Have your say on fees and charges 2026/2027

Whangārei, Kaipara and Far North district councils have reaffirmed their shared commitment to establishing a Northland-wide council-controlled organisation (CCO) to deliver drinking water and wastewater services for the region from July 2027.

By the end of February 2026, 160,000m2 (53%) of the 300,000m2 of road resealing planned for the 2025/2026 financial year had been completed. The remainder is programmed during April 2026.

Ever wanted to know more about your family history? Well, with Kaipara Libraries brand new digital resource you can do just that!

Kaipara District Council has reduced rates below its Long Term Plan budgets while continuing to prioritise dependable roading.

Update 8pm  |  Northland is currently responding to an impactful, multi-hazard weather event.

4pm update We still have a number of roads that remain flooded and impacted round the district. Please take extra care if you are out on the roads, and do not drive through floodwaters.

Northland’s councils are making strong progress toward establishing the region’s new water services council controlled organisation (CCO).

Kaipara District Council has announced Bruce Robertson as the new chair of its Audit, Risk and Finance Committee. 

The multi-year, multi-million-dollar Kaipara slip remediation programme has continued in full swing over the last twelve months.  

Kaipara District Council is calling on the community to help celebrate the district’s everyday heroes, with nominations open for its 2026 Citizens Awards.

Apply now for Creative Communities funding. 

Michael Day has been appointed as interim chief executive of Kaipara District Council, following a council decision on Thursday 19 February. 

Over the summer period, our roading teams have been focussed on delivering this year’s reseal programme. 

Northland’s four councils are working hand in hand to present a shared vision for the future of the region to central government.

The Red Severe Weather Warning for Northland is now lifted. The worst of the storm has passed, and the forecast is westerly winds and showers for the next few days. 

MetService New Zealand has lifted Northland's Red Heavy Rain Warning. 

The sealing season which commenced in October is well underway, with pre-seal repairs required to enable the 2025/2026 reseal programme progressing well. 

Communities across Kaipara are now home to 28 new official New Zealand citizens. 

Summer holidays are fast approaching! During this time critical council services continue, with some changes due to staff availability. 

Last month, civil defence-trained KDC staff joined a region-wide exercise, simulating a tsunami scenario.

Northland’s Mayoral Forum acknowledges central government plans for a major review of the way the nation’s local government is structured – but says any eventual outcome must have what is best for Taitokerau at its heart.

October kicked off sealing season with pre-seals completed on West Coast Road, Pouto Road, Baylys Coast Road and Colville Road, and reseals on Kai Iwi Lakes Road are underway.

Kaipara District’s new Council has officially taken office.

Join us as we welcome the newly elected Council for Kaipara at the official swearing-in ceremony and inaugural meeting. 

Aranga Beach is more ready than it’s ever been to welcome visitors this summer, with new and brightly coloured public toilets installed and open for use.   

Official results for Kaipara District Council are now available.  

The preliminary results for Kaipara are now available.

The progress results for Kaipara are now available.

Kaipara District Council has awarded a total of $100,000 to 25 local organisations

The adoption marks a significant step toward establishing a regionally controlled water services entity.

The roading team have completed 20 slips over the last nine months. Pahi Road (pictured) is well underway.

We have some major works happening on roads around the district this month.

The Government has established a new council performance measurement framework to give communities greater visibility of the performance of their local council. 

Kaipara District Council has adopted a new document that explains local government legal obligations to Māori.

A total of 32 candidates are confirmed for Kaipara District Council’s local elections on 11 October.

The council controlled organisation will deliver drinking water and wastewater services from July 2027.

Complaints about wandering dogs fell by 65% and dog attacks are also down 43% over the same period.

More than $33,000 has been allocated through the Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund and Creative Communities Scheme – Arts Funding.

The Report offers residents an overview of the challenges, opportunities, and priorities facing the district ahead of the local elections.

Nominations for candidates seeking election to the Kaipara District Council open Friday, 4 July.

The platform is designed as a central hub, positioning the district as an ideal place to visit, live, work, and invest.

Exceptional individuals and organisations have been honoured at the Citizens and Environmental Awards

Kaipara District Council has unanimously adopted its Annual Plan for 2025/2026, with an average rates rise of 8.3% after growth.

Whangarei, Kaipara and Far North district councils have agreed to establish a Northland-wide council-controlled organisation (CCO) to deliver drinking water and wastewater services from July 2027.  

Did you know that a whopping 55% of journeys take place on just 16% of the KDC road network?

Council has adopted new Fees and Charges for the 2025/2026 year at its May meeting.

Kaipara District Council has reviewed its Development Contributions Policy and is seeking feedback on the proposed changes.

A dry February has put the brakes on unsealed road maintenance, shifting our focus to wet roll grades.

Kaipara District Council has allocated over $50,000 through the Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund and Creative Communities Scheme – Arts Funding, benefiting 33 successful applicants in 2024.

Kaipara District Council has awarded more than $480,000 to 32 local organisations through its 2024 Community Grant and Reserve Contributions Fund.

Two count cameras have been installed in Dargaville to track the number of people walking, cycling and scooting.

It’s kick off time for the new loos at Pahi!

The first stage of the Rangiora Road park upgrade will include car and boat trailer parking, lighting and a public toilet.

More than $3.2million of external funding will be redirected into Kaipara District’s waters infrastructure budget after Council deciding to redirect existing uncommitted Better Off and Transition Support funding.

Up to $10,000 is up for grabs in round one of Kaipara’s Rural Travel Fund for 2024. 

An update on the Kaipara Cycle Network Connections project from Kaipara District Council Chief Executive, Jason Marris.

Designs for two community hubs will proceed as originally planned after a motion agreed by Council to reallocate the funding did not receive iwi support.

Kaipara is set to benefit from $2.6 million recently announced by the Government to boost resilience and reduce the risk of major flood damage.

Dargaville residents and visitors are one step closer to easier and safer active transport options after Kaipara District Council’s decision to progress the Kaipara Cycle Network Connections project.

Upgrading the Taharoa Domain day visitor toilet facilities, improving drainage in Mangawhai Community Park, and completing the award-winning Baylys Beach boardwalk are all on the cards for Kaipara District Council’s (KDC) work programme thanks to a cash injection from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF).

We received 320 submissions from the community on proposed connectivity improvements between residential Dargaville and the town centre.

A new collaborative project has arisen from the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, which aims to build Northland’s resilience to future adverse weather events by tackling the problem of fallen and at-risk trees.

Tell us what you think about proposed connectivity improvements for Dargaville.

The Kaipara District Mayoral Relief Fund gave out a total of $532,443.94 to residents and ratepayers in the Kaipara district.

Kaipara District Mayor Craig Jepson has established a Mayoral Relief Fund to help support those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Kaipara communities will soon see officers regularly patrolling freedom camping hot spots, offering education and increasing awareness of proposed new national freedom camping rules.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is encouraging people in Dargaville to get on their bikes with a Transport Choice programme grant of approximately $8,000,000 to be provided to Kaipara District Council, announced on 4 December 2022.

Sea, sand, and Aotearoa New Zealand’s rarest bird were all on hand for the opening of Kaipara’s newest loos.

The Mangawhai Activity Zone (MAZ) Trust will soon start work on a new Flow Bowl and Street Skateboarding Plaza, following a grant from Kaipara District Council.

Two new community hubs move a step closer with Kaipara District Council opting to apply for the Three Waters Better Off Funding Package, provided by Central Government, to help fund them

Government sources estimate that between $120 and $185 billion dollars of investment in three waters (drinking water, waste water and storm water) infrastructure will be needed over the next 30 years to improve the quality of our drinking water and wastewater and stormwater management, across New Zealand.

Kaipara District Council has been successful in its applications for the Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

Twenty-two community organisations have been awarded a share of $100,000.00 in the latest Kaipara District Council Community Grant.

Complex problems for councils seldom come as neatly packaged as the “Better Off” funding which is part of the Three Waters Reforms.

The truss is now up on the abutments at the north bridge, with physical construction of the boardwalk starting last week. 

A small gathering, a prayer and a blessing to keep workers safe marked the start of the work on-site for the Kaiwaka footbridges.

Construction work for the new Poutō wharf will begin in 2022.

A total of $45,155.00 has been awarded in the latest funding round for the Mangawhai Endowment Lands Account (MELA).

A progress update on the Kaihu Valley Trail.

Work is about to start on two of four new toilet blocks. 

A progress update on the Kaihu Valley Trail.

Kaipara District Council has been awarded a grant from the Creative NZ Local Government Arts Fund to develop an Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy.

A survey of Ripiro Beach users to understand their concerns relating to beach use received over 1,700 responses.

A total of $13,049.00 has been granted from the first round of the Rural Travel Fund to eight schools and sporting organisations across the district.

Some of Kaipara’s arts projects got a boost recently with $14,894.80 awarded in the latest Creative Communities Scheme funding round. 

Two footbridges are to be erected in Kaiwaka, parallel to State Highway 1 and crossing streams at the northern end of the township.

Kaipara District Council is consulting on their proposed plan for the next ten years and Elected Members will be on hand to talk about it and answer questions.

Creative Communities Scheme is now open for funding applications. The funding is available to support a wide range of arts projects – previous recipients include Te Kopuru School for their Matariki celebrations and the Mangawhai Museum for their Winter Series.

A total of $132,320.00 has been awarded in the latest funding round for the Mangawhai Endowment Lands Account (MELA).

More than $122,000 has been awarded in the latest Kaipara District Council funding rounds for Community Grants, Rural Travel Fund, and Creative Communities Scheme.