Council adopts Annual Plan 2026/27
Westland District Council adopted its Annual Plan for 2026/27 yesterday, following strong community engagement and careful consideration of public submissions.
Mayor Helen Lash said the final plan reflects Council’s commitment to listening to its community and responding to the issues raised during consultation.
“Our communities understand the financial pressures, but they also told us how important local facilities and services are. This Annual Plan reflects Council working to get that balance right and it’s an important step as we look ahead to the future of our district,” Mayor Lash said.
The draft Annual Plan proposed a 6 percent rates increase. Following submissions and deliberations, the final increase has been set at 6.5 percent, reflecting adjustments made through the decision-making process.
Council also identified that the Glacial Township Development Rates for Franz Josef and Fox Glacier were not included in the draft plan’s indicative rates calculations, despite being detailed elsewhere in the document. This has now been corrected in the final Annual Plan, contributing to the slight increase in overall rates.
Council received 81 submissions and heard from seven community members in person, providing valuable input that helped shape the final plan.
Key decisions made through deliberations include a number of changes aimed at managing costs while continuing to provide essential services.
Library and museum hours will be adjusted to better align with usage patterns and seasonal demand, helping ensure services remain sustainable while still meeting community needs.
Changes have been made to the rates policy around late payment, with Council deciding it will no longer remit interest on overdue rates and will introduce earlier reminders to support ratepayers to stay on track.
Council has also agreed not to fund depreciation for the library and heritage buildings this year, to help manage costs while longer-term options are considered.
Chief Executive Barbara Phillips said the quality of feedback received through consultation was thoughtful and pragmatic and will help inform future planning.
“We’ve also heard that people want clearer information earlier in the process. That’s something we’re committed to improving as we move into the next Long Term Plan,” Ms Phillips said.
Mayor Lash said the Annual Plan marks the beginning of the next phase of work as we plan for the future of our district.
“We acknowledge the wide range of issues raised by our community during consultation. This Annual Plan will set the stage for addressing those issues through the Long Term Plan process,” she said.