TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1
THURSDAY MAY 14, 2026
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MAY 14, 2026
Rate rise: 10.7 coming By Michelle Lachmann
Waipā ratepayers face an average rates increase of 10.7 per cent, and mayor Mike Pettit says the rise reflects escalating costs with unprecedented challenges. Pettit said the recommended figure, which will be put to a full council meeting early next month for confirmations, was achieved after staff had worked on council’s most complex annual plan ever. The proposed 10.7 per cent rate increase is made up of an 8.1 per cent increase in rates funding to maintain Waipā district council services and activities, while Governmentled water reforms will require a 19.1 per cent increase in revenue for water
supply and wastewater activities ahead of their transfer to council-controlled organisation Waikato Waters Ltd on July 1. “Together, the two figures equate to a 10.7 per cent average rate increase after growth, matching what was signalled for year two of the 2025–2034 Long-Term Plan,” Pettit said. The council’s 8.1 per cent rate rise was in response to escalating costs, higher than expected inflation, and recovery impacts from February’s State of Emergency and a November storm, Pettit said. He said the rise could have been higher - up to 15.5 per cent - but for significant work to make millions of dollars in savings.
“I need people to understand that we didn’t just sit there and nothing was done,” Pettit said. Councillors had agreed that it was a priority to make the council a lean, and fit-for-purpose organisation that operated efficiently, Pettit said. It had saved $3.6 million in reducing operational budgets, including a significant restructure and four-phase transformation programme, called Future Us, announced by chief executive Steph O’Sullivan on May 1. The restructure was ongooing and so far had dis-established six positions, while creating three new roles, and reduced the council’s executive
leadership team from seven teams to five. More jobs could still be affected by the restructure. O’Sullivan told The News she expected it to be finished between August and October and it would also include a review of Waipa’s Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) capacity and capability “Moving forward we’re looking for efficiencies, ” Pettit said. “It’s looking at the council as a whole and going where can we make efficiencies,” he said. However, he cautioned that there was an opportunity cost to those efficiencies. ““You save money, but there’s an opportunity cost
Mike Pettit
Steph O’Sullivan
to that - you cut something out, while something else gives, but you don’t get the same, whatever that’s going to mean,” Pettit told The News. “We are here to make the whole organisation more efficient. And for us to hit next year with a rate rise
with a five in it we are going to have to do that,” Pettit said. He said the rate rise should come as no surprise to Waipa residents “because it was exactly what we talked about in the Long Term Plan”.
Home show at your leisure…
Exhibitors at the third Waipā Home and Leisure Show have pulled out the stops to recognise shoppers are counting their pennies. The show, run by publishers of The News, Good Local Media, has drawn a full complement of 71 exhibitors for the threeday event starting tomorrow (Friday) at Karapiro’s Mighty River Domain. “ We have lots of new exhibitors and exhibitors returning for their second or third show –exhibitors recognise the market is tight,” Good Local advertising manager Janine Davy said. “They have worked hard to make this show one where there thousands of dollars worth of prizes to be
won, giveaways and great deals.” Entry is $5 - children are free – and so is parking. The show will run from 10am to 4pm on Friday and Saturday and 10am to 3pm on Sunday. “It’s a great opportunity to come and spend a day looking at what’s new and what’s on offer,” Davy said. Major prizes include a $5000 door prize, a luxury weekend for two sponsored by Te Karaka Lodge and the use of an MG car for a weekend sponsored by Winger Motors Cambridge. Terms and conditions will apply. There is also the chance to win a $5000plus bed courtesy of Beds 4 U and $1000 worth of legal fees from Edmonds Judd
murray hunt
along with many more giveaways and specials. Good Local Media publisher David Mackenzie, who launched the show in 2024 to fill a void in Waipā, said it had been a popular and welcome addition to the calendar. “We knew if we brought a home and leisure show to Waipa the people and exhibitors would come – and now we are looking at our best show yet,” he said. Good Local Media websites - you will find us at cambridgenews.nz, teawamutunews. nz and kingcountrynews.co.nz – has a link to more details about the show including a full list of exhibitors.
Daniel Davy is part of the team behind the third Waipā Home and Leisure Show.
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