Kāpiti Coast Annual Plan 2025/26 Sticks To Long-Term Strategy
Kāpiti Coast District Council's 2025/26 Annual Plan will progress the projects and strategies in last year's Long-term plan with only minor amendments made in response to national and global impacts.
Kāpiti Coast District Mayor Janet Holborow says Council has embarked on a financial strategy to actively reduce Council debt to build resilience and is staying on this course.
The strategy requires rates increases of 7 percent each year for 10 years to reduce Council's debt by a total of $153 million, building its capacity to respond to natural disasters and maximise growth opportunities.
Despite rising costs in the last year, the overall rates increase will be 6.9 percent for 2025/26. Actual rate increases for each property will depend on its value, type, and location.
'Between new unfunded mandates from central government and higher energy and maintenance costs it certainly hasn't got any cheaper to deliver Council services,' Mayor Holborow says.
'With 72 percent of our operating costs coming from rates we are always focused on making sure every dollar is spent on what matters most.
'Like everyone in the current climate we've had to take a very close look at our budgets so we can keep rates to the level agreed last year. We've found savings of $3.1 million, without which the rates increase would have been closer to 10 percent.
'To do this we've done things like reduce staff headcount, cut roading work that is no longer subsidised by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, cut or deferred grant funding and cut costs in office facilities.'
Mayor Holborow says these changes won't impact service delivery and Council will still be delivering a significant capital works programme over the year, investing $77 million in the Kāpiti Coast's future.
Projects that will progress include upgrades to the Paraparaumu wastewater treatment plant and the Waikanae water treatment plant, completing the Ōtaki water reservoir and progressing Te Ara Whetū (the new library for Waikanae).
'We're striking a balance between delivering the infrastructure and services we need now, keeping rates affordable and making sure we are in a strong position in the future.'
Under the Local Government Act, councils are not required to consult on an annual plan if it does not include significant or material differences from the content of the LTP for that year.
'The minor amendments made in response to national and global impacts and identified savings do not trigger the need to consult under the Local Government Act or Council's Significance and Engagement Policy.
'There's also a cost attached to consultation which is why we are being prudent and have made the decision not to formally consult. Instead, we'll be making information available to people using our available Council channels and welcome feedback that can be used to inform future plans and work.'
A public briefing on the Annual Plan will be held on Tuesday 6 May. The final Annual Plan will be brought to Council for adoption on 29 May 2025.
Find out more at www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/annualplan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Whanganui District Council rejects funding request from Quartz ceramics museum
The Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics' plea for $60,000 in annual funding has been denied by the Whanganui District Council. Museum founder and director Rick Rudd made the request during hearings on the council's 2025-26 Annual Plan earlier this month. He cited burnout and said the money would be used
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Fiji: Follow The Right Procedure When Evicting Tenants
Press Release – Consumer Council of Fiji Fiji currently operates without comprehensive legislation specifically regulating rental housing. The existing framework consists solely of the Self-Regulating Guideline for Landlord and Tenant in Fiji, which serves as a non-binding reference for rental … Despite repeated warnings and previous public advisories, complaints related to unlawful and arbitrary evictions continue to pour in — prompting the Consumer Council of Fiji to renew its call for greater awareness and accountability in the rental housing sector. This is not the first time the Council is raising red flags about such practices, but the disturbing volume and nature of recent cases has made it necessary to spotlight the issue once again. From 2022 to date, the Council has received a total of 1,626 complaints related to landlord and tenancy matters, with a staggering monetary value of $823,610. Out of this, 500 complaints specifically concern eviction-related issues, valued at approximately $253,500. While each case differs in circumstance, the common thread is clear: landlords taking matters into their own hands, often at the expense of tenants' rights and wellbeing. 'These are not just numbers — they are lived experiences of families and individuals being uprooted, often without cause or legal process,' said Council CEO Seema Shandil. 'When a pregnant woman is evicted simply because of her condition, or a tenant is denied a bond refund on unfair grounds, it shows how vulnerable renters truly are in this system.' In a recent case, a woman was told to vacate her flat with just a week's notice, even while repairs were being done on the premises she was still occupying. Another complainant reported being removed because she was pregnant, and later had $70 deducted from her $200 bond under questionable circumstances. A third complainant claimed a house leader, acting as landlord, was collecting inflated rents from multiple tenants and attempting to evict others without cause — all while exceeding the agreed rental threshold. 'These cases reflect a broken framework,' Shandil stated. 'Without a Landlord-Tenancy Act or a tribunal to oversee such disputes, tenants are often left with no choice but to accept decisions that are neither fair nor legal.' Fiji currently operates without comprehensive legislation specifically regulating rental housing. The existing framework consists solely of the Self-Regulating Guideline for Landlord and Tenant in Fiji, which serves as a non-binding reference for rental agreements. While formal eviction procedures do exist under common law – requiring written notices and potential court involvement – many landlords frequently bypass these legal channels. Instead, they often resort to informal eviction methods, some of which may violate tenants' legal rights. The consequences for tenants are severe: emotional trauma, disrupted schooling, job insecurity, and financial hardship from last-minute relocations. The Council is urging tenants to document all communications, insist on formal agreements, and report any illegal actions. At the same time, landlords are reminded of their responsibilities under the law and the importance of following due process when dealing with rent issues or tenancy terminations. 'Evictions must be lawful, justified, and respectful of human dignity,' said Shandil. 'Until Fiji enacts legislation to govern this space, the onus remains on both parties to act in good faith — and on us as a society to demand better protections for those who rent.' Consumers experiencing unfair treatment or facing eviction threats are encouraged to contact the Council via its toll-free number 155 or email complaints@
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Royal Commonwealth Society Appoints New Chair And Trustees
The Council of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) has appointed Janet Cooper OBE as Chair to succeed Dr Linda Yueh CBE. Sianne Haldane and Ravi Suchak have been appointed as Trustees. said: 'It has been an immense privilege and pleasure to serve as Executive Chair of this special charity, which has enjoyed extraordinary support from the Society's Patron, His Majesty The King, Vice-Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, and partners from across the Commonwealth. I was deeply honoured to have led impactful programmes which have contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on education, equality, environment and communities, as well as high profile events that have celebrated the work of remarkable people, including young leaders, who make the world a better place. I am pleased that Janet, Sianne and Ravi will join the Council to enable the RCS to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of citizens in the Commonwealth and beyond.' Janet Cooper OBE said: 'It's a great pleasure and privilege to have been appointed to Chair the Royal Commonwealth Society, to build on the terrific work the RCS has been doing for over 150 years as well as look to the future, in a world which is becoming increasingly polarised and in conflict, the work of the RCS provides an opportunity to focus on youth engagement, climate action and equality initiatives across the Commonwealth.' Janet Cooper OBE is an experienced chair, lawyer, entrepreneur and trustee. She is a nonexecutive director of Nurture Group, an independent director of the Cabinet Office, Chair of ProShare and co-founder of the Global Equity Organisation, both non-profit organisations promoting employee share ownership, and Vice Chair of Roehampton University. Janet was one of the first women partners in global law firm, Linklaters and went on to found a multi award winning specialist law firm which was transferred to a trust for the employees in 2020. She was the first woman to chair the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and former trustee and Vice Chair of the UN Women UK. Janet was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to equality, women's empowerment and employee share ownership in the 2017 New Year Honours List and is appointed a Fellow of the University of Roehampton in 2024. Dr Linda Yueh CBE has served as Chair since 2018 and as a member of Council since 2016. Janet Cooper OBE, Sianne Haldane and Ravi Suchak will join the Council on June 1.
