Simon Watts
Local Government Minister
Topics
- Government council rates cap policyQuiet since 3 Dec 2025
- Local Water Done Well council decisionsQuiet since 21 Aug 2025
- Government climate targets and methane policyQuiet since 12 Dec 2025
- Council rates capOngoing
- Council amalgamation pauseOngoing
- Wellington Water reviews and governance concernsQuiet since 28 Mar 2025
- Regional council replacement proposalQuiet since 11 Dec 2025
- Government investment and visa changes 2025Quiet since 12 Mar 2025
- Budget 2025Quiet since 6 Jun 2025
- Wellington City Council politics and governanceQuiet since 28 May 2025
- Te Pāti Māori and Tāmaki Makaurau by-electionQuiet since 16 Sep 2025
- Oil and gas exploration ban repealQuiet since 1 Aug 2025
All stories
October 2026
- Hurunui chief executive defends Amberley Beach climate modelling
- Minister rules out reimbursement for council reform costs
- National pledges to remove Auckland's ban on minimum car parking
+1
September 2026
- Ruapehu mayor welcomes delay on council reform decisions
- Government pauses plans for council amalgamations until after election+4
- Parliament unanimously passes reforms to earthquake-prone building regime
- Waitomo mayor says new rates capping rules will not cause major change
August 2026
- Waikato mayors criticise government rates cap
- Government announces 4% cap on annual council rates increases
- South Taranaki faces stagnant future and council uncertainty
December 2025
- New mega-ministry MCERT announced to support government reform agenda
- Government rejects all Climate Change Commission emissions target recommendations
- Waikato mayors express concerns over proposed rates caps
- Mixed responses to government proposal to cap annual rates rises
- Government proposes rates cap to limit annual council increases
- Government begins work on regional council reform
- Government announces new rates cap policy for local councils+1
November 2025
- Government proposes replacing regional councils with boards of mayors+4
- Government announces changes to climate policy and emissions targets
October 2025
- Climate Minister denied leave to attend major climate summit
- Government lowers 2050 methane reduction target+1
- Expert warns government energy plan unlikely to reduce power bills
- Government to announce response to electricity market review
August 2025
- Secret memo warns of diplomatic damage if climate commitments are missed
- Christchurch councillor criticises government water reforms for adding red tape
- Experts warn of potential downsides to rate capping plans
- Government passes Local Water Done Well legislation into law
July 2025
- Parliament passes repeal of 2018 oil and gas exploration ban
- South Wairarapa water reform could lead to crippling bills
- Insurers seek tax breaks to reduce health insurance costs
- Prime Minister expected to announce Tāmaki Makaurau by-election date
- Selwyn establishes New Zealand's first water authority
June 2025
May 2025
- Crown observer warns of party politics risks at Wellington City Council
- Budget 2025 includes rates relief for SuperGold cardholders+1
March 2025
- Commerce Commission to monitor Wellington Water financial management+1
- Government proposes changes to foreign investment tax rules
- Reports trigger overhaul of Wellington Water hiring processes
January 2025
Photo: New Zealand National Party, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons