Council will use asset sale to reduce debt

Kaipara District Council is asking for feedback from residents and ratepayers on changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy.

Kaipara District Council is reviewing its Revenue and Financing Policy and will soon be consulting with residents and ratepayers on the proposed changes.

Shade sails are back up just in time for summer at parks across Kaipara! Every year, these sails are removed before winter for cleaning, maintenance, and storage, ensuring they’re in top shape for the warmer months.

Dog-related complaints to Kaipara District Council (KDC) have increased by 13 percent over the last year, according to the annual Animal Management Report presented to Council last week.

The relationship agreements Kaipara District Council holds with Te Roroa and Te Uri o Hau were terminated by the Council at its September meeting, with a view to start afresh with new agreements.

Kaipara District Council has formally adopted its Long Term Plan (LTP) for the next three years, in a council meeting held at Tangiteroria Sports Complex on 31 July 2024.

Kaipara District Council has resolved to disestablish its Māori ward, Te Moananui o Kaipara, in an extraordinary council meeting held 7 August.

Kaipara District Council and the Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service have agreed a way forward to kickstart remediation and repair of the slip and surf club building.

A new group of roading services contractors has been put in place to deliver road maintenance for Kaipara District Council. 

Council has approved a procurement plan to appoint a contractor for the Dargaville Town Hall Project. Keen contractors will soon be able to register Expressions of Interest.

Kaipara District Council is not progressing any further investigations into a waste to energy plant in the district, concluding at their June meeting that it would be the responsibility of the private sector.

A decision to adopt the recommendations of a Hearing Panel by Elected Members of Kaipara District Council moves Private Plan Change 83 (Cove Road North Precinct) a step closer.

Additional adjustments to budgets for the Long Term Plan 2024–2027 have further smoothed the projected rates impact to an estimated 8.9% for each of the three years.

A new delivery model for transportation services and roading construction across Northland has been confirmed following decisions made by Far North, Kaipara, and Whangarei District and Northland Regional Councils.

Kaipara District Council activated their Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) as a precautionary measure yesterday, after a Transpower tower fell near Glorit and blanket power cuts rolled across most of Northland, with no initial confirmation of when they could end.

Earlier projections of a 15.1 percent average rates increase for 2024/2025 have dropped following Kaipara District Council Long Term Plan (LTP) deliberations.

Rates for 2024/2025 rating year are on track to be confirmed one month later than usual at the end of July.

Council adopted new Fees and Charges for the coming 2024-2025 year at the May Council Meeting. 

Long term plan hearings this week have given community members an opportunity to get up front and face to face with Kaipara District Council elected members.

Consultation for the Kaipara District Council Long Term Plan 2024 – 2027 closed Saturday 4 May.

Commemorative ceremonies took place across Kaipara District on Wednesday in observance of ANZAC day.

Relatively dry weather in March enabled our roading team to push through our drainage maintenance and renewals.

Kaipara District Council elected members adopted the Long Term Plan 2024 – 2027 consultation document in the council meeting on Wednesday, kickstarting the feedback period opening today.

Kaipara District Council is asking the community for feedback on proposed fees and charges for the coming 2024/2025 year. 

A new online mapping tool developed by Northland’s three district councils shows the latest repair plans for the remaining slips still affecting district roads following severe weather events that hit the region during 2022-23.

Our team made the most of February’s mixed bag of weather.

State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyn Hills is now closed for crucial recovery works. Detour routes through the Kaipara district are open and operating.

Our Planners will be on hand to answer your questions general questions about development or subdividing, or talk to your Elected Members about what’s important to you.

Our roading teams worked hard throughout December to prepare our roads for a surge in traffic over the summer.

Look out for the new Rating Valuation for your property in the mail.  

We are now into the final stretch of 2023 and are pushing hard to complete outstanding work before the end of the year.

Despite the unexpected interruption from Cyclone Lola,October was a very productive month on roads across Kaipara.

Replacement of Dargaville’s Northern Wairoa War Memorial Hall Annex after its demolished is to get a hurry-along with an Elected Member working group established to give the project more focus.

A motion moved by Kaipara District Council Mayor Jepson has paused the Ruawai Adaptive Pathways programme until the public has had their say through the next Long Term Plan consultation.

More than half of the 71 slips still impacting Kaipara roads in the wake of multiple severe weather events that hit Northland earlier this year should be repaired by the middle of next year.

Over the next two weekends, Kaipara District Council Elected Members and Council staff will be out and about attending markets around the district.

Kaipara District Council Elected Members supported a motion by Mayor Craig Jepson regarding the Ruawai Adaptive Pathways pilot programme.

Kaipara District Council has adopted their Annual Report for 2022/2023. The report was unanimously adopted in the 25 October meeting.

A number of infrastructure renewals and upgrades completed in recent years have strengthened water security in Kaipara.

We are only just on the other side of Winter and are already feeling the benefits of warmer and drier weather.

A recent decision by Kaipara District Council has given Fagan Place community housing tenants assurance on a way forward for new warm, dry, modern and healthy homes. 

A Notice of Motion put forward by Deputy Mayor Jonathan Larsen to discontinue Kaipara District Council’s climate policy and cancel its emission accounting contract was approved at the September Council meeting.

The end of another winter gave us some much-needed sunshine and blue skies. Now with Spring upon us and the days getting longer, our focus moves to pavement works.

A new working party, made up of elected members, Kaipara District Council (KDC) staff and input from external expert advice has been appointed to work on the new Engineering Standards for the district.

A shortened Long Term Plan with a focus on recovery was approved by Kaipara District Council earlier this week.

The rainy weather persisted through July, resulting in 949 new pothole reports. To tackle the pothole issue, we introduced an additional pothole truck to speed up repairs.

An update from Kaipara District Council and Northland Regional Council.

The unsealed network has remained a significant point of focus throughout this traditionally rainy month.

The Ruawai community have identified that flood protection, people, whānau, environment, cultural connection, local businesses and farming are the things they really care about.

Kaipara District Council Elected Members have adopted the Annual Plan 2023-2024, with an average rates rise of 4.96 percent (excluding water charges).

It’s been nearly six months since Cyclone Gabrielle, however we are still actively repairing damages and working through a substantial backlog.

Rubbish and recycling collection day is changing for some rural properties in Ruawai and Matakohe.

This month, we have been primarily focused on clearing slips, performing tree and drainage works, and continuing with the unsealed rehabs program.

Over the next month, Elected Members and Council staff are attending community markets around Kaipara District.

There are a number of roads impacted after heavy rainfall throughout the district on Tuesday 9 May 2023.

February’s extreme weather events have impacted roads across Kaipara. Our roading network has suffered significant long-lasting damage, and many issues will not be a simple fix. 

At the April Council meeting Kaipara District Council staff presented the latest financial statements for the draft Annual Plan 2023/2024, alongside a projected rates increase averaging 4.98 percent across the district.

A healthy environment, prosperous economy and dependable roading are included in the community outcomes Kaipara District Council has set for the next few years.

Commemorative ceremonies took place around Kaipara District on Tuesday in observance of ANZAC day.

The Dargaville Town Hall will be closed from Monday 24 April in the interest of public safety following damage sustained during Cyclone Gabrielle.

Kaipara District Council is asking the community for feedback on proposed fees and charges for the 2023/2024 year.

A section of the Ruawai stopbank trail will be closed to the public for repairs following the recent extreme weather event.

Kaipara District Council has confirmed the governance membership for the Harding Park Committee, and appointments to the Pou Tu o Te Rangi Joint Management Committee.

The Ruawai Adaptive Pathways Community Panel is inviting the Ruawai community to help shape their planning by sharing local knowledge through an online survey or at a community drop-in session.  

Kaipara District continues to respond to the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle.

After February's extreme weather events, you or someone you know, may be feeling upset, exhausted, overwhelmed or uncertain. You don’t have to manage this on your own, there are free resources available to support you during this time.

Our Rapid Response teams made good ground yesterday, conducting welfare checks on our isolated and hard-to-reach Kaipara communities, many of which are still without power.

Mayor Craig Jepson has announced that Jason Marris will be the next Chief Executive for Kaipara District Council.

After having no occupants overnight we have closed the Civil Defence Evacuation Centre at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church and relocated the team to other areas of the response.

It’s been a tough day, especially for parts of Dargaville, with Awakino River and some of Ruawai now being evacuated. By 7pm, high tide, we expect to have evacuated everyone from areas we think are vulnerable.

A precautionary state of emergency has been declared for Northland as at 4.30pm Sunday 12 February, for an initial period of seven days, as part of the regional response to Cyclone Gabrielle.

Kaipara District Council is asking residents to mow their own roadside berms to keep Kaipara neighbourhoods tidy. 

This article with be updated as information on Kaipara's roading network is available. 

Our team worked hard throughout December, preparing our roads for the expected influx of summer traffic. 

On the final stretch of 2022, the team have been pushing hard to complete outstanding work before the end of the year. Work continues on both the unsealed and sealed networks in anticipation of the summer rush and the expected increase in traffic. 

Look after your loo and Kaipara's wastewater network this summer by reminding your household members and visitors what not to flush.

Kaipara’s population is expected to explode during the summer break, with people enjoying the district’s beaches, lakes, and vibrant communities. 

Opening of Meetings

There have been many reports in the mainstream media and social media that show a misunderstanding of the legal obligations of the Kaipara District Council and its elected members in respect of this issue.

An open and frank discussion took place today (7 December) between the Mayor of Kaipara District and the eight Councillors present.

Summer holidays are fast approaching! During this time critical Council services continue, with some changes due to staff availability.

Kaipara District Council’s committee structure, the committee membership and chairs, and the external appointments for the new triennium have been confirmed. 

The Ruawai Community Panel gathered for the second time this year to take a guided tour of the Raupo Drainage Scheme.

With the continued improvements in weather, we are now full swing into unsealed and sealed pavement works. We have approximately 50kms of road to reseal in the 2022/23 season.

The panel is an advisory group that will lead the conversation on how Ruawai will prepare for, and respond to, coastal hazards, flooding and sea level rise. 

The newly elected mayor and councillors of Kaipara District were officially sworn into office in Dargaville at 1pm on Wednesday 26 October.

Kaipara’s newly elected Council will be sworn in at 1pm on Wednesday 26 October at the Lighthouse Function Centre, Pou Tu o Te Rangi Harding Park.   

Our roading team made the most of the warmer, drier weather that came our way in September.

Kaipara District Council has adopted their Annual Report for 2021/2022. The report was unanimously adopted in the September meeting, the last meeting of the term for the current Council.

Following the recent announcement that current Chief Executive Louise Miller will be stepping down, Kaipara District Council has appointed Jason Marris as interim Chief Executive, while an external recruitment firm undertakes the search for a permanent appointment.

August brought a welcome reprieve from the wild weather and storm events of July. A total of 3,100 individual work items were completed throughout August.

Wild, wet and windy weather kept crews busy in July. A total of 3,358 individual work items were completed throughout the month. 

If you are passionate about Ruawai and its future, the newly created Ruawai Adaptive Pathways Community Panel is looking for members just like you!

Kaipara District Council has released its Pre-Election Report for 2022.

Louise Miller, has advised today that she will step down from her role as Chief Executive of Kaipara District Council on 28 October, after the new Council is sworn in.

Maintenance activities have been widespread in June. During this typically wet period, there has been a focus on potholing, running metal and completing grading work.

Kaipara District Council Elected Members have unanimously adopted the Annual Plan 2022-2023, with an average general rates rise of 4.86 percent (excluding water charges, and allowing for 1 percent growth).

Visitors to Ruawai got a blast from the past at a four-day interactive expo that explored the landscape, people and traditions that have shaped the current community.

In May, we saw some great progress happening across the district. Sealed pavement rehabs are now complete, and the unsealed network has received the last of the PGF/IRG funding. 

New Fees and Charges for the coming 2022-2023 year were adopted at the May Council meeting.

The Ruawai-Raupō community adaptation planning project is underway and the project team from Kaipara District Council is organising the first community event in Ruawai.

The Waiatua Dam (on Opanake Road) may be the solution to end the Dargaville and Baylys Beach water shortages, according to a preliminary investigation, commissioned by Kaipara District Council. 

Although recent rain has been welcomed by landowners, it is causing headaches for Kaipara District Council’s Raupo stopbank improvement project, in Ruawai.

The second season of road surfacing works commenced in the Kaipara District this month, after 14.4kms was completed in December 2021.

The Kaipara District's roads continue to hold the right balance of moisture and dryness, which has allowed the NTA and Kaipara District Council to complete a lot of roading work this month, including grading on Avoca Rd, Avoca East Rd and Avoca North Rd.

Kaipara District Council has confirmed that the Ruawai area will be the first location for the community adaptation planning, adaptive pathways process at its meeting on 15 December.

Iwi Liaison Manager Jack Rudolph and Māori Advisor Missy Hokai joined the Council on 1 November, to strengthen a Te Ao Māori capability and viewpoint across the organisation.

Kaipara District Council (KDC) has worked with other Northland Councils on a Drought Management Plan (DMP) to create a consistent drought classification system and approach.

After considering submissions, Kaipara district elected members today confirmed a proposal for council’s representation arrangements ahead of the 2022/2025 local body elections.

Kaipara District Council adopted its Annual Report for 2020/201 at the September meeting, showcasing a year of challenges amidst lockdowns, boundary closures and forthcoming significant change.

An update on wher ethe roading team will be working across Kaipara in October. 

It’s ‘steady as she goes’ for Kaipara District Council after Deloitte reported their 2021-2031 Long Term Plan (LTP) provides a ‘reasonable basis for accountability to the community’.

Kaipara District Council has welcomed Philip Jones as the independent chair of their Audit, Risk and Finance Committee.

Kaipara District Council (KDC) began consultation today on a proposed model of representation.

A reminder to Have Your Say on our Discussion Documents, and some changes to our plans because of COVID-19.

Kaipara District Council has been awarded a grant from the Creative NZ Local Government Arts Fund to develop an Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy.

Council has decided to make a stand by voting to oppose the recently granted Dome Valley Landfill resource consent, at the June council meeting.

Kaipara District Council voted to become a shareholder of Northland Inc. at their meeting on 26 May.

Kaipara District Council today endorsed a future-focused Long Term Plan (LTP) which aims to respond to a growing population while caring for the environment and keeping rates increases low. 

Announcing the appointment of Geoff Copstick as the independent chair of Kaipara District Council’s Audit, Risk & Finance subcommittee, replacing Stana Pezic who finished up in December after 3 years as independent chair.

New Fees and Charges for the coming 2021-2022 year were adopted at the May Council meeting.

Nine infrastructure renewal projects are being rolled out across Kaipara District this year. 

The Kaipara Kai Hub team have been in the news a lot recently with all their peanut trial mahi!

Every year the Council surveys residents to see how we are tracking. 

Kaipara District Council has accepted the recommendation from the Hearings Panel to approve Private Plan Change 78. 

In the first few months of 2021 there’s been a trickle of new information which has led to a substantial update on the long-running story of the debt levels of Kaipara District Council’s Mangawhai Wastewater Scheme. 

The Council will be reviewing its representation arrangements later this year and is calling for community feedback now before formulating any specific proposals.

Kaipara District Council has published a report about the outstanding historic debt and capacity of the Mangawhai Wastewater Scheme (MWWS). 

Kaipara District Council has begun a review of local electoral boundaries to ensure our rapid growth is reflected in our elected representation and to accommodate a new Māori ward.

Kaipara District Council will soon be seeking feedback on their proposal to develop a revitalised Dargaville civic precinct as part of their Long Term Plan consultation.

Kaipara District Council has laid out its vision for the next decade of development in its Long Term Plan (LTP) and is asking the community if they agree.

Look out for the new Government Valuation for your property in the mail from 04 February.

See the results from surveys and events we've undertaken recently as part of our Long Term Plan. 

Some Council services and offices will be closed over December/January.

The Private Plan Change is currently adjourned at the direction of the commissioners. 

Kaipara District Council has voted to establish a new Māori ward to improve opportunities for Māori to contribute to local Government decision-making. 

Business and community groups affected by Covid-19 lockdown are benefitting from support offered by Kaipara District Council.

The newly elected mayor and councillors of Kaipara District were officially sworn into office in Dargaville at 1pm on Wednesday 26 October.