Category: LDR

Source: Radio New Zealand

Canterbury’s regional council says it is continuing to address coastal protection rules, but conservationists say it is not acting fast enough.

Environment Canterbury says a review of the Canterbury Regional Coastal Environment Plan is ongoing, despite the government’s halt on planning work.

But Forest & Bird and Greenpeace want action now to protect wildlife and biodiversity.

The plan was adopted in 2005 to promote the sustainable management of Canterbury’s coastline.

The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement was subsequently introduced in 2010.

ECan councillor Genevieve Robinson has been advocating for the regional coastal plan to be updated for several years.

Her notice of motion two years ago led to councillors calling for aspects of the plan to be reviewed last year.

But the coastal environmental has been forced to take a back seat as the council faces pressures from reform and rates capping, Robinson said.

“We are still obligated to look after the coast and our Mana Whenua partners want us to look after the coast.

Forest & Bird Canterbury / West Coast regional conservation manager Nicky Snoyink said the council could not use the government’s planning pause as an excuse.

“Recent incidents including boat groundings, oil spills, and dolphin deaths are clear warning signs that Canterbury’s marine environment needs stronger planning, monitoring and enforcement, urgently.”

Greenpeace oceans campaigner Juan Parada said “a robust and fit for purpose” regional plan was urgently needed.

“We’ve seen how centralised control has prioritised private profit over ocean health.

“An updated plan would allow for precautionary management that reflects the care Canterbury residents have for their coast, ensuring we protect species like the Hector’s dolphin or hoiho (yellow-eye penguins).”

ECan acting regional planning manager Lisa Jenkins said the council is continuing to review coastal plan, which will feed into a Combined Regional Plan for Canterbury

She said the council’s 2024/34 Long Plan Plan had anticipated a plan change being notified later this year.

“While there are some limited exemption pathways through the ‘plan stop’, it is unlikely a coastal plan change would meet the criteria for an exemption, other than to manage a specific natural hazard.”

Under the proposed legislation, a Combined Regional Plan would need to be in place by 2029.

It will include a regional spatial chapter, natural environment and land use chapters, and will incorporate district and regional plan functions, Jenkins said.

The existing coastal plan applies to the entire coastal marine area from Kekerengu, north of Kaikōura, to Waitaki, and out to 12 nautical miles.

It also addresses sea level rise and climate change by directing development away from areas prone to erosion and coastal flooding.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/17/ecan-says-coastal-protection-a-priority-despite-planning-handbrake/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Gisborne is a step closer to taking control of regional waste, but some district councillors expressed “discomfort” over the process.

Councillors voted on a preferred site for developing the regional Refuse Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre at a council meeting on Thursday.

The 275 Lytton Road site was the recommended option in the council report and “the strongest” according to technical and financial assessments.

However, a mana whenua group, Te Kuri a Tuatai Marae, opposed the site, which was close to their marae.

Confirming the preferred site allows council staff to move into the next planning stages, involving a detailed concept design, cost refinement and a business case.

Māori ward councillor Nick Tupara said the council had not been “the best neighbour” to Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāwhiri and Te Whānau a Iwi for some time.

Te Kurī ā Tuatai Marae representatives expressed concerns about the site’s proximity and its visual impacts and prospects of noise, odour and increased traffic, potential effects on the Waikanae Awa, and the wider historical context of waste management in the area, according to the council’s meeting report.

There were ongoing legacy matters on environmental remediation, such as the former Paokahu landfill, which had “influenced perspectives”.

“A key message from marae representatives was: ‘Why address new waste infrastructure when historic waste impacts remain unresolved?’” the report reads.

Tupara voted against the report, along with Māori ward councillors Rhonda Tibble and Anne Huriwai, and general ward councillors Debbie Gregory and Samuel Gibson.

Gregory said the report was “bittersweet” to read. It was her “dream” to see the facility realised.

“I hate to delay anything as cool as this, but in my heart I can’t say yes at this point.”

Both Tibble and Gibson said they felt the “discomfort” in their “puku”.

Delaying the project would result in foregone savings estimated at $1.5 million to $3.2m per year, which would increase over time, the report reads.

“Previous analysis identified an estimated $8.7m capital cost advantage compared with a new Greenfield facility, with further modelling confirming ongoing system‑wide benefits from council ownership.”

Gisborne’s current supply chain for waste creates “market inefficiencies, increased costs, and poor sustainability incentives”, a presentation slide read.

Residents pay $527 per tonne of general waste disposal at the Gisborne Refuse Transfer Station, compared with the national average of $220-$430 p/t.

The cost to the region is estimated to be $12m per year and was forecast to be $16m per year by 2033.

Mayor Rehette Stoltz and Māori ward councillor Rawinia Parata “hesitantly” and “tentatively” supported the paper, and deputy mayor Aubrey Ria said it had caused her much “āmaimai” (anxiety).

Stoltz said she had seen the council go “above and beyond” the Treaty compass to make sure it was not a transitional relationship.

“If we decide today to move this forward, we will do better, and we will keep the door open to focus on improving that relationship.”

Parata said she was interested in the pathways of improving, beautifying and supporting the surrounding areas.

As part of the next phase of work, the council would prioritise a governance-led “best neighbour” approach, according to the council report.

This included environmental protection and enhancement beyond minimum compliance, and design and operational controls that would minimise noise, odour, litter, traffic and visual effects.

Ria said her vote of support did not “predetermine” her decision that the final confirmation of the site was “set in stone”.

She was “willing to take the risk of the further expense” and hoped for “some progression in [council’s] kōrero with hapū and marae”.

She asked whether the transfer station would also go out for consultation with the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, which had been adopted for consultation at the meeting.

Chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann confirmed that the council would “use the same channels to get the information out at the same time”.

Councillor Larry Foster said he was “totally happy” to move the report, which councillor Alexander Boros seconded.

He was sure most of the community would support the decision.

“To have a facility that we can totally recycle and utilise our waste is absolutely awesome.”

Chief adviser of Māori partnerships Gene Takurua said he did not want to “challenge or disrespect” the position of marae, hapū and iwi, but did not think the council got to engage or discuss “the real kaupapa” and “opportunity at hand”.

This was because of the legacy issues that continued to impact the surrounding area, Rongowhakaata iwi and the hapū concerned.

Opportunity was provided for the marae and Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust to “sit as equal partners” and be recognised for time, effort and contribution.

“Hand on heart, I feel that we certainly aligned with our Treaty requirements and responsibilities in terms of our attempts.”

The council report states that further sites had been explored; these sites either could not support future growth, recycling and recovery initiatives, posed significantly higher operational costs, or were not suitable for the Regional Resource Centre.

The Lytton Road site was the only site within council ownership that could be progressed without significant delays, rework or additional land acquisition.

The site options were 75 Innes Street (status quo), 275 Lytton Road and a greenfields site in the vicinity of Gisborne City.

The recommended option voted on by councillors meant the council would continue to “actively invite mana whenua engagement, including opportunities to participate in design refinement, environmental enhancement, monitoring and ongoing dialogue”.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/14/gisborne-councillors-back-waste-hub-site-despite-mana-whenua-opposition/

Source: Radio New Zealand

It will be more expensive to travel on Wellington’s public transport later this year.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council voted on Thursday to hike Metlink’s base fare by 3.1 percent and slash the off-peak discount from 30 percent to 20 percent but the changes will start only after contactless payments using debit and credit cards are activated on the Snapper system.

Both dates are yet to be confirmed: Metlink officials said at Thursday’s council meeting contactless payments would start “mid to early April” and it would be up to six weeks afterwards when fares would change.

That means for a passenger commuting between suburbs such as Karori, Khandallah, Lyall Bay and the city centre, rush-hour fares are going up from $4.53 to $4.67, but off-peak fares rise from $3.17 to $3.74. Those paying contactless are charged an extra 1.5 percent card fee.

Papers from Thursday’s meeting estimated that as things stands, Metlink’s fare revenue this financial year would be about $3 million lower than budgeted, but officials said that number could still change.

It blamed a combination of factors: the number of train passengers continued to fall, while “socio-economic changes” like flexible work arrangements, slower economic recovery and unemployment contributed to an emerging decline in bus passenger numbers.

Councillors were divided on how much to increase the base fare and the timing of the rise, which was slated originally for July.

Council chairperson Daran Ponter’s amendment brought it forward by a few months to soften any financial difficulty.

“We could exhaust all of our transport reserves as a consequence of stuff that is happening on the network right now,” he said. “It means we’ve got no buffer in the next financial year when many of these things could still continue to play out.”

Ros Connelly, the chairperson of the regional council’s public transport committee, said the 3.1 percent increase was the limit between prudent economic management and what the public could afford. She also wanted any hikes to happen in July.

Councillor Adrienne Staples was in favour of a 4.1 percent base fare increase to take pressure off ratepayers. “While my personal preference in an ideal world would be to have free public transport across our whole region. It’s not where we work at the moment. We cannot afford to keep going out the back door.”

Last year, Metlink increased its fares by 2.2 percent and dropped the off-peak discount from 50 percent to 30 percent.

Thursday’s meeting papers also revealed this financial year’s fares and advertising income would likely make up less than the targeted 25.1 percent of Metlink’s total revenue, with the next year’s target set at 25.7 percent.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) laid new expectations for all public transport providers in 2024 to have fares and advertising income make up a specific proportion of its revenue.

NZTA’s target for Metlink was once at 42 percent, a figure that regional councillors said it would need to hike fares by as much as 70 percent to hit.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/20/metlink-fares-to-rise-by-3-1-percent-off-peak-discount-drops-again/

Source: Radio New Zealand

One of the Wellington region’s longest-serving politicians and best-known environmentalists has announced she will retire from politics later this year.

Green Party list MP and former Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown announced her retirement today, saying she would not be contesting the November election.

“Having served as a Green city councillor for fourteen years, two terms as mayor, and a Green Party list MP, I will continue to strongly support the Green Party,” she said.

“Serving as a member of Parliament for the Green Party has been a privilege. However, as one of the oldest MPs in this Parliament – and the oldest woman MP, I am looking forward to fewer midnight debates under anti-democratic urgency.”

She would continue her current Parliamentary role until the election, and support whoever the Green Party chose as its Wairarapa candidate.

“It has been a great experience being an MP based in Wairarapa and getting to know the area,” she said.

“I really love the Wairarapa. I will continue to enjoy the region, as we are staying here.”

She ha- been an MP since January 2024, served as Wellington mayor from 2010 until 2016, and was a Wellington councillor for 14 years before that.

She stood as a list MP in 1999 (the first MMP election), 2005, 2020 and 2023.

She would continue until the election as Green Party associate spokesperson on conservation (predator free), and its spokesperson on democracy and electoral reform, digitising government, and tourism and hospitality.

Her local government portfolio would pass to Mike Davidson, who ha- experience in local government, having served as a councillor in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick in a statement praised Wade-Brown’s contribution.

“Celia has given many decades to improving outcomes for Wellingtonians and te taiao as part of the Green Party. She is a champion for a sustainable living in local and central government. We respect Celia’s decision to step away from national politics at the end of this term. We expect she will continue to contribute to the Green Party, our shared values, and to bringing about a better world in whatever roles she chooses.”

Carterton-based Wade-Brown had been involved in local predator control and tourism initiatives like the Wairarapa walking festival.

While she had no current plans for her post-Parliament life, she was open to possibilities.

“I am standing down from politics, we will see what happens after November,” she said.

“If there are other opportunities that fit I could be interested.”

She expected her current Wairarapa predator control work would continue, as well as knowledge sharing around conservation issues, and involvement in the walking festival.

“Beyond the election, I will continue to protect native habitat in the Wairarapa against rats, stoats, deer, and possums.

“I’m also going to be doing pack-rafting, cycling, tramping and things that don’t fit easily into a Parliamentary schedule.

“And, most exciting, in 2025 I became a grandmother.”

She would have a full schedule in Parliament up until November.

“In 2026, I will continue to speak up for people, te tiriti, and nature.

“With support from back-benchers across most parties, I hope to progress my domestic cat microchipping members bill.”

Highlights of Wade-Brown’s Wellington local government career included helping turn the Capital into an award-winning centre for urban diversity.

She and her council helped introduce the Predator Free Wellington initiative, targeting rats, stoats and other predators. They also helped Zealandia become financially and environmentally sustainable, and enabled Wellington Zoo to become an environmental leader.

She had put cycling on Wellington’s agenda, with the city now considered Asia-Pacific’s third best for getting around by bike.

Under Wade-Brown the city was also the first to introduce a bylaw requiring cat registration, an initiative she hoped to help take nationwide.

She praised her colleagues.

“The talent within the Green Party staff, elected representatives in local and central government, branch members, and networks is immense.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/28/green-mp-celia-wade-brown-to-stand-down-at-election/