Council Profile Report

On Thursday 31 July 2025, the Government released Council Profiles for every council in the country. These Profiles are designed to help you easily compare councils on things like rates, debt, spending, and staffing.

They’re a good starting point but they don’t tell the whole story, especially for fast-growing districts like ours. The numbers alone can’t show our local growth pressures, the impact of years of underinvestment, or the unique mix of rural and urban communities that make Waikato district special.

That’s why alongside the national data, we share our own story through our Annual Reports, Long Term Plan, and Pre-Election Report. These show exactly how we’re tracking, where your rates go, what we’re investing in, and what challenges we need to tackle together.

Waikato district is now home to over 90,600 people, making us one of the fastest-growing districts in New Zealand. More people means more demand for roads, pipes, community spaces and services. We’ve been investing to keep up, while managing debt carefully.

Our AA+ credit rating means we manage our finances carefully so we can borrow at lower interest rates, which means more of your rates stay here, funding local projects and services instead of going to the bank paying interest.

But like every council in New Zealand, we’ve felt the pressure of rising costs. Research shows that construction costs for things like roads, water pipes and other infrastructure went up by 27% between 2021 and 2024. That’s much higher than household inflation over the same period. Combined with an infrastructure shortfall across New Zealand, it means we’re all playing catch up.

We know you expect us to stay focused on the basics like safe roads, clean water, reliable rubbish and recycling, and good value for money. That’s why we’re looking for improvements and efficiencies as an organisation, so we can keep delivering the core services and projects our growing communities need.

Ngaa mihi,
Craig Hobbs, Chief Executive

Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) council profile and glossary

Department of Internal Affairs - Profile Report for Small Metro Large Provincial Councils (MP) July 2025

pdf, 834 KB Download

Department of Internal Affairs - Glossary for council profiles July 2025

pdf, 203 KB Download

Our story, your rates

We’re breaking down some of the important information shared in the Council Profiles so that everyone can understand more about how the Waikato district performs and gives some context about the challenges and opportunities of being one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing districts.

We are proud of what this independent data shows: that we are doing well, that your rates are well managed, and that financial prudence is fundamental to the services we provide. Over time, these Council Profiles will provide assurance to our communities and customers that we are responsible and making every dollar count to provide the best services and experiences possible. We’ll continue to share information and ask for your input into all big decisions that Council makes for now and the future.

Waikato is one of the fastest-growing districts in New Zealand.
Our population has passed 90,000 people and is still climbing.
Growth brings both opportunity and pressure — more people need more infrastructure (roads, wastewater, kerbside collections, parks and playgrounds etc).

Waikato is one of the fastest-growing districts in New Zealand, alongside Selwyn, Hamilton, and Queenstown.
Growth brings new opportunities - more jobs, more housing, and more vibrant communities.
It also brings big challenges - more people means more demand for roads, water, wastewater, and services.
We are investing wisely so growth is managed, not overwhelming - keeping costs fair while building for the future.

Our rates increases (2023–26) are among the lowest in our peer group.
This means we are balancing affordability with investment in services.
Growth helps spread the cost of services across more people.
We are committed to keeping rates fair and sustainable.

NOTE: this data is forecast, not actual.

We hold an AA+ credit rating — the highest possible in NZ.
Our debt levels are lower than most high-growth councils.
Financial prudence underpins every decision we make.

78% of our capital spending goes on essentials: roads, water, and wastewater.
We focus on core infrastructure, not ‘nice to haves’.
This ensures reliable services you use every day.
If there is a problem, we prioritise fixing our infrastructure.

Note: CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) refers to funds used by an organisation to acquire, upgrade, or maintain long-term assets such as buildings, infrastructure, equipment, or technology. These are typically one-off, high-value investments that provide benefits over multiple years.

We spend carefully compared to similar councils.
Our operating expenses are on par with peers, lower than many.
Staff and service levels reflect the needs of a large, growing district. We service five towns, six smaller settlements and thousands of kms of rural living.
We’re continuously looking for efficiencies while maintaining quality.

Note: OPEX (operating expenditure) covers the day-to-day operational costs required to run an organization. These are recurring expenses that are fully deducted in the financial year they are incurred.

We are preparing for decades of growth.
Our future investment focuses on core infrastructure and community wellbeing.
By keeping rates steady and debt low, we are protecting future generations.
We will continue to be transparent and share how your money is used.

FAQs

No. They don’t explain local growth pressures or our district’s unique needs. Our Long Term Plan, Annual Reports, and the Pre-Election Report provide this essential local context.

Infometrics found that about 93% of a typical household’s total tax and rates goes to central government only 7% goes to local councils.

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Last updated 15 September 2025, 01:21 pm