55795 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

55795 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: Has the Government undertaken analysis of the financial or service-delivery risks associated with councils setting rates increases below the lower bound of the target range, and if so, how will these risks be managed within the rates-cap regime?

Hon Simon Watts: All councils will have to operate within the band unless they seek, and are granted, an exemption. Compliance will be enforced through increased transparency and reporting requirements as set out in the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill, and a regulatory framework to be established in 2029. Further detail on the regulatory framework will be available next year.