Environment Canterbury
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.
Calculate the rate cap based on the Consumer Price Index, for example, 2.7% as of June 2025.
Request the central government to share more GST collected from Canterbury with Environment Canterbury to maintain essential services.
Work with other local councils to demand that tax collected from Canterbury is spent in Canterbury instead of in the capital.
Cap rate rises to stay in line with inflation unless there is a clear, publicly justified need.
Cut waste and fund priorities by auditing Environment Canterbury projects to remove duplication with the council.
Generate revenue from regional assets by charging fair commercial rates for things like irrigation, water and gravel extraction.
Address the issue of current management spending more ratepayer money on staff wages, consultants and self-promotion instead of core functions.
Address the problem of how ECan spends money despite having more than enough funding to provide Cantabrians with core functions.
Identify financial incompetence and publicly publicise these failures weekly as the absolute number one priority.
Budget for rates annual increase not greater than CPI.
Increase financial transparency and encourage open discussion about spending on external legal services with the community.
Map council-held land and discuss concept plans openly with communities encompassing their aspirations and values.
Use more targeted rates for specific projects such as biodiversity enhancement.
Calculate the rate cap based on the Consumer Price Index, for example, 2.7% as of June 2025.
Request the central government to share more GST collected from Canterbury with Environment Canterbury to maintain essential services.
Work with other local councils to demand that tax collected from Canterbury is spent in Canterbury instead of in the capital.
Cap rate rises to stay in line with inflation unless there is a clear, publicly justified need.
Cut waste and fund priorities by auditing Environment Canterbury projects to remove duplication with the council.
Generate revenue from regional assets by charging fair commercial rates for things like irrigation, water and gravel extraction.
Address the issue of current management spending more ratepayer money on staff wages, consultants and self-promotion instead of core functions.
Address the problem of how ECan spends money despite having more than enough funding to provide Cantabrians with core functions.
Identify financial incompetence and publicly publicise these failures weekly as the absolute number one priority.
Budget for rates annual increase not greater than CPI.
Increase financial transparency and encourage open discussion about spending on external legal services with the community.
Map council-held land and discuss concept plans openly with communities encompassing their aspirations and values.
Use more targeted rates for specific projects such as biodiversity enhancement.
Mayor
Compare the mayoral candidates in your area
Local council
Compare the candidates for your city or district council
Regional council
Compare the candidates for your regional council
Local board
Compare the candidates for your local or community board