It’s time to have your say on Christchurch City Council’s plans for the coming year.
Residents are being invited to share their views on the Christchurch City Council’s Draft Annual Plan for 2026/27, which sets out the services, projects and spending priorities proposed for the coming financial year.
The draft plan details what the Council aims to deliver, how it intends to fund those activities, and where savings are proposed. Public feedback is open until midnight on Friday, 27 March.
Mayor Phil Mauger said the Council has worked to balance affordability with maintaining services.
“When I was first elected Mayor in 2022, I was committed to maintaining the positive momentum in our city, and to keeping a level-headed view of what we can actually afford and achieve,” Mayor Phil Mauger says.
“Looking out for the average household has been top of mind for me and the other councillors, and we’ve put that lens over every spending decision we’ve made in this year’s Draft Annual Plan.
“This has kept this year’s proposed rates increase as low as possible without compromising the services we provide today or pushing things out too far in the future.
“We think we’ve charted a really positive course, but we want to hear from as many people as possible via this consultation process. It’s our job to listen to every piece of feedback before we lock in our plans in June.”
The Draft Annual Plan proposes a 7.4% rates increase for the average household, which equates to about $6.05 per week. Across all property types, the average increase would be 7.96% — lower than the 10.52% forecast in last year’s Annual Plan for 2026/27.
For businesses, the average rates increase is proposed at 8.7%, alongside a lower business differential. Remote rural properties would see an average increase of 8.0%.
The plan includes $599 million in investment for Council infrastructure and facilities, and $771 million to deliver day-to-day services. It also proposes $314 million in borrowing for the capital programme — $38 million less than previously signalled in the Long Term Plan.
In addition, the Council is proposing to dispose of several properties that are no longer required for their original purpose.
As part of the consultation, residents are also being asked to weigh in on potential options to reduce rates. These include pausing planned increases for the Climate Resilience Fund and the Environmental Partnerships Fund, and reducing funding available through contestable community grant schemes.
Feedback is also sought on whether the Council should provide financial support to help restore four ‘iconic’ buildings: Canterbury Museum, Canterbury Provincial Chambers, Christ Church Cathedral and Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre.
The plan also proposes:
- $599 million of investment into Council infrastructure and facilities,
- $771 million for delivering the day-to-day services the Council provides,
- $314 million in borrowing for the capital programme – $38 million lower than planned in the Long Term Plan,
- Disposing of a number of properties owned by the Council that are no longer required for their original purpose,
- An overall average rates increase across all property types of 7.96%. This is lower than what was projected during the 2025/26 Annual Plan, which forecasted an increase of 10.52% in 2026/27,
- A rates increase for the average business property of 8.7%, as well as a lower business differential,
- A rates increase for the average remote rural property of 8.0%.
The Council is also asking for feedback on options to reduce rates, including:
- Pausing the planned rates increases for the Climate Resilience Fund and the Environmental Partnerships Fund,
- Reducing the money available in the Council’s contestable community grant funding schemes to lower the rates increase,
- The Council is also looking for feedback on potentially providing financial support to help restore four ‘iconic’ buildings – Canterbury Museum, Canterbury Provincial Chambers, Christ Church Cathedral and Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre.
More information and submission details are available at: letstalk.ccc.govt.nz.
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