Annual Plan 2025-26 Adopted by Council

At the extra ordinary meeting of Ōpōtiki District Council last week, Council adopted the 2025-26 Annual Plan.

Annual Plans support long term plans and provide the basis for setting and assessing rates for the coming year.

This year, as allowed for under the Local Government Act, Council has been able to save ratepayers the cost of undertaking a Special Consultative Procedure, as there are no significant changes from the content of the Long-Term Plan.

Based on the Annual Plan budgets, this year will see a rates rise of 9.8%. 0.3% above the proposed rate in Council’s Annual Plan Information Document, yet below the forecast 10.6% in the Long-Term Plan.

Ōpōtiki District Council, Finance Manager, Billy Kingi said Council officers had been able to undertake further budget refinement during the Annual Plan process, reducing the overall rates increase from 10.6% (proposed for year 2 of the Long-Term Plan) down to 9.8%.

“New government-imposed water service levies, however, have contributed to the final rate being above the 9.5% council had originally planned in its draft Annual Plan (Information Document)”, Mr Kingi said.

Ōpōtiki Mayor, David Moore, said Council staff worked hard to get the projected rates rise below what was proposed in the Long-Term Plan.

“We listened to the feedback received from our community to reduce services - to reduce costs on our ratepayers. These reductions include lower levels of service across engineering, parks and reserves, events, and regional development.

“We will still deliver a comprehensive capital programme across waste, potable and storm water, roads, and public toilets and it is worth noting that local government is facing increased costs alongside a raft of legislative changes, particularly in water services.

“Despite these challenges the future is looking bright as we plan for growth in housing in areas like Hukutaia and celebrate the completion and use of our harbour entrance alongside our plans to revitalise our town centre,” Mayor Moore said.

View a full copy of the Ōpōtiki District Council 2025-26 Annual Plan.