ALERT Rubbish collection price increases effective from 1 July (except Raglan), read more
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Waikato District Council - Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato

Long Term Plan

The Long-Term Plan (LTP) is developed every three years, and sets the projects, budget and financial strategy for 10 years.

It's our roadmap for the future. It sets out our vision, priorities, and how we’ll fund and deliver services and projects that matter most to our communities. 

2025-2034 Long Term Plan (LTP)

This time around, we’ve delivered a nine-year plan instead of the usual ten because last year we took up a one-off Government opportunity to complete an Enhanced Annual Plan and buy more time to gain greater certainty around the future delivery and funding of water services. Now, after feedback from over 550 people, we’ve adopted our 2025–2034 Long Term Plan. It officially takes effect on 1 July 2025.

Waikato District Council 2025-2034 Long Term Plan

pdf,  9935 KB Download

Thanks for having your say 

We heard from over 550 submitters and held 30 community sessions across the district. Your feedback shaped the plan in big and small ways from where we spend to how we deliver key services. 

What’s in the plan? 

This plan sets out our vision and priorities for the next nine years. It focuses on the essential services that support daily life like water, roads, waste and community spaces while managing costs in a smart and balanced way. 

Some of the key decisions include: 

  • Partnering with Hamilton City Council to create a joint water services organisation starting in July 2026. 
  • Sticking to NZTA-funded roading maintenance only for the next two years, to help ease pressure on rates.
  • Updating targeted rates for some community halls, including expanding the catchment for Whatawhata Hall and deconstructing Ruawaro Hall into a community open space and war memorial.
  • Rubbish stickers and bin tag prices will increase from 1 July 2025 to reflect the rising costs of waste disposal. 
  • A new recycling crate for glass will roll out from 1 July 2027 (excluding Raglan), with a $7 targeted rate beginning in July 2026.
  • New and continued waste services for Te Aakau, Island Block Road, and Tuakau.
  • A refreshed Development Contributions Policy, ensuring developers fairly contribute to infrastructure costs.
  • An updated Fees and Charges Schedule for 2025–2027 that reflects actual delivery costs.

What about rates? 

From 1 July 2025: 

  • General rates will increase by 4.25% to keep essential services running. 
  • Targeted rates (for services like rubbish and halls) will vary by location, with increases between 4.5% and 11%. 

Use our Rates Information Database to see how this might affect your property.

Why this matters

Rates fund about 66% of our overall budget. The rest comes from government subsidies, grants, development contributions and fees. That money helps us provide the things we all rely on every day, including: 

  • Safe drinking water and wastewater services 
  • Rubbish and recycling
  • Roads, parks, playgrounds and libraries
  • Sports grounds, pools, and community halls 

We’re committed to keeping rate increases as low as we can, while investing in the things that make a difference for you and your whaanau. 

FAQs

It’s the Council’s roadmap for the next nine years. The LTP outlines what services, projects, and investments are planned and how they’ll be paid for including through rates, subsidies, and contributions from developers. 

We took the Government’s one-time option to do an Enhanced Annual Plan in 2024, which gave us more time to plan for water services and road funding. That means this LTP covers nine years, from 2025 to 2034.
The plan will be adopted on 30 June 2025 and officially kicks off from 1 July 2025.
We heard from over 550 individuals and organisations. Their feedback helped guide key decisions around water delivery, roading maintenance, rubbish collection, recycling, and more.

From 1 July 2026, we’ll manage water and wastewater services through a new joint Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) organisation with Hamilton City Council called IAWAI Flowing Waters. This CCO will help improve service delivery and financial sustainability in line with the Local Water Done Well programme.

Hall committees requested updates to support ongoing maintenance. Council approved updated targeted rates for several halls. The Whatawhata Hall catchment is expanding, and Ruawaro Hall will be deconstructed and transformed into a war memorial.
From 1 July 2025, stickers go from $1.50 to $3.00, and bin tags from $3.00 to $6.00, reflecting the rising costs of collection and disposal.
Yes. From 1 July 2027, all households (excluding Raglan) will receive an extra crate for glass. A small targeted rate of $7 per year begins in July 2026 to fund this.

Residential properties will keep their wheelie bin rubbish service following community feedback. If a wheelie bin is damaged or you build a new home, Council will provide a new/replacement wheelie bin.  Council is also looking into new waste service and funding options for Tuakau to help reduce landfill waste. These ideas will be shared with the community as part of the 2026/27 Annual Plan process in early 2026. 

Commercial properties will move to private waste collection services from 1 July 2027. 

Te Aakau will get a monthly recycling drop-off service from August 2025. That’s two years earlier than planned.  This service is intended to be funded by the Waste Minimisation Levy for the first two years and then by a targeted rate from July 2027. 

Yes. Island Block Road residents will start receiving weekly rubbish and recycling collection from 1 July 2025, bringing them in line with other areas that already have this service. 

From 1 July 2025

  • General rates increase by 4.25%
  • Targeted rates rise between 4.5% and 11%, depending on your location and services used. 

You can check how this affects you with our Rates nformation Database.

We’ve planned $162.7 million in capital projects to support new development, with developers helping to fund these through updated development contributions.
Yes, we’ve adopted a revised Fees and Charges Schedule for 2025–2027 to reflect the actual cost of providing services, based on feedback that supported fair and transparent pricing.

Related Documents

2024-25 Enhanced Annual Plan

pdf,  14748 KB Download

Long Term Plan 2021-31

pdf,  8736 KB Download

LTP 2021-31 Capital Projects

pdf,  443 KB Download

LTP 2021-31 Un-funded Projects

pdf,  54 KB Download

LTP factsheets by ward 2025 - 2034

Last updated 4 July 2025, 11:14 am

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