2025, 4:39 pm | Hauraki Gulf Forum
If the Bill is not passed next week, it will have been over a year since the Environment Select Committee unanimously recommended that the Bill be passed by the time Parliament reconvenes at the end of June. More >>
West Coast Warrants
Friday, 30 May 2025, 4:37 pm | New Zealand Police
Police have gained further information from the execution of these warrants and further arrests have not been ruled out. More >>
The Latest Update On The HMNZS Manawanui Response
Friday, 30 May 2025, 4:35 pm | New Zealand Defence Force
Commodore Brown said, “In the final days during the recovery work, the salvors carefully lifted the azipod that detached from the ship in the grounding, and the 3.3 tonne anchors with their chains, onto the barge for transport back to New Zealand.” More >>
Customs Seizes Nearly 70 Kilograms Of Drugs At Auckland Airport
Friday, 30 May 2025, 4:28 pm | New Zealand Customs Service
The drugs were seized in two separate interceptions at Auckland International Airport overnight (Thursday 29 May 2025). More >>
Police To Have Visible Presence In Central Hawke's Bay Over Long Weekend
Friday, 30 May 2025, 4:22 pm | New Zealand Police
Hawke’s Bay Police have planning in place to minimise disruption to Central Hawke’s Bay residents, as well as holidaymakers visiting our region for King’s Birthday weekend. More >>
Have Your Say On The District’s Proposed Waste Management And Minimisation Plan 2025
Friday, 30 May 2025, 3:56 pm | Queenstown Lakes District Council
Although legislation requires Council to write the WMMP, the plan will only be successful if everyone in our community works together to make it happen. More >>
Road Closed, Newtons Road, Templeton - Canterbury
Friday, 30 May 2025, 3:36 pm | New Zealand Police
The road is closed while emergency services are in attendance. Motorists are advised to follow diversions and expect delays. More >>
Kiwi Screen Community And Auckland Locals Take 18,000 Steps To Honour Gaza's Lost Children
Friday, 30 May 2025, 3:21 pm | Matter
Aidee Walker, Dimitrius Koloamatangi, Ruben Wiki, Diggy Dupe and more to participate in community-led fundraiser aiming to raise $18,000 for humanitarian relief via ReliefAid. More >>
Positive Treaty Talk Sparks Interest
Friday, 30 May 2025, 3:15 pm | Tangata Tiriti Aotearoa
The speakers were Paul Prestige, retired community leader - Nelson City Councillor for Nelson Māori Ward Kahu Paki Paki, Penny Molar QSM, award-winning educator and Founder of Whenua-iti Outdoor Education Centre, Hazel Nash and retired Methodist ... More >>