234 days ago

Rates skyrocket in the Waikato region in 2025/26

Libby Reporter from Waikato Local

Rates increases of between 2.9% and 15.5% are expected to help empty the wallets of Waikato ratepayers as councils begin to confirm their long-term and annual plans for the financial year ahead.

Right now, councils are preparing budgets and going out for public consultation on their respective rates rises for the 2025/26 financial year, which should be in place by July 1.

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More messages from your neighbours
8 hours ago

Celebrate in Style: Craft Your Own Decor with Testpots

The Team from Resene ColorShop Hamilton

Create handcrafted celebrations using Resene testpots. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.

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14 hours ago

The city's new mayor is setting out his plan

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Hamilton City Council is pledging to cut costs and avoid “gold plating” infrastructure as part of a new strategy to limit rates increases, but Mayor Tim Macindoe says central government support may be needed to meet a new national rates cap.

Macindoe said Wellington needed to be “a little more nuanced” and take population growth into account.

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15 hours ago

Principal defends $17k overseas trip as research

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

A Hamilton principal whose $17,000 trip to Hawaii and Alaska was highlighted in an report on questionable school spending says he was doing doctoral work on how streaming affects students.

Fairfield College principal Richard Crawford is defending the trip, saying it was his first sabbatical in his 19-year career as a principal and contributed to learning he’d be applying to both his school, and potentially others, through his research.

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