Annual Plan 2026/27
Developing our plan for 2026/27
Councillors have been workshopping the Annual Plan 2026/27 which will set out our work programmes and levels of service from 1 July 2026–30 June 2027. (You can view their workshops below).
The Annual Plan will mostly be in line with what we consulted with the community on for Year 3 of the Long-term Plan 2024-34 (LTP). This included a 7 percent average rates revenue increase.
What we're proposing is a rates revenue increase of 6.5 percent for 2026/27.
Council has worked hard to keep the rates rise below the 7 percent despite additional costs totalling $10.4 million (8.9 percent) driven by a combination of operational, regulatory and financing pressures. Most of these factors are beyond our control, so we’ve taken deliberate action to offset these pressures by removing $1.9 million from our operating costs and adjusting our fees and charges.
We did this by:
- Reducing staff costs due to both organisational and project delivery changes ($660,000)
- Reducing funding for the Social Investment Fund ($150,000)
- Increasing fees for private plan changes ($200,000)
- Reducing economic development budget ($325,000)
- Reducing cultural capacity funding ($150,000)
- Stopping our planned rates-funded debt reduction for one year ($400,000).
We’ve also increased fees and charges to reflect the impact of inflation, generating an additional $300,000.
Council will adopt the Annual Plan 2026/27 on Thursday 11 June.
- 16 December 2025 briefing slides [PDF 1019 KB]
- 18 December 2025 briefing slides [PDF 574 KB]
- 5 February 2026 briefing slides [PDF 350 KB]
- 5 February 2026 briefing video link
We're not formally consulting on this Annual Plan, however we still value your feedback. Come and talk to your elected members on:
Tuesday 26 May
10–12 noon and 5–6pm
In the foyer of the Council building on Rimu Road, Paraparaumu
You can also share your views by emailing [email protected]
How does this impact your rates?
While the draft overall rates revenue increase is 6.5 percent, the impact on rates for your property will depend on your property value, type, and location.
The figures below show the estimated increase for median properties in 2026/27, including GST and excluding Greater Wellington Regional Council rates.
Median urban properties are connected to the water network and include a fixed water charge plus volumetric water charges based on average residential water use per year.
Median Property Values
* Median property refers to the middle value when all properties in an area are ranked by their value.
Urban Paekākāriki
Capital value: $860,000
Land value: $540,000
Current rates: $4,919
Proposed rates: $5,091
Increase/[decrease]: $172.16
Increase/[decrease] per week: $3.31
Urban Paraparaumu
Capital value: $720,000
Land value: $410,000
Current rates: $4,854
Proposed rates: $5,263
Increase/[decrease]: $408.87
Increase/[decrease] per week: $7.86
Urban Raumati
Capital value: $760,000
Land value: $450,000
Current rates: $5,045
Proposed rates: $5,451
Increase/[decrease]: $405.33
Increase/[decrease] per week: $7.79
Urban Waikanae
Capital value: $780,000
Land value: $425,000
Current rates: $4,976
Proposed rates: $5,377
Increase/[decrease]: $400.83
Increase/[decrease] per week: $7.71
Urban Ōtaki
Capital value: $560,000
Land value: $300,000
Current rates: $4,275
Proposed rates: $4,700
Increase/[decrease]: $425.16
Increase/[decrease] per week: $8.18
Rural ♦
Capital value: $1,200,000
Land value: $660,000
Current rates: $3,103
Proposed rates: $2,947
Increase/[decrease]: -$156.51
Increase/[decrease] per week: -$3.01
Commercial ◊
Capital value: $770,000
Land value: $485,000
Current rates: $6,513
Proposed rates: $6,898
Increase/[decrease]: $385.12
Increase/[decrease] per week: $7.41
♦ We've assumed that the rural median property is not connected to the water network and is outside the stormwater rating area so excludes water, wastewater and stormwater rates.
◊ The median commercial property is connected to the water network and includes a fixed water charge plus a volumetric water charge based on average commercial water use per year.
In 2025/26 Council changed how it distributes interest costs to activities to better align with where debt is incurred. The share of interest assigned to roading is lower, while other areas attract more. As a result, rural properties which pay for roading but not all other services receive a lower rates increase for 2026/27 compared to other properties.
Calculate your rates
We have a handy rates calculator where you can see what your estimated rates will be for your property for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Staff at our service centres and our rates are available to help too.
How rates are spent
The information below highlights what Council delivers and what ratepayers actually pay for these services.
Council provided services
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Table details
Wastewater Management
Total operating costs: $18.8m
Income to offset operating costs: $0.3m
Net operating cost: $18.5m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $13.47
Water Management
Total operating costs: $16.4m
Income to offset operating costs: $0.4m
Net operating cost: $16.0m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $11.65
Stormwater Management
Total operating costs: $9.1m
Income to offset operating costs: $0.1m
Net operating cost: $9.0m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $6.55
| THREE WATERS TOTAL Total operating costs: $44.3m Income to offset operating costs: $0.8m Net operating cost: $43.5m Average cost per rating unit per week: $31.67 |
Access and transport
Total operating costs: $23.3m
Income to offset operating costs: $9.4m
Net operating cost: $13.9m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $10.12
Recreation and leisure
Total operating costs: $18.2m
Income to offset operating costs: $2.1m
Net operating cost: $16.1m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $11.72
Parks and open spaces
Total operating costs: $10.0m
Income to offset operating costs: $0.7m
Net operating cost: $9.3m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $6.77
Community facilities
Total operating costs: $11.6m
Income to offset operating costs: $1.9m
Net operating cost: $9.7m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $7.06
Districtwide planning
Total operating costs: $7.7m
Income to offset operating costs: $0.2m
Net operating cost: $7.5m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $5.46
Regulatory services
Total operating costs: $12.9m
Income to offset operating costs: $7.1m
Net operating cost: $5.8m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $4.22
Governance
Total operating costs: $4.1m
Income to offset operating costs: $0.0m
Net operating cost: $4.1m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $2.98
Sustainability and resilience
Total operating costs: $3.3m
Income to offset operating costs: $0.8m
Net operating cost: $2.5m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $1.82
Economic development
Total operating costs: $2.6m
Income to offset operating costs: $0.4m
Net operating cost: $2.2m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $1.60
Community support
Total operating costs: $2.3m
Income to offset operating costs: $0.0m
Net operating cost: $2.3m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $1.67
Tangata Whenua
Total operating costs: $3.0m
Income to offset operating costs: $0.0m
Net operating cost: $3.0m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $2.18
Coastal management
Total operating costs: $1.5m
Income to offset operating costs: $0.0m
Net operating cost: $1.5m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $1.09
TOTAL REST OF COUNCIL
Total operating costs: $100.5m
Income to offset operating costs: $22.6m
Net operating cost: $77.9m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $56.69
TOTAL
Total operating costs: $144.8m
Income to offset operating costs: $23.4m
Net operating cost: $121.4m
Average cost per rating unit per week: $88.36
We're working on some big projects
In 2025/26 we kicked off several major projects, and in the coming year we’ll focus on advancing these and starting new work. We will invest up to $75 million in assets across the district. Reducing this spend will not have a big impact on rates as major infrastructure projects are debt funded over the longer term.
Major projects include:
- Complete stage one and commence stage two of replacing the Paekākāriki seawall to improve road and infrastructure protection
- Upgrades to the Paraparaumu wastewater treatment plant to support a growing district
- Complete the upgrade of the Waikanae water treatment plant, improving reliability and water quality.
- Begin the second Ōtaki water reservoir, strengthening local water supply
- Install a new bore on Tasman Road to secure an additional water source for Ōtaki
- Complete Te Ara Whetū, the new Waikanae library, creating a modern, welcoming community hub
- Complete upgrades to Waikanae Park, a key destination park for Kāpiti.
Developed design for Te Ara Whetū, the new Waikanae library
Talk to us
While we're updating the Annual Plan 2026/27 to reflect additional cost pressures, the changes we’re looking to make do not affect service levels. Because of this, we won’t be formally consulting on this Annual Plan. However, we still value hearing from the community.
We're holding two public sessions to provide an opportunity for you to talk directly to elected members about the decisions we've made when forming this Annual Plan.
Tuesday 26 May
10–12 noon and 5–6pm
In the foyer of the Council building on Rimu Road, Paraparaumu.
You can also share your views at any time by emailing [email protected].
Council will adopt the Annual Plan 2026/27 on 11 June 2026.
Help with paying your rates
We know some of our community have financial constraints. The Government offer a rates rebate scheme for low-income homeowners and retirement village residents who hold a licence to occupy agreement. We also offer a range of rates remission policies. See which of the options might apply to you.
The longer term
A Long-term Plan (LTP) sets out a Council’s priorities and spending for the years ahead, including the proposed rates required for each of those years. These are refreshed every three years.
We’ve started to develop our next LTP which will set the direction for the district over the next decade, 2027-37.
We know reducing the burden on ratepayers is a key concern for our community. The LTP 2027-37 will focus on what we need to do to keep any future rates increases as low as possible.
To achieve lower rates increases, we may need to consider significant changes to current levels of service, including stopping or changing some activities.
Our new in-house business unit for delivering our district’s stormwater, wastewater and drinking water (three waters) services under Local Water Done Well will be established on 1 July 2027.
This means our LTP 2027-37 will look a little different and we’ll see the introduction of a Water Services Strategy.
We’ll let you know how you can get involved in the development of the LTP 2027-37, with community engagement starting in June his year ahead of formal consultation with you next year.
Changes to local government
Local government is going through a period of sustained change, with central government looking at how councils plan, fund, and deliver services. These changes are aimed at easing pressure on rates, improving transparency, and making sure councils stay focused on the services communities rely on most.
There are several reform streams currently being worked on:
- Local Government Systems Improvements - refocusing councils on core services, cost‑effective delivery, and clearer accountability.
- Rates capping - explores placing limits on annual rates increases from 2029.
- Simplifying Local Government - signals possible changes to how councils are structured and how they work together regionally.
- Resource Management reform - new Natural Environment and Planning legislation is being developed to replace the current resource management system, with the aim of making planning simpler and more efficient over time.
The impacts of these reform streams are expected to shape the next LTP and beyond, not the Annual Plan 2026/27. This gives time for us, other councils, communities, and central government to work through what the changes mean in practice and how best to respond.