Policies

Compare the parties’ positions on the key issues this election. Explore their policies and see how closely they align with your own views and priorities.

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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.

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Narrow your selection by choosing a specific area within your chosen topic. Select the policies you want to explore, pick your favourites and view your results when you’re ready.

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  • Establish a strategic plan that is within our budget and has the best outcomes for the people of Westland.

  • Create smart business opportunities that reduce the burden on the ratepayer.

  • Create a plan to reduce debt levels by prioritising core services over nice to haves.

  • Limit all future rate rises to a maximum of 5% and prioritise debt repayment.

  • Ensure the rating system is applied fairly across residential, rural, rural-residential and commercial sectors focusing on user pays.

  • Actively pursue external and central government funding to minimise the burden on ratepayers.

  • Start a new, wide-ranging and open discussion on the basic purpose and ongoing viability of a money based operating system. Is it working?

  • Open 'clean-slate' conversation on council and community goals, responsibilities and challenges before, during and after transition to RBE.

  • Short term, borrow as required to assure community and environmental wellbeing and sustainability, ie do no harm, spend the fake tokens!

  • Reduce debt – delivering critical infrastructure needs, and reviewing non essential expenditure with a view to remove from future budgets.

  • Keep rates affordable – delivering an annual plan where we live within our financial means with a limited ratepayer base.

  • Conduct a review of fees and charges to ensure public and private benefit is correctly assessed, reducing the demand on the general rate.

  • Accountability as to why there is debt with all the resources of Westland.

  • Council should give the ratepayers their money back instead of investing in anything that is not a core service.

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