Simply put, your regional council is here to protect our natural environment, support regional economic development, and plan regional land transport. The big issue is how to balance the competing interests and who is going to pay for what. The NRC's rate take is approximately 10 per cent of your total rates bill, the rest going to your local district council. Looking at some local issues, flood protection for Kaitaia is close to the top of the list. At 150 cu/m/sec the flood level is just inches below the top of the stop bank that protects Kaitaia.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 02, 2017 03:33 UTC