Stories by Emily Ireland

A deputy mayor says she its disappointed the council has been forced to relitigate decisions it made last year.

The disparity between what schools are paying to councils means some are forced to dip into funds set aside for learning.

The council says its secret settlement with Health NZ over Wairarapa Hospital defects is only one factor, and all local bodies are facing rising premiums.

"Given the financial struggles facing councils and ratepayers, it's the last thing they need" Labour's Kieran McAnulty says.

The ratepayers in the southern district have borne the brunt of a cumulative increase of 138 percent since 2015, compared to about 58 percent in Masterton, and 70 percent in Carterton.

Although no increase is ever welcomed, these ratepayers have fared the best compared to other areas.

It follows a council committee meeting at which Bosley said the thought of giving community boards more power "terrifies" him.

The only road in and out of a collection of settlements hangs on a funding decision yet to be confirmed.

Celebrity chef and councillor Martin Bosley says he personally worked between 20 and 35 hours a week, which means his pay is less than $10 an hour.

A former nurse dismissed over "anti-vaccine information on Facebook" won't have her case heard by the Court of Appeal.

A common mistake with residential plumbing and drainage works was a key contributor of sewage in Masterton floodwaters, the council says.

South Wairarapa District Council is working to understand the full impact of a $51 million blunder by Wellington Water, just days after shaving 0.6 percent off the proposed rates increase for 2024-25.

A critic is querying whether South Wairarapa councillors' behaviour amounted to bullying.

South Wairarapa Mayor Martin Connelly has returned from a two-month leave of absence to a council he remains at odds with.

Carterton's deputy mayor is "disappointed" and "disgusted" at the response to a proposal to erect a memorial sculpture of the late Georgina Beyer.

The late politician was the world's first openly transgender mayor and member of parliament.

Mayor Martin Connelly says he is not aware of the move and cannot comment further at this stage.

The two entities refused to disclose the settlement amount that ended a lengthy legal dispute over Wairarapa's defective hospital.

Dying is proving to be a pricey task, with the Work and Income Funeral grant failing to cover burial costs in Masterton.

Councillors have voted to progress a $2.77m water project, despite being advised on two occasions not to.

Masterton residents will be charged for their water using meters from 1 July next year.

A "confidential settlement" has brought an end to a lengthy legal dispute over Wairarapa's defective hospital.

The council notices - issued seven years ago - required remediation to be completed by 2021, but this date was incorrect.

A Town Hall option labelled "risky" and impracticable will now go to the public for consultation.

Masterton District Council's preferred plans for its town hall, library, and municipal buildings have an estimated combined cost of $49 million.