Podcasts about local councils

A Christchurch father and his teenage son are in hospital after being attacked by two dogs at a home in the suburb of Bryndwr. A 40-year-old woman has been summoned to court following the attack. But a friend of the dogs' owner says they are devastated by the attack and questioning how it happened. A warning, Timothy Brown's report contains details some listeners may find distressing.

In part two, a bicycle and public transport advocate responds to panellist Allan Blackman's concerns about Auckland's Karangahape Road bike lanes being underused. Is it true that no one is using them? Then, builder and hurling athlete Declan Malone made a generous offering of $3000 worth of gifts to Queenstown's Lakes District Hospital. Months earlier he'd suffered a massive seizure and was admitted for what turned out to be week long stay receiving treatment. We learn why he wanted to give back AND what the heck is hurling?

An Auckland councillor says North Shore residents are becoming the "cash cow" of the city, as the government looks at tolling the Harbour Bridge. North Shore councillor John Gillon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

We're going to start today's show discussing New Zealand's dog problem and what can be done about it. The death of a Northland women after a fatal dog attack is the latest in a long list of dog-related incidents around the country So how did we get here and what needs to change so these attacks don't become more commonplace?

FREEDOM - HEALTH - HAPPINESSThis podcast is highly addictive and seriously good for your health.SUPPORT DOC MALIK For the full episodes, bonus content, back catalogue, and monthly Live Streams, please subscribe to either:The paid Spotify subscription here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/docmalik/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The paid Substack subscription here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docmalik.substack.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thank you to all the new subscribers for your lovely messages and reviews! And a big thanks to my existing subscribers for sticking with me and supporting the show! ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION: What is really happening inside local councils, and why are so few people aware of it?I sit down again with Madeleine to explore how governance is being reshaped through secondary legislation, unelected influence, and large scale local government reorganisation happening with little public awareness.We discuss media distraction, growing centralisation of power, election postponements, and why local democracy matters more than most people realise.This is ultimately a call to action. Awareness is the first step. Engagement is essential. Real change begins when informed citizens step forward and get involved.Enjoy!DocLinksSubstack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@madeleine881227⁠⁠IMPORTANT INFORMATIONCONSULTATION SERVICEIn a world of rushed 7-minute consultations and endless referrals, I offer you something rare: time, context, and clear guidance.As your health advocate, I can help you:Understand your diagnosis and decode medical jargonBreak down treatment plans in plain, easy to understand non jargon EnglishPrepare for surgery, understand your risks, obtain true informed consent, and optimise yourself pre-op Recover from surgery, advise you how to heal faster and quicker and minimise post-op complicationsManage chronic illness with lifestyle, mindset, and dietary changesExplore holistic options that complement conventional careImplement lifestyle changes like fasting, stress reduction, or movementAsk better questions, and get real answersGet an unbiased second opinionReady to Take Control?If you're navigating a health concern, preparing for a big decision, or simply want to feel more confident in your path forward, I'd love to support you.Book here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://docmalik.com/consultations/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SeagreenIf you want to support your health naturally, I highly recommend trying Sea Greens, a rich source of bioavailable iodine and trace minerals that nourish thyroid function, balance hormones, and provide a clean daily boost from wild ocean plants. Use the code DOCMALIK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://seagreens.shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Heracles Wellness SaunaHeracles Wellness is a UK-based company and supporter of the show. They offer a fantastic range of beautifully crafted saunas and cold plunge systems, perfect for creating your own healing sanctuary at home.Use the code DOCMALIK3 at checkout to get 3% off all products. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://heracleswellness.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hunter & Gather FoodsCheck out the products from this great company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hunterandgatherfoods.com/?ref=DOCHG BUY HERE TODAY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use DOCHG to get 10% OFF your purchase with Hunter & Gather Foods.IMPORTANT NOTICEIf you value my podcasts, please support the show by making a one-off donation.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/docmalik⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

DOC's worried seventy million litres of raw sewage being pumped into the sea around the capital could contaminate a nearby marine reserve... and put several species at risk. The beaches are off limits after Wellington's Moa Point waste water treatment plant failed..flooding the facility ..and sending massive amounts of untreated waste into the city's south coast near the shore and Taputeranga Marine Reserve. The Department of Conservation's principal science advisor Shane Geange spoke to Lisa Owen. 

Wellington Water's chief executive said an inspection of the the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant today has revealed the damage is as bad as they feared. An equipment breakdown at the plant has flooded the site with untreated sewage which is also pouring into the ocean at a an average rate of about 70 million litres per day. Lauren Crimp has more. 

Mayoral minutes is our new segment where we speak with a local mayor about the challenges they're facing, how they're working to solve them and what makes their community special. Today we're heading to the Selwyn District and Mayor Lydia Gliddon.

City Gallery Wellington is on the hunt for a crowning glory to sit atop its reclaimed site in Ngakau Square, inviting pitches from local artists for a large and striking scultpure installation. The gallery's director Charlotte Davy joins Susana Lei'ataua.

We're introducing a new segment where we speak with a local mayor about what's happening in their area... the challenges they're facing... how they're working to solve them... and what makes their community special. First up is Tararua District Mayor Scott Gilmore

Former Dunedin mayor Jules Radich has been remembered as a passionate leader who always put his community first with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. Tess Brunton reports.

Bosses in Deal are being urged to crack down on campervans parking outside homes.People living near Sandown Castle Community Garden say it's led to rubbish, including gas canisters, being dumped near their properties.Hear from our reporter Louis Walker who has been covering the story.Also in today's podcast, a Kent woman says she's 'lost all faith in the NHS' after being diagnosed with an incurable cancer.Victoria Rodwell from East Malling first went to her GP with throat issues 16 months ago. She's been speaking to reporter Davina Jethwa.A Dartford man is starting a campaign to have defibrillators in all schools and colleges after managing to save his wife's life.Suzanne Cutler suffered a cardiac arrest while travelling home from a family celebration with her husband and daughter.Pupils at a Kent school who have been taking part in a smartphone detox, have told the podcast they would support a ban on social media for under 16s.The government is consulting on the idea of introducing restrictions similar to Australia.A couple who run escape rooms in Chatham have expanded to a third site in the county.Rob and Nikki Kimber set up Hysteria Games eight years ago after visiting a similar venue in London on a date.The new venture is based in a unit in Sittingbourne - our reporter Joe Crossley has been along to get a sneak peak.Football, and Gillingham have made it back-to-back wins in league two.They beat Harrogate Town 3-0 away from home on Saturday, following a victory over Newport County the previous weekend.Hear from manager Gareth Ainsworth and goal scorer Conor Masterson. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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New data shows New Zealanders are spending far more time under States of Emergency than a decade ago, driven by increasingly frequent storms and fires. Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz says regions must be better prepared, drawing on her town's experience after Cyclone Gabrielle.. Gisborne Mayor Stoltz spoke to Lauren Crimp.

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"Saint Gregory, the younger brother of Basil the Great, illustrious in speech and a zealot for the Orthodox faith, was born in 331. His brother Basil was encouraged by their elder sister Macrina to prefer the service of God to a secular career (see July 19); Saint Gregory was moved in a similar way by his godly mother Emily, who, when Gregory was still a young man, implored him to attend a service in honour of the holy Forty Martyrs at her retreat at Annesi on the River Iris. Saint Gregory came at his mother's bidding, but being wearied with the journey, and feeling little zeal, he fell asleep during the service. The Forty Martyrs then appeared to him in a dream, threatening him and reproaching him for his slothfulness. After this he repented and became very diligent in the service of God. He became bishop in 372, and because of his Orthodoxy he was exiled in 374 by Valens, who was on one mind with the Arians. After Valens' death in 378 he was recalled to his throne by the Emperor Gratian. He attended the Local Council of Antioch, which sent him to visit the churches of Arabia and Palestine, which had been defiled and ravaged by Arianism. He attended the Second Ecumenical Council, which was assembled in Constantinople in 381. Having lived some sixty years and left behind many remarkable writings, he reposed about the year 395. The acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Council call him "Father of Fathers." (Great Horologion)

The Mayor of Fairfield Council joined 2GB Summer Mornings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council is securing more burial and cremation spaces as the city's cemeteries begin to run out of capacity. Auckland Council's Park & Community Facilities General Manager Taryn Crewe spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Finance minister Nicola Willis has ended the year on a high with a surprise 1.1% increase in GDP for the most recent quarter; Gloriavale's leaders have announced they'll challenge the forced closure of its school; Auckland Council is securing more burial and cremation spaces as the city's cemeteries begin to run out of capacity; We crossed the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh; One News Sports Editor Abby Wilson and former All Black captain Taine Randell discuss this weekend's sport action.

In part two, Waikato Regional Council has voted to keep Auckland to Hamilton passenger train, Te Huia, chugging along. Public Transport Users Association coordinator Jon Reeves is over the moon.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Nalini Baruch and Richard Pamatatau. First up, the stories of bravery surrounding the Bondi terror attack are still coming through. One man who kicked away the rifle of one of the gunman is a refugee who's been waiting for Australian residency for 13 years. His lawyer, Alison Battisson, joins the programme. Then, are New Zealanders for, or against cycleways? The result of a new national survey might surprise you. Cycling Action Network spokesperson Patrick Morgan shares his take.

In part two, RIP to the short-lived Road Cone Hotline, which will shut down before Christmas. Newsroom journalist and road cone correspondent for The Panel, Fox Meyers joins the show. Then, they head to Alexandra, where 89 year-old Shirley McIntosh has achieved the incredible feat of knitting a tablecloth out of old teabag strings.

Just two months ago he was mayor Wayne Brown's deputy chief of staff, but now he is publicly criticising his former boss over a proposed 7.9 percent rates rise. Josh Van Veen left his post after the October local body elections and is now a spokesperson for a lobby group that is demanding the mayor front up and answer questions about the rates rise. Jessica Hopkins reports.

A local board election has been voided, and voters will have to go back to the polls, after a judge ruled fraudulent voting had "permeated or infected" the election. Simon Mitchell, KC spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Auckland Council has scrapped a trial of fortnightly rubbish collections after a backlash from affected residents. Council's Policy, Planning and Development Committee chairperson, Richard Hills.

Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel; It has been a big year for the country's education sector with a number of major changes; Auckland Council has scrapped a trial of fortnightly rubbish collections after a backlash from affected residents; A local board election has been voided, and voters will have to go back to the polls, after a judge ruled fraudulent voting had "permeated or infected" the election.

Hundreds of Papamoa residents are fighting back against a council proposal that they help pay for their own road repairs. Seven streets are set for roadworks in January, but because the streets are considered "low-volume", Tauranga City Council has opted for chipsealing, rather than asphalt. After locals voiced their opposition to that idea, the Council came back with an offer: You want asphalt, you can pay the difference. Dr Daniel van der Walt, senior lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Canterbury and Phillip Brown is the Chair of the Papamoa Residents and Ratepayers Association talk to Jesse.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Alan McElroy and Jennie Moreton. First up, Hauraki Mayor Toby Adams says council staff are copping serious threats from members of the public over increases in water rates. Then, a bowling club at Auckland's Point Chevalier has had it's existence threatened by a lack of clarity about who owns the land.  

The coalition is heralding the single largest economic reform in a generation - as it sets out its sweeping overhaul of the RMA. The much-loathed Resource Management Act has proved a perpetual bugbear - confusing and complex. The government says its radical new approach will make that much easier. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

It has been revealed a major RMA overhaul with two new laws replacing the Resource Management Act; a Natural Environment law and a Planning law. The planning bill would lay out what infrastructure is needed and when, with land secured for key things like roads, schools, and utilities. The changes could boost GDP by more than $3 billion a year. The Minister responsible for RMA, Chris Bishop spoke to Lisa Owen.

The deputy mayor of Thames-Coromandel says there'll only be two more summers of lengthy waits in the car to get to some Coromandel towns. Deputy mayor, John Grant spoke to Corin Dann.

Councils are once again being told to start living within their means and focus on the basics, with the government releasing details of its long-awaited rates cap. Instead of a fixed cap, the government has opted to go with a target band between two and four percent, to be enforced by a regulator. Councils can appeal to go higher, but the government's already warning that would only be for the most exceptional of circumstances. Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Lisa Owen. 

Mayors are warning we may be charged for libraries and see price hikes for other council services as the Government puts a cap on rates rises. Gisborne District Council mayor Rehette Stoltz spoke to Corin Dann.

As the festive season approaches one of the most iconic symbols of Christmas - the community Christmas tree - is going up in towns and cities around the country. Our reporters in Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch have been out in their local communities asking residents whether they believe it's money well spent.

Delving into the most significant changes to regional councils in decades.

The SS Al RawdahFor the first time ever the families of many of the 207 Republican internees held on the Al Rawdah prison ship between 1940 and 1941 met in Belfast. 85 years after their loved ones were interned on the prison hulk the families came together for the launch of Tom Hartley's insightful account of that period.At the beginning of his remarks Tom invited the relatives present to stand. There was spontaneous and sustained applause from the rest of the audience. It was an emotional moment, for the relatives and for those watching, in what was an evening of memory and recollection.Mary McConville whose Uncle ‘Rocky' Burns was held on the Al Rawdah, introduced the event and Tom Hartley explained to the relatives and audience his motivation for writing the book and the forensic approach he took in collecting information. He also drew attention to the poignant fact that two days earlier was the 85 anniversary of the only prisoner to die on the Al Rawdah, John Gaffney, who fell from his hammock and hit his head.Tom reminded us all that following partition in 1920 the Unionist Regime at Stormont moved quickly to consolidate its power and to ensure that nationalists and republicans living in the North posed no threat to their domination. Legislation was introduced to gerrymander electoral boundaries, and deny hundreds of thousands of citizens, mostly nationalist, access to a vote in local elections. Local Councils with nationalist majorities became unionist controlled. Discrimination in employment and housing was built into the structure of the state.A Space in which Dialogue is PossibleLast week Queens University , Belfast and Dundalk  Institute of Technology (DkIT) announced a significant new partnership that will establish DKiT as a University College of Queen's University. The all-island educational and economic potential is enormous. Last week also, the Good Friday Agreement Oireachtas committee was told that survival rates for children with congenital heart conditions on the island of Ireland now match the best results anywhere in the world. This is because of 15 years of co-operation between the health services North and South.To add to this good news, the Shared Island Unit announced an additional €50 million for projects and it emerged that a number of MEPs have written to the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola requesting special “observer” status for representatives from the North.The DUP leader Gavin Robinson immediately opposed the EU move. The perennial default position of the DUP and others within political unionism is to condemn and oppose any positive progress. This resistance to change is evident almost daily in the negative atmosphere that has been created in the Assembly, in the Executive and on local councils.The reality is that unionism has gone backwards to the 'NEVER, NEVER, NEVER' stance of past decades. This resistance to change reflects the essential insecurity of political unionism.None of this is new. Anyone with a basic understanding of unionist history since the plantation, and especially since the Home Rule struggle of the late 19th century and into partition, understands this.

Christchurch has been revealed as the city that will be home to a national memorial to the Erebus crash victims. It comes after a wait of more than four and half decades and push back from other communties that didn't want it in their backyards. David Allan, who's parents and sister died in the Erebus crash, spoke to Lisa Owen.

A local community board has voted against having more concerts at Eden park, a move some Auckland businesses are describing as a handbrake on prosperity. The government wants to boost the number of gigs allowed at the venue to 12 large and 20 medium concerts a year. At the moment Eden Park is limited to six artists playing a total of 12 gigs a year. But Auckland Council's Albert-Eden local board has voted no to supporting that plan, which has infuriated the Dominion Road Business Association. Manager Gary Holmes spoke to Lisa Owen.

Millions of dollars have been spent on a new speedway track at Auckland's Waikaraka Park and drivers say it's a win for the racing community. It comes after Auckland Council's controversial decision to end nearly 100 years of speedway racing at Western Springs and move all speedway to Onehunga. Construction has finished up just in time for the first Auckland race of the 2025-2026 speedway season this Saturday. Jessica Hopkins spoke to drivers after they tested out the track for the first time this morning.

Albert-Eden Local Board has been in the firing line after rejecting a motion to throw its support behind a proposal to loosen restrictions on Eden Park. Board chair Margi Watson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Tauranga City Council have agreed to use chipseal - or cheap seal as some residents call it - to resurface roads. But it's providing an option for residents who prefer to keep their existing asphalt surface - at their own cost. Mayor Mahé Drysdale spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Public consultation on Auckland Council's proposed six-month trial of fortnightly kerbside rubbish collections shows 78% of submitters opposed the trial. General manager for waste solutions, Justine Haves spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Disgusted, disappointed and furious - those are words of Simone Bennett reacting to the government's announcement that the long-awaited National Erebus Memorial will be built in Christchurch; Tourism operators are preparing for what they hope will be a strong summer season, with early signs looking good; Public consultation on Auckland Council's proposed six-month trial of fortnightly kerbside rubbish collections shows 78% of submitters opposed the trial; Eighty-year-old Ken McLeod started in the meat industry in 1962, when he was only 16; We crossed the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh.

Major banks have already dropped their advertised home loan rates after the cut to the official cash rate; From next month, Wellington police will begin saliva testing drivers for four drugs - THC (cannabis), methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine; Eden Park is forecasting a profit of just $145,000 next year, because of a lack of concerts and events; Mysterious disappearance of 65 bus stop seats in Auckland; Husband, father and ocean lover is how New Zealand's TikTok creator of the year describes himself on social media. Louis Davis has been crowned by the public as Aotearoa's best creator of 2025, at the Australia and New Zealand TikTok Awards last night.

Taupo District Council has removed some of its public rubbish bins after they attracted too much rubbish and became sites for illegal dumping. Warrick Zander, the council's General Manager for Strategy and Environment spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Wellington's mayor says it's more likely the region's councils will merge following reforms announced by the government this week. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel; Regional Development Minister and NZ First Deputy Leader Shane Jones has been one of the strongest critics of regional government, previously saying there is "less and less of a justifiable purpose" for keeping regional councils under the new RMA system; The owners of a property prone to severe flash flooding are taking Auckland Council to court for designating their house safe to live in; There's very little wiggle room when it comes to the rights and regulations around annual leave, according to an employment law expert; Kiwis are knocking back more lower-alcohol beers, but it's less about the alcohol and more about their waistlines, says one expert.

The Government's plan to scrap regional councils and hand responsibilities over to mayor-led combined territories boards marks the biggest structural shift in local government in decades. Doug Leeder, Former Chairperson of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A report suggests Wellington City Council could save tens of millions of dollars through drastic job cuts, but councillors won't be drawn on whether hundreds of staff are facing layoffs. Mary Argue reports.

A survey of last term's Auckland councillors and local board members has found 81% of those who responded had been harassed or bullied by members of the public. Kim Baker Wilson reports.