Craig is a Local Democracy reporter
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Mauri arrives to uplift region for Te Matatini
The mauri stones were delivered by Aotea waka iwi of south Taranaki and Whanganui.
Boaties pledge to stop seabed miners
There's a call for direct action against would-be miners off the South Taranaki coast.
New freshwater rules opposed
Taranaki Regional Council is worried the new rules may backfire.
Regional councillor doubts farms are biggest river polluters
Donna Cram sits on the TRC Policy and Planning committee helping reshape freshwater rules
'Crystal ball' will avoid pollution, says seabed mining company
The model to predict the drift of sediment in South Taranaki has not yet been developed.
Pātea seabed mining fight continues
Today is the first of an eight-day hearing to reconsider the application.
Regional councillors debate freshwater plan
Taranaki Regional Council is working on its new freshwater plan under the existing laws.
Iwi fears for whale bone thieves
Te Aorangi Dillon hopes the thieves do the right thing and return the whale bones.
Three Waters cash funds future Māori advocates
The scholarships flow from the Three Waters reform.
Swimming ban at popular New Plymouth beaches
The beaches are on a 48-hour do not swim notice, and seafood is considered unsafe to eat.
Giant windmills blow hapū to UN
Hapū of Ngāruahine iwi are filing three claims against the installation of wind turbines.
Taranaki iwi wants toxic waste removed
For more than 20 years, Remediation New Zealand has received commercial waste in Urutī.
Taranaki council pushes water policy despite murky legal future
The coalition agreement spelled out a major shake-up of freshwater rules.
South Taranaki iwi and council draw up new partnership
The new partnership is called He Pou Tikanga Partnership Strategy.
Swim warning as pollution tests begin
Heavy rain can cause pollutants to wash into rivers, lakes and streams.
Māori King to visit Parihaka to strengthen bonds
The visit will help strengthen bonds between Taranaki and the Kīngitanga.
Māori reps to help set Taranaki regional plan
Two iwi representatives will sit with council
Ngāruahine changes focus of spending and investing
The iwi plans to build more houses, create jobs and award 50 contracts locally.
Urgent health and safety focus for marae grants
The Marae Development Grants helps to maintain marae infrastructure.
Voting booth opens at New Plymouth campus
Polling at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Ngāmotu will be open through to election day.
National candidate says local co-governance not a target
David MacLeod says local co-governance would not be at risk if National gets in.
South Taranaki council takes on local te reo Māori styles
STDC’s Reg Korau said using local versions of te reo built trust with iwi and hapū.
Te Punanga Ora says National plan is a step back
Te Pahunga Davis said National’s plan left him “shattered".
Dirt bike ‘nightmare’: Waitara police call for help over nuisance riders
Police have called for community help to identify dirt bike riders buzzing the town.
Local Māori positive whoever wins election will keep changes
Māori health advocates in Taranaki are hopeful health changes will stick.
Council money for food groups as inflation bites
The New Plymouth Community Development Committee has released more money to fight hunger.
Final push for Taranaki maunga deal before election
Uri (descendants) of the eight iwi of Taranaki have until August 16 at 5pm to vote.
Taranaki talks to discuss co-governance
The series of talks will take place at Taranaki Cathedral’s Te Whare Hononga.
Iwi join forces to win contracts
The initial focus of the group is the conservation sector.
Hapū seeking Taranaki-Waikato border shift
They say it would better align with Māori boundaries.
Council proposes submission on seabed mining
The council has a draft submission on the topic.
Taranaki Maunga settlement takes next step
The Treaty of Waitangi settlement will be initialled on Friday.
New Mt Taranaki visitor centre to be fit-for-purpose
Te Kotahitanga o Te Ātiawa have broad ambitions for the new visitor centre.
Final two elected seats in South Taranaki filled
Voters have picked the last local representatives for South Taranaki.
Ambitious South Taranaki iwi-council multiuse centre inches closer
The go-ahead's been given to work up a business case for a community/sports centre.
Co-chair likely for South Taranaki iwi committee
South Taranaki’s iwi liaison committee is being revamped.
Maru apology highlights devastation of land theft
The Crown apologised in the final step of Ngāti Maru's Treaty of Waitangi settlement
Māori ward councillor ready to fight for his people
Stratford's first Māori ward councillor was sworn in at Tuesday's meeting.
Candidate hui challenges councils and iwi chairs
The meeting took place at Whakaahurangi Marae in Stratford on Wednesday evening.
Whānau battle for new council seat
Two whānau members are competing for a seat for the new Māori ward in South Taranaki.
Candidates say coast and country need bigger voice
The candidates say coastal and rural communities need more say at the council table,
Coastal, rural communities need more say at council table
Two South Taranaki Māori ward candidates want to provide the missing voice.
Tactical talks mobilise tight field for Māori seats
The race is on to win Māori seats in South Taranaki and other parts of Taranaki region.
Wards get nod despite not meeting requirements
South Taranaki wards have been approved despite not fitting the official requirements
'I'm hōhā': Council iwi rep says nothing will change at leaching compost site
After years of breaches, Keith Holswich is fed up with the polluting composter.
Taranaki hapū want legal kaimoana ban for at least two years
Support for a legal ban was also coming from beyond Taranaki iwi.
Iwi want more vigilance as Covid found again in Stratford sewage
"We've had within 10 days two positive tests so it's very likely we have Covid around us."
$10m for conservation will create 58 jobs
The funding will create 58 new jobs over three years.
Regional council rejects call for Māori-only say on wards
Iwi wanted future engagement on Māori wards focused on "people affected by the decision."
Call to make switch to Māori roll easier
Māori voters get to choose between general and Māori rolls only every five to six years.
Wastewater Covid testing expands across region
Stratford and South Taranaki districts are now being sampled for traces of Covid.
Alarm bells ring for iwi over lack of wastewater tests
Ngāti Ruanui has backed a call for wastewater testing beyond the city.
Taranaki wastewater response sloppy, says Māori Party
"They couldn't provide a reason South Taranaki wastewater is not being tested."
Māori council seats bring cuts to general councillors
South Taranaki will lose one seat on the Taranaki Regional Council.
Papakāinga plans could hinge on iwi-council relationship
Current rules largely restrict papakāinga to be integrated with marae.
Iwi send back partnership deal for stronger rules
The iwi have given suggestions on how the rules can be made more active.
Papakāinga hopes pinned on council relationship revamp
Papakāinga housing hopes are pinned on a revamped relationship with STDC.
Council 'out of touch with Māori'
The chair of the Ngāti Ruanui rūnanga said the council was out of touch with Māori.
Iwi want sewage spills stopped
A south Taranaki iwi says continuing sewage spills into coastal waters are intolerable.
Flood of consents: Iwi seek resources to support relationship
Hearing told iwi and hapū need money to help decide and monitor consents.
Big Māori push for Covid-19 swabs pays off
Māori had the reach to get testing into Māori communities.