Photo: suppliedA rates increase of 10.5% could be coming for Dunedin residents, as bigger council budgets are needed for water services, roading and footpaths and an extra stadium bill. They will go through budgets for the 2026-27 draft annual plan, which included reference to rates possibly needing to increase by 10.5%. The proposed Three Waters rates increase was 16.7%, which was higher than the 15% that had been signalled in the long-term plan. For non-water activities, the budgeted rates increase would be 6.9%. The planned increase in Three Waters rates is partly because the council has to move towards no longer subsidising the activity through other parts of the operation.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 27, 2026 15:47 UTC