Latest from Local Government

Bryce Edwards: Political roundup: So, who won the asset sales referendum?

There's been a battle over the weekend about how to interpret, sell, and spin the asset sales referendum results, writes Bryce Edwards.

$7k for another portrait of mayor 'unnecessary'

Young won't make waves for fit adults

Civic leaders on Auckland's North Shore are trying to get a public pool designed for kids to "let loose" on playing features without disturbing mature patrons trying to exercise.

Brian Rudman: Len's path to redemption in council hands

Regardless of the rights or wrongs of the upgrades arithmetic, the mayor's reputation is in tatters, writes Brian Rudman. His redemption, and his legacy, now relies on him delivering the goods.

Casino conflict flares

Embattled mayor Len Brown tomorrow faces an angry council seeking to blunt his powers in the wake of the mayoral sex scandal.

Wewege paid $13k by Palino

Political campaign worker Luigi Wewege pocketed $13,000 for just three months' work on John Palino's failed Auckland mayoral bid - a sum that has surprised volunteers on other political campaigns.

Len Brown: I'm staying

Len Brown says he is no lame-duck mayor after a damning report found he failed to declare more than $39k in free hotel rooms and upgrades.

Report on Mayor's spend-up

The report into Auckland Mayor Len Brown's use of council resources was finally issued yesterday after legal wrangling delayed its release.

Len Brown's spend-up revealed

Len Brown used his council phone to make nearly 1400 personal calls and texts to Bevan Chuang and failed to declare more than $39,000 in free hotel rooms and upgrades.

More land needed for Auckland growth - council report

Without action, Auckland faces a shortage of business-zoned land, potentially hampering manufacturing, transport, storage, construction and wholesale trades.

Mayor seeks advice over draft report

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is taking advice as he ponders the first draft of an Ernst & Young report. into any use of council resources during his two-year affair.

Bryce Edwards: Political roundup: NZ reaction to Mandela death

The death of Mandela has given rise to some very important and interesting political debate in NZ, writes Bryce Edwards.

Brian Rudman: 500 homes? P-P-P-praise the lord

Housing Minister Nick Smith and his Cabinet colleagues have finally decided to lead from the front in dealing with Auckland's housing crisis, writes Brian Rudman. They are to fast-track the purchase of 16.5ha at Hobsonville Pt.

Brian Rudman: When PPP ends up down the sewer

The Auditor-General's damning report into the Kaipara District Council's Mangawhai sewerage scheme is a salutary counterbalance to the positive Ernst and Young report on the public private partnership model for building new infrastructure.

Bryce Edwards: Political roundup: Is NZ really the least corrupt country?

Never before has the word 'corruption' been in so much use in New Zealand politics, writes Bryce Edwards. The legal trial of John Banks is just the latest political scandal that involves allegations of corruption.

MPs validate Kaipara rates

Parliament last night passed a law without dissent validating irregularities in the setting and assessing of rates by the Kaipara District Council from the 2006-07 financial year to 2011-12.

Detroit gets bankruptcy OK from court

A judge has ruled the US city of Detroit is eligible to shed billions in the largest public bankruptcy in the country's history.

Lifejacket law to protect 'new Kiwis'

A council bylaw making the wearing of lifejackets compulsory on small boats is about the changing face of Auckland, says Watersafe Auckland chief executive Sandra Harrop.