Auckland Issues
Closure of a long, trying year
NZ Local Government
19 January 2012
19 January 2012
Twelve momentous months behind us…
In the offices of any newspaper or magazine – here in New Zealand or in Afghanistan for that matter – the end of the year irresistibly leads editors to go back into the files to ‘review the past 12 months’.More>
Methanex to restart mothballed methanol plant
New Zealand Herald
19 January 2012
19 January 2012
Expand
Methanex says it will restart a mothballed methanol plant in Taranaki, adding an estimated $1.2 billion in taxes and royalties paid to the Government over the next 10 years.More>
Growth study plan for Auckland proves controversial
New Zealand Herald
18 January 2012
18 January 2012
Expand
High-rise apartment blocks on North Shore waterfront raise eyebrows
Auckland's existing boundaries could take more than a quarter of a million extra houses but the area's council bosses will need strong nerves and a huge rezoning push to achieve this.More>
Canterbury businesses want action in CBD rebuild
Newstalk ZB
12 January 2012
12 January 2012
Canterbury businesses want to see action this year when it comes to the Christchurch CBD rebuild.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority is canvassing views on how to get business back into the central city.More>
Enticing business back to the central city
The Timaru Herald
11 January 2012
11 January 2012
Recovery authorities are asking business, property owners and customers what will entice them back into Christchurch's quake-stricken CBD.
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority chief executive Roger Sutton said the central city commercial property study would help authorities make decisions abouMore>
Govt monitoring Auckland port dispute
3 News
6 January 2012
6 January 2012
The Government is keeping a close eye on the ongoing industrial dispute between the Ports of Auckland and Maritime Union members.
Uncertainty around strike action being taken by port workers has seen New Zealand's largest exporter Fonterra confirm on Wednesday it will re-route $27 million of weeklyMore>
Wellington Signs up to new Funding Agency
Wellington City Council
21 December 2011
21 December 2011
Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Limited (LGFA) will provide a lower-cost source of finance for council projects.More>
Earthquake Minister scolds council
Manawatu Standard
21 December 2011
21 December 2011
Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has accused "parts" of the Christchurch City Council of slowing the earthquake recovery and has refused to rule out sacking councillors.More>
Central City Plan sent to Minister
Christchurch City Council
21 December 2011
21 December 2011
Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee has today (21 December) received a copy of the final draft Central City Plan for his consideration.More>
Kaitaia business bands together
The Northern Advocate
20 December 2011
20 December 2011
Kaitaia has succeeded where Kerikeri failed by becoming the first town in Northland - and the first rural centre in the country - to establish a Business Improvement District (BID).More>
Government to look at house affordability
The Timaru Herald
20 December 2011
20 December 2011
Local Government Minister Nick Smith will look at issues around housing affordability in his new role, Prime Minister John Key says.
A productivity commission report last week said constraints on land supply and other issues were making housing unaffordable.More>
Project to protect against 30 year storm
Bay of Plenty Times
20 December 2011
20 December 2011
A $21 million flood relief scheme to prevent storms flooding parts of Mount Maunganui's industrial area is set to become the top priority of a proposed $54 million stormwater works programme for the next 10 years.More>
PM not keen on hammering rental investors
New Zealand Herald
19 December 2011
19 December 2011
Expand
The Productivity Commission 's housing affordability report made some good points about the need to release more land for housing development, as councils continue to favour intensification, Prime Minister John Key says.More>
Ten-year budget plan may save Hamilton's bacon
Waikato Times
19 December 2011
19 December 2011
The Hamilton City Council may cut its debt while fixing rates rises. Daniel Adams reports.
Hamilton ratepayers are being offered a decade of fixed rates increases lower than just about anything they've seen in the past decade.More>
Nelson clean-up to cost tens of millions
The Southland Times
19 December 2011
19 December 2011
Local Government Minister and Nelson MP Nick Smith says the bill for the region's flood clean-up will be in the order of tens of millions of dollars, making it the worst disaster in the region for a quarter of a century.More>
Council land rules slammed by new Commission
New Zealand Herald
16 December 2011
16 December 2011
A hard-hitting investigation into housing affordability has just been issued by the Productivity Commission which has criticised the system for locking out so many home buyers.More>
LGNZ pleased by Nick Smith appointment
NZ Local Government
14 December 2011
14 December 2011
LGNZ President Lawrence Yule says he looks forward to working with new Local Government Minister Hon Dr Nick Smith in this new parliamentary term.
"Local government plays a vital role in delivering prosperity for all New Zealanders and in recent years LGNZ has worked closely with central governmentMore>
McKay keen to stay on as council chief
New Zealand Herald
14 December 2011
14 December 2011
Expand
Auckland Council chief executive Doug McKay wants to keep running the Super City when his two-year interim contract comes up for renewal next year.More>
Central City land can be rebuilt on
Christchurch City Council
13 December 2011
13 December 2011
All land within Christchurch’s Central City can be rebuilt on, says the geotechnical report by engineering consultants Tonkin & Taylor.More>
Accolade for choice of new minister
NZ Local Government
13 December 2011
13 December 2011
Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker has welcomed the appointment of Nick Smith as Minister for Local Government in the National Government’s new Cabinet.
Mayor Hardaker said Dr Smith’s appointment to the Local Government portfolio fitted well with his Environment portfolio, and he would bring considerablMore>
Public still in dark about $27m cruise ship terminal
New Zealand Herald
13 December 2011
13 December 2011
Expand
Aucklanders are being given no more information about the financial case for a cruise ship terminal on Queens Wharf, which has risen in cost from $6 million to $27.More>
New location for Akaroa Wastewater Treatment Plant
Christchurch City Council
9 December 2011
9 December 2011
Christchurch City Council has approved the relocation of the Akaroa Wastewater Treatment Plant.More>
Horror stretch of road a priority
Bay of Plenty Times
9 December 2011
9 December 2011
One of Tauranga's most congested rush-hour stretches of road looks likely to be fixed sooner rather than later after being ranked as New Zealand's most urgent job.More>
Welcoming party for LG funding agency
NZ Local Government
8 December 2011
8 December 2011
Christchurch City Council has welcomed the establishment of the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA), which will help local councils save money on borrowings.More>