Government budget and revenue in Nelson, New Zealand: official figures
Nelson City Council had total operating income of NZ$180 million in the year ended June 2025 and total operating expenditure of NZ$181 million, an operating deficit of NZ$1.1 million. Nelson City Council is a unitary authority, so it also does the work of a city or district council.
How much does Nelson City Council collect in rates?
Nelson City Council collected NZ$99.6 million in rates in the year ended June 2025, 55% of its operating income. That is NZ$1,834 for each resident of Nelson (using the June 2025 population estimate), 2nd highest of 16 councils.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyIs the budget of Nelson City Council growing?
Operating income of Nelson City Council rose 19.1% from NZ$151 million in the year to June 2024 to NZ$180 million in the year to June 2025. Employee costs were NZ$36.2 million, 20% of operating expenditure.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much debt does Nelson City Council have?
Nelson City Council had term debt of NZ$240 million at June 2025, or NZ$4,420 per resident of Nelson (3rd highest of 16 councils). Its total assets were NZ$2,568 million and its equity NZ$2,261 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat does Nelson City Council spend money on?
The activities on which Nelson City Council spent most in the year ended June 2025 (operating expenditure) were planning and regulation (NZ$25.8 million), wastewater (NZ$24.8 million), roading (NZ$21.4 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 Nelson City Council receive per resident?
Nelson City Council had operating income of NZ$3,312 per resident of Nelson in the year ended June 2025, 2nd highest of 16 councils. Current grants and subsidies were NZ$24.6 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Nelson compares with other regions
Council operating income, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Nelson ranks 8 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Waikato | NZ$209m |
| 6 | Marlborough | NZ$187m |
| 7 | Tasman | NZ$182m |
| 8 | Nelson | NZ$180m |
| 9 | Gisborne | NZ$173m |
| 10 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$147m |
| 11 | Otago | NZ$135m |
Council rates per resident, year ended June 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Nelson ranks 2 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$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marlborough | NZ$1,915 |
| 2 | Nelson | NZ$1,834 |
| 3 | Tasman | NZ$1,638 |
| 4 | Gisborne | NZ$1,633 |
| 5 | Auckland | NZ$1,536 |
| 6 | Wellington | NZ$467 |
| 7 | West Coast | NZ$341 |
Council term debt per resident, June 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Nelson ranks 3 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$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | NZ$7,054 |
| 2 | Tasman | NZ$4,686 |
| 3 | Nelson | NZ$4,420 |
| 4 | Marlborough | NZ$3,864 |
| 5 | Gisborne | NZ$3,261 |
| 6 | Wellington | NZ$1,776 |
| 7 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$629 |
Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Nelson ranks 9 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Otago | NZ$2.8m |
| 7 | Wellington | NZ$1.8m |
| 8 | Southland | NZ$0.6m |
| 9 | Nelson | NZ$-1.1m |
| 10 | Taranaki | NZ$-3.9m |
| 11 | Waikato | NZ$-4.0m |
| 12 | West Coast | NZ$-7.0m |
More on Nelson: 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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