Find out your proposed rates for the year 2026/27 here:
Every three years, councils produce a Long Term Plan – a requirement under the Local Government Act. A Long Term Plan sets out the work we plan to do over the next 10 years and how that work will be funded.
For the two years between Long Term Plan reviews, councils prepare an Annual Plan. This sets out any changes or adjustments that have been made from the Long Term Plan (both to our annual goals and budgets).
The budgets in the Annual Plan will be used as the basis for setting rates (general and targeted). After every financial year, we produce an Annual Report to see how we delivered on those goals.
Annual Plan 2026/27 At a glance
- Through a combination of careful financial decision making, finding efficiency savings and continued dividend contributions from Quayside Holdings, the Regional Council has confirmed an overall average rates increase of around 0.4%.
- The 8.4% general rates increase originally forecast in the Long Term Plan has been reduced to 2.9% (including growth and inflation), with total targeted rates decreasing by 2.2%.
- $205 million operating expenditure (spending required to deliver our day-to-day services).
- $37.7 million capital expenditure (the cost to purchase, improve and/or replace assets).
Ngā kaupapa uiuinga | Consultation topics
What was decided
Long Term Plan Amendment Topic 1 – Optimising regional benefits from Council investments
We will progress changes to our investment structure through a Long Term Plan Amendment, with the goal of strengthening long-term protection of the $3b investment portfolio, and ensuring it delivers greater environmental and community benefits.
This amendment will create the framework needed to enable future decisions. Further work will be undertaken to assess the structural options before any final decisions are made.
Annual Plan 2026/27 Topic 2 – Investing in regional benefit
Establishment of a Regional Benefit Fund (working title) with up to $20m allocated to support major infrastructure projects that help deliver our community outcomes and provide region-wide benefits.
Annual Plan 2026/27 Topic 3 – Indigenous biodiversity
Following community feedback, we will continue to develop a Regional Indigenous Biodiversity Strategy, with any additional investment decisions to be considered in the next Long Term Plan.
A mātou mahi i tō tātou rohe | Our work in your region
Other key decisions
He taiao ora | A healthy environment
Ka whakaū, ka whakawana mātou i te taiao kikokiko me ngā pūnaha rauropi māori mō ō mātou hapori mengā whakatupuranga o āpōpō. Ka tautokohoki mātou i ētahi atu ki te mahi i ēnei mahi.
We maintain and enhance our physical environment and natural ecosystems for our communities and future generations.
- $620k funded from reserves, rather than rates, to cover the ongoing operating and financing costs associated with the purchase of Kererū Farms in the Rotorua catchment and its transition to low-nitrogen land use.
- $250k of funding to develop and deliver a ‘proof of concept’ biosecurity pathway management system for the Rotorua Lakes to stop the spread of gold clams. The Regional Council will work in partnership with Lake Ōkāreka Community Association (LOCA) and Te Arawa Lakes Trust (TALT).
- $150k of funding to support early scoping and development of a collective, iwi-led Tauranga Moana/Tauranga Harbour Strategy.
He hapori mata-hī awatea | Future ready communities
Ka arataki, ka tautoko ā mātou mahi ki Te Moana a Toi te whakapakaritanga o te tū ki ngā mōreareatanga māori, ā, kia pai ai te tahuritanga mauri ora ki te āpōpō puhanga-waro iti.
Our work in the Bay of Plenty guides and supports improved resilience to natural hazards and an equitable and sustainable transition to a low emissions future.
- Support for a collaborative, regional approach that meets the needs of Central Government’s regional reorganisation expectations; includes a provision of up to $1m to enable delivery.
Ngā hapori e honoa ana, e whakamanatia ana hoki | Connected and enabled communities
Ka āwhina mātou ki te hanga hapori tūhonohono, hapori mauri tū roa.
We help provide connected and sustainable communities.
- Implementation of a new public transport fare structure, including a CPI-based fare adjustment of 3.1% for urban public transport fares, to support smaller, more incremental increases.
- No further extensions to the Baybus OnDemand trial in Tauranga South past December 2026, saving $557k.
- Reallocation of Community Initiatives Funding (CIF) of $8k to Youth Outdoor Development & Adventure Inc (YODA), to support early career pathways into Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM). This is a re-allocation of existing funding to Youth Search and Rescue (YSAR), who cancelled their funding agreement in October 2025.
He whanaketanga mauri tū roa | Sustainable development
Ka tautoko, ka manaaki hoki mātou i te whanaketanga mauri tū roa.
We support and advocate for sustainable development.
- An additional $1m contribution to the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme,alongside Central Government and Rotorua Lakes Council.
- Ōpōtiki Harbour dredging funding confirmed, with $1m per year committed for three years to maintain safe harbour access.
- Provision of $170k to support delivery of the Western Bay of Plenty City and Regional Deal, including governance participation, programme management and support for tangata whenua commitments.
Te Ara Poutama | The Pursuit of Excellence*
Te mahi tahi ki te tangata whenua me te hapori ki te anamata taurikura me te anamata tautika.
Partnering with tangata whenua and community towards a prosperous and equitable regional future.
- Development of a Te Tiriti o Waitangi Policy/Position Statement
- Investigation of options for taiao technical hubs to provide specialist support to iwi and hapū.
*Whilst not a direct translation, ‘Pursuit of Excellence’ is a close approximation to Te Ara Poutama. Te Ara Poutama has its origins in Te Ao Māori and references the pathway ascended by Tāne to retrieve the three baskets of knowledge that represent humanity’s consciousness. From a contemporary perspective, Te Ara Poutama serves to inspire a commitment to innovation, excellence, and continuous improvement.
Key projects planned for our group of activities
The Healthy Catchments group of activities demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship, environmental wellbeing, and responsible resource management.
What's included - Biosecurity | Climate Change Programme | Coastal Catchments (including Regional Parks) | Freshwater Programme | Rotorua Catchments
Key projects planned for 2026/27
- Develop a Regional Indigenous Biodiversity Strategy in partnership with territorial authorities, tangata whenua, communities and other stakeholders.
- Improve water quality in Lake Rotorua through alum dosing, nutrient reduction incentives, constructed wetlands, active monitoring of nutrient management plans for all farms and an engineering intervention programme to reduce nutrient inflows.
- Support community led climate adaptation planning, enabling communities to respond proactively to future climate impacts.
- Continue delivery of the Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP), including coordinated action on priority pests, such as wilding conifers, wallabies, kauri dieback and aquatic weeds.
- Facilitate investment in environmental programmes and care groups to support volunteer efforts, sustainable land use, improve water quality and biodiversity outcomes.
- Trial repairs on the Ōhau Wall, alongside broader scientific investigations in Lake Rotoiti, to provide robust data that will inform future decisions.
- Continue to manage Regional Parks (Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park and Onekawa Te Mawhai Regional Park), including restoration from weather related damage
.
Healthy Catchments - How much it costs
The Flood Protection and Control group of activities focuses on community safety, resilience and social wellbeing by protecting people, property and livelihoods from flood events.
What's included - Flood Protection and Control | Rivers and Drainage Schemes
Key projects planned for 2026/27
- Deliver capital works to replace or upgrade existing flood protection infrastructure in response to climate change, including Project Future Proof in Whakatāne.
- Invest in major flood resilience investments through the Before the Deluge programme, including stop bank improvements across multiple catchments.
- Progress the River Scheme Sustainability Project to ensure flood protection schemes remain effective, affordable and sustainable over the long term.
- Work with district and city councils on floodplain management strategies to better manage flood risk and guide future land use.
- Operate flood management systems, including flood forecasting and asset monitoring, and maintaining a flood warning manual to support effective response during storm events.
Flood Protection and Control - How much it costs
The Regulatory Services group of activities helps protect and maintain our environment, on land, in air and at sea.
What's included - Emergency Management | Maritime Operations | Regulatory Compliance | Resource Consents
Key projects planned for 2026/27
- Monitor air quality in the Mount Maunganui airshed and facilitate the Mount
Air Quality Working Party. - Manage time critical consent programmes, including large re-consenting workloads.
- Participate in the Fast-track approvals process through early advice, coordination, and technical input. This is not a decision-making role.
- Respond to and implement Resource Management (RM) reform including new National Direction.
- Continue participation in the IRIS Next Generation programme, supporting
national delivery of a modernised regulatory system and improved consistency, efficiency, and data capability across the regional sector. - Deliver on the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Plan by reducing risks, strengthening readiness, and maintaining the region’s ability to respond to and recover from emergencies through coordinated planning and action.
- Deliver Kia marutau ki te wai/Iwi safer boating initiatives, by providing safer boating education for Māori (subject to Maritime NZ co-funding, to be confirmed August/September 2026)
Regulatory Services - How much it costs
The Transportation group of activities provides the transport services throughout the region, and integrated planning for regional land transport and the public transport network.
What's included - Transport service delivery | Transport planning
Key projects planned for 2026/27
- Implement the National Ticketing Solution (Motu Move), in partnership with New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to modernise public transport ticketing across the region.
- Support the Total Mobility scheme to enable accessible transport for eligible users.
- Prepare and implement statutory land and public transport plans to guide future investment and services.
- Implementation of a new fare structure, endorsed by the Regional Council in December 2024, through the rollout of Motu Move.
Transportation - How much it costs
The Regional Planning and Development group of activities develops strategies, policies and plans for managing natural and physical resources in the region.
What's included - Policy and planning | Regional development | Spatial planning
Key projects planned for 2026/27
- Develop and update natural hazards mapping to better inform planning and risk management.
- Coordinate councils across the region to build a shared understanding of the region’s long-term opportunities and constraints, with a view to support development of a Bay of Plenty Regional Spatial Plan (BOP RSP) once legislative direction is clear. Regional spatial planning is a council-led, place-based opportunity to explore more integrated ways of supporting growth and resilience. The BOP RSP will provide a long-term framework to align land use, infrastructure investment and environmental outcomes.
- Implement key actions from the Rotorua Future Development Strategy, Eastern Bay of Plenty Spatial Plan and SmartGrowth in partnership with the respective city and district councils, to guide future growth, investment decisions and place-based planning.
- Prepare for the transition to new national resource management legislation, ensuring continuity and readiness.
- Support iwi, councils and partners with local and iwi/hapu spatial planning.
Regional Planning and Development - How much it costs
The Democracy, Engagement and Community Participation group of activities supports our democratic structure and processes.
What's included - Community engagement | Governance services
Key projects planned for 2026/27
- Strategic and statutory engagement for the Long Term Plan 2027-2037 and the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP).
- Ongoing community insights: Bay of Plenty Residents Survey to inform planning and decision making.
- Environmental and non statutory engagement e.g. Biodiversity Strategy action planning and draft consultation (Nov/Dec).
- Provide more than $1.9 million in funding to eligible groups and organisations through our Community Funding programmes.
- Continue to strengthen transparency, representation and democratic decision making to support effective governance.
Democracy, Engagement and Community Participation - How much it costs
The Partnerships with Māori group of activities supports partnerships with Māori and enables capacity for Māori to contribute to our decision-making processes.
What's included - Te Amorangi | Te Pae Tawhiti
Key projects planned for 2026/27
- Developing a Te Tiriti o Waitangi Policy/Position Statement to enhance relationships and build the trust and confidence required for enduring Te Tiriti based partnerships.
- Investigating options for establishing a taiao technical hub to provide specialist support to iwi and hapū.
- Funding to support early scoping and development of a collective, iwi-led Tauranga Moana/Tauranga Harbour Strategy.
Partnerships with Māori - How much it costs
