Mayor Dan Gordon said it had been a year of progress on both minor and major projects across the District.

“As we reflect on the work completed, we are reminded that these achievements are only possible because of the support of our community, the dedication of staff, the vision of our elected members, and the strong partnerships we share across Canterbury and nationally.

“From planning for the future of our towns through the District Plan review, to delivering important infrastructure projects that improve how we live, work and connect, this has been a year of both careful planning and tangible progress.”

Projects for the year included:

• Council confirmed the preferred route for the Rangiora Eastern Link road
• Waimakariri was one of the first Councils in the country to establish its future structure for water services under the government's Local Water Done Well legislation
• Work begun on the new extended hours and urgent care medical centre for North Canterbury thanks to Council’s backing
• Council finalised the District Plan, a statutory planning document that will enable between 14,000 and 17,000 dwellings to be built over the coming 30 years
• Upgraded the Rangiora Library and launched a new Tinkerzone to inspire creativity and learning
• Started construction on an elderly housing development in Kaiapoi
• Opened the Loburn War Memorial.

Speaking to the Annual Report, Finance Manager Paul Christensen noted the Council’s accounts showed at 30 June 2025 a net surplus for the year of $4m.

A net surplus is non-cash revenue, and is due to assets (such as playgrounds, roads, infrastructure) being vested to the Council as the district grows through development and population growth.

Revenue for the year, was $172 million, which was $18 million less than the budget of $190 million. This is primarily because of development contribution revenue $13 million lower than budget and subsidy revenue $6 million lower than budget, primarily due to a revised roading programme.

Net assets total $2,657 million. This is $30 million higher than 30 June 2024, due to the surplus for the year and the revaluation of infrastructure assets.

Council's financials are some of the strongest in the sector and are audited annually by Audit NZ.

Credit rating agency Fitch Ratings have also recently confirmed the Council holds a strong AA Rating with a Stable Outlook. Comparatively retail banks ANZ and BNZ have Fitch Ratings of A+.

“Together, we have achieved a great deal in 2025, and we are well-placed to continue building a strong, connected, and sustainable future for our District,” says Mayor Gordon.

“We’ve done this without compromising our position as a high-growth Council, while maintaining some of the lowest rates movements in the country, and most importantly our residents support our direction and are consistently happy with the services the Council offers.”