Investing in our communities

Kia ora Far North whānau!

During the final weekend of April, a dawn ceremony will officially name and open a new multi-sports complex at Lindvart Park in Kaikohe. This community-led project has been years in the making and is one of three sports hubs being built in the Far North.

Te Hiku Sports Hub in Kaitāia, with its much-anticipated aquatic centre, is due to open in the coming months, and Te Puāwaitanga – Bay of Islands Sports Hub is under construction at Waipapa.

Each will provide high-quality facilities that encourage people of all ages and abilities to participate in sports and recreational activities, fostering community connections and improving the health of our people. Residents, sports groups, businesses, and many other interest groups have driven these projects with the council providing funding through our Long Term Plans.

The Long Term Plan (LTP) is the council's key planning document. It sets out what we propose to do and – crucially – how we plan to pay for it. We’ve just released our latest LTP for consultation. Normally, an LTP covers 10 years, but the government is allowing eight councils, including Far North District Council, to produce a three-year plan. This recognises the challenges we face recovering from damage caused by a series of severe weather events, including Cyclone Gabrielle, that hit in 2022-23.

Those unbudgeted infrastructure costs come as we also grapple with spiralling inflation, increased insurance and contractor costs, and the future of our three waters assets. As leaders for our communities, we are all too aware of the cost pressures that Far Northerners are facing. We have debated long and hard about how we continue delivering essential services while keeping council rates increases to a minimum.

This LTP includes a total average rates increase of 16.5 per cent for 2024/25, then 7.9 per cent for 2025/26 and 4.6 per cent in the third year of the LTP. This is historically high for us but on par with many other councils.

This LTP focuses on repairing our roads. We propose spending significantly more on this network than on any of our other fixed assets. Between 2024-29, we have forecast spending of $328 million on road renewals and new works. That compares to $268 million on wastewater, $168 million on water supplies and $39 million on stormwater.

We must catch up on outstanding infrastructure deficits and storm-related damage to ensure we have well-maintained and safe roads. We must also complete projects that are underway. But we cannot ignore services that help make the Far North a place people want to visit and live in. The Lindvart Park sports hub is one example. It will positively impact the lives of people in Kaikohe and beyond long after our current cost of living crisis and high inflation rates are in the past. Please read our LTP consultation document on our Have Your Say webpage. Find out exactly what we are proposing. We are seeking your feedback until Sunday 28 April.

Kia kaha Far North, we know this is a tough time and need your voice to help us with decisions around our Long Term Plan!