Local Democracy Reporting

Cheviot Area School has struggled to retain experienced staff in recent years, but its new principal says she is there to stay and make it her home.

Reducing the speed limit on State Highway 1 south of Amberley from 80km/h to 60km/h or even 50km/h will improve safety, the Hurunui District Council says.

Environment Canterbury is proposing a rates rise of just under 3%. But one councillor broke down in tears of frustration over the constraints being put on the regional council by the Government's reforms and rates capping.

Pensioners can continue presenting their SuperGold card to ride on Environment Canterbury buses for now - but a change is coming.

Rates will go up in the Ashburton District, but work on the roads looks set to be reduced after “overspending” in the last two years.

Ashburton district councillors are proposing to hire a Lake Hood operations manager as part of the draft annual plan, which would sink more money into the algae-plagued man-made lake.

Ashburton's Balmoral Hall is now empty, crumbling, and awaiting confirmation of its demolition.

The cost of Rangiora's long-awaited eastern link road has almost doubled, meaning ratepayers face a bigger bill.

A North Canterbury council is hoping to find a community-led solution to homelessness in its district.

A challenging summer season has seen sponsorship dry up for events in Hanmer Springs, a local business leader says.

Not having a dedicated open-ocean rescue tug for Cook Strait is putting lives and economic lifelines in peril, authorities say.

Large parts of South Wairarapa could become inaccessible in the event of severe flooding, with key access routes into Martinborough set to close.