Regional rates rise pulled back in bid to soften the blow
By local democracy reporter Lois Williams:
West Coasters with mid-priced properties can expect to be paying between $400 to $500 plus GST in regional council general rates this year.
That is in addition to any targeted rates they may have to pay if their property is in one of the council’s 23 special rating areas that fund flood protection from rivers and the sea.
On Tuesday morning, The West Coast Regional Council approved a revised long-term plan (LTP) and set rates for the new financial year. The sign-off comes after a two-month delay while it waited for the new Westland valuations and the outcome of a round of special-rating-district meetings.
After initially projecting a whopping 27% increase in its total rate take to fund the work it consulted the community on for its 10-year LTP, the council reined in its requirements to a 12.6% increase in the first year.
It plans to fund the difference by borrowing to spread the cost over a longer period, in an effort to ease the pain for ratepayers.
It still aims to return a surplus in year four of the LTP.
Speaking before the meeting, the council’s risk and audit chairperson Frank Dooley said new valuations would affect individual ratepayers differently, as would the cost of proposed flood protection schemes.
“If you look at Westport, we’re looking at spending $10 million there in the near future but if you rate for that in one hit it would be horrendous, so we smooth that out by borrowing.”
According to Dooley, $1,813, 533 of the total rates take would be paid to the government as GST.
Per $100,000 in capital value, Buller ratepayers will pay $59.20; Grey ratepayers $64.75 and Westland ratepayers $52.67. There will also be an emergency management (Civil Defence) rate of $13.27, $3.59 to fund work on Tai o Poutini combined District Plan (TToP), and a uniform annual general charge of $179.32 - these are the same for all three districts.
For a property with a capital value of $300,000 that formula adds up to a bill of $407.50 plus GST for a Buller District ratepayer - an overall increase on 2023-24 of 6.51%; while a property worth $400,000 will pay $483.56 plus GST - an overall increase of 5.52%. Rates for Westport’s major flood protection scheme have been partially deferred until next year, pending the start of work on the project.
In the Grey District, the formula would see a $300,000 property paying $424.15 plus GST - an increase of 10.85%; and $505.72 plus GST for one worth $400,000 -an increase of 10.36%, plus the floodwall rate if eligible.
And in Westland, a $300,000 property will pay $387.91 plus GST - an increase of 1.34%; and $457 plus GST for a $400,000 property. The various flood protection rates in special rating districts such as Franz Josef and Whataroa are imposed in addition to that.
Dooley said the council was doing its best to keep a lid on rates and spread the cost of necessary capital works based on the inter generational equity principals.
His own property on the banks of Buller’s Orowaiti River with a CV of $675,000 would be paying $694.74 plus GST and a targeted rate for flood protection, he said.
*LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
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Have your say on Canterbury’s public transport
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Canterbury residents are being encouraged to have their say on public transport in the region.
Environment Canterbury has released its draft public transport plan and is seeking submissions.
The draft plan outlines a vision for public transport in the region and notes key priorities such as improving the environment, growing patronage, accessibility, innovation and technology, and affordability.
‘‘Public transport takes many forms with communities across our region,’’ councillor Peter Scott said.
‘‘With limited funding available, we need to make sure we make the best decisions to deliver a public transport network that is integrated with urban development, innovative and meets the needs of new and existing customers.
‘‘Effective public transport is the lifeline that connects us to work, school, recreation and our friends and family, so it is important we get this right.’’
The Canterbury’s population is growing and by 2050, it is projected 700,000 people will be living in Greater Christchurch.
The draft plan covers public transport for the region, which includes the Metro service (Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri), MyWay by Metro in Timaru, Total Mobility and Community Vehicle Trusts.
It was developed in partnership with local councils and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Environment Canterbury has been planning to step up its public transport efforts by increasing the frequency of existing services and introducing mass rapid transport in Greater Christchurch.
But these plans have been stalled by a lack of public transport funding in the Government’s 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.
A proposal to allow people to travel with domestic pets is also included in the draft plan.
Having pets on buses has been successfully trial in other parts of New Zealand, councillor Joe Davies said.
‘‘We’re keen to understand what controls are needed for our bus users in Greater Christchurch and Timaru to be comfortable with pets on public transport.
It is proposed to allow adult passengers to bring a single pet on board, as long it is in an approved carrier at off-peak times, weekdays between 9am and 3pm or after 6pm, and during weekends.
Another proposal would loosen those restrictions in future to allow for leashed and muzzled dogs and increasing the limit to two pets per passenger.
‘‘We want to gauge how people feel about these proposals. Now is the time to have your say,’’ Davies said.
Submissions close on Thursday, October 24.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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