Councils and ratepayers have been spared steep local bills after NZ Transport Agency kept majority funding for two isolated West Coast roads through 2030.
Ratepayers could see lower risk exposure if the council proceeds, after discussions on a possible sell-down and a record $16.1 million profit.
Public trust in a costly staffing review is being tested after errors and AI use allegations prompted fresh scrutiny of Deloitte's analysis.
Motorists could be spared millions in roadside sculptures and monuments, with funding redirected to road building under ACT's transport policy.
South Island warmth and a June heat spike drove New Zealand's winter to 9.7C, with 27 places logging record seasonal temperatures.
The non-binding deal could help ease Queenstown's congestion as the cable car scheme moves closer to construction and wider funding talks continue.
Ratepayers in Kaikōura and Hurunui may face increases to cover Canterbury's spatial plan, with costs running into hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Water restrictions are likely to come in earlier than usual as scientists warn the district faces one of the strongest El Niño events in recent history.
Council plans for a $77.3 million racecourse in Flaxmere have drawn warnings that low-flying aircraft could spook horses and trigger noise disputes.
Westport residents are set to share NZD $1.8 million in flood protection funds after the regional council admitted the split was badly communicated.
Projects at Wellington Airport and Seaview Wharf were recognised for keeping flights and fuel deliveries moving during complex live-site construction.
Footpath parking has surged in Ōpōtiki after six spaces were removed from Church Street, prompting complaints from struggling retailers.
Wairoa councils will soon be able to clear river mouths and debris sooner, after floods exposed delays in emergency response.
Ratepayers in South Wairarapa will avoid a funding gap of up to NZD $35 million after NZTA agreed to keep Cape Palliser Rd largely subsidised for three years.
Eligible builders could free up cash for the next site, as the partnership funds pre-sold turnkey homes without requiring upfront equity.
Older Auckland residents could lose familiar home-care support if procurement rules are not changed, Visionwest has warned after a tender setback.
Reuse plans could cut ocean discharge and help irrigate crops, sports grounds and industry across Nelson Tasman within two years.
Council chiefs faced intense scrutiny after a review said six deaths in the Mount Maunganui landslide were preventable, with inquiries still under way.
Emergency response funding could be squeezed under planned rates caps, prompting Southland Civil Defence to seek an exemption from the Minister.
Auckland homes face longer, hotter summers, with new research warning heatwaves could nearly double and indoor overheating is already a problem.
