55791 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

55791 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: How will the Government ensure consistent treatment across councils if some seek to set increases below the lower bound while others comply with or exceed it, especially given varying financial resilience and infrastructure needs?

Hon Simon Watts: Councils will have discretion as to where in the range they operate in the band to address varying financial resilience and infrastructure needs. All councils will have to operate within the band unless they seek, and are granted, an exemption. This includes operating within the lower bound of the range.