Consultation on Annual Plan 2026-27 opens tomorrow

Published on 28 April 2026

Addressing an operating loss, and price increases across a range of Council’s contractor services, are the focus of the upcoming Annual Plan 2026-27 consultation.

The three options for rate increases included in the consultation document are 19%, 27% and 45%. The question the community will be asked is ‘Which option do you support for Waitaki’s financial sustainability?’ - further information will be provided in the consultation document and supporting information.

The Mayor and Councillors also removed the ‘Preferred Option’ attributed to one of the three options in the consultation document. Preferred options are required in Long Term Plans, but not in Annual Plans.

They also agreed that there would be no formal hearings, but the Mayor and Councillors will be available to contact during the consultation and at the three Community Meetings.

The 2026-27 year is the second year of the 2025-34 Long Term Plan, agreed by the previous Council in June 2025. The Long Term Plan agreed to run an operating loss in 2025-26 and 2026-27 until the transfer of water assets to an external waters CCO by 1 July 2027.

The consultation document will go live at 9am on Wednesday 29 April, and be available to view at https://www.letstalk.waitaki.govt.nz/annual-plan-2026-27. Paper copies will be available at the District Libraries and Service Centres and Council HQ.

There will be three Community Meetings – at the Otematata Community Hall at 1pm on Sunday 3 May, at the Palmerston Sports Hall at 6pm on Monday 4 May, and at the Ōamaru Opera House at 6pm on Wednesday 6 May.

Council is also taking questions at letstalk@waitaki.govt.nz which they will be answering online by video over the course of the consultation.

The consultation will close at 5pm on Wednesday 13 May 2026.

 ENDS

media@waitaki.govt.nz