Gisborne District Council

Tairāwhiti General Ward
The Gisborne District 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 13 councillors and the mayor. Councillors are elected to represent wards (areas in the district). eight councillors will be elected from the Tairāwhiti ward. 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 Gisborne District 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.

  • Do not increase debt to fund operations and maintenance.

    Push Trust Tairāwhiti to invest in place-making and community building today to catalyse riches tomorrow.

    Use coordinated lobbying and public campaigns to pressure central government into meaningful financial support.

  • Edit rates in the long term plan to decrease urban and rural housing rates and increase agriculture and dairy rates.

    Introduce a higher levy on off-shore forestry companies to repair roading and water infrastructure and explore re-establishing the railway network.

    Re-examine Gisborne Holdings Ltd investments and re-align relevant investment opportunities.

  • Cap unsustainable rates increases.

  • Introduce a biodiversity levy on planting consents for forestry that contribute to mitigations such as deer control and freshwater.

    Introduce a levy on logging trucks per load that will directly support the cost of maintaining the roads.

  • Begin reducing consultants and head count at the council as the recovery progresses with an eye on value for every rates dollar.

    Support community efforts to boost economic growth with close eye on sustainability and infrastructure needs.

    Support Gisborne Holdings Ltd in its strategy to pay higher dividends to council and become a key regional investment partner.

  • Ensure fees and charges cover the cost of the activity as user pays.

    Keep council borrowing to a minimum so debt is not left for next generations.

    Keep rates increases under 5 percent once the recovery rises have been accounted for in 2026.

  • Do not increase debt to fund operations and maintenance.

    Push Trust Tairāwhiti to invest in place-making and community building today to catalyse riches tomorrow.

    Use coordinated lobbying and public campaigns to pressure central government into meaningful financial support.

  • Edit rates in the long term plan to decrease urban and rural housing rates and increase agriculture and dairy rates.

    Introduce a higher levy on off-shore forestry companies to repair roading and water infrastructure and explore re-establishing the railway network.

    Re-examine Gisborne Holdings Ltd investments and re-align relevant investment opportunities.

  • Cap unsustainable rates increases.

  • Introduce a biodiversity levy on planting consents for forestry that contribute to mitigations such as deer control and freshwater.

    Introduce a levy on logging trucks per load that will directly support the cost of maintaining the roads.

  • Begin reducing consultants and head count at the council as the recovery progresses with an eye on value for every rates dollar.

    Support community efforts to boost economic growth with close eye on sustainability and infrastructure needs.

    Support Gisborne Holdings Ltd in its strategy to pay higher dividends to council and become a key regional investment partner.

  • Ensure fees and charges cover the cost of the activity as user pays.

    Keep council borrowing to a minimum so debt is not left for next generations.

    Keep rates increases under 5 percent once the recovery rises have been accounted for in 2026.