The extra-ordinary “Head Start” Council meeting held 5 August 2026 had an unsurprising result.
The proposed Western Waikato Unitary Authority (“WWUA”) model, led by Waikato District Council and supported by Waipaa and South Waikato District Councils’, offers advantages like better river catchment management, and stronger economies of scale. However, merging rural hamlets, and smaller communities, with faster growing urban communities, risks sidelining and overshadowing small local needs.
Managing combined debt, diverse asset bases, and substantial structural changes will carry higher initial risk and uncertainty for our constituents. As we anticipate however, a Central Government decision, your Mayor and Councillors, continue to examine Council systems and processes, constantly scanning for greater efficiencies whilst striving to maintain levels of service and deliverability for our constituents, in readiness for the 2028 merger.
Longe-Term Plan (“LTP”) what is it and why does it matter? – every three years, every Council in NZ must produce a 10-year plan that maps out the services and major projects, that will be delivered along with the budgets, to pay for them. The LTP also carries a 30-year Infrastructure Strategy, since roads, bridges and pipes generally outlast a 10-year plan. It is your contract with Council, that once adopted, drives what will be delivered and what will be spent over the approaching ten years. Over recent weeks Councillor-led Council-supported community workshops/engagements have been held to ensure you had an opportunity to have input into the LTP and shape it. Once the LTP is set, changing direction becomes quite difficult.
What has changed for our district since the 2024 LTP? – water services, that is your drinking water and wastewater services, have moved to a jointly owned company. You would have already noticed a change as you have been billed separately from IAWAI. Rates capping is in play, notwithstanding rapid rising costs, and road funding has not kept up.
By 2034 it is forecasted that 114,252 people will be living in our district. That’s around 20,000 more people in a space of eight years. While rateable properties will increase slightly from 34,362 to 39,463 circa, the ongoing challenge to deliver core services and met community expectations will continue to be felt. Borrowing is set to become more expensive.
The Local Government Act 2022 (“LGA”) requires Council to formally adopt an Annual Report and Annual Summary by 31 October each year. At the Joint Strategy, Growth and Finance Committee and Audit, Risk and Opportunities meeting held 23 September, both committees’ recommended that Council adopt the Annual Report and Annual Plan summary from a risk management perspective and subject to audit clearance and minor editorial updates. Council will seek to adopt the Annual Plan at the 7 October meeting.
The Te Kauwhata and Meremere CCTV Camera Projects are now complete, with all cameras fully operational. Some fine tuning of the automated patrol settings may still be undertaken in consultation with NZ Police to ensure the best possible outcomes from this network.
Recent roading repairs on Vineyard Rd have caused unplanned delays for affected residents. However, the repairs, sealing and sweeping were short duration works, programmed in readiness for resealing those road structures for the forthcoming construction season. When the summer reseal, program commences, Council will have a page on their website with weekly updates. The community can remain informed about district wide roadworks through the following link www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/services-facilities/roads-travel-and-parking/current-roadworks.
If you have a council related concern, please feel free to contact me either by email at marlene.raumati@waidc.govt.nz or by phone on 020 – 40012548
Marlene Raumati
Councillor Waerenga-Whitikahu
