Local Government stories
Councils will be expected to use quarterly market data to test whether enough land is available for housing and business growth.
Auckland’s housing shortage could worsen unless councils and ministers act on proposals to speed building, free land and improve consenting.
Local councils are seeking more funding and policy support as climate change, ageing and infrastructure pressures reshape communities ahead of the 2017 election.
New Zealand could stretch its GBP £16 billion infrastructure push further by copying Scotland’s simpler planning and delivery model, Infrastructure NZ says.
Broad agreement emerged in Wellington that cleaner waterways will require years of coordinated spending, science and shared responsibility across sectors.
Communities could face the cost of fluoridation after the committee backed a bill that shifts decisions to health experts, LGNZ says.
Poor connectivity and patchy health care are leaving 600,000 rural New Zealanders exposed, a health leader says.
More housing and infrastructure funding won approval from the Property Council, though it says New Zealand still needs deeper planning reform.
A possible sale could unlock GBP £550 million for Auckland Council while keeping the city port in New Zealand hands.
More investment in roads, pipes and transport is needed or Auckland’s networks will struggle to cope with 34,500 new homes.
Councils and environmentalists say the money will help, but warn it still falls short of the infrastructure needed for booming visitor numbers.
More than 5,000 Havelock North residents fell ill after faecal contamination entered the town's drinking water, a government inquiry found.
Political risks around Urban Development Authorities may be justified, but heavy consultation and funding gaps could blunt their impact.
A direct hit on the capital could cost New Zealand about USD $29 billion and trigger wider economic damage, Deloitte warns.
Deloitte says a direct 7.8 magnitude quake beneath Wellington could inflict a NZD $29 billion blow, with billions in damage and lost jobs.
Occupancy and room rates are surging in Queenstown and Auckland, putting New Zealand hotels on track for a record year.
Thousands of coastal homes could become uninsurable as sea levels rise, shifting climate costs on to homeowners and government.
Industry leaders say the extra NZD $11 billion in capital spending could unlock private funding for roads, hospitals and housing.
Flood-hit communities are being urged to plan for rising sea levels and more frequent extremes as experts warn current rules lag behind climate risk.
Wellington’s future growth could be slowed by quake risk and a funding model that makes new housing increasingly unviable, says Property Council Chief Executive Connal Townsend.
