Mahere ā-Tau - Annual Plan 2025/26

From September 2024 to February 2025, the council undertook a comprehensive review of budgets for the upcoming Annual Plan 2025/26. This review focused on our operational costs (day-to-day running) and ensured it closely aligns with what we set out in our Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-27. Our goal was to reassess ongoing commitments to our community while maintaining responsible spending and budgeting. That process has confirmed a maximum 11.3% increase in rates.

The LTP usually looks 10 years ahead, but the back-to-back weather events of 2022 and 2023 lead to high repair costs for our district. In response, the government allowed the Far North and seven other councils in Aotearoa to reduce their LTPs to just three years. This has allowed us to focus on repairing damaged infrastructure, especially roads, and make the best use of government funding.

Consultation

This Annual Plan will continue our focus on repairing our transport network as outlined for Year Two of our LTP 2024-27.  While there may be minor adjustments to capital projects and budgets, these are largely in keeping with the original commitments.

Although no significant changes have been made to our adopted Long Term Plan, we want to ensure all residents have an opportunity to provide feedback on the Annual Plan 2025/26. This will be a less formal and less costly ‘inform only’ process.

Submit your feedback here

The feedback period for this Annual Plan 2025/26 will be open from the 14 March – 15 April 2025, after which collated feedback will be presented to our Elected Members. The Annual Plan will be formally adopted at the end of June and come into effect from 1 July 2025.

Capital works programme 2025/26

We have some major works starting in 2025/26:

• Infrastructure Acceleration Funding: Launched in June 2021, the fund is administered by Kāinga Ora and supports critical infrastructure like roading, three waters, and flood management to accelerate housing construction in high-need areas. We aim to deliver $46,726,552 of capital in specific areas across the district.
• Kaikohe library and service centre hub: Currently in detailed design and consent stages, the design has been approved by the project steering group. With final council approval, tenders will be awarded, and construction will commence early in the 2025/26 financial year with a capital commitment of $6,562,798.
• Transport network: We will be spending a total of $57,062,865 on our transport network. This covers everything from fixing damaged roads through to sealing repairs.
• Kaikohe wastewater treatment plant: We will be spending $5,110,000 to upgrade the plant.
• Water supply: Upgrade to the main supply to Kerikeri via the Heritage Bypass $6,905,654.

Rates

The rates increase for 2025/26 is 11.3% as outlined in the LTP 2024-27. To see what you get for your rates dollar please click here. You can also view the sample rates graphs, showing the proposed changes for different property types by clicking here.

Please note that we also collect rates on behalf of Northland Regional Council. This helps fund regional services such as environmental management, flood control, and public transport.

Business as usual

Our recovery programme will continue as usual, but some services may be affected by Local Water Done Well, the government’s plan to address New Zealand’s long-standing water infrastructure challenges. We will be talking to residents soon about the options this presents. Depending on the outcome of the Local Waters Done Well consultation, we may need to make some adjustments to our capital works programme.

All feedback will be presented to council with the Annual Plan 2025/26 set for adoption at the end of June and coming into effect on 1 July 2025.

How can I have a say?

Share your feedback by completing the online submission form here

You can also send us a written submission:

• By email: submissions@fndc.govt.nz
• By mail: Strategy and Policy Team, Far North District Council, Private Bag 752, Kaikohe 0440
• In person: Drop your submission at any Far North District Council Service Centre.

Alternatively, you can request to share your feedback verbally by emailing us at submissions@fndc.govt.nz or by phone on 0800 920 029.

We must receive your feedback by Tuesday 15 April 2025.

Note: Anyone is invited to submit feedback on this consultation, whether as an individual or on behalf of an organisation, however, any submissions that are out of scope, offensive, inappropriate, or late may not be accepted by the council. You will be notified if your decision is not accepted and, where appropriate, invited to resubmit.

Any submissions that are made will become part of the public consultation process. The collection and use of personal information by the Far North District Council is regulated by the Privacy Act 2020. Please note that your submission or a summary of your submission will be treated as public information and may be published on the council's website and made available to elected members and members of the public as part of the consultation process. Your name and contact details (address, phone number, email) will only be used for administrative purposes - such as the council contacting you to update you on the outcome of this consultation and letting you know about future consultations

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