Rates affordability report to shape Kāpiti Coast District Council’s next Long-term Plan
29 May 2026, 4:35 PM
Kāpiti Coast District Council has received their rates affordability report that will play a key role in shaping the district’s next Long-term Plan.
The Infometrics study was commissioned earlier this year and presented to the Council in a public briefing on Thursday 28 May.
The Rates Affordability Report compares *Kāpiti Coast District Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council 2025/26 rates data with Census 2023 **household income information to understand how rates impact households across the district.
This is a common approach across New Zealand councils where generally rates above 5 percent are seen as unaffordable.
The report shows that Kāpiti Coast District Council rates account for around 4.8 percent of household income on average, with some areas of the district experiencing greater pressure.
Paraparaumu wastewater treatment plant
Rates are least affordable in Waikanae West, Raumati Beach East, Ōtaki and parts of Paraparaumu, where lower incomes mean rates make up a larger share of household costs than the district average.
Compared to other councils in the Wellington Region and Horowhenua, Kāpiti Coast rates are around the middle, with mean rates lower than Wellington City, Porirua and some Wairarapa councils.
Kāpiti Coast District Mayor Janet Holborow says Council knows affordability is a concern for the community.
“Many households are feeling the pressure, and affordability is front of mind for us as we develop our next Long-term Plan,” says Mayor Holborow.
“This report gives us a clearer understanding of where affordability pressures are felt the most.
“It’s one of the tools we’ll use to help guide how we balance what our community can afford with the investment needed to maintain and improve essential services and infrastructure.”
Council will now use the findings to test a range of potential scenarios to consider how rates could be managed over the next ten years, alongside the cost pressures Council continues to face.
Mayor Holborow says this is an important step in planning for the future.
“Council agrees that rates must be affordable. While we can make some savings, we also need to have open and honest conversations about what we can and can’t continue to deliver.
“We’ll soon be coming out to the community to start these conversations and encourage everyone to get involved.”
*Includes a fixed water charge plus volumetric water charges based on average residential water use per year for median urban properties connected to the water network.
**Excludes rates rebates, Accommodations Supplement and Working for Families.