A 13.5% rates increase has been decided by Wellington City councillors, who met last week to decide the funding options for its Long-Term Plan 2021-2031. The plan addresses water infrastructure, supports a vibrant economy, invests in greater iwi .
Article – AsiaPacific Infrastructure A 13.5% rates increase has been decided by Wellington City councillors, who met last week to decide the funding options for its Long-Term Plan 2021-2031. The plan addresses water infrastructure, supports a vibrant economy, invests in greater iwi …
A 13.5% rates increase has been decided by Wellington City councillors, who met last week to decide the funding options for its Long-Term Plan 2021-2031.
The plan addresses water infrastructure, supports a vibrant economy, invests in greater iwi representation, enhances city safety and makes civic buildings more resilient.
Strong public participation in the consultation also informed council funding decisions for the Pōneke Promise central city safety campaign and greater access to our performance venues in line with Aho-Tini 2030 Arts and Culture Strategy.
Councillor Iona Pannett said the decision marked a “great day” for Wellington, while colleague Teri O’Neill said the council had a “moral responsibility” to give Māori a greater voice at the council table. Deputy Mayor Sarah Free said the majority of objections to establishing a Māori ward were based on not following democratic process, but “ideas about what’s deemed fair have been changing rapidly over the past two decades”. She pointed to the change in New Zealand’s general election voting system from first past the post to MMP (mixed-member proportional) in 1996. Councillors will now need to complete a representation review to determine the total number of councillors, ward names and boundaries, and whether any councillors should be elected at large.