Kaipara rates rise less than projected

Kaipara rates for 2024-25 are set to rise by a lower than initially projected amount, following council’s Long-term Plan deliberations this month.

Rather than the envisaged 15.1 per cent average increase, council expects rates will ultimately rise by about nine per cent.

“Council and staff have done a lot of work since formal consultation to make further savings and efficiencies in our work programmes and budgets,” Mayor Craig Jepson said.

Among further reductions agreed upon at the meeting, council decided to reallocate some capital and operational roading works to later years.

“Every bit counts,” Jepson said. “We are still working through final numbers, but I’m pleased to say that with these decisions, we expect the final figures landed on will result in a rates rise of around nine per cent.” Meanwhile, Auckland Council voted last month on a general rates increase of 6.8 per cent this year, and Far North District Council plans to increase rates by 5.1 per cent – down significantly from the 16.5 per cent initially proposed.

On the other hand, Whangārei District Council is proposing a record high 17.2 per cent rates increase.