Horowhenua District Council has reduced its proposed average annual rates increase from a forecast 11.6% in the Long Term Plan to 5.8% (after growth), a significant reduction.
Every year, Council faces a balancing act, making sure the services our community relies on are delivered, while doing everything possible to keep rates and costs affordable for households and businesses.
At its meeting this week, Horowhenua District Council endorsed the budget for its proposed Annual Plan for 2026/27. The Annual Plan will be formally adopted later this year. Rates for individual properties for 2026/27 will be set in June.
The 2026/27 Annual Plan is being shaped in a particularly challenging environment, with significant central government reforms and cost pressures affecting councils and communities across the country.
Mayor Bernie Wanden says councillors know many people are feeling the pressure and have worked carefully through the budget with that in mind.
“We know times are tough for many households, and councillors don’t lose sight of that,” Mayor Bernie explains. “That’s why we’ve taken a careful look at every dollar, found savings where we can, and reduced the rates increase from an earlier forecast of around 11.6% to 5.8%, while still protecting the essential services our community relies on.”
“Councillors worked through a wide range of options, looking closely at where costs could be reduced or changes could be made,” Mayor Bernie says. “We were very mindful of avoiding decisions that would create unnecessary disruption for our community, while also managing the real cost and capacity pressures councils are facing as a result of wider reforms, and keeping affordability front of mind.”
The lower-than-forecast rates increase was achieved through detailed budget reviews and identifying efficiencies across Council operations, including delaying or rephasing some non-critical spending, without proposing cuts to core services. Council also negotiated well on behalf of our community and were able to significantly reduce some contracted costs.
This confirms a number of budget decisions, including investment in new technology such as automatic licence plate recognition to support parking services. It also includes not progressing a new community plan in 2027/28, reducing climate change funding, and exploring the removal of formal i-SITE accreditation at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō and Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom.
It also endorses Council’s direction of travel in continuing to find ways to work differently and deliver affordable services to our community. For example, we’ll keep asking people to sign up for email rates invoices where possible to reduce printing and postage costs. These small changes all add up.
Mayor Bernie says the Annual Plan approach reflects a clear and practical focus on what matters most to the community in the year ahead.
“Our focus is on the basics, keeping core services running well, maintaining and renewing important infrastructure like roads and water, looking after the community facilities people use every day, and managing growth in a sensible and affordable way, even in a period of significant reform and rising costs. It’s about making careful choices now, while making sure we’re in a good position to take a fresh look at priorities through next year’s Long Term Plan.”
Because the Annual Plan does not propose any significant or material changes, formal public consultation is not required under legislation. Council will still keep the community informed and explain what the plan means as it moves through to adoption. Council will also begin early conversations with the community later this year as part of developing the next Long Term Plan, which will provide further opportunities for people to have their say on Council’s future priorities and direction.
Alongside the Annual Plan, Council endorsed proposed fees and charges for 2026/27. Fees and charges help ensure costs are shared fairly between those who use specific services and the wider community, while supporting access to essential facilities and services.
Council is required to consult on the changes to Resource Management fees. Consultation on them will open from 16 February to 16 March 2026. Council will continue to keep the community informed as the Annual Plan and Fees and Charges progress, including information about any consultation required.
Support is available to help ratepayers who may find rates increases difficult to manage, including through rates rebates and payment plan options.
If you need help or want to see what support is available, visit our Rating Information page or call Council on 06 366 0999.