Stories by Susan Botting

The hub will be based around the former Forum North headquarters, only partial use since the council vacated the building for its new civic facility.

This Kiwi mayor was thrilled when the president-elect won the US elections: "It's great because it's the end of woke."

Summer for the country's northernmost mayor means the haven of whānau at the end of the road in one of New Zealand's most remote communities.

Vests are Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo's thing, worn 365 days a year. Including under his mayoral robes, to council meetings, official functions and even to the beach.

The landmark deal will give Ngāti Hine a greater voice at the council table.

Mangroves at Mangawhai have caused controversy within the local community for some time.

It comes after surveillance by a hapū revealed more than two dozen boats were illegally anchored in the Bay of Islands caulerpa ban area between August and October.

Gavin Benney wants to halt his council's drinking water fluoridation implementation.

Councillor Mark Vincent, from Whakapirau, says he is part of "an increasingly Mickey Mouse outfit" at the Kaipara District Council.

The agreements were in place as part of Waitangi Treaty settlements.

Kaipara District Council says it should not have to rescind its decision to abolish its Māori Ward if the High Court finds it has breached consultation requirements.

Far North mayor Moko Tepania says he will support a challenge to a new rule around polling on Māori wards.

A review of the political structure is underway by Kaipara District Council despite a legal challenge over the Māori Ward abolition.

It has become the first council to do so under the new rules in a tense meeting.

The council will potentially be the first council in the country to get rid of Māori wards under legislation passed last week.

Mayor Craig Jepson would not predict the decision but said he would be voting to remove the ward.

Far North District Council is calling for part of the fast-tracking bill to be wiped due to fears it will allow mining currently prohibited in outstanding natural areas.

The new rules mean Northland's councils must poll their communities at the next election if they want to keep their Māori wards.

Councils that want to keep their Māori wards at the next local elections should have to poll their communities beforehand, former local government leader John Bain says.

The $630,000 year-long Northland flood-affected marae project starts in July.

The mayor is attracting criticism for refusing to allow council debate on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict next week.

The current power cut, affecting tens of thousands of homes in Northland, will have significant economic impacts for many, a local mayor says.

A new Northland climate action group has slammed Kaipara District Council's move to "plough on" with climate funding cuts. This comes as Kaipara District Council (KDC) this month seals the...

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown is pouring cold water on talk of his council's rubbish going north to a proposed $730 million Kaipara waste-to-energy plant.

If Geoff Crawford loses the role, it will be the third change at the head of Northland Regional Council council's top table in 19 months.