Category: Rates Increases

OPINION: Taxpayers’ Union Misrepresented Candidates’ Views with the “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” Campaign

Nov 1, 2025 | Auckland 2025, Auckland City, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Official Information Act, Opinion, Rates Increases

Newsroom article: “Ratepayers rout mayors who imposed big rises”

Oct 31, 2025 | Asset Sales, Buller District, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Elections, Far North District, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Infrastructure, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Wellington 2025, Wellington City, Whanganui District

OPINION: LGNZ is Confusing Myth and Truth (Part 2)

Sep 3, 2025 | Auckland City, Climate Change and Weather, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Global Agendas, Global Warming, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Incoming Legislation, International, International Organisation, Internet of Things, Kaipara District, Law and Legislation, LGNZ, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Property Rights, Protest, Rates Increases, Regulations, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, UN 2030 Agenda, United Nations, Water Meters, WEF, Wellington City

Household Water Costs in Hamilton City Projected to Triple within 9-years under New Water Company

Sep 1, 2025 | Article, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, LGFA, Local Government Reform, News, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Waikato Region

LGNZ holds annual conference and engages in propaganda war with Taxpayers’ Union

Jul 31, 2025 | Buller District, Christchurch City, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Far North District, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Invercargill City, Kapiti Coast District, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, Nelson City, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Palmerston North City, Petitions, Porirua City, Professional Managerial Class, Protest, Rangitīkei District, Rates Increases, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Upper Hutt City, Voting Record, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Wellington City, Whanganui District

OPINION: Investing in Infrastructure to Support Hamilton’s Growth

Jun 30, 2025 | Building Consent, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Opinion, Rates Increases, Regulations, Three Waters

OPINION: Hamilton’s proposed “Ratepayer Assistance” Scheme Risks Becoming a Debt Trap

Jun 30, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Opinion, Rates Increases

Hamilton City Council votes to fund work towards creating new multi-council finance company

Jun 29, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, LGFA, LGNZ, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Regulations, Voting Record

Rates Increases

OPINION: What to keep and what to cut in Hamilton’s Long-Term Plan?

Apr 20, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Crime, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Mode Shift, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By John McDonald, 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate One of the main narratives being...

Rates Increases

OPINION: Taxpayers’ Union Misrepresented Candidates’ Views with the “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” Campaign

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and Hamilton East Ward/Mayoral Candidate) Were over...

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CANDIDATE OPINION: Rachel Karalus

Sep 30, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Homelessness, Housing supply, Infrastructure, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Social problems

Rachel Karalus’ Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton City...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Horiana Henderson

Sep 19, 2025 | Bank, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, LGFA, LGNZ, Opinion, Rates Increases, Voting Record

Horiana Henderson’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Roderick John Young

Aug 31, 2025 | Bank, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Infrastructure, Opinion, Rates Increases

Roderick John Young’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Mesh Macdonald

Aug 31, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Infrastructure, Opinion, Rates Increases

Mesh Macdonald’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton...

OPINION: When Will Someone Say STOP?

Aug 18, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Libraries and Museums, Mode Shift, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Regulations, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Sports and Events, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By Graeme Mead (Hamilton West Ward Candidate) It’s election year in Hamilton, and the question...

OPINION: Water is Life – But Can You Afford It?

Aug 1, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Opinion, Rates Increases, Regulations, Three Waters

By Michael West (Engineer and Hamilton West Ward Candidate) Reproduced with permission from Better...

OPINION: Council Growth Financial Model 2019-2025

May 31, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Rates Increases

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Numbers have been rounded for simplification....

OPINION: Serious Mismanagement and Lack of Accountability with Water Services

Mar 31, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Kaipara District, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Protest, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Water Meters, Wellington City

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate) With...

OPINION: The 2025/26 HCC Budget – More of the Same and No “Fresh Thinking” (Yet) for Election Year

Feb 27, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, Opinion, Rates Increases, Rubbish

By Rob Pascoe (Chartered Accountant, Former Hamilton City Councillor, and Hamilton Ratepayer) At...

OPINION: Breaking the Spending Addiction

Feb 26, 2025 | Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities, Cities and Regions, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, LGFA, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Wellington City

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Councils love spending other people’s money. But if it...

OPINION: How to Fix Councils

Jan 30, 2025 | Building Consent, Cities and Regions, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, LGFA, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Open Letters, Opinion, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Resource Management Act (RMA), Three Waters, Transport and Roading

A guide to help concerned citizens organise for the next election By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City...

Local Government Act Reforms: December 2024 Media Coverage

Dec 21, 2024 | Cities, Cities and Regions, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Regions, Three Waters, Transport and Roading

Summary On the 16th of December 2024, Minister for Local Government Simeon Brown announced a...

OPINION: Hamilton City Council Borrowing to Increase

Sep 16, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGFA, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters

The government is allowing debt to rise to 500% of waters revenue for new “Local Water Done Well” Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs). There are also plans to increase the borrowing limit for high growth councils to 350% of council revenue.

Articles covering PM Luxon’s speech to LGNZ (August 2024)

Sep 2, 2024 | Article, Cities, Code of Conduct complaints, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Regions, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Prime Minister Christopher Luxon gave a speech at the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)...

OPINION “Local Water Done Well” and the Hamilton Ratepayer

Aug 31, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Water Meters

By Geoff Kreegher (Hamilton Ratepayer) “Local Water Done Well” is the Coalition Government’s plan...

Wellington City Council looks to reduce numbers of raised crossings in Thorndon Quay plan

Aug 31, 2024 | Article, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Emergency Services, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Petitions, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Voting Record, Wellington City

Opposition to Wellington City Council’s plan to install five raised pedestrian crossing along...

OPINION: Luxon Nails Councils

Aug 27, 2024 | Auckland City, Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Prime Minister Chris Luxon fronted the Local Government...

RNZ articles on congestion charging and time-of-use charging (July-August 2024)

Aug 18, 2024 | Auckland City, Consultation, Council Funding, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Tauranga City, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Radio New Zealand (RNZ) covers the push to legalise congestion charges and time-of-use...

OPINION: The Numbers Game

Jul 25, 2024 | Cities, Contractors, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Global Agendas, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero, WEF

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Council Maths is… different. Figures for Hamilton City...

Democracy Project Article: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country

Jul 25, 2024 | Asset Sales, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Water Meters, Wellington City

[Originally published 29 April 2024 on the Democracy Project] By Dr Bryce Edwards (Political...

The Spinoff and The Post cover a planned $55 million project to install five raised crossings in Wellington

Jul 25, 2024 | Council Spending, Disruptions, Emergency Services, Greater Wellington Region, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Wellington City Council is planning to install five raised pedestrian crossing along...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Robert Coe

Jun 30, 2024 | Health and Safety, Law and Legislation, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Three Waters, Water Fluoridation

Robert Coe’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Jacqueline Pointon

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Finances, Health and Safety, High-density Housing, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Three Waters, Transport and Roading

Jacqueline Pointon’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Tim Maltby

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Funding, Council Spending, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Rates Increases, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Transport and Roading

Tim Maltby’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

OPINION: 100% Rates Rise

Jun 21, 2024 | Consultation, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, News, Opinion, Rates Increases

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Hamilton City Council’s Long-term Plan – what you need...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 3 Highlights

Jun 10, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Selected speakers from the 3rd day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 2 Highlights

Jun 7, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Rates Increases, Taking Action, Transport and Roading

Selected speakers from the 2nd day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 1 Highlights

May 30, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, UN 2030 Agenda

Selected speakers from the 1st day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

Colin Jones on Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan

May 15, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Official Information Act, Open Letters, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Taking Action

On 15 May 2024, Colin Jones presented to Hamilton City Council about the Long-Term Plan. Video of...

Protest outside Hamilton City Council on the 17th of May

May 11, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Petitions, Protest, Rates Increases, Taking Action

A protest is being planned for the last day of the “verbal submissions“ phase of Hamilton City...

A misleading headline and Hamilton City Council’s sensitivity to the word “fudging”

May 11, 2024 | Article, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, News, Rates Increases

With Hamilton City Council’s reported financial situation rapidly getting worse, the 7th of May...

OPINION: Analysis of Hamilton City Council’s financial position

Apr 19, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Official Information Act, Opinion, Rates Increases, Taking Action

By Geoff Kreegher (Hamilton Ratepayer) In preparation of the 2024-34 Long Term Plan the Mayor...

OPINION: Why is Hamilton City Council unable to prepare and promise a financial budget that works?

Apr 13, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Opinion, Rates Increases, Taking Action

By Prudintis (a Hamilton City Ratepayer) Last year’s reported “balancing the books” deficit of...

Petition to stop rates increases and growing debt at Hamilton City Council

Apr 10, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Petitions, Protest, Rates Increases, Taking Action

This petition is running on change.org and is titled “STOP HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL RATE...

Consultation for the Hamilton City Council Long-term Plan 2024-2034

Mar 29, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Local Government Reform, News, Rates Increases, Resources, Taking Action

[UPDATE (03 August 2024): Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan was approved by Council vote on...

OPINION: Hamilton and water meters. How Hamilton City Council wants to continue to kick the can down the road.

Mar 27, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters

By Richard Brister, 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate Straight after the Hamilton...

OPINION: Hamilton City Council’s First Rating Downgrade in a Decade

Mar 7, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Opinion, Rates Increases

By Prudintis (a Hamilton City Ratepayer) Councils in NZ use International Rating Agencies to...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Roger Stratford

Feb 11, 2024 | Council Finances, Council Funding, Elections, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Roger Stratford’s Invited Opinion Piece [All candidates for the 2024 By-elections were...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Tim Macindoe

Feb 3, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Rates Increases, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Tim Macindoe’s Invited Opinion Piece [All candidates for the 2024 By-elections were invited...

Newsroom article: Three Waters repeal forces councils to hike rates by a third

Dec 25, 2023 | Buller District, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Far North District, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Three Waters, United Nations, World Health Organisation

Headline: Three Waters repeal forces councils to hike rates by a third Authored by: Jonathan Milne...

Stuff Article: Why are councils considering rates hikes of 25.5% and higher?

Dec 11, 2023 | Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities and Regions, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Wellington City

Authored by: Erin Johnson Published on: 11 December 2023 Published by: Stuff Limited Headline: Why...

Category: Rates Increases

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