Waimakariri council keeps rate rise under 5%

Wednesday, 3 June 2026

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon has praised council staff for keeping the rates rise at 4.99%.

A North Canterbury council is sticking to its guns in keeping its rate rise under 5%, despite rising costs and political uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Canterbury's regional council is hoping to “ease the burden” on ratepayers by reducing its average rates rise to 2.4%.

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon has hailed the efforts of staff in keeping the council’s average rate rise at 4.99%, including water services, in the face of rising fuel costs and Government reform.

‘‘In the present environment and with the cost pressures, our staff have done an extraordinary job and we have looked at our programme really hard to see if our objectives are achievable.’’

‘‘There have been no level of service cuts.

‘‘If you look at the context of everything we are dealing with, to land at that figure (4.99%) and to maintain our level of service is a big achievement.’’

The revised average rate rise is a slight increase on the 4.91% signalled in the draft annual plan adopted in February. But it is in line with the council’s promise in the 2024/34 Long Term Plan to keep this year’s rate rise under 5%, Gordon said.

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon says keeping the rate rise under 5% was a “big achievement”.

Councils are operating in an uncertain political environment with Resource Management Act reform, the proposed abolition of elected regional councils, rates capping and a general election looming in November.

While other councils are producing annual plans without water services, the Waimakariri council has established its own in-house business unit.

Without water services, the average rate rise is 2.9%, Gordon said.

The revised budget includes a grant of up to $90,000 to the Kaiapoi Rugby Club towards the upgrade of its car park.

‘‘The rugby club has already raised $60,000 and we decided to support them on the basis the car park is well-used by the public and it is used as a Civil Defence welfare post,’’ Gordon said.

Councils are also beginning work on next year’s 2027/37 Long Term Plan, in the face of uncertainty over their futures.

The Government recently announced councils had three months to come up with proposals to reorganise local government, with a focus on creating larger unitary councils.

The new arrangements would take effect from the 2028 local government elections under the proposal.

It means many councils may not be around to deliver on their plans, said Gordon, who is also Local Government New Zealand vice president.

ECan chairperson Deon Swiggs says a 2.4% rate rise will “help ease the burden” on people doing it tough.

‘‘The sector has asked for some consideration around the Long Term Plan. There would appear to be no point in undertaking such a costly exercise.’’

The Waimakariri District Council will meet again on June 16 to adopt the final 2026/27 annual plan.

Environment Canterbury councillors agreed last week to reduce the proposed average rate rise from 2.9% to 2.4% as part of its annual plan deliberations.

Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting, Environment Canterbury chairperson Dr Deon Swiggs said the council had taken ‘‘a balanced and pragmatic approach’’.

‘‘Many people are doing it tough with fuel prices and the cost of living, so this will help to ease the burden.

‘‘Councillors looked carefully at where we could reduce costs, while still making sure we continue investing in the things that matter most to our communities.’’

The council is facing pressure from fuel price rises, with the cost of diesel impacting on public transport services.

However, ECan is making use of public transport reserves to boost services for Rangiora, Rolleston and Aranui.

The Government’s decision to slash Total Mobility subsidies from 75% to 65% has also led to a $1.2m saving for ratepayers.

Flood protection remains in the council sights, with an extra $2m to be invested in the Waimakariri River network.

A one-off $100,000 increase has also been made to the council’s contestable funds to support more on-the-ground biodiversity projects.

The council received feedback on the annual plan from 119 individuals and organisations.

Swiggs said feedback considered environmental outcomes, flood resilience, public transport, affordability and ‘‘value for money’’.

Feedback from district councils and Ngāi Tahu highlighted the importance of collaboration and a Tiriti-based approach.

The council will meet again on June 24 to adopt the final 2026/27 annual plan.

Work is under way to prepare the 2027/37 Long Term Plan, even though the council may not be around to deliver it.

The Government has given councils three months to present proposals to reorganise local government in the region, with a unitary council(s) likely to replace ECan.

‘‘From a regional council perspective, some of our work is absolutely essential for saving lives, such as flood protection,’’ Swiggs said.

‘‘We need to do it well, so when the transition happens everything is in place.’’