Felix Desmarais
Local Democracy Reporter
Local Democracy Reporter
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Check out Felix’s latest content
Fighting for Rotorua: Emergency housing motel ads targeted out-of-towners
RotoruaNZ says motels attracting out-of-towners only exacerbate emergency housing issues.
'Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart': Tania Tapsell claims victory
Tania Tapsell is the first Māori woman mayor of Rotorua
Felix Desmarais: Royals seem like part of the family
OPINION: I got a little bit confused about exactly who the royal family was.
Comment: This is the most important rule in life
COMMENT: I thought adults had it all figured out but it turns out, maybe not.
Felix Desmarais: The pronunciation of 'helicopter' has me in a spin
OPINION: Language reaches across barriers and cultures to our mutual humanity.
Felix Desmarais: Unlocking my love for the regions
OPINION: Big city life might be action-packed, but living in the regions has its perks.
Felix Desmarais: Why I'm calling it a day on travelling with my mum
COMMENT: There's a common denominator in my travel stories of woe.
Felix Desmarais: Lemons, feijoas and karma in the suburbs
OPINION: Not everyone lives in the same fruity Pollyanna world as me, and it hurt.
Felix Desmarais: The reason I'm cutting out technology for an hour a day
COMMENT: What have I become? It's not my fault, it's technology's fault.
Comment: Why I'm cancelling generational cancel culture
COMMENT: Listen up, Gen Z. I've got a message for you, you ungrateful little scamps.
'Respected' councillor quits in public meeting, claims mayor 'shunned' him
The resignation came after a decision to discuss a controversial bill in private
Chocolate fish, T-shirts and a can of Coke: BOP council leaders' credit card spend
Only one mayor among the four councils holds a credit card.
Muffins, scones and cups of tea: Bay of Plenty leaders gobble almost $118k in a year
One council spent almost $40,000 on catering.
Felix Desmarais: 'Transgender people exist. We are real, we are natural'
Opinion: Parliament supporting transgender rights is a precious, flickering flame.
Thurston humbled by NZer of the Year nomination
Rotorua has two semi-finalists in the running to be NZer of the Year.
Bay regional councillors spent $134k in last financial year
The costs of individual councillors ranged from over $15k to under $1000.
Scones, cards and picnics - how Bay leaders are spending lockdown
How are you spending lockdown?
'The devil is in the detail': Some Bay leaders remain cautious over Three Waters cash
One person says she wants to see how the reform will work with iwi.
Meet the Rotorua man who fought for 40 years for folic acid in bread
When Lyall Thurston's son was born in 1983, doctors said he had 24 hours to live.
Felix Desmarais: Running is hard, but facing bigotry is harder
OPINION: As a young queer person, the world taught me how to internalise the bullying.
Bowel cancer killed my friend Ness. This is what I learned
Opinion: We have room in our hearts for everyone, why not let them in, just like Ness did?
Govt to curb speed limits near schools nationwide
Speeds around urban schools could drop to 30 km/h.
'Raw and naked debate': should council workshops be open to the public?
Over three years, 31 councils held 737 informal meetings in secret.
Disabled to get free bus travel by July
It's a move one disability advocate says is "awesome".
Youth cancer survival rates increased - but less likely if you live in a region
Haley Thomas can't wait to turn 30. She didn't think she'd live that long.
'Utterly offensive': Seymour taken to task on apartheid comparison
Act's David Seymour compared the new Māori ward legislation to apartheid in South Africa.
Bon appetit: Catering costs total $225,000 in two years
Figures revealed after Local Democracy Reporting request.
Airbnb regulation 'big brother territory' - Tourism Minister
Stuart Nash also backtracked on comments he made earlier in the week.
Revealed: How much local councils, DHBs spent on communications last year
Local Government NZ president Stuart Crosby says the public will want bang for their buck.
What does Jacinda Ardern think about being called 'Cindy'?
We sat down for a quick one-on-one with the PM.
Hannah Tamaki: 'Why should I be squeezed into a little box?
The controversial leader of Vision NZ says criticism is "water off a swan's back".
Destiny Church leader will challenge Coffey in Waiariki
Tāmati Coffey will go up against Hannah Tamaki and Rawiri Waititi to defend his seat.
There is only one 'Best Boy': What Rotorua residents named their dogs
Did your dogs name make the top ten? Or is your pooch one-of-a-kind?