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Scoop
11 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Tauranga Council Cuts $9.85m In Costs To Shave 2.1% Off Rates Rise
Article – Alisha Evans – Local Democracy Reporter The council deliberated on its 2025/26 Annual Plan from Monday to Thursday after receiving 968 submissions and hearing from 68 people in person this month. Tauranga residents are facing a 9.9% rates rise after the council found extra savings. Tauranga City Council faced public criticism for proposing a 12% rates increase, down from a projected 20%. It has found $9.85 million more in cuts to council operating costs to knock off another just over 2%. These included saving $166,000 by turning public recycling bins – which had high contamination rates – into rubbish bins. The biggest cost drop, however, came from employee reductions, with at least 98 roles cut and at $12.3m saved. The council deliberated on its 2025/26 Annual Plan from Monday to Thursday after receiving 968 submissions and hearing from 68 people in person this month. On Thursday Mayor Mahé Drysdale said the changes and savings made in the plan would flow through to future years. Drysdale promised he would keep the rates below those forecast in the long-term plan. The 9.9% overall rates rise was 'not as good' as the councillors would have liked, but it was a start, he said. The council would be looking at every dollar because they needed to be prudent with people's money, Drysdale said. 'We have to respect ratepayers' money, and we have to deliver things for as small a cost as we can.' The community had also told the council more facilities were needed, he said. 'We've been dealt a very tough situation where our infrastructure and our community assets are well below where they need to be.' He said the challenge was finding the balance between delivering projects and reducing rates. 'I'm very proud of this team [and] I think we have delivered a very good balance.' Councillor Glen Crowther said it was a challenging Annual Plan because they were dealing with past decisions that added costs to the organisation. A lot of those decisions were 'firmly locked into place', he said. Crowther said he wanted a lower rates increase. 'I appreciate that a lot of work went into getting to the 9.9%, so I'm not dismissing that, but I think we need to end up lower.' The council's operating expenses were still too high, and he wanted work done before the Annual Plan was adopted in July to reduce rates further, he said. During the four days of deliberations, the council discussed everything from portaloos to tsunami paths in Pāpāmoa. Tauranga Netball asked for $20,000 to lease five portaloos toilets at Blake Park during the winter sports season. Drysdale said this was 'expensive' and they needed to 'get a deal'. The council decided to buy the portaloos and would be able to pay for this within the current budget. The Ōtūmoetai Pool, an 'amazing community asset' slated for closure, was saved. The council also agreed to extend the Pāpāmoa shared coastal path from Parton Rd to Taylor Reserve, provided it cost no more than $1m and could be delivered within the council's current budget. There were some losers from the deliberations. Councillors declined ARGOS Gym Sports $67,000 for a new kitchen and cafe facility, and Bowls Matua would not receive $180,000 to upgrade its third green. Creative Bay of Plenty would also not receive a $77,500 increase in its funding. The rates increase would be finalised in June when the Annual Plan was adopted. How the council achieved its savings • Projects reprioritised or delivered in-house $3.2m • Reduction in consultants and more use of internal services $3.9m • Employee cost reductions $9.1m – 98 roles were disestablished with more possible • Uptake-related kerbside collection cost reduction $900,000 • Interest-related finance cost savings $2m • Increased user fees $2.3m • Reduced engagement and education costs $1.5m • Other organisation-wide cost reductions $5.1m The extra savings to get to 9.9% • Further employee cost reductions $3.2m • Interest and depreciation savings $2.2m • Process improvement savings $3.8m – LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
12 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Regional Events Fund Delivers Boost To Whanganui, Rangitīkei And Ruapehu
Article – Moana Ellis – Local Democracy Reporter Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said she was particularly pleased to support events in regions which traditionally did not see as many domestic tourists. Adventure races, festivals, cultural and sports events across the Whanganui, Rangitīkei and Ruapehu districts will benefit from new Government investment. Funding from the contestable $5 million Regional Events Promotion Fund will support a range of local events aimed at attracting domestic visitors and driving economic activity in rural and regional areas. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said she was particularly pleased to support events in regions which traditionally did not see as many domestic tourists. 'Investing in these events has a direct impact, with visitors spending money in local cafes, businesses and accommodation providers,' Upston said. One of the new events coming to the regions is the Whakapapa Festival, a non-skiing event in the Ruapehu district in June 2026. Visit Ruapehu, Ruapehu district's regional tourism organisation, has won $81,850 to support five adventure and cultural events: $20,250 for Mardi Gras Ohakune, $13,000 for the Ring of Fire 2026 alpine races, $11,300 for The Goat Adventure Run, $12,300 for the Tussock Traverse 2026 and $25,000 for the Whakapapa Festival in 2026. Whanganui District Council will receive $115,500 for five key events: $17,500 for the Artist Open Studios art trail, $30,000 for the Cooks Classic athletics event, $15,000 for the HoopNation Junior Showcase basketball tournament, $40,000 for the Suzuki Series motorcycle event, and $13,000 for Whanganui Vintage Weekend. Rangitīkei District Council will receive $10,000 for two events: $5,000 for the Marton Country Music Festival and $5,000 for the Rangitīkei Adventure Race. These investments are part of a broader $2.6 million allocation from the fund's second round, supporting 152 events nationwide. The fund, established from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, aims to grow regional tourism and support local economies. 'By growing regional tourism, our remote and rural communities can benefit from the economic opportunities it brings,' Upston said. 'Events are excellent drawcards to get more visitors into our regions, particularly in quieter parts of the year for the tourism and hospitality sector.'
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
‘Huge Impact': Residents Worry Over Traffic From New Tauranga Development
Article – Alisha Evans – Local Democracy Reporter The residents want a second access added to the planned 13-hectare Pukemapu subdivision in hauiti to alleviate their concerns, but Tauranga City Council says doing so would be prohibitively expensive. Residents of a Tauranga suburb are concerned a new housing development will have a 'huge impact' on traffic that is already 'horrendous'. The residents want a second access added to the planned 13-hectare Pukemapu subdivision in Ōhauiti to alleviate their concerns, but Tauranga City Council says doing so would be prohibitively expensive. The new subdivision will be built on land that slopes down from the Rowesdale subdivision towards Pukemapu Rd, and an existing Rowesdale Drive house will be demolished to build the only access road. The developer Carrus said it was unknown how many homes would be built but the council website said about 200 were planned. Kerrie, who did not want her surname published, lives near Rowesdale Drive and said she and some other neighbours wanted the subdivision's developers to build a second access to Pukemapu Rd, which connects to Oropi Rd, to alleviate traffic pressures through Ōhauiti. 'It'll have a huge impact on the traffic. The traffic's already horrendous. 'It's a wider community that's affected. It's not just us, it's all of Ōhauiti and probably some of Welcome Bay as well. 'The developer should have to put in that [second] access point.' The area also didn't have schools or amenities like a supermarket, she said. Kerrie said the council had told her access to the subdivision was the developers' responsibility. 'The council is telling us we need to fight this with the developer to get the new road put in. It's nothing to do with council.' The council bought two properties at the end of Rowesdale Drive in 2020 to enable access to the Pukemapu land. These properties had covenants that prohibited them being used to enable development of the adjoining land. The council needed agreement from the other 21 property owners who were under the same covenant to change it to provide access to land behind. The alternative was to use a Public Works Act acquisition or High Court process to change the covenant. Talks with owners started in December 2021. The property owners obtained legal representation and an agreement on compensation was reached with the council in January 2023. The covenants on the two Rowesdale Drive properties were revoked, enabling access and services to the developable land. The covenants on other Rowesdale subdivision properties stayed the same. Kerrie was also upset the council used ratepayer money to buy the homes. 'I just thought how unfair it was, our ratepayer money being used to buy two houses that they're just going to bowl down. They've used our ratepayer money to pay out [compensation to] those 21 properties.' Council strategy, growth and governance general manager Christine Jones said the council paid $2.33 million for the two properties but this would be paid back by the developer. Only one of the two homes would need to be demolished for the new road and the other house could be resold, she said. The total compensation for the 21 properties was $3.16m but the individual amounts were confidential, Jones said. The council paid two-thirds and the developer paid one-third but would pay the council share as development happened, she said. Developers Carrus and Classic Group were working together on the development and controlled most of the developable land, Jones said. Council investigations showed Rowesdale Drive was the most suitable access point, she said. Multiple access points were preferable but not possible because of constraints and the costs involved, Jones said. The Pukemapu Rd option was not feasible and had a prohibitive cost, she said. Traffic congestion was a 'significant issue' during weekday-morning peak-hour but outside this the network generally performed well in Ōhauiti, Jones said. 'While additional traffic will have effects on the community, the shortage of housing in the city also has significant impacts and this area is one of few options to make a meaningful addition to the city's housing supply in a relatively short timeframe.' The council agreed better schooling options were needed in the area and had been engaging with the Ministry of Education for some years, she said. 'We are also aware of the lack of retail and commercial offering in the suburb and plan to investigate this further as part of our upcoming review of commercial and industrial zones across the city.' The council was also considering investigating other access options for Ōhauiti, Jones said. Carrus managing director Scott Adams said they were working through options and timeframes for the development. 'We don't have a workable subdivision plan as yet.' Adams said it was unknown yet how many homes would be built. The land had been zoned residential for about 25 years, he said. Residential growth took up most of the water and wastewater capacity that was allocated for the project and no infrastructure planning or upsizing had occurred since despite the residential zoning, Adams said. Having multiple transport connections to the site would be awesome, he said. 'The reality is traffic congestion is a citywide problem, and every motorist in the city endures it daily.' In his view: 'Transport planning has been neglected in Tauranga for decades.' Investment was needed to invest in highway network upgrades across the city to allow traffic to flow better, Adams said.
Scoop
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Ode To Ōtara: A Symphony Of Hope, Culture And Call For Support
Article – Mary Afemata – Local Democracy Reporter Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' was written centuries ago, but this week it became a powerful celebration of unity through music, bringing together youth as they rehearsed for an upcoming concert with the Auckland Philharmonia and the Sāmoan music education initiative, Sol Fa. Dozens of young musicians performed 'Ode to Joy' at a Sistema Aotearoa rehearsal, welcoming Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith to Ōtara's Music and Arts Centre on Tuesday. The rehearsal was part of the lead-up to their annual 'Pese! Fasi! Pūoro!' concert and provided Goldsmith with insight into the talent, discipline, and pride of South Auckland. However, when asked about increasing government investment in community arts, the minister was cautious. 'It's amazing to be out here and to see the smiling little faces as they're exposed to the wonderful world of music,' Goldsmith says. 'There are few greater things than being part of a group making music together. 'We can't walk in with a chequebook and throw money around. We're maintaining arts funding in a very tough environment, and we're encouraging agencies to invest widely, from professionals to grassroots groups like this.' Sistema Aotearoa, which partners with over 60 South Auckland schools to provide free orchestral education, is widely celebrated for its impact on tamariki. But board member Tasha Hohaia says the programme's success has been achieved despite limited resources. 'We make magic happen with the little we have. And with just a little bit more, we could reach more,' Hohaia says. 'It's critical to have Māori and Pasifika whānau supported in classical music. We have so much to offer the world.' Iain Rea, General Manager for Sistema Aotearoa, says the programme goes beyond music education. 'Sistema Aotearoa is much more than a music programme, it's also about community development and the programme has been going for almost 15 years. It's hugely supported by the community, it's as much about community building as it is about music.' One example is Reece Ferrer, 19, who joined Sistema Aotearoa as a child and is now a tutor. 'I joined when I was five, so that was back in 2013. I currently do midwifery at AUT, but I've been with Sistema basically for 14 years. Sistema to me is much more than a music programme. 'It helped me build my social skills and helped me connect with the community in Aotearoa.' Ferrer, who learned the violin and flute, has forged connections with fellow students through Sistema Aotearoa, and is now giving back to her community as a young adult. For parents like Terry Filipo, whose son plays the violin, the change is deeply personal. Filipo's son is a Year Four student at Flatbush School, and she hopes he will gain discipline and self-belief from the programme. Filipo says the programme exposes children like her son to new spaces. 'I look at my son and see a future that's more open because of exposure to classical music. It's an investment, not just in music, but in how our kids see the world. 'It's a practice. Whether it's a sport or an instrument, you learn commitment, and that progress follows discipline. 'It's a type of cultural exchange, which is important not just musically and not just skill-wise but their perspective … it's allowing them to expand on their worldview even as young people.' Filipo stresses the need for government funding and support. 'It's extremely important … Without the funding and without the support that Aotearoa Sistema gets, children that come from certain areas … may not go to schools [with access to] this type of music or even this type of culture.' 'It is an investment, even for our music industry. We have so much to contribute … We don't support small, we support big.' Rene's son has participated in the Sistema Aotearoa programme for three years, starting in Year Two. He plays the cello, and Rene believes the opportunity might not have come without it. She says the programme teaches more than just music; it nurtures confidence and opens doors. She adds that the programme fosters engagement and uncovers hidden talents, strongly endorsing the initiative. 'I think without the awareness of the programme, it may not have been an opportunity that he would have pursued. 'I think it's very crucial, opening up their eyes to different opportunities, different disciplines. So it's not just about the musical ability, but it offers a wide range of, I guess, perspective and life lessons as well that they can carry through to other areas of their lives. 'It's much better to have our kids engaging in this kind of activity rather than on the couch and so forth.' William Kingi, Sistema Aotearoa's youth adviser, says the programme opens doors that would otherwise remain closed to rangatahi. 'Even though this community is under-resourced, we're culturally rich. Classical music allows our kids to participate in spaces that might feel foreign, but instead, they feel like they belong. 'Sistema helps level the playing field. Not a lot, but just enough to change a life.' That potential was visible during the rehearsal, as students beamed with pride while performing for their families and friends.
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
‘Huge Impact': Residents Worry Over Traffic From New Tauranga Development
Article – Alisha Evans – Local Democracy Reporter The residents want a second access added to the planned 13-hectare Pukemapu subdivision in hauiti to alleviate their concerns, but Tauranga City Council says doing so would be prohibitively expensive. Residents of a Tauranga suburb are concerned a new housing development will have a 'huge impact' on traffic that is already 'horrendous'. The residents want a second access added to the planned 13-hectare Pukemapu subdivision in Ōhauiti to alleviate their concerns, but Tauranga City Council says doing so would be prohibitively expensive. The new subdivision will be built on land that slopes down from the Rowesdale subdivision towards Pukemapu Rd, and an existing Rowesdale Drive house will be demolished to build the only access road. The developer Carrus said it was unknown how many homes would be built but the council website said about 200 were planned. Kerrie, who did not want her surname published, lives near Rowesdale Drive and said she and some other neighbours wanted the subdivision's developers to build a second access to Pukemapu Rd, which connects to Oropi Rd, to alleviate traffic pressures through Ōhauiti. 'It'll have a huge impact on the traffic. The traffic's already horrendous. 'It's a wider community that's affected. It's not just us, it's all of Ōhauiti and probably some of Welcome Bay as well. 'The developer should have to put in that [second] access point.' The area also didn't have schools or amenities like a supermarket, she said. Kerrie said the council had told her access to the subdivision was the developers' responsibility. 'The council is telling us we need to fight this with the developer to get the new road put in. It's nothing to do with council.' The council bought two properties at the end of Rowesdale Drive in 2020 to enable access to the Pukemapu land. These properties had covenants that prohibited them being used to enable development of the adjoining land. The council needed agreement from the other 21 property owners who were under the same covenant to change it to provide access to land behind. The alternative was to use a Public Works Act acquisition or High Court process to change the covenant. Talks with owners started in December 2021. The property owners obtained legal representation and an agreement on compensation was reached with the council in January 2023. The covenants on the two Rowesdale Drive properties were revoked, enabling access and services to the developable land. The covenants on other Rowesdale subdivision properties stayed the same. Kerrie was also upset the council used ratepayer money to buy the homes. 'I just thought how unfair it was, our ratepayer money being used to buy two houses that they're just going to bowl down. They've used our ratepayer money to pay out [compensation to] those 21 properties.' Council strategy, growth and governance general manager Christine Jones said the council paid $2.33 million for the two properties but this would be paid back by the developer. Only one of the two homes would need to be demolished for the new road and the other house could be resold, she said. The total compensation for the 21 properties was $3.16m but the individual amounts were confidential, Jones said. The council paid two-thirds and the developer paid one-third but would pay the council share as development happened, she said. Developers Carrus and Classic Group were working together on the development and controlled most of the developable land, Jones said. Council investigations showed Rowesdale Drive was the most suitable access point, she said. Multiple access points were preferable but not possible because of constraints and the costs involved, Jones said. The Pukemapu Rd option was not feasible and had a prohibitive cost, she said. Traffic congestion was a 'significant issue' during weekday-morning peak-hour but outside this the network generally performed well in Ōhauiti, Jones said. 'While additional traffic will have effects on the community, the shortage of housing in the city also has significant impacts and this area is one of few options to make a meaningful addition to the city's housing supply in a relatively short timeframe.' The council agreed better schooling options were needed in the area and had been engaging with the Ministry of Education for some years, she said. 'We are also aware of the lack of retail and commercial offering in the suburb and plan to investigate this further as part of our upcoming review of commercial and industrial zones across the city.' The council was also considering investigating other access options for Ōhauiti, Jones said. Carrus managing director Scott Adams said they were working through options and timeframes for the development. 'We don't have a workable subdivision plan as yet.' Adams said it was unknown yet how many homes would be built. The land had been zoned residential for about 25 years, he said. Residential growth took up most of the water and wastewater capacity that was allocated for the project and no infrastructure planning or upsizing had occurred since despite the residential zoning, Adams said. Having multiple transport connections to the site would be awesome, he said. 'The reality is traffic congestion is a citywide problem, and every motorist in the city endures it daily.' In his view: 'Transport planning has been neglected in Tauranga for decades.' Investment was needed to invest in highway network upgrades across the city to allow traffic to flow better, Adams said.
