Continuing to build resilience while keeping rate increases affordable is the commitment of the Wairoa District Council's 2025/26 Annual Plan.

Today (Tuesday, May 20) elected members adopted the Annual Plan, which outlines the Council’s priorities, activities and projects for the upcoming year. 

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said elected members, supported by staff, were committed to keeping the average rates rise as low as possible, while not impacting levels of service.

“It is pleasing to have reduced the forecasted figure to an average increase of 5.2%, which is far less than we had expected this time a year ago.

“Last year, in the 2024-27 Long-Term Plan, and off the back of two flood events and spiralling costs, we forecasted the 2025/26 rates increase could be 15.5%. Since then, we have worked hard and committed to driving that increase down. Key to getting the rates down has been attracting external funding, which does not impact our ratepayers and will continue to be a focus. We have also had lower than expected borrowing and conducted a line-by-line review of all Council activity budgets without affecting levels of service.

“Direction from Central Government to Local Authorities has been to do the basics brilliantly, and in line with this instruction, we have reviewed all Council activities.

“We know 5.2% is still an increase, but it is a lot less than the 15.5% we were looking at. Bringing the average rates increase down to this level strikes the balance between keeping rates affordable for our community, as well as making sure we are investing in our core infrastructure and not reducing the services we currently offer.”

Mr Little said with no significant changes from the activities outlined in year two of the 2024-27 Long Term Plan, Council does not have a legislative requirement to formally consult on the Annual Plan.

“However, elected members will be out and about throughout the district until mid-June, specifically to engage on the central government-driven Local Waters Done Well legislation, and we will be happy to discuss the Annual Plan as well as any other Council-related conversations people would like to have.

“It is also important to understand that there will be a range of rate increases and decreases across Wairoa’s property sectors, and the 5.2% increase is the average across the whole district.

“This year, Wairoa District property owners received their three-yearly rating valuations from independent valuers Quotable Value. The total rateable value for the district, as of 1 August 2024, has reduced to $3.777 billion, with the land value of those properties now valued at $2.486 billion, down 11% and 19% since the 2021 district revaluation.

“Most properties within Wairoa’s residential, lifestyle, rural, forestry, commercial and industrial sectors have declined with Cyclone Gabrielle and the June flooding having a significant impact on values. However, there are variations within sectors, and the values of large utilities increased significantly.

“Valuations do not affect the amount of money a Council collects from rates - it is a tool that helps the Council work out everyone’s share of rates.

“An increase or decrease in your property value may not mean you pay more or less in rates. Any rates change is determined by your new property value compared with the new average across the district. Every year, the Council looks at what it will cost to run the district and subtracts revenue from fees and charges and other sources. This leaves the total amount of rates needed to run the district. That rate requirement is then shared across the district based on each property’s capital value. The valuation is only a means of levying or apportioning the rates requirement across the district. 

“We know there are significant valuation decreases and fluctuations around the district, particularly for those properties impacted by flooding. I hope that by the next valuation round, our flood mitigation project will be complete, and valuations will be able to be positively reviewed.”

For any assistance, including alternative rates payment arrangements, please call or email rates@wairoadc.govt.nz or phone 06 838 7309.  

For more information about the rates rebate head to: https://www.wairoadc.govt.nz/services/properties-and-rates/rates/rates-rebate/

20 May 2025

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