MEDIA STATEMENT
22 August 2013
Hutt City Again Gets AA Credit Rating
International credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s has reaffirmed Hutt City Council’s AA credit rating.
An AA rating is the same rating as the NZ government and means recipients have a “very strong capacity to meet their
financial commitments”.
Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace says the rating underlines the council’s careful approach to managing ratepayers’ money and
makes the council one of the most creditworthy in the country.
“We are currently the only New Zealand council rated by Standard ’s that consistently achieves after-capital account surpluses,” he says.
Hutt City’s financial management was described by the agency as a very positive factor in the ratings. The agency says
council is supported by an experienced and qualified management team.
Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, Deputy Mayor David Bassett, described the rating as a vote of confidence in
the Hutt City Council’s management of its finances and plans for the future.
“The agency has a very positive view of Hutt’s financial management practices and says the city’s budgetary performance
is very strong and our operating position is expected to improve in the future.
“This is a statement about confidence in our managerial and councillor management of the city’s finances,” says the
Deputy Mayor.
“Their outlook is that we will continue to manage our financial position and hold our AA rating.
“I believe this a very positive outcome for our city,” he says.
ENDS