Local Council
Morning Report Essentials for Friday 19 December
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… Audio
Auckland cemeteries running out of space
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… Audio
The Panel with Ed Amon and Jo McCarroll, Part 2
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. Audio
Councillors oppose plans for fast-tracked sand mining project
Whangārei district councillors voted unanimously against the proposal which would see 8 million cubic metres of sand removed over a 35-year period.
Dargaville’s town hall replacement by 2028: Deputy mayor
Gordon Lambeth says he wants to see a replacement civic complex completed before the end of the current council term.
300 hours of work destroyed: Vandals leave Featherston’s Christmas tree in tatters
The tree, handmade by a local craft collective entirely from recycled materials, was found in tatters after it came down on Monday night.
Condescending and costly: Advocates slam disability and ageing revamp
A plan to downgrade community input on disability and ageing issues in New Plymouth is tokenistic, condescending and would cost the district money, advocates say.
Fire-damaged Christmas tree replaced by Timaru businesses
The 10m fully decorated tree on the Caroline Bay piazza cost the council $107,000 and was destroyed last week.
The Panel with Nalini Baruch and Richard Pamatatau, Part 2
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… Audio
The Panel with Nalini Baruch and Richard Pamatatau, Part 1
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… Audio
Wellington Council scraps motorbike parking fees
In May the Wellington City Council voted to put in fees of $1 per hour for motorbikes to park.
Tauranga's civic precinct: 'Somebody ends up paying'
The Te Manawataki o Te Papa project was started when the city was run by government commissioners.
Why Wellington ratepayers will have to fork out an extra $40 on average
Most of the extra costs would be included in the February bill.
Midday Report Essentials for Wednesday 17 December 2025
The Crown is returning more than 3,000 hectares of land to Maori in the top of the South Island - ending what's thought to be the country's longest running property dispute; Wellington's regional… Audio
Mayor's rate rise not popular with former deputy chief of staff
Josh Van Veen was Wayne Brown's deputy chief of staff just two months ago, but is now publicly criticising his former boss over the proposed rise in rates.
Morning Report Essentials for Wednesday 17 December
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… Audio
Overturned board election fires up concerns over postal voting
A judge has ordered a new election to take place for seats an Auckland board over manipulation of voting papers. Audio
Council scraps fortnightly rubbish collection trial
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. Audio
Local board election voided after fraudulent voting finding
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… Audio
Auckland's fortnightly rubbish collection trial kicked to curb
Of submissions made on the trial, 78 percent opposed it.
