Next Council To Face Big Water Rating Decisions

Friday, 29 August 2025, 3:10 pm
Article: Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter

Whakatāne's mayor wants to ensure a new report on water will be communicated with the public so they can "get a handle" on the complicated information.

The council's finance and performance committee adopted a report on Thursday outlining decisions the next council will need to consider around rating for three waters in the new term.

It covers drinking water, wastewater and stormwater in the district, and how to price for water supply schemes.

The Three Waters Rating Review report is the culmination of a year’s work by staff and several lengthy council workshops in which councillors have been asked to consider a number of proposals.

These include the equalisation of drinking water and wastewater schemes, making volumetric charging district-wide, and the introduction of differentials based on connection size.

The equalisation of pricing of Rangitaiki plains and Murupara water supply schemes with other schemes throughout the district is likely to be one of the most heavily debated points, along with equalisation of the Murupara wastewater scheme with the rest of the district.

Currently ratepayers on these schemes pay less than other parts of the district, but required upgrades would not be affordable for these communities to pay for on their own.

The committee agreed to make recommendation to the new council on its preferred options that can be considered by the new council following the impending local government elections.

Recommendations for drinking water include equalisation of schemes while introducing a bulk water-by-metre step-down rate that will benefit large users such as businesses on the Rangitaiki Plains.

Consultation with the public would be carried out during the Annual Plan 2026-2027 consultation process.

Mayor Victor Luca asked staff if they were confident they could communicate the contents of the report to the community so people could “get a handle on it”.

“There’s a lot of water gone under the bridge here and it’s quite complicated. We’ve been through it many times ourselves and it isn’t easy stuff. There’s trade-offs all over the place where you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t.”

Deputy Mayor Lesley Immink said there had already been some misinformation online regarding increases in stormwater and wastewater charges that make up part of the costs that were already included in people’s general rates.

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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