Hauraki District Council confirmed its rates for the next financial year at its May 29 meeting, with the adoption of its 2025/26 annual plan.
Council’s group manager of business support Duncan Peddie said ratepayers could expect to see an average increase of 10.6 per cent per property overall.
The new rates will come into effect on July 1.
Property rates had previously been projected to be a 13.3 per cent increase in the council’s 2024-2034 long term plan, but would now be increasing by only 8.4 per cent. This would amount to an average of $251 extra per residential property annually, or 69 cents per day.
Duncan said the council had managed to offset the property rates with two one-off reductions in the council’s budget: a $1.65 million underspend on its roading budget, and a property sale of council land in Ngatea.
However, water rates would now be increasing by 15.3 per cent instead of the projected 10 per cent; an increase mostly caused by the government’s water levy increases and extra regulatory reporting requirements, the council said.
For an average residential property, this would mean an extra $108 annually, or 30 cents per day.
At the meeting, the council also approved a grant of $1500 for the proposed community garden on the corner of Aorangi and Ainslie Rds in Paeroa, subject to the group providing a satisfactory plan for the scheme.
It was noted that a land use consent would also be required, as the lot is zoned for residential and a community garden would be considered a farming activity.
A second grant of $1691.50 was also approved for Waihī resident Sarah Keall, to attend the Aspiring Leaders Forum in Wellington.
