Rates Control Team
Uniting for Positive Change
Times are tough for many people.
If you are having to tighten your belt, then so should the Regional Council !
That’s the purpose of the Rates Control Team
Our Team.
Rates Control Team consists of 6 current Waikato Regional Councillors, along with two new team members who are all aligned in our desire to control rates.
The Waikato is the fourth largest region in New Zealand, covering 25,000 square kilometres. It stretches from the Bombay Hills and Port Waikato in the north down to the Kaimai Ranges and Mt Ruapehu in the south, and from Mokau on the west coast across to the Coromandel Peninsula in the east.
The Waikato Regional Council constituencies divide the region into 6 general electorates (shown on the map opposite), along with two Maori electorates. The Rates Control Team is standing at least one candidate in each of the general electorates.
The Waikato region has:
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9.5 per cent of New Zealand's population (498,771)
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the longest river in New Zealand (the Waikato River)
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the largest lake (Lake Taupō)
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major dairying industry, which produces 25% of NZ's milk supply and 60% of our export earnings.
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a regional GDP of $23.9 billion
Our Policies
Times are tough for many people.
If you are having to tighten your belt, then so should the Regional Council !
That’s the purpose of the Rates Control Team. We’re a region-wide team who are determined to drive efficiencies, reduce waste and cut costs.
Here are our policy commitments.
1) RETURN $2.5 MILLION SURPLUS:
Our team made strong efforts to return $2.5 million surplus back to ratepayers. But we were blocked by the chairperson’s casting vote.
If Rates Control is elected with a Majority this time, we’re determined to return this surplus back to you as rates reductions.
2) KEEP RATE RISES AT OR BELOW INFLATION:
Our team is here to control rates. This means cutting costs to keep rates at or below inflation.
However we we need to win the Majority to be able to implement this policy.
So make sure to give the Rates Control Team your vote.
3) LEAVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT NZ:
Rates Control Team is committed to leaving Local Government NZ. This will save more than $100,000 in fees and attendance costs to LGNZ functions.
Independent political commentator Bryce Edwards told the Waikato Times
“LGNZ is increasingly perceived to have aligned with a liberal pro-Treaty side of the public debate, particularly on issues such as race relations, equity and Treaty-based policies.” (9th July 2025)
Waikato Regional Council is already part of a national grouping of Regional Councils – Te Uru Kahika - so council will still be linked with aligned agencies.
4) CUTTING THE COST OF CONSULTANTS:
Waikato Regional Council has 640+ staff. In addition, WRC spent $16.9 million on consultancy services in the past year (2023/24)
Rates Control is committed to undertaking a line-by-line review of consultant costs, with the aim of seriously trimming this external expenditure.
5) RETAINING CONTROL OVER FRESHWATER:
The Waikato River is under joint management agreements between Iwi and Council. These are part of Treaty Settlement requirements.
But lately the Government’s move to change the RMA and review freshwater policy has seen an increasing push by Iwi to turn these JMAs into “co-governance arrangements”.
However there is a significant difference between “co-management” of a resource, and “co-governance” in terms of who has final control.
There are concerns about unelected people making final decisions that may impact the whole regional economy and environment.
6) IMPORTANCE OF RURAL ECONOMY TO REGION'S PROSPERITY:
The Rates Control Team believes there must be a sustainable balance between the economy and the environment.
We are strongly supportive of the farming and horticulture industries that form the backbone of the prosperity and export drive of the Mighty Waikato.
7) REVIEW OF BUS PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
Rates Control is committed to a full review of the current bus system to make sure it is fit for purpose
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We hear complaints about too many empty buses (especially in the city)
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We hear many people want more small community shuttles (particularly in rural areas)
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We know people want more flexibility in the provision of services.
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We support the principle of “Right-sized bus for right-sized run”.
Electrification of buses:
Council has been told that the projected cost of electric buses and terminals is up to $288 million. This would likely see a massive increase in rates – which is not acceptable to our team.
Our current view is to “sweat the current assets” and utilise the current diesel bus fleet until 2035. In the meantime we will undertake a full cost-benefit analysis.
8) THE FUTURE OF REGIONAL COUNCILS:
The Government has signalled that it is looking at the future of regional councils, with a view to potentially dis-establishing them.
Rates Control Team is supportive of a review of regional councils, with a potential amalgamation or splitting up of the functions.
However we need to ensure that the various functions of regional government can be adequately fulfilled in new bodies (such as catchment boards or private landowners taking over flood protection assets).