We hope you managed to slow down, reset, and enjoy some quality time with family and friends over the Christmas–New Year break.
While many were recharging, Concerned Ratepayers Kapiti has kicked off the year with our first meeting — and there’s no shortage of big issues already on the table.
Here’s what we’ll be focusing on in the months ahead:
- Rates increases – we are already getting vibes that the Council might stick with a 7% rates increase this year, even though many Councillors campaigned on lower, more affordable rates. A Council briefing on this year’s rates increase is on 5th February.
- Community engagement – How Council listens, how communities are involved, and how we can strengthen both? If the Council sticks to a 7% rates increase this year, it will argue that it won’t need to consult with the community about the annual plan. We think it should.
- RMA changes & urban planning – What plan changes could mean for our district – good and bad. The RMA reforms don’t come with a single, clearly defined cost for ratepayers, but they do affect how Council administers RMA compliance and consents, and plans and budgets. This will be particularly important in the near future with any changes to the Annual and Long Term Plans.
- Economic development spending – What’s changing and why it matters. Some Councillors want to review the $3 million a year spent on this …. Should this be reduced in size or stopped altogether? We think that businesses should pay most of the costs if it continues, not residential ratepayers as happens now.
- Regional Council reforms – Including possible amalgamations. The possibility of Kapiti merging with the other Councils in the Wellington Region has already been suggested. Should we merge with them? Should we go it alone? Or should we consider a merger with Councils to the north, such as Horowhenua and Manawatu?
It’s a lot — and these matters affect costs for every household in Kāpiti.
Concerned Ratepayers Kapiti 
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