Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

For years, New Zealanders have been told that giving unelected representatives voting rights on council committees was about inclusion, partnership, and better decision-making. This week, the Government effectively said something many ratepayers have been saying for a long time. · Advice can be appointed. · Power should be elected. · The Government has announced that voting rights on council committees will be restricted to elected councillors.…

The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance has slammed the Government for exempting the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) from a law change to ban unelected members from voting on council decisions. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE · Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman Josh Van Veen said: · "This morning on Newstalk ZB, Simon Watts said, quite rightly, that it is wrong for unelected members to have voting rights. So why should Auckland's local democracy be the…

New Zealand borrowers may not have seen the last of rising interest rates. · In its latest economic outlook, Kiwibank's economists have warned that the Reserve Bank is now signalling a much more aggressive stance toward inflation than previously expected, with the possibility of Official Cash Rate (OCR) increases beginning as early as July. By elocal Business Desk · The warning comes as households continue to grapple with elevated living costs,…

New Zealand's fuel and energy security challenges continue to generate strong debate, and recent discussions within the NZ Fuel Watch community highlight growing public concern about the country's long-term resilience. The conversation began with a seemingly simple question from Karl regarding the tanker Hafnia Falcon. Observing the vessel repeatedly moving between ports, Karl wondered whether the ship was delivering fuel or collecting…

Who said getting older means slowing down? · At Acacia Cove Village in Wattle Downs, retirement is less about winding back and more about finally having the freedom to enjoy life your way. With much of the day-to-day maintenance taken care of, residents have more time to do what they enjoy most. Whether that means social activities, peaceful walks, cycling, gardening, relaxing with friends, or simply enjoying the beautiful surroundings, life at…

As we move into winter, New Zealand's fuel supply chain continues to perform well despite operating within a system that remains heavily dependent on imported refined products. The latest vessel schedules show a healthy flow of fuel arriving at key ports around the country, with Marsden Point once again acting as the primary gateway into New Zealand's fuel network. There are no immediate signs of supply disruption, and motorists can take…

It happens in a split second. · A crunch. · A scrape. · That sinking “Uh ohh…” feeling in your stomach. · Whether it’s a car park mishap or a serious collision, the stress can be overwhelming. But in Pukekohe, there’s one simple piece of advice: · Keep calm and call the experts. · For more than 30 years, Classic Auto Body Panel & Paint Ltd has been the trusted name in collision repair across Pukekohe and the greater Franklin region. What began…

This week’s Budget confirmed what most New Zealanders already suspected. The government’s finances are tight, the deficit persists, and there is no pot of money waiting to be spent on the country’s problems. Dr Oliver Hartwich | Executive Director | oliver.hartwich@nzinitiative.org.nz · Just as well, because government spending never delivers growth or prosperity. The question is, what will? · While the reformers of the mid-1980s faced an…

Source: Kiwibank Economics · ▪ Budget 2026 delivered no real surprises. As expected, set on the backdrop of a global uncertainty, the Budget revealed a short-term downgrade to the economic outlook. · ▪ A more uncertain global outlook didn’t seem to hinder longer term growth in Treasury’s forecasts. Indeed, a rebound is predicted that falls outside our own expectations. Inflation is forecast to peak at 4.0% in the June quarter of 2026, lower…

By Mike Hosking · I asked for the surplus to arrive sooner than previously forecast and, as though she was listening this time yesterday, the first words out of Nicola Willis' mouth were it will be a year ahead of schedule. · You can't ask for more than that. · That’s not an election year lolly, but I'm increasingly of the belief that a growing number of New Zealanders have got the message. · A growing number of us have been shaken into the…