Local Council

When the Aratere ran aground in Picton Harbour, it wasn't clear who was leading the emergency response, the harbourmaster says. Audio

Nearly half of respondents say councillors and mayors should serve four years instead of three.

The day after the PM blasted councils for their spending, the government came in with a sweetener for the sector.

Details of a secret code of conduct issue have finally come to light, eight months after a southern council began holding private meetings.

Christopher Luxon called for councils to "rein in the fantasies", manage spending, and focus on delivering their core services - but mayors say they already do this.

A mayor is calling for a rethink of who pays to keep the country's popular cycle trails open.

It will help accurately identify dogs that are - and are not - involved in attacks, it says.

Councils from five regions will be invited to submit proposals under the so-called Regional Deals.

There will be months of disruption for the public and 95 staff, South Taranaki District Council says.

Councillors, mayors and officials could be heard groaning as the prime minister spoke. Audio

A Dunedin City councillor says he is apologising for causing offence, but not for making the comments. Audio

The complaint was made after Lee Vandervis refused to participate in Te Pae Māori meetings and referred to mana whenua representatives on two council committees as anti-democratic.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told attendees at the Local Government New Zealand conference in Wellington today that local councils need to "rein in the fantasies" on spending.

There will soon be a two-year freeze on new off-licence applications in the Auckland CBD and town centres in areas with the highest alcohol-related harm.