Rates vote splits Coast councillors

For the first time in years, the Hibiscus Coast’s two governing body representatives have found themselves on opposite sides of Auckland Council’s biggest annual decision, exposing a growing political divide over rates and spending. Albany Ward councillors John Watson and Victoria Short took sharply different positions during last week’s Auckland Council budget meeting, where councillors approved a 7.9 per cent average rates increase for 2026/27 by 14 votes to seven. Previously, Watson and former Albany councillor Wayne Walker often voted as a bloc on major issues affecting the Hibiscus Coast....