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Failed drug test one of several vehicle policy breaches by council
The news comes as the council looks to increase its stock of hybrid or electric vehicles, in line with its climate commitments.
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Train tracks, lines ripped up at Wellington's Melling station
10 Jan 2026The station closed for three years on Christmas Eve, as part of a $1.5 billion infrastructure project.
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Free week of bus travel, as Hawke’s Bay unveils major network shake-up
10 Jan 2026The new service replaces the previous MyWay trial, which ends on 23 January.
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‘The only noise is ourselves’: Inside iwi's two-week Whanganui River journey
9 Jan 2026A Whanganui iwi leader says reserving stretches of the Whanganui River exclusively for the two-week tribal river journey has transformed the experience for…
Local Democracy Reporting headlines with summaries.
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Island recycling centre rebuilt and booming after blaze
8 Jan 2026A blaze in December 2024 at the Aotea Community Recycling Centre damaged most of the contents of the Anamata shop, its main shed and the solar power system.
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What is Local Democracy Reporting?
31 May 2021Find out more about the scheme and how to become a host newsroom or accredited media partner.
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'I don't feel safe': Neighbour of parolee facility afraid to have grandchildren visit
9 Jan 2026Lauren Fraser says she now avoids spending time in her family home.
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Open fires, dogs and loud music are biggest headaches at regional parks
8 Jan 2026Visitors to Auckland's regional parks are being urged to plan properly.
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New home for rare skinks takes shape on Napier’s Marine Parade
8 Jan 2026Experts are relocating the skinks to make way for a $37.4 million stormwater infrastructure project between Maraenui and Te Awa.
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Golf club creates positive legacy from destructive mistake
8 Jan 2026The club has planted 120 native trees and shrubs, turning a mistake in 2023 into an opportunity to enhance the area for future generations.
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Warning to swimmers as risk of toxic algae intensifies
8 Jan 2026Temperatures are set to rise, creating perfect conditions in Hawke's Bay for toxic algae to bloom.
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Wither Hills Farm Park access could ‘change rapidly’ as temperatures soar
7 Jan 2026MetService has forecast 33C for Friday, 31C for Saturday, and 30C for Sunday as a westerly flow brings scorching heat across the South Island.
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Wipes and rocks wreak havoc on Tasman’s wastewater
6 Jan 2026While the problem of flushed wet wipes in Tasman's wastewater system has not gone away, rocks are driving this year's cost increase for clearing wastewater blockages.
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'Outside the box': Swimming excavator dredges river
7 Jan 2026An amphibious excavator has begun dredging the pop-up garden patch growing out of a river in central Blenheim.
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'Most things seem to die': Warning over unchecked spread of invasive worm
5 Jan 2026An environmental group calling for control of parchment worm in the Marlborough Sounds has criticised the Marlborough District Council for years of inaction.
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Stolen turtles leave locals mad as shell
5 Jan 2026Several prized reptiles have been taken from a park enclosure, and police are getting involved.
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High-risk intersection near Havelock North to get $2.7m roundabout upgrade
5 Jan 2026It's among the district's highest-risk locations, with 10 crashes, including one fatality, over the past five years.
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Wood seller urges crackdown over 'firewood cowboys' on Facebook
2 Jan 2026"They don't pay tax, lack safety standards, and sell poor-quality products which are harming consumers, legitimate businesses, and the wider community," John Caulton claims.
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'For Wairarapa an amalgamation proposal will help': Wilde
1 Jan 2026In a summer series on Wairarapa leaders' views on the government's proposed local council reforms, South Wairarapa mayor Dame Fran Wilde shares her perspectives.
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Northland’s population to quadruple with summer tourist influx
1 Jan 2026More than 800,000 visitors typically flood into the region over the summer peak.
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Libby Fletcher honoured for protecting Lake Tarawera
31 Dec 2025The recognition follows more than a decade of work in environmental protection, community engagement, and local public service.
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Dark sky champion initially didn't believe New Year honour email
31 Dec 2025Viv Napier, former South Wairarapa District Council mayor, said the honour came as a complete surprise to her.
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New Year Honours: Greytown couple applauded for lifetime of service to music
31 Dec 2025Ed and Juliet Cooke have both been awarded the King's Service Medal (KSM) for their services to music.
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Mayor's mission to bring back Rotorua hydroslide
30 Dec 2025Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell has made it her mission to bring back the hydroslide that used to be part of the Leisure World theme park.
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Summer brings sense of 'home' for new migrants
29 Dec 2025About 800 new migrants from more than 45 countries have settled in Whangārei this year.
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The tragic story behind Hawke’s Bay’s blossom spot
1 Jan 2026The Pakowhai Rd site is near the scene of a fatal car crash on the Chesterhope Bridge in 1998.
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Tourism business ‘extremely distressed’ by road closures
29 Dec 2025A Marlborough Sounds tourism operator says restricted access road closures is leaving them cut off from customers at the start of the peak summer season.
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The council that's proposing a 0% rates rise
29 Dec 2025Northland local government leaders are reacting cautiously to news of Te Tai Tokerau's proposed first rates freeze in a decade.
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