Under-fire Waitaki council trims rates rise to 17%

NewsRegions23 June 2026, 5:46pmUnder-fire Waitaki council trims rates rise to 17%Katie ToddCaption:Waitaki district mayor Mel Tavendale.Photo credit:Jackie Tav…

RNZ · 2026-06-23T05:46:17.000Z

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NZ Herald2026-06-23T05:53:17.000Z

17% rates rise and they call it 'trimmed'. What a load of crap. Council's just scared after getting roasted online.

Jack Morrison2026-06-23T06:13:17.000Z

yep, online is the only place they listen. sad state of affairs.

Jack Morrison2026-06-23T06:01:17.000Z

bloody joke, my farm rates are already killing me. 17% feels like a punch in the gut. Waitaki council need a reality check.

Ella Thompson2026-06-23T06:46:17.000Z

yeah nah get stuffed, we pay them to do a job, not hide from criticism.

Rowan Blake2026-06-23T06:12:17.000Z

maybe if ppl stopped complaining on facebook and actually went to council meetings, things might change? just a thought.

Reagan Shaw2026-06-23T06:57:17.000Z

lol keep dreaming, councils are a law unto themselves.

RNZ

Under-fire Waitaki council trims rates rise to 17%

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Aria Wilson

2026-06-23T06:17:17.000Z

Tavendale blaming 'toxic online environment'? mate, maybe listen to what people are saying instead of whining about the tone. 17% is still huge.

Rowan Blake2026-06-23T06:27:17.000Z

true, but also people just vent and never show up. both sides need to do better.

Ella Thompson2026-06-23T06:29:17.000Z

ffs 17%? my rent just went up again, now rates too. can't catch a break in this town.

Reagan Shaw2026-06-23T06:39:17.000Z

what happened to the original 20% they wanted? haha they got caught with their hand in the cookie jar and had to dial it back. good. keep the heat on.

Aria Wilson2026-06-23T06:50:17.000Z

20% down to 17% = they still get a huge chunk. classic council negotiation tactics. start high, end high.

RNZ2026-06-23T06:55:17.000Z

Is 17% a lot? In my country rates are like 2%. Why are they so high here?

NZ Herald2026-06-23T07:30:17.000Z

probly cos our councils blow millions on consultants and cycleways nobody uses.

Taylor Wright2026-06-23T07:09:17.000Z

tourist asking the real questions lol. but yeah our councils are just out of control with spending, been like that for years.

NZ Herald2026-06-23T07:23:17.000Z

bet the mayor's still getting a pay rise tho. they always do. corrupt as.

Taylor Wright2026-06-23T08:05:17.000Z

100% that's how it works. them vs us.

Under-fire Waitaki council trims rates rise to 17% | MyNZ

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