Kaipara District Council has unanimously adopted its Annual Plan for 2025/2026, with an average rates rise of 8.3% after growth.

This includes a new targeted rate for three of the district’s museums. Originally, the museums rate was expected to be on top of a previously signalled rate increases of 8.9% after growth for the coming year, but cost savings across other areas have reduced the final figure.

Kaipara District Council Mayor Craig Jepson says the outcome reflects careful planning.

“We understand that any rates increase can be challenging for many members of our community, but this represents a significant achievement for our small rating base, especially given the current national economic climate.”

Roading remains a key priority, with around $30 million planned on capital works this year, and around $13 million on operations and maintenance (excluding work carried forward from the previous financial year). Approximately $8 million is set aside for Cyclone Gabrielle and other extreme weather event-related repairs, of which up to 92% is funded by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). Recovery work includes repairing under and over slips, road surfaces, remediating slips, fixing our bridges, and replacing damaged drainage systems.

Some of the projects planned for this year include pumpstation upgrades for Dargaville, the progression of the Proposed District Plan, local elections, and Wood Street revitalisation stormwater and surrounds.

The Annual Plan for 2025/2026 comes into effect at the start of the financial year, with new rates taking effect from 1 July 2025.

Final digital versions can be viewed on the council website from next week. Print versions will be available at council offices and libraries across the district in late July.

What is a Long Term Plan and an Annual Plan?
Every three years Council develops a Long Term Plan (LTP) in consultation with the community. Our Long Term Plan 2024-2027 was adopted on 31 July 2024. It outlines the services we will provide, the projects to be undertaken, the cost of doing this work, how it will be paid for and how the performance for each shall be measured.

Following major damage to local infrastructure during the 2023 weather events, Kaipara is one of eight councils with an unaudited three year LTP focused on recovery, rather than the typical ten year outlook.

In the two years between adopting an LTP, an annual plan is developed. The Annual Plan is a yearly update on what has been agreed through the LTP, highlighting any budget changes and work plans for each specific year.

View the council discussion and decision on the Kaipara District Council YouTube channel (from 2:34:07).

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