Waipā rates confirmed at 4.4 per cent

Waipā rates will rise by an average of 4.4 per cent for the coming year.

Waipā District Council formally confirmed the rates rise today, noting the percentage increase was the same as that forecast for year two of the 2021-2031 Long-Term Plan.

Mayor Jim Mylchreest said he was pleased Council had kept the rates rise “at the lower end of the scale” but noted no rates rise would ever be welcomed by the community.

“We just have to look around to see that inflation is making things extremely challenging for everyone, and Council is not immune to that,” he said.

“But while I think we’ve done all we can to keep costs down, I do acknowledge that people are doing it tough out there. Councillors are very aware of that and meant we simply could not meet all the requests made of us as we set the coming budget.”

“I look at some of the other councils around New Zealand and see them really struggling, with massive challenges ahead. Waipā is probably in a better place than many, but we really need to keep a very, very tight handle on finances going forward.”

The new rates will take effect from 1 July 2022.