Viewpoint – Getting on with Business

I hope that you all had a relaxing and enjoyable time with family and friends over the holiday break. As we head into 2026, I wanted to give a brief summary of the activities of the Northland Regional Council since last year’s elections:

0% NRC rate increase for 2026/27
One of the biggest contributors to the cost of living crisis has been the significant increase in household rates over the past t10 years. NRC rates have risen 50 per cent over the last four years, which materially exceeds the rise in the CPI over the same time.

NRC councillors unanimously moved to set a zero per cent overall rates rise for your portion of rates paid to the NRC. This was achieved without affecting any of the six divisions’ Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) over that time and is unquestionably a step in the right direction.

Local government reform
The current coalition has given clear direction for reform of local government. This is the first significant move in the last 30 years and is long overdue.

Northland has four councils for a population of 200,000 people. All four councils (Kaipara, Whangarei and Far North district councils, and the NRC) agree that reform is desirable and are working together to present a Northland focussed solution to the Government.

The NRC is currently identifying its key functions as an environmentally focussed organisation that must continue to be delivered under the existing or an alternative structure.

Big Dig anniversary
I was thrilled to attend the 35 year anniversary of the Big Dig at the Mangawhai Museum recently. This event shows the extraordinary community spirit that exists in Mangawhai and represents the triumph of kiwi ingenuity over unnecessary bureaucracy.

The speakers included Peter Wethey from the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society, Mayor Jonathan Larsen, NRC chair Pita Tipene and Richard Bull, who recently received a New Year’s Honour for his service to the Mangawhai community.

The Harbour Restoration Society does an extraordinary job keeping our harbour flowing and clean on limited funding. It was good to see NRC chair Pita Tipene and chief executive Jonathan Gibbard give their commitment to work constructively with MHRS.

If you have any issues that you would like raised at the NRC, please contact me at cr.hunt@nrc.govt.nz.

Wishing you and your families a healthy and successful 2026.