Hamish McDouall is Whanganui’s new mayor winning almost 40 per cent of the vote and nearly the twice the number of his nearest rival. Made with funding for NZ on Air.

A return to single-day local body elections is being mooted as local body leaders grapple with falling local body election voting

Please vote TODAY. Today is the last day to post voting papers to be sure they meet the Saturday deadline for the local body elections.

An environmental and political activist who had 220 rotting lambs' tails dumped on his property believes he was specifically targeted.

It is hard to dislodge the tawdry episode of Len Brown's workplace affair from any assessment of his legacy, the Weekend Herald says in an editorial.

Former National Party leader Don Brash says a new anti-separatist campaign may end up donating to one of his old enemies, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.

Contentious reforms to councils have been shelved until next year after the Government caved to pressure from a group of mayors who said the changes were anti-democratic.

Salvation Army representatives hope to meet with Whanganui District Council staff to discuss a proposed joint venture for pensioner

Mangawhai ratepayers have secured a partial victory in the High Court which ruled the Northland Regional Council rates for Kaipara

Clean and green is a key message in the Waitakere ward, as the environment continues to feature highly among residents' concerns.

The issues in Whau are twofold: more community facilities and infrastructure, to match the intensification.

Residents in Orakei are adamant they are not "nimbys", but they are apprehensive about the impact more housing and more people will have on their patch.

The Audit Office has confirmed it has received a request to investigate some parts of the report into Whanganui's failed wastewater

The Campaign for Better Transport organised the public meeting for the candidates to put forward their transport policies for Auckland.

Mayoral debate front runner Phil Goff talks user-pays, Auckland infrastructure and 45 years of marital fidelity.

The last thing Auckland needs is a mayor elected on a mandate to pursue a needless extravagance for no better reason than he or she promised it.

COMMENT: As we prepare to yawn our way through another round of local government elections, spare a thought for the masochists fighting to represent you.

Environmental issues are expected to be raised at an Auckland mayoral debate in Titirangi this evening.

Canterbury District Health Board members say an archaic piece of policy that gags them from speaking to media should be scrapped or reviewed.

Super City reporter Bernard Orsman takes a look at some of the key match-ups that will determine the outcome of October's elections.

Special housing areas, it turns out, are not making many more houses more "affordable".

The Electoral Office has added business school owner Susanna Kruger to the list of candidates standing for the Auckland mayoralty.

Auckland Council says 25 names were left off its candidate list for the upcoming local elections due to an "administrative oversight".

Mayoral candidate Phil Goff has launched a bold plan to plant a million trees and shrubs in Auckland.

There are 17 people in the running for the Auckland Council's top job.

Nominations for positions on the various local government bodies representing Rotorua residents ended today at midday, now the real

COMMENT: Let's hope this election we might see some long-standing or well-known names step down and some new brooms.

INTERACTIVE: View our interactive map of Auckland's proposed Unitary Plan to see the building heights and density allowed in your street and suburb.

Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown announced today she will not be standing for re-election in October.

COMMENT: Women and their supporters have the opportunity to change the dynamics of local government this year.