2026-27 Annual Plan adopted by Council

At the extra ordinary meeting of Ōpōtiki District Council this week, Council adopted the 2026-27 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 2024 – 2034 Long-Term Plan.

Based on the Annual Plan budgets, this financial year will see a rates rise of 8.7%, well below the projected 16% in the Long-Term Plan.

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

“Staff put in a lot of work to refine down the budget. During consultation on the Long-Term Plan, our community was clear about its priorities: focus on the basics, manage costs carefully, and defer non-urgent spending where possible.

“This Annual Plan, which is year 3 of the Long-Term Plan, reflects that feedback and savings have been achieved with little impact on core services. Achieving this was in-part down to refining assumptions, seeking deferrals, and finding efficiency gains.

“Councils across the country are operating in a challenging environment. Ongoing reform of water services, changes to local government and sustained inflationary pressure have all increased the cost and complexity of delivering core services.

Despite this, council will still deliver a substantial capital programme in 2026/27, with continued investment in three waters, transport, flood resilience, and public spaces”, Mayor Moore said.

A full copy of the Ōpōtiki District Council 2026-27 Annual Plan is available on the council website.