The future shape of local government is becoming a defining issue in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council by-election, with candidate Toi Iti campaigning for stronger local representation and warning that bigger councils could come at the cost of communities having a meaningful say over their own futures. Iti is putting local decision-making, community representation…

Years of community advocacy have reached a major milestone in Raetihi, with the sod officially turned on the expansion of the Waimarino Health Centre — a development Te Mātuku says demonstrates what can happen when rural health services are designed around the voices and needs of local whānau. Te Mātuku Chief Executive Elijah Pue says…