Local government

Chris Bishop’s ambitious housing policies have run into inevitable roadblocks in Cabinet, which includes a number of NIMBY ministers

Chris Bishop’s ambitious housing policies have run into inevitable roadblocks in Cabinet, which includes a number of NIMBY ministers

Sweeping reforms to the Resource Management Act will assume owners have the right to develop property and erase the need to consent routine construction work

Sweeping reforms to the Resource Management Act will assume owners have the right to develop property and erase the need to consent routine construction work

New Zealand’s environmental taxes fell by 21% to $5.2 billion in the 2022-2023 year, driven by energy and transport declines

New Zealand’s environmental taxes fell by 21% to $5.2 billion in the 2022-2023 year, driven by energy and transport declines

Housing and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop announces overhaul of infrastructure development charges, introduces new levy system to boost infrastructure funding

Housing and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop announces overhaul of infrastructure development charges, introduces new levy system to boost infrastructure funding

Consumer prices rose 2.2% in 2024 as high interest rates slowed economic activity and falling import costs eased inflation pressures in New Zealand

Consumer prices rose 2.2% in 2024 as high interest rates slowed economic activity and falling import costs eased inflation pressures in New Zealand

New Auditor General report says councils need to have clear strategies for tackling climate change

New Auditor General report says councils need to have clear strategies for tackling climate change

Government plans to block councils from notifying freshwater plans after talks seeking a delay met with only partial success

Government plans to block councils from notifying freshwater plans after talks seeking a delay met with only partial success

Wellington City should be taking on more debt to limit rate increases and needs a Crown Observer to advise on this process, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says

Wellington City should be taking on more debt to limit rate increases and needs a Crown Observer to advise on this process, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says

Economists and bond traders expect the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates quickly despite critical core inflation measures remaining above 3%

Economists and bond traders expect the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates quickly despite critical core inflation measures remaining above 3%

Headline inflation lands on the Reserve Bank’s 2% target, despite the largest local government rate hikes since 1990

Headline inflation lands on the Reserve Bank’s 2% target, despite the largest local government rate hikes since 1990

In its climate inquiry findings report, the Finance and Expenditure Committee says there needs to be clear mandates for climate adaptation funding and responsibilities in the Government’s future adaptation framework as there’s still ‘who pays’ uncertainty

In its climate inquiry findings report, the Finance and Expenditure Committee says there needs to be clear mandates for climate adaptation funding and responsibilities in the Government’s future adaptation framework as there’s still ‘who pays’ uncertainty

Basic service provider or mini democracy? Jeffrey McNeill looks at why NZ needs to decide what it wants from local government

Basic service provider or mini democracy? Jeffrey McNeill looks at why NZ needs to decide what it wants from local government

The Government is warning regional councils to take note of looming changes to resource management law when making 10-year plans which could be expensive to unravel later

The Government is warning regional councils to take note of looming changes to resource management law when making 10-year plans which could be expensive to unravel later

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged local governments to focus on the basics, even as he announced funding for a dance competition

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged local governments to focus on the basics, even as he announced funding for a dance competition

The Government's water reform policy may weaken LGFA’s financial stability and increase council borrowing costs, warns S&P

The Government's water reform policy may weaken LGFA’s financial stability and increase council borrowing costs, warns S&P