Written by David Hill
Residents of Clarkville have won a safer route after heavy trucks were barred from Baynons Road, easing dust and safety fears.
Flood damage in Kaikōura has bolstered council scrutiny of a proposed Ocean Ridge expansion after modelling was shown to match the July deluge.
Ratepayers may see little immediate savings as councils enter the harder stage of redesigning merged authorities and ward representation.
Canterbury councils say fast-track housing could strain local infrastructure, after the minister rejected their call for a pause and review.
The Government says large schools could save about NZD $8000 a year as solar panels are fitted over three years.
South Island councils say the region gets too little of New Zealand's transport budget, despite generating a quarter of the population and a third of exports.
Amberley commuters may soon have a $5 bus to Christchurch, ending the Hurunui district's long public transport drought.
The move should cut electricity bills and emissions, with Oxford Area School among 500 schools to get rooftop panels over three years.
