CityWatchNZ - Watching issues with local government in NZ

This website focuses on issues with local government in New Zealand, especially those unpopular and concerning changes occurring in urban and suburban areas.

Our main purpose is to raise awareness and provide useful information for addressing the issues impacting New Zealand’s cities.

As the changes impacting our cities at a local level are often caused by international agendas and central government policies, CityWatch NZ content will range from local to worldwide in relevance and will emphasise the common cause people have in defending their rights. We hope that learning from examples in New Zealand and other countries, will help your local-scale efforts to resist and reverse those unwanted changes inflicted on your city.

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Smart Cities (and 20-minute cities)

A Smart City has cameras and sensors with the aim of data collection, automation, monitoring, control, and management of the city’s infrastructure and people. A 20-minute City is an urban planning concept that promotes walking, cycling and public transport and often seeks to reduce automobile use.

High-density Housing

New Zealand cities have seen a rapid growth in high-density housing. These are multi-unit homes instead of the stand-alone houses which were far more common for previous generations of New Zealanders. Both the shift to more high-density housing and the way this high-density housing is designed/built will impact people in New Zealand cities.

Climate Change and Weather

Climate change is a concept which is increasingly featured in city council documents and policy. Regardless of your views on climate change or the reality of climate change, the phrase ‘climate change’ is being used to justify a considerable amount of local government policy, actions, and spending. Severe weather events cause damage to our cities and endangering people within those cities.

Core Services

New Zealand’s city councils once focused on fixing potholes, maintaining pipes, keeping the buses moving, regularly collecting the rubbish, keeping flood waters away, as well as maintaining libraries, museums, reserves, parks, and recreation facilities. These were considered their “core services” prior to 2019. What changed? Are “core services” still considered important?

Law and Legislation

Local councils in New Zealand are meant to operate according a number of parliamentary acts. What future legislation is being planned with regard to local government?

EMF Pollution

Cities are often where electromagnetic pollution (EM or EMF pollution) is concentrated and increasing year-by-year. With increases in Wifi installations, cellular communication devices, 5G network installations, and the “Smart City” agenda we can expect more transmissions over the microwave and radio frequencies in our cities.

Council Finances

City Councils in many New Zealand cities are deep in debt. Rates increases are also expected in most of New Zealand’s cities. Are councils being transparent with the public about their financial situations and what caused those financial situations to develop?

Safety and Well-being

New Zealand’s city councils are increasingly using “safety” and “well-being” as justifications for unpopular policies, increased spending, and imposing transformational changes on our cities. Is actual safety and well-being genuinely improving in our cities? Are actual safety issues being addressed or dismissed by your city council?

Cities and Regions

Auckland City
Tauranga City
Hamilton City
Palmerston North City
Porirua City
Wellington City
Christchurch City
Dunedin City
Invercargill City
Far North District
New Plymouth District
Kapiti Coast District
Buller District

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes on 20 January 2026: “Simplifying Local Government” Proposed Reforms of Regional Councils

Summary On 25 November 2025, the Minister of Local Government Simon Watts and Minster of RMA...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

News and Articles

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Building and Construction Sector” Amendment Bills

by Admin | Dec 11, 2025 | Auckland City, Building Consent, Buller District, Christchurch City, Cities, Cities and Regions, Code of Conduct complaints, Consultation, Contractors, Core Services, Data-driven, Dunedin City, Far North District, Freedom of Expression, Government Organisations, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, Invercargill City, Kaipara District, Kapiti Coast District, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Nelson City, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Palmerston North City, Parliament, Porirua City, Rangitīkei District, Regions, Regulations, Resource Management Act (RMA), Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Upper Hutt City, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Whanganui District | 0

CONSULTATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 11.59pm on Thursday 08 January 2026 for two “Building and Construction...

Consultation Closes on 20 January 2026: “Simplifying Local Government” Proposed Reforms of Regional Councils

by Admin | Dec 4, 2025 | Amalgamation, Article, Buller District, Christchurch City, Cities, Consultation, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Dunedin City, Elections, Far North District, Government Organisations, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Invercargill City, Kaipara District, Kapiti Coast District, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Palmerston North City, Parliament, Porirua City, Public Transport, Rail, Rangitīkei District, Regions, Regulations, Resource Management Act (RMA), Tauranga City, Upper Hutt City, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Wellington City, Whanganui District | 0

Summary On 25 November 2025, the Minister of Local Government Simon Watts and Minster of RMA...

OPINION: Calling the C-word in the Police cover-up scandal

by Admin | Dec 4, 2025 | Article, Corruption, Court case, Crime, Government Organisations, Law and Legislation, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Regulations, Social problems | 0

[Originally published 17 November 2025 on the Democracy Project ] By Bryce Edwards (Political...

Consultation Closes 08 January 2026: “Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill”

by Admin | Dec 4, 2025 | Auckland City, Buller District, Christchurch City, Cities, Cities and Regions, Consultation, Core Services, Council Funding, Council Spending, Data-driven, Dunedin City, Far North District, Global Agendas, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, Internet of Things, Invercargill City, Kaipara District, Kapiti Coast District, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Nelson City, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Palmerston North City, Porirua City, Rangitīkei District, Regions, Regulations, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Toll Roads, Transport and Roading, Upper Hutt City, Voting Record, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Whanganui District | 0

Summary The Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill passed its first reading on 18 November 2025,...

Newsroom article: “Ratepayers rout mayors who imposed big rises”

by Admin | Oct 31, 2025 | Asset Sales, Buller District, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Elections, Far North District, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Infrastructure, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Wellington 2025, Wellington City, Whanganui District | 0

Summary On the 11th of October 2025, Newsroom published an article titled “Ratepayers rout...

Opinion and Interviews

OPINION: A Failure of Education and a Failure of Governance

by Admin | Dec 4, 2025 | Cities and Regions, Consultation, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Fixing Councils Series, Global Warming, Government Organisations, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases | 0

By Kathryn Ennis-Carter (Governance and Public Management Consultant) The result of the local...

OPINION: Regional Council Reforms Should Focus on Reducing Bureaucracy not Reducing Democracy

by Admin | Dec 4, 2025 | Amalgamation, Cities and Regions, Consultation, Contractors, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases | 0

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor) In late November 2025, central government announced...

OPINION: The End of Regional Councils?

by Admin | Dec 4, 2025 | Amalgamation, Building Consent, Cities and Regions, Consultation, Core Services, Council Spending, Government Organisations, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Property Rights, Regulations, Resource Management Act (RMA), Safety and Well-being | 0

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor National’s announcement of a shake-up for local...

OPINION: Calling the C-word in the Police cover-up scandal

[Originally published 17 November 2025 on the Democracy Project ] By Bryce Edwards (Political...

OPINION: Taxpayers’ Union Misrepresented Candidates’ Views with the “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” Campaign

by Admin | Nov 1, 2025 | Auckland 2025, Auckland City, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Official Information Act, Opinion, Rates Increases | 0

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and Hamilton East Ward/Mayoral Candidate) Were over...

Kia ora and welcome to CityWatch NZ

Join our email list for free e-Newsletters and updates

Smart Cities (and 20-minute cities)

High-density Housing

Climate Change and Weather

Core Services

Law and Legislation

EMF Pollution

Council Finances

Safety and Well-being

Cities and Regions

News and Articles

Opinion and Interviews

Major topics

Cities

Regions

What can we do?

CityWatch NZ