We Say/You Say: Water Conservation
Hi Auckland,
What are your water-saving hacks?
Water restrictions for the city are to remain in place until August, and similar bans on water use may return next summer.
Watercare is set to ask council to remove restrictions on outdoor water use, if rain forecasts, the state of the region’s storage lakes, and a new supply boost all eventuate as hoped.
Watercare said Aucklanders had significantly cut water use, and the biggest supply boost – another 50 million litres a day from the Waikato River – should be available from August.
Presently, Auckland's dams are 51.4 per cent full compared with an average of 76.6, and Auckland's water usage is more than 10 per cent lower than Watercare had estimated.
Share your saving tips below and don't forget to type NFP if you don't want your comments used in your local community paper.
By-election for Otara-Papatoetoe area
Just to let everyone know that we have another by-election happening, and here is the reason why. Below are details and dates, so keep an eye on your letter boxes.
The Manukau Court’s Ruling
The Manukau District Court determined that the Papatoetoe subdivision result of the Ōtara–Papatoetoe Local Board election was invalid, ruling that the outcome had been “materially affected” by voting irregularities. Judge Richard McIlraith found that the scale and nature of the irregularities met the legal threshold required to void an election under New Zealand’s local electoral laws.
In his decision, Judge McIlraith stated that the evidence presented — including reports of stolen voting papers, fraudulent use of ballots, and other procedural irregularities — was sufficient to conclude that the integrity of the election had been compromised. The court noted that at least 79 voting papers were identified as having been cast without the rightful voter’s knowledge during a judicially supervised examination of ballot boxes.
While the judge acknowledged that the election had been administered “properly and in accordance with all requirements” by Independent Election Services and the electoral officer, he concluded that the fraudulent activity originated outside the official process and nonetheless impacted the final result to a degree that required the election to be voided.
As a result of the ruling, the court ordered that a new election must be held, with Auckland Council confirming that the fresh poll must be completed by 9 April 2026
Stolen car - LPP146 blue Daihatsu boon
Hi neighbours
Our locked vehicle was stolen from our driveway in the early hours of this morning - 27/12/25. It is a blue Daihatsu boon rego # LPP146. I am a carer to my 92yrs mum. Her walker was in the back with 4 boxes of washed clothes for hospice op shop. If you see this vehicle can you pls call the police and message me on neighbourly.
Thank you
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