Kāpiti Coast District Council’s Annual Plan 2026/27 will progress activities for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 as outlined in Year 3 of the Long-term Plan 2024-34.

Kāpiti Coast District Mayor Janet Holborow says Council is keeping to the Long-term Plan commitment to hold the overall rates increase to no more than 7 percent, despite additional operational, regulatory, and financial pressures pushing the projected rates rise to 8.9 percent.

“Most of these pressures are beyond our control, so we’ve found as many savings as we can while ensuring we maintain current levels of service,” says Mayor Holborow.

“We’ve taken deliberate action to remove $1.9 million from staff and project delivery costs, adjust our fees and charges, and pause our planned rates debt reduction to bring the rates increase down to 6.5 percent for 2026/27.

“We know households and businesses are feeling similar cost pressures. Setting budgets and rates is always a fine balance between managing rising costs with investing in core services and infrastructure that have a direct impact on how our community lives, works and does business in our district both now and in the future.

“Because the savings we’ve found doesn’t impact current service levels, we won’t be formally consulting on this Annual Plan, however we still welcome feedback.”

Information about the Annual Plan is being shared directly with ratepayers. People can also talk with elected members at Council’s public sessions on Tuesday 26 May or share their views by emailing annualplan@kapiticoast.govt.nz.

“About 72 percent of Council’s operating costs come from rates,” says Mayor Holborow.

“We’re always focused on making sure every dollar is spent on what matters most and we know reducing the burden on ratepayers is a key concern for our community.

“To achieve lower rates increases, we may need to consider significant changes to current levels of service in the future, including stopping or changing some activities while continuing to meet our legislative requirements and constantly adapting to proposed Government reforms.

“These conversations will be a key part of our Long-term Plan 2027-37 process, which will include community engagement throughout the year ahead of formal consultation in March 2027.

“We’ve also established a focus group comprising of a small group of councillors who will work with council officers to set direction, sharpen our focus on affordability, and review our financial strategy and policies as part of our Long-term Plan 2027-37 process.”

www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/annualplan.

Public sessions

Tuesday 26 May

10–12 noon and 5–6pm

Civic Building foyer

175 Rimu Road, Paraparaumu

Notes:

A public briefing on the Annual Plan will be held on Tuesday 12 May. The final Annual Plan will be brought to Council for adoption on 11 June 2026.

Where Council found savings for the Annual Plan 2026/27

• Reducing staff costs due to both organisational and project delivery changes ($660,000)
• Reducing funding for the Social Investment Fund ($150,000)
• Increasing fees for private plan changes ($200,000)
• Reducing economic development budget ($325,000)
• Reducing cultural capacity funding ($150,000)
• Stopping our planned rates-funded debt reduction for one year ($400,000).
• Increasing fees and charges to reflect the impact of inflation, generating an additional $300,000.

Council will still invest approximately $75 million in capital works in 2026/27. This includes:

• work to progress the replacement of the Paekākāriki seawall
• upgrades to the Paraparaumu Wastewater Treatment Plant
• upgrades to the Waikanae Water Treatment Plant
• planning for a second water reservoir
• installing a new bore in Ōtaki
• Completing Te Ara Whetū, the new Waikanae Library upgrade
• Completing the Waikanae Park upgrade

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