Tauranga City Council Annual Plan Balances Investment With Affordability
The Annual Plan outlines the organisation's work programme for the next financial year, which gives effect to dozens of new projects across the city.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale believes Council has struck the right balance between ensuring Tauranga continues to invest in the infrastructure the city requires, through a capital investment programme of $503 million, while keeping rates as affordable as it can.
'Our priorities were to achieve a balanced budget which invests in essential infrastructure, while also funding the depreciation on council assets so that they can be modernised or renewed when they reach the end of their useful lives,' says Mahé.
'During this process, we worked hard to identify $38 million worth of savings, resulting in an average rates increase of 9.9% for the year - just over two percent less than the increase we originally consulted on and less than the Long Term Plan 2024-34.
'Underlying every decision was a determination to ensure that all council projects and activities provide quality outcomes and real value for money for the people of Tauranga. That approach will continue throughout 2025/26 and beyond, as we look to deliver on this and future work plans.'
Mahé says he and the councillors are very aware that any rates increase will add to the financial pressures many households are experiencing.
'Unfortunately, years of past underinvestment in our infrastructure and community facilities left us with some challenging choices. It is not prudent to keep kicking the can down the road – we need to deliver now to ensure a bright future for our city.
'Our opportunity now is to deliver on one of the biggest capital investment programmes our city has ever taken on, while cementing-in cost savings and continuing to provide the essential services our people need,' Mahé adds.
'While the budget is set, this is just the beginning of the journey. We will continue to look for further savings and ensure that every dollar spent drives real value for the community.'
During consultation on the Draft Annual Plan 2025/26 and Local Water Done Well proposal in April, the mayor and councillors held more than 20 community events, received 968 submissions and 68 people spoke to their submissions at hearings.
A decision on the preferred delivery model for water services, which was consulted on in parallel with the Annual Plan, is expected to be considered at the Council meeting on 14 July 2025.
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an hour ago
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Scoop
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Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Too Quick And Too Easy, Consumer Falls Victim To Online Loan Scam
A suspected scam involving a fake online loan provider has come to light following a complaint lodged with the Consumer Council of Fiji, raising concerns about online deceptive financial schemes designed to defraud vulnerable consumers. In this case, the complainant was misled over a two-week period by an entity operating on social media, under the name Quick and Easy, which promised fast loan approval and immediate disbursement upon payment of certain fees. The complainant was presented with what appeared to be formal loan contracts and was assured that the loan had already been approved. However, the page claimed that various banking issues were preventing the funds from being released. To resolve these supposed issues, the consumer was instructed to make a series of payments labelled as processing fees and penalties. In total, the complainant paid $1,800. Despite complying with every instruction, the loan was never delivered, and when the complainant informed the provider that a formal complaint had been lodged, all communication ceased and the scammers phone has since remained switched off. The Council has referred this matter to the Fiji Police Force for further investigation. 'We are urging all consumers to exercise extreme caution when dealing with online lenders, or social media pages which promise loans and demand payments before any service is delivered,' said Ms. Shandil. 'The red flag was there from the beginning. Being asked to pay $1,800 just to secure a loan is not only highly suspicious, it's completely unacceptable. Which legitimate bank or licensed lender demands such a sum upfront before even disbursing funds? This clearly highlights the urgent need for improved digital and financial literacy among Fijian consumers.' 'Scammers exploit what people don't know, and we must collectively work to close that knowledge gap. No genuine financial institution operates this way, and consumers must know the warning signs before it's too late,' added Ms Shandil. She further stressed that while the Council can assist in mediating disputes and advocating for consumer rights, matters involving suspected online fraud fall outside its jurisdiction. 'In such cases, we work closely with law enforcement agencies and refer matters for criminal investigation. Consumers must know that if something feels wrong or rushed, it's worth slowing down and verifying first,' she added. Consumers who encounter similar schemes are encouraged to report the matter to the Council via email at complaints@ or by calling the toll-free number 155.
