One of our team had a look at how Rates and Debt plays out up to 2034 in the NPDC Long Term Plan - and it does not look good.

We keep talking about debt, which many ratepayers and renters say they are struggling with the effects of that now – in 2025.

Ratepayers have been receiving their rates invoices for the next year - and many people have big increases in what they will pay for rates this year.

We know a lot more debt is planned – so one of our team had a look at how that plays out for all of us through the Long Term Plan.

We have numbers going from 2013 to 2034.

Sadly, the big increases are not scheduled to stop in 2025, they will  more than double  - unless we vote for Candidates who will change the Long Term Plan. 

You’ll see with the attached graphs – the first few years of this table it was pretty usual, rates went up a little bit, debt went up a little bit. By 2020, the debt planned for the city of New Plymouth skyrockets.

In 2024

The debt is approx. $406 Million

Rates to pay for that are $141 Million

By 2034

Debt is planned to be $891 Million

Rates to pay for that are $285.5 Million

In the next 9 years both the Debt and your Rates are going to be more than double what they are today – if the Councillors who like to spend and borrow - are voted back after this year’s election.

Plus, you’ll be paying differently for water - with water meters coming in to the mix in this timeframe as well.

Double the rates, plus water rates, will also be paid by people who rent.

We wonder – is there any sort of plan to double the population here by 2034 to keep rates possibly affordable ?

Do our elected officials charging on with spending think we are going to earn double the wages by 2034 ? We think that is highly unlikely.

And large number of Ratepayers in New Plymouth will be collecting the pension in the next 9 years – so how exactly will people be paying for these large increases on a small fixed income ?

We’ve heard several sitting councillors talk about the PIF fund being a way the NPDC can borrow very large amounts of money – like they don’t see an issue with borrowing the same amount as the PIF fund.

Are they thinking if the borrowing fails then the PIF fund will pay for all that borrowing ? And that makes it OK ?

Many Ratepayers see the PIF fund as security for the future of our city which helps offset how much is paid in annual rates.

And many in the community like the idea of having a safety net with a large investment fund in case something goes wrong – like a big event – you know a Mountain IS in our backyard – so the fund is there if we need something to fall back on.

Please share this information with people – many Ratepayers, Renters – and some of our sitting Councillors - are really concerned about the amount of debt that is planned for this city.

We think it is really important at this year’s election to know which candidates are aware how much debt is planned for New Plymouth - and to vote for people who do not want to continue with this level of borrowing.