Annual Plan 2025/2026
Welcome to Horowhenua District Council's 2025/2026 Annual Plan, adopted by Council on 14 May 2025.
The Annual Plan is Year 2 of the Long Term Plan 2024-2044, so it builds on the work and feedback Council received from the community during consultation last year. Council made the decision to not consult on the Annual Plan 2025/26 in December 2024 due to it closely following the budget and plan for year 2 of the LTP that was adopted in June 2024. The Local Government Act recognises that where Councils are sticking with the Long Term Plan and not making significant or material changes, consultation is not needed.
When talking about rates and rates increases, the analogy of a ‘pie’ is often used. The size of the pie represents the rates income for next year, and the slices of the pie represent the average rates increase per ratepayer. When adopting the Annual Plan on 14 May, Council agreed the size of the pie.
On 25 June, when the most up to date data on the number of rating units, valuation of new rating units and new houses was received by Council, it set the rates, dividing the pie based on the total number of rating units at that date.
The proposed rates increase for 2025/26 is an average of 9.1%, lower than the 9.9% forecast in the Long Term Plan. We have remained focused on delivering services within our means, with a focus on cost savings and careful planning to led us to this position. We know every dollar counts. By keeping a close eye on budgets and finding savings where possible, we’ve managed to reduce the increase while still delivering services our community relies on.
While lower, the 9.1% keeps Council on track to have a fully balanced budget by 2027/28.
Check out the Annual Plan 2025/26 document for more detail about the year ahead.
Annual Plan 2025/2026 | Te Mahere ā-Tau 2025/2026(PDF, 2MB)
You can find more detail about each Activity and longer term plans in the Long Term Plan 2024-2044. It’s available to read at Council libraries and service centres, and online below.