Sentence:  The Christchurch City Council has <WSD>connived</WSD> with the Government to take over all the surrounding local bodies, and it is not without comment that none of the Labour members from Christchurch has spoken on the Bill. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  "Often followed by" '''(with)''': to secretly cooperate with another person or persons in order to commit a crime or other wrongdoing; to collude, to conspire. (from mid 17th c.)