local government
Categories under local government
- auckland supercity (415)
- C&R (18)
- local body elections (117)
- supercity (100)
What should Auckland Council do about begging
Written By: - Date published: 9:51 am, April 7th, 2016 - 55 comments
Two conservative mayoral candidates have proposed that people begging should be fined.
Justin Lester launches campaign for Wellington Mayor
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, April 4th, 2016 - 35 comments
Justin Lester launched his campaign for the Wellington mayoralty yesterday, focusing on housing, supporting small business and social services.
House Tales.
Written By: - Date published: 3:01 pm, March 22nd, 2016 - 32 comments
If ‘home is where the heart is’ then what’s the story when everything’s heartless?
Local democracy just got screwed
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, March 15th, 2016 - 31 comments
If the RMA Amendment Bill goes through, then community groups all over the country are going to become intimately acquainted with just how badly they have been shafted by Mr Smith and his accomplices.
Leggett does a runner
Written By: - Date published: 5:58 pm, March 11th, 2016 - 16 comments
Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett says he will announce his decision about running for Mayor of Wellington at a launch later this month. It sounds like he has already made up his mind about what he is running for; the real question is what is he running from?
Government plans RMA power grab
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, March 9th, 2016 - 29 comments
The Government is planning to allow the relevant Minister to change District Plans by regulation or to allow National Policy Statements to change district plans and to prevent submissions being received unless evidence contained is provided by a professional adviser with expertise.
Auckland Council IT Blowout; Guest Post
Written By: - Date published: 6:26 pm, March 6th, 2016 - 62 comments
TS regular SaveNZ looks at the background to the massive cost overruns in the Auckland Council’s IT department. It’s not about the democratic processes of council; it’s because the Supercity was set up to fail.
Young Nats run away from public debate on TPP
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 5th, 2016 - 47 comments
Surprisingly and refreshingly, the Young Nats initially agreed. A date was set, a venue booked, and promotion of the debate under way.
Hickey on Auckland housing
Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, March 4th, 2016 - 73 comments
Bernard Hickey’s piece from last Sunday on Auckland Housing is a depressing read.
Supercity IT cost blowout
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, March 2nd, 2016 - 70 comments
The real costs of the Auckland IT merger are at least six times higher than National’s original $200 million estimate. This significantly alters the economic case that was made for the “supercity”. Was National’s estimate deliberately wrong, or was it just incompetent?
Boots Theory: What is going on with the local-government Right?
Written By: - Date published: 1:25 pm, March 1st, 2016 - 19 comments
Stephanie Rodgers analyses two mayoral races and asks why the right in Auckland is so messy. And why Wellington looks more settled.
Fuster and Cluck ride again?
Written By: - Date published: 1:39 pm, February 27th, 2016 - 13 comments
John Palino has all but announced that he will also stand for the super city Mayoralty and there is a rumour that Simon Lusk will be his campaign manager.
Humans of Remuera revolt against the Unitary Plan
Written By: - Date published: 9:43 am, February 26th, 2016 - 123 comments
The humans of Remuera succeeded this week in getting Auckland Council to withdraw evidence from the Unitary Plan hearing supporting increased intensification in the leafy suburbs.
Establishment appointed Council protects Establishment
Written By: - Date published: 5:21 pm, February 11th, 2016 - 39 comments
So National’s appointed ECan (undermining democracy since 2010) has decided that leading business man Hugh Fletcher & Chief Justice Sian Elias shouldn’t be fined for their cows sh!ting in a lake. National were accused of taking voting rights so they could favour dairy over Christchurch, and this seems a good example. Canterbury has suffered enough – it needs democracy back.
Government U turn on inner city rail link
Written By: - Date published: 12:49 pm, January 27th, 2016 - 40 comments
John Key has announced that National will bring forward funding of Auckland’s inner city rail link. The decision is welcome but it should have been made years ago.
The great big list of John Key’s big fat lies (UPDATED)
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, January 27th, 2016 - 79 comments
How many more lies will John Key tell today in his so-called State of the Nation address? Virtual chocolate fish to whomever guesses the closest number.
Local Democracy
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, December 19th, 2015 - 35 comments
Ad discusses a phenomenon where Local Government is having a greater and greater effect on New Zealand’s development. But local politicians are having less and less effect.
Collins and the “monster” board
Written By: - Date published: 10:21 am, December 7th, 2015 - 43 comments
Idiot turn of phrase or deliberately inflammatory? You be the judge.
Dunedin leads the way
Written By: - Date published: 4:14 pm, December 3rd, 2015 - 7 comments
On carbon emissions I don’t have any hope for NZ under National, which is still stuck in a stupid fossil fuel mentality. I do have hope for the people, organisations, and regions within NZ who are collectively taking action. And I’m proud that my home of Dunedin is leading the way.
A Labour Mayor for Wellington
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, December 3rd, 2015 - 47 comments
Deputy Mayor Justin Lester has announced his candidacy for the top job in the nation’s capital.
Standing in the Shadow of the Red Flag
Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, November 25th, 2015 - 47 comments
“Why would Goff stand for the Auckland mayoralty as an independent candidate considering his life-long commitment to the Labour Party?”
Why indeed?
Is it time for Labour to stand candidates in local elections under the party banner? And can the party lift its profile and its general election prospects by being bolder in the provinces?
Phil Goff for Super City Mayor
Written By: - Date published: 8:31 am, November 23rd, 2015 - 42 comments
Phil Goff has formally announced that he is seeking the Auckland Super City Mayoralty as an independent.
Len Brown stands down
Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, November 8th, 2015 - 59 comments
Len Brown has announced that he will not contest the Auckland Mayoralty next year.
Five years as a united Auckland
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, October 30th, 2015 - 168 comments
Auckland Council is delivering a publication to all Auckland households celebrating five years of Auckland super city. But is there any reason to celebrate?
The left in Auckland
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, October 25th, 2015 - 15 comments
Ad comments on the change of National’s approach to local government in Auckland and suggests that there should be cooperation amongst the parties on the left locally and between the central organisations of the parties.
Pressure mounts to force Auckland to open up land
Written By: - Date published: 1:57 pm, October 22nd, 2015 - 45 comments
Serious Fraud Office, Productivity Commission, Council failings, under-supply of houses, Developer Greed… a recipe for disaster
Future Auckland
Written By: - Date published: 8:35 am, October 19th, 2015 - 22 comments
There are rumours that National is looking to organise a new regional ticket, Future Auckland, to contest next year’s local body elections in Auckland.
Christine Fletcher’s dear Phil letter
Written By: - Date published: 2:48 pm, October 15th, 2015 - 17 comments
Christine Fletcher has penned an open letter to Phil Goff where she criticises in trenchant terms super city’s current performance and offers some thoughts on where improvement can be made.
Auckland Council debates the TPPA
Written By: - Date published: 1:34 pm, October 9th, 2015 - 26 comments
Auckland Council yesterday passed some seemingly non contentious resolutions requesting for the text of the TPPA to be released and seeking a response from the Government about resolutions that had been passed a couple of years earlier. But the resolutions were opposed vigorously by right wing councillors who then complained about the time and expense the debate consumed.
Nats endorse Goff for mayor?
Written By: - Date published: 11:10 am, October 9th, 2015 - 62 comments
The NBR reckons the Nats are tacitly endorsing Phil Goff for mayor of Auckland.
Andrew Little: A better future for Auckland
Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, October 1st, 2015 - 43 comments
The text of a speech Andrew Little gave to the Committee for Auckland about Auckland’s future.
- Huia Publishers wins big at Bologna
New Zealand’s leading indigenous publishers have been recognised for their excellence on the world stage at this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Huia Publishers have won the Bologna Prize for the Best Children’s Publishers of the Year, Oceania, at Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy – one of the biggest ...1 week ago - Who are the home cooks heading to My Kitchen Rules NZ this year?Another year, another group of brave New Zealanders opening up their homes to Colin and Manu. My Kitchen Rules New Zealand is back for another year, which means another horde of home cooks will be welcoming a group of total strangers to attend a dinner party like no other. Move ...1 week ago
- Press Release From New Zealand Asian Lawyers
New Zealand Asian Lawyers is pleased to announce the establishment of a panel to assist the New Zealand courts by applying to intervene in cases of wider public interest where Asian parties are concerned. The panel will recommend that New Zealand Asian ...1 week ago - NEW POLL: More Bad News For Centre-Right As Government Parties Drop In SupportNational is down on last month to 37.1% (-0.3 points) while Labour is up slightly to 25.7% (+0.4 points). The Greens take third place on 14.6% (+3.3 points) while ACT drops back to 7.2% (-2.8 points). The smaller parties are NZ First on 6.3% (-1.1 ...1 week ago
- Watch: The last days of motorsport at Pukekohe Park RacewayIn the months leading to the closure of the Pukekohe Park Raceway, the father and daughter duo managing the grassroots racecourse want to give everyone one last chance to go fast. For Gary Stirling, circuit manager, the closure is “fucking gutting” even though “it’s just silly, it’s a paddock with ...1 week ago
- Trailer: Farewell to the Pukekohe Park Raceway | Trailer | The SpinoffAfter 60 years of racing, motorsport enthusiasts say goodbye to the Pukekohe Park Raceway in a series of lasts – last track day, last classic festival, last motorcycle day, last surprise engagement, last day ever – as the raceway nears its closure. Full documentary out April 16. Made with the ...1 week ago
- Street smart: Janette Sadik-Khan wants New Zealand to embrace the urban revolutionThe former New York transit commissioner revolutionised cycling and walking in her city – now she wants New Zealand to do the same. If you haven’t heard of Janette Sadik-Khan, the people running your city definitely have. The former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation was ...1 week ago
- Shifting Focus From Race To Culture: Preserving Trust With Indigenous CommunitiesIn an attempt to dispel any intention of racism, I am writing this op/ed to help move the dial from a focus on race, to a focus on cultural norms and sensitivities. ...1 week ago
- Another Dark Day For Science And Climate – 90 Jobs To Go At NIWANIWA, one of New Zealand’s leading climate research agencies, is set to lose up to 90 jobs, at a time when our climate crisis is worsening. "This is utter madness at this critical time for New Zealand," said Duane Leo, National Secretary for ...1 week ago
- Let everyone wear shorts for sportsWith gymnasts now allowed to wear shorts while competing, Gabi Lardies wonders why other codes are still catching up. Last week, Gymnastics New Zealand announced an overhaul of its competition attire rules. Now, people that are very good at jumping through the air while doing the splits are allowed to ...1 week ago
- Comments About Ethnic ‘priority’ For Surgical Waitlists Ruled Misleading And DiscriminatoryComments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. The Authority has upheld a complaint ...1 week ago
- Suicide Prevention Office Debacle – Parents Of Nicky Stevens Say Ministry Will 'have Bloo...The parents of Nicky Stevens, a victim of suicide in 2015, have slammed Te Whatu Ora/The Ministry of Health for its proposal to disestablish the Suicide Prevention Office as part of its Government-mandated cuts to health services. “Both the Ministry ...1 week ago
- The cost of being: A single parent with dreams of building generational wealthAs part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a mum of one looks far into the financial future. Gender: Female Age: 49 Ethnicity: Pākeha Role: Single parent of 1x child, in full-time employment as a producer. Salary/income/assets: $160,000 salary p/a plus employer KiwiSaver payments , ...1 week ago
- Four key questions ahead of two massive days for news media in New ZealandOver the next 48 hours, hundreds of journalists across both of New Zealand’s major TV news services will learn their fates. Duncan Greive outlines what’s at stake, and looks at an idea about a post-Newshub news service for Three. What is happening at TVNZ today? In early March, a press ...1 week ago
- The government’s nine big goals for 2030Prime minister Christopher Luxon acknowledged the public service targets were ambitious and made no apologies for leaning into his background as a CEO, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. No apologies for ...1 week ago
- UN Human Rights Expert To Shine Global Spotlight On Nelson TenthsOn Tuesday, April 9, 2024, Mr Francisco Calí Tzay, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, will visit Nelson to learn about the Nelson Tenths and the ongoing litigation against the Crown. ...1 week ago
- A good and gentle man
My father Norman was a gentle, friendly, solitary man who liked to be in bed by eight thirty even in his younger days, with a self-stated ‘low information threshold’. He bored quickly and conclusively; couldn’t stand the sit-down ritual of a dinner party. Stultifying. He liked movement in all things, despite ...1 week ago - MPs Must Not Take Pay Hike While Kiwis Go BackwardsThe Taxpayers’ Union is calling on MPs to put their money where their mouths are and implement a pay freeze rather than accept a taxpayer-funded pay hike at a time when many families are going backwards. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor ...1 week ago
- Government KPIs Show Progress But Lack AmbitionResponding to the release of nine Government key performance targets to be achieved by 2030, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Kiwis won’t need reminding that despite public spending jumping 84% since 2017, ...1 week ago
- Step up to the redundancy rollercoasterIf you’re one of the thousands being sacked across the public service and the media, here’s some helpful tips from Asher Wilson-Goldman, who’s just been through it. Every day seems to bring another announcement. 300 jobs at Newshub. 134 at the Ministry of Health. 68 at TVNZ. A mammoth 384 ...1 week ago
- RNZ, Whakaata Māori, PMN, NZ on Air and NZ Film Commission leaders weigh in on media crisisAbove the Fold: as two of our biggest media organisations face radical downsizing, Duncan Greive asks our media leaders what’s going on, and what can be done about it. First up: the leaders of our publicly-funded media organisations, and the funders themselves. This is part two of Above the Fold: ...1 week ago
- Have Your Say – How Can Aotearoa New Zealand Best Tackle Greenhouse Gases?From today [Monday 8 April] He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission is running an 8-week public consultation to help it develop advice to the Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Myanmar Community Leading Rally At Parliament In Opposition To Junta VisitLocal Myanmar community organisations are leading a rally at Parliament in opposition to the Myanmar military junta joining the ASEAN-NZ Dialogue meeting scheduled for 18-19 April in Wellington. ...2 weeks ago
- Fast-track Won’t Mean Easy Ride For Seabed Miners – GreenpeaceIf it goes ahead, the fast-track approval process will enable TTR to proceed with its destructive seabed mining project despite repeated legal defeats and the opposition of Ngāti Ruanui, environment groups, scientists, fishing companies and the local ...2 weeks ago
- Dunne's Weekly: Taiwan Earthquake A Wake-Up Call For New ZealandTaiwan and New Zealand are two small island states with much in common. Both are vibrant, independent democracies, living in the shadow of an overbearing neighbour. (Admittedly, Taiwan’s overbearing neighbour has far more aggressive tendencies ...2 weeks ago
- Our Intentions: Cyber Security Governance In Public OrganisationsWe have published some information about work we are carrying out to examine whether cyber security risks are governed effectively in selected public organisations. This work was signalled in our 2023/24 annual plan . Effective cyber security is essential ...2 weeks ago
- Kahungunu Iwi Condemns Weekend ViolenceNgāti Kahungunu Iwi Chair, Bayden Barber has condemned the shooting that took place after a rugby game between Tamatea and the Young Māori Party (YMP) over the weekend, “This sort of behaviour has no place in our community. Our sports ...2 weeks ago
- Green List Changes Disrespectful And Ignorant – MTAThe Government’s axing of key automotive roles from the immigration Green List is a shock and an insult to the collision repair industry, the Motor Trade Association (MTA) says. The Minister of Immigration announced yesterday that the roles of Panel ...2 weeks ago
- Revealed: Callaghan Innovation Wastes Over $170,000 On Rebrand As Staff Call Out Job Cuts.The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Callaghan Innovation has blown $170,000 on a rebranding exercise at a time when taxpayer-funded agencies were being told to curb spending. Information obtained under the Official Information Act reveals that ...2 weeks ago
- Personal Grievance Filed Against IRD For Suppressing Employee’s SpeechThe Free Speech Union has supported a member in filing a personal grievance against IRD with the Employment Relations Authority after an employee was threatened with disciplinary action for sharing particular opinions in a social media chat, says ...2 weeks ago
- Now Tax Cuts Put Ahead Of Climate – Jobs To Go At Environment MinistryJob losses at the Ministry for the Environment to meet the Government’s cost cutting drive risks New Zealand’s ability to manage our many environmental challenges. Today the Ministry for the Environment called for voluntary redundancies across the ...2 weeks ago
- New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this weekWe round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love dark local drama: Testify (TVNZ+, April 8) Vinnie Bennett (centre) stars in new local drama Testify (Photo: TVNZ) TVNZ’s new drama Testify follows a rich and ...2 weeks ago
- Court Of Appeal To Consider Whether Hate Speech Law Is DiscriminatoryOn Tuesday 9 April 2024 the Court of Appeal in Wellington will hear a case brought by Russell Hoban against the Crown in Hoban v Attorney General . Mr Hoban is seeking a declaration that New Zealand’s hate speech law under s 61 of the Human Rights ...2 weeks ago
- New Report: Fire And Emergency Levy Increase Unjustified, Performance Review NeededThe Taxpayers’ Union is today releasing a r eport highlighting the significant failure of Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) to realise the expected efficiency gains following the 2017 mega-merger of fire services. The report concludes ...2 weeks ago
- Happy birthday, ACC. Now can we all join the party?It’s been 50 years since ACC was founded, and thousands of disabled people are still waiting for the coverage they were promised. On Easter Monday, New Zealand quietly marked a half a century of the Accident Compensation Corporation. Three and a half million New Zealanders have not experienced life in ...2 weeks ago
- Meet the ‘health sensation’ scouting Wellington’s best cheap CBD lunchesWith a fast-growing TikTok and Instagram following, food blogger Bryer Oden is serving up a delicious ode to Wellington’s food scene – all while embodying a genuinely healthy attitude towards food and eating. Filming meals during the lunch break at her marketing job, Bryer edits her food vlogs every day ...2 weeks ago
- Will tax cuts make up for the end of cheap public transport?When the half price and free fares for millions of New Zealanders end next month, will your tax savings really make up for it? The National-led coalition government has a strong focus on putting money in people’s pockets. During the election campaign, National launched a “back pocket boost” tax calculator, ...2 weeks ago
- Growing number of homeowners falling behind on their mortgageBanks are seeing a big rise in mortgage arrears, and some analysts believe it could force the Reserve Bank to rethink its OCR position – just not this week, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each ...2 weeks ago
- What happens when you ask 20 NZ media CEOs two very pointed questions?Newshub and TVNZ are only the most visible examples of the polycrisis impacting New Zealand’s media. Duncan Greive set out to diagnose the problem, and maybe figure out some cures, by asking media CEOs a couple of big questions. This is an introduction to Above the Fold: a Media Meltdown ...2 weeks ago
- The Christopher Luxon dictionary of corporate speakAn operationalised, strategically aligned, actionable guide to the phraseology of prime minister Christopher Luxon. The prime minister loves business jargon. Luxon’s 36-point action plan is full of pledges to “take decisions” and “raise the energy”. But his media team is slowly beating that instinct out of him, and it’s a ...2 weeks ago
- ‘He’s finally done it’: David Hill on the high school essay that made him a writerHow a 17-year-old dreaming of nothing more than a round of applause at assembly started ‘chucking down a load of crap’, and ended up finding his calling. It’s 65 years back. I’m in my final year at Napier Boys’ High, and I’m about to earn my first money from writing. ...2 weeks ago
- Can we keep the faith with TVNZ’s new local drama Testify?Sins and sinners abound in the big budget series about the secrets and lies behind an evangelical megachurch – but does the show deliver? This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. David Jacobson is standing in the toilet of a queer nightclub, looking ...2 weeks ago
- The Sunday Essay: Piercing the living watersI watch the surface of the Hauraki Gulf swarm with signs of life, but a bleak struggle for survival is taking place underneath. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. The sunroom at the front of my boyfriend’s house, perched near a coastal cliff, ...2 weeks ago
- #Notatarget: Humanitarian Organisations Call For Upholding Of International Humanitarian Law In Gaza...With over 32,000 Palestinians killed and more than 100,000 wounded since the crisis began, and an estimated 1.1 million individuals on the brink of famine, urgent action is imperative. A permanent ceasefire is the only way to prevent further atrocities. ...2 weeks ago
- Government Cuts Reduce Staff Working On MBIE’s “Frontline Information Channels”The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has proposed reducing its Information and Education (I&E) team by 30 roles, out of approximately 120 roles covered by its change proposal released on Thursday (April 4). ...2 weeks ago
- Why my family is eating our way through children’s booksGemma Bowker Wright and her kids set themselves a challenge to eat something from every book they read. Here’s how it’s gone so far. My kids and I like to read. We also like to eat. We like to discuss the food in our favourite books, the meals the characters ...2 weeks ago
- How to cure depression Do yoga. Call your friend. Put turmeric in your food. Do not get sucked into a jet engine. Inspired by Lorrie Moore’s Self-Help. Meditate. Do this because everyone that you have ever met has told you to do this. Do this because you think: well, things can’t get worse. Find ...2 weeks ago
- ‘Look at all the food’: Vinnie Bennett on going from What Now to HollywoodThe star of Testify takes us through his life in TV, including a very common TV crush, the show that needs a second season and what it was like on the set of Fast & Furious 9. Over the last few years, Vinnie Bennett (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou, Ngā Puhi) ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand Government Must Stand Up For Humanitarian LawIf the staff who work for charities like ChildFund and their partners in-country are to continue doing the vital work of getting aid into places like Gaza, then governments like New Zealand must be prepared to stand up for the rule of law that protects humanitarian ...2 weeks ago
- Queer Theologian Russell Hoban To Tackle Aoteraoa New Zealand’s Discriminatory Hate Speech Laws At...Hoban is asking the court to declare that the legislative exclusion of hate speech protection on the ground of sexual orientation (in the Human Rights Act 1993) is inconsistent with the right to be free from discrimination (in the NZ Bill of Rights ...2 weeks ago
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