Lower Rates Or Better Roads? The Choice For Hurunui Ratepayers

Thursday, 27 February 2025, 9:33 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

Hurunui ratepayers will have to choose between a lower rate rises or improved roads.

Amuri Community Committee chairperson and Culverden farmer David Croft is encouraging residents to have their say on the district's roads

The Hurunui District Council signalled an average rates hike of 14.49 percent for the 2025/26 financial year in last year's Long Term Plan, but Mayor Marie Black said it will likely be lower as staff look to rejig the council's roading programme.

''The council relies on ratepayer feedback, so the annual plan is a good way to give feedback,'' Croft said.

''In the past, residents have said they want good roads and they are prepared to pay for it.''

Last year council staff put together an ''ambitious'' roading programme, in a bid to address the district's ageing roading infrastructure.

But it was knocked back by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, which said the council's bid to nearly double its roading budget was ''too costly''.

Croft said the council did a good job at lobbying government for roading funding, but he believed the system was broken.

''It would be good if the whole thing had a shake-up,'' he said.

''Trucks have a high impact on roads so we need to make sure they are paying their fair share.

''It is a broken funding model and I think roading is probably becoming one of those things which is user pays.''

He suggested if there was more user pays and international investment on the main arterial routes, it could open up funding for other roads.

The Hurunui District covers a large rural community with around 13,000 residents, and has around 900km of unsealed roads and 600km of sealed roads.

The council has estimated it needs about $3 million a year to maintain and upgrade its ageing network of 286 bridges.

Black said staff are busy working out what the council's roading programme looks like with less funding.

Councils were put on notice last year by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to ''rein in the fantasies'' and focus on core business, in a bid to get rates down.

But Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the council's efforts to reduce spending is not helped by government levies, including Audit New Zealand fees, consenting costs and water levies.

''Government levies are a significant cost and the Government keeps putting those on us.''

Black said it was difficult to see what benefit there was for ratepayers from rising audit fees.

The annual plan will be presented to the council in April before going out for consultation.

The council also plans to consult on a new three waters model, in line with the government's Local Water Done Well legislation.

The Hurunui, Waimakariri and Kaikōura councils have been meeting together to discuss options for the future delivery of water services in the region.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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