PHOTO: SUPPLIEDA pared-back approach to Dunedin’s annual plan consultation clears the way for early and significant engagement on the next decade of spending, the council says. During a two-day budget meeting this week, Dunedin city councillors will consider an engagement approach on the draft 2026-27 annual plan, which proposes a 10.5% rates increase. Her report recommended a "focused and proportionate engagement approach" rather than asking for broad feedback. Under the proposed approach, the annual plan consultation period would run from March 30 to April 29, while long-term plan pre-consultation was planned for mid-April to end of May. A two-day council meeting in late May for annual plan deliberations would become a one-day meeting renamed "annual plan budget update".

Source: Otago Daily Times March 01, 2026 17:57 UTC