2123 days ago

Poll: Would you prefer costs for services and public facilities (like libraries and pools) to go up, or rates bills to go up?

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

Pursuing a 0 per cent rates increase will have an "enormous impact" on the Christchurch community, city councillors warn.

A planned $34 million swimming pool and library development in Hornby could be delayed, the cost of a swim could go up and so could library charges, community grants could get the chop, and the New Brighton hot salt water pools could remain closed — everything is being considered to save money, but nothing is likely to be decided without another round of community consultation.

So what do you think? Would you want to pay more for services and public facilities, or would you prefer to have a higher rates bill? Or do you think there's any other way the council should save money? Read more here and tell us what you think in the comments below.

Would you prefer costs for services and public facilities (like libraries and pools) to go up, or rates bills to go up?
  • 69.7% Services and public facility costs should go up
    69.7% Complete
  • 15.3% Rates have to go up
    15.3% Complete
  • 15% There's another way to save (tell us your thoughts in the comments)
    15% Complete
413 votes
More messages from your neighbours
9 days ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

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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3 hours ago

Get up to $30,000 back* with your new home

The Team from Richard Hadlee Retirement Village

Sign up to an independent apartment or townhouse at a participating Ryman village by 31 March 2026 and receive a $30,000 credit on settlement or sign up to a serviced apartment and receive a $10,000 credit on settlement*.

Imagine a new smart TV, your next getaway or furniture for your new home. With more money staying in your pocket, it’s yours to spend!

Discover the lifestyle that awaits.

*Participating villages only, Terms and conditions apply.

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3 hours ago

Get up to $30,000 back* with your new home

Ngaio Marsh Retirement Village

Sign up to an independent apartment or townhouse at a participating Ryman village by 31 March 2026 and receive a $30,000 credit on settlement or sign up to a serviced apartment and receive a $10,000 credit on settlement*.

Imagine a new smart TV, your next getaway or furniture for your new home. With more money staying in your pocket, it’s yours to spend!

Discover the lifestyle that awaits.

*Participating villages only, Terms and conditions apply.

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