Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has agreed to progress a rates cap to help councils keep rates increases under control and reduce pressure on household budgets, Local Government Minister Simon Watts says.

“Rates are taking up more of household bills, and some communities have faced double-digit increases year after year. This is unsustainable and is only adding to the cost of living for many Kiwis,” Mr Watts says.

“Ratepayers deserve councils that live within their means, focus on the basics and are accountable to their community. The Government’s decision to introduce a cap on rates will support that ambition and protect local government’s social license for the long term.” 

The model sets a target range for annual rates increases, based on long-term economic indicators like inflation at the lower end and GDP growth at the higher end. 

The lower end of the range is designed to ensure councils can maintain essential services, while the upper end balances the need for sustainable growth with keeping rates increases affordable.

“Analysis suggests a target range of 2 to 4 per cent per capita, per year. This means rates increases would be limited to a maximum of 4 per cent,” Mr Watts says.

“A minimum increase is necessary so councils can continue to provide essential services like rubbish collection, council roads maintenance and the management of parks and libraries.”

The cap will apply to all sources of rates – general rates, targeted rates and uniform annual charges – but will exclude water charges and other non-rates revenue like fees and charges.

Councils will not be able to increase rates beyond the upper end of the range, unless they have permission from a regulator appointed by central government. Permission will only be granted in extreme circumstances, such as a natural disaster, and councils will need to show how they will return to the target range. 

Where councils need to raise revenue to pay for things outside of extreme circumstances, such as catching up on past underinvestment in infrastructure, they will need to apply to a regulator for approval. Again, councils would need to provide justification and explain how they will return to the target range over time.

“These new rules will be a big change, and many councils will need time to adapt, which is why there will be a transition period starting from 1 January 2027,” Mr Watts says.

“From 2027, councils will be required to consider the impact of rates caps on their long-term plans and report on areas of financial performance, like the cost of wages and salaries, council rates as a percentage of local house prices and estimates of local infrastructure deficits.

“The full regulatory model will take effect by 2029. However, officials will be monitoring rates rises nationwide as soon as the legislation is enacted. Where councils propose increases beyond the proposed cap, this may present grounds for intervention under the Local Government Act.

“Councils should not wait for the full enactment of the rates capping model before controlling rates increases for their constituents,” Mr Watts says.

Next steps:

• Targeted consultation with stakeholders to finalise implementation, local considerations and legal details starts today and runs to February 2026.
• Relevant legislation will be enacted during 2026 and be law from 1 January 2027. This will be the start of a transition period, allowing councils to integrate the cap into their long-term planning. During this time, councils will report on financial metrics while the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) monitors progress and provides guidance.
• DIA will also develop the regulatory framework, including considerations for a permanent regulator.
• The full regulatory model will be in place by 1 July 2029.

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  01 December 2025

Mahi Aroha – a collaboration between community group Project Tongariro and DOC invites visitors and locals to get naturing this summer with 30 trips on offer across the region.

Project Tongariro Chief Executive Officer Kiri Te Wano says the programme has a variety of options thanks to community groups across the region.

“It’s a collaborative effort; we all love this area and want to share it with others.

“New offerings this summer include an art auction, a presentation on invasive gold clams, and an awesome opportunity to enjoy an overnight hikoi via jetboat on the Whanganui River.”

“And we still have some of the old family-favourites like trap-building workshops, nature-art, and of course, tramping!”

Popular events such as heli-hikes and tours at Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary fill up quickly each year. Early booking is recommended.

DOC Community Ranger/Project Lead Charlotte Fletcher says Mahi Aroha provides an ideal opportunity to enjoy nature with friends and whānau.

“Mahi Aroha provides so many fun ways to explore, protect, and enjoy nature, so check out the calendar online and get naturing this summer!”

Some activities are free, and some carry a charge to cover operating costs for the trip.

Book your adventure on Mahi Aroha website.

Contact

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand has achieved a major milestone in eradicating the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis, with no sign of the disease detected after two spring calving seasons, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.

“Thanks to the hard work of farmers, after three autumn and two spring calving seasons with no infections, we’re entering a new phase called ‘confidence of absence’. This phase involves a couple more years of background surveillance until we have a very high level of confidence that the disease is eradicated.”

“This progress is excellent news for farmers. As confidence grows that the disease has been cleared from the national herd, the costs of the eradication programme and the levies paid by farmers will continue to decrease.

Mr Hoggard reflected on the initial discovery of the disease in 2017, and the collective effort required to combat it: “We had to pull together—farmers, officials, and the community—to beat it.”

In 2018, the Ministry for Primary Industries, DairyNZ, and Beef + Lamb New Zealand committed to a 10-year, $870 million programme to eradicate M. bovis, protecting both the sector and the economy. Allowing the disease to become endemic would have cost $1.3 billion in lost production in the first ten years alone.

The last known transmission of M. bovis in cattle was in September 2023, and the programme remains on track to achieve eradication by June 2028. New Zealand’s animal disease eradication agency, OSPRI, is now gathering data to confirm the disease has been eliminated from the national herd, a process expected to take another two years.

“I want to thank farmers for their perseverance, noting that their efforts are helping to protect New Zealand’s dairy and beef industries for the long term.”

“For those farmers that were caught up in this it has been truly heart rending.
They paid a high price to protect the rest of us.”

He also acknowledged the contributions of community leaders, scientists, lab technicians, industry leaders, and suppliers, emphasizing that this achievement is a collective success.