Local Aotearoa
@localaotearoa.nz
Started as a podcast, now a broader project looking to raise the profile of local government in New Zealand and the issues it faces. Visit us at www.localaotearoa.nz
Kāpiti is at a crossroads. With a fresh push for regional reorganisation underway, our leaders must engage in good faith with this new process. Opting out again means losing our community's ability to shape and ultimately decide our own future.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/will-kapit...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/will-kapit...
Will Kāpiti shape reorganisation, or be shaped by it?
Kāpiti is at a crossroads. Whether we join an amalgamated council or choose to remain independent, our leaders must front up and engage in good faith. Opting out means giving up our community’s abilit...
localaotearoa.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Kāpiti is at a crossroads. With a fresh push for regional reorganisation underway, our leaders must engage in good faith with this new process. Opting out again means losing our community's ability to shape and ultimately decide our own future.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/will-kapit...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/will-kapit...
The Wellington region is once again gearing up for another push at local government reorganisation. If amalgamation is back on the table, we owe it to our communities to get the process right. So what can we do differently to avoid the mistakes of the past?
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/once-more-...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/once-more-...
Once more unto the Wellington amalgamation breach
Yes, you read that correctly: the Wellington region is once again gearing up for another push at amalgamation, so I’ve put together 10 recommendations on how our leaders might approach things differen...
localaotearoa.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:16 AM
The Wellington region is once again gearing up for another push at local government reorganisation. If amalgamation is back on the table, we owe it to our communities to get the process right. So what can we do differently to avoid the mistakes of the past?
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/once-more-...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/once-more-...
In another transparency win, Upper Hutt is set to open its council workshops, joining Wellington, Hutt City, and Porirua in lifting transparency.
Greater Wellington is now the holdout. It’s time they met the same standards their communities deserve.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/looming-tr...
Greater Wellington is now the holdout. It’s time they met the same standards their communities deserve.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/looming-tr...
Looming transparency win: Upper Hutt set to open up workshops
In what looks likely to be another transparency win for Local Aotearoa, Upper Hutt City Council is set to consider whether to finally make their workshops and briefings “open to the public by default”...
localaotearoa.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 11:51 PM
In another transparency win, Upper Hutt is set to open its council workshops, joining Wellington, Hutt City, and Porirua in lifting transparency.
Greater Wellington is now the holdout. It’s time they met the same standards their communities deserve.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/looming-tr...
Greater Wellington is now the holdout. It’s time they met the same standards their communities deserve.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/looming-tr...
Even the Government’s own departments are trying to warn them about the dangers of keeping rates increases artificially low by underfunding infrastructure.
December 2, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Even the Government’s own departments are trying to warn them about the dangers of keeping rates increases artificially low by underfunding infrastructure.
After a year of Simon Watts as Local Government Minister, the direction is unmistakable: less local voice, more central control.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/simon-watt...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/simon-watt...
Simon Watts: The Minister Against Local Democracy
For a man who once sang a tune about the value of localism when it suited him, Local Government Minister Simon Watts now seems intent on stripping communities of the power that matters most: the abili...
localaotearoa.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:27 AM
After a year of Simon Watts as Local Government Minister, the direction is unmistakable: less local voice, more central control.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/simon-watt...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/simon-watt...
The Coalition keeps saying it isn’t going to force council amalgamations, but its new local government proposal funnels regions straight towards them, with the Local Government Minister having the final say. 👇
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/coalition-...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/coalition-...
Coalition lays groundwork for local government amalgamations
In what may become the most consequential restructuring of local government since the 1989 reforms, the National-led Coalition Government has taken the first formal step towards large-scale council am...
localaotearoa.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 AM
The Coalition keeps saying it isn’t going to force council amalgamations, but its new local government proposal funnels regions straight towards them, with the Local Government Minister having the final say. 👇
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/coalition-...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/coalition-...
Big changes are coming for local government. “Radical simplification” might be overselling things, but shifting to a single-tier of local government is still the biggest change since 1989.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/oversold-o...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/oversold-o...
Oversold or not, a shake-up is coming for local government
In the biggest hint yet that time is about to be called on the existence of regional councils , Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has repeatedly told media over the last two days that the Government ha...
localaotearoa.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Big changes are coming for local government. “Radical simplification” might be overselling things, but shifting to a single-tier of local government is still the biggest change since 1989.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/oversold-o...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/oversold-o...
Feeling a sense of supercity déjà vu? Wellington’s push for a single unitary council is back for another round. 🥊
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/wellington...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/wellington...
Wellington's endless amalgamation debate: here we go again...
Voters in Porirua and Lower Hutt have opened the door for a possible unitary council for the Wellington region - a move that reignites one of local government’s most persistent and divisive debates.
localaotearoa.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Feeling a sense of supercity déjà vu? Wellington’s push for a single unitary council is back for another round. 🥊
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/wellington...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/wellington...
When The Washington Post introduced its slogan “Democracy dies in darkness”, it was warning about the dangers of an unaccountable government and a weakened fourth estate. But what happens when the darkness isn’t censorship or a vanishing press, but apathy?
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/stand-up-f...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/stand-up-f...
Stand up for local democracy - or lose it
As voters switch off, power shifts further towards the Beehive.
localaotearoa.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 8:17 AM
When The Washington Post introduced its slogan “Democracy dies in darkness”, it was warning about the dangers of an unaccountable government and a weakened fourth estate. But what happens when the darkness isn’t censorship or a vanishing press, but apathy?
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/stand-up-f...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/stand-up-f...
From making sure you've read all your council papers through to the special joy of reply all emails, a former district councillor shares his advice to help the incoming 2025 cohort of councillors, mayors, and chairs survive the coming triennium.
open.substack.com/pub/localaot...
open.substack.com/pub/localaot...
So, you’ve been elected: A former councillor’s survival guide
As the dust settles on this year’s local government elections, a new group of freshly elected and returning councillors are preparing themselves to tackle the coming triennium.
open.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 8:47 AM
From making sure you've read all your council papers through to the special joy of reply all emails, a former district councillor shares his advice to help the incoming 2025 cohort of councillors, mayors, and chairs survive the coming triennium.
open.substack.com/pub/localaot...
open.substack.com/pub/localaot...
Love local democracy? 🧡
Show it by making sure to cast your votes in your local government elections by 12 noon, Saturday 11 October. 🗳
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/vote-befor...
Show it by making sure to cast your votes in your local government elections by 12 noon, Saturday 11 October. 🗳
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/vote-befor...
Vote before 12 noon, Saturday 11 October!
If you haven’t already, please remember to cast your vote in your local government elections.
localaotearoa.substack.com
October 4, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Love local democracy? 🧡
Show it by making sure to cast your votes in your local government elections by 12 noon, Saturday 11 October. 🗳
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/vote-befor...
Show it by making sure to cast your votes in your local government elections by 12 noon, Saturday 11 October. 🗳
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/vote-befor...
A big tick for more transparency! ☑️ That's the message from GWRC candidates who responded to a question about whether they supported the council opening up its currently closed-door workshops and briefings in line with most other councils.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/greater-we...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/greater-we...
Greater Wellington candidates want to open up workshops and briefings
The majority of Greater Wellington Regional Council candidates who responded to a question from Local Aotearoa want the council to open up its closed-door workshops and briefings to the public, bringi...
localaotearoa.substack.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:26 AM
A big tick for more transparency! ☑️ That's the message from GWRC candidates who responded to a question about whether they supported the council opening up its currently closed-door workshops and briefings in line with most other councils.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/greater-we...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/greater-we...
Local Aotearoa reached out to Kāpiti's six mayoral candidates to give them an opportunity to share their views on Kāpiti's role in any possible amalgamation of councils in the Wellington region.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/three-kapi...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/three-kapi...
Three Kāpiti mayoral candidates share views on amalgamation
Wellington local government amalgamation has implications for Kāpiti regardless of whether we’re in or out of a hypothetical regional entity.
localaotearoa.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Local Aotearoa reached out to Kāpiti's six mayoral candidates to give them an opportunity to share their views on Kāpiti's role in any possible amalgamation of councils in the Wellington region.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/three-kapi...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/three-kapi...
Greater Wellington's CEO and Chair kept a warning letter from the Ombudsman secret from councillors and their risk committee, raising questions about the commitment of GWRC's two most senior figures to basic principles of transparency and accountability.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/councillor...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/councillor...
Councillors and risk committee kept in dark over Ombudsman's warning
EXCLUSIVE: Greater Wellington Regional Council’s CEO and its Chair kept both councillors and their Finance, Risk and Assurance Committee completely in the dark about a warning letter from the Ombudsma...
localaotearoa.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Greater Wellington's CEO and Chair kept a warning letter from the Ombudsman secret from councillors and their risk committee, raising questions about the commitment of GWRC's two most senior figures to basic principles of transparency and accountability.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/councillor...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/councillor...
Investing in professional development is a positive thing, but with public money it comes with transparency and accountability. So what's with a Kāpiti Coast councillor launching a Trumpian attack on their "political enemies" over a LGOIMA request?
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/councillor...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/councillor...
Councillor channels Trump: attacks "political enemies", opposes transparency
One Kāpiti Coast District Councillor has echoed the rhetoric of US President Donald Trump in railing against her perceived “political enemies”.
localaotearoa.substack.com
September 28, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Investing in professional development is a positive thing, but with public money it comes with transparency and accountability. So what's with a Kāpiti Coast councillor launching a Trumpian attack on their "political enemies" over a LGOIMA request?
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/councillor...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/councillor...
The key thing about a joke - perhaps its most important defining element - is that it’s funny.
We'll leave it up to you to decide if a candidate joking about te reo Māori is funny and what doing so instead of answering an easy question says about them.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/act-candid...
We'll leave it up to you to decide if a candidate joking about te reo Māori is funny and what doing so instead of answering an easy question says about them.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/act-candid...
ACT candidate claims refusal to answer question due to "Aotearoa" was a joke
Between you and me, the key thing about a joke - perhaps the single most important defining element, arguably the main aspect which separates it from being confused or misconstrued, the bit that makes...
localaotearoa.substack.com
September 20, 2025 at 10:49 PM
The key thing about a joke - perhaps its most important defining element - is that it’s funny.
We'll leave it up to you to decide if a candidate joking about te reo Māori is funny and what doing so instead of answering an easy question says about them.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/act-candid...
We'll leave it up to you to decide if a candidate joking about te reo Māori is funny and what doing so instead of answering an easy question says about them.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/act-candid...
I mean, if even King Charles III can use Aotearoa to refer to our country… 🤷♂️
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/act-counci...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/act-counci...
ACT council candidate can't answer question due to "Aotearoa"
It was a simple question on whether or not candidates thought Greater Wellington Regional Council should open up its workshops and briefings as recommended by the Ombudsman.
localaotearoa.substack.com
September 20, 2025 at 3:10 AM
I mean, if even King Charles III can use Aotearoa to refer to our country… 🤷♂️
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/act-counci...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/act-counci...
Another day, another dumb campaign policy to call out.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/candidates...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/candidates...
Candidates can't cut councillors' pay, and for good reason
Controversial opinion: Local government politicians are generally underpaid for the role they perform.
localaotearoa.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Another day, another dumb campaign policy to call out.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/candidates...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/candidates...
Despite early setbacks, Wayne Brown has used the profile, powers, and resources of Auckland's mayoralty in a way that his predecessors were unwilling to embrace. He now looks set to win an even bigger electoral landslide than he achieved in 2022.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/from-flood...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/from-flood...
From flood fiasco to looming landslide: Wayne Brown's mayoral turnaround
Few mayoralties have gotten off to a worse start than Wayne Brown’s.
localaotearoa.substack.com
September 14, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Despite early setbacks, Wayne Brown has used the profile, powers, and resources of Auckland's mayoralty in a way that his predecessors were unwilling to embrace. He now looks set to win an even bigger electoral landslide than he achieved in 2022.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/from-flood...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/from-flood...
As we've been saying...
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 AM
As we've been saying...
The reality is rates capping is a choice between investing now or leaving our kids and grandkids to pick up the tab for our short-sightedness. It's almost as if we've learnt nothing from the decades of under-investment in three waters infrastructure. 🤦♂️
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/rates-capp...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/rates-capp...
Rates capping: lazy politics for lazy politicians
With Local Government Minister Simon Watts working on a rates capping policy to go to Cabinet before Christmas, it’s worth calling out the idea for what it is - lazy politics for lazy politicians.
localaotearoa.substack.com
August 31, 2025 at 7:56 AM
The reality is rates capping is a choice between investing now or leaving our kids and grandkids to pick up the tab for our short-sightedness. It's almost as if we've learnt nothing from the decades of under-investment in three waters infrastructure. 🤦♂️
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/rates-capp...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/rates-capp...
It’s easy to talk up alternative visions when the people floating them aren’t paying. The real challenge is delivering realistic, funded proposals. If someone’s colourful kite flying doesn’t come with a price tag and a plan, you’re right to be sceptical.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/colourful-...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/colourful-...
Colourful kites but empty ideas? The art of political kite flying
One of my favourite parts of local government elections (and Parliamentary ones too) is the time-honoured tradition of kite flying.
localaotearoa.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 8:15 PM
It’s easy to talk up alternative visions when the people floating them aren’t paying. The real challenge is delivering realistic, funded proposals. If someone’s colourful kite flying doesn’t come with a price tag and a plan, you’re right to be sceptical.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/colourful-...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/colourful-...
In politics, some kites take off and become real, useful projects. But others are cynically intended to muddy the waters, spike actual realistic proposals, promote unviable pet projects, or are used to distract from the real issues.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/colourful-...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/colourful-...
Colourful kites but empty ideas? The art of political kite flying
One of my favourite parts of local government elections (and Parliamentary ones too) is the time-honoured tradition of kite flying.
localaotearoa.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 8:56 AM
In politics, some kites take off and become real, useful projects. But others are cynically intended to muddy the waters, spike actual realistic proposals, promote unviable pet projects, or are used to distract from the real issues.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/colourful-...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/colourful-...
Candidates often promise to freeze or slash rates increases while somehow not reducing core council services or infrastructure. Yet if you want to know how they'll achieve this, you'll usually only find vacuous statements rather than transparent costings. 🤨
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/promises-t...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/promises-t...
Promises to slash rates increases without specific costings aren't worth the pixels they're projected on
It’s age old advice that isn’t heeded as much as it should be: if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably isn’t.
localaotearoa.substack.com
August 17, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Candidates often promise to freeze or slash rates increases while somehow not reducing core council services or infrastructure. Yet if you want to know how they'll achieve this, you'll usually only find vacuous statements rather than transparent costings. 🤨
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/promises-t...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/promises-t...
Watching the reactions of NIMBYs lately we can safely conclude that they're deeply unserious people, saying deeply unserious things, about a deeply unserious ideology.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/deeply-uns...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/deeply-uns...
Deeply unserious NIMBYs saying deeply unserious things
One of the great sources of fun when dealing with NIMBYs comes from reading the deeply unserious arguments and comparisons they make while attempting to justify their objective failure of an ideology.
localaotearoa.substack.com
August 9, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Watching the reactions of NIMBYs lately we can safely conclude that they're deeply unserious people, saying deeply unserious things, about a deeply unserious ideology.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/deeply-uns...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/deeply-uns...