Podcasts about local councils

Senior Cabinet Minister Chris Bishop has launched a broadside at local government at a conference in Otautahi-Christchurch.The RMA Reform and Infrastructure Minister has said councils are crying out for more from central government, but have stood in the way of growth and been unwilling to cut their own cloth, and New Zealanders are noticing. At the Local Government New Zealand opening day, Chris Bishop also announced the government is halting what it says is pointless council planning work ahead of its major shake-up of resource management laws. Otautahi reporter Timothy Brown was at the conference spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A Rotorua organisation providing sleeping pods for the city's homeless says they're being held back by council insisting that they get consents. The Village of Hope has been set up in a secret location by the group Love Soup, which says it's an effort to give the city's homeless somewhere safe to sleep and to move them away from CBD shop fronts. Rotorua has been grappling with a large homeless population in recent years, and last month a large number of homeless people were trespassed from a makeshift camp in the CBD. It also comes as a controversial programme that uses the city's motels as emergency housing is phased out. Julie King from Love Soup spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Christchurch's mayor has told his councillors that hospital workers are sleeping in their cars just so they can get a car park. Nurses Organisation delegate at Christchurch Hospital Gayl Marryatt spoke to Corin Dann.

The head of a local Government lobby group has raised concerns about the Government's newest bill aimed at local councils. An amendment bill being moved through Parliament would require councils financially prioritise its core services. The Government wants councils to give more value to ratepayers. Local Government New Zealand President Sam Broughton says many people and councils want lower rates, but he's unsure if capping rates is the way to go. "Lower rates increases has got to be the aim, whether a rates cap is the right way to go about it - and compromises will need to be made to get us there - it's up for debate." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So the Local Government Conference is underway and the Government took advantage of it to talk down to councils like a stepdad telling off their stepson. They've been told to reign in wasteful spending to keep their rates increase down. It'd be good if the government that is currently spending more than any other ever practiced what they preached. But anyway, the Government is talking about bringing in rate caps. Sounds good. A simple idea we can all understand, but will it work? The fact is the idea is in place in Australia. Melbourne and Sydney have them, but individual councils can apply for exemptions. And in Melbourne it means that some councils have imposed 10% rates. But they don't have them in Brisbane, and Brisbane has the lowest rate increases in Australia. So why is that? Successive councils have kept the debt low. They've had smart long term plans with cross-party support. They have a suburbs first policy so that improvements are made where people actually live. 85% of their budget is spent on this - it's also cheaper than grand projects. And they like public transport. A record $210 million is being spent on it, which is a lot cheaper than building roads, roads, roads. Here public transport and alternative transport options are the first to be cut in hard times. And because of their resident friendly, suburban centric approach combined with fiscal prudence, they have some wriggle room. Senior citizens in Brisbane get the most generous rebates in the country, cutting their rates in half. And it means that Brisbane can pursue some big stuff like the Olympics. But there they show some balls as well, canning the re-development of the Gabba because the business case didn't measure up. Rates caps are good slogan policy. It sounds like a simple answer to a complex situation, but they didn't work in Sydney and Melbourne. In fact there they're suffering from rates catch up. If you defer projects then eventually someone is going to pay for them. Whanganui will find that out in the future. Work on the Opera House has been deferred, saving $8 million, but that work hasn't gone away and will cost more in the future. The reason we're in the hole we're in is false promises of rate cuts by previous councils that resulted in a rates catch up. Wellington's water sound familiar. We don't need rates caps, what we really need is sensible long term fiscally prudent governance. Look for that next election. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's youngest ever mayor intends to seek a second term. Reporter Timothy Brown has more.

The Local Government Minister says new legislation in the works will give councils clarity. An amendment bill's been introduced to Parliament to make local bodies focus on core services. It also demands regular public progress reports - and disclosure on the cost of consultants and contractors. Simon Watts says it's a return to bread and butter duties. "Previously, terms like social, cultural and economic type activities - they were all just catch-all. And as a result, some councils across the country were doing stuff that was basically wasteful spending." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's introduced a bill today to get local Government back focused on the basics. But the fact they've strayed so far from potholes, rubbish and waste water is as much our fault as the councillors and mayors running the budgets. The Government's bill contains the wildly controversial stuff like: "Prioritising core services when managing finances and setting rates." And "new financial performance measures for councils, with a requirement for regular public reporting." How scandalous. Honestly. We shouldn't need central Government to spend time and money clarifying such simple principles to their local Government counterparts, but it's 2025, and here we are. We shouldn't need a bill to stop wasteful spending. We just need more Andrew Tripes. He's the Whanganui mayor overseeing a 2.2 percent rate increase this year. Much less than the average 8.7 percent across the country. He went on RNZ this morning and basically said it how it really is. If you want low rates, spend less, save money, have a plan. And stick to it. Like Dave Latele, he says: No excuses. He cut the naff curb-side food waste bin nonsense. That saved them 1.1 percent. Why has Auckland kept its scheme when most don't even use it? The fact is that this is all our fault. Not the fault of the councils or the mayors - and certainly not central Government who's sweeping in to try and save the day. It's us, the voters. We obviously don't care enough about council waste. Otherwise we'd have voted to get rid of it. It's a simple as that. Voter turnout in 2022 was 36 percent. In Auckland, our largest city, it was 31 percent! In some areas of Auckland it was only 20 percent. No wonder we're tripping over cycleways and raised crossings, paying for cooking classes at community centres and drowning in unnecessarily, infuriatingly exorbitant rates bills. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government wants to scrap local councils' four well-being provisions. A amendment bill has been introduced to remove the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing provisions from the Local Government Act, to refocus councils on their core services. The Government wants councils to give more value to ratepayers. Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Andrew Dickens she's looking forward to the removal of the four wellbeing clauses. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whanganui's average rates increase of 2.2 percent for the year ahead is the lowest in the country. Mayor Andrew Tripe spoke to Morning Report.

The Taxpayers' Union has released its rates dashboard which ranks local bodies across the country on how much they have increased rates. The Taxpayers' Union local government campaigns manager Sam Warren spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In today's episode, on Wednesday The Post reported that a group linked to 'Independent Together' was behind a research 'dossier' on Labour Party candidates; The net loss of New Zealanders headed across the Tasman last year was the highest it has been since 2012; "Play fast, think fast and adapt fast" are the words All Blacks coach Scott Robertson's using to fire up his team ahead of Saturday's test match against France; we have our weekly political panel; Kerry-Anne Walsh gives us the latest from across the Tasman.

On Wednesday The Post reported that a group linked to 'Independent Together' was behind a research 'dossier' on Labour Party candidates. Independent Together Mayoral Candidate Ray Chung spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A former Muriwai resident who lost her home during Cyclone Gabrielle is adamant she would now be bankrupt without a council buyout of her property. Former Muriwai homeowner Caroline Bell-Booth spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Ongoing parking issues in Mount Maunganui - including being completely full at peak times - has led Tauranga City Council to try and find out-of-the-box solutions. Tauranga deputy mayor Jen Scoular spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The government is considering placing a cap on how much local councils can increase rates. Local Government New Zealand president and Selwyn District mayor Sam Broughton spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Ongoing parking issues in Mount Maunganui - including being completely full at peak times - has led Tauranga City Council to try and find out-of-the-box solutions. Libby Kirkby-McLeod reports.

In today's episode, Shayne Iti said his 15-year-old daughter Katie Margaret Iti died on Saturday in Hutt Hospital from complications of influenza B, the Royal Commission into the country's Covid-19 response has requested former prime minister Jacinda Ardern to appear for questioning, the government is considering placing a cap on how much local councils can increase rates, the second day of hearings on the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill will get underway at Parliament on Tuesday, and ongoing parking issues in Mount Maunganui - including being completely full at peak times - has led Tauranga City Council to try and find out-of-the-box solutions.

The mayor of South Taranaki says the district dodged a bullet after 280 millimetres of rain fell over 24 hours. Phil Nixon spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Sally Wenley and Simon Wilson. With candidate nominations open today for local body elections, the Panel hears from former Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDoull about how local councils really work. They also talk to Nelson Victory Primary principal Dan George about how an after school programme for former refugees and migrants has had it's funding pulled by the Ministry of Education after 20 years. [picture id="4LKAJE4_Voting_LG_scaled_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]  

Nominations for local elections officially open today, but Auckland Council is worried fewer people than usual are expressing an interest in running in Tamaki Makaurau. RNZ reporter Jessica Hopkins takes a look.

Taranaki hit with flash floods, slips, popped manholes and sewage flows as the region was pummelled by thunderstorms. New Plymouth District Mayor Neil Holdom spoke to Corin Dann.

The government's turning to locals to help steer the build of the beleagured Dunedin Hospital, but they won't be giving advice on design, care or money. Dunedin mayor Jules Radich spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Makeshift shelters of cardboard and blankets, some propped up with road cones, are dotted along the street near Auckland City Mission, which is struggling to support an increase in rough sleepers. Amy Williams reports.

Anneka Carlson Matthews first ran for the New Plymouth District Council in 2019 as a 29-year old former police officer and small business owner. She joins Emile Donovan to encourage people to give local government a go.

An apparent typo could have cost a North Island council $20 million in lost revenue. At a meeting last month, the New Plymouth District Council passed a resolution saying rates figures in its annual plan were inclusive of GST, when they were in fact exclusive of it. Now it has had to quickly correct the error and apologise to ratepayers. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin reports.

Residents in the Tasman settlement of Brooklyn, which borders the Motueka River, were urged to evacuate on Wednesday night. Tasman mayor Tim King spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The top of the South Island is set to be hit by 15 hours of heavy rain. MetService's head of weather news Heather Keats spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Rain is gentling falling in Tasman, but is expected to grow in intensity later on Thursday. Reporter Tess Brunton, who is in Brightwater, southwest of Nelson, spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Tauranga's mayor says the region wants certainty - as a deal with the Government inches closer. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop's confirmed talks are progressing on 10-year Government partnerships for housing, developments, and assets. Auckland, Otago-Central Lakes district, and Western Bay of Plenty are the first areas. Tauranga's Mahe Drysdale says they want new tools to help with infrastructure. "So we can deliver the houses, we can deliver the infrastructure that's required to get those houses, we can deliver jobs and we can deliver the economic growth that the Government keeps talking about." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group of oyster farmers north of Auckland have been in a seven-year battle with Watercare to stop sewage overflowing into the Mahurangi Harbour. Victor Waters reports.

Oyster farmers north of Auckland have not been able to harvest this year because of pollution in the Mahurangi Harbour from a wastewater overflow in nearby Warkworth. Watercare chief executive Jamie Sinclair spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Billionaire entrepreneur Anna Mowbray and her former-All Black husband Ali Williams, have been given permission to build a helipad at their 24 million dollar luxury Auckland waterfront home. Elena Keith from Quiet Sky Waitemata opposed the application, she spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Auckland Council and its water arm Watercare seperate financially, but with it comes a 7.2% price hike in water bills for Aucklanders. Watercare's chief executive Jamie Sinclair spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Wellington's metropolitan councils have agreed to replace beleaguered Wellington Water with a new stand-alone entity. Lower Hutt mayor Campbell Barry, who chairs the Wellington Water Committee, says unlike Wellington Water, the new entity will own the infrastructure itself. He spoke to Corin Dann.

New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox is lending his support to the campaign to save the Takapuna Golf Course on Auckland's North Shore, he spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In today's episode, the Government announces it will introduce new penalties for those who hurl coward punches, to reflect the gravity of their crime. The weight-loss injection Wegovy, that has the same active ingredient as Ozempic, hits shelves in New Zealand. The Auditor-General reprimands the Defence Force for accepting gifts and hospitality from commercial suppliers. Billionaire entrepreneur Anna Mowbray and her former-All Black husband Ali Williams, have been given permission to build a helipad at their 24 million dollar luxury Auckland waterfront home. And New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox is lending his support to the campaign to save the Takapuna Golf Course on Auckland's North Shore.

Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Madison Burgess-Smith and Martin Bosley. The Panel discusses ongoing reforms designed to crack down on crime including new offences for people who assault first responders announced over the weekend. They also talk to annoyed Waiwera Valley resident David Pennington who, along with neighbours, are disgruntled at a council decision to allow the building of a 16.5 metre golden Buuhdist statue.

Tasman and Nelson begins clean up after extreme weather damaged land, stock, and roads. Mayor of Tasman District, Tim King spoke to Corin Dann.

The Legendary Coasters App is an immersive storytelling tool that lets users explore Hokitika's colourful history through significant characters from the past. 

The watchdog that settles disputes about essential services like electricity and gas believes it should be mandatory for water suppliers to sign up to the scheme. Utilities Disputes is an independent disputes resolution service; its compulsory for gas and electricity companies and broadband installers to be part of the scheme. But it's voluntary for water suppliers. It comes after Checkpoint revealed 13,000 Watercare smart meters are not working properly, leaving some customers struggling to pay big catch-up bills and frustrated by Watercare's service. Watercare is a voluntary member of Utilities Disputes, which means it has to refer any complaints to the service, customers can't make complaints directly. Utilities Disputes Commissioner Neil Mallon spoke to Lisa Owen.

Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor declared a local state of emergency for parts of the region at 5pm on Thursday night. Taylor spoke to Corin Dann.

The government has instructed Auckland Council to allow apartments of at least 15 storeys around three key train stations, as the City Rail Link nears completion. Auckland Councillor Richard Hills spoke to Corin Dann.

The government has instructed Auckland Council to allow apartments of at least 15 storeys around three key train stations, as the City Rail Link (CRL) nears completion. The Character Coalition spokesperson Sally Hughes spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

It has been one year since the Wairoa River burst its banks, flooding hundreds of properties on the south side of town. Hawke's Bay and Tai Rawhiti reporter Alexa Cook reports.

"What is the point of regional government?" That's the question the regional development minister posed to a meeting of local government officials last week. Regional Development Minister Shane Jones spoke to Alexa Cook.

A regional council boss wants any changes to their make-up to be underpinned by good, solid governance. Bay of Plenty Regional Council chair Doug Leeder spoke to Alexa Cook.

The bulk of district councillors in New Plymouth have voted to draw a line in the sand and oppose seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight. Amanda Clinton-Gohdes is the councillor who tabled the motion, and she spoke to Corin Dann.

After hours of debate the New Plymouth District Councillors voted overwhelmingly to join the Whanganui and South Taranaki district councils in their opposition. New Plymouth District Councillor who voted against that motion to oppose seabed mining, Murray Chong, spoke to Alexa Cook.

In today's episode, the Foreign Minister Winston Peters is again calling for a peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflict, saying diplomacy must come first, not last, the longest ad ever made in New Zealand will soon be aired, encouraging Maori to join the Maori Electoral Roll. The 30-minute ad features Tame Iti reading some of the names of the 300,00 people who are on the roll, "What is the point of regional government?" That's the question the regional development minister posed to a meeting of local government officials last week, US President Donald Trump has let loose the f-bomb in comments about the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran, and international carriers are cancelling or rerouting flights to and from the Middle East amid the conflict between Israel and Iran.