WAG Draft Submission to GWRC on massive rate hikes for flood protection over coming ten years
Everyone will end up paying hundreds more every year in flood protection rates if we let GWRC change our rating mix for flood protection. It affects everyone in the Wairarapa. It is much, much higher than GWRC have been trying to suggest. Submissions close on 29th (online) and need to be posted today or tomorrow for paper submissions. Our GWRC Councillor is urging everyone to help her make a stand on this by sending in a submission. So say "NO" to the proposed 70/30 rate hike. Online form is below, it takes a few minutes. Get everyone you know to respond, once again the 'rapa needs to be heard over the hill.
Waiohine Action Group (WAG) represent nearly two hundred ratepayers steering the development of a new Waiohine FMP. We have looked into the proposal GWRC and found that it starts with a big hike but (hidden away by GWRC) it gets massive a few years out as we ALL have to pay for a long list of massive flood protection schemes wanted by GWRC for the 'rapa at a much higher share than we do now. We're also pretty disappointed with the Machiavellian way that some GWRC people have deliberately concealed the extent of the hikes and even that this proposed change is going on. Why are they doing that? Because unless there are lots of submissions, they will push it through and say you were consulted.
GWRC proposal to target flood protection is one way traffic, apart from a scheme in the Hutt Valley, other flood protection schemes are largely complete - except for many millions of dollars worth needed for the Wairarapa - maybe $50 million in the next ten years. GWRC aren't applying this lop sided rating to some things that only exist on the other side of the hill, such as Regional Parks. It's pretty clear that this disadvantages our sparse rural community.
We enclose a DRAFT submission for WAG that we'd appreciate your comment on before it is finalised and submitted on Friday. We urge you to make a submission and be heard. If everyone ignores this then we'll end up seriously out of pocket.
Have a go, share with you friends and family and get them to do it too.
🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
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Poll: Are you still heading to your local for your caffeine fix, or has the $$ changed your habits? ☕
Wellington’s identity is built on its cafe culture, but with costs climbing, that culture is under pressure. We’ve seen the headlines about recent closures, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with a $6+ coffee.
We all want our favourite spots to stay open, but we also have to balance our own budgets ⚖️
We want to know: How are you handling the "coffee math" in 2026? Are you still heading to your local for a chat and a caffeine fix, or has the cost of living changed your habits?
Keen to read more about "coffee math"? The Post has you covered.
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41.8% I avoid spending money on coffee
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45.5% I still indulge at my local cafe
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12.7% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
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