Local Government News

Media releases should be sent to news@localgovt.co.nz

Questions on local reforms South Wairarapa residents will have a chance to give their views on local government reform after the council confirmed it would take part in a Wellington City Council-led survey on the topic. (Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 May 2012)

Council decision 'kick in the teeth' for hunters Proposed changes to the Otago Regional Council's protection and management of Otago's wetlands have ruffled a few feathers. (The Southland Times, 21 May 2012)

Major oil spill exercise for Coromandel A major oil spill exercise is due to be held on the Coromandel next month, taking into account lessons learned during the Rena disaster. (Waikato Regional Council, 21 May 2012)

Youth Gather to Shape Bay of Plenty’s Future Students from schools throughout the Bay of Plenty will gather in Pāpāmoa to help shape our future at this year’s Youth Jam. (Bay of Plenty Regional Council, 21 May 2012)

Carter supports council asset sales to cap rates Local Government Minister David Carter “would support” council asset sales to maintain funding as rates caps are introduced by a pending law change, expected within months. (National Business Review, 21 May 2012)

2012 MaccaLACs make a splash Ten new maccaLACs will become familiar faces at Levin Aquatic Centre this year, as they take up the challenge of making pool time more fun for kids, with a helping hand from honorary maccaLAC Miranda Conway, a 2011 team member. (Horowhenua District Council, 21 May 2012)

Guided walk as season changes There’ll be a feast for the eyes as well as food for thought during a free guided walk at Tupare on Sunday (27 May). (Taranaki Regional Council, 21 May 2012)

Two Area Managers announced to take on new roles On Friday, the Thames-Coromandel District Council announced the successful candidates for two of the three new Area Manager roles that were created as part of the organisation's recent restructure. (Thames-Coromandel District Council, 21 May 2012)

Gypsy Day reminder: Stand the stock With large numbers of cows about to hit the road as the new financial year heralds a change of location for many in the dairy sector, farmers in Taranaki are being reminded of the need to stand stock before they are transported. (Taranaki Regional Council, 21 May 2012)

Wellington region review panel terms of reference announced Draft Terms of Reference have been released for the Independent Panel on Local Government in the Wellington region. Porirua City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council are jointly setting up the Panel which is to assess possible local government options for the region and identify an optimal approach, which may or may not include structural and/or functional changes. (Greater Wellington Regional Council, 21 May 2012)

Fendalton Library re-opens A newly repaired and earthquake-strengthened Fendalton Library has re-opened today (Monday 21 May). (Christchurch City Council, 21 May 2012)

Mayor's rail goal faces budget bump Auckland Mayor Len Brown says the $2.86 billion central rail loop remains the prime project in his first 10-year budget, which faces a bumpy ride from councillors on Wednesday. (The New Zealand Herald, 21 May 2012)

Carter comments 'prove' Govt assets sale intent Local Government Minister David Carter says he would support the sale of council assets "in principle", which Labour says shows the Government's intention to do just that. (The New Zealand Herald, 21 May 2012)

Nelson MP rejects making Maori seats on councils a right Nelson MP Nick Smith says the Race Relations Commissioner is going over the top by seeking a law change to make Maori seats on councils a right, rather than leaving it to the public to decide. (Radio New Zealand, 21 May 2012)

Auckland sleepwalking to a toxic future A regional group is warning that Auckland Council is sleepwalking to a future where toxic chemicals return to the city streets. The Weed Management Advisory is alarmed that in the Supercity reorganisation responsibility for roadside weed management was handed over to Auckland Transport without any overarching policy being set by Council. (Voxy, 21 May 2012)

Auckland budget debated Auckland Mayor Len Brown has released details of a 10 year budget, insisting that a city rail loop must remain a priority. (Radio New Zealand, 21 May 2012)

Mayor drives $1.7 billion in reduced costs The Mayor is confident that Auckland Council will hold average rate increases to around the rate of inflation after driving $1.7 billion out of the draft Long-term Plan (LTP) despite pressures on council budgets. (Auckland Council, 21 May 2012)

Councillor's blog reveals colleagues' voting history Hamilton councillor Ewan Wilson has revealed his colleagues' voting history on key issues and wants voters to judge their politicians on the way their votes are cast. (Waikato Times, 21 May 2012)

Aucklanders say no to asset sales Auckland Mayor Len Brown says Aucklanders have made it clear they do not want strategic assets to be sold, and other alternatives to rates rises are being considered to fund the city's projects. (The New Zealand Herald, 21 May 2012)

Council debt a matter for ratepayers - Key Prime Minister John Key denies the Government is telling councils to sell their assets but says they should be open to the idea for the sake of their ratepayers. (Stuff, 21 May 2012)

Mayor calls for cull of local government LORD Mayor Stephen Yarwood believes there are too many councils in Adelaide and has called for an independent review of the city's 19 municipalities. (AUS, Adelaide Now, 21 May 2012)

Govt 'warned' about dangerous dogs The state government has been accused of failing to adequately respond to warnings that dangerous dogs living on a Lake Macquarie property could cause a ‘‘dreadful event’’. (AUS, Newcastle Herald, 21 May 2012)

Council asset sales advocated by Carter Local Government Minister David Carter is advocating the sale of assets by councils, particularly by Christchurch City Council. (3 News, 20 May 2012)

Government wants more influence on rates hikes Local Government Minister David Carter says the Government wants broader power to intervene if councils increase rates above what it considers to be fair. (Radio New Zealand, 20 May 2012)

NZTA to trial lower speed limits outside rural schools The Transport Agency will trial variable speed limits outside rural schools in an effort to reduce serious crashes and improve safety. (Radio New Zealand, 20 May 2012)

$11m spent to clear Manawatu Gorge The operation to clear the Manawatu Gorge slip has so far cost the Transport Agency more than $11 million - and the final bill for the road repair will be much higher. (Radio New Zealand, 20 May 2012)

Law change on Maori representation urged Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres says the provision of Maori seats on local councils should not be decided by a public vote. (Radio New Zealand, 20 May 2012)

Mixed reaction to redevelopment plan A two-stage redevelopment of the Oamaru Library, Forrester Gallery, North Otago Museum and Archives, received a mixed reaction at the Waitaki District Council's long term plan hearing yesterday. (Otago Daily Times, 19 May 2012)

Rubbish system ideas offered A user-pays rubbish collection system in the Waitaki district has widespread support, but views differ over whether that should be run by the Waitaki District Council and paid for by rates, or ratepayers should use private contractors. (Otago Daily Times, 19 May 2012)

Funding weighed against low rates Waitaki District Council councillors now have 10 days to work out how to balance requests to spend more money against complaints rates are too high, so it can complete its 2012-22 long-term plan. (Otago Daily Times, 19 May 2012)

Otara group loses legal battle with Auckland Council A group that for decades ran the community centre hosting the Otara markets has lost a court battle over its contract with the Auckland Council. (Radio New Zealand, 19 May 2012)

Lack of cash for capital connection concerns councils Two regional councils say the fate of the Capital Connection train service between Palmerston North and Wellington hinges on the Transport Agency, which is refusing to stump up cash for the service. (Radio New Zealand, 19 May 2012)

MPs want minimum standards for fresh water Labour Party MPs are urging the Government to implement new recommendations on minimum standards for waterways, wetlands and aquifers. (Radio New Zealand, 19 May 2012)

Maori Ward: The People Have Spoken Nelson Mayor Aldo Miccio says today’s poll result against a Maori ward in Nelson is not surprising. (Nelson City Council, 19 May 2012)

Round up: boosting morale on a budget Find out what our panel thought about boosting morale and encouraging good management. (UK, The Guardian, 19 May 2012)

The farce of Local Democracy Local government—two words that are enough to send most people, even if they’re passionate about politics, to sleep. The council chamber and its inhabitants are far from glamorous. (UK, The Yorker, 19 May 2012)

LGNZ: Land and Water Forum report welcome but more work to be done Local Government New Zealand welcomed today’s release of the second Land and Water Forum (LAWF) report, saying that it will be the basis of public discussion and ongoing policy development round the complex issues of limit setting and allocation. (LGNZ, 18 May 2012)

ORC improving wetlands management The Otago Regional Council (ORC) recently released their decision on Proposed Plan Change 2 (Regionally Significant Wetlands) to the Otago Water Plan. (Otago Regional Council, 18 May 2012)

Week of fun events in Rotorua to celebrate National Youth Week A number of events are happening in Rotorua from 19 to 27 May to celebrate National Youth Week 2012. (Rotorua District Council, 18 May 2012)

Land and Water Forum Report a huge step forward towards cleaning up our waterways The Environmental Defence Society says that the Land and Water Forum’s second report, released today, is a massive step forward for freshwater management in New Zealand and an endorsement of the collaborative approach to policy formulation. (EDS, 18 May 2012)

Council Moves to Make Parking Easier in Rangiora In a move to alleviate some of the issues caused by the fencing off of dangerous buildings in High Street Rangiora and the subsequent loss of car parking space, Waimakariri District Council staff, on the recommendations of the Rangiora Community Board, have made a number of changes to parking availability in the central business district. (Waimakariri District Council, 18 May 2012)

Council Approves Local Economic Development Advocacy Group Following the Waimakariri District Council’s adoption of the Waimakariri Local Economic Development (LED) Strategy early last month, the Council’s Audit Committee last week approved the establishment of a Local Economic Development Advocacy Group. (Waimakariri District Council, 18 May 2012)

Selwyn District District potential potentiallyly lyly earthquake earthquake--prone buildings --prone buildings Independent engineering reports reviewed by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) have resulted in some changes to Selwyn District’s
potentially earthquake-prone buildings list. (Selwyn District Council, 18 May 2012)

Councils to decide on cost-cutting measures Local Government Minister David Carter says upcoming reforms will encourage councils to tighten their belts, but it is up to each one how it does so. (The Timaru Herald, 18 May 2012)

Institute recognises officer’s efforts At a gala dinner and awards ceremony held recently in Auckland, senior drainage and plumbing officer Derek Staines was recognised for his involvement in the preparation of a training package. (Hutt City Council, 18 May 2012)

Stewart Island levy update Southland District Council is progressing with plans for the administration of the Stewart Island/Rakiura Visitor Levy and will be working with key stakeholders, the Community Board and the Stewart Island community to put a transparent and robust system in place. (Southland District Council, 18 May 2012)

Free heating upgrades still available for Tokoroa homeowners Waikato Regional Council is looking for Tokoroa homeowners to receive a free heating upgrade this winter. (Waikato Regional Council, 18 May 2012)

Councillors go to ends of Earth Regional councillors have driven the equivalent of five times around the world since taking office – and spent tens of thousands of dollars on petrol doing it. (Waikato Times, 18 May 2012)

ORC effluent spillage plea The Otago Regional Council is urging dairy farmers, sharemilkers and trucking companies to do their bit during the next few weeks to help keep southern roads and waterways free of effluent. (Otago Daily Times, 18 May 2012)

Submission advocates abolition of Mataura ward A group of Mataura residents are seeking to have the Mataura ward abolished as part of the Gore District Council's representation review. (Otago Daily Times, 18 May 2012)

QLDC surplus boosted by lower costs The Queenstown Lakes District Council is showing an operating surplus of almost $12 million after tracking positively since the current financial year started on July 1 last year but its overall debt rose $2 million to $100 million. (Otago Daily Times, 18 May 2012)

No 1 tram completes return journey The historic Roslyn-Maori Hill tram, New Zealand's first electric tram, made another stop on its long journey early yesterday, returning to the Otago Settlers Museum. (Otago Daily Times, 18 May 2012)

Belt-tightening sees many grants declined Frugality was the order of the day, as Dunedin City Councillors yesterday worked through a series of applications for civic grants for the next financial year. (Otago Daily Times, 18 May 2012)

Another piece of Carisbrook collection sold The Dunedin City Council has sold another piece of its Carisbrook property collection. It has an unconditional agreement on half of a 5000sq m section which used to be the stadium members' car park on the corner of Burns St. (Otago Daily Times, 18 May 2012)

Status quo approved for town's main street The Clutha District Council yesterday formally decided to retain Balclutha's traffic flow along State Highway 1, Clyde St. (Otago Daily Times, 18 May 2012)

Chief executive will not seek reappointment for second term The search for a replacement chief executive for the Queenstown Lakes District Council will start next week after Debra Lawson announced yesterday she will not seek reappointment for a second term in the $250,000-a-year job. (Otago Daily Times, 18 May 2012)

Halt on demolition angers minister Council needs to focus on housing damaged in quake, says Brownlee. Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has told the Christchurch City Council to "get its own house in order" as it seeks a halt to demolition of Christchurch Cathedral. (The New Zealand Herald, 18 May 2012)

Stadium loan term reduced Dunedin ratepayers have been spared paying about $100 million in additional interest on the city's $117.6 million stadium debt after councillors voted to reduce the loan term from 40 years to 23. (Otago Daily Times, 18 May 2012)

Council backs call to pause cathedral demolition Christchurch City Council is calling for an immediate pause in the demolition of the city's Anglican cathedral, in response to a submission from campaigners wanting to save the building. (Radio New Zealand, 18 May 2012)

NZTA will fund 71% of repairs to Gisborne roads The weather gods have dealt roads in the Gisborne district a harsh blow in the last few months. Keeping the district’s road open after major storms in March and April will cost Gisborne District Council $2.25 million. The annual budget for repairing flood damaged roads is $2 million. (Gisborne District Council, 18 May 2012)

SOtara group loses legal battle with Auckland Council A group that for decades ran the community centre hosting the Otara markets has lost a court battle over its contract with the Auckland Council. (Radio New Zealand, 18 May 2012)

Augmented reality adds a new dimension to planning decisions Augmented reality apps change the way we see the world. Duncan Jefferies explains how the technology can make planning applications more transparent (UK, The Guardina, 18 May 2012)

Region's LRT plan gets the green light from the provincial government Waterloo Region's rapid transit plan is getting the green light from the provincial government. (INT, Video, CTV NEws, 18 May 2012)

Councils 'must lower carbon emissions' Local authorities across the UK should have a statutory duty to combat climate change, government advisors recommend. (UK, BBC News, 18 May 2012)

Outsourcing is so last year FOR the past decade, technical support has been in the vanguard of globalisation. With the costs of intercontinental communication shrivelling to virtually nothing, phone and online customer services have migrated to wherever they can be managed most efficiently and cheaply. (INT, The Economist, 18 May 2012)

Italy's municipal elections - None of the above ANTI-POLITICS was the big winner when Italians in around one thousand towns and cities were offered the chance to vote for their mayors and local governments on May 6th and 7th. (INT, The Economist, 18 May 2012)

Mawley Holiday Park Guests Triple in 2012 Newly-upgraded Mawley Holiday Park in Masterton has hosted almost three times as many guests in the first three months of 2012 than it did during the same period last year. (Masterton District Council, 17 May 2012)

Asbestos not going to Burwood Landfill Consent applications relating to the Burwood Resource Recovery Park (BRRP) and Burwood Landfill are to be finalised and lodged next month but will not include the disposal of asbestos at Burwood Landfill. (Christchurch City Council, 17 May 2012)

Five Councils Recognised for Excellence SOLGM congratulates Greater Wellington Regional, Mackenzie District, Timaru District, Christchurch City and Auckland Councils who were named finalists at the 2012 IPANZ Public Sector Excellence Awards. (SOLGM, 17 May 2012)

Final results for Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board member Final results for the Spreydon-Heathcote by-election show Helene Mautner is the highest polling candidate to represent the Ward as a Community Board member with 4,645 votes. (Christchurch City Council, 17 May 2012)

Lack of cash for capital connection concerns councils Two regional councils say the fate of the Capital Connection train service between Palmertson North and Wellington hinges on the Transport Agency, which is refusing to stump up cash for the service. (Radio New Zealand, 17 May 2012)

Collaborative Approach to Governance Sought Hutt City Council will seek to stamp a collaborative approach on governance options for the greater Wellington region, says Mayor Ray Wallace. (Hutt City Council, 17 May 2012)

Lowering Speeds on Porirua Roads Proposed Following requests from residents on Grays Road and Paekakariki Hill Road, the Council is proposing to reduce the speeds on those roads permanently to 60km per hour. (Porirua City Council, 17 May 2012)

Super council "tsar" will head Christchurch rebuild A group managing the rebuild of Christchurch's earthquake-damaged infrastructure is to be headed by the local goverment "tsar" who oversaw the formation of Auckland's "super council". (Radio New Zealand, 17 May 2012)

Wellington gears up for Digital Earth summit Summit to look at ways of digitally representing world-wide environmental issues (Computerworld, 17 May 2012)

Erosion protection issues complex It is back to the drawing board for a plan on how best to address Te Rauone's erosion issues after Dunedin City councillors considering improvements to the reserve, and whether to invest in a breakwater rock wall to protect it and private properties against further erosion, resolved instead to discuss the issue further with affected parties. (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 2012)

River Accord up for Green Ribbon The Manawatu River Leaders’ Accord led by Horizons Regional Council has been recognised for its contribution the environment as a finalist in the 2012 Ministry for the Environment’s Green Ribbon Awards. (Horizons District Council, 17 May 2012)

Cathedral campaigners appeal for demolition halt Campaigners trying to save Christchurch's cathedral have asked the city's council to call for a halt to the demolition of the landmark building. (Radio New Zealand, 17 May 2012)

Billion dollar highway not fiscally responsible The National Government needs to explain why it is pushing ahead with uneconomic projects like the four-lane highway from Warkworth to Wellsford, while crying poverty and cutting services in the coming Budget, Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said today. (Voxy, 17 May 2012)

Earthquake hazards in New Zealand presentation Dr Matthew Gerstenberger, New Zealand’s leading authority on earthquake forecasting, will present a talk at Rotorua Museum on Friday 25 May at 5.30pm. (Rotorua District Council, 17 May 2012)

Where Should The Lines Be Drawn On Freedom Camping? This is the last chance to make a submission on Council’s plan to introduce a bylaw that will allow freedom camping in Marlborough but impose some limits on the areas where freedom campers may put up their tents or park their campervans. (Marlborough District Council, 17 May 2012)

Time for Council’s annual “report card” from its community It’s that time of year again when the Central Otago District Council gets an insight on how it is seen to be performing in the eyes of its residents. (Central Otago District Council, 17 May 2012)

Moves to secure train service are welcomed Kāpiti Mayor Jenny Rowan has welcomed the announcement that the Horizons Regional Council is seeking a three-way funding proposal with Greater Wellington and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to keep the Capital Connection rail service running. (Kapiti Coast District Council, 17 May 2012)

Study conflict of interest perceived: Kirton Concerns about a perceived conflict of interest in the community regarding Peter Winder's appointment to undertake the Hawke's Bay prosperity study were raised at yesterday's Hawke's Bay Regional Council Corporate and Strategic Committee meeting. (Hawke's Bay Today, 17 May 2012)

Homeowners contaminate recycling efforts Bags crawling with maggots from soiled nappies and food scraps are a common sight for Wellington's recycling collectors as residents continue to try to sneak rubbish into the recycling. The hunt is on to find the suburbs with the worst recycling habits as Wellington City Council tries to cut contamination levels. (The Dominion Post, 17 May 2012)

Airport to remove homes in noise zone About 700 houses around Wellington Airport are to be demolished or insulated against airport noise. (The Dominion Post, 17 May 2012)

Awards recognise youth potential Hastings District Council will honour high performing young people during the inaugural Youth Potential awards ceremony. (Hastings District Council, 17 May 2012)

Free weed workshops back Northlanders keen to learn more about some of the worst weeds threatening our region – and how best to tackle them – are being urged to register now for one of a series of free workshops. (Northland Regional Council, 17 May 2012)

Council receives national Best Practice award Nelson City Council and Incite Planning Consultants have received the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) Best Practice Award for the Port Nelson Noise project. (Nelson City Council, 17 May 2012)

Stick to basics, Tainui tells HCC Corporate heavyweight Tainui Group Holdings has told Hamilton City Council to sell the Claudelands Events centre and start limiting its spending to core business. (Waikato Times, 17 May 2012)

Negative feelings on stadium The noes outnumber the ayes for New Plymouth's proposed $28 million indoor stadium complex, but the council says public submissions on the issue should not be considered a poll. (Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 2012)

Local government reform concern Any form of local government should be driven by communities, not the Government, Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton said yesterday. (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 2012)

CODC not 'golden bullet' Council was not the "golden bullet" for creating growth, the business community was, Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper told a meeting hosted by the Otago Chamber of Commerce in Alexandra last night. (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 2012)

Less debt the focus as council eyes plan A debt-conscious Queenstown Lakes District Council yesterday began picking its way through a "wish list" of projects submitters want to see become reality by 2022. (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 2012)

Loos lose out on funding for now Dunedin city council staff will investigate the options for placing a 24-hour toilet in the Octagon, including where it should go and how much it would cost. (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 2012)

Dunedin Centre gets another $2.5m Dunedin city councillors yesterday agreed, subject to final approval, to borrow an additional $2.5 million to complete the redevelopment of the Dunedin Centre. (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 2012)

City precinct plan brought forward Funding for the Dunedin City Council's warehouse precinct plan will be brought forward three years to next year's budget, so staff can take advantage of significant private investment and improvement happening in the area now. (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 2012)

Museum extras cost council $2.16m Ratepayers will fork out up to an extra $2.16 million to fund necessary work not included in original $39.2 million Otago Settlers Museum redevelopment project budget. (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 2012)

DCC cuts development contributions Those developing new residential sections in Mosgiel should pay less in development contributions, the Dunedin City Council has decided. (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 2012)

Accommodation providers attack rate plan Wanaka accommodation providers yesterday criticised the Queenstown Lakes District Council's proposed new visitor recovery costs scheme through changes to its rating differentials. (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 2012)

City councillor explains significance of 'people's place' From sitting in his office on February 22, to the devastation he views as an opportunity, Christchurch dean turned city councillor Peter Beck shared his views on the past 18 months with a group in Dunedin yesterday. (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 2012)

Council plan for new office on hold Plans for a plush new $34 million headquarters could be on the backburner for the Waikato Regional Council but the organisation might still hire more than 30 new staff next year. (The New Zealand Herald, 17 May 2012)

Call to support Mangawhai residents over steep rates rise A Kaipara ratepayers group is calling for council resignations in the wake of the biggest ratepayers' demonstration in the district's history. (Radio New Zealand, 17 May 2012)

Councillors must do more to stop demolition Christchurch City councillors must do more to halt the Christ Church Cathedral's demolition, a group trying to save the city icon says. (The Press, 17 May 2012)

Wellington gears up for Digital Earth summit Technology has been blamed for much of the environmental degradation of Earth but it will play a large role in potential solutions to the problem, says Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown. (Computerworld, 17 May 2012)

Littleton Town Hall among local government entities embracing social media While some local town officials are resisting the change, others are embracing it and using it to communicate critical information. (UK, Wicked Local, 17 May 2012)

Owners of empty homes 'need advice' Legislation allowing local authorities to double council tax on empty homes should be accompanied by advice and help for owners, MSPs have been told. (UK, UK Press, 17 May 2012)

Government hails local community energy project Brighton Energy Co-operative was praised in Parliament by a Government minister today following the launch of its first community-owned renewables scheme. (UK, Caroline Lucas, 17 May 2012)

Essex council criticised for noise pay-out refusal Essex County Council's refusal to compensate a couple living near a waste transfer station has been criticised by the local government ombudsman. (UK, BBC News, 17 May 2012)

Social media in local government BDO has published an interesting report into the current use of social media within local government in the UK. (UK, Stuart Bruce, 17 May 2012)

Manitoba government looks at new code of conduct for municipal councils The Manitoba government plans to make municipalities adopt codes of conduct that would include penalties for council members. (USA, Winnipeg Free Press, 17 May 2012)

EEZ Bill fails to protect the environment and will damage New Zealand’s international reputation The Local Government and Environment Committee’s report back on the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill is extremely disappointing and a lost opportunity to put in place a robust consenting regime for the EEZ and continental shelf, according to the Environmental Defence Society. (EDS, 16 May 2012)

Whitianga beach erosion issues being addressed A project to address beach erosion issues at Whitianga is well advanced and discussions are due to be held with the local community about how to make progress. (Waikato Regional Council, 16 May 2012)

Encumbrance fees discontinued Council's current $85 encumbrance monitoring fee will be discontinued from 1 July. (Thames-Coromandel District Council, 16 May 2012)

Winter Driving - Means Carry Chains Snow has caused the first issues of the winter season with two-wheel drive vehicles attempting to cross the snowy Crown Range saddle without chains this morning, Queenstown Lakes District Council transport manager Denis Mander said. (Queenstown Lakes District Council, 16 May 2012)

Christchurch Botanic Gardens Tea Kiosk building closes Christchurch City Council has today closed the Christchurch Botanic Gardens Tea Kiosk building after a Detailed Engineering Evaluation (DEE) assessment showed it needs earthquake strengthening. (Christchurch City Council, 16 May 2012)

Greater Wellington a finalist for two IPANZ excellence awards Greater Wellington Regional Council has been selected as a finalist in two of the Institute of Public Administration in New Zealand’s (IPANZ) annual excellence awards. (Greater Wellington Regional Council, 16 May 2012)

Local Government Reform - Submissions Open Submissions have opened today (16 May) for Wellingtonians wanting to have their say on options for the possible future shape of local government in the region. (Wellington Regional Council, 16 May 2012)

Council adopts Rates Remission Policy Nelson City Council yesterday adopted a Rates Remission Policy for people affected by the December flood event. (Nelson City Council, 16 May 2012)

Hagley Park to become Ice Station for new festival The countdown to the new biennial New Zealand IceFest, 14 September to 14 October 2012, is proof that Christchurch remains a vibrant city reaching out to an exciting future after the earthquakes, says Festival Director Jo Blair. (Christchurch City Council, 16 May 2012)

Enforce bylaw, council urged Hoons riding motorcycles and driving cars on beaches have led to calls for New Plymouth District Council to enforce its bylaws. (Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 2012)

Cycle trail decision delay It will be at least two months before construction can begin on the Southland District Council's proposed $11 million Around the Mountains Cycle Trail. (Otago Daily Times, 16 May 2012)

Submissions sought on wharf transfer Public submissions are being sought on the proposed transfer of ownership of the Jackson Bay wharf, along with some other assets of the Westland District Council, to a commercial company. (Otago Daily Times, 16 May 2012)

Councillors decide to retain Andersons Bay crematorium The only crematorium in the city will stay in Dunedin City Council hands - for the time being. (Otago Daily Times, 16 May 2012)

Highway maintenance funds reduced Otago will receive about $3.6 million less from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) than initially planned for maintenance and operations of state highways in the next three years. (Otago Daily Times, 16 May 2012)

Council aims to cut operating deficit The Waitaki District Council is moving to head off an operating deficit at the end of this financial year after indications of a loss in its quarterly report considered at its meeting yesterday. (Otago Daily Times, 16 May 2012)

Waikato SPCA pushing for 'cat curfew' Waikato SPCA is calling for a mandatory night-time feline curfew in an attempt to curb cats mating. The branch is this week asking the Hamilton City Council to bring in a bylaw to keep cats in their properties between dusk and dawn (The New Zealand Herald, 16 May 2012)

Artificial turf main casualty of cuts A plan for new artificial turf at Logan Park was the major casualty after Dunedin city councillors sharpened their pencils at yesterday's budget meetings. (Otago Daily Times, 16 May 2012)

$4.1m shortfall in DCC budget Fresh savings would be needed to plug a $4.1 million hole in the Dunedin City Council's budget, it was confirmed yesterday. (Otago Daily Times, 16 May 2012)

Spanish News Local Councils The Spanish government is aiming to save 3.5 billion euros next year by grouping together various town halls.They are also hoping to streamline the jurisdiction of other authorities in providing services. (INT, AMLA, 16 May 2012)

Funding Available For Research and Development The Ministry of Science and Innovation still has money to invest in research and development projects. (Dunedin City Council, 16 May 2012)

Hawke’s Bay people reminded about outdoor fire ban Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is reminding people about the ban on outdoor fires in place in parts of the region throughout the winter months. (Hawke's Bay Regional Council, 15 May 2012)

Radar used to find unmarked graves Hundreds of long-dead Central Otago residents may finally be recognised as archaeologist Hans-Dieter Bader visits the district's 16 cemeteries, identifying unmarked graves. (Otago Daily Times, 16 May 2012)

Mid term changes to Council structure see Mayor looking forward Mayor Aldo Miccio is starting the second half of this Council term with a proposal to explore a shared services structure with Tasman District Council and to change the portfolio structure to bring fresh perspectives to the Council table. (Nelson City Council, 15 May 2012)

International Museum Day 2012 Museums, art galleries and related organisations around the world join in International Museum Day on 18 May, now celebrated for 35 years. (Museums Aotearoa, 15 May 2012)

20-year milestone for green awards The Taranaki Regional Council made its 20th annual Environmental Awards today – to a dozen organisations involved in a range of activities as broad as the region itself. (Taranaki Regional Council, 15 May 2012)

Petone plan proves controversial A Hutt City Council plan to allow the western end of the Petone esplanade to be developed for retail and residential sites has critics worried about natural disaster risks. (Radio New Zealand, 15 May 2012)

Nelmac to manage marina Nelmac has successfully tendered to take over the day to day operation of the Nelson Marina as of 1 June 2012. (Nelson City Council, 15 May 2012)

Change risks character of town: council Arrowtown could lose its quaint character if town boundaries were extended, the Queenstown Lakes District Council submitted yesterday in the Environment Court. (Otago Daily Times, 15 May 2012)

Public invited to Charity Open Day at the Manawatu Gorge this Sunday The public will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to walk along part of State Highway 3 and see the Manawatu Gorge slip site up close, with a charity open day being held this Sunday (20 May) in support of the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter. (NZTA, 15 May 2012)

Hastings primary school kids get on their bikes St Matthew's Primary School in Hastings has seen such an upsurge in the number of pupils riding to school, that they needed to install new bike racks. (Hastings District Council, 15 May 2012)

Public grill council on plans for inland port The public were given the chance to grill Hamilton City Council staff yesterday on the planned $3 billion inland freight port at Ruakura. (Waikato Times, 15 May 2012)

Auckland Reaffirms Japanese Link Len Brown and the Mayor of Kakogawa City, Mr Shoichi Tarumoto, re-signed the sister city agreement between the two cities at an event held at the Auckland Town Hall Council Chambers last night. (Auckland Council, 15 May 2012)

ORC Requests Improved Gypsy Week Effort on Otago Roads The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is urging dairy farmers, sharemilkers, and trucking companies to do their bit during the next few weeks to help keep southern roads and waterways effluent-free. (Otago Regional Council, 15 May 2012)

Federated Farmers challenge rates increases Federated Farmers is on the rates war path again, saying increases proposed in some districts will put an unfair burden on farmers because of the way they will be applied. (Radio New Zealand, 15 May 2012)

Local Government concerns A former Minister who represented part of the Eastern Bay in parliament hopes the towns retain a voice. (PDF, Kawerau District Council, 15 May 2012)

Motu Trails grand opening this Sunday The Motu Trails, the seventh Great Ride to be completed under Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail, will be opened with a public cycling and walking event this Sunday 20 May. (Gisborne District Council, 15 May 2012)

No place like home, says CEO A controversial plan by the Waikato Regional Council to build a $34million office building in Hamilton East looks set to be shelved. Regional council chief executive Bob Laing will present his submission to the council's draft long-term plan tomorrow and recommend deferring a start on the project. (Waikato Times, 15 May 2012)

Centennial Pool repair headaches Repairing an earthquake-damaged Christchurch pool complex carries "significant risks" despite an insurance shortfall of only $300,000, the city council says. (The Press, 15 May 2012)

11th-hour submissions put pressure on deliberations About 200 submissions poured in just before deadline on the Waitaki District Council's 2012-22 draft long-term plan, meaning all three meeting days will be needed to consider what ratepayers have had to say. (Otago Daily Times, 15 May 2012)

Plan change will allow small harbourside zone After a decade and multiple appeals and changes to the original proposal, the Dunedin City Council has approved a district plan change that will allow the development of a small section of Dunedin's harbourside. (Otago Daily Times, 15 May 2012)

Port road cycleway a priority Completion of the State Highway 88 harbourside cycling and walking track between Dunedin and Port Chalmers is a priority for two thirds of submitters to the draft regional land transport programme for 2012-15. (Otago Daily Times, 15 May 2012)

Draft strategy for consultation A draft economic strategy for Dunedin's future is a starting point and needs further work including thorough consultation with the public, but has generally been welcomed by city councillors who agreed yesterday to release it for public consultation. (Otago Daily Times, 15 May 2012)

Redirect wages to council: Vandervis A simple signing off of the next year's remuneration for Dunedin city council's elected members turned into an attack on community boards yesterday when a councillor suggested they contributed "very little" to the running of the council and their wages should be given to councillors instead. (Otago Daily Times, 15 May 2012)

KiwiRail seeks to freight logs by rail KiwiRail has asked the Otago Regional Transport Committee to be involved in a feasibility study for freighting logs by rail rather than road. (Otago Daily Times, 15 May 2012)

Forsyth Barr Stadium meeting turns feisty The public will have a say over future uses of the Forsyth Barr Stadium, following a feisty Dunedin City Council meeting yesterday. (The New Zealand Herald, 15 May 2012)

Tram numbers and revenue down significantly Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer has released some alarming figures on the Wynyard Quarter trams he sought from Waterfront Auckland. (Cameron Brewer, 15 May 2012)

First Fenced Dog Exercise Area There's good news for the city's dogs and their owners - Wellington is about to get its first fenced-off dog exercise area. (Wellington City Council, 15 May 2012)

Forest Sinks Reap Benefits With the support of volunteers, Council land is regenerating from scrubby farmland to native forest, which allows us to claim carbon credits. (Wellington City Council, 15 May 2012)

Fast food giants may face super-sized rates bill If an idea being considered by a Melbourne council takes off, major fast food chains may soon have to pay much higher rates to local government. (AUS, ABC News, 15 May 2012)

Victorian flood victims support siren system The state government’s new natural disaster siren policy has been welcomed by central Victorian residents who lost their homes in the January 2011 floods. (AUS, Bendigo Advertiser, 15 May 2012)

SA councils will recover roads Local road funding will be delivered to South Australian councils over five years from 2014 to 2019. (AUS, Government News, 15 May 2012)

SA councils call for videoconferencing The Local Government Association of South Australia is hoping to deploy videoconferencing facilities throughout its membership of 68 local governments in the state. (AUS, ZDNet, 15 May 2012)

Progress on Putauaki block Industrial land on the outskirts of Kawerau is being deemed important for the whole region. (PDF, Kawerau District Council, 14 May 2012)

Cost of city rail link doubles The cost of Auckland's proposed city rail link has almost doubled since Mayor Len Brown was elected one and a half years ago, a city councillor claims. (Stuff, 14 May 2012)

Auckland trials new cycle safety measures Auckland Transport (AT) is trialling new ways to keep cyclists safe on our roads. AT has installed new cycle safety measures at two locations in Auckland's west. The innovative safety measures are a first for New Zealand. (Voxy, 14 May 2012)

Cemetery fees to rise because of council costs Cemetery fees will increase from July 1 as a result of increasing costs the Queenstown Lakes District Council faces for burials. (Otago Daily Times, 14 May 2012)

New Chairman appointed for Plan Changes hearings Taupō District Council has appointed a new Chairman, Hamilton Barrister, Doug Arcus, for the hearings of Plan Changes 28-33 to the Taupō District Plan, following the resignation of previously appointed Chairman John Maassen. (Taupo District Council, 14 May 2012)

Selwyn District Council scoops planning awards Selwyn District Council planning projects scooped the supreme award and two best practice awards at last week’s New Zealand Planning Institute 2012 awards held in Blenheim. (Selwyn District Council, 14 May 2012)

Weed discovery puts boaties on alert An invasive aquatic weed has been found in Lake Rotorangi, prompting a request for recreational users of the lake to help prevent it spreading. (Taranaki Regional Council, 14 May 2012)

Submissions cover many issues A total of 197 submissions were received by the Manawatu District Council for its Draft Long Term Plan 2012-2022 after a four week-long public consultation period ended last Thursday, with the “usual suspects” of rates, roading and parks and reserves among the most prevalent topics. (Manawatu District Council, 14 May 2012)

New train station opened at Ellerslie The new, improved Ellerslie train station was officially opened today in central Auckland following an $8m upgrade involving the NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Transport and KiwiRail. (Voxy, 14 May 2012)

Christchurch Art Gallery staffing changes The long-term closure of the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu has meant 17 staff – most of whom are part-time – have had their positions disestablished. (Christchurch City Council, 14 May 2012)

Water meter protest turns from a trickle to a torrent Kapiti Coast residents are up in arms about their council's proposal to consider water meters in their long-term plan, saying this flies in the face of democratic process, writes Kay Blundell. (The Dominion Post, 14 May 2012)

Call for council funding probe Hobart City Council should review all its memberships, including the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says Deputy Lord Mayor Helen Burnet. (The Mercury, 14 May 2012)

Mangawhai ratepayers warn of rates revolt A Mangawhai ratepayers group is predicting a town-wide rates revolt if the Kaipara District Council does not lower planned rates demands. (Radio New Zealand, 14 May 2012)

Trust Demands Auckland Council Sells Land to Develop White Water Rafting Course The Auckland Council is being asked to contribute to the funding of a white water rafting course at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau three years after the Manukau City Council voted against funding the $60m scheme. (Dick Quax, 14 May 2012)

Mayor rolls out welcome mat Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has declared the quake-hit city "open for business" during an eight-day trip to Israel and South Korea. (The Press, 14 May 2012)

Faster consents a priority - Parker Consenting issues which provoked a stinging letter from Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee are an "incredibly high priority" for the Christchurch City Council, Mayor Bob Parker says. (The Press, 14 May 2012)

Council grants total $15,000 Grants totalling $15,000 have been made by the Waitaki District Council's grants and awards committee. (Otago Daily Times, 14 May 2012)

CODC allocates $10,000 to wilding pine control Wilding pines could soon come under attack in Central Otago after the district council set aside $10,000 in its draft long-term plan to look into the issue. (Otago Daily Times, 14 May 2012)

Water plan submissions New rules to control pollution entering Otago's waterways have attracted 333 submissions to the Otago Regional Council. (Otago Daily Times, 14 May 2012)

Saving from new contract A new, cheaper roading maintenance contract has brought a windfall for Waitaki ratepayers, although its district council's own company has lost major income. (Otago Daily Times, 14 May 2012)

Auckland residents concerned about central city brothel More than 200 people have filed submissions to the Auckland Council to stop a brothel being built in the central city. (Radio New Zealand, 14 May 2012)

Govt urged to intervene over planned rates increase A ratepayers' group is calling on the Government to intervene in a proposed rates rise in the Kaipara district. (Radio New Zealand, 14 May 2012)

Fresh take on paying off stadium debt A fresh perspective on dealing with Dunedin City Council's stadium debt has been proposed to councillors, by someone keen to pay off her share as soon as possible. (Otago Daily Times, 13 May 2012)

Trees threaten international cricket fixtures, council told Otago Cricket has asked the Dunedin City Council to bring forward the removal of a row of trees at Logan Park, which it says threaten to cause Dunedin to miss out hosting international cricket matches. (Otago Daily Times, 13 May 2012)

Work to redirect Waitaki flow near bridge complete A $150,000 project to divert the Waitaki River away from the north side of the State Highway 1 Waitaki Bridge has been completed by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA). (Otago Daily Times, 12 May 2012)

Social housing repairs unlikely to be delayed Negotiations on a multimillion-dollar payout for Christchurch's earthquake-hit social housing stock will not slow down repair work, the city council says. (The Press, 12 May 2012)

Shape up or ship out, council told The venom practically dripped from Gerry Brownlee's pen when he thundered a five-page letter of expectations to Christchurch City councillors in January. (The Press, 12 May 2012)

Mangawhai residents march against steep rate rise Hundreds of residents of the small Northland town of Mangawhai have marched in protest against steep rate rises proposed by the Kaipara District Council. (Radio New Zealand, 12 May 2012)

Successful start to big King Country pest control operation Waikato Regional Council and the Department of Conservation say there has been a very successful start to a major possum control operation in the western King Country. (Waikato Regional Council, 11 May 2012)

Prelimnary results for Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board member (updated) Preliminary results for the Spreydon-Heathcote by-election show Helene Mautner is the highest polling candidate to represent the Ward as a Community Board member with 4,625 votes. (Christchurch City Council, 11 May 2012)

Hands-on possum control back for North students More than 80 Northland students are to gain hands-on knowledge of possum trapping, fur and pelt recovery in the latest ‘Project Possum’ training run under the umbrella of the popular Enviroschools Programme. (Northland Regional Council, 11 May 2012)

Aquatic pest found in Lake Okareka The invasive weed, which has not been seen in Lake Ōkāreka before, was found by the skipper of the Duck tourist vehicle last month. (Bay of Plenty Regional Council, 11 May 2012)

Strategic land purchase for Nelson City Council Nelson City Council has purchased two sites on Haven Road from Port Nelson for strategic purposes. (Nelson City Council, 11 May 2012)

Youth engagement turnaround Kawerau's starting to see the results of the effort a range of organisations are putting into its youth. (PDF, Kawerau District Council, 11 May 2012)

Jeans ban for Napier City Council staff Napier City Council will not be supporting the Napier Family Centre's Jeans Day fundraiser today, as jeans are "inappropriate" attire for many of the public services the council provides. (The New Zealand Herald, 11 May 2012)

Business gives local government failing grade - Study Local Governments have been given failing grades by New Zealand businesses, as nearly half the country’s business owners express dissatisfaction with the performance of their local councils – in an environment of rising rates and arduous consenting processes, a new study reports. (MYOB, 11 May 2012)

Council's Maori watchdog wraps up hui tour The Independent Maori Statutory Board has completed a six-stop hui to hear how the views of tangata whenua can help Auckland Council's decision-making. (Radio New Zealand, 11 May 2012)

Auckland Council 'ready to help' fruit fly response Auckland Mayor Len Brown is offering the support of Auckland Council to the government for the Queensland fruit fly response. (Voxy, 11 May 2012)

Selling assets last resort - council Asset sales should be an "absolute last resort" to fund the Christchurch rebuild, city councillors say. (The Press, 11 May 2012)

Councillors 'need to trust rebuild consortium' City councillors need to trust the consortium charged with redesigning central Christchurch, the deputy mayor says. (The Press, 11 May 2012)

Councillors vote for pay rise for colleagues Christchurch's community board members could receive an unexpected pay rise after city councillors voted to boost their colleagues' pay packets at their own expense. (The Press, 11 May 2012)

Diesel leak baffles council staff A second suspected diesel spill into the Waikato River in as many weeks has infuriated Hamilton residents and sent council staff scrambling to find the culprit. (Waikato Times, 11 May 2012)

Message loud and clear New Plymouth District councillors are on notice to cut rates increases and slash debt or face being booted out come election time. (Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 2012)

Stratford heeds the will of the people, keeps fluoride in the drinking water New Zealand's top dentist has welcomed a decision by the Stratford District Council to keep fluoride in the town's water. (Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 2012)

District rates rise changed to 7% The rates rise being faced by Central Otago district ratepayers could be 7%, not the 5.7% approved this week by councillors - but more trimming could yet see the rise come down again. (Otago Daily Times, 11 May 2012)

Housing under power lines approved Auckland Council officials have approved a housing development under high voltage power lines in Te Atatu South, overruling opposition from the national electricity grid operator. (The New Zealand Herald, 11 May 2012)

Call for Maori to decide on Maori wards A member of a Rotorua District Council advisory body says in his view local tangata whenua should make the decision on whether Maori wards should be established. (Radio New Zealand, 11 May 2012)

Women on top Women are rising to the top jobs in Central Queensland with four out of six mayors now female. (AUS, The Morning Bulletin, 11 May 2012)

Australian fruit fly discovery concerns HBRC The chairman of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Asset Management & Biosecurity Committee Kevin Rose says he is concerned about the discovery of a Queensland fruit fly in Auckland. (Hawkes Bay Regional Council, 11 May 2012)

Source of diesel in Waikato River identified An ongoing investigation by Waikato Regional Council has today confirmed the source of unauthorised discharges of diesel into the Waikato River. (Waikato Regional Council, 11 May 2012)

Four to contest Bluff by-election Four candidates have been nominated to fill the extraordinary vacancy on the Bluff Community Board. (Invercargill City Council, 11 May 2012)

Timaru oil containment update Last week Environment Canterbury was made aware of an oil spill at the Port of Timaru from a deep sea fishing vessel. (Environment Canterbury, 11 May 2012)

Kaiapoi Town Centre Integrated Transport Plan Progressing The Waimakariri District Council says work has started on the implementation of the Kaiapoi Town Centre Integrated Transport Plan. (Waimakariri District Council, 11 May 2012)

NSW Government must take action to protect local neighbourhoods from coal seam gas The Nature Conservation Council of NSW has welcomed Dart Energy's announcement that it will not drill for coal seam gas at St Peters in Sydney's inner west, and has called on the NSW Government to revoke the company's drilling approval. (AUS, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, 11 May 2012)

Great Lakes a water management winner Water quality management has won the Great Lakes Council an award in the 2012 National Awards for Local Government. (AUS, Australian Government, 11 May 2012)

Submissions Closed For Draft Long Term Plan The Waikato District Council has received almost 260 submissions from the public about the draft Long Term Plan. (Waikato District Council, 10 May 2012)

229 submissions to Draft Long Term Plan Southland District Council has received 229 submissions to its Draft Long Term Plan, the highest number of submissions to a Draft Long Term Plan to date. Policy and Planning Manager Susan Cuthbert said these submissions will form an integral part of the Long Term Plan process going forward. (Southland District Council, 10 May 2012)

Cuts to train schedule not good for town KiwiRail's decision to stop the Overlander train services and replace it with a rebranded service to attract more tourists has been welcomed by a number of Taihape people. (Manawatu Standard, 10 May 2012)

Govt urged to stop changes to Overlander The Government is being urged to stop KiwiRail's planned changes to the Overlander service. Manawatu and Rangitikei residents have begun a petition asking the Government to stop the company cutting 12 stops from the Auckland to Wellington service. (Newstalk ZB, 10 May 2012)

School environment programme to get $7.6m The Government is restoring funding to an environmental schools programme that promotes reducing waste and planting vegetable gardens to children. (Radio New Zealand, 10 May 2012)

Historic Waikato River agreement signed at Pikitu Marae An historic Joint Management Agreement has been signed today between the Raukawa Settlement Trust and Waikato Regional Council relating to co-management of the Waikato River catchment. (Waikato Regional Council, 10 May 2012)

Mayor: let’s hear from Wellingtonians first Wellington City Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee today (Thursday 10 May) voted to seek the opinions of Wellingtonians on options for the shape of local government in the region. (Wellington City Council, 10 May 2012)

Manawatu Gorge road is set to re-open The Transport Agency has announced the Manawatu Gorge road, the main link between Manawatu and Hawke's Bay, could be reopened to one lane of traffic by the end of the month. (Radio New Zealand, 10 May 2012)

2012 ShakeOut Seddon School is leading the way in Marlborough as one of the first participants to register for the national Civil Defence exercise being held in September. CPM Marlborough Ltd is the first business to sign on to take part. (Marlborough District Council, 10 May 2012)

Positive Ageing - Working With Council The Marlborough District Council provides communication channels for discussing issues with older members of our community. (Marlborough District Council, 10 May 2012)

ACC workplace relationship manager guest at Mayoral coffee morning Mayor Rick Cooper and Council CEO Rob Williams will be joined by ACC’s Workplace Relationship Manager, Peter Musk, for their regular monthly coffee morning at Sierra Café this Wednesday, 16 May, from 7.30am. (Taupo District Council, 10 May 2012)

Main Road widening progresses Plans to upgrade Main Road to three lanes from Ferrymead Bridge to McCormacks Bay is one step closer after Christchurch City Council today approved the project to proceed to final design, resource consent and tender. (Christchurch City Council, 10 May 2012)

Diesel spills into Waikato River again Absorbent booms are being deployed onto the Waikato River this morning as Waikato Regional Council staff try to contain another suspected diesel spill in Hamilton's north. (Waikato Times, 10 May 2012)

Choosing the right wood is key to a warm winter fire Choosing the right firewood is key to a great fire, according to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Heatsmart Coordinator, Mark Heaney. (Hawke's Bay Regional Council, 10 May 2012)

$250,000 in funding for region-wide biodiversity support Environment Canterbury announced today that it had recently allocated almost a quarter of a million dollars to a range of important biodiversity projects across the Canterbury region. (Environment Canterbury, 23 May 2012)

New ORC flood protection bylaw out for consultation The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is seeking public input on its new flood protection bylaw. The bylaw was publicly notified at the weekend. (Otago Regional Council, 10 May 2012)

Transparency in local body elections The decision this week of Local Government Minister David Carter to request advice from officials on funding rules for local body elections is welcome. (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 2012)

WCRC snubs independent prosecutions The West Coast Regional Council (WCRC) is thumbing its nose at recommendations by the auditor-general to ensure councillors are not biased against prosecuting polluters. (The Press, 10 May 2012)

'Vitriol' aimed at council critic Council critic Ray Stark says he has copped some "vitriolic" reactions from several city councillors under pressure over his high-profile push for a political cleanout. (Waikato Times, 10 May 2012)

Assets eyed in revival of city Pressure has been exerted from the Beehive for the Christchurch City Council to mortgage some of its $2 billion-plus portfolio of assets. (Stuff, 10 May 2012)

Councils unite to criticise water plan Two district councils have added their voices to those concerned about the Otago Regional Council's proposed water-plan changes, with one Clutha councillor dubbing the changes "ludicrous". (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 2012)

Too late to refuse raise Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper yesterday tried to decline a pay rise, but was told he was too late to make an appeal - by one day. (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 2012)

Lack of arts strategy condemned It was shocking, and even offensive, that the Dunedin City Council had not included an arts strategy for the city in its draft long-term plan, councillors were told yesterday. (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 2012)

Albatross-shaped island promoted for harbour A sunshine, Dunedin, resident's idea for a Dubai-style island in the shape of a Southern Royal Albatross at the Portsmouth Dr end of Otago harbour was greeted with smiles from Dunedin city councillors near the end of a long day hearing submissions on its annual plan/long-term plan yesterday. (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 2012)

Dog rescue group wants to set up pound on Burma Rd A Dunedin City Council-owned property on Burma Rd has been identified by Dog Rescue Dunedin (DRD) as a potentially suitable site for a city pound and dog sanctuary. (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 2012)

Mosgiel pool wanted Mosgiel Taieri Community Board chairman Bill Feather has urged the Dunedin City Council not to delay planning for a new swimming pool in the town. (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 2012)

Mayor says drug abuse not tolerated Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden has reiterated Queenstown's zero tolerance for drug and alcohol abuse after a Christchurch judge labelled it "a party town for drugs" this week. (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 2012)

Iwi panel eyes $100m in property An Independent Maori Statutory Board representative yesterday raised the possibility of $100 million worth of Auckland Council property being used in Tamaki Makaurau Treaty settlements. (The New Zealand Herald, 10 May 2012)

$70m at risk if bus firms miss unified-card deadline Auckland's main bus operator could lose at least $70 million in annual operating subsidies if it fails by November to install machines capable of reading new electronic transport tickets. (The New Zealand Herald, 10 May 2012)

Graham, Mains each seek $500,000-plus in damages Otago Rugby Football Union board members Wayne Graham and Laurie Mains are together seeking more than $1 million in damages from Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull over allegations of defamation, court documents show. (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 2012)

Palmerston North identifies quake-prone buildings More than 100 buildings in Palmerston North need to be strengthened after the council identified them as earthquake-prone. (Radio New Zealand, 10 May 2012)

Dunedin council considers stadium bail out Dunedin City Council says it will be forced to consider more funding to help the company running the Forsyth Barr Stadium overcome a nearly $2 million loss and debt-servicing costs it cannot afford to pay. (The New Zealand Herald, 10 May 2012)

Council wins 2012 ALGIM Supreme Website award Focusing on its customers has seen Gisborne District Council come away with top prize for a local government website. (Gisborne District Council, 10 May 2012)

How to move from local e-government to collaborative e-governance What does it mean to be an e-citizen? Academic Claudia Megele explains how councils can make the most of technology (UK, The Guardian, 10 May 2012)

Council tax toll tops the nation South Australian councils rely more on taxes than local authorities in any state and hit ratepayers for more than half their total income. (AUS, Adelaide Now, 10 May 2012)

Thinking of a master plan: Portland’s mayor on building prosperous cities I help lead one of America’s cities — Portland, Ore. It is known for being a well-planned city. It’s not. At least, not as well as we want it to be. And not as well-planned as every American city must be. (US, Grist, 10 May 2012)

Is shared services the new outsourcing for local government? Hampshire county council chief information officer Jos Creese talks about how the ideal supplier for one local body could well be another one (UK, The Guardian, 10 May 2012)

Australian Regulator Selects Carmanah Solar Lighting Carmanah Technologies CA:CMH +2.04% CMHXF +4.26% is pleased to announce that the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads has certified the Carmanah EG320 outdoor solar lighting system for roadway lighting across the state (AUS, Market Watch, 10 May 2012)

Queen’s Speech: Don’t forget local government The Communities department was missing in action today as the Queen outlined the coalition’s priorities for the year ahead. Local government ministers need to get more involved and press for amendments to a number of the Bills (UK, Public Finance, 10 May 2012)

Italy's municipal elections ANTI-POLITICS was the big winner when Italians in around one thousand towns and cities were offered the chance to vote for their mayors and local governments on May 6th and 7th. Cheesed off by politicians and parties, large numbers of them stayed at home. (INT, The Economist, 10 May 2012)

Local Government Prepares as Reserve Bank signals another round of Insurance Increases As CEO's across local government assess options for insuring underground assets the sector owned LAPP fund is due to hold a special meeting to present options for the sector. (PDF, Local Government Online, 09 May 2012)

No changes proposed to Council's representation arrangements Submissions are now open on the review of Gisborne District Council’s representation arrangements. Residents and ratepayers are encouraged to have their say on the ‘no change’ proposal. (Gisborne District Council, 09 May 2012)

Thames wastewater plant upgrade progressing well The Thames Wastewater Treatment Plant is undergoing an upgrade to ensure we’re doing what we can to improve on the quality of wastewater entering the Waihou River from the plant. (Thames-Coromandel District Council, 09 May 2012)

Sugar Loaf Boat Ramp near Coromandel Town is closed The Sugar Loaf boat ramp is now completely closed to the public after Council engineers deemed the facility unsafe. (Thames-Coromandel District Council, 09 May 2012)

Let's Go Website Wins ALGIM Award The Let’s Go website won the Association of Local Government Information Management (ALGIM) Best New Feature Website award at this week’s ALGIM Web Symposium in Rotorua. (New Plymouth District Council, 09 May 2012)

Insulation work to cut emissions A joint effort between Auckland Council and Tasman Insulation Ltd to reduce a major steam plume in Penrose has drastically reduced emissions and made Auckland’s air cleaner. (Auckland Council, 09 May 2012)

Council seems to have flushed pan tax Less than a week after businesses and community organisations received a letter from Matamata-Piako District Council outlining a proposed "pan tax", the local authority appears to have completely backtracked. (Waikato Times, 09 May 2012)

She’s back! Road Mum’s the Word! In an effort to prevent winter crashes, “Road Mum” is back again and still as keen as ever to get winter driving tips out to the community. (Selwyn District Council, 09 May 2012)

Council wins leaky building case A homeowner has lost a leaky building claim against the former Auckland City Council after taking it to the Supreme Court. (Radio New Zealand, 09 May 2012)

Council wants to engage on Earthquake Prone Buildings The release today of a list of 109 earthquake-prone buildings by the Palmerston North City Council is required to uphold public safety, says Mayor Jono Naylor. (Palmerston North City Council, 09 May 2012)

Peter Winder to conduct prosperity study The mayors and chief executives of the five Hawke's Bay councils have engaged management consultant Peter Winder to undertake the Hawke's Bay prosperity study. (Hawke's Bay Today, 09 May 2012)

Supporting bike vision On-going funding support of the vision that “Manawatu is the best place in New Zealand to ride a bike” has been urged by submitters to the Manawatu District Council’s Draft Long Term Plan 2012-2022. (Manawatu District Council, 09 May 2012)

Heritage Trail for Tairua to open in June A heritage trail taking in the social and built history of Tairua will direct walkers around 20 points of interest when it opens in the town this year. (Thames-Coromandel District Council, 09 May 2012)

Pampas deadline just weeks away The clock is ticking for pampas grass in Taranaki – land holders will soon be required to completely eradicate the pest plant. (Taranaki Regional Council, 09 May 2012)

Mayor wants no further delay in single ticket system Auckland mayor Len Brown is seeking assurances there will be no further delays to a project introducing a single ticket system for the city's public transport. (Radio New Zealand, 09 May 2012)

Rebuilding facilities attracts feedback Rebuilding plans for major Christchurch facilities have attracted the most attention in next year's draft budget, the city council says. (The Press, 09 May 2012)

Councillors question park plans Councillors questioned a proposal to remove three trees and provide more seating when proposals for upgrading Earnslaw Park came before the Queenstown Lakes District Council yesterday. (Otago Daily Times, 09 May 2012)

Fernhill biking track to close The Fernhill Loop track will close "at this time", because of maintenance costs, following a Queenstown Lakes District Council decision yesterday. (Otago Daily Times, 09 May 2012)

Dukes Rd flood works concern Dukes Rd residents continued to push for high-cost flood protection, believing Mosgiel ratepayers should help foot the bill, at the Otago Regional Council's long-term plan hearings yesterday. (Otago Daily Times, 09 May 2012)

ORC told how to improve city bus service A Dunedin man has offered the Otago Regional Council a free trial of a system that could give city bus users "real-time information". (Otago Daily Times, 09 May 2012)

New name to go with new look for museum Otago Settlers Museum organisers are today launching a competition which invites the public to provide ideas for a new name for the museum. (Otago Daily Times, 09 May 2012)

Self-imposed rates rise cap under threat The Dunedin City Council has a fight on its hands to keep a lid on rates increases, with demands for new spending over the next few days likely to place pressure on a self-imposed rates cap. (Otago Daily Times, 09 May 2012)

Outside advice on cuts costly for ratepayers Hamilton City Council's chief executive spent more than $190,000 of ratepayers' money in the past year, and nearly half of it went on confidential legal advice. (The New Zealand Herald, 09 May 2012)

Super City faces shrinkage to realise full benefits of eight-council merger The Super City is downsizing, but the number of job losses and savings is not yet known. (The New Zealand Herald, 09 May 2012)

Minister seeks report on Auckland ticket project delays The Minister of Transport is calling for a report on delays in the $98 million project to introduce a single public transport ticketing system in Auckland. (Radio New Zealand, 09 May 2012)

National sea level rise planning standard dropped The Government is dropping a proposal that would require councils to meet a national standard when planning for sea level rise. (Radio New Zealand, 09 May 2012)

Fordell water supply users asked to reduce use and boil water Wanganui District Council’s Infrastructure and Property Committee Chair Cr Ray Stevens today asked Fordell water supply users to reduce water use and boil drinking water until further notice. (Wanganui District Council, 08 May 2012)

Council Runner-up in 'Best Redevelopment Council Website' Award At the Association of Local Government Information Management (ALGIM) web symposium awards dinner in Rotorua last night, the Waimakariri District Council was announced as the runner-up of the ‘Best Redevelopment Council Website’ category. The award was won by the Hamilton City Council. (Waimakariri District Council, 08 May 2012)

Public transport committee votes in favour of disbanding It’s likely the regional public transport committee has met for the last time after yesterday voting in favour of a recommendation to disband. (Waikato Regional Council, 08 May 2012)

Online submission system developed by local firm wins award The Thames-Coromandel District Council has won the Best New Website Feature Award for its Online Submission System. (Thames-Coromandel District Council, 08 May 2012)

$170,000 digester for carp control programme A Waikato Regional Council project which aims to trap the pest fish, koi carp and recycle it into potting mix has received a financial boost. (Radio New Zealand, 08 May 2012)

Council recovery plans win national planning awards Earthquake recovery plans developed by the Christchurch City Council have won two best practice awards at the annual New Zealand Planning Institute Awards. (Christchurch City Council, 08 May 2012)

Business to pay same proportion under new system The Mayor has confirmed that business will pay the same proportion of rates as under the combined legacy councils and that rates differentials will reduce over the next decade. (Auckland Council, 08 May 2012)

Collaboration breeds success - award for Wanganui Urban Transportation Strategy A collaborative effort between Wanganui District Council, Horizons Regional Council and Opus International Consultants to develop a plan for Wanganui transport has been recognised with an award from the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI). (Wanganui District Council, 08 May 2012)

Stories Shared At Centenary Celebrations It’s been 66 years since Betty Smith sat in front of the manual telephone switchboard. But the 86-year-old still remembers the phone numbers of Kaeo’s mainstreet businesses. “It was one for the hotel, two for Stirling Stores and three for the butcher,” she says reaching for the phone plugs of the old Kaeo Post Office switchboard at Whangaroa Museum. (Far North District Council, 08 May 2012)

Parking in the City We think our draft Long-term Plan is an ideal opportunity to take a closer look at how we manage parking in the city centre. (Wellington City Council, 08 May 2012)

Be a Safe Pedestrian Our campaign to encourage safer pedestrian behaviour takes to the streets this week. (Wellington City Council, 08 May 2012)

New Hall for Churton Park Kids Mayor Celia Wade-Brown will officially open Amesbury School's new hall this Saturday (12 May) - an exciting new facility for Churton Park. (Wellington City Council, 08 May 2012)

Mountview Primary welcomes 40km/hr school zone Mountview Primary School on Rangatira Street is the second school in Taupō to receive an active 40km/hr school speed zone, which was officially opened on Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony. (Taupo District Council, 08 May 2012)

Residents ask for rebate Elderly retirement village residents are feeling the financial pinch because of inequalities in the rates rebate system – and they want something done about it. (Auckland Now, 08 May 2012)

Spending of $1.1 billion on Waikato transport projects backed The regional transport committee has backed a programme that will see more than $1.1 billion spent on transport projects in the Waikato over the next three years. (Waikato Regional Council, 08 May 2012)

Campaign targets city bosses A Hamilton businessman is bankrolling a campaign to bring down the city council. Ray Stark, executive chairman and sole shareholder of interactive messaging company Talkingtech, which has operations in London, New York, Los Angeles and around the world, has confirmed he is "Concerned Citizen". (Waikato Times, 08 May 2012)

Website's 'real cost' $265,000 - councillor The "real cost" of Hamilton City Council's new website has been given as $165,000 on a social media platform by a councillor calling for political involvement in oversight of the project. (Waikato Times, 08 May 2012)

School transport policy crashes into bus services The issue of school pupils tipping Waikato bus services into overload will be the focus of talks between regional council staff and Education Ministry officials this week. (Waikato Times, 08 May 2012)

Council rates well in surveys Ratepayers and staff are satisfied with the Christchurch City Council despite the extra post-earthquake demands, three council surveys suggest. (The Press, 08 May 2012)

Mayor, councillors to get 1.5pc pay rise Christchurch City councillors and community board members are likely to join Mayor Bob Parker in getting a 1.5 per cent pay rise from July 1. (The Press, 08 May 2012)

Self's criticism on fracking a disgrace - councillors Michael Self yesterday accused the Taranaki Regional Council of a betrayal over its monitoring of the oil and gas industry. (Taranaki Daily News, 08 May 2012)

Long Term Plan gets 1829 submissions A six-year record has been smashed out of the park with the New Plymouth District Council hit with 1829 submissions on its controversial 2012-2022 Long Term Plan. (Taranaki Daily News, 08 May 2012)

SkyCity deal could reverse pokie cuts The Government's pokies for convention centre deal with casino company SkyCity could reverse the cuts in gaming machine numbers across Auckland that occurred under years of pre-Super City councils' "sinking-lid" policies. (The New Zealand Herald, 08 May 2012)

Gambling bill set to pass first reading A gambling bill which gives councils and the public power to cut the number of poker machines in their area and ensures that gambling proceeds are fed back into the immediate community is expected to pass its first hurdle with near-unanimous support. (The New Zealand Herald, 08 May 2012)

Meeting to address rental housing crisis A meeting is being held in Christchurch by Councillor Glenn Livingstone on Wednesday to address the rental housing crisis. (Radio New Zealand, 08 May 2012)

Govt to review council election law Local Government Minister David Carter is looking at whether change is needed to the rules for anonymous donations to council candidates. (Radio New Zealand, 08 May 2012)

Billboards put heat on council The Hamilton businessman and "Concerned Citizen" behind a new and visible campaign taking the Mayor and councillors to task says he has no personal agenda. (The New Zealand Herald, 08 May 2012)

Voting for Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board member closes on Friday 11 May Residents who are on the electoral roll for the Spreydon-Heathcote Ward have four days left to vote for a new Community Board member. Voting closes 12 noon on Friday 11 May 2012. (Christchurch City Council, 07 May 2012)

Wellington Backs Expansion of Water Company Wellington City Council has voted to support the expansion of council-owned water infrastructure company Capacity to include the shareholding membership of Porirua and Upper Hutt cities. (Wellington City Council, 07 May 2012)

Full programme and zero rates increase Value for money is a key theme for the Taranaki Regional Council as it finalises its Long-Term Plan for 2012-2022. (Taranaki Regional Council, 07 May 2012)

Committed to their Communities Three local government elected members were recently presented with New Years Honours. Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair, Fran Wilde, was made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) by the Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae, at an investiture ceremony at Government House, Wellington, on 1 May. (Local Government New Zealand, 07 May 2012)

Friday deadline for Bluff by-election candidates Invercargill City Council Electoral Officer Graham Low said with less than a week to go, no nominations had been received. He added: “This is a last-chance reminder to those who would like to take a leadership role in Bluff by standing for their community board.” (Invercargill City Council, 07 May 2012)

Full Programme and Zero Rates Increase Value for money is a key theme for the Taranaki Regional Council as it finalises its Long-Term Plan for 2012-2022. (Taranaki Regional Council, 07 May 2012)

28 Vie for Directorships on Rotorua Development Board Rotorua District Council has received 28 applications for seven places on the board of directors of its new economic development CCO (Council Controlled Organisation). The CCO board will comprise an independent chair and six directors, and will appoint its own CEO and staff. (Rotorua District Council, 07 May 2012)

Council Recognised for Commitment to Deaf Community Mayor Ray Wallace says he was “incredibly proud” to accept the Public Service Award on behalf of Hutt City Council at the New Zealand Sign Language in Action Awards on Saturday night. (Hutt City Council, 07 May 2012)

Trees lap up the city heat Canterbury University researchers have taken part in a US study showing city heat encourages trees to grow much more quickly than those grown in the countryside. (Stuff, 07 May 2012)

Pest Fish Funding Confirmed From Waikato River Authority A project to tackle the widespread pest fish koi carp in the Waikato River has been given a major boost with an $85,000 funding injection to the regional council from the new Waikato River Authority (WRA). (Waikato Regional Council, 07 May 2012)

Residents' satisfaction with Council performance remains high Christchurch City Council’s recently-completed resident surveys show that 70 per cent of Christchurch residents are satisfied or very satisfied with the services provided by the Council. (Christchurch City Council, 07 May 2012)

Toilet tax spotlights local government (Video 4:13) Local Government New Zealand president Lawrence Yule says local authorities are delivering good value for money. (Close-Up, 07 May 2012)

Youth Committee funding available to help young people reach their potential Wanganui’s Youth Committee is offering young people, aged between 12 and 24 years, financial help to reach their potential in anything they are interested or involved in through the $300ship programme. (Wanganui District Council, 07 May 2012)

Possum control in the Rimutaka Ranges The Animal Health Board (AHB) and Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW) will be joining forces later this month to put nearly 30,000 hectares of the Rimutaka Range under possum control. (Greater Wellington Regional Council, 07 May 2012)

Dunedin aims for 10,000 new jobs in 10 years Dunedin City Council has launched a plan to create 10,000 new jobs in 10 years. (Radio New Zealand, 07 May 2012)

High rates of fraud in councils and tertiary institutions A survey by the Office of the Auditor-General indicates that councils and tertiary institutions have higher rates of fraud than other parts of the public sector. (Radio New Zealand, 07 May 2012)

Green team set to grow greens Hutt City Council’s Green Team will roll up their sleeves at noon today to plant the first organic seedlings in a custom-built vegetable garden designed to show people how easy it is to grow their own greens. (Hutt City Council, 07 May 2012)

Agreement reached on mangroves An agreement has been reached which will pave the way for Waikato Regional Council to begin limited mangrove removal at Whangamata. This agreement with the appeal parties is now subject to final sign off by the Environment Court. (Waikato Regional Council, 07 May 2012)

Monitor to stay till end of June A Crown observer monitoring the Christchurch City Council will remain in the role until at least the end of next month, Local Government Minister David Carter says. (The Press, 07 May 2012)

Road repairs may end New signs on remote roads around the Waitaki district have had the spin-off effect of publicising a policy review by the Waitaki District Council which will determine maintenance of its roading network. (Otago Daily Times, 07 May 2012)

Plan to upgrade Earnslaw Park A proposal to upgrade Earnslaw Park is likely to go out for public consultation after tomorrow's Queenstown Lakes District Council community services committee meeting in the resort. (Otago Daily Times, 07 May 2012)

Loop track may close The Fernhill Loop Track, in the Ben Lomond Reserve, looks likely to be closed, following a report to the Queenstown Lakes District Council community services committee from district forester Briana Pringle. (Otago Daily Times, 07 May 2012)

Fewer show to protest at council A protest aimed at the Christchurch City Council has failed to live up to organisers' expectations, following the success of an earlier effort. (The Press, 07 May 2012)

Call for Christchurch rates revolt if increase goes ahead The organiser of a protest against Christchurch City Council says there will be a rates revolt if a 7% rates increase is pushed through. (Radio New Zealand, 07 May 2012)

Agreement reached on Whangamata mangroves An agreement has been reached which will pave the way for Waikato Regional Council to begin limited mangrove removal at Whangamata. This agreement with the appeal parties is now subject to final sign off by the Environment Court. (Voxy, 07 May 2012)

Boaties urged to light up to be safe Waikato Regional Council is reminding boaties using the region's waterways that failure to display the right lights at night endangers their lives and those of other water users. (Voxy, 07 May 2012)

Wanaka anger over visitor cost recovery plan Disgruntled Wanaka accommodation providers protested this week over the proposed introduction of what was recently described by the Queenstown Lakes District Council as "the next best thing to a bed tax". (Otago Daily Times, 06 May 2012)

Protest over Govt and council response to earthquakes About 300 people attended a protest on Sunday against Christchurch City Council and the Government's response to the earthquakes. (Radio New Zealand, 06 May 2012)

An Analysis of Local Government Debt The Government's recent announcement that Local Government is in for a shake-up, with its intention to re-focus Councils on core business and rein in ever increasing levels of expenditure and debt, has been well received in the trenches. (McMillan.org.nz, 06 May 2012)

Councils ask Govt to fix railway line Five councils in Hawke's Bay have asked the Government to fix the Napier-Gisborne railway line, because it is essential infrastructure for the region. (Radio New Zealand, 06 May 2012)

Fresh calls for Garden City vote Fresh calls for mid-term elections will be made today at a protest rally aimed at giving voice to people's concerns about the Christchurch City Council's handling of post-quake issues. (The Press, 06 May 2012)

Casino says it's trying to avoid gambling harms Auckland Mayor Len Brown says Sky City Casino is not doing enough to help problem gamblers, but the casino says it is doing everything it can to prevent harm from problem gambling at that venue. (Radio New Zealand, 06 May 2012)

Osborne urges '100% focus' on economy after election defeats George Osborne has said his party will focus on what matters to the public amid criticism from Conservative MPs in the wake of local election defeats. (UK, BBC, 06 May 2012)

Salmond hails “best ever” result as SNP records election hat-trick SNP leader Alex Salmond has hailed the success of the party's local government election campaign, following figures which show the party outperformed their electoral rivals in three key areas of vote share, gains and overall councillors. (UK, Newsnet, 06 May 2012)

Scientists help councils cope with climate change Scientists at the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere have released a new kit aimed at helping urban councils plan more efficiently for climate change planning. (Radio New Zealand, 05 May 2012)

Wellington City Council scoops pool of housing awards City councils make their mark at biannual Awards event for professional excellence in social and affordable housing (Wellington City Council, 05 May 2012)

Verdict on councillor's conduct postponed Controversial councillor John McLeod had his fight for his freedom of speech postponed yesterday. (Taranaki Daily News, 05 May 2012)

ORC eyes urban stormwater Having outlined its plans to ensure rural water quality is improved, the Otago Regional Council is setting its sights on urban stormwater systems, which could have major implications for ratepayers. (Otago Daily Times, 05 May 2012)

WDC to keep casting vote system Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton and Waitaki District Council committee chairpersons will keep a casting vote to exercise at meetings when voting is deadlocked. (Otago Daily Times, 05 May 2012)

Some water schemes may get refunds from council Water schemes throughout the Waitaki district could get almost $1.4 million back between them from the Waitaki District Council, comprising development levies and interest collected since 2006. (Otago Daily Times, 05 May 2012)

Directors Appointed Two new directors will take up a position on the board of Lakes Environmental Limited this month, Queenstown Lakes District Council Mayor Vanessa van Uden said. (Queenstown Lakes District Council, 05 May 2012)

Comment sought on new bylaw A new clear, concise flood protection bylaw outlining added protection for flood protection works and flow paths on the Taieri and lower Waitaki River goes out for public comment today. (Otago Daily Times, 05 May 2012)

Road safety focus of most transport submissions Otago Regional Council staff will start considering on Monday submissions received on the draft $460 million Otago regional land transport programme. (Otago Daily Times, 05 May 2012)

Waimate Rate hike 'extortionate' Farmers are opposing what they say are "extortionate rural rate increases" proposed by the Waimate District Council. (Otago Daily Times, 05 May 2012)

Milford bus tunnel 'technically viable' Milford Dart Ltd's proposal to build an 11.6km, $150 million commercial bus tunnel through two national parks was "technically viable" and the tunnel could be constructed and operated within environmental and safety constraints, the company's engineering expert says. (Otago Daily Times, 05 May 2012)

Suspicions over another donation Questions have been raised over another donation to the defunct mayoral campaign of Act New Zealand leader John Banks, which was listed as anonymous yet was made out for a specific amount and purpose. (Otago Daily Times, 05 May 2012)

Gorge bridges likely to be seriously damaged The Transport Agency says it fears the damage to bridges in the Manawatu Gorge is likely to be serious. (Radio New Zealand, 05 May 2012)

Tasmanians target NZ council over dairy plans Tasmania's Conservation Trust has written to New Plymouth district councillors about a possibly destructive forest cull proposed by a company owned by a council subsidiary. (Radio New Zealand, 05 May 2012)

Waioeka gorge update from NZTA Work to remove the bulk slip material from the middle zone of the slip face in the Waioeka Gorge is likely to be completed by the end of the month, says the NZTA. (Gisborne District Council, 04 May 2012)

Jet boat pair sentenced after collision near Matamata Two jet boat drivers convicted of unsafe operation of their vessels near Matamata last year have been fined a total of $3,000 by Judge Geoghegan in the Tauranga district court today. (Waikato Regional Council, 04 May 2012)

Temporary Business Accommodation to Pop Up in Kaiapoi The Waimakariri District Council says the construction of temporary business accommodation in Kaiapoi will begin on or around 16 May 2012 and will take approximately six weeks to complete. (Waimakariri District Council, 04 May 2012)

Webcam gives 'real time' progress on Atiamuri Bridge Replacement project The webcam feature is part of the further development of the project’s NZTA webpages, which now include a project overview, latest news and media releases, photos and maps. A project update newsletters will also be added regularly over the coming months. (NZTA, 04 May 2012)

Mayor disappointed with Overlander changes Mayor Annette Main has expressed her disappointment with the recent changes announced by KiwiRail to the Overlander train service, which she believes will make rail travel less accessible for both local people and those visiting our district. (Wanganui District Council, 04 May 2012)

Cycle route to link Gisborne to the Motu Trails proposed Cyclists heading to the Motu Trails from Gisborne may soon have a new safe cycle link to Matawai, the start of the Motu Road Trail. (Gisborne District Council, 04 May 2012)

Nominations close for Riccarton-Wigram Community Board member Nominations for a vacant position on the Riccarton-Wigram Community Board have closed. (Christchurch City Council, 04 May 2012)

Current situation between Council and CJ Efstratiou Mayor Annette Main today said the front page article in the Wanganui Chronicle (3 May 2012) is misleading and does not reflect the current relationship between CJ Efstratiou and the Wanganui District Council. (Wanganui District Council, 04 May 2012)

Council assists Waimarie Operating Trust New promotional opportunities for the PS Waimarie will be built into a business plan to be developed by July 1. (Wanganui District Council, 04 May 2012)

Senior hydrologist appointed at HBRC Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has appointed Thomas Wilding as Senior Hydrologist in the Environmental Science team. (Hawke's Bay Regional Council, 04 May 2012)

Getting closer to the community: A new approach to Community Governance At a time when decision-making power is often being centralised through council amalgamations and the disestablishment of community boards or their delegations, the Thames-Coromandel District Council is determined to head in the opposite direction towards more local democracy, decision-making and empowerment of communities. (Thames-Coromandel District Council, 04 May 2012)

Decisions on Owen Delany Park tree replant to be made Taupō District Council has formed a working group to make decisions about replanting trees at Owen Delany Park after strong winds caused significant damage to existing pinetree plantations. The plantations will be harvested and the income will go toward replanting or landscaping the damaged areas. (Taupo District Council, 04 May 2012)

Social housing checks prioritised Earthquake-hit social housing units will be prioritised during engineering inspections of Christchurch City Council-owned buildings. City councillors yesterday approved a plan for the repair and rebuild of about 1600 council-owned facilities. (The Press, 04 May 2012)

Directors offer 'varied skill sets' Two new directors will take up positions on the Lakes Environmental Ltd board this month, replacing Tony Hill and Alan Bickers. (Otago Daily Time, 04 May 2012)

Council rethinks rates affordability for Ruatoria The impact of several new rates on Ruatoria ratepayers has forced Gisborne District Council to have a rethink. The Ruatoria community is facing some of the highest rate increases in the district over the next year. (Gisborne District Council, 04 May 2012)

Weight given to camping submissions Freedom campers often left behind rubbish, including human waste, the Fernhill Sunshine Bay Community Association told a dual submission hearing of the Queenstown and Wanaka councils on Wednesday. (Otago Daily Time, 04 May 2012)

Final water plan reflects diversity A water management plan for the upper Waitaki catchment west of the Waitaki dam has now been finalised by a community committee set up by Environment Canterbury and the Waitaki and Mackenzie district councils. (Otago Daily Time, 04 May 2012)

Traffic flow kept A Clutha District Council committee has recommended retaining the town's traffic flow along State Highway 1, Clyde St. (Otago Daily Time, 04 May 2012)

'Radical' plan to curb city street signs Dunedin city councillors are considering whether to ban most of the more than 500 portable signs used on Dunedin's footpaths to advertise businesses. (Otago Daily Time, 04 May 2012)

Irate dog owners force rethink on fee increases The angry backlash against a rise in dog registration fees has led to a second backdown from the Auckland Council in three weeks. (The New Zealand Herald, 04 May 2012)

Mayor promises stadium shake-up Forsyth Barr Stadium and the company running it are in for a reorganisation, after the shock announcement chief executive David Davies plans to quit Dunedin. (Otago Daily Times, 04 May 2012)

Leaders criticise dry-dock subsidy Auckland councillors are questioning a $16.8 million ratepayer contribution to a planned new dry dock for superyachts, which Herald readers have strongly opposed. (The New Zealand Herald, 04 May 2012)

Council to ask public about gravestone insigna ban The mayor of Porirua says proposed changes to how the council manages cemeteries will not prevent the placing of some gang insignia on gravestones. (Radio New Zealand, 04 May 2012)

MPs agree anonymous donations have a place Political parties broadly agree there is still a place for anonymous donations in local-body and general elections. (Radio New Zealand, 04 May 2012)

Toilet tax 'ludicrous' Councillors in a small North Island region are planning a toilet tax so those who flush the most will pay extra. The Matamata-Piako District Council's "pan tax'' proposal would cost community organisations up to tens of thousands of dollars extra. (Otago Daily Times, 04 May 2012)

Council says it has cleared thousands of litres of spilled oil Canterbury Regional Council says it is not ruling out a prosecution against the fishing company Sanford, over Wednesday's oil spill at the Port of Timaru. (Radio New Zealand, 04 May 2012)

Koutu residents urged to attend youth space hui Rotorua District Council (RDC) is inviting Koutu residents and surrounding communities to a public meeting next week to discuss the council’s new youth space planned for Koutu. (Rotorua District Council, 04 May 2012)

John McLeod fights on for speech rights He fought for his country and now councillor John McLeod has promised to fight for his right to say whatever he wants, wherever he wants. (Stuff, 04 May 2012)

Armchair evaluators: can citizen feedback replace scrutiny? Two experts in feedback share their views on how local government can improve its performance using resident views (UK, The Guardian, 04 May 2012)

The Voting System Single Transferable Vote (STV) The voting system for the Local Government Elections on Thursday 3 May 2012 is called the Single Transferable Vote (STV). (UK, The City of Endinburgh Council, 04 May 2012)

Hastings District Council reappoints Chief Executive Hastings District Council today announced that it has reappointed Ross McLeod as its Chief Executive for a further 2 years, commencing February 2013. (Hastings District Council, 03 May 2012)

Council listens to good dog owners Auckland Council has listened to good dog owners who said that more work is needed on the proposed fee structure in order to match it with council’s upcoming policy work for dogs. (Auckland Council, 04 May 2012)

Saving Porirua Harbour - Finalist in Green Ribbon Award Porirua City Council's multi-agency approach to addressing the poor health of Porirua Harbour and catchment has won a place in the finals for the 2012 Green Ribbon Awards. (Porirua City Council, 03 May 2012)

Mayor challenges Porirua counterpart over amalgamation comments Mayor Jenny Rowan says she’s disappointed Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett has criticised other councils in the region for not joining a Wellington Regional Council panel looking at amalgamation. (Porirua City Council, 03 May 2012)

Council responds to dog bylaw feedback Nelson City Council has responded to submissions on its Dog Control Policy and Bylaw Review by developing a new proposal based on feedback from submitters. (Nelson City Council, 03 May 2012)

Helping hand for Whangarei’s wetlands Whangarei is home to some of Northland best wetlands and landowners are being encouraged to look after them in a new Northland Regional Council mailout. (Northland Regional Council, 03 May 2012)

Nationwide earthquake drill planned for September A nationwide earthquake drill in this country is achievable, according to an earthquake specialist from California. (Radio New Zealand, 03 May 2012)

Council rejects pay rise in 'tight economic climate' The Upper Hutt mayor and city councillors have turned down a pay rise this year. (Radio New Zealand, 03 May 2012)

Oil spill at Port of Timaru Environment Canterbury was made aware of a significant oil spill at the Port of Timaru yesterday morning from a deep sea fishing vessel. (Voxy, 03 May 2012)

Council listens to good dog owners Auckland Council has listened to good dog owners who said that more work is needed on the proposed fee structure in order to match it with council's upcoming policy work for dogs. (Voxy, 03 May 2012)

Call for fee hike for dangerous dogs The "rampant" cross-breeding of menacing dogs in Masterton has sparked a call for higher registration fees for their owners, as dog control officers spend too much time dealing with wandering and intimidating animals. (The Dominion Post, 03 May 2012)

Iwi leaders support unitary authority bid The Far North District Council and iwi leaders have formed a working party to pursue the council's bid to become a unitary authority with direct Maori representation. (The Bay Chronicle, 03 May 2012)

Owner fined $50,000-plus for farm pollution offences Illegal discharges of farm effluent from two feedpads at a Ruawai farm in 2009 have cost a Northland man just under $60,000 in fines and court-ordered costs and expenses. (Northland Regional Council, 03 May 2012)

Demon lurks in rubbish rates Illegal dumping of garbage in the New Plymouth district is expected to get worse when council charges for general rubbish go up two years from now. (Taranaki Daily News, 03 May 2012)

Regional councillors move out of chamber The Otago Regional Council had its last meeting in the Stafford St council chamber yesterday after deciding to move out to allow council staff to move in. (Otago Daily Times, 03 May 2012)

Live plan discussion The Waitaki District Council's long-term budget and rates projections will get live television exposure for the first time on Oamaru station 45 South tomorrow. (Otago Daily Times, 03 May 2012)

Flood letters spark call for more control A group of Hamilton City councillors is pushing to have more involvement in the day-to-day running of the council following a series of blunders, including "floodgate". (The New Zealand Herald, 03 May 2012)

Rates to double for some in Kaipara District Kaipara District Council is proposing an average rate increase across the district of 31% this year but ratepayers in one Northland town face a much larger rise. (Radio New Zealand, 03 May 2012)

Porirua only council to approve super city talks Seven out of eight lower North Island councils have rejected a Wellington Regional Council idea to form a panel to look into a possible super city in the region. (Radio New Zealand, 03 May 2012)

Countdown to freshwater and state assets hearing The Maori Council's legal team says the clock is ticking for it to get its evidence together to be heard by the Waitangi Tribunal. (Radio New Zealand, 03 May 2012)

Coastal focus for NRC teacher workshop Twenty-eight teachers are set to attend a special Northland Regional Council workshop highlighting the environmental education teaching opportunities offered by the region’s 3200 kilometre coastline. (Northland Regional Council, 03 May 2012)

ORC chief executive Graeme Martin to retire Long-serving Otago Regional Council (ORC) chief executive Graeme Martin is to retire on November 2, subject to the availability of his successor. (Otago Regional Council, 03 May 2012)

Mayor wants amnesty for non-voters Ipswitch Mayor Paul Pisasale wants up to $2 million dollars in non-voting fines waived for Ipswich residents following a low turnout at Saturday's Local Government poll. (AUS, The Queensland Times, 03 May 2012)

Hints at reform of donation rules New anti-corruption reforms to police local councils have been flagged by Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission as its investigation winds-up into donations by a developer last year to then Brisbane lord mayor Campbell Newman's city hall campaign fund just weeks before a controversial development was approved. (AUS, National Affairs, 03 May 2012)

Directly elected mayors: how much difference will they make? Eleven English cities are about decide whether they want to keep mayoral appointments or switch to a new model (UK, The Guardian, 03 May 2012)

An end to upgrade grants could force issue on stadiums stalemate A state government report is expected to spell the end of financial upgrades to Sydney's battling suburban grounds and bring the NRL a step closer to the AFL's controversial two-stadium format. (AUS, The Telegraph, 03 May 2012)

Stand for Council Make the transition from citizen to councillor by finding out everything you need to know about standing for council and local government. (AUS, Video, Municipal Association of Victoria, 03 May 2012)

London to test 'smart city' operating system An operating system designed to power the smart cities of the future will be put through its paces in London. (UK, 03 May 2012)

In-house social media struggles in local government Two Australian local government organisations have found that adding an internal social media tool creates one communications tool too many, and have abandoned trials of enterprise social network Yammer as a result of their experiences. (AUS, The Register, 03 May 2012)

Upper Hutt City Councillors vote to reject pay increases A funding allocation recommendation from the Remuneration Authority that would see an increase in Mayor and Councillor salaries has been rejected by Upper Hutt City Council. (Upper Hutt City Council, 02 May 2012)

Successful field day at Wainono Lagoon Environment Canterbury today reported a highly successful public field day at Wainono Lagoon in South Canterbury on Sunday 29 April. (Environment Canterbury, 02 May 2012)

10-Year Plan Good Response A good number of residents and ratepayers are being acknowledged for engaging in the Queenstown Lakes District Council 10-Year Plan consultation process, QLDC communications manager Meaghan Miller said. (Queenstown Lakes District Council, 02 May 2012)

New Plan to protect region's coast Bay of Plenty Regional Council is developing a new Regional Coastal Environment Plan which sets rules, policies and objectives to protect the region's coastal marine area. (Bay of Plenty Regional Council, 02 May 2012)

Maitai River safe for swimming Following heavy rain last weekend, the Maitai River has now been cleared of high levels of cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae). (Nelson City Council, 02 May 2012)

Need for $6.3m lakefiltration system queried A $6.3 million filtration system could beat an algae problem affecting water drawn from Lake Wanaka – but whether it is needed and the lake's long-term health are under question. (The Southland Times, 02 May 2012)

Bridge will be a boost - council The Queenstown Lakes District Council is to push for a new Kawarau Falls bridge despite plans for a Milford-Dart tunnel. (The Southland Times, 02 May 2012)

Library ready for 13th THIRTEEN may seem an unlucky number for some, but any such superstition is unlikely to affect interest in Feilding Public Library’s 13th annual week-long book sale which begins on Monday (May 7). (Manawatu District Council, 02 May 2012)

Link coast road suggested A LINK road between Himatangi Beach and Tangimoana has been suggested as the public consultation period for the Manawatu District Council’s Draft Long Term Plan 2012-2022 enters the final week. (Manawatu District Council, 02 May 2012)

Compost from wastewater given green light in Whitianga Making Grade Aa compost from the biosolids we produce (the matter left behind after treatment of our district's wastewater) is getting closer to becoming a reality on the Coromandel and we think that’s something to celebrate. (Thames-Coromandel District Council, 02 May 2012)

Wellington council loses money as Town Hall events pulled Conferences withdrawn from the Wellington Town Hall after news the building was earthquake prone have cost the Council $700,000. (Radio New Zealand, 02 May 2012)

Successful field day at Wainono Lagoon Environment Canterbury held a highly successful public field day at Wainono Lagoon in South Canterbury on Sunday 29 April. (Environment Canterbury, 02 May 2012)

One week left to enter Sustainable Environment Awards Individuals, groups and organisations from throughout the Auckland region are encouraged to get their entries in for the 2012 Auckland Council Sustainable Environmental Awards. (Auckland Council, 02 May 2012)

Rotorua's economic performance "stellar" says BERL report Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters says the 2011 Regional Rankings report by BERL (Business & Economic Research Ltd) show a number of encouraging economic indicators for Rotorua, and give reason for some real optimism for the future. (Rotorua District Council, 02 May 2012)

Public art – what does it mean to you? Wellington City Council is reviewing its Public Art Policy, the document that guides the way public art is chosen, located and cared for. Wellingtonians are encouraged to get their thoughts to the Council by 30 May 2012. (Wellington City Council, 02 May 2012)

Mob rejects ban on graves insignia The Mongrel Mob is pledging to fight Porirua City Council all the way to the Supreme Court if it goes ahead with a ban on offensive insignia on headstones. (Stuff, 02 May 2012)

Council's focus is on public roads in winter People living on private roads affected by snow and ice this winter will be supplied with contact details for private contractors. (Otago Daily Times, 02 May 2012)

Raw water plan ditched A plan to use untreated water for irrigating Centennial Park instead of more expensive treated water from the Oamaru water supply has fallen by the wayside because savings are not as big as first thought and it poses operational difficulties. (Otago Daily Times, 02 May 2012)

Only mayor gets sizable pay rise Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton may get a reasonable pay rise but other elected members of the Waitaki District Council and its two community boards may only get a few dollars extra. (Otago Daily Times, 02 May 2012)

Action needed on premises: CEO Otago Regional councillors' delay in making a decision about a need for a new office block has led its chief executive to call for immediate action to remedy the "untenable" situation. (Otago Daily Times, 02 May 2012)

Intersection safety survey response The Dunedin City Council has received 189 responses to a survey seeking information on safety issues at intersections in the city controlled by traffic lights. (Otago Daily Times, 02 May 2012)

Auckland Super City report card: How they rate At the halfway point of the first term of the Super City, the Herald carried out a mid-term report card for Mayor Len Brown and 20 councillors. (The New Zealand Herald, 02 May 2012)

Banks: I didn't lie, I forgot John Banks says he never lied about internet millionaire Kim Dotcom's $50,000 donation to his 2010 mayoral campaign but says he erred in not answering questions about the affair more openly. (Otago Daily Times, 02 May 2012)

Mayor hopes Waihi mine row won't go to court Hauraki's Mayor is hoping a looming row over a Waihi mining plan can be resolved before it gets to the Environment Court. (The New Zealand Herald, 02 May 2012)

Mains, Graham to sue Dunedin mayor Otago Rugby Football Union members Wayne Graham and Laurie Mains, the former All Blacks coach, are suing Dunedin mayor Dave Cull for defamation. (Stuff, 02 May 2012)

Government hits back at council price hikes The Federal Government has put the ball back into the council’s court over price rises associated with the carbon tax, saying ratepayers should question the justification behind waste collection increases. (AUS, Blue Mountain Gazette, 02 May 2012)

Why didn't you vote in the local government election? Voting rates at last weekend's election were one of the lowest recorded in Queensland. Was this a result of the change in election date, or for other reasons. (AUS, Audio download, ABC Brisbane, 02 May 2012)

Wellington subway possible despite quake risk An underground train can be built in Wellington despite the city's high earthquake risk, an engineer says. (The Dominion Post, 01 May 2012)

Funding available for innovative waste reduction projects Environment Minister Amy Adams today called for organisations developing initiatives that increase the reuse, recycling or recovery of waste material to apply to the Waste Minimisation Fund. (Beehive, 01 May 2012)

Waikato River dairy environment project gets funding A large-scale environmental farm management and monitoring project in Waikato is expected to have flow-on benefits for the entire dairy industry. (Radio New Zealand, 01 May 2012)

Govt passes buck on city council decisions The man charged with keeping an eye on the country's councils has been criticised for refusing to investigate Hamilton City Council's series of costly blunders. (Waikato Times, 01 May 2012)

Banks regrets not being up-front over donations ACT Party leader John Banks admits he regrets not being up-front about donations made to his campaign for the Auckland mayoralty. (Radio New Zealand, 01 May 2012)

Still room for improvement, Otago inspection shows The latest Otago Regional Council inspection of dairy farms confirms that most in the region are complying with effluent discharge rules, but some farmers still need to upgrade systems and improve effluent and irrigation management. (Radio New Zealand, 01 May 2012)

Museum works towards reopening Undamaged parts of the earthquake-hit Canterbury Museum could reopen by the end of the month. The museum was closed last month after its trust board reviewed engineering assessments of the damage to several buildings. (The Press, 01 May 2012)

Parties criticise councils' exclusion The Government has deliberately left Canterbury and Otago councils out of the consultation process on its plans to tender deep-sea blocks for oil and gas exploration. (The Press, 01 May 2012)

Former mayoral candidates support electoral law review Former Auckland mayoral candidates are supporting a review of laws on donations to local body election campaigns. (Radio New Zealand, 01 May 2012)

No reports of oil from presumed shipwreck Environment Southland’s oil spill response team is on standby as police investigate reports of a boat having sunk off the west coast of Secretary Island at the mouth of Doubtful Sound in Fiordland. (Environment Southland, 01 May 2012)

Wanganui’s Youth Committee ready to Connect! Wanganui District Council’s Youth Committee is ready to connect with the wider youth community at Dub.Dee.See. Youth Connect 2012 in June and is encouraging Wanganui’s young people to get involved. (Wanganui District Council, 01 May 2012)

974 have say on NRC Draft Long Term Plan About 974 submissions have been received on the Northland Regional Council’s Draft Long Term Plan 2012-2022, with proposals for flood protection works and ongoing support for the region’s rescue helicopter service common themes. (Northland Regional Council, 01 May 2012)

New proposals to reward responsible dog owners Auckland councillors this week consider two new proposals on dog registration fees, including reinstating a discount for responsible dog owners. (Auckland Council, 01 May 2012)

Earthquake Risks Identified in Council Buildings Further investigations are to be done on five Council buildings following an initial evaluation of how well they would stand up to an earthquake. (New Plymouth District Council, 01 May 2012)

Survey Shows Residents’ Views of NPDC An independent survey of residents shows that New Plymouth District Council continues to be rated higher than its peer group of councils. (New Plymouth District Council, 01 May 2012)

New stormwater management guidelines A public event, jointly hosted by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Tauranga City Council, is being held to explain upcoming changes to stormwater management in the Bay of Plenty. (Bay of Plenty Regional Council, 01 May 2012)

Bay of Plenty among top performing regions The Bay of Plenty was one of the top performing regions in economic development in New Zealand in 2011, according to a report from Business and Economic Research Ltd (BERL). (Bay of Plenty Regional Council, 01 May 2012)

New air quality rule affects home sellers from today From today (Tuesday 1 May) a new rule prohibits the sale of properties with solid fuel burners that do not meet clean air standards. (Rotorua District Council, 01 May 2012)

Plant poplars, willows for erosion control Northlanders keen to protect their properties from erosion are being reminded the annual planting season for poplars and willows is now upon us. (Northland Regional Council, 01 May 2012)

Don’t spread unwanted freshwater pests this hunting season With duck shooting season starting on Saturday 5 May, Otago Regional Council (ORC) and the Ministry for Primary Industries are reminding Otago hunters to clean their equipment as they move between waterways to avoid the spread of unwanted freshwater pests. (Otago Regional Council, 01 May 2012)

No reports of oil from presumed shipwreck Environment Southland's oil spill response team is on standby as police investigate reports of a boat having sunk off the west coast of Secretary Island at the mouth of Doubtful Sound in Fiordland. (Voxy, 01 April 2012)

Meridian seeks lower lake level Efforts to open up Lake Pukaki for emergency power generation have passed their first Environment Canterbury (ECan) hurdle. State-owned generator and retailer Meridian Energy wants to be able to use another five metres of Pukaki water for emergency generation when lakes and inflows are critically low. (The Press, 01 May 2012)

Tube plan for capital An underground railway could become the centrepiece of Wellington's public transport network - but it would cost more than $105 million a kilometre to build. (Stuff, 01 May 2012)

Pungent-smelling spill, probably diesel, fouls river Waikato Regional Council is defending its response to a diesel spill on Waikato River yesterday – after staff spent six hours deploying booms on the river. (Waikato Times, 01 May 2012)

Liquor strategy labelled 'toothless' A South Taranaki councillor has scorned a liquor strategy that she says does nothing to reduce liquor abuse in the district. (Taranaki Daily News, 01 May 2012)

Greens claim no consultation about offshore drilling Concern about deep-sea oil exploration off the Otago coast has been raised by the Green Party, which claims the Otago Regional Council, Dunedin City Council and the public have been left out of consultations. (Otago Daily Times, 01 May 2012)

$1.4m earmarked for bypass design A bypass plan for Queenstown first proposed in 2005 has been resurrected and earmarked for almost $1.4 million of expenditure over the next three years, in the draft Otago Regional Land Transport Programme. (Otago Daily Times, 01 May 2012)

Council retreats in floodgate row The Hamilton City Council is backing down from labelling about 60 per cent of the city's properties as flood-risks after a huge backlash from angry ratepayers and city councillors over the embarrassing and botched process. (The New Zealand Herald, 01 May 2012)

Public keen on urban tree protection Enthusiasm for protecting urban trees is running ahead of calls to loosen chopping restrictions in comments on proposed district plan changes. (The New Zealand Herald, 01 May 2012)

Leaky buildings settlement budget blown Leaky building settlements cost Hamilton City Council $590,000 last year and early indications show the 2012/13 bill could be much larger. (The New Zealand Herald, 01 May 2012)

Maori Statutory Board hits the road The Independent Maori Statutory Board is going on the road in Auckland from Tuesday finding out what mana whenua think the local council should do for them. (Radio New Zealand, 01 May 2012)

Rahui Katene advocates for Porirua housing needs Former Maori Party MP Rahui Katene says she has helped revive the Maori Council in Porirua. (Radio New Zealand, 01 May 2012)

Parker on overseas trip: 'Investors vital for rebuild' A trip to Korea and Israel is being used by Christchurch mayor Bob Parker to try entice overseas investors to put their money into the city's rebuild. (The New Zealand Herald, 01 May 2012)

Helping Auckland homes go solar From today Auckland residents will be able to take part in a renewable energy scheme that will help them save on power bills. (Auckland Council, 01 May 2012)

Campaign sees success against wilding pine Environment Canterbury today announced the successful conclusion of volunteer days to help eradicate wilding pine. Resource Management Officer Coordinator David Hewson says nearly 200 volunteers had cleared wildings from 700 hectares of high country over three days in March and April. (Voxy, 01 May 2012)

Reducing Spending on City Assets As part of our consultation on our draft Long Term Plan, we're looking closely at how much we spend on replacing assets. (Wellington City Council, 01 May 2012)

Councillor Clinics & Phone Line This week you'll be able to share your views with a Councillor about what the Council should do over the next 10 years. (Wellington City Council, 01 May 2012)

Increased Costs for Services We are facing increasing costs, including fuel and electricity, to provide our services and operate public facilities. (Wellington City Council, 01 May 2012)

Conservation work on war mural Conservation work is to begin on the famous Peter McIntyre mural in the Hall of Memories at the Hastings War Memorial Library. (Hastings District Council, 01 May 2012)

Rubbish Clean-up in Pukekura Park Begins Work has started on making safe a hillside of rubbish in Pukekura Park. Manager Parks Mark Bruhn says contractor Drainage Plus will pick over the site to remove loose material from the surface before capping the area with clay. (New Plymouth District Council, 01 May 2012)

'Reforms will not significantly decentralise funding' Standard & Poors says that government reforms to allow councils greater freedoms over regeneration spending are unlikely to be significant enough to alter their credit ratings. (UK, Socinvest, 01 May 2012)

Privatization and Public-Private Partnership Trends in Local Government in 2011 The rollout of Reason Foundation's Annual Privatization Report 2011 continues today with the local government section, which provides an overview of the latest on privatization and public-private partnerships at the local level. (INT, Bastiat Institute, 01 May 2012)

Strict changes to pecuniary interests: Nash Randwick mayor Scott Nash claims there has been an over-reaction to the new amendments on councillor’s declaring conflicts of interest with development proposals. (AUS, Southern Courier, 01 May 2012)

Reform in theory, now we need action Local government in Perth has been turned on its head following the draft findings of a review designed to significantly cut the number of local councils. (AUS, In My Community, 01 May 2012)

Local elections: patchwork politics The issues in different parts of the country reflect local concerns and cultures as well as shared national ones (UK, The Guardian, 01 May 2012)

Carbon tax calculated for councils The federal government will assist local councils to calculate their emissions and costs associated with the price of waste disposal. (AUS, Government News, 01 May 2012)

Fresh faces front two councils The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) says two councils in the state will face the next term with entirely new teams. (AUS, ABC North West Queensland, 01 May 2012)

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