New Plymouth District Council

The New Plymouth District Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also makes decisions about building and planning, local regulations, and infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage. The council is made up of 14 councillors and the mayor. This election is for the five councillors elected by all voters in the district. The other councillors will be elected to represent wards (areas 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 New Plymouth 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.

  • Be smart about alternatives to increasing rates including ensuring the perpetual investment fund continues to build high returns.

    Ensure that any spending achieves value for money, making sure that investments benefit all people rather than a select few.

    Set rates and long-term plans at a level that ensures intergenerational equity, balancing needs now and into the future.

  • Consider providing some services less regularly or differently, such as kerbside recycling pick-up less regularly and glass recycling depot.

    Limit new projects with significant ongoing expenditure and be extremely selective, backed by hard facts and good analysis.

    Lobby central government to return GST on rates to fund growth of core infrastructure.

  • Enforce regular auditing of council sub-processes and their financial management, including contractors.

    Explore means of paying off council debt by introducing more community businesses and initiating a power and gas co-op.

    Maintain council investments such as property, buildings, parks, reserves and monetary investments, eg PIF fund.

  • Be smart about alternatives to increasing rates including ensuring the perpetual investment fund continues to build high returns.

    Ensure that any spending achieves value for money, making sure that investments benefit all people rather than a select few.

    Set rates and long-term plans at a level that ensures intergenerational equity, balancing needs now and into the future.

  • Consider providing some services less regularly or differently, such as kerbside recycling pick-up less regularly and glass recycling depot.

    Limit new projects with significant ongoing expenditure and be extremely selective, backed by hard facts and good analysis.

    Lobby central government to return GST on rates to fund growth of core infrastructure.

  • Enforce regular auditing of council sub-processes and their financial management, including contractors.

    Explore means of paying off council debt by introducing more community businesses and initiating a power and gas co-op.

    Maintain council investments such as property, buildings, parks, reserves and monetary investments, eg PIF fund.