Upper Hutt City Council Chief Executive, Geoff Swainson, released his Pre-election Report for the 2025 Local Government elections last Friday, 4th of July.

Pre-election reports are politically neutral and provide information for discussion about the key issues facing Upper Hutt today and over the next three years. This includes a seven-year snapshot of the past, present, and future, which includes projects, upcoming changes, and financial summaries. The report provides information on the challenges facing those who are elected to Council in October.

“This year’s local body elections are set against a backdrop of unprecedented change as local government continues to face the Government’s accelerating reform programme,” says Swainson. “Some major reforms have been in progress or signalled for some time such as for three waters and the resource management regime. Many other initiatives and directions are having unforeseen and yet unknown impacts on councils and their future role and viability.”

He says Upper Hutt is a growing city, and essential infrastructure and services are key to its success. Council continues to maintain its infrastructure within a tight budget, prioritising key work programmes including renewals. “Our focus is on balancing growth and good infrastructure stewardship with financial sustainability.” 

He says in the current environment and for the foreseeable future, Council will need to balance unprecedented pressures, expectations and financial constraints with the importance of delivering services to enhance the wellbeing of our community and prosperity of our city. “Now more than ever we need Elected Members with strong, positive leadership and the courage to make difficult decisions”.

The report outlines Council’s focus on three key priorities through the Long-Term Plan 2024–2034:

• Balancing the books – Ensuring current income covers day-to-day expenses
• Maintaining our infrastructure – Prioritising renewals within tight fiscal constraints
• Back to basics – Re-aligning services with core responsibilities to deliver value

It also identifies major reforms and operating environment challenges affecting local government, including:

Financial constraints and pressures from managing rates income, rising costs and reduced central government funding

The Local Water Done Well reform with the planned formation of a new multi-council regional water entity, the of which impacts will redefine the future scope and scale of Council activities.

Significant resource management reform, which is expected to reshape the local government planning and consenting landscape by 2027

Read the Pre-Election report here: https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/files/assets/public/v/1/elections/vote-2025/pre-election-report-2025_final.pdf

For more information on local elections in Upper Hutt, visit Council’s 2025 Local Election hub: https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/vote

Source: Upper Hutt City Council

07/07/25