Council met today to unanimously adopt Waitomo District Council’s Annual Plan 2025-2026 (AP).

The AP is a culmination of months of planning, drafting, consultation and engagement for both staff and Elected Members, and sets the direction and spending for the next financial year.

Mayor John Robertson and Councillors thanked staff for their work in pulling together a mammoth piece of work for the district, with decisions in line with that of our strategic direction.

“The drive to become more efficient, the pressure to stick to core business, and the cost of living pressures on ratepayers have all been factors influencing us to maintain our rate increases at or close to the rate of inflation,” says John.

“Now that the Annual Plan is adopted, the focus is now on execution and implementation.”

Council consulted on the draft AP from late March and all of April, and at the close of the submission period, 48 submissions were received, with eight attending a hearing to speak to their submissions.

Topics included whether to renew a Council-owned section of seawall on Point Road in Mōkau, the future of Waitomo District Landfill and whether Council should start reducing the portion of rates for water and wastewater charged to all rating units in the district (District Wide Benefit Rate – DWB). 

The submissions were of mixed views for the Waitomo District Landfill and Mōkau seawall though the majority did support the preferred options. Most submitters were in favour of reducing the DWB.

“We thank those of you who submitted on this plan and attended the public sessions. The number and quality of submissions and discussions were high and provided good content and community input to the decision making process,” says John.

Mōkau Seawall

Councillors were initially in favour of renewing the seawall at an estimated cost $900,000 + annual maintenance. However following feedback and further advice, they changed from their preferred option outlined in consultation document and decided that no further ratepayer money will be spent on repairing or replacing the seawall, except for monitoring, clearing any loose or fallen debris created by erosion of the carpark and accessway from the beach after erosion of the carpark and accessway and maintaining public safety.

Waitomo District Landfill

Councillors agreed to not develop the next landfill cell and choose to transport all waste and out of the district once the current landfill cell is full. The landfill is expected to reach its current capacity by mid 2026.

Transporting waste out of the district will increase the focus on reducing waste and recycling as this will benefit the environment and costs. Part of the transport out option is to invest in the transfer station (rather than the landfill) creating a covered waste sorting area that will encourage more recycling and reduce waste sent to landfill. Users wanting to dispose of refuse and recycling will still come to the same site they always have.

Reducing the District Wide Benefit Rates for water and wastewater

Council has decided to start reducing the portion of rates for water and wastewater charged to all rating units in the district.  This will give ratepayers time to adjust to the rate changes. Rates will increase for properties with water and wastewater services and decrease for those without. 

Rates requirement

With the formal adoption of the AP today, the overall rates requirement for the 2025/26 year is $26.2 million, a decrease of $1.2 million compared to the same year forecast in the LTP.

For the year, elected members have agreed to increase revenue sourced from property rates by 2.91% to cover operating costs and capital expenditure.  This is a significantly lower increase than those announced by neighbouring Councils and the 7.78% forecast in the Long Term Plan. This reflects our ongoing concern about rates affordability. 

Council also confirmed the Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) will be set at $250, a decrease compared to the current $350. This was to moderate the District Valuation changes and reductions in the District Wide Benefit Rates.

Policy updates and other decisions

Council also adopted the revised Rates Remission Policy, Revenue and Financing Policy, Fees and Charges 2025/26 (separate media release to come), and the Alcohol Fees Bylaw 2025, which will allow Council to set the amount it charges to alcohol licence holders (e.g. bars, alcohol stores and supermarkets), to help cover costs relating to alcohol licensing.

The Dog Control Bylaw and Dog Control Policy was also adopted (separate media release to come).

The Annual Plan 2025-2026, Fees and Charges schedule for 2024/25 and other adopted bylaws and policies will soon be available on Council’s website.