“There will be others [who] would want to see the council slash and burn down to the ground.”
Decisions will be made through the council’s Long-term Plan next year, with the public expected to be consulted on proposals in March or April, before the 10-year plan is adopted in late June, McNulty said.
What is on the chopping block?
Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum, is predominantly funded by central Government, as well as donations and commercial revenue, but also receives $1.8m per year from the council.
That annual funding is facing the axe in the council’s proposal with majority support for a partial or staged reduction.
It comes as the celebrated museum is struggling, with recent moves to start charging international visitors not saving it from multimillion-dollar annual losses and a recent restructure spelling layoffs.
Wellington Museum and City Gallery are also in the firing line.
Council papers outline proposals they be closed on Mondays, excluding public holidays, or remain open for cruise ship passengers with a new visitor charge.
However, McNulty clarified during a briefing this morning that more information is to be sought on a potential Monday closure before proceeding with the proposal.
WellingtonNZ, the capital’s economic development agency tasked with promoting the city to tourists and businesses, is facing a $1m cut to its annual grant.
The city’s annual New Year’s Eve festivities, which feature fireworks, live music and food-trucks, would be cancelled, saving ratepayers a potential $290,000.
A majority in the working group also support a “no new playgrounds” policy for the next 10 years.
The city’s council-run swimming pools are also in the firing line, with recommendations to allow only one adult free supervision per child under-8, and additional supervising adults to be charged a full swim fee.
School swim subsidies face being phased out progressively, saving up to $120,000 per year.
Library cuts were discussed with options including closing some branches, reducing opening days or hours at under-used libraries, staff cuts and bringing back fees and charges.
The working group decided on a full review into the cost effectiveness and efficiency of the city’s libraries.
Cuts to spending on library collections and online databases are also proposed.
To increase revenue, parking charges could be increased through demand-based pricing and leasing or selling off road space.
The only recommendation that would increase spending concerned resilience and hazard work, which McNulty said related to climate infrastructure, and follows April floods.
Read the council’s full list of suggested cuts here.
“None of this is easy,” Deputy Mayor Ben McNulty says of proposed service cuts. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Government’s rates-capping legislation sets an initial 2–4% target range for annual council rates increases, with a 4% cap taking effect in 2029.
But councils have been told they must consider the 4% caps from July 1, 2027, when preparing their long-term plans.
Water charges are excluded, and councils can seek exemptions for exceptional circumstances, including natural disasters or prudent financial-management reasons.
Local Government Minister Simon Watts said that for too long ratepayers “have been hit with steep and unexpected rates increases”, citing median rises across the country of 14.2% and 9.2% in the last two years.
Minister Chris Bishop has said the policy aimed to prevent excessive council spending on non-essentials: “it’s a policy against $2.3 million for light-up public toilets in Wellington”, he told Parliament in August.
However, uncertainty remains over the reforms, with the Local Government (Rates Capping) Amendment Bill not passed in Parliament.
It is at the select committee stage and is expected to be discussed next term.
Ethan Manera is a Wellington-based journalist covering Wellington issues, local politics and business in the capital. He can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.