Government budget and revenue in Canterbury, New Zealand: official figures
Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) had total operating income of NZ$324 million in the year ended June 2025 and total operating expenditure of NZ$312 million, an operating surplus of NZ$12.0 million. As a regional council it does not run local roads, water or rubbish services, which belong to the district and city councils in the region.
How much does Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) collect in rates?
Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) collected NZ$198 million in rates in the year ended June 2025, 61% of its operating income. That is NZ$283 for each resident of Canterbury (using the June 2025 population estimate), 8th highest of 16 councils.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyIs the budget of Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) growing?
Operating income of Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) rose 9.6% from NZ$295 million in the year to June 2024 to NZ$324 million in the year to June 2025. Employee costs were NZ$87.9 million, 28% of operating expenditure.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much debt does Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) have?
Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) had term debt of NZ$81.0 million at June 2025, or NZ$116 per resident of Canterbury (3rd lowest of 16 councils). Its total assets were NZ$1,546 million and its equity NZ$1,419 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat does Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) spend money on?
The activities on which Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) spent most in the year ended June 2025 (operating expenditure) were transportation (NZ$137 million), environmental protection (NZ$57.2 million), planning and regulation (NZ$51.2 million). Stats NZ allocates spending by activity, so costs that cannot be assigned to one activity sit under other categories.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much does Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) receive per resident?
Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) had operating income of NZ$464 per resident of Canterbury in the year ended June 2025, 5th lowest of 16 councils. Current grants and subsidies were NZ$82.6 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Canterbury compares with other regions
Council operating income, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Canterbury ranks 3 of 16, highest first. The regional council, or the unitary council where one council covers the whole region.
| Rank | Region | Council operating income, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | NZ$3,744m |
| 2 | Wellington | NZ$647m |
| 3 | Canterbury | NZ$324m |
| 4 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$215m |
| 5 | Waikato | NZ$209m |
| 6 | Marlborough | NZ$187m |
| 7 | Tasman | NZ$182m |
Council rates per resident, year ended June 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Canterbury ranks 8 of 16, highest first. Regional councils collect rates for regional functions only; unitary councils (Auckland, Gisborne, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough) also do district functions.
| Rank | Region | Council rates per resident, year ended June 2025 (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Auckland | NZ$1,536 |
| 6 | Wellington | NZ$467 |
| 7 | West Coast | NZ$341 |
| 8 | Canterbury | NZ$283 |
| 9 | Southland | NZ$277 |
| 10 | Northland | NZ$275 |
| 11 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$269 |
Council term debt per resident, June 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Canterbury ranks 14 of 16, highest first. Regional councils collect rates for regional functions only; unitary councils also do district functions.
| Rank | Region | Council term debt per resident, June 2025 (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Otago | NZ$425 |
| 11 | Taranaki | NZ$357 |
| 12 | Northland | NZ$294 |
| 13 | Manawatū-Whanganui | NZ$205 |
| 14 | Canterbury | NZ$116 |
| 15 | Waikato | NZ$66 |
| 16 | Southland | NZ$0 |
Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Canterbury ranks 4 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | NZ$215.0m |
| 2 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$15.1m |
| 3 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$12.9m |
| 4 | Canterbury | NZ$12.0m |
| 5 | Northland | NZ$6.5m |
| 6 | Otago | NZ$2.8m |
| 7 | Wellington | NZ$1.8m |
More on Canterbury: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · New Zealand
Sources
- Stats NZ: Local authority financial statistics: Year ended June 2025 (income and expenditure, by activity, financial position; nalafs-jun2025-tables-csv.csv), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b12af625c966…)
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