Nelson City Council

Nelson City At Large
The Nelson City Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also passes local regulations and makes decisions about infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage, and about the region’s resources, including water, soil and the coastline. The council is made up of 12 councillors and the mayor. This election is for the three councillors elected by all voters in the city. The other councillors will be elected to represent wards (areas in the city.) This is a single transferable vote (STV) election, so you vote by ranking the candidates on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Nelson City Council election.

Rates and revenue

The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.

Rates and revenue

The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.

  • Review the rating system to ensure we have fair contributions based on usage, and reducing the unfair burden on city businesses.

    Reevaluate the balance between debt and investment, and what is in the best interests of our ratepayers.

  • Reverse the library decision and prioritise investment in community services and core infrastructure.

    Retain three waters in local ownership and governance.

    Goods and services tax should be retained in Nelson for tourism and hospitality support.

  • Halt the unaffordable and unrequested $45 million library project.

    Request that portion of GST collected in Nelson by central government is used to offset rates in Nelson.

    Push back against the costly Three Waters reform. Current rating and investment for these is retained in Nelson, rather than spent up North.

  • Investigate a two-yearly Quotable Value review of house and land value as changes can happen quickly in a year whether nature or user applied.

    Consult the public on rates and spending priorities.

  • Ensure council spending is delivering for Nelsonians, providing the best possible value for investment and keeping service provision local.

    Remove the uniform annual general charge, keeping our rates system progressive and avoiding steep increases for our lowest value properties.

    Advocate strongly to central government the need for alternative revenue sources, including greater government investment in the region.

  • Cut spending for vanity projects.

    Push back against unfunded central government mandates.

    Review council spending and analyse for efficiency.

  • Becoming a city with a clearly and widely understood and appreciated vision is key to understand.

    Accepting that rates are extraordinary value for the range of services and outcomes provided… and avoid spending that does not contribute to that vision.

    Strengthen community engagement as early as possible so folk understand not just what but why initiatives are adopted.

  • Advocate to central government for better funding of local government, rather than the current model of dependence on rates.

    Invest in civic projects prudently, to ensure effective use of resources and intergenerational use and benefit from the investment.

    Longer-term planning of civic investment, to balance current and future rates burden with the need to invest in our city and communities.

  • Review the rating system to ensure we have fair contributions based on usage, and reducing the unfair burden on city businesses.

    Reevaluate the balance between debt and investment, and what is in the best interests of our ratepayers.

  • Reverse the library decision and prioritise investment in community services and core infrastructure.

    Retain three waters in local ownership and governance.

    Goods and services tax should be retained in Nelson for tourism and hospitality support.

  • Halt the unaffordable and unrequested $45 million library project.

    Request that portion of GST collected in Nelson by central government is used to offset rates in Nelson.

    Push back against the costly Three Waters reform. Current rating and investment for these is retained in Nelson, rather than spent up North.

  • Investigate a two-yearly Quotable Value review of house and land value as changes can happen quickly in a year whether nature or user applied.

    Consult the public on rates and spending priorities.

  • Ensure council spending is delivering for Nelsonians, providing the best possible value for investment and keeping service provision local.

    Remove the uniform annual general charge, keeping our rates system progressive and avoiding steep increases for our lowest value properties.

    Advocate strongly to central government the need for alternative revenue sources, including greater government investment in the region.

  • Cut spending for vanity projects.

    Push back against unfunded central government mandates.

    Review council spending and analyse for efficiency.

  • Becoming a city with a clearly and widely understood and appreciated vision is key to understand.

    Accepting that rates are extraordinary value for the range of services and outcomes provided… and avoid spending that does not contribute to that vision.

    Strengthen community engagement as early as possible so folk understand not just what but why initiatives are adopted.

  • Advocate to central government for better funding of local government, rather than the current model of dependence on rates.

    Invest in civic projects prudently, to ensure effective use of resources and intergenerational use and benefit from the investment.

    Longer-term planning of civic investment, to balance current and future rates burden with the need to invest in our city and communities.