Waikato District Council adopted its Annual Plan earlier this week, confirming an average rates increase of 3.79% for the next 12 months, and staying within central government’s rates cap ahead of its January 2027 start.
Council also confirmed a drop in the general rate increase from 3% in the Long Term spending Plan 2025–2034 to 2.8% following a series of cost-saving initiatives.
Council staff were due to start work on the next long term spending plan where much work would be required to keep rates below the cap but with the government’s three- month time frame for planning council mergers this has been delayed.
From 1 July 2026, IAWAI, the new publicly owned water company formed by Waikato and Hamilton councils will be responsible for delivering reticulated water and wastewater services. Stormwater services will remain with Council but will be managed under contract by IAWAI.
And one other little rating detail; the Raglan Town hall rate has gone up by $9 to $34 a year, a below average rise compared to other halls in the district.
Raglan Local Erin Griffiths is running for a position on the WEL Energy Trust at this year’s election. Voting papers have already been sent out to residents of Whaingaroa and the wider Waikato area following 28 nominations for the 7 positions on the Trust. The Trustee’s job is to hold shares of WEL Energy on behalf of the community, to monitor the performance of the directors of the company, and to decide how to distribute profits back to the community. Remuneration for regular board members is $31,000 annually
And despite the Rates Control Team taking control of Waikato Regional Council on the back of a campaign to oppose Plan Change 1 the Environment Court has approved the plan following a decade of court battles.
Plan Change 1 is the first stage of a long-term programme to restore the health of the Waikato and Waipā rivers and came about as part of a treaty settlement between Waikato iwi and the government. Iwi are celebrating the final decision but have concerns that the current government’s attempts to weaken environmental laws will impact the region.
In local sport the Raglan Roosters got the wrong result last weekend going down 4-3 to Deezciples. They were down 3 nil at half time before a stunning hat trick from Fraser bought them level, before the final goal from Deezsciples decided the match. The result leaves them 7th on the Division One table with a game this weekend against Himalayan FC who, are 6th on the table. Kick off is at 1pm at beautiful Dominion Park halfway down Dominion Road in the Tron.
In the league the Whaingaroa Whai Tane had their first loss of the season last week so are second on the Senior A table with a rare home match this weekend. They’ll be taking on Marakopa at 2pm with a big crowd expected.
The Whai Wahine are joint table toppers with Tahaaroa in Group B of the women’s league after also losing their first match of the season last weekend. This Sunday they’re playing Te Piringa Taika in Glenview at 2:30