Bob Edlin: Local government academic chides Hastings council (hurrah!).....

....for its censorial hushing of code-of-conduct investigations

West Australia-based Dr Andy Asquith – it seems – has become the go-to expert on local government, when journalists check out the dubious goings-on of local authorities.

He has been referenced in media reports this week dealing with a byelection in Porirua, the Tauranga City Council’s regulatory conflict of interest, and the Hastings District Council’s egregious urge to hush its code-of-conduct investigations.

Bob Edlin: The outdoor swimming issue in Whanganui....

Psst! A citizens’ assembly (behind secrecy masks) will dive into the outdoor swimming issue in Whanganui

In Porirua, the citizens’ assembly concept was translated into an exercise in co-governance.

In Whanganui, it has become an exercise which will be conducted in secrecy.