There’s a lot happening at the moment, both locally and nationally, and much of it comes back to a simple theme: affordability and resilience.

Fuel prices are front of mind for many households, farms and businesses, and rising costs are starting to bite. That applies to council as well. Everything from maintaining roads to delivering essential services relies on fuel, and when prices climb, so do our costs.

We are taking a practical approach. That includes contingency planning in case supply tightens, and looking at how we reduce non-essential travel, make better use of technology, and operate more efficiently day to day. At a regional level, our Emergency Management team is working alongside Civil Defence on a fuel plan, so we are prepared if the situation escalates.

The Government’s recent support will help take some pressure off households, and that is welcome. But it is not a complete fix. Many families are still doing it tough, and we are very conscious of that. Affordability remains our number one priority. As a council, we are focused on delivering core services as efficiently as possible to keep rates increases as low as we can, now and into the future.

At the same time, there is some genuinely positive news. The Tararua Alliance has achieved ISO 55001 accreditation for asset management, the first road controlling authority in New Zealand to do so. This reflects the strength of the systems, people, and processes behind how we plan, maintain, and invest in our roading network, and gives confidence that every dollar is being spent wisely over the long term. Congratulations to everyone involved.

We have also received approval from the Minister for RMA Reform for a plan stop exemption on our district plan. This allows us to continue our work, which was close to completion, despite upcoming national changes. It means we can keep progressing the rezoning of residential and industrial land to support growth in our district. That is a really positive outcome, and I want to thank staff for the work that went into securing it.

Looking ahead, we are about to begin early engagement on our next Long Term Plan. This is an important opportunity for our communities to help shape the direction of the district over the next 10 years. We have some big decisions to make, particularly around how we balance affordability with the need to invest in resilient infrastructure and services. I encourage everyone to take part when that engagement opens later this month.

Finally, as we approach ANZAC Day, I want to acknowledge the incredible work of our local RSAs in organising services across the district. These occasions remain an important time for reflection and remembrance. This year I will be attending the Woodville Dawn Service, the Dannevirke Civic Service, and the service at ANZAC Bridge in Kaipororo, while your councillors will be at many other commemorations. We hope to see you on the 25th as we come together to honour those who have served.