Fees and charges cover a wide range of Council activities, from using our libraries to registering a dog, applying for building consents and more. The level of fees set, and proportion of costs intended to be recovered for each activity, is set out in Council’s Revenue and Financing Policy, which is reviewed alongside the Long Term Plan.

Fees are applied when a service benefits an individual rather than the whole community. For example, hiring a room in a Council-owned facility benefits those individuals who want to use it, as opposed to all ratepayers.

By applying fees and charges, we ensure that those who use the service contribute to its cost. If these costs are not charged to the user, the only other practicable option available is for us to recover the costs through general rates revenue, which is a charge on all ratepayers.

We consider that seeking a reasonable fee or charge from the person who requires a specific service is the most appropriate option.

Have your say

Feedback closes at 5pm on Sunday, May 18.

What we're proposing

The following information is taken from the Statement of Proposal, which summarises the Schedule of Fees and Charges 2025-27.

Most fees and charges for 2025-27 have been adjusted in line with inflation. There are some exceptions to this, including where costs were not being fully recovered, particularly when it comes to staff time. The increases enable more of the costs of providing the service to be met by the individual or organisation benefiting, rather than being met by ratepayers at large.

The draft Fees and Charges, all inclusive of GST, will take effect from July 1, 2025.

  • Animal control

    Dog registration fees increase by $3 per dog each year for 2025-26 and 2026-27, shifting more of the cost of the associated activities directly to dog owners.

  • Cemeteries

    Fees increase by 10 percent in 2025-26 and by 15 percent in 2026-27 to better reflect the actual costs incurred, including land costs and staff time.

  • Recycling

    The charge for recycling bins increases by 19 percent in 2025-26 to recover the actual costs of purchasing bins.

  • Roading

    Some charges increase to ensure that the cost of providing the service is fully recovered.

    Traffic Management Plan reviews increase 35 percent from $215 to $290 in 2025-26 to cover staff time and the cost of the new software required.

    See the draft Schedule for individual adjustments. 

  • Building consents

    Some 2025-26 charges increase between 10 percent and 37 percent, aligning them with the actual costs of providing the services.

    The biggest increase is for a consent fee for a kitset garage, implement shed, haybarn, swimming pool or conservatory, which increases 37 percent from $949.85 to $1310.20.

    See the draft Schedule for individual adjustments. 

  • Fees and charges adjustments

    The following areas will also see adjustments to more accurately reflect the cost of providing these services:

    • Water connections
    • Wastewater connections
    • Trade waste
    • Mobile trading permits
    • Utility access requirements

Why we review fees and charges

We review our fees and charges to ensure they stay up-to-date and reflect the actual cost of providing services, and so the costs of any new services can be recovered. We also need to pass on increases in our costs, including inflation, associated with various activities.

They include:

  1. Goods, services or amenities provided by the council.
  2. The issuing and/or monitoring of permits, inspections and other approvals associated with bylaws and legislation.
  3. Processing and making decisions in relation to resource consents, private plan changes and designations, and fulfilling certain other regulatory functions under the Resource Management Act 1991.

Reviewing the fees and charges regularly allows us to consider the impact of any changes on our budgets.

When reviewing fees, we consider:

Submit online

Feedback closes at 5pm on Sunday, May 18.

Other ways to provide your feedback

There are multiple ways you can make a submission.

  • Email

    Email the form to

    haveyoursay@waipadc.govt.nz and add 'Draft Fees and Charges 2025-27 Submission' in the email subject line.

    Download form 

  • Post

    Post the completed form to:

    Waipā District Council, Freepost 167662, Private Bag 2402,
    Te Awamutu 3840, Attn: Information Management

    Download form 

  • In person

    Bring the completed form into one of our offices with attn: Information Management.

    • 101 Bank Street, Te Awamutu
    • 23 Wilson Street, Cambridge


    Download form