Mayor of Whakatāne

The mayor is the leader of the council. Their job is to promote a vision for the district and lead the development of the council’s plans, policies and budget. The mayor appoints the deputy mayor, establishes committees for particular topics, and appoints chairs for those committees. This is a first past the post (FPP) election, so you vote by ticking the name of your preferred candidate on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Whakatāne District Council mayoral 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.

  • Increase non-rates revenue by achieving better yield from council's existing assets and through better investment.

    Improve understanding of district affordability using more robust data analysis methods and achieve common understanding of affordability.

    Improve project management and procurement processes to reduce wastage through better processes for determining needs.

  • Address the debt arising from the operating deficit with urgency. Council should never have funded operating expenses out of debt.

    Build relationships with outside funders to help pay for large-scale social infrastructure such as the Rex Morpeth redevelopment.

    Control council's costs by less use of external consultants where work can be done in-house and careful use of AI to boost productivity.

  • Increase non-rates revenue by achieving better yield from council's existing assets and through better investment.

    Improve understanding of district affordability using more robust data analysis methods and achieve common understanding of affordability.

    Improve project management and procurement processes to reduce wastage through better processes for determining needs.

  • Address the debt arising from the operating deficit with urgency. Council should never have funded operating expenses out of debt.

    Build relationships with outside funders to help pay for large-scale social infrastructure such as the Rex Morpeth redevelopment.

    Control council's costs by less use of external consultants where work can be done in-house and careful use of AI to boost productivity.