Ngā Kōrero ā-Pūtea I Finance

We must manage our revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities, investments, and general financial dealings prudently and in a manner that promotes the current and future interests of the community.

Our budget

The Te Pae Tawhiti | Long-Term Plan (LTP) outlines our planned activities for the next 10 years, how much they will cost and how they will be funded. Council refreshes the LTP every three years. In the years between LTPs, all councils must produce an Annual Plan, with their budget for the next financial year.

• The Te Pae Tawhiti | Long-Term Plan includes our Financial Strategies, Financial Information and our Funding and Finance Policies.
• The Mahere ā-Tau | Annual Plan 2025/26 sets out the budget for 2025/26.

Funding of our core services

Our income

Some of our work is fully or partially funded by those who directly benefit from that expenditure through user pays (such as resource consent applications and bus fares for those using the Metro bus service). If a project has national benefits, we may receive funding through central government grants.

Expenditure not funded by grants and user pays income is funded through general rates, targeted rates or use of reserves.

The Mahere ā-Tau | Annual Plan 2025/26 details budgeted income and expenditure for each of the three core services. The cost of the services that support delivery, eg corporate costs, is allocated across the three core services. 

Expenditure budget 2025/26

Learn more about how funding is allocated for different areas of work within our core services. 

Environmental Regulation and Protection expenditure was $8.6 million less than budgeted and the revenue was $3.8 million less than budgeted at the end of quarter three in the 2025/26 financial year.

Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards service expenditure was $3.7 million less than budgeted and the revenue was $200,000 more than budgeted at the end of the third quarter in the 2025/26 financial year.

Public Transport service expenditure was $9.3 million less than budgeted and revenue was $2.8 million less than budgeted at the end of the third quarter in the 2025/26 financial year.