2025 Local Elections

Whangārei District Council

Bream Bay General Ward
The Whangārei District Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also makes decisions about building and planning, local regulations, and infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage. The council is made up of 13 councillors and the mayor. Councillors are elected to represent wards (areas in the district). two councillors will be elected from the Bream Bay ward. This is a single transferable vote (STV) election, so you vote by ranking the candidates on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Whangārei District Council election.

Candidates

Policies

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Climate change and resilience

Climate change and resilience

Environment

Environment

Housing and planning

Housing and planning

Jobs and economy

Jobs and economy

Local democracy

Local democracy

Rates and revenue

Rates and revenue

Recreation and culture

Recreation and culture

Transport

Transport

Utilities and services

Utilities and services

Rates and revenue

The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.

Rates and revenue

The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.

  • Advocate for fairer rates that reflect the ability of residents to pay.

    Review council spending to ensure value for money and reduce unnecessary costs.

    Increase transparency around how rates are set and where revenue is spent.

  • Hold the council accountable by stopping rate rises unless spending delivers clear, measurable benefits to homeowners and local businesses.

    Support creating a council-controlled trading organisation to generate income and ease household rates.

    Fight for rural towns to get a fair share of funding to revitalise communities and repair the infrastructure relied on by all.

  • Advocate for fairer rates that reflect the ability of residents to pay.

    Review council spending to ensure value for money and reduce unnecessary costs.

    Increase transparency around how rates are set and where revenue is spent.

  • Hold the council accountable by stopping rate rises unless spending delivers clear, measurable benefits to homeowners and local businesses.

    Support creating a council-controlled trading organisation to generate income and ease household rates.

    Fight for rural towns to get a fair share of funding to revitalise communities and repair the infrastructure relied on by all.

Climate change and resilience

Climate change and resilience

Environment

Environment

Housing and planning

Housing and planning

Jobs and economy

Jobs and economy

Local democracy

Local democracy

Rates and revenue

Rates and revenue

Recreation and culture

Recreation and culture

Transport

Transport

Utilities and services

Utilities and services

Mayor

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Local council

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Regional council

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Local board

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