Local Focus: Meng Foon on lunches, blackmailing gang members and te reo Māori
Gisborne treasure Meng Foon in his last days as mayor. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
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Latest fromLocal Body Elections
Local Focus: NZ's youngest councillor sees climate change as the challenge of the century
Councillor Chandulal-Mackay on the region's challenges. Made with funding from NZ on Air.
Local Focus: Deputy Mayor has no time for people who try to talk Rotorua down
He's been called everything from poodle to puppet. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Campaign for trackless trams to Karori
There are already plans afoot for any money left over in Let's Get Welly Moving's kitty.
Local Focus: Stepping out of Meng Foon's shadow
Rehette Stoltz wants to be the one who makes history. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Never doubt Mark Thomas: Perennial candidate throws hat in ring again
Mark Thomas, the man who always comes back, is standing again for Auckland Council.
Local Focus: Could this be Gisborne's first Māori mayor?
Meredith Akuhata-Brown is fighting for the top job. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Local Focus: Call for more young councillors in Rotorua
Rotorua Councillor Tania Tapsell talks to Local Focus. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Local Focus: Rotorua Mayor has unfinished business
Chadwick wants 3rd term to finish what she started. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Local Focus: Mayoral runner-up aims for top spot
Reynold Macpherson discusses running for Rotorua Mayor. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Local Focus: Kelvin Clout to run for mayor, again
Clout hopes to be third time lucky. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Racism row: former real estate refuses to step down from powerful trust position
Former real estate agent defends himself in heated local body meeting.
Local Focus Waste Free Hack 7: BYO sushi containers
No more bins full of sushi packaging. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Josephine Bartley wins Auckland Council seat
Bartley will take over the vacated seat for the Maungakiekie-Tamaki ward.
Another councillor fails citizenship test, forcing by-election
Buller council face by-election after it was revealed a councillor was not a citizen.
Local Focus: One priority each day for Hastings mayoral candidates
What one thing will you do each day as mayor? Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Local Focus: Hastings mayoral candidates' background checks
What makes you qualified to be mayor? Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Yule's last day as Local Govt NZ president
Hastings mayor receives excellence award upon standing down as LGNZ president.
Editorial: Ardern gives party a face lift
The Mt Albert byelection has given Jacinda Ardern the street credibility to give Labour a fresh young face in its leadership.
Mayoral candidate gives back donation
Annoyed at a newspaper's questions, mayoral candidate gives back election donation.
What they said: Councillors' maiden speeches
Here are extracts from the five new faces on Auckland Council.
Watch NZH Local Focus: Dairy farmer to lead water discussions in the Bay
The chairman of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Doug Leeder explains that the water quality issue is a problem everybody needs to get their heads around, whether they live in a rural or urban environment. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Phil Goff reveals his Auckland 'cabinet'
Labour stalwart Phil Goff's pick of Franklin councillor Bill Cashmore as Auckland deputy mayor signals a centrist path ahead.
How the right went wrong in Auckland
The knives are out in the National Party after the centre-right's disastrous result at last weekend's local elections in Auckland.
Price of democracy could cost $35k
A losing candidate is adding thousands to the price of democracy, with a recount for the Hamilton mayoralty set to cost up to $35,000.
Councillor gets elected by six-vote margin
A Hutt City councillor has beaten out her closest rival by only six votes.
Watch NZH Local Focus: Mayor King 'felt warm and fuzzy'
Andrew King's majority has dropped again, down to just nine votes after special votes were counted. He speaks to Local Focus about his win. Made with funding from NZ on Air.
Watch NZH Local Focus: Mayor King 'felt warm and fuzzy'
Andrew King's majority has dropped again, down to just nine votes after special votes were counted. He speaks to Local Focus about his win. Made with funding from NZ on Air.
Second recount on Hamilton mayoralty
Paula Southgate has confirmed she will seek a recount of the Hamilton mayoralty after losing to Andrew King by just nine votes.
Political Roundup: How to fix a broken system
COMMENT: A variety of radical reforms and technocratic tweaks are being proposed for fixing the problem of low voter turnout. But which of these changes are worth voting for?
Assault alleged on eve of election
Re-elected community board member faces assault charge.
Watch NZH Local Focus: Hamilton at a crossroads - King vs Southgate
A complete absence of strategic voting has given Hamilton it's most interesting mayoral election in decades. And the final two hopefuls represent very different futures for the city. Made with funding from NZ on Air.
Political Roundup: Is it becoming acceptable not to vote?
COMMENT: Two-thirds of eligible voters chose not to vote in the local government elections. Should we be unimpressed?
Political Roundup: Business as usual election results
COMMENT: Have we just witnessed the rising red tide of the left, or a no-change election result?