An average rates increase of 13.5 percent has been approved for the coming year - but councillors aren’t happy about it.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) councillors adopted the Annual Plan 2025-2026 at yesterday’s (Thursday June 26) full council meeting, setting out the spending priorities for the year and the ratings impact.

Councillor Niki Gladding criticised council staff, who she said had not spent enough time finding cost savings in the operating budget.

“These rates increases are unaffordable for many people in the community,” Niki said.

“I’m concerned we didn’t do a line-by-line analysis… operational expenses have such an impact on rates.”

Councillor Lyal Cocks said QLDC used to “hone in” on the operating budget in “quite a big way”.

“It is something we need to dig into,” he said.

“We cannot carry on having 13.5 percent increases burdening our ratepayers.”

Councillor Esther Whitehead said she was “still really uncomfortable” with the rates increase but noted that it had been agreed to in the Long Term Plan (LTP).

Mayor Glyn Lewers said QLDC was having to walk “a very tight rope”.

He noted that the council had faced external cost pressures over the past six months and “we’ve absorbed all those costs and still kept to the target in the LTP”.

“The idea that we are frivolous in spending is absolutely erroneous.”

Ratepayers can expect more regular rates invoices going forward, a QLDC staffer said.

The first rates bill for the coming year will be due in August and they will be due in three month intervals after that, they said.

PHOTO: Wānaka App