Rates skyrocket in the Waikato region in 2025/26

Tuesday, 22 April 2025

Waitomo mayor John Robertson said councillors and staff had worked diligently to keep their annual rates rise to less than 3%.

Rates increases of between 2.9% and 15.5% are expected to help empty the wallets of Waikato ratepayers as councils begin to confirm their long-term and annual plans for the financial year ahead.

Right now, councils are preparing budgets and going out for public consultation on their respective rates rises for the 2025/26 financial year, which should be in place by July 1.

At the top of the region’s rates rise table are Hamilton City Council and Waipā District, both with proposed increases of 15.5%, and at the other end of the scale is Waitomo District with an increase of just 2.93%.

Hamilton City residents are facing the highest rates increase in the region of around 15.5%.

Hamilton City’s corporate planning & advocacy manager James Clarke said councillors adopted their draft annual plan in March, little had changed since then and they would not be consulting on this year’s plan.

“Council received almost 3000 submissions from individuals, organisations and businesses when we consulted on the long-term plan last year, and we are not proposing any substantive changes.”

Hamilton City Council is scheduled to deliberate on its annual plan on May 29 and 30, and it will be adopted in June.

Waitomo District mayor John Robertson said they managed to keep their rates rise to under 3%, “after a thorough review of council operational costs”.

The Waikato Regional Council will be consulting on rates increases for bus services in the region. Hamilton City is expected to carry much of the burden.

“Elected members have been mindful of the affordability of rates for residents,” he said.

“This increase is likely to be one of the lowest in the country.”

Consultation on Waitomo’s plan ends on April 30, with public deliberations set for June 10.

In the South Waikato, mayor Gary Petley said they were aiming at an 8.9% increase, in line with the council’s long-term plan.

“But the impact of rates rises will be felt less in rural and lifestyle block areas as they don’t get the same services as people in urban centres.”

Taupō locals will be facing a rates increase of 8.4% for the 2025/26 financial year.

Petley said councillors would adopt their draft plan at a meeting on April 30.

Waikato District Council’s public consultation on its proposed 4.25% general rates increase and long-term plan is underway and ends on May 11.

“Affordability has been the primary concern during discussions in the council chambers,” mayor Jacqui Church said.

She said water and roading were the two biggest issues for her council and the council would try to maintain essential services “while also being mindful of keeping the impact on ratepayers as low as possible”.

Waipā District residents are also up for a 15.5% average rates rise this year.

The Waikato Regional Council has opened public feedback on rating for public transport and a new programme of work to improve the Wharekawa Coast’s resilience to extreme weather events.

At a previous meeting in February, councillors set a draft annual plan budget with a projected 5.9% rates increase.

For Hamilton households, public transport rates will be higher than other parts of the region because of the high number of services available within the city.

In Taupō, residents are facing a proposed increase of 8.4%, but the council will not be consulting on this year’s plan as there are no significant changes to what was consulted on in its long-term plan.

A spokesperson said Taupō’s increase is 0.1% more than forecast in its long-term plan for 2024-34 and staff had “proposed budget reductions to keep council as close to the forecast rates increase as possible”.

“While baseline levels of service will be maintained, trade-offs will mean that some projects and staff resources will not be provided.”

Over in Ōtorohanga, ratepayers are looking at an average rates increase of 10.16%, which won’t be consulted on as it was the same as forecast in its long-term plan.

The council is looking to have its plan in place by May 27.

In Thames-Coromandel, ratepayers are facing a 7.7% average increase after a 13.2% increase last financial year.

Matamata-Piako district’s rates increase for 2025/26 is 5.75%, which was in line with the 5.8% increase indicated in its 2024 Long Term Plan.

The Hauraki District Council was a little behind the 8-ball and could give no indication of its proposed rates increase until after a meeting on April 30.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Matamata-Piako was yet to decide its rates increase. Amended April 23, 2025.