Our draft Annual Plan 2025/26 is now out for consultation
After our long-term plan was adopted in 2024, we followed through on the decisions made and continued our efforts to keep rates affordable. At the same time, we made a big commitment to core infrastructure funding and started to look at innovative ways to partner with our community and involve you more in decision-making.
To find out more about our key project updates, and projects on the horizon, check out our consultation document.
Download our full consultation document here(PDF, 7MB)
Your feedback is important to us
This consultation gives you the opportunity to provide feedback on our draft Annual Plan 2025/26. We’d like to know your thoughts on the following.
The council wants to create more affordable housing in our district to meet current and future demand, as it is estimated that 1000 new houses are needed over the next 10 years.
To achieve this, we have completed a business case to identify the best way forward. The business case has shown that we should establish a standalone housing entity with partners, and we want your feedback on whether the council should continue to explore this opportunity to grow and improve Whanganui’s housing stock.
To find out more, see page 23 of our consultation document(PDF, 7MB) and have your say.
Due to the success of our six-point plan in increasing non-rates revenue and reducing costs, our draft rates rise for 2025/26 was reduced from the projected 6.6 percent in Year 2 of the Long-Term Plan 2024-34 to 1.4 percent through the rate setting process.
With such a low rates rise forecast, we are keen to take the opportunity to get ahead on some loan repayments to be financially responsible, save on interest costs and reduce rates in the long-run.
We propose to repay an extra $590,000 of debt while keeping our rates increase low at 2.2 percent – the current rate of inflation.
We want to hear your feedback on this proposal.
See page 26 of our consultation document(PDF, 7MB) to find out more and have your say.
We have reviewed our Leading Edge Strategy which was first drafted in 2014. When we started this review we looked at the four wellbeings – the Purpose for Local Government – however since starting this work, central government said it intends to move away from the four wellbeings, so we have reshaped our approach.
We went back to the feedback from Whanganui residents and what we heard was that people love Whanganui, its rich history and heritage, environment and Awa, and its community – and that Whanganui has so much more potential and opportunity to grow.
The council needs to play an active role in growing Whanganui and supporting a better quality of life. Based on community input and engagement we developed five new goals for the council. These are to: grow, build for, protect, celebrate, and activate Whanganui.
Read the Draft Action Plan for the Strategy for Whanganui District Council(PDF, 2MB)
We want to hear your feedback on our strategy.
See page 28 of our consultation document(PDF, 7MB) to find out more and have your say.
Our focus – more of what you want
Here’s how we’re going:
Affordable rates
2.2 percent projected average rates rise for 2025/26
So far, we’ve:
- cancelled the planned food scraps service saving $1 million in rates per year
- restructured our organisation and staffing to save $1.2 million per year
- increased our non-rates income, for example the revenue for Café at Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery exceeding targets
- deferred vehicle replacements for our older council vehicles.
Infrastructure investment
$27.3M budgeted on water services, roading and footpaths for 2025-26
More than 80 percent of capital funding over ten years being spent on core infrastructure.
Progress includes:
- replacing Erni’s Bridge
- replacing 530 metres of footpath in Caffray Avenue
- actively responding to climate change risks and hazards.
Community involvement
Our community has sent us a clear message – we want to be involved in local decisions!
Here’s how it’s going so far:
- A citizens’ assembly will be formed to make a recommendation on the future of outdoor swimming in Whanganui
- North Mole community-led project is ready to start construction soon
- The Surf Lifesaving Club’s new building at Castlecliff Beach needs more time but plans are well underway.
An annual plan sets out how the council’s work programme will be funded over the next financial year and outlines any key changes to the long-term plan.
Essentially, it’s the council’s budget for the year – we calculate the cost to deliver services and facilities for our residents then work out how much we need to collect in rates.
An important part of the annual plan process is looking at where we need to adjust our work programme in response to changing circumstances.
As shown below, this Annual Plan 2025/26 is year two of the current long-term plan.
Learn more about our current Long-Term Plan
We have been able to get the overall proposed average rates rise for 2025/26 down to 2.2%.
In the national context, a number of centres are proposing rates rises between 5 and 10 percent. For an average residential household the rates rise will be 2.1% which equates to an increase of about $1.50 per week. It’s important to note these figures are averages only. Rates changes are likely to be different for everyone, based on a number of factors.
You can look up the proposed rates for 2025/26 for your property here
How to have your say
Fill out a submission form to have your say on our Annual Plan 2025/26. Submissions close 5.00pm, Monday 28 April.
Have your say
There are many ways you can share your views with us:
Community engagement events
Please come along to any of our community engagements events to chat with your councillors and staff – pop in any time during the events. Please note that these meetings are drop-in events and are not formal presentations, unless otherwise stated. Please see the timeline on this page for event dates and information.
Got a question for us?
If you need more information or have a question give us a call on (06) 349 0001
What about Local Water Done Well? We are also consulting on four options for the future delivery of water services in Whanganui