Podcasts about local councils

Among the ballot papers landing in letterboxes this week, voters may find a few surprises: from fangs, to red noses, and striking, oversized hats. Rowan Quinn reports.

Watercare says a new wastewater plant will help significantly cut sewage overflows that have plagued oyster farmers north of Auckland. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

Voting papers are about to arrive for the local body elections, but for residents in two districts they won't include anything about a mayoral contest. The mayors of Manawatu, in the lower North Island, and Hurunui, in North Canterbury, will be elected unopposed. They see it as a sign of their districts seeking consistency, although one local government academic says it could actually signal apathy. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

Many people may flush and forget but excrament can be mined for a lot of information about your health and habits, and the question is - who should get access to what you discarded? Doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland, Mackey Price has been looking at the issue and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Referendums on the future of Māori wards are now underway in five regional councils and 37 local bodies around the country. Roger Brownlie is standing for Napier City Council in the Ahuriri Ward and he spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A Christchurch councillor is angry a burgeoning suburb has been overlooked for new footpaths, in favour of other parts of the city. Adam Burns has more.

Waikato District council is considering closing access to the notorious Papanui point in a bid to prevent drownings there. Ross McNaughton reports.

Ollie Neas is the co-founder of website Policy.nz, a tool you can use to find out just who is running in your area and what they stand for.

Local referendums on Māori wards start on Tuesday, marking the latest clash between councils and the government. Te Maruata Māori advisory group network co-chair Toni Boynton spoke to Corin Dann.

The police say one of Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips' children gave crucial information which helped officers find their two missing siblings on Monday afternoon. Ōtorohanga district mayor Max Baxter spoke to Corin Dann.

Todd Atticus is a designer and has designed plenty of election hoardings and joins Emile Donovan. 

A couple have spent 11-months and $38,000 trying to get resource and building consent for a granny flat to house an elderly parent. Natalie Akoorie reports.

The Nelson and Tasman regions are staring down what could be a double hit of big job cuts. Nelson mayor Nick Smith spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Te Pāti Māori has held onto the Tāmaki Makaurau seat, left vacant by the death of Takutai Tarsh Kemp. Incoming MP Oriini Kaipara spoke to Corin Dann.

It costs just $2 a ride to get a bus in Otago, and despite a 50 cent increase coming into effect in the next few weeks, it's still a cheap way to get around. Councillor Andrew Noone spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Polls close in the Tāmaki Makaurau by election on Saturday. Front runners - Te Pati Māori's Oriini Kaipara and Labour's Peeni Henare - are using the final hours of the campaign to focus on getting people to the ballot box. Political reporter Lillian Hanly spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Councils around the country are expecting to hear from more people wanting help with their rates this year. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

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In today's episode, former Prime Minister Helen Clark is defending her decision to go to China's largest military parade in Beijing; In the wake of the polarising three waters, councils across the country were mandated by the government to submit their water service delivery plan by Wednesday; Accounting software giant Xero is launching new AI tools, designed to automate some repetitive tasks; New Zealand-born neo-nazi Thomas Sewell will remain behind bars until at least Friday, when a Melbourne court is set to rule on his bail application; Auckland dog walkers say new council rules are confusing, costly, and hard to enforce.

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Auckland council's animal control staff are busier than ever, impounding more than 10,000 dogs over the past year. Felix Walton reports.

It may be five weeks until election day, but local body candidates are not cutting through to young people. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

Policy NZ is an online tool trying to change that by making it easier for voters to get the info they need. Co-founder Oliver Neas spoke to Corin Dann.

Roaming dogs are running rife in Auckland and the council says communities are being put at risk. Auckland Council Animal Management Manager Elly Waitoa spoke to Corin Dann.

The four candidates vying to be Lower Hutt's next mayor faced off on Monday night in a debate in front of around a hundred voters. Nick James reports.

Auckland Transport is encountering everything from Maseratis to milk tanker trailers, as they try to clear the city's streets of abandoned vehicles. First Up's Ross McNaughton went along for a ride with AT.

In today's episode, Trade Minister Todd McClay met with senior US officials in Washington last week, pushing for a reduction to the 15 percent tariff on New Zealand exports; From Auckland mayor Wayne Brown to chamber of commerce boss Simon Bridges to the chief executive of Air New Zealand Greg Foran - the concern over Auckland's economic slump continues to grow; We have our weekly sports panel; Kerry-Anne Walsh gives us the latest from Australia; A strawberry low fat yoghurt ice cream has been crowned the supreme champion at this year's ice cream and gelato awards.

A South Island mayor says he's failed his ratepayers who are facing an almost 40 percent increase in rates over the next two years to pay for water. Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson was moderating the debate and joins Emile Donovan to discuss.

In today's episode, we have our weekly political panel with National's Nicola Willis and Labour's Carmel Sepuloni; There appears to be confusion over the rules governing when schools are considered open; Students at Lincoln University have been told to re-sit part of their course in person, after a lecturer questioned whether some had used AI tools to complete their work; A small town in rural Victoria is still in lockdown, while police continue the search for a man who shot two police officers dead on Tuesday; An iwi and construction consortium is proposing a public-private partnership for a multi-use ferry terminal and port at Marlborough's Clifford Bay.

Tirau locals are split over whether the arrival of a big burger and coffee brand could kill the village vibe or deliver dozens of jobs and an economic boost. The South Waikato council has appointed independent commissioners to decide whether to green light a Starbucks and Burger King on the main road; with hearings this week. There's been 148 submissions, just 39 are in favour the development. Christina Phillips has lived in Tirau for 44 years and supports the international chains coming to town, she spoke to Lisa Owen.

In today's episode, Auckland Council is seeking feedback on a draft plan to build more homes near town centres and public transport, while keeping new buildings safer in flood-prone areas; Carter Holt Harvey is planning to shut down the Eves Valley sawmill near Nelson, with 142 jobs on the line; The government will spend $2.7 billion on a fleet of war-ready helicopters and long-distance Airbuses, to replace an ageing fleet; We have our weekly sports panel; We get the latest from Australia with Kerry-Anne Walsh.

The government says councils have been scared to sign off building consents because they're liable and plans to spread that responsibility so everyone involved in the build will be responsible for the share of work they carried out. Property lawyer James Wollerman spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

It's a two-horse race in the Gore District with former councillor Nicky Davis and current mayor Ben Bell facing off for the mayoralty. Tess Brunton was there.

The government has announced a shake up of the building consents regime, which it says will cut delays and costs for construction projects. Building Industry Federation chief executive Julien Leys spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Plans to block road access to a remote stretch of the South Wairarapa coastline will deny sufers access to one country's most pristine surf breaks. South Wairarapa District Council wants to close access to a paper or unfinished road that leads to the Cape Palliser coast line. The council says native flora and fauna in the area been damaged by four wheel drives, quad bikes and campers. The area includes Wahi tapu sites, ancestrial burial grounds and historic pa sites. Michael Gunson first surfed White Rock along that part of the coast in 1976 and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Dunedin locals say they're being robbed of a small joy in life - free parking on a Sunday in the CBD. Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Councils are warning they can't afford to comply with proposed rules that will force them to upgrade their emergency preparedness. Gisborne mayor Rehette Stoltz talked to Corin Dann.

In part two, the South Wairarapa District Council is consulting on a proposed bylaw to close the unofficial paper road to Cape Palliser which crosses private land: locals are outraged, we find out why. Finally, indie promoters in Auckland have been told to stop putting up gig posters.

In today's episode, Public hearings in the Covid-19 Royal Commission have been abandoned after key witnesses, including Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, former Finance Minister Grant Robertson, refused to appear; Auckland's mayor is renewing his call for a bed tax for the supercity, as it deals with some serious economic troubles; For decades, rules around water quality under the Resource Management Act have protected waterways from scums, foams, colour or clarity changes and becoming unsafe for livestock; Tinā has surpassed Whale Rider at the box office.

On Wednesday, the Governance and Administration committee were joined by two officials from the Office of the Auditor-General to hear about the long term plans of Local Government. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dogs in Tauranga are less likely to be put down compared to neighbouring towns in the Bay of Plenty. Libby Kirkby-McLeod finds out what's making the difference.

The government is being urged to inject stimulus into Auckland's economy after dismal unemployment figures for the city were released this week. Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown spoke to Corin Dann.

Wellington city council has voted against a proposal to urgently put fences up around the Wellington waterfront. Wellington City Councillor Iona Pannett spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In today's episode, research by the University of Otago shows many New Zealand GPs are already using AI to record and write up patient notes; Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convened a meeting of his security cabinet, to discuss the occupation of Gaza; The government is being urged to inject stimulus into Auckland's economy after dismal unemployment figures for the city were released this week; We have our weekly sports chat: Kerry-Anne Walsh gives us the latest from Australia.

When projects in Wellington get mooted, there are often artists impressions of the project showing Wellington on a brilliantly sunny day, with well-dressed joggers going past, sober teenagers discussing world issues and no homeless anywhere. The reality is different and council's artists impressions - with roofed bus stops and fences that aren't actually what will go there are being called into question. Dave Armstrong talks to Jesse about this and other issues he says need solving.

A pōhutukawa tree is splintering relations between residents of an Auckland apartment complex, the council and the local iwi. Resident and broadcaster Murray Deaker spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Auckland's tourism sector is embracing Māori and Pasifika culture as the city's cultural agency, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, aims to build a more distinct international brand for the city. Felix Walton has more.

The Maritime Union says the Auckland's new Tripartite Accord is a starting point to improve communication between the Council, the port, and its workers. Maritime Union Secretary Grant Williams spoke to Corin Dann.

In the battle against Queenstown's exploding rabbit population, a team of trained ferrets is leading the charge. Jim Curry and Jacqui Elson believe in the power of using pests, to fight pests. Katie Todd has more.