Safer drinks are on the way for Pātea with a rebuild of the town’s water treatment plant about half-way complete. The $6 million upgrade will ensure the South Taranaki town’s drinking water meets rising standards set by Taumata Arowai, the national water regulator. Last spring Pātea was under a boil-water notice for six weeks after Taumata Arowai declared disinfection treatment was at risk of contamination. South Taranaki District Council fitted an ultraviolet filter as a tem

Despite fears infrastructure delays are “kicking the can down the road” there’s no coordinated opposition to New Plymouth’s new mayor as he keeps his promise to haul in rates rises. New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) considered its 2026-27 budget on Wednesday, with cuts across the Annual Plan including almost a fifth of capital works spending. Mayor Max Brough campaigned on holding rates rises below five percent and staff have drafted a budget with an increase of 4.9 percen

New Plymouth and South Taranaki councils are looking to cut rates increases, largely by delaying spending on basic infrastructure. Both councils will set Annual Plan budgets soon, and staff have set out options to meet councillors’ expectations of more frugal plans. New Plymouth District Council meets on Wednesday to consider a 2026-27 budget that trims a further $10.8 million from capital spending on infrastructure and community facilities. Already in February New Plymouth c