As the cost of living continues to put pressure on households across the country, Waikato District Council is focused on delivering essential services that residents rely on every day.
Waikato Mayor Jacqui Church says while there has been a lot of discussion about local government needing to “get back to basics,” providing these services is anything but simple.
“We hear loud and clear that people want councils to focus on essential services, and I couldn’t agree more,” says Church.
“Essential services are the absolute priority for us, but what’s often overlooked is the complexity and cost involved in maintaining and improving these essential services in a large district like ours. We are managing $2 billion of assets and do our best to keep affordability front of mind.”
Like households, councils are also facing rising costs due to inflation, higher interest rates, and changing legislative requirements. These factors have made it more expensive to deliver the same services.
The Waikato district is part of New Zealand’s economic ‘golden triangle’ and is growing rapidly. This growth places increasing pressure on the infrastructure that supports daily life.
Roading is a key example of how providing core services requires careful planning and investment. Waikato District Council maintains over 1923 km of sealed roads and 596 km of gravel roads, with these networks expanding as new developments emerge.
“These roads don’t just connect people to each other—they connect businesses, move goods, and support industries like tourism and agriculture,” says Church. “Yet the current funding model, where central government covers 51 percent of roading costs and ratepayers fund the rest, isn’t keeping up with demand.
“Because we received less funding than we requested, we need to make a choice together. Should we do more maintenance on our roading network for the next two years with rates funding only, which would mean a bigger increase in rates? Or should we deliver what we have received NZTA funding for, and keep rates lower? We want to hear what our communities think about these choices.”
Roads are key, and maintaining and improving these roads isn’t just about fixing potholes as they appear – it requires a structured maintenance and renewal schedule. Sealed roads need resurfacing and rebuilding to prevent deterioration, while gravel roads require regular grading and upkeep. The challenge is balancing these ongoing needs with financial constraints.
In two years, the council will submit another bid to NZTA for more funding, but in the meantime, we have had to carefully prioritise our work programme as rates affordability is a major focus.
Waikato District Council operates nine wastewater and seven water treatment plants, supplying drinking water and wastewater services to around 40 percent of the district’s residents – a number that will continue to grow. Beyond drinking water, stormwater and wastewater systems must not only accommodate increased demand but also meet strict environmental standards.
“Our teams work behind the scenes to keep these systems running, whether that’s clearing blockages, repairing pipes, or upgrading ageing pipes and other infrastructure,” says Church.
“It’s not work you often see, but it’s critical to keeping our communities’ available water safe and our environment protected.”
Similarly, rubbish, recycling and waste management are significant responsibilities, with the district generating over 15,000 tonnes of household rubbish and recycling each year. The council’s waste teams and contracted partners ensure this material is collected, sorted, and disposed of in a sustainable way.
“These services – roads, drinking, waste and storm waters, rubbish, recycling and waste management – are fundamental to daily life,” says Church.
“So yes, let’s get the basics done brilliantly. But let’s also acknowledge that providing these services is anything but simple. It requires careful planning, significant investment, and dedicated expertise.”
Waikato District Council says it remains committed to ensuring residents continue to receive the essential services they rely on – now and into the future. Ratepayers and residents have until May 11 to have their say on the 2025 – 34 Long Term Plan.
