When everything matters, what matters most? Tararua District Council launches Budget Challenge to help shape the next 10 years

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Tararua District Council is asking the community to help make some of the biggest decisions facing the district over the next decade.

As part of early engagement for its next Long Term Plan (2027–2037), Council has launched a new interactive tool, the Budget Challenge: www.tararuadc.govt.nz/budgetchallenge

The tool gives people a simple, hands-on way to show what matters most to them. Mayor Scott says this time; Council is doing things differently: “We know there are real challenges ahead, and we can’t do everything. Every choice comes with a trade-off – more of this means less of that.

“The Budget Challenge puts those choices in front of people in a simple and practical way. It’s about being upfront and honest, and giving our community a genuine opportunity to share where they think the next Council dollar should go.”

The online tool allows people to build their own version of the Council budget by choosing how much to invest across key services such as roads, parks, libraries, and environmental work. People who prefer non-digital options can also participate through a physical version of the challenge which is at Council service centres, or a printed version in the Bush Telegraph.

Mayor Scott explains, “During our last Long Term Plan, the community were very clear about how they wanted us to have these conversations in the future: Do it earlier,  keep it open for longer, be louder in our messaging, and make it easy and truly enjoyable for people to take part.”

“We are giving our people the chance to shape the direction of the Long Term Plan from the start – to tell us what they value, what they would prioritise, and what trade-offs they are willing to accept.”

“Beyond that, we’re asking people to back up their views with direction - tell us what council should keep doing, start doing and stop doing. For the real strategic thinkers, we’ve also shared our focus for the future to sense-check that we’re focused on what matters most to our community right now.”

Feedback gathered during this early engagement phase will directly inform the development of the draft 2027-2037 Long Term Plan.

Council will analyse both individual responses and overall trends from the Budget Challenge, alongside feedback from community events and conversations across the district. This will help guide elected members as they decide what goes into the draft plan.

“We won’t be able to do everything everyone wants,” the Mayor says.

“But we will be clear about the choices we make, and how community feedback played a key role in shaping those decisions.”

The Long Term Plan sets out what Council will deliver over the next 10 years, how it will be funded, and what that means for rates. Early engagement (happening now) is an open conversation to gather your views before the draft plan is written. Formal consultation, called the Special Consultative Procedure, happens after the draft LTP is prepared; this is likely to be early 2027. At that stage, you can make a formal submission on specific proposals. Both stages matter. Early engagement shapes what goes into the draft. Formal consultation shapes what is finalised.

Mayor Scott notes that the upcoming plan will be developed in a time of change.

“From reforms to water services and ongoing cost pressures… Now more than ever, we need to focus on what matters most.:

The early engagement period runs from 20 April to 31 May 2026.