Infrastructure
Water contractors out of work due to council's budget shortfall
Some water service contractors in Wellington are out of work, despite the number of fixes needed to the region's infrastructure.
Government rejects Westport's plea for flood protection funding
![NZ Defence Force/supplied
[57] An aerial view of the eastern end of Westport during the July 2021 flood.](https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--BS6Ege2I--/ar_16:10,c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,q_auto,w_288/v1676944005/4LD8J25_20210718_NZDF_P1024180_057_2_scaled_jpg)
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown told the mayor it was not the government's problem.
Bridge masts tower over gorge on Taranaki Maunga
Specialist builders working from ropes and in synch with helicopters have erected two bridge masts that now tower over the Manganui Gorge on Taranaki Maunga.
The 100 metre Manganui Gorge suspension… Audio
Experts warn targets are key in Road to Zero replacement
An international road safety expert says the Government must keep applying targets to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries - and that reversing speed limit reductions will drive the road toll… Audio
Why rates nationwide are going up so much
The problem "may only get worse" as construction costs soar, an expert says.
Wellington council keen on alliance to plan for new water model
The mayor says councils must work together to "provide resilient water networks and deal with population growth".
Big questions over council books after Three Waters
The demise of Three Waters has left councils facing a dilemma.
Aucklanders raise a bin din
Auckland Council is calling it a 'bin optimisation drive', but residents say the move to remove their litter receptacles is rubbish Audio
Auckland local boards paying to keep all their rubbish bins
Four local boards have taken matters into their own hands to keep their public rubbish bins after Auckland Council opted to remove more than a thousand.
The council is removing three thousand bins… Audio
Water watchdog seeks solutions from Wellington Water
The water watchdog says it doesn't have confidence in Wellington Water to ensure sufficient supply for the region next summer.
Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Porirua have had water restrictions in… Audio
Rahui in place after wastewater leak in Porirua
A rāhui is in place in Porirua for the Kenepuru Stream and part of the harbour, after a wastewater pipe burst on Sunday.
Wellington Water says it is using pumps to stop overflows into the area, and… Audio
Anger as climate removed from transport plan
"The 60s have called Simeon Brown and they want their transport plan back," a critic of the government's shake-up says. Audio
Raw sewage spilling into Porirua waterways
People are being warned to stay away from the streams until a ruptured pipe is fixed.
Marlborough stopbanks at ‘catastrophic’ risk of failure
Repairs are expected to cost $9m, but councillor says they are necessary due to the risk to human life.
New law could see second Mount Vic tunnel fast-tracked
Shane Jones says no one should be surprised if consenting for the promise tunnel is fast-tracked. Audio
Auckland Council wants govt to pay for Eastern Busway
Some councillors believe the cost of the project is the government's responsibility.
Fast-track law will 'undermine environmental protections'
The legislation is being labelled an anti-environment approach that'lll make NZ a "banana republic" - but businesses groups, unsurprisingly, are all for it. Audio
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop speaks on Fast Track Approvals Bill
A free pass for big industry to bulldoze Aotearoa's precious natural environment. That's the Green Party's verdict on legislation that would give Government Ministers the power to push through… Audio
Ministers to get final say on fast-track consents
An expanded fast-tracking regime will set up an expert panel to give recommendations, with ministers having the final call. Audio
Repairs continue on Parnell sinkhole
Heavy rain, weak concrete and 100 years of deterioration are being blamed for a major sinkhole in the Auckland suburb of Parnell.
The sinkhole opened up in September last year when the Ōrākei Main… Audio