Nelson City Council

Stoke-Tāhunanui General Ward
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. Four councillors will be elected from the Stoke-Tāhunanui General ward. The other councillors will be elected from other wards or by all voters in the district. 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.

  • Provide best practice cost balance levels of service to all our industries and citizens. Create a multi-council Te Tau Ihu approach.

    Campaign a multi-council reform of the Local Government Act 2002. The Minister/s are making detrimental decisions which include Three Waters.

    Raise citizens' awareness that the Local Government Act 2002 needs urgent review as the changes of the Resource Management Act and government expectations impact them.

  • Introduce a financial management risk plan to better improve our knowledge of council assets.

    Review all council fees and charges including dog fees and parking fees.

    Work with council staff to reduce the speed of rate increases.

  • Make sure council spend rates wisely.

  • Rate increases should be in small amounts each year, never more than the Consumer Price Index, and there needs to be a cap on the percentage increase.

    Work together to make developments more cost effective for both developers and council, to ensure we have more affordable sections.

    Stringent financial management is required to maintain essential services and resilience as we face climate change and a recession.

  • Investigate better recycling options utilising overseas tech and innovations that council can invest in.

  • Access other income streams including government grants, trusts, philanthropic funds, council owned enterprises to reduce rates.

  • Commit to keep rates as low as possible for as long as possible.

    Ensure council funding from rates is spent to benefit the majority of residents, not on special interest groups.

  • Provide best practice cost balance levels of service to all our industries and citizens. Create a multi-council Te Tau Ihu approach.

    Campaign a multi-council reform of the Local Government Act 2002. The Minister/s are making detrimental decisions which include Three Waters.

    Raise citizens' awareness that the Local Government Act 2002 needs urgent review as the changes of the Resource Management Act and government expectations impact them.

  • Introduce a financial management risk plan to better improve our knowledge of council assets.

    Review all council fees and charges including dog fees and parking fees.

    Work with council staff to reduce the speed of rate increases.

  • Make sure council spend rates wisely.

  • Rate increases should be in small amounts each year, never more than the Consumer Price Index, and there needs to be a cap on the percentage increase.

    Work together to make developments more cost effective for both developers and council, to ensure we have more affordable sections.

    Stringent financial management is required to maintain essential services and resilience as we face climate change and a recession.

  • Investigate better recycling options utilising overseas tech and innovations that council can invest in.

  • Access other income streams including government grants, trusts, philanthropic funds, council owned enterprises to reduce rates.

  • Commit to keep rates as low as possible for as long as possible.

    Ensure council funding from rates is spent to benefit the majority of residents, not on special interest groups.