Category: News

News

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 2 Highlights

Jun 7, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Rates Increases, Taking Action, Transport and Roading

Selected speakers from the 2nd day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

News

OPINION: Hamilton City Council Borrowing to Increase

Sep 16, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGFA, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters

The government is allowing debt to rise to 500% of waters revenue for new “Local Water Done Well” Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs). There are also plans to increase the borrowing limit for high growth councils to 350% of council revenue.

Additional Posts

OPINION: Luxon Nails Councils

Aug 27, 2024 | Auckland City, Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Prime Minister Chris Luxon fronted the Local Government...

RNZ articles on congestion charging and time-of-use charging (July-August 2024)

Aug 18, 2024 | Auckland City, Consultation, Council Funding, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Tauranga City, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Radio New Zealand (RNZ) covers the push to legalise congestion charges and time-of-use...

New Zealand Initiative Report: Driving Change – How road pricing can improve our roads

Aug 3, 2024 | Article, Auckland City, Cities, Council Funding, Electromagnetic Pollution (3G, 4G, 5G), Hamilton City, Internet of Things, Law and Legislation, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Protest, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Tauranga City, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary The New Zealand Initiative self-identifies as a “Wellington-based think tank supported...

Opposition mobilises against the five raised crossings on Thorndon Quay, Wellington

Jul 29, 2024 | Article, Council Spending, Disruptions, Emergency Services, Greater Wellington Region, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Petitions, Public Transport, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Further opposition mobilises against Wellington City Council’s plan to install five raised...

Democracy Project Article: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country

Jul 25, 2024 | Asset Sales, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Water Meters, Wellington City

[Originally published 29 April 2024 on the Democracy Project] By Dr Bryce Edwards (Political...

Democracy Project Article: When Unelected officials dominate the local democratic process

Jul 25, 2024 | Article, Asset Sales, Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities and Regions, Code of Conduct complaints, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Global Agendas, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Wellington City

Summary Bryce Edwards (Political Analyst and Director of the Democracy Project) provides a...

The Spinoff and The Post cover a planned $55 million project to install five raised crossings in Wellington

Jul 25, 2024 | Council Spending, Disruptions, Emergency Services, Greater Wellington Region, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Wellington City Council is planning to install five raised pedestrian crossing along...

OPINION: Rage against the machine

Jul 3, 2024 | Code of Conduct complaints, Consultation, Freedom of Expression, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, News, Opinion, Protest, Waipa District

By Andrew Bydder A message I sent to Waipa council as a private citizen and resident of the...

OPINION: A bridge too far

Jul 3, 2024 | Code of Conduct complaints, Consultation, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Protest, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Waipa District

By Andrew Bydder The sleepy leafy suburbs of quaint conservative Cambridge were torn apart by...

Kāpiti Coastal Advisory Panel and managed retreat: June 2024 updates

Jun 30, 2024 | Article, Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Consultation, Council Meetings, Flood Risk, Global Agendas, Global Warming, Greater Wellington Region, International Organisation, Kapiti Coast District, Managed Retreat, Natural Hazards, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Protest, Resource Management Act (RMA), Taking Action, United Nations

June 2024 has been a busy month for the issues of climate change adaptation and managed retreat....

OPINION: Te Huia or Te Toroa? The Costly Rail Service.

Jun 25, 2024 | Auckland City, Christchurch City, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Invercargill City, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Transport and Roading, Waikato Region

By Geoff Lewis (Hamilton Journalist) I’ve always thought the Hamilton to Auckland commuter...

OPINION: 100% Rates Rise

Jun 21, 2024 | Consultation, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, News, Opinion, Rates Increases

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Hamilton City Council’s Long-term Plan – what you need...

OPINION: The Orange Cone Infestation

Jun 21, 2024 | Auckland City, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, News, Official Information Act, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Transport and Roading

By Margaret Evans (former Mayor and Hamilton Ratepayer) I’ve suggested to Hamilton City...

What has been happening with number plate recognition cameras in Manchester, UK?

Jun 1, 2024 | Article, Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Council Debt, Council Spending, Crime, Global Agendas, International, Mode Shift, News, Overview, Petitions, Protest, Public Transport, Surveillance, Taking Action, Transport and Roading

Summary and Key Points In 2008 the Greater Manchester local authorities proposed a congestion...

Protest outside Hamilton City Council on the 27th of June

May 31, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Protest, Taking Action

A protest is being planned before Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan is finalised in...

Hamilton City Council Kirikiriroa Maaori Ward By-election 2024

May 31, 2024 | Article, Elections, Hamilton City, Kirikiriroa Maaori Ward By-election 2024, News, Taking Action

Update 18/08/2024 Election Results Maria Te Aukaha Huata was declared the winner of the...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 1 Highlights

May 30, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, UN 2030 Agenda

Selected speakers from the 1st day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

OPINION: Why You Should Fear Facial Recognition

May 27, 2024 | Cities and Regions, Crime, Emergency Services, Internet of Things, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Surveillance

By Guest (a concerned New Zealand resident) Introduction Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) is an...

Submissions close on 29 May 2024 for the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill

May 27, 2024 | Consultation, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News

The New Zealand Parliament has given people just 5 days to send in submissions on these proposes...

Tauranga City Council Election 2024

May 16, 2024 | Article, Elections, News, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024

After more than three years of local democracy being suspended to enable the rule of appointed...

Colin Jones on Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan

May 15, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Official Information Act, Open letter, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Taking Action

On 15 May 2024, Colin Jones presented to Hamilton City Council about the Long-Term Plan. Video of...

Protest outside Hamilton City Council on the 17th of May

May 11, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Petitions, Protest, Rates Increases, Taking Action

A protest is being planned for the last day of the “verbal submissions“ phase of Hamilton City...

OPINION: Hamilton Mayor’s ANZAC visit to Belgium

Apr 25, 2024 | Article, Council Spending, Hamilton City, International, News, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases

By Geoff Kreegher (Hamilton Ratepayer) Menin Gate, Ieper, Belgium. Photo credit Johan Bakker...

OPINION: Margaret Evans’ submission on the Hamilton City Long-Term Plan

Apr 21, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Local Government Reform, News, Open letter, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Taking Action

By Margaret Evans (former Mayor and Hamilton Ratepayer) To the Mayor and Councillors:...

OPINION: Analysis of Hamilton City Council’s financial position

Apr 19, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Official Information Act, Opinion, Rates Increases, Taking Action

By Geoff Kreegher (Hamilton Ratepayer) In preparation of the 2024-34 Long Term Plan the Mayor...

Waikato Times article: Firefighters spark up at loathed traffic calming measures

Apr 16, 2024 | Council Spending, Emergency Services, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, News, Protest, Public Transport, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

Headline: Firefighters spark up at loathed traffic calming measures Authored by: Stacey Rangitonga...

Petition to stop rates increases and growing debt at Hamilton City Council

Apr 10, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Petitions, Protest, Rates Increases, Taking Action

This petition is running on change.org and is titled “STOP HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL RATE...

NZ Herald and RNZ cover emergency vehicles being impacted by Auckland’s “traffic calming measures”

Mar 31, 2024 | Auckland City, Emergency Services, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Interview, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

Headline: Kiwi firefighters raise alarm on speed humps installed by Auckland Transport slowing...

OPINION: Speed bumps are a public emergency

Mar 31, 2024 | Article, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Emergency Services, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, News, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor When Hamilton City Council began its Waka...

Consultation for the Hamilton City Council Long-term Plan 2024-2034

Mar 29, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Local Government Reform, News, Rates Increases, Resources, Taking Action

[UPDATE (03 August 2024): Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan was approved by Council vote on...

Public Consultation for WEL Energy Trust Annual Plan and Consumer Discount closes 20 March 2024

Mar 17, 2024 | Cities and Regions, Consultation, Core Services, ENERGY, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Hamilton City, Letter Templates, News, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Taking Action, UN 2030 Agenda, United Nations

Graphic from page 13 of the WEL Energy Trust Draft Annual Plan 2024-2025 [Editor’s note: CityWatch...

NZ Herald articles: Removal of the Three Kings raised pedestrian crossing in Auckland

Feb 29, 2024 | Auckland City, Council Spending, Hostile Architecture, New Zealand Issues, News, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

Bernard Orsman at the NZ Herald has written a series of articles in January 2024 and February 2024...

Notice of Revocation on Hamilton transport projects

Feb 27, 2024 | Article, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

UPDATE: 11 March 2024: The Youtube video of this council meeting is available with public forum...

CityWatch NZ responds to accusations from a Hamilton City Councillor

Feb 10, 2024 | Article, C40 Cities, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Traffic Calming, UN 2030 Agenda, United Nations, Vision Zero

Background Developed and launched in 2023, the www.CityWatchNZ.org website focuses on issues with...

Opinion article in The Spinoff: Let’s Get Wellington Moving was a giant waste of time

Dec 25, 2023 | Core Services, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Greater Wellington Region, Hostile Architecture, Local Government Reform, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Headline: Let’s Get Wellington Moving was a giant waste of time Authored by: Joel MacManus...

Newsroom article: Three Waters repeal forces councils to hike rates by a third

Dec 25, 2023 | Buller District, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Far North District, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Three Waters, United Nations, World Health Organisation

Headline: Three Waters repeal forces councils to hike rates by a third Authored by: Jonathan Milne...

Dec 11, 2023 | Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Council Funding, Council Spending, Mode Shift, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Public Transport, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

Authored by: Robin Martin Published on: 4 November 2023 Published by: RNZ Headline: Waka...

Stuff Article: Why are councils considering rates hikes of 25.5% and higher?

Dec 11, 2023 | Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities and Regions, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Wellington City

Authored by: Erin Johnson Published on: 11 December 2023 Published by: Stuff Limited Headline: Why...

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