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Council Profiles

The Government has established a new council performance measurement framework to give communities greater visibility of the performance of their councils.

The aim is to ensure that information about how councils are performing is readily accessible in a central location, and that information is consistent and comparable. This information will be updated annually.

The first council profiles include key metrics relating to financial performance. The initial set of metrics are a starting point and based on already-public data from multiple sources. In time, a range of metrics will be added to provide a broad picture of council functions and delivery of services. 

Regional Councils have been grouped separately to local city and district councils to allow for accurate comparison.

View Council Profiles

Important things to note when reading Council profiles

  • All information included in the profiles is already publicly available.
  • Over the past year we have been reassessing our work programme and have identified $7.3M in cost reductions, resulting in a general rates increase of 3.0% as well as a 2.0% reduction in the total targeted rates to be collected for the 2025/26 Annual Plan. Together this represents a 0% increase in total rates for the 2025/26 year.
  • Each Council will have differing ways of working with and accounting for contractor roles.
  • When adjusted for population, Bay of Plenty Regional Council is consistently in the upper-middle tier across most financial and staffing metrics.
  • Personnel costs and staff numbers are above median when compared to other regional councils, in alignment with the above median population count. Our resourcing reflects the commitments made via our Long-Term Plan.

Council Profile Explainer

Council invested in several key infrastructure projects to enhance flood protection, environmental restoration, and operational efficiency:

Flood Protection Works

  • Ford Road Pump Station (Stage 1): Upgraded 1.6 km of drainage network in the lower Kaituna River area to improve drainage and support future pump station development.
  • Rangitāiki Floodway and Spillway: Continued construction of this multi-stage project to relieve pressure on the Rangitāiki River during flood events.
  • Future Proof Whakatāne (Stage 1): Strengthened flood defences in the Whakatāne CBD, including stopbank and floodwall upgrades.
  • Safeguarding Our Stopbanks (Stage 3): Improved resilience of sections of stopbank along the Whakatāne River urban area.

Environmental Restoration 

  • Cutwater Road Wetland: Commenced the development of a 30-hectare wetland near the Waihī Estuary to improve water quality, restore biodiversity, and support climate resilience.

Operational Improvements 

  • Fleet and Facilities Upgrades: Modernised ageing fleet and facilities to enhance service delivery and reduce long-term maintenance costs.

Over the next three years Council plans to invest in a range of infrastructure projects to improve flood resilience, environmental outcomes, and public transport services:

Flood Protection Infrastructure

  • Ford Road Pump Station (Stage 2): installation of a new pump station.
  • Rangitāiki Spillway: Completion of the spillway construction to reduce flood risk along the Rangitāiki River.
  • Future Proof Whakatāne (Stages 2–4): Continued improvements to flood defences in the Whakatāne CBD, including stopbanks and floodwalls.
  • Safeguarding Our Stopbanks: Completion of Stage 4 on sections of the Whakatāne River stopbank in the urban area. Commencement and completion of the Safeguarding Our Stopbanks project in the Ōpōtiki urban area, along the Waiōweka and Otara Rivers.
  • Planned stopbank  upgrades along the Rangitāiki, Tarawera, Whakatāne, and Otara Rivers.

Environmental Restoration 

  • Cutwater Road Wetland: Completion of the 30-hectare wetland near the Waihī Estuary to improve water quality and biodiversity.

Transport and Operational Improvements 

  • Tauranga CBD Public Transport Facility: Construction of a new operations centre to accommodate up to 12 buses and provide amenities for drivers.
  • Fleet and Facilities Upgrades: Ongoing investment in modernising Council’s fleet and facilities to support efficient service delivery.

For more information on Council’s performance and work programme please see our Long Term Plan and Annual Plan documents.