The Christchurch City Council has confirmed its plans for the year ahead with the adoption of the 2025–26 Annual Plan, though the process drew strong criticism from some councillors.

An average rates increase of 6.60%, which is lower than projected in the Long Term Plan has been signed off.

Of that, 1.75% is going towards the Christchurch Stadium.

At today’s council meeting, Papanui Councillor Victoria Henstock criticised the amendment process, calling it “reckless” and accusing some councillors of engaging in “political theatre” ahead of this year’s election.

“I am all for smart spending and reducing the burden of rates rises on residents. But there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. What we have seen this week is not best practice governance.

“Just because we have done it like this before does not mean we have to keep doing it like this.

“We should not be running a multi million dollars-organisation like this with a truck load of amendments necessitating last minute guesses by staff scribbled on the back of an envelope.

“It is reckless and disrespectful to our professional staff who work hard to deliver well considered evidence-based advice and it also makes a mockery of our community board structure and decision making processes and priorities” Henstock said. 

“So yes I have a real problem with the amendments dropped in at the 11th hour for the sake of political theatre – I am justified in saying that because some of these amendments I read about on Facebook posts and a whole heap of them are for noting, often already in progress, others just a request for information, some inviting groups to make an application for funding.

“This says to me they were not really amendments in the first place. It is an abuse of the process – nothing short of political theatre. Silly season, a phrase not reserved just for the run into Xmas” Henstock said. 

“The amendments we workshopped together previously show we are listening to our submitters. I am realistic we can’t grant every request but I believe we have shown that we are prepared to tighten our belts and reprioritise spending – where we can. The question remains have we done enough?

“I am pleased that my original amendment to reduce the capital budget based on deliverability passed an early muster as is included in the AP. Thanks Councillor Tyron Fields for working on this with me and I acknowledge your noble efforts to reduce it more.

“I am happy to admit I’m focused on keeping rates down, I don’t focus on rates reduction blindly.”

Sara Templeton at her campaign launch in October 2024.

Heathcote Ward Councillor and mayoral candidate Sara Templeton backed Henstock’s concerns about the process and directed blame at Mayor Phil Mauger.

“I agree with Councillor Henstock. This has been reckless. It is not governance best practice, and our communities and our staff deserve better from us.

“However, I would point out that this is the process that was set up by the leadership, by the mayor, because it is the mayor’s role to run the process for the long-term and annual plans. On our first workshop in the agenda, it’s very clear that that was for information only. It gave us an update on the second workshop.”

Councillor Sam MacDonald rejected Templeton’s criticism and defended the process.

“I take Sara’s points about the process, but actually, real leadership is not being negative.

“It’s about getting on and working with people to do something for the city. And I think as we go into this next election, you know, there could not be a clearer choice around positivity or sniping and petty politics that don’t lead to anything.

“I find that incredibly frustrating. I think if you look at the process, we’re governed by the Local Government Act, and actually working through that is the way to do it.

“Every other council adopts amendments the way we did. Simply what we did on Tuesday was have a debate and a vote on whether we want to consider the amendments that increase rates. That was voted down. We’ve moved on from it today.”

 

Annual Plan include:

• Operational spending of $871 million on the day-to-day services the Council provides. This is $9.7 million higher than proposed in the Draft Annual Plan, driven by changes in the wider economy and policy decisions made by the Government.

• Capital spending of $648 million in 2025/26 including approximately $95.5 million for One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha. This is $88.2 million lower than what was proposed, due mostly to rephasing $71.5 million to later years based on what we can realistically deliver.

• An overall average rates increase of 6.60% – lower than the 7.58% proposed in the Draft Annual Plan. This translates to a 6.49% increase for the average household (or $4.96 a week), 7.0% for business properties, and 6.49% for rural properties.

• Pausing the collection of the targeted rate for the Christ Church Cathedral reinstatement.

• Increasing the rates charge for infrastructure renewals in 2025/26 by $2 million, which will reduce the amount we need to borrow to fund our capital programme. This will help maintain a balanced budget in future years. Granting $5 million in 2026/27 to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand for its planned extension.

• Allocating money for a scoping study for a central city shuttle service.

• The disposal of a small number of pieces of Council-owned land that are now surplus to the Council’s requirements.

• Confirmation of the scope and governance of the Council’s new Climate Resilience Fund, which will be used for climate adaptation requirements for Council-owned assets identified in our Adaptation Plans.