Latest news with #Caffell
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Masterton District Council Adopts 2025/26 Annual Plan
Masterton District Council has formally adopted its 2025/26 Annual Plan, setting out a clear path for delivering key projects and services in the second year of its 2024–34 Long-Term Plan (LTP), Tō Wahi, Tō Mahere – Your Place, Your Plan. The plan outlines a range of initiatives that will benefit the Masterton community, including progress on major infrastructure and community facility upgrades. These include the redevelopment of the Masterton Library and Archive, the demolition and future rebuild of the Town Hall, and the new animal shelter on Ngaumutawa Road which will provide improved facilities for animal welfare and is on track for completion later this year. Mayor Gary Caffell says the adoption of the plan is a significant milestone. "I'm really pleased to see this plan adopted. It reflects the priorities our community told us matter most – getting the basics right, investing in our future, and making Masterton a great place to live." The plan prioritises core infrastructure with more than $25 million allocated for roading maintenance and renewals, $12 million for water services operations and capital projects, and $10.8 million for wastewater operations, capital and debt repayment. "Our focus remains on the fundamentals of roads and waters – getting the basics right," says Mayor Caffell. "We are on track to deliver what we agreed as part of the LTP with some minor variations, and people will begin to see progress on the ground with these major projects in the coming months." The plan also confirms Council's continued work on water resilience, including the installation of water meters and the development of a regional Water Services Delivery Plan in partnership with neighbouring councils. To support the delivery of these projects and respond to rising costs, the plan includes an average rates increase of 7.5% across the district. However, this varies by property type, with the average urban property seeing an increase of 5.5%, while rural properties will experience a higher average increase of 13.6%, largely due to increased investment in roading infrastructure. The rates increase reflects ongoing financial pressures, including the lasting impact of Cyclone Gabrielle recovery costs. "We are nearing the end of the recovery process for Cyclone Gabrielle. Despite central government assistance, this has still been a significant financial burden for council," says Mayor Caffell. "We know any rates increase is challenging, especially in the current economic climate. Council has worked hard to keep costs down while still delivering the services and infrastructure our community needs. This plan strikes that balance." Implementation of the Annual Plan begins on 1 July, with major project milestones expected to become visible throughout the year as construction and development work progresses. The full 2025/26 Annual Plan is available on the Council's website at
Scoop
05-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Mayor To Host ‘The Big Shout Out' – Celebrating Masterton's Volunteers
Press Release – Masterton District Council Whether you've been volunteering for decades or just started last week, whether you give an hour a month or countless hours every week – this event is for you. Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell is shouting morning tea to recognise and thank Masterton's incredible local volunteers. The Big Shout Out will take place at the Trust House Recreation Centre on Thursday, 19 June, 10am to 12 noon, bringing together volunteers from across the community for a well-deserved celebration of their outstanding contributions. Volunteers across every sector of the Masterton community are invited and should register by emailing: events@ by 5pm on Friday, 13 June. 'As Mayor of Masterton, I am in the privileged position of seeing first-hand the extraordinary work our volunteers do every single day,' Mayor Caffell said. 'These remarkable people keep our district running – they coach our kids, support our elderly, care for our environment, run our events, and step up wherever there's a need. 'Their selfless dedication and community spirit is what makes Masterton such a special place to live, work, and raise a family.' The morning tea provides an opportunity for volunteers to be celebrated, connect with each other, and hear from the Mayor about how valued their contributions are. 'Too often, our volunteers work quietly behind the scenes without the recognition they deserve,' Mayor Caffell said. 'The Big Shout Out is a chance to shine a light on these community champions and say a proper thank you on behalf of all Masterton residents.' 'Whether you've been volunteering for decades or just started last week, whether you give an hour a month or countless hours every week – this event is for you. Every single contribution matters, and every volunteer makes our district stronger. Please come along and let us show our appreciation properly – you've more than earned it.'
Scoop
05-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Mayor To Host 'The Big Shout Out' - Celebrating Masterton's Volunteers
Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell is shouting morning tea to recognise and thank Masterton's incredible local volunteers. The Big Shout Out will take place at the Trust House Recreation Centre on Thursday, 19 June, 10am to 12 noon, bringing together volunteers from across the community for a well-deserved celebration of their outstanding contributions. Volunteers across every sector of the Masterton community are invited and should register by emailing: events@ by 5pm on Friday, 13 June. "As Mayor of Masterton, I am in the privileged position of seeing first-hand the extraordinary work our volunteers do every single day," Mayor Caffell said. "These remarkable people keep our district running - they coach our kids, support our elderly, care for our environment, run our events, and step up wherever there's a need. "Their selfless dedication and community spirit is what makes Masterton such a special place to live, work, and raise a family." The morning tea provides an opportunity for volunteers to be celebrated, connect with each other, and hear from the Mayor about how valued their contributions are. "Too often, our volunteers work quietly behind the scenes without the recognition they deserve," Mayor Caffell said. "The Big Shout Out is a chance to shine a light on these community champions and say a proper thank you on behalf of all Masterton residents." "Whether you've been volunteering for decades or just started last week, whether you give an hour a month or countless hours every week - this event is for you. Every single contribution matters, and every volunteer makes our district stronger. Please come along and let us show our appreciation properly - you've more than earned it."
Scoop
31-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Modern Vision For Masterton Library
The ball is rolling on one of Masterton District Council's key Long-Term Plan projects: a fit-for purpose library. The council has released concept architectural images of its $10.75 million planned library refurbishment and extension, with construction set to begin at the end of the year or early 2026. A statement from the council said the concept images showcased 'a modern, light-filled space that blends functionality with inspiration' and that the upgrade would enhance the community's use of the library. Public consultation on the project was done last year as part of the council's 2024-34 Long-Term Plan. At the time, reports said the current building was no longer fit for purpose and that the current size and layout limited opportunities for the display of materials, places for study, and space for programmes and events. The library building also had a range of maintenance issues that needed to be addressed urgently. These included water damage, leaks in the building, mould in the basement, replacing the roof, heating and cooling system replacement, and improved accessibility at the front entrance to the library. The architectural concept images showed purpose-built areas for community programmes, events, and creative collaboration, and an accessibly layout offering many spaces to learn and connect. The enhanced library would feature a community classroom and lounge, meeting rooms, coffee kiosk, dedicated workroom, and a dynamic open-space office, transforming it from a traditional book repository into a community hub. Contractor procurement was planned to start in September with the project expected to be completed mid-to-late 2027. During the construction period, library services would continue at a temporary location to be confirmed by the council in coming weeks. The council was also collaborating with local iwi to create a facility that celebrated Masterton's cultural identity, including integration of te reo Māori throughout signage and navigation. Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell said the multimillion upgrade represented a major commitment to the district's cultural and educational future. "The images we're releasing today represent more than just a building upgrade - they show our commitment to creating a vibrant hub with creativity, learning, and community connection at its heart," Caffell said. "While we understand the temporary move may require some adjustment for our regular library users, we're confident the end result will exceed expectations. "This isn't just a library renovation - it's an investment in a vital community space where knowledge is shared, and the community thrives together."
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Masterton Water Consultation Closes
Masterton District Council's Local Water Done Well consultation has closed with 139 submissions received. Of the 135 submissions that indicated a preference, 60 per cent supported the proposed Wairarapa-Tararua combined water services model, while 40 per cent preferred that Masterton District Council continue to deliver water services independently. Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell said he was pleased to see the community taking the opportunity to provide feedback. "It's always fantastic to see locals taking the time to share their thoughts on something that affects us all," Mayor Caffell said. "Water services touch every household and business in our district, and this feedback helps us form a clearer picture of what our community wants. "This is one of the biggest decisions our Council will make in decades. We're taking this responsibility very seriously and will carefully consider all the feedback we've received before determining the best path forward for Masterton." Council deliberations on Masterton's future service delivery model will take place on May 21. The Local Water Done Well reforms require councils across New Zealand to decide on future water services delivery models, with plans to be submitted to the Government by 3 September 2025.
