CoveragePost
January 8, 2026
New Zealand former Invercargill and Waitematā mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt died today. He was 78. Sir Tim, who was awarded the Knight Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List, served eight terms as Invercargill Mayor between 1993 and 1995, and again between 1998-2022, and two terms as Waitematā ... <a title="‘An extraordinary, charismatic man’: Sir Tim Shadbolt dies at 78" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/08/an-extraordinary-charismatic-man-sir-tim-shadbolt-dies-at-78/" aria-label="Read more about ‘An extraordinary, charismatic man’: Sir Tim Shadbolt dies at 78">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 16, 2025
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Elizabeth Tako Palin is one of five women contesting the Bougainville North women’s reserved seat next month. It was previously held by Amanda Masono, who has chosen to contest the open Atolls seat, which was once held by her father. The autonomous Papua New Guinea region is holding ... <a title="‘I believe I can’: Elizabeth Palin runs for Bougainville North women’s seat" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/16/i-believe-i-can-elizabeth-palin-runs-for-bougainville-north-womens-seat/" aria-label="Read more about ‘I believe I can’: Elizabeth Palin runs for Bougainville North women’s seat">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 15, 2025
By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist Former Pacific candidates and new faces are putting their names forward for this year’s Auckland local government election in Aotearoa. The final confirmed list of candidates is out. In the Manukau ward, Councillor Lotu Fuli, one of three current Auckland councillors of Pacific descent, has also served on the ... <a title="‘We need to be involved’: Pasifika candidates running in Auckland local election" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/15/we-need-to-be-involved-pasifika-candidates-running-in-auckland-local-election/" aria-label="Read more about ‘We need to be involved’: Pasifika candidates running in Auckland local election">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 15, 2024
RNZ News A group representing local councils in Aotearoa New Zealand is calling for the Local Democracy Reporting programme to be expanded after the media company NZME announced a proposal to close 14 community newspapers. The LDR programme funds local authority coverage at various publications and is managed and funded by RNZ with support from ... <a title="Call for expanded Local Democracy Reporting scheme as NZME plans to shut community papers" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/11/15/call-for-expanded-local-democracy-reporting-scheme-as-nzme-plans-to-shut-community-papers/" aria-label="Read more about Call for expanded Local Democracy Reporting scheme as NZME plans to shut community papers">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 22, 2024
By Eleisha Foon, RNZ Pacific journalist Fa’anānā Efeso Collins is being remembered as a pillar of the Pacific community with a “big heart of service”, who loved being a husband and father. The 49-year-old Samoan-Tokelauan leader and Greens MP has been described as someone who embodied the Samoan proverb: “o le ala i le pule ... <a title="Pasifika leaders remember ‘stand-out community leader’ Fa’anānā Efeso Collins" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/02/22/pasifika-leaders-remember-stand-out-community-leader-faanana-efeso-collins/" aria-label="Read more about Pasifika leaders remember ‘stand-out community leader’ Fa’anānā Efeso Collins">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 28, 2023
By Craig Ashworth, Local Democracy Reporter South Taranaki’s iwi and council have drawn up a new partnership agreement just as the Aotearoa New Zealand’s new conservative coalition government plans to take an axe to co-governance. He Pou Tikanga Partnership Strategy sets out why and how South Taranaki District Council will increase collaboration with the area’s ... <a title="Iwi and council join forces as new NZ government signals cuts to co-governance" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/11/28/iwi-and-council-join-forces-as-new-nz-government-signals-cuts-to-co-governance/" aria-label="Read more about Iwi and council join forces as new NZ government signals cuts to co-governance">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 18, 2023
By Alisha Evans for Te Ao Māori , Local Democracy Reporting After a 12-year fight, mana whenua will get a seat at the table after the Western Bay of Plenty District Council has voted to establish Māori wards at the next election. Applause then waiata rang out from the packed public gallery as the councillors ... <a title="NZ’s Western Bay of Plenty councillors vote for Māori wards – ‘a momentous day’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/18/nzs-western-bay-of-plenty-councillors-vote-for-maori-wards-a-momentous-day/" aria-label="Read more about NZ’s Western Bay of Plenty councillors vote for Māori wards – ‘a momentous day’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 28, 2022
By Conan Young , Local Democracy Reporting editor This year was another huge one for Local Democracy Reporting, with our reporters at the forefront of uncovering some of the biggest stories in their regions. Felix Desmarais in Rotorua exposed hitherto secret plans by the council to revoke the reserve status of seven council reserves, paving ... <a title="Local Democracy Reporting: Secret plans, health chaos, climate change among NZ’s top 2022 stories" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/12/28/local-democracy-reporting-secret-plans-health-chaos-climate-change-among-nzs-top-2022-stories/" aria-label="Read more about Local Democracy Reporting: Secret plans, health chaos, climate change among NZ’s top 2022 stories">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 16, 2022
MEDIAWATCH: By Hayden Donnell, RNZ Mediawatch producer Once again Aotearoa New Zealand’s local elections were plagued by low voter turnout and a lack of engagement. Is the media coverage, or lack thereof, contributing to the problem — and what can it do to help? In dozens of campaign trail appearances, new Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown ... <a title="Mediawatch: Coverage vital for NZ’s democracy but fact-checking in short supply" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/10/16/mediawatch-coverage-vital-for-nzs-democracy-but-fact-checking-in-short-supply/" aria-label="Read more about Mediawatch: Coverage vital for NZ’s democracy but fact-checking in short supply">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 10, 2022
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: Voters have sent a very strong signal, but will Central Government listen? The results of the local government elections will be very difficult to process for the political left. Overall, it was a disaster for progressives, and a boon for conservatives. The left has to deal with a ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Voters have sent a very strong signal, but will Central Government listen?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/10/10/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-voters-have-sent-a-very-strong-signal-but-will-central-government-listen/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Voters have sent a very strong signal, but will Central Government listen?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 31, 2022
By Stephen Forbes of Local Democracy Reporting Despite total borrowings reaching $11.1 billion, the Auckland Council Group’s latest results show it has managed to weather the worst of the storm created by the covid pandemic. But the super city’s statement to the NZX shows it will face some tough times ahead as it seeks to ... <a title="Super city Auckland’s council financial results signal tough times ahead" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/08/31/super-city-aucklands-council-financial-results-signal-tough-times-ahead/" aria-label="Read more about Super city Auckland’s council financial results signal tough times ahead">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 21, 2022
By Ashleigh McCaull, RNZ News Te Ao Māori reporter Māori councillors have detailed the torrents of abuse and racism they say they face in their role. It is something Local Government New Zealand says it has to confront as it tries to make councils more diverse. It comes as its new programme Te Āhuru Mōwai ... <a title="Māori councillors condemn racism faced in NZ local government role" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/07/21/maori-councillors-condemn-racism-faced-in-nz-local-government-role/" aria-label="Read more about Māori councillors condemn racism faced in NZ local government role">Read more</a>
